Emesis Health Dictionary

Wall. ex Royle.

Family: Ranunculaceae.

Family: Ranunculaceae.

Habitat: The alpine Himalayas from Sikkim to Garhwal and Assam.

English: Indian Aconite, Wolfsbane, Monkshood.

Ayurvedic: Vatsanaabha, Visha, Amrita, Vajraanga, Sthaavaravisha, Vatsanaagaka, Shrangikavisha, Garala.

Unani: Bish, Bishnaag.

Siddha/Tamil: Vasanaavi, Karunaab- hi.

Folk: Bacchanaag, Bish, Mithaa Zahar, Telia Visha.

Action: Narcotic, sedative, antilepro- tic, anti-inflammatory. Extremely poisonous. (Roots possess depressant activity, but after mitigation in cow's milk for 2-3 days, they exhibit stimulant activity.)

Key application: In neuralgia. (Aconitum napellus L. has been listed by German Commission E among unapproved herbs.)

The root contains diterpenoid alkaloids, which act as a powerful poison that affects the heart and central nervous system. Aconitine has a shortlived cardiotonic action followed by

Habitat: Cultivated at Manali and Rahla in Himachal Pradesh. Also found in northwestern Himalayas at altitudes ranging from 2,000 to 4,000 m.

English: Atis Root, Aconite.

Ayurvedic: Ativishaa, Arunaa, Vishaa, Shuklakandaa, Bhanguraa, Ghunapriyaa, Ghunavallabhaa, Kaashmiraa, Shishubhaishajyaa (indicating its use in paediatrics), Vishwaa.

Unani: Atees.

Siddha/Tamil: Athividayam.

Folk: Patis.

Action: Often regarded as non- poisosnous, antiperiodic, anti- inflammatory, astringent (used in cough, diarrhoea, dyspepsia), tonic (used after fevers), febrifuge, antispasmodic (used in irritability of stomach and abdominal pains).

Along with other therapeutic applications, The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India indicates the use of the dried, tuberous root in emesis and helminthi- asis.

The roots yield 0.79% of total alkaloids, of which atisin is 0.4%. Atisine is much less toxic than aconitine and pseudoaconitine. (The inert character of the plant is well known to the hill people, who often use it as a vegetable.) The plant possesses potent immuno- stimulant properties.

Dosage: Root—0.6-2.08 g. (API Vol. I.)... aconitum heterophyllum

(Roxb.) Blume ex Decne.

Family: Araceae.

Habitat: Native to tropical Asia; cultivated throughout India.

English: Elephant-foot Yam.

Ayurvedic: Suurana, Kanduula, Arshoghna, Kand-ayak, Kandala.

Unani: Zamin-qand, Zamikand.

Siddha/Tamil: Chenaikkizhangu. Kaathukarunai (wild var.)

Action: Corm is prescribed in bronchitis, asthma, abdominal pain, emesis, dysentery, enlargement of spleen, piles, elephantiasis, diseases due to vitiated blood, rheumatic swellings.

Along with other therapeutic applications, The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India indicates the use of corm in prostatic hyperplasia.

(The corm is irritant due to the presence of calcium oxalate. It can be con- sumedafterit iswashedwell andboiled in tamarind water or butter milk.)

The corm contains an active di- astatic enzyme amylase, betulinic acid, tricontane, lupeol, stigmasterol, beta- sitosterol and its palmitate and glucose, galactose, rhamnose and xylose.

Intake of 3.6-7.2 g of konjac (Amor- phophallus konjac tuber) mannan for 90 days reduced the dose of insulin or hypoglycaemic drugs (in human clinical study). (Francis Brinker.)

Amorphophallus sylvatius Kunth. is equated with the wild var. of Suu- rana, used especially in the treatment of piles.

Dosage: Dried corm—2-10 g powder. (API Vol. III.) 3-5 g powder. (CCRAS.)... amorphophallus campanulatus

Stopping emesis or vomiting ... antiemetic

Roth.

Family: Cyperaceae.

Habitat: Throughout India, in shallow waters.

Ayurvedic: Kronchaadana.

Action: Tuber—prescribed for diarrhoea, dysentery and emesis.... scirpus corymbosus

Sanguinaria canadensis. N.O. Papaveraceae.

Habitat: Widely distributed throughout North America.

Features ? Root reddish-brown, wrinkled lengthwise, about half-inch thick. Fracture short. Section whitish, with many small, red resin cells which sometimes suffuse the whole. Heavy odour, bitter and harsh to the taste.

Part used ? Root.

Action: Stimulant, tonic, expectorant.

Pulmonary complaints and bronchitis. Should be administered in whooping-cough and croup until emesis occurs. The powdered root is used as a snuff in nasal catarrh, and externally in ringworm and other skin eruptions. The American Thomsonians use it in the treatment of adenoids. Dose, 10 to 20 grains of the powdered root.... blood root

Willd.

Callicarpa macrophylla Vahl.

Synonym: C. incana Roxb.

Family: Verbenaceae.

Habitat: Sub-Himalayan tracts, from Hazara eastwards to Assam, up to 1,500 m.

English: Perfumed Cherry.

Ayurvedic: Priyangu, Priyan- gukaa, Priyaka, Gandhphali, Gandhpriyangu, Phalini, Vanitaa, Kaantaa, Kaantaahvaa, Shyamaa, Anganaapriya.

Unani: Habb-ul-Mihlb (Prunus mahaleb Linn., Rosaceae).

Siddha/Tamil: Gnazhal, Chokkala. (Fruits of Aglaia roxburghiana Miq. are used as Priyangu.)

Action: Leaves—applied hot in rheumatic pains. Smoked to relieve headache. Seed—paste used in stomatitis. Wood—paste used in mouth and tongue sores. Seeds and roots—employed as stomachic. Bark—used in rheumatism and diseases of genitourinary tract. The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India indicated the use of the fruit in emesis and giddiness.

The seeds and leaves contain cal- literpenone and its monoacetate; the former also contain fatty acids, beta- sitosterol and its beta-D-glucoside.

Synonym: C. wightianum T. Anders.

Family: Guttiferae; Clusiaceae.

Habitat: The evergreen forests of Western Ghats up to 330 m.

Siddha/Tamil: Shirupinnai.

Action: Resin—antiphlogistic, anodyne. Seed oil—antileprotic.

The leaves, stem, bark and root contain friedelin. Leaves also contain canophyllol and a triterpene lactone; stem, beta-amyrin; bark, apetalic acid. Heartwood contains a clathrate named wightianone palmitic acid. Wood contains mesoinositol.... calophyllum apetalum

An emetic is a substance which induces VOMITING (emesis). Emetics were previously used for gut decontamination in the treatment of poisoning but are now considered obsolete. This is because the e?cacy of emesis as a means of gut decontamination is unproved; there is a delay between administration and actual emesis, during which time continued absorption of the poison may occur; and some emetics have effects other than vomiting which may mask the clinical features of the ingested poison. The most commonly used emetic was syrup of ipecacuanha (ipecac). Salt (sodium chloride) water emetics were also used but there are many cases of fatal HYPERNATRAEMIA resulting from such use and salt water emetics should never be given. The most common method of gut decontamination currently used is the administration of activated CHARCOAL.... emetics

Convallaria majalis. N.O. Liliaceae.

Synonym: Convallaria, May Lily.

Habitat: Grows wild in shady places in some of the English counties, but is rarely found in many others; scarcely ever seen wild in Scotland and Ireland. Commonly cultivated in gardens.

Features ? Leaves approximately five inches by two inches, broadly lanceolate, entire at edges, dark green, with parallel veins. Flowers small, sweet-scented, white, bell- shaped, pendulous, on distinct (eight to twelve-stalked) flower stem. Rhizome slender, cylindrical, pale brown, with eight to ten long, branched rootlets at each joint, internodes about two inches long.

Part used ? Whole plant.

Action: Cardiac tonic, diuretic.

Enhances muscular functioning of heart and arteries, and is consequently

used in cardiac debility. Has been recommended in dropsy. This herb is one of the substitutes for the digitalis of the allopaths, but it must be taken only in the prescribed doses, as larger quantities may result in purging and emesis. Dose, 1 tablespoonful of the 1/2 ounce to 1 pint boiling water infusion.

LIME FLOWERS. Tilia europaea. N.O. Liliaceae.

Synonym: Linden Flowers.

Habitat: The large tree is seen frequently as a decorative bordering to avenues and drives in town and country.

Features ? Leaves cordate, doubly serrate, hairy underneath. Three to six yellowish- white flowers on each flower stalk ; the two anther cells are separated on short divergent stalks at the tip of the many stamens.

Part used ? Flowers.

Action: Nervine, stimulant.

A popular remedy for chronic catarrhal conditions following colds, and is also given for nervous headaches and hysterical tendencies. The infusion is 1 drachm in 1 pint of boiling water, and bed-time baths in equivalent strength will sometimes help those suffering from insomnia.... lily-of-the-valley

Linn.

Habitat: Cultivated and naturalized throuhout India. Wild in the Sub-Himalayan tract up to 1,800 m.

English: Persian Lilac, Pride of India.

Ayurvedic: Mahaanimba, Ramyaka, Dreka. (Neem is equated with Azadirachta indica.)

Unani: Bakaayan.

Siddha/Tamil: Malaivembu.

Action: Leaf—diuretic, anthelmintic, antilithic. Leaf and flower—febrifuge, sedative, em- menagogue. Leaf, fruit and stem bark—antileprotic. Leaf, flower, fruit, root bark—deobstruent, resolvent. Seed oil—antirheumatic, insecticidal. Leaves, bark and fruit—insect repellent. Gum— used in spleen enlargement. Heart- wood—an aqueous extract, used in asthma.

The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia ofIn- dia indicated the use of the dried stem bark in increased frequency and turbidity of urine, skin diseases, nausea, emesis, asthma, gastroenteritis, giddiness and vertigo.

The bitter constituents are present exclusively in the pericarp, not in the kernel as in the case of Neem fruit. Bakayanin has been isolated from the pericarp (bitter in dilutions of 1 in 10,000).

The heartwood also yielded bakaya- nin and a lactone, bakalactone. Leaves gave quercitrin and rutin and tetranor- triterpenoids, salanin and vilasinin.

An infusion of the bark is effective against ascariasis. The activity resides in the inner bark which is bitter but not astringent (outer bark contains tannins and is astringent).

The ethanolic extract of the leaves is fungicidal and antibacterial. The activity is attributed to azadrine and me- liotannic acid.

The fruits are considered poisonous to man and animals; contain melianon- inol, melianol, melianone, meliandi- ol, vanillin and vanillic acid. Vanillic acid analogues show micro- and macro-filaricidal activity.

Gedunin, present in the plant, inhibits Plasmodium falciparum, while the seed extract does not show anti- malarial activity against P. berghei.

The plant exhibited sedative and psychostimulant properties. Antitu- mour and antiviral activities have also been reported. Intraperitoneal administration of partially purified extracts of fresh green leaves reduced the spread of Tacaribe virus (that causes typical encephalitis) to kidneys, liver and brain in inoculated neonatal mice.

Dosage: Stem bark—5-10 g (API, Vol. IV.); leaf, seed, root—50- 100 ml decoction; 3-5 g powder. (CCRAS.)... melia azedarach

Linn.

Synonym: P. communis Huds.

Family: Rosaceae.

Habitat: Cultivated in Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Kumaon.

English: Prune.

Ayurvedic: Aaruka (Prunus domestica var. insititia). Aaluubukhaaraa.

Unani: Aaluuchaa.

Siddha/Tamil: Alpagada-pungam.

Action: Fruit—refrigerant, laxative, nutritive. Improves haemoglobin levels in iron deficiency. Promotes excretion of excess calcium by the kidneys. An adjuvant for atherosclerosis and arthritis. Root—astringent.

The fruit pulp contains about 44% sugar and malic acid as major constituents. Kernel contains fixed oil about 45% and amygdalin and benzoic acid among others.

The crude extract of the fruit was found effective in controlling centrally induced emesis in dogs. The action was comparable to that of Metoclopramide (Maxolon) and chlorpro- mazine (Largactil).... prunus domestica

Urginea scilla. N.O. Liliaceae.

Synonym: Scilla.

Habitat: Grown near the sea coast in Sicily and Malta.

Features ? A large bulbous plant, Scilla is imported in the form of dried, curved segments of the white, bulbous root, which are tough, dirty white in colour, and approximate two inches long by a quarter-inch wide. The fracture is short, taste acrid. The powdered bulb is very hydroscopic, and should consequently be kept airtight. An Indian variety is used throughout the East, and has similar properties to the above.

Part used ? Bulb.

Action: Expectorant, emetic.

As an expectorant for coughs and all bronchial affections. Is used generally to allay irritation of mucous surfaces. Dose, 2 to 10 grains of the powdered bulb. Large doses produce emesis.... squill

Roxb.

Family: Combretaceae.

Habitat: Throughout deciduous forests of India.

English: Belleric Myrobalan, Bastard Myrobalan.

Ayurvedic: Bibhitaka, Vibhitaka, Bibhitaki, Bibhita, Baibhita, Aksha, Akshaka, Kaamaghna, Kalidru Kali, Karshaphala.

Unani: Balelaa, Baheraa.

Siddha/Tamil: Thaanrikkaai, Thandri.

Action: Fruit—purgative when half ripe, astringent when ripe; antipyretic; used in prescriptions for diarrhoea, dyspepsia, biliousness; cough, bronchitis and upper respiratory tract infections, tropical pulmonary eosinophilia and allergic eruptions.

The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia ofIn- dia recommends the drug in powder form in emesis and worm infestation, in addition to other therapeutic applications.

The fruits contain beta-sitosterol, gallic and ellagic acids, ethyl gallate, galloyl glucose, chebulagic acid and a cardiac glycoside, bellaricanin.

The fruits produce hepato-protec- tive effect in CCl4-induced liver injury in mice. Alcoholic extract of the fruit exerted a negative chrono-and inotrop- ic and hypotensive effect of varying magnitude in a dose dependent fashion on isolated rat and frog atria and rabbit heart.

The fruit contains all components of Chebulic myrobalan (T. chebula) except corilagin and chebulic acid.

The fleshy fruit pulp contains 21.4% tannin, both condensed and hydrolys- able types.

The flower showed spermicidal activity.

Dosage: Fruit—3-6 g powder. (API, Vol. I.)... terminalia bellirica

As practised by members of the Thomsonian medical fraternity.

An emetic treatment may be administered with good effect when the body is powerless to throw off toxic matter in a healing crisis (acute disease). Uneliminated by-products of carbohydrate and protein metabolism may obstruct the abdominal circulation and congest the tissues. A few days fast followed by emesis has resolved many an acute gastro-intestinal problem.

Requirements: towel, large bowl, strainer, and a bowl of cold water in which a container may be cooled should infusions be too hot.

Before emesis the bowels should be evacuated. A full bowel inhibits the emetic effect and absorbs fluid.

Prepare three one-pint infusions, in separate vessels; cover to prevent escape of essential oils. Infuse 15 minutes.

1. Catnep. 1oz to 1 pint boiling water.

2. Bayberry (or Composition). 1 heaped teaspoon, powder, to 1 pint boiling water.

3. Lobelia. Half an ounce to 1 pint boiling water. Proceed: (a) Drink a cup of Catnep tea (b) follow with a cup of Bayberry (or Composition) tea (c) drink a second cup of Catnep (d) drink a second cup of Bayberry (or Composition). Four cups will be taken at this point, all of which will stimulate mucous surfaces. (e) Follow with a cup of Lobelia tea (a relaxant). (f) Repeat the procedure. Vomiting usually occurs before 8 cups. Repeat the sequence as long as can be borne. About half the intake will be returned. Vomit will be found to be exceedingly viscous and ropy and a healthy sense of well-being can follow its exit from the body. After vomiting three times, or as much as tolerated, discontinue treatment and rest. ... emetic treatment

n. the reflex action of expelling the contents of the stomach through the mouth. Vomiting is controlled by a special centre in the brain that may be stimulated by certain drugs or by nerve signalling from the stomach (e.g. after ingesting toxic substances or in stomach diseases, such as peptic ulceration or pyloric stenosis), the intestine (e.g. in intestinal obstruction), or from the inner ear (in motion sickness). The stimulated vomiting centre sets off a chain of nerve impulses producing coordinated contractions of the diaphragm and abdominal muscles and relaxation of the sphincter between the gullet and the stomach, leading to the forcible ejection of stomach contents. Medical name: emesis.... vomiting