Joint Support Tincture

King's American Dispensatory By Harvey Wickes Felter and John Uri Lloyd 1898 - Boswellia

Botanical name: Boswellia frereanaBoswellia papyriferaBoswellia sacraBoswellia serrataDaniellia thurifera Olibanum. Thus. Oliban, Encens, Fr. Weihrauch, G.—Olibanum, the frankincense of the ancients, was erroneously ascribed by Linnaeus to Juniperus phoenicea L. (J. lycia L.). There are two varieties of olibanum, one coming to Europe from the Mediterranean, and the other directly from Calcutta. These varieties were formerly considered distinct, but recent researches indicate their common origin. In 1843 Captain Kempthorne, of the East India Company's navy, saw the olibanum tree growing upon the mountains, on the African coast, between Bunder Maryah and Cape Guardafui. According to his statement, it grows on the bare marble rocks composing the hills of that region, with very brittle soil or the slightest fissure to support it, adhering by means of a substance thrown out from the base of the stem. This rises forty feet, and sends forth near the summit short branches, covered with a bright green, singular foliage. The juice, which exudes through incisions made into the inner bark, has at first the color and consistence of milk, but hardens on exposure. (P. J., iv, 37.) Sir William J. Hooker says that the African olibanum is derived from Boswellia papyrifera Hochst., one of the Burseraceae; but thinks it highly probable that it is furnished by more than one species which has since proven to be the case. (P.-J., 1859, 217.) Birdwood asserts (Tr. Linn. Soc.; xxvii) that no olibanum is obtained in India, all coming from a coast district of Arabia (the same district as that described by Theophrastus), and being the product of a new species of Boswellia, B. Carterii Birdwood. It is very likely that several species of Boswellia furnish the olibanum of commerce— viz., B. Carterii Birdw. (furnishes what is known as Luban Bedowi, or Luban Sheheri), and B. Frereana Birdw. (furnishes Luban Meyeti or Luban Matti). It appears that the resin of B. papyrifera Hochst. is not gathered at all. The product of B. serrata Roxb. (known as Salaigugul) is not sent into general commerce, but is employed medicinally only in India. The Arabian or African frankincense is in the form of yellowish tears, and irregular, reddish lumps or fragments. The tears are generally small, oblong or roundish, not very brittle, with a dull and waxy fracture, softening in the mouth. and bearing much resemblance to mastic, from which. however, they differ in their want of transparency. The reddish masses soften in the hand, have a stronger taste and odor than the tears, and are often mixed with fragments of bark and small crystals of calcium carbonate which are visible under the microscope. The Indian frankincense, or olibanum, consists chiefly of yellowish, somewhat translucent, roundish tears, larger than those of the African, and generally covered with a whitish powder produced by friction. It has a balsamic resinous odor, and an acrid, bitterish, somewhat aromatic taste. When chewed it softens in the mouth, adheres to the teeth, and partially dissolves in the saliva, which it renders milky. It burns with a brilliant flame and a fragrant odor. Triturated with water, it forms a milky, imperfect solution. Alcohol dissolves nearly three-fourths of it, and the tincture is transparent. Tschirch (Harze und Harzbehälter, 1900, p. 253) has made a thorough study of olibanum and determined all of its constituents with care. Alcohol extracts 72 per cent., consisting of resins 65 per cent. and volatile oil 6 per cent.; water soluble gum, 20 per cent.; bassorin, 6-8 per cent.; plant residue, 2-4 per cent. The resins were composed of boswellic acid, C32H52O4, a resin acid of which well crystallized salts were obtained, and olibanoresin, C14H22O, a neutral resin. In the essential oil Wallach identified l-pinene and dipentene, while the chemists of Schimmel & Co. found in addition phellandrene. W. F. Daniell has described an odorous product, used as frankincense in Sierra Leone, and obtained from a large tree, growing in the mountainous districts of that region. The tree has been described by J. J. Bennett in P. J., 1854, 251, as Daniella thurifera (Fam. Leguminosae). According to Daniell, the juice exudes through openings made by an insect, and, concreting in connection with the woody particles resulting from the boring of the insect, falls at length to the ground, where it is collected by the negroes. (See A. J, P., xxvii, 338.) Olibanum is stimulant like the other gum-resins, but is now very seldom used internally. According to Delioux, of Toulon, however, it affords a cheap, efficient substitute for the balsams of Tolu and Peru. It appears to act more favorably when combined with a little soap. Delioux has also obtained advantage from the inhalation of its fumes, when heated, in chronic bronchitis and laryngitis. (B. G. T., Fev. 28, 1861.) It is chiefly employed for fumigation and in unofficial plasters. Dose, fifteen grains (1.0 Gm.), which may be increased to a drachm (3.9 Gm.) or more. Canadian olibanum is reported by Karl Dieterich to be an American substitute for olibanum, which comes into the drug market from Hamburg. Its melting point is 77-78° C. (170.6°-172.4° F.). Thus occupies a place about midway between Canadian olibanum or gum thus. It is a valuable American pine resin, which, however, contains no gum and therefore is not a gum resin. (Ph. Zhalle, 1912, 652-654.)

The Eclectic Materia Medica, Pharmacology and Therapeutics Written by Harvey Wickes Felter, M.D. 1922 - Turmeric

Botanical name: Curcuma longa The rhizome of Curcuma longa, Linné (Nat. Ord. Zingiberaceae). Southern and eastern Asia, and extensively cultivated in China, Hindustan, and other countries. Common Names: Turmeric, Curcuma. Principal Constituent.—Curcumin, a yellow coloring matter. Preparation.—Specific Medicine Curcuma. (A coloring agent.) Action and Uses.—While turmeric is a mild aromatic stimulant, it is almost wholly used as a test for alkalies, and to color ointments and other pharmaceutical products.

A Manual Materia Medica Pharmacology. Comprising All Organic And Iinorganic Drugs Which Are Or Have Been Official In The United States Pharmacopia by David M. K. Culbreth, Pn.G., M.D. 1917 - Black Cohosh

l. (Cc.)). Tincture, 20 p. c. (alcohol), dose, 3ss-l (2-4 Ml. (Cc.)). PROPERTIES.—Alterative (diuretic, diaphoretic, expectorant), anti- spasmodic, sedative (arterial and nervous), safer than digitalis, emmenagogue. It acts on the gastric secretion like any other bitter, slightly depresses the rate, but increases the force of the pulse, like digitalis; contracts the uterus, increasing the menstrual flow and arterial tension. USES.—It was introduced first into medicine in 1831 by Dr. Young. Given as cardiac tonic in fatty heart, chorea, acute and chronic bron chitis, rheumatism, neuralgia, hysteria, phthisis, dyspepsia, amenor- rhcea, dysmenorrhrea, seminal emissions. Large doses cause vertigo, tremors, reduced pulse, vomiting, prostration. Once, but not now, thought efficacious in snake bite, labor-pains, and ills of late pregnancy. Incompatibles: Iron preparations, stimulants, alcohol, ammonia. Synergists: Gold, digitalis, ergot, belladonna, etc.

The Family Herbal, 1812, was written by John Hill. - Burdock

Botanical name: Arctium lappa Bardana. IF the last-mentioned plant has more credit for medicinal virtues than it deserves, this is not so much regarded as it ought. Providence has made some of the most useful plants the most common; but, because they are so, we foolishly neglect them. It is hardly necessary to describe the common burdock. It may be enough to say, that it grows a yard high, and has vast leaves, of a figure approaching to triangular, and of a whitish green colour. The stalks are round, striated, and very tough: The flowers are small and red, and they grow among the hooked prickles of those heads which we call burs, and which stick to our clothes. Even this seems a provision of nature in kindness to us. In pulling off these we scatter the seeds of which they are composed, and give rise to a most useful plant in a new place. The root of the burdock is long and thick; brown on the outside, and whitish within; this is the part used in medicine, and it is of very great virtues. It is to be boiled, or infused in water, the virtue is diuretic, and it is very powerfully so. It has cured dropsies alone. The seeds have the same virtue, but in a less degree. The root is said to be sudorific and good in fevers; but its virtue in operating by urine is its great value.

The Eclectic Materia Medica, Pharmacology and Therapeutics Written by Harvey Wickes Felter, M.D. 1922 - Ginger

Botanical name: Zingiber officinale The dried rhizome of Zingiber officinale, Roscoe (Nat. Ord. Zingiberaceae). Southern Asia; cultivated in tropical regions of Asia, Africa and America. Dose, 10 to 30 grains. Common Names: Ginger. (There are many kinds and grades: Jamaica Ginger, African Ginger, Calcutta Ginger, Calicut Ginger, Cochin Ginger, and Japanese Ginger.) Principal Constituents.—An aromatic volatile oil (Oil of Ginger), 2 to 3 per cent giving to ginger its flavor; resin, and gingerol, the pungent principle. Preparations.—1. Specific Medicine Zingiber. Dose, 1 to 30 drops. 2. Oleoresina Zingiberis, Oleoresin of Ginger. Dose, ½ to 1 grain. 3. Tinctura Zingiberis, Tincture of Ginger. Dose 5 to 60 minims. 4. Syrupus Zingiberis, Syrup of Ginger. Dose, 1 to 4 fluidrachms. Specific Indications.—Anorexia; flatulence; borborygmus; gastric and intestinal spasms; acute colds; painful menstruation; cold extremities; cool surface in children's diseases. Action.—Ginger is a local irritant and rubefacient. It causes an increased flow of saliva and gastric juice and increases muscular activity of the stomach and intestines. It is much used to conceal the taste of nauseous medicines and to prevent tormina. Ginger is sometimes used as an ingredient of so-called "spice poultices". Therapy.—Ginger is an admirable local stimulant, sialagogue, diaphoretic and carminative. Powdered ginger in a large quantity of cold water, taken upon retiring, will frequently "break up" a severe cold, and a hot infusion or ginger tea is a popular remedy for similar use and to establish sluggish menstruation or mitigate the pains of dysmenorrhea. Ginger is an excellent agent in gastric atony, and good results may be had from it in atonic states of the digestive tube, with loss of appetite, rolling of gases in the bowels, and painful spasmodic contractions of the stomach and intestines. In acute dysentery and diarrhoea, and in cholera morbus and sometimes in cholera infantum with atony and nausea, vomiting and cold extremities and surface, small doses of ginger preparations are extremely valuable. Cramps in the stomach and bowels due to undigested food or to cold are speedily relieved by small doses of ginger. Ginger combined with magnesium oxide or sodium bicarbonate is a good gastric stimulant and corrective in persistent flatulency with sour stomach, and given alone is useful for old people with feeble digestive powers and enfeebled and lax habit. Rarely, tincture of ginger or specific medicine zingiber is serviceable in fevers, when the salivary secretions are scanty and there is pain and movement of gases in the intestines. It relieves by stimulating secretion, the ultimate effect being sedative. In such states it acts much like capsicum, but is not so efficient. Oleoresin of ginger may be added to pills to prevent griping and tormina; and the syrup is an agreeable vehicle for stomachic and sometimes for expectorant mixtures.