PLEURISY ROOT — POISON OAK — POKE ROOT. 123 



PLEURISY ROOT. Ascleplas tuberosa. 



Synonym — Butterfly Weed, Swallowwort, Wind 

 Root, Tuber Root. 



Part used — Root. 



Action — Antispasmodic, diaphoretic, expectorant, 

 tonic. Is also mildly cathartic and carminative. As its 

 name implies, it is of great use in pleurisy, in which 

 disease it mitigates the pain and relieves the difficulty 

 of breathing. It is valuable in all chest complaints and 

 possesses a specific action on the lungs, assisting 

 expectoration, subduing inflammation and exerting a 

 general mild tonic effect on the system. A very useful 

 medicine may be madeas follows : Essence of Composition 

 Powder, 1 oz. ; Fluid extract Pleurisy Root, 1 oz. ; mix 

 and take a teaspoonful three or four times daily in warm 

 sweetened water. 



Preparations — Fluid extract: Dose, £-1 drachm. 

 Asclepin: Dose, 1-4 grains. 



POISON OAK. Rhus Toxicodendron. 



Synonym — Poison Ivy, Poison Vine. 



Part used — Leaves. 



Action — Stimulant, narcotic, irritant. Has been 

 used with success in treatment of obstinate skin 

 diseases, and is, in small doses, an excellent sedative to 

 the nervous system. Valuable in acute rheumatism, 

 articular stiffness, &c. 



Preparation — Fluid extract : Dose, 5-30 drops. 



POKE ROOT. Phytolacca decandra. 



Synonym — Pigeon Berry, Garget. 



Part used — Root, berries. 



Action — Emetic, cathartic, alterative. Poke Root is 

 considered a valuable remedy in dyspepsia, but is 

 mostly used in syphilitic and rheumatic disorders. It 

 also finds use in the treatment of ulcers, ringworm, 



