Botanic Remedies 183 



up, some from coal tar; hence they are not considered 

 in this volume. Consult "New and Nonofficial 

 Remedies," published annually by the American 

 Medical Association. 



GUARANA 



Paullinia cupana, in the Austrian and Spanish 

 standards as P. sorbilis. Official in Austria, Hun- 

 gary, Mexico, Spain, Switzerland, and the U. S. 

 Contains caffeine and theobromine and a fixed oil. 

 Average dose, fl. 30 minims. The caffeine is some- 

 times called guaramine when derived from guarana; 

 but the action is the same. See "Caffeine." Gua- 

 rana is employed chiefly in the treatment of nervous 

 sick headache and as a tonic, as is coffee and the other 

 caffeine-bearers. 



HAMAMELIS 



WITCHHAZEL BARK, Hamamelis virginiana. Offi- 

 cial in England, Mexico, Spain, and in the eighth 

 U. S. P. The leaves in 12 countries. Active on 

 account of crystalline hamamelitannin and amor- 

 phous tannic acid in the bark, and tannic acid in 

 the leaves. Used mostly as the AQUA HAMA- 

 MELIDIS, U. S. P., containing 15% of alcohol. A 

 saturated tincture is better, which may be diluted 

 with 5 to 10 parts of water for external application. 



The vessels, especially the veins, of the skin and 

 mucous membranes are constringed by this remedy 

 to a degree not fully explained by its tannin content, 

 even the gastroenteric tract responding somewhat 

 to its influence. 



It has never been proven, however, that it pos- 

 sesses any action except that of a tannin-bearer. 



