Gentian

Description

Gentian Root

A Compendium of Domestic Medicine, 1865

All page numbers are recorded as (PDF #/SOURCE #)

Receiving its name from Gentius, King of Illyria (167 BCE). Used to treat gout, scrofula, amenorrhoea, worms, and dyspepsia. It is a large component of “the celebrated Portland Powder.” (90/69)

Remedies Containing or to be used with

• Acid, Nitro-Muriatic, Diluted (28/7): tincture of gentian included in draught to treat dyspepsia, heartburn, &c.
• Aloes, Socotrine (34/13): powdered gentian included in “The Aperient and Tonic Aloetic Pills,” and extract of gentian included in “The Aloetic Pills.”
• Alum, Common (36/15): extract of gentian included in “Alum Pills, for Spitting of Blood”
• Ammonia, Sessquicarbonate of (38/17): extract of gentian included in “Antacid Pills, for Heartburn and Gouty Habits”
• Dandelion (74/53): tincture of gentian included in a mixture used to treat “chronic affections of the liver”
• Extract of Gentian (84/63): stomachic and tonic
• Extract of Ox-Gall *88/67): extract of gentian used n “Stomachic Aperient Pills)
• Gentian Root (90/69): compound infusion of gentian included in a draught used to treat dyspepsia, dyspepsia accompanied by nausea.
• Infusions, Concentrated (105/84) of Cloves, Calumbo, Cascarilla, Chamomile, Gentian, Orange Peel, Quassia, Rhubarb, Roses, and Senna: “allow large doses to be given in a small bulk.”
• Soluble Tartar (159/138): infusion of gentian used in “An Aperient Draught,”
• Spirit of Turpentine (164/143): used by Dr Walker (of leeds) in combination with tincture of gentian to treat tapeworm.
• Tincture of Gentian (179/158): stomachic, bitter, and cordial, used to restore appetite and strengthen the stomach.

Diseases Treated with

General Diseases

• Epilepsy (251/230): extract of gentian used in pills used to treat epilepsy resulting from “weakened or nervous irritability”
• Gout (255/234): infusion of gentian included in a stomachic purgative to be given when treating gout that “attacks the stomach, accompanied with numbness of the limbs and a rapid palpitation of the heart.”
• Dyspepsia, or Indigestion (264/243): compound infusion of gentian is included in a draught used to treat indigestion that results from over stimulation.
• Jaundice (266/245): Plummer’s pills are to be given along with mild bitters, one of which can be gentian.
• Menstruation (268/247) Suppression of the Menses: an infusion of gentian or senna is the recommended purgative to use for treatment of this disease.

Medical Articles Containing

• Sir Henry Halford’s Gout Preventive (317/296): infusion of gentian

Prescriptions Containing

Antacids

• Antacid Draught (Another) (328/307): infusion of gentian

Aperients and Cathartics

• Aperient Mixture (332/311): infusion of gentian

Diuretics

• Diuretic and Tonic Draught (346/325): infusion of gentian
• Diuretic and Tonic Draught (Another) (346/325): infusion of gentian

Tonics

• Tonic Mixture (355/334): tincture of gentian
• Tonic Mixture (Another) (355/334): infusion of gentian
• Tonic and Aperient Pills (355/334): extract of gentian
• Tonic, Stomachic and Aperient Pills (356/335): extract of gentian