Fragrant Sumach. Rhus aromatica.

Synonym—Sweet Sumach.

CONSTITUENTS—

Volatile oil, several resins, fat, tannin, gum.

PREPARATIONS—

Extractum Rhus Aromaticae fluidum, fluid extract of Rhus Aromatica. Dose, from ten to thirty minims.

Specific Medicine Fragrant Sumach. Dose, from five to thirty minims.

Therapy—The direct influence of this agent is exerted in certain cases of polyuria. It is said to be specific also to nocturnal enuresis in children, and yet our knowledge is not sufficient to define the exact cases, consequently its use is more or less empirical. Benefit is claimed for its use in full doses in all cases where there is much urine, without sugar.

This is the case in interstitial nephritis as well as in simple diabetes insipidus. It is not contraindicated in diabetes mellitus, but is only occasionally of service. Active astringent properties are claimed for it, and yet in this exercise it is different, from ordinary astringents.

In many cases of urinary incontinence both in children and in the aged, it will produce satisfactory cures. It apparently acts as a tonic and sedative to the muscular structures of the urinary apparatus, as old people who suffer from a general debilitated condition and are troubled with dribbling, have the power to control the urine restored. It should be used freely in such cases, and its influence when specifically defined will give it an important place in the therapeutics of enuresis.

It has an influence not to be overlooked in passive hemorrhages from the urinary apparatus—haematuria, controlling most satisfactorily many cases. It is useful in passive uterine hemorrhage and in pulmonary and bronchial hemorrhage. It is also useful in controlling night sweats and the diarrhea of phthisis. The hemorrhage often present in chronic diarrhea and dysentery is restrained by it, when it checks the action of the bowels also, improving the tone and restoring normal function.

If satisfactory results are not obtained from small doses it may be pushed until sixty-drops are given to an adult.

In purpura hemorrhagica it has worked nicely and will often be found useful. It has cured many cases of leucorrhea and of gonorrhea and other passive discharges of a catarrhal character.

The American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy, 1919, was written by Finley Ellingwood, M.D.
It was scanned by Michael Moore for the Southwest School of Botanical Medicine.