Galium.
The herb Galium aparine, Linné, and other species of Galium (Nat. Ord. Rubiaceae). Common in moist grounds in Europe and the United States.
Common Names: Cleavers, Goose-Grass, Catch-Weed, Bedstraw.
Principal Constituents.—Rubichloric, gallitannic, and citric acids.
Preparations.—1. Infusum Galii, Infusion of Galium (1 ounce to Water, 16 fluidounces). Dose, 1 to 4 fluidounces.
2. Specific Medicine Galium. Dose, 5 to 60 drops.
Specific Indications.—Dysuria and painful urination in febrile and inflammatory states; renal and cystic irritation with burning; "nodular growths or deposits in skin or mucous membranes" (Scudder).
Action and Therapy.—Galium is a useful refrigerant diuretic in fevers and inflammations, and to relieve dysuria with pain and scalding or burning in the urethra or neck of the bladder. It may be used as a sedative diuretic in scarlet fever. It is undoubtedly alterative and may be exhibited in scrofulous disorders, but has been unwisely claimed as a remedy for carcinomatous growths.
Galium tinctoria is aromatic and has been recommended in the spasmodic cough of asthma and chronic bronchitis. The best use for these drugs is as diuretics.
