Grindelia Squarrosa.
Related entry: Grindelia robusta
Syn.—Ague weed.
P. E.—Fresh herb.
N. O.—Compositae.
N. H.—Western States, U. S. A., Mexico.
Properties: Expectorant, antispasmodic, nerve sedative.
Physiological action: In continued physiological doses it will produce an almost unbearable fullness in the head, followed by pain in the left eyeball and later also of the right eyeball. Pain in the knee joint, pain in the whole region of the liver and spleen, which becomes more severe. All are of the nature of acute rheumatism. To move the eyeballs is terribly painful and the pain appears to reflect backwards into the brain. Later interruption of respiration takes place, so that it can sometimes only be carried on by will power. This will show that its influence is on the nervous system in such a manner as to affect the optic nerve first and lastly the par vagum, thus interrupting respiration. The drug, however, is never given in such large doses and therefore is a safe remedy to use; but if it is taken in ½ to 1 drachm doses often repeated its physiological effect will be noticed as above.
Indications: A pale, puffy appearance of tissue, pain in the right or left hypochondriac region, enlarged spleen or liver, chills and fever, pain in the eyes, dull pain in the head, determination of the blood to the head, in fact any of these conditions if caused by malarial poison.
Use: It is the remedy for chronic or old cases of malaria, malarial cachexia, splenic hypertrophy, stomach troubles, neuralgia, irritable coughs with nervous erythism, the result of malaria. It must be continued for some time to affect a cure. In sore and painful eyes, pain worse on movement from cold, it is of value. Locally in skin disease it may be used with glycerine.
The Materia Medica and Clinical Therapeutics, 1905, was written by Fred J. Petersen, M.D.
