Armoracia.

Related entry: Armoracia under diuretics

The root of Cochlearia armoracia.

Dose.—From one-half to one drachm, grated fine.

Therapeutic Action.—Horseradish is described as stimulant, diuretic, diaphoretic, emetic, antiscorbutic, rubefacient, and vesicant. It acts as a powerful gastric stimulant, but its local action greatly exceeds its general excitant influence over the circulation. It promotes the appetite, improves digestion, and facilitates chymification; hence it is a valuable condiment in debilitated states of the primae viae.

It has been esteemed useful both as an internal and an external remedy in paralytic and rheumatic affections, and in the treatment of atonic dropsies, it often affords relief. For this last disease it may be used either in simple infusion or combined with juniper berries, pipsissewa, spearmint, the roots of the common white elder, or other diuretics. We have derived much benefit from a combination of all the agents just named as an auxiliary in the treatment of passive dropsies.

The American Eclectic Materia Medica and Therapeutics, 1898, was written by John M. Scudder, M.D.