 |
ASARABACCA ASARUM
EUROPAEUM If any purging and vomiting medicine as little as any man breathing doth for they weaken nature, nor shall ever advise them to be used unless upon urgent necessity. If a physician be nature's servant, it is his duty to strengthen his mistress as much as he can, and weaken her as little as may be. A creeping perennial plant, Asarabacca is now rare in most places, but still grows abundantly in South America. It has many small leaves each upon its own foot-stalk and the roots are small and whitish, spreading divers ways but not running or creeping under the ground. It bath dull purple, solitary flowers. Where to find it: It grows in gardens, but its natural habitat is woodland. Flowering time: Spring. The seed ripens about midsummer on. Astrology: 'Tis under the dominion of Mars and therefore inimical to nature. Medicinal virtues: This herb being drunk not only provokes vomiting, but purgeth downward, and by urine also, purgeth both choler and phlegm. The common use is to take the juice of five or seven leaves in a little drink to cause vomiting. The roots have the same virtue, though they do not operate so forcibly. 1 shall desire ignorant people to forbear the use of the leaves. The roots purge more gently and. may prove beneficial to such as have cancers, putrefied ulcers, or fistulas upon their bodies. Modern uses: Many over-the-counter medicines contain an emetic to prevent overdosage. Asarabacca was an official emetic, but has now been replaced by ipecacuanha. It is not recommended for domestic use as it is an abortifacient. It also causes internal bleeding and gastroenteritis. A homoeopathic tincture of Asarum is used to treat gastroenteritis. |