Botanical Index No. 554

Ipecac

psychotria ipecacuanha

Medicinal Actions

Amebicide, Analgesic, Antiemetic, Antiinflammatory, Antinauseant, Antispasmodic, Cholagogue, Cytotoxic, Diaphoretic, Digestive, Emetic, Expectorant, Insecticide, Sialagogue, Tachycardic, Toxic

Primary Conditions Treated

Antacid Aperitif Hemostat Rubefacient Sternutator Abscess Alcoholism Ameba Anorexia Asthma Bilharziasis Biliousness Bleeding Bronchosis Constipation Cough Cramp Croup Diarrhea Dysentery Enterosis Fever Flu Gastrosis Gonorrhea Guinea Worm Hemorrhoid Hepatosis Inflammation Leukoderma Morning Sickness Mucososis Pain Pertussis Poisoning Pulmonosis Pyorrhea Sore Sore Throat Vomiting Worm

General Dosage

Emetic dose = 15 ml;; 0.4–1.4 ml ipecac syrup; 0.25–1 ml root tincture; 0.25–1 ml liquid root extract; 25–100 mg powdered ipecac.

Safety & Contraindications

Class 2b, 2d. Contraindicated I in patients with cardiac problems. Not for long-term use. May cause nausea and vomiting. “Hazards and/or side effects not known for proper therapeutic dosages when used as an expectorant”. Allergenic and myopathogenic after prolonged dosing. Toxic doses may lead to convulsions, corrosion of GI mucous membranes, hypotension, respiratory dysfunction, shock, tachycardia, and maybe even coma. Cephaeline is more irritant and almost twice as toxic as emetine. Ironically, while used primarily as a nauseant to induce the vomiting of poisons, in low doses the herb serves as an antinauseant, and folklorically, even in morning sickness.

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