22
MATERIA MEDICA
† Argemone mexicana, Linn. 44, 45, and 46.
Habitat.—America. One of the commonest weeds in India.
Parts Used.—The seeds (No. 44), oil (No. 45) and roots (No. 46).
Synonyms.—Of the seeds—Mexican thistle seeds, Eng. Baram-
dandí-ké-bínj or Shiál-kánté-ké-bínj, Hind. Bharamdandí-ké-bínj or
P í l é - d h a t ú r é - k é - b í n j ,
D u k .
Brimadandu-virai, Tam. Bramhadandi-
vittulu, Tel. Brahmadanti-vitta, Malyal. Shiál-kántá-bíj , Beng.—Of
the oil—Mexican thistle oil, Eng. Baramdandí-ká-tél or
S h i á l - k á n t é -
k á - t é l ,
H i n d .
B h a r a m d a n d í - k á - t é l o r P í l é - d h a t ú r é - k á - t é l ,D
u k .
Brima-
dandu-enney, Tam. Bramhadandi-núne, Tel. Brahmadanti -enna,
M a l y a l .
S h i á l - k á n t a - t é l , B
e n g .
O f t h e r o o t s — M e x i c a n t h i s t l e r o o t ,
E n g .
B a r a m d a n d í - k í - j a r o r S h i á l - k á n t é - k í - j a r , H i n d.
Bharamdand í -
k é - j a r o r P í l é - d h a t ú r é - k í - j a r ,D
u k .
B r i m a d a n d u - v é r ,
T a m .
B r a m h a - d a n d i v é r u ,
T e l .
B r a h m a d a n t i - v é r a ,
M a y
a l .
S h i á l - k á n t á - j a r , B e n g .
Local Sources.—The seeds are sold in some bazaars of Southern
India, but not the oil and root. The oil can be prepared very easily,
and in any quantity, and the cost of gathering the root is very trifling.
Price.—Of the seeds—Wholesale, Rs. 2 per maund; retail or bazaar,
As. 1½ per pound.
Physiological Actions.—The seeds are laxative, emetic, nauseant,
expectorant and demulcent; the oil, a drastic purgative, nauseant and
expectorant; and the root, an alterative tonic. The seeds and oil have
also a beneficial effect over asthma.
Therapeutic Uses.—The seeds are useful in cough and catarrhal
affections of the throat and pulmonary mucous membrane, and in
pertussis and asthma. Though they do not appear to possess any
antispasmodic property, they have a distinct control over asthma,
apparently, from their combined actions of nauseant, emetic, expec-
torant and demulcent. As their use is often accompanied by more or
less vomiting and nausea, they are more suited as a laxative medicine
to some pulmonary affections than other diseases. The oil is serviceable.
in some cases in which jalap, rhubarb and castor-oil are indicated, and
also in some bronchial and catarrhal affections. The use of the root is
attended with benefit in some chronic cases of skin diseases.
Preparations.—As the seeds abound in oil they cannot be reduced
easily to a fine powder, and the best and most convenient way of using
them is, therefore, in emulsion which is formed by bruising and
rubbing them with water, and straining the liquid through cloth. The
resulting draught is whitish, quite tasteless, and is rendered very
palatable by adding a little sugar or honey to it. The oil may be taken
floating on water, in emulsion with mucilage or with sugar, The root
is used in decoction by boiling three ounces with one and-a-half pint
of water till reduced to one pint.
Doses.—Of the seeds, as a laxative and emetic, from one drachm
and a half to two drachms and a half; as a nauseant, expectorant and
demulcent, and also as a remedy for asthma, from forty grains to one
drachm, three or four times in the twenty-four hours. Of the oil, as
a purgative, from twenty to thirty-five minims, the average dose being
thirty; as a nauseant and expectorant, and also as a remedy for