Very inferior extracts of Rhatany are often sold. Its virtues may be considered as in proportion to its solubility. An active as tringent, and slightly tonic. It has beenfound useful for internal administration in chronic diarrhoea, dysentery, menorrhagia, incontinence of urine, haematuria, and passive haemorrhage from the bowels. The powder is also used as a dentifrice when mixed with equal parts of orris rhizome and charcoal, or with prepared chalk and myrrh.
Lozenges are also prepared, with cocaine.
A Rhatany from Guayaquil appeared on the London market, yielding a larger quantity of tannin than the Peruvian drug, but less than the other two species. A spurious Rhatany from Peru, of unknown botanical origin, has also been put on the market. It takes a deep purple colour when treated with iron, while Para gives a dirty brown and Savanilla violet. The powder is of a reddish-brown colour.