Common names: Pipsissewa, Prince’s Pine.
Introduction.
Chimaphila umbellata, Nutt Natural order: Ericaceae Preparation: Tincture of whole plant when in flower.
General symptoms.
In one case of ague its diuretic operation was evident; the urine discharged was almost black; it appeared as if a few drops of sulphate of iron had been put into an astringent infusion.
Patient laboring under ascites took a strong infusion of the plant; the following nights he voided more urine than he had in the three nights and days previous put together; “the color of his water has changed from that of brick dust to the exact hue of the infusion drank” (that is, like green tea). Organic disease of the liver. Tapping necessary; took the infusion. “Its influence on the kidneys was apparent in two days for the quantity of urine discharged in twenty four hours amounted to two pints and was soon increased to three and occasionally four pints; a decided effect was produced upon the stomach which we had not looked for, namely and increase of appetite; the strength improved daily, the countenance became less sallow, and the abdomen did not begin to fill for several weeks. A young man who had drank a pint of the infusion, “would have slept well if he had not been constantly waked by calls to make water”. An agreeable sensation was perceived in the stomach soon after taking it, followed in some instances by an extraordinary increase in appetite. It has produced sickness at the stomach, so that the patient could not continue its use. “A young woman, who took the extract experience great increase of appetite as well as augmentation of the discharge of urine of a greenish color. She adds that at the same time she felt a most uncommon sensation in the small of her back in the region of the kidneys, sometimes on one side of the spine, and sometimes on the other, as if something were fluttering within, without occasioning pain or uneasiness of any sort; she has never experienced the same sensation since she left off taking the medicine. The bruised leaves, held to the fire until they were as hot as could be endured, were applied to a shoulder affected with acute rheumatism for three hours. “The application produced great heat, irritation, and redness followed by such sharp pain that profuse sweat over the whole body ensued”.
Born in 1837in Westminster, Vermont. . He was an orthodox doctor who converted to homeopathy
Dr. Allen compiled the Encyclopedia of Pure Materia Medica over the course of 10 years.
In 1881 Allen published A Critical Revision of the Encyclopedia of Pure Materia Medica.