Natural order. Haemadoraceae. Common names. Colic root. Star Grass. Habitat. A perennial plant indigenous to most parts of the United States. Preparation. Tincture from the fresh root.
GENERAL ANALYSIS AND THERAPEUTICS.
Acts as an irritant to mucous surfaces and produces symptoms of congestion of the pelvic viscera followed by an atonic condition of all parts, but more especially of the female generative organs. It has been found useful in uterine atony; anaemic debility of chlorotic girls; prolapsus uteri from muscular atony, with general anaemia; endometritis; leucorrhoea; habitual abortion or sterility from atony. According to E.M. Hale. “It is the China, of the uterine organs.” Its most important symptoms are :-
“Tired, with dull heavy confused feeling in head, and inability to concentrate the mind; power and energy of mind weakened.”
“Premature and profuse menses, with labor-like pains.” According to Hering the drug is most useful in “Debility, especially of female, s from protracted illness or defective nutrition; no organic disease.”
It has also been used successfully in dyspepsia, with slow digestion and flatulence, and in the vomiting of pregnancy.
Compare. Aloe., Caulophyllum, Cinchona, Crocus., Hydras., Ferrum, Lilium tigrinum
ALLEN CORSON COWPERTHWAITE was born at Cape May, New Jersey, May 3, 1848, son of Joseph C. and Deborah (Godfrey) Cowperthwaite. He attended medical lectures at the University of Iowa in 1867-1868, and was graduated from the Hahnemann Medical College of Philadelphia in 1869. He practiced his profession first in Illinois, and then in Nebraska. In 1877 he became Dean and Professor of Materia Medica in the recently organized Homeopathic Department of the State University of Iowa, holding the position till 1892. In 1884 he accepted the chair of Materia Medica, Pharmacology, and Clinical Medicine in the Homeopathic Medical College of the University of Michigan. He removed to Chicago in 1892, and became Professor of Materia Medica and Therapeutics in the Chicago Homeopathic Medical College. From 1901 he also served as president of that College. He is the author of various works, notably "Insanity in its Medico-Legal Relations" (1876), "A Textbook of Materia Medica and Therapeutics" (1880), of "Gynecology" (1888), and of "The Practice of Medicine " (1901).