Monarda. Monarda punctata.

Synonym—Horsemint.

CONSTITUENTS—

A dark-yellow volatile oil which contains thymol. Soluble in alcohol. Dose, from one to five drops.

Physiological Action—In its general influence monarda punctata is a pure active stimulant of a diffusible character; a few drops of the oil on the tongue will produce a stimulation which will be felt at the tips of the fingers in a few minutes. It stimulates the nervous system and increases the heart's action, taking the place of alcoholic stimulants to a great extent. The essence, tincture or infusion are all prompt in their action. It soothes nervous excitement when due to exhaustion, promoting sleep and rest. Upon the stomach, in whatever form taken, it is a stimulant tonic and carminative.

Therapy—It soothes gastric and intestinal pain in the absence of inflammation, especially in Cholera Morbus and overcomes nausea and vomiting. It controls diarrhea from debility with relaxation of the mucous structures of the intestinal canal.

The agent is efficient in the control of vomiting due to exhaustion, or persistent nausea with flatulence present in dilated stomach, or the vomiting of alcoholics, in whom it will, in part, supply the craving for liquor, and impart a temporary tone to the stomach and nervous system. Dr. Laws claimed to prevent fully, all nauseating influence of lobelia and ipecac by this agent and from this influence he learned to try it in all cases of vomiting, usually with much satisfaction. He believed its influence controls irritability of the pneumogastric.

It may be given with turpentine or gaultheria in extreme atonicity of the intestinal tract in protracted fevers with tympanites. It is to some extent a diaphoretic, and has also a diuretic action which is important in these fevers.

The agent has been used to considerable extent as an emmenagogue, and is sometimes efficient in simple retention of the menses from cold.

Note—As sedatives to nausea and gastric irritation, other agents, as hydrocyanic acid, ingluvin, ferrocyanide of iron, and ipecac in small doses, are efficient, and this property is fully described in the consideration of the therapy of those agents in other chapters.

The American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy, 1919, was written by Finley Ellingwood, M.D.
It was scanned by Michael Moore for the Southwest School of Botanical Medicine.