Tolu. Balsam tolu.

PREPARATIONS—

Syrupus Tolutani, Syrup of Tolu; dose, from two to six drams.

Tincture Tolutani, Tincture of Tolu; dose, from one-half dram to two drams.

Physiological Action—The remedy is disinfectant-antiseptic, and when applied to the skin and to raw surfaces it is stimulant. It promotes healing of wounds and restores impaired and abnormal conditions of the skin. It is direct in its action upon mucous membranes, exercising a tonic and healing influence and restoring deficient secretion. It is eliminated freely through these membranes and through the kidneys, hence its beneficial action upon these structures.

Therapy—The agent is used in all forms of bronchial irritation. Its influence is not so readily observed in the acute forms as in the subacute and chronic forms. It is not sufficiently active to be depended upon to the exclusion of other more direct remedies, but it is serviceable in facilitating the action of these remedies and in modifying the action of stimulating or irritating expectorants.

In the treatment of the various forms of cough, induced by disease of the bronchi, the direct remedies may be often administered to excellent advantage in the syrup of tolu. Short, sharp, hacking, dry coughs are directly benefited by its use. On the other hand coughs accompanied with an extreme outpour of thick mucus, with an atonic, relaxed condition of the mucous membranes, are relieved by this agent.

It is serviceable in pharyngitis and in laryngitis. In whooping-cough it is an excellent menstruum for the administration of the direct remedies.

In diseases of the gastro-intestinal tract, or of the kidneys where turpentine is indicated, that agent may be administered to an excellent advantage in the syrup of tolu.

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.