Tinctura Zingiberis (U. S. P.)—Tincture of Ginger.
Related entry: Zingiber (U. S. P.)—Ginger
(Modern shorthand: 1:5 91 %)
Preparation.—"Ginger, in No. 40 powder, two hundred grammes (200 Gm.) [7 ozs. av., 24 grs.]; alcohol, a sufficient quantity to make one thousand cubic centimeters (1000 Cc.) [33 fl℥, 391♏︎]. Moisten the ginger with fifty cubic centimeters (50 Cc.) [1 fl℥, 332♏︎] of alcohol, and macerate for 24 hours; then pack it firmly in a cylindrical percolator, and gradually pour alcohol upon it, until one thousand cubic centimeters (1000 Cc.) [33 fl℥, 391♏︎] of tincture are obtained"—(U. S. P.). Good Jamaica ginger is required in preparing this tincture. A turbid tincture results if dilute alcohol be employed. The preparation has a brown-yellow or reddish color, and has the characteristic pungent taste and aroma of ginger. When added to water, it renders the latter milky.
Action, Medical Uses, and Dosage.—(See Zingiber.) Tincture of ginger is an aromatic carminative, and may be added to tonic, purgative, and aromatic preparations with advantage. It may be used in flatulency, torpor of the digestive organs, and in debilitated conditions of the alimentary canal. The dose is from 10 to 60 drops, in sweetened water, milk, wine, or mucilage, as the indications will allow. Its chief use is in the preparation of syrup of ginger.
Related Tincture.—TINCTURA ZINGIBERIS FORTIOR, Strong tincture of ginger, Essence of ginger. Take of ginger, in fine powder, 10 ounces (av.); rectified spirit, a sufficiency. Pack the ginger tightly in a percolator, and pour over it carefully ½ pint of the spirit, at the expiration of 2 hours add more spirit, and let it percolate slowly until 1 pint of tincture has been collected (Br. Pharm., 1885). Dose, 15 to 60 minims.
