Gossypium Herbaceum.
Syn.—Gossypium; Cotton.
P. E.—The bark of the fresh root.
N. O.—Malvaceae.
N. H.—United States, Europe.
Properties: Emmenagogue, in large doses a parturient.
Use: As an emmenagogue and parturient. Indicated as an emmenagogue where there is backache, with a sense of dragging in the pelvis; a feeling of fullness and weight in the bladder, accompanied with difficult micturation. In suppression of menses from any cause. In hysteria of females it is of some value. As a parturient it is one of our best remedies, producing firm, regular and strong uterine contraction. In uterine inertia it will increase expulsive power and prevent danger of postpartum hemorrhage. May be successfully combined with cimicifuga and caulophyllum. Also useful to control hemorrhage of cancer and uterine fibroids. No danger of gangrene from it as from ergot. As a parturient it is much safer than ergot, as it brings on regular intermittent contraction, while ergot produces tonic contraction.
The Materia Medica and Clinical Therapeutics, 1905, was written by Fred J. Petersen, M.D.
