Grindelia,—Grindelia.

Source and Composition. The leaves and flowering tops of Grindelia robusta and Grindelia squarrosa, herbaceous Californian plants of the nat. ord. Compositae. Its composition has not yet been definitely ascertained; but it probably contains an alkaloid, a resin, and a volatile oil.

Preparations. Only one is official,—

Extractum Grindelia Fluidum,—Dose, ♏︎v-ʒj. Is extremely nauseous.

Physiological Action. Grindelia is not actively toxic, large doses being required to kill small animals. Taken in quantity it excites nausea and vomiting, depresses the heart, respiration and temperature, dilates the pupils, and causes sleep with lowered cutaneous sensibility and reduced reflexes. Finally it produces motor paralysis, beginning in the legs, and causes death by paralysis of the muscles of respiration. It is slowly eliminated by the kidneys and the lungs, imparting to the urine and breath a peculiar violaceous odor. It is markedly diuretic.

Therapeutics. Grindelia is especially indicated in spasmodic affections of the respiratory organs. In—

Spasmodic Asthma,—as a palliative; 3-grain doses of the extract to avert the attack, or ♏︎xx-xxx of the fluid extract every half hour, beginning at the very onset. The dried leaves may be smoked in cigarettes, or the plant may be steeped in a saturated solution of potassium nitrate, dried and ignited, the patient inhaling the fumes.

Hay Fever,—is amenable to Grindelia in many instances; the fluid extract 4 parts, with 1 part each of the fluid extracts of Rhubarb and Senna, of which ʒij every half hour during the paroxysm, and afterwards at intervals of three hours.

Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema,—it is of real utility; also in acute bronchitis after the subsidence of the acute symptoms.

Whooping-Cough, Coughs of Imitation and Habit, and those of spasmodic character,—are helped by Grindelia.

Spasmodic Dyspnoea, accompanying various pulmonary and cardiac diseases,—Grindelia is often a very efficient remedy.

Chronic Pyelitis and Cystitis, and other genito-urinary catarrhs,—Grindelia is serviceable, being deposited as an oleo-resin along the urinary tract.

Rhus Poisoning,—the fluid extract of Grindelia is said to be one of the most efficient local applications in poisoning by Rhus toxicodendron.

A Compend of Materia Medica, Therapeutics, and Prescription Writing, 1902, by Sam'l O. L. Potter, M.D., M.R.C.P.L.