102. Hydrophyllaceae.—Waterleaf family.
464. Eriodictyon.—Yerba santa. Mountain balm. Consumptive's weed.
The dried leaves of Eriodic'tyon Californicum Greene.
BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS.—Low shrubs with alternate leaves. Calyx of narrow sepals; corolla violet or purple, occasionally white, with the filaments adherent to it; ovary 2-celled. Fruit a small capsule.
HABITAT.—California, and in mountains of Northern Mexico.
DESCRIPTION OF DRUG.—Oblong-lanceolate, from 50 to 100 mm. (2 to 4 in.) long, 10 to 30 mm. (2/5 to 1 1/5 in.) broad, with a sharp apex, and narrowed at the base into a short foot-stalk; margin sinuate or almost entire; upper surface brownish-green and varnished with a resinous coating; under surface greenish-white, hairy, with a prominent midrib and distinct reticulations; brittle, odor aromatic; taste balsamic, sweetish, free from bitterness.
RELATED SPECIES.—Eriodictyon tomentosum, growing with the other, is large and has a dense coat of short, villous hairs, becoming whitish or mustycolored with age.
Powder.—Characteristic elements: See Part iv, Chap. 1, B.
CONSTITUENTS.—Volatile oil, an acrid resin, tannin, ericolin, C34H56O21.
ACTION AND USES—Long used in California as a stimulant balsamic expectorant. Its preparations are principally used, however, as vehicles to disguise the taste of disagreeable medicines like quinine. Dose: 15 to 30 gr. (1 to 2 Gm.).
- OFFICIAL PREPARATION.
- Fluidextractum Eriodictyi Dose: 15 to 30 drops (1 to 2 Mils).