Aralia.

Related entries: Aralia spinosa under stimulants - Aralia nudicaulis, A. racemosa under alteratives - Aralia spinosa under diaphoretics

The bark of the root of Aralia Hispida.—U.S.

Dose.—Aralia is mostly administered in decoction. One ounce of the dried root to a pint and a half of water, boiled down to one pint. Dose, two to four ounces, repeated as often as the stomach will bear it.

Therapeutic Action.—Aralia is diuretic, alterative, purgative, emetic and detergent. It is an important diuretic, though but little used, and apparently but little known. It is the most efficient remedy in dropsies, especially in anasarca and ascites, with which we are acquainted. As an individual agent, if we were to select but one, for the cure of the varieties of dropsy named, this is the one we should choose. It greatly augments the flow of urine, promotes absorption, and if taken very freely, causes catharsis. It is an excellent vehicle for the exhibition of cream of tartar; one or two ounces added to a pint of a strong decoction of Aralia, and taken in the course of twenty-four hours, will rapidly reduce any dropsical swelling. Like other species of Aralia, it possesses valuable alterative properties, and if taken in large doses, it is emetic.

The American Eclectic Materia Medica and Therapeutics, 1898, was written by John M. Scudder, M.D.