EUCALYPTUS GLOBULUS-

Sunday, 02 July 2006

Herbal Cure for Fevers, Croup, Diphtheria, Whooping Cough Engm----The Australian Fever tree or Blue gum tree. Iron Bark, Wooly Butt. Habitat A. native of Australia, now being cul tivated on the highlands of India, chiefly on the "Nilgiris. Parts Used The dried leaves, gum (Eucalyptus kino), exudation from the stem, and oil distilled from the fresh leaves. Constituents,----The leaves contain volatile oil 6 p. c. tannin, Cerylic alcohol, a crystallizable fatty acid and a resin composed of three resinous bodies. The gum contains kino-tannic acid, oatechin and pyrocatechin. The oil contains Ncineol (Eucalyptol), d.pinene, eudeemol, butyric and valerianic aldehydes and phellandrine. Action----The leaves are febrifuge, stimulant, expectorant, diaphoretic and antiseptic. Anti-malarial properties are due to the volatile oil. Eucalyptus increases the flow of saliva, gastric and intestinal juices and thus increases appetite and digestion. It increases the heart-beats, lowers the arterial tension and quickens respiration; it is eliminated by the skin, kidneys, bronchi, thus found in perspiration, urine, breath, milk etc. In large doses it is an irritant of the alimentary canal, producing eructation, indigestion, nausea, vomiting and purging. In toxic doses it is a narcotic poison. It paralyses the respiratory centre in the medulla. Preparations----Ointment with iodoform, paraffin and vaseline; Oil; Tincture; Decoction and Infasion of leaves (1 in 5); Lozenge made of red gum with Fruit Basis; Emulsion with powdered gum and water for ure-thral injection, or lotion; vapour wish carbonate of magnesia (40 minims to one ounce); Eucalyptus gauze, Eucalyptus wool and Eucalytus saw dust as deodorants; Dilute Essence or Fluid Extract of the leaves. Uses.----Eucalyptus is used in the treatment of catarrhal states of the broncbo-pulmonary mucous membrane, intermittent and septic fevers, croup, diphtheria, whooping cough, purulent catarrhal affections of the genitourinary organs, and for surgical wounds, ulcers etc. Leaves when chewed perfume the breath and harden spongy and bleeding gum. Respiratory Affections.----In bronchitis where the cough is almost constant with a free watery and frothy expectoration, in subacute and chronic cases, especially when there is a tendency to spasm, and in coryza or nasal catarrh where there is a profuse offensive catarrhal dis charge, inhalations of the hot infusion of leaves remove The foetor and check the secretions the infusion. is also given internally in half to one ounce doses and in aphthous-uioerations in the mouth and throat of children, in tea. spoonful doses; in acute affections or recent iisflammation it is not so well adapted as to chronic cases with free muco-puruleut expectoration-Eucalyptol (the oil distilled from the fresh leaves) is used as dry inhalant. In whooping cough a mixture containing 10 drops of the tincture of Eucalyptus, and a drachm each of glycerine and syrup in an ounce of pure water, may be given in doses of two drachms, For infants of 2 to 4 years of age the dose of the tincture is 3 to 5 drops in sweetened water every three hours. Inhalation of the tincture is also recommended The mixture is useful in asthmatic oases. The tincture is administered with benefit in croup and ozena, and in cases of pulmonary gangrene with foetid breath, cough, dyspnoea and fever and black offensive sputa. Diphtheria,----Disinfection of the air of the patients room by means of the steam produced by pouring boiling water on eucalyptus leaves, has proved a simple and successful method of treating this fatal disease, in the hands of Dr. J. M. Gibbes (New Zealand) who claims to have treated a large number of cases without any stimulancs or medicine except castor oil. Fevers.----In the treatment of intermittents especially chronic and obstinate cases in which quinine has failed Eucalyptus is found useful; it is considered of great value, in the convalescence from fevers. In Australia it is a popular remedy for fevers. The reason of its being free from malaria is attributed to the abundance of Eucalyptus trees in that country. la Europe it is used in the treatment of diseases prevalent in marshy districts. In purulent catarrhal affections of the bladder, urethra and vagina, and in chronic cystitis with haematuria, tincture in doses of 10 to 20 minims has been found useful. In the treatment of chronic bowel complaints, especially chronic dysentery of Europeans red gum or Eucalyptus kino is useful; the dose is from 5 to 10 grains as powder or in the form of syrup. Drop-dose of the oil with a little water or tepid milk is said to be a sure preventive against cholera. Externally fresh young leaves are applied as a local stimulant to small wounds slow to cicatrise. The flaid extract suitably diluted is employed as a disinfectant lotion in gangrenous or foetid suppuration; foul ulcers and offensive) discharges of all kinds and as a stimulant antiseptic application in certain chronic skin diseases also as a gargle in foetid breath, spongy and bleeding gums. The fluid extract has been found successful locally in erysipelas of the face, leg and scrotum----(Dr. T. Williams/ Eugenia Acutangula.----See Baringtonia Acutan-gula. Eugenia Caryophyllata----See Hyrtus Carye- phyllus.

Last Updated ( Sunday, 02 July 2006 )

 

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