PAPAVER SOMNIFERUM.

Sunday, 02 July 2006

Herbal remedy for Malaria, asthma . Sans.----Khas khas. Eng.----Opium Poppy. Fr.----Oeillete Pavot somnifere. Ger.----Sclafmohn. Ben.----Posto" dheri. Tel.----Gasagasalu. Tam.----Gasagasa. Can. & Kon,----. Kasakase, Mal.----Kashakasha. Burm,----Bhinbin. (opium the inspissated juice). Sans Ahiphena; Saphe-naka. Eng. Opium. Hind. Duk. Ben. Punj. Arab.Pers. and Cash. Afim, Bom. Guz. & Mah Aphim:Appo. Tel. and Tarn Abhini. Can. and Kon Affini.Cing.----Abin. Burm Bhin; Bhain. Malay.----Aftiun. Opium is the concrete milky exudation obtained by incising the unripe capsules of P. Somniferum. It is at first brownish in colour which soon changes to dark; it is bitterish in taste and of an unpleasant odour. The seeds are white, grey, or greyish black; in taste they are sweetish and oily. Habitat----Behar produces what is known as Patna opium,", Benares and the United Provinces produce "Benares opium1 and Central and Western India and Rajputana are the sources of what is known as " Malwa opium. " Opium is also grown and produced in Nepal, Assam and Burma. Parts Used The nearly ripe and dried capsules, petals, seeds, and the inspissated juice. The drug is of two varieties, with black and white seeds----Papaver nigrum and Papaver album. Constituents.----The seeds contain a large per centage of a bland fixed oil of a pale golden colour drying easily and of an agreeable odour. The seeds are alkaloid free. Alkaloids exist in minute quantity in seedlings after about 14 days growth, and they increase until the seedlings begin to store albumen. As the seed ripens the alkaloid content decreases, the alkaloids being gradually consumed by the plant in effecting albumen synthesis. The inspissated juice----the opium contains a large number of alkaloids (28 in number), organic acids and neutral substances. The most prominent alkaloids are morphine 5 to 7 p. c, narcotine 2 to 8 p, c., codeine 0.2 to 0.7 p,c, thebaine or paramorphine 0.15 to 1 p,c, cryptopin 0.5 to 1 p. c, pseudo-morphine or oxymor-phine 0.2 p.c,, papaverine 1 p. c, narceine 0.2 to 0.7 p.c. The organic acids are meconic acid 4 p,c,, lactic acid l.25p,c. citric and tartaric acids which exist in combination with the alkaloids. Bitter neutral princi-pies as meconin or opianin 0.3 p.c., meconianin and porphyroxine, water 16 p.c. Opium also contains resins, a trace of volatile oil, glucose, sugar, gum, pectin, caoutchouc, wax, fat, colouring matter, odorous principles, essential oil and ash 6 p. c,, containing salts of ammonium, calcium and magnesium. Action.----(therapeutic.)----Poppy seeds are demulcent and nutritive, also mild astringent. Poppy capsules are astringent, sedative and narcotic; they promote talkativeness. Externally they are used as anodyne and emollient. Opium is first stimulant, then narcotic anodyne and antispasmodic, also aphrodisiac, astrin-gent and myotic. In over-doses it is a powerful narcotic poison. (Physiological) The Physiological action of opium depends upon the combined effects of the various alkaloids and other principles obtained from it. Opium in medicinal doses at first stimulates the brain, heart and respiration; this effect) is soon followed by general depres-sion. Generally opium is anodyne, hypnotic, antispasmo. die, diaphoretic, narcotic, myotic, intoxicant and cerebral depressent. Its chief action is on the cerebro-spinal system and through the nerves it acts upon all the organs of the body; it stimulates the generative organs; it affects all the secretions except milk and sweat which it increases by stimulating the mammary and sweat glands. It causes dryness of the mouth and throat, lessens the secretion of the stomach and thus impairs appetite; also diminishes bile and causes constipation, decreases the quantity of urine secreted, increases heart action and arterial tension It at first produces exhilaration of the cerebral functions, then a sort of mild intoxication followed by drowsiness and sound sleep, often disturbed by dreams, and often followed on waking by headache, constipation, indigestion and depression of spirits. Large doses produce depression of the heart, lessened activity of the cerebral cells and reduction of the blood supply to the brain centres, lower-ing of circulation and causing loss of body heat; the oxidation is interfered with. The cerebral depression is followed by headache, vertigo, slow and laborious respira. tion. In poisonous doses stertorous breathing and coma supervene, followed by feeble and slow pulse, cold clammy perspiration, contraction of the pupils followed by dilatation as the end approaches, cyanosis of the face and fingers, followed by abolished reflexes, deep coma, paralysis of respiratory centres, carbonic acid accumulation in the blood and death. Physiological action of Opium alkaloids:-As regards chemical constitution they fall into two main groups. One, the morphine group including morphine, codeine and thebaine, and the other, the narcotic group including narcotine, narceine and papaverine as its principal members. The most) characteristic feature of the physiological action of the opium alkaloids is their simultaneous depressing and exciting action on the central nervous system, and in this respect there is no clear line of demarcation between two groups. The five chief members----morphine, papaverine, codeine, nar-cotine and thebaine----all exhibit this peculiarity and as the series is descended in the order just given the nar-cotic action diminishes and the power of reflex stimulation increases until in thebaine a strychnine-like effect is exhibited. Morphine exerts both a depressing and stimu-lating action on the central nervous system, the former being produced mainly in the brain, the latter mainly in the spinal cord. In man the depressing action domina-tes the whole nervous system. Respiration is slowed by morphine, in many cases it may be deeper at first though the amount of air taken in per minute is reduced. Death ensues from arrest of respiration. The alkaloid has little affect on the circulation and this is also true of the peripheral muscles and nerves. The pupil of the eye is much contracted in morphine-poisoning until just before asphyxia when it is widely dilated. The alkaloid causes a slight fall in body temperature. Morphine is excreted mainly by the digestive tract, but after large doses it also occurs in traces in the urine. Papaverine is a, comparatively weak poison, but in the nature of ids effects stands between morphine and codeine, it produces light sleep in comparatively small doses and this does not become deeper when the dose is increased. On the other hand, the reflex irritability is increased and large doses may cause tetanising action. It has more tendency than either morphine or codeine to slow the heart. Codeine resembles morphine in its general effect, but its depressing action is less marked and less prolonged while its stimulating action involves not only the spinal cord but also the lower parts of the brain. In small doses in man it induces sleep which is not so deep as that caused by morphine, and in large doses it causes restless-ness and increased reflex excitability rather than sleep. The respiration is slowed less than by morphine. The pupil is contracted at first, but is dilated in the excitement stage of the intoxication. Narcotine generally resembles codeine in its action, bat is less depressant. It is much less poisonous than either morphine and codeine. It was at one time used in India for malaria, but has long been superseded by quinine for this pur-pose. Narceine has been recommended as a hypnotic, but is believed to have very little action when pure, probably owing to the instability of its salts and the insolubility of the alkaloid itself. Oxynarcoteine is described as a feeble narcotic poison. Of the derivatives of the opium alkaloids two are of special importance in medicine viz.----Apomorphine and Cotarnine. In the conversion of morphine into apomor-phine the depressing action on the central nervous system is almost wholly lost, but the stimulant action remains, and is exercised over the whole central nervous system, but especially on the medulla. In very small doses apo-morphine may not produce vomiting, though the secondary symptoms such as increased perspiration----which usually accompany this may be shown. The emetic action is due to the direct action on the medulla oblongata and not to irritation of the stomach. According to Hildebrandt thebaine antagonises the emetic action of apomorphine in dogs and Harnach and Hildebrandt have shown that a and b chloromorphides are also anti-emeties, the former being the more powerful. Cotarnine.----This decomposition-product of narcotine is used in medicine as a styptic in uterine haemorrhage but is Jess effective than hydrasti-nine and is said to produce its effect in a different way----(Plant Alkaloids----By Dr. T. A. Henry, D.Sc. London). Treatment of poisoning by opium.----In early stage give emetics (Zinc Sulphate, Copper Sulphate or Mustard or 1/6th grain of apomorphine hydrochloride hypodermically), stomach pump or syphon to wash out the stomach with a weak solution of Potassium Permanganate (1 in 400) until the fluid returns with its purple colour unchanged; repeat this every half hour for 12 hours; prevent sleep by walking the patient about and giving strong coffee both by mouth and by rectum. Flick bare skin with towels, maintain warmth; to combat failing respiration, apply artificial respiration, interrupted galvanic current, and inject subcutaneously Liquor Atropine Sulphate every ten minutes until the pupils dilate or the pulse is quickened; Faradic battery, strychnine hypodermically in case of respiration becoming very slow; Alcohol and Ammonia as stimulants internally. Preparations----(of the poppy seeds):----Oil. (of the poppy heads or capsules):----Fresb prepared Syrup (1 in 2« of water, A of spirit and 1« of sugar), dose is 1 drachm. Decoction (1 in 15) for fomentations etc., and poultice. (Of opium):----Extract (1 in 3 to 4 of water and « of spirit) dose is 2 to 5 grains. Pills, Tincture (1 in 8----laudanum) « to 1 drachm; Compound powders, Wine (1 in 20), dose is 10 to 60 minims; Plaster, Enema, Suppository, Liniment and Ointment; Morphine or Morphia occur ing as a white amorphous powder, or shining transparent acicular prisms; Dose is 1/10 to 1/3 grain ( ¬ of a grain of morphine is equal to-1 grain of opium.) Oleatum morphinae (1 in 60 to 1 in 10) is a local sedative. Morphine hydrochloride a white crystalline amorphous neutral soluble powder. Dose is 1/8 to « grain. For more preparations see B. P. Uses----These are varied and multifarious. The poppy seeds yield a bland fixed oil which is used for culinary purposes and for burning lamps. Medicinally it is used like olive oil in doses of « to 1 drachm. The seeds themselves are innocuous and used as an article of food. They are boiled, mixed with a little oil and salt and taken as curry with rice, or they are made into balls and formed with tamarind into an acid curry. As a mild astringent they are given with sugar and cardamoms (burnt); they are useful in diarrhea and dysentery. Poppy seeds are used as syrup in cough and asthma; they are sprinkled over some sweetmeats. They are used in insomnia. Poppy seeds and lettuce seeds 2 and 1 part respectively are soaked in water and mucilage extracted, mixed with sugar and taken in insomnia. Locally bruised poppy-heads are used as a sedative in the form of fomentations and poultice to bruises, inflamed, excoriated and swollen parts, to tender and irritable ulcers and to eyes in ophthalmia. Their decoction is used as a soothing in- jection in cancer of the uterus. They contain a trace of opium. For fomentations etc, they should be broken up and b oiled in water, and the liquor only is used. Into this, when quite hot, a flannel should be dipped and wrung out and then laid on the part affected dipping it afresh as it begins to cool. Fomen-tation is applied also to sprains, contusions etc. The inspissated juice is the drug known as opium. It is given internally in diarrhea, sleeplessness, colic, intestinal and inflammatory pains. Locally it relieves pain and allays spasms, As astringent it checks haemorrhages, lessens secretions and restrains tissue changes. "It is useful in fevers chiefly during exascerbation. It is also useful in supporting the strength and calming the exhausted nervous system. It should not be given at the com. mencement or during the height of fever with a dry tongue. In typhus fever, small pox and typhoid fever, during low muttering delirium with subsultus and jacti-tations, it is highly beneficial to revive the flagging nervous system. In fever with violent delirium, wake-fulness, suffused eyes and constant risings from the bed; opium given in combination with aconite renders the patient tranquil and induces sleep----(Khory). The opium procurable in the bazaars is always more or less adulter-ated. Of the several kinds of opium met with in India the chief are.----(1) Patna Garden opium, (2) Malwa opium. The former yields a large proportion (7 to 8 or even 10 per cent) of morphia. Of Malwa opium there are many varieties, of these the two principals are----the one occurring in flat circular cakes without any exterior covering; it yields only from 8 to 5 per cent of morphia; the other, a superior kind occurs in balls or cakes of smaller size; it yields from 7 to 8 per cent of morphia. Some points connected with the use of opium which should always be borne in mind are: (a) The drug should be avoided in cases of:----(1) Persons who are very intolerant to the action of opium, in whom even the smallest dose produces great nervous excitement, violent headache and vomiting. (2) Infants and young children who bear opium badly----(in diseases of childhood in which it is very necessary it should be given only under expert professional advice or superin-tendence and not otherwise). (3) Pregnant women, as it seems to exercise a prejudicial effect on the foetus. (4) Persons who are suffering from disease of the kidneys especially if there be a tendency to dropsy. (5) Doubt as to the advisability of giving opium. (6) Strongly marked contraction of the pupil. (7) inflammatory and other diseases in which the tendency to death is by coma or by apnoea, rather than by asthma. (8) Congestion of the brain shown by suffused eyes and contracted pupils. (9) Bronchi filled with excessive, thick and viscid secretion. (10) Conditions with suspected venus congestion. (11) Heart-disease. (b) If the patient is a confirmed opium taker, he requires a far larger dose to produce a given effect than one not habituated to it. (e). When the use of opium is dearly indicated and the patient from any cause is unable to swallow it may be given in an enema; in this case a larger dose is required than when given by mouth. Incompatibles----Potassium Permanganate is able to oxidise and so destroy the medicinal and toxic properties of an equal weight of opium; the other in compatibles are alkalies, alkaline carbonates and alkaline earths, subs-tances containing tannin, salts of lead, iron, copper, mer-cury, zine and Liquor Arsenicalis. Opium is used in many diseases such as rheumatism, tumours, cancer, carbuncles, abscesses, and ulcers, connect-ed either with leprosy, syphilis or scrofula in which the pain, especially at night, effectually banishes sleep. An adult may commence with one grain pill or 15 drops of laudanum, taken about an hour before the usual bed-time; if this succeeds in procuring sleep it may safely be repeated nightly; if not, the dose may be doubled the second night and trebled the third night, but not beyond this quantity except under professional advice. Even. these quantities after being used for a week or two if they lose much of their power, may require to be cautiously increased. When the pains are lessened and the patient is improving the quan-tity of opium should be decreased gradually hut not left off at once. To control the sleeplessness and restlessness of delirium tremens, mental excitement or exhaustion, opium given as above may be necessary, but each dose should be combined with 4 or 5 grains of camphor in the form of pill, in fact camphor alone in doses of 2 to 3 grains every 8 or 4 hours, exercises a most soothing influ-ence, and when this treatment is adopted, the opium at bedtime may be given alone. In acute and chronic inflammations opium acts as an antiphlogistic and removes the existing constitutional irritation. "After obstetric operations and even after surgical operations, its adminis- tration prevents secondary fever. Neuralgias are relieved by it. In excessive e xcitement as in acute meningitis, puerperal mania and insanity it should not be long continued as it would ultimately derange the digestion and the secretions. In sun-stroke it may be used as a cure. In uraemic convulsions it acts beneficially if bypodermically injected (morphia). In traumatic tetanus its use has been followed by a great diminution in the spasms. The pain and cough incidental to diseases of the respiratory organs are often relieved by opium. Its use should be limited where the bronchi are filled w ith tenaceous secretions. In the early stages of bronchitis where the tubes are dry and the cough painful opium mitigates the suffering. In phthisis it should not be used for a long time. In asthma, irritable hears and angina it may be given in small and repeated doses with good results. In disorders of the digestive organs and chiefly vomiting and diarrhea with colicky pains the use of opium is highly extolled. In acute dysentery it relieves tormina and tenesmus. In the chronic form it is efficiently given with astringents. In lientery it is productive of immense good. In the premonitory stage of cholera opium acts like a charm. In dysmenorrhoea and in grinding pains during labour opium is an efficient palliative."----(Khory). In fevers, especially in the advanced stages it is valuable either alone or in combination with camphor, antimony etc. In chronic gastritis, gastrodynia, nervous and sympathetic vomiting, diarrhea, dysentery, strangulated hernia, visceral obs-tructions etc., it is given with the best results. In diseases of the gastro-urinary system e. g., cystitis, cystorrhoea, spasmodic stricture of the urethra, also in menorrhagia, dysmenorrhoea, irritable states of the uterus, metritis etc., it is a remedy of the highest value. Tetanus and acute rheumatism are amongst the other diseases in which opium has been employed as a sheet anchor. In oases of spasmodic affections of the bowels, violent colic, and the violent pain due to the passage of all calculi, a full dose i. e., 20 to 25 drops of laudanum in a wine-glassful of omum water or infusion of sweet-flag root repeated once or twice if necessary at intervals of « to 1 hour, affords speedy relief. It proves, how-ever, even more effectual if introduced into the rectum either in the form of suppository (2 grains of opium with 4 grains of soap), or in enema (30 to 40 drops of laudanum in 2 ounces of thin conjee water). It may also be given with great benefit in irritable states and painful affections of the kidneys, In retention of urine due to spasmodic stricture of the urethra a hot-bath and a full dose of opium (25 to 30 drops of laudanum), followed by a dose of castor oil will give relief in recent cases of no great severity, following a debauch, exposure to wet, etc. The opium given in an enema of two or three ounces of rice conjee sometimes succeeds when it fails if given by mouth. Opium should never be given in Brights disease of the kidney. In diabetes opium occasionally produces the most beneficial results, especially in old oases occurring in the aged; the dose should be diminished or the remedy left off altogether, if it gives rise to headache or other bad symptoms. Generally persons suffering from this disease will take large doses with impunity. The Amritsagar recommends the following preparation of opium in diabetes:----Take of camphor and musk, each one part, opium and mace, each four parts. Make into two-grain pills. They are administered with the juice of betel leaves. In many affections of the uterus besides using opium in the form of suppository of enema, as mentioned above, camphorated opium liniment warmed, may be rubbed into the loins or a hot rice poultice sprinkled with laudanum, applied over the lower part of the abdomen. Internally in these cases it requires to be given in full doses combined with camphor. For the relief of after-pains 15 to 20 drops of laudanum in a wine-glassful of camphor julep or omum water or a little simple conjee generally affords speedy relief. In threa-tened abortion from a fall, over-exertion etc., in dysentery, a full dose of laudanum, and for the relief of the local pain, bearing down and straining in dysentery a small enema (30 to 40 drops of laudanum in 2 ounces of conjee) affords relief. Opium is a valuable adjunct to catechu and other astringents in the treatment of diarrhea. Rasendrasarasangraha gives the composition of a pill called Grahani kapata Rasa, which is recommended in chronic diarrhea and dysentery; it is prepared by taking nutmeg, borax, prepared talc and datura seeds, each one part, opium two parts and making into 2-grain pills with the juice of P‘deria Fetida, In cases of diarrhea with anasarca, another pill called Dugdhavati much used by Kavirajas is described in Bhaishajyaratna-vali; it is made by taking opium and aconite 24 grains each, prepared iron 10 grains, prepared talc 12 grains, and beating them into a mass with milk and making into four-grain pills. One pill is to be given every morning with milk. The diet is res-trioted to milk alone, water and salt being prohibited. For diarrhea with high fever, Bhashajyatantra recom-mends another pill known as Sambunatha Rasa; it is made thus:----Take of orpiment, realgar, cinnabar, white arsenic, borax, aconite and alum each one part,, mercury, sulphur and opium each 7 parts; soak them for 7 days in each of the following fluids viz., juice of the leaves of Cannabis sativa, Vitex negundo datura and nim. Make into 2-grain pills. These are given with ginger juice. Vomiting is sometimes speedily relieved by a few drops of laudanum (5 to 10 drops) in an effervescing draught, or a little omum-water. This drug is used as an aphrodisiac generally in combination with nervine and stimulant drugs. Sharangadhara gives the composition of a compound powder known as Akaradi Churna and used as an aphrodisiac, It is made up of pellitory root, ginger, seeds called kakkola, saffron, long-pepper, nutmegs, cloves, and red sandalwood, each 2 tolas, opium 8 tolas, rubbed together and passed through a cloth. Then sugar is added equal in quantity to all the above ingredients. Dose is grains 6 to 12 with honey. A simple opium liniment, (readily made by rubbing down a drachm of bazaar opium in 2 ounces of cocoanut, sessamum or other bland oil) proves very useful in many external or local diseases; including chronic rheu-matism, lumbago and other muscular and neuralgic pains, spasms and bruises, enlarged glands, mumps etc. Its efficacy, however, is greatly increased by conjoining it with an equal quantity of camphor liniment. This camp-horated opium liniment, is an excellent application in many painful external affections. It should be well shaken before being used. Care should be taken not to apply it to an abraded or sore surface, it is only adapted for the sound skin, and not even then if the pain is attended with much heat and redness. This camphorated liniment well rubbed in along the course of the spine is occasionally very useful in whooping cough. For stiff neck, warm laudanum rubbed in over the part answers better than liniment. In ophthalmia attended with great intolerance of light great relief may be obtained by fumigating the eye with the vapour of boiling water containing a teaspoonful of laudanum, or a couple of grains of opium. An excellent eye-wash in these cases is composed of laudanum, vinegar and brandy each 1 part and water 4 parts. Toothache depending upon a decayed tooth is often relieved by a grain of opium put into the hollow of the tooth; the saliva should not be swallowed. Earache also frequently yields to mixture of equal parts of laudanum and any bland oil inserted into the outer passage of the ear on a piece of cotton wool; care should be taken not to push it in too far. To painful piles where there is much swelling and heat, a very soothing application is a soft rice poultice sprinkled over with laudanum or smeared over with simple opium liniment).

Last Updated ( Sunday, 02 July 2006 )

 

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