Coughing spasms that lead to retching or vomiting strongly indicate this remedy. Wheezing can come on suddenly with a feeling of suffocation and heaviness in the chest. Mucus collects in breathing tubes, but the person has di...
* Please Note: This information is based partly on Traditional Medicine which uses natural materials to support health. This information has not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These products are intended to support general well being and are not intended to treat, diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or cure any condition or disease. If conditions persist, please seek advice from your medical doctor.
Description
Asthma
Coughing spasms that lead to retching or vomiting strongly indicate this remedy. Wheezing can come on suddenly with a feeling of suffocation and heaviness in the chest. Mucus collects in breathing tubes, but the person has difficulty coughing much out. The person may sweat a lot and feel clammy or nauseous, be worse from motion, and sometimes worse from warmth.
Chemotherapy support
Persistent nausea and violent vomiting that does not relieve the discomfort suggest a need for this remedy. The person may also salivate profusely. Lying down and resting offer little or no relief.
Cough
A violent cough that comes with every breath, and long spasmodic bouts of coughing that end in gagging or vomiting, are indications for this remedy. The person may have a clean, uncoated tongue and experience tightness in the throat and chest, or an aggravating tickle. Warm, humid air or changes in the weather tend to make problems worse. Ipecacuanha is often used during asthma attacks.
Diarrhea
If a person has diarrhea accompanied by extreme or constant nausea, this remedy may bring relief. Cutting, clutching pains are worse around the navel, and the diarrhea looks frothy or green.
Injuries
This remedy can be helpful as first aid if heavy bleeding occurs after an injury, with a feeling of nausea and weakness. (Emergency care is crucial when serious bleeding occurs; pressure should be applied to a severely bleeding wound, and medical help should be found immediately.)
Morning sickness
This remedy is indicated for intense and constant nausea that is felt all day (not only in the morning) with retching, belching, and excessive salivation. The woman may feel worse from lying down, but also worse from motion. Even after the woman vomits, she remains nauseous.
General Herb Information
The ipecacuanha root has demonstrated emetic, expectorant, amoebicide, diaphoretic, and stimulant properties in laboratory studies. Its bitter and somewhat nauseating flavor has been used to great effect for vomiting up food poisons, amoebas, or for phlegm in the lungs. In terms of the biochemical composition, this herb contains isoquinoline alkaloids, tannins, glycosides, saponins, starch, choline and resins.
Ipecacuanha is easily obtained as syrup of ipecac from most pharmacies. Its primary use is as an emetic against organic noncaustic poisons such as food poisoning. It should never be used for caustic poisons, however, as any attempt to vomit back the poison may result in serious danger to the esophagus. Emesis can also be employed as a way of relieving severe lung and bronchial congestion and for the relief of asthma. Usually a teaspoon is sufficient to produce easy emetic action within 10 to 20 minutes after ingesting. Smaller doses can be used as an expectorant as well as a treatment against intestinal amoebas.
General Herb Information *Note: The following information concerns the ipecac herb, and not the homeopathic preparation, specifically. It is for related interest only.
Description: Ipecac is a small shrublet (up to 0.4 m) with bright green opposite leaves and distinctive interpetiolar stipules. Small white flowers are borne in compact clusters (cymes). The plant was previously known as Cephaelis ipecacuanha. An acceptable alternative source of the drug is the so-called Cartagena, Panama, Costa Rica or Nicaragua ipecacuanha, hitherto known as Cephaelis acuminata. Several tropical American species have been used as inferior substitutes or adulterants of ipecac, including C. tomentosa, C. humboldtiana, C. barcella and C. elata. The term ipecac or ipecacuanha has been used not only for "real" ipecac but also (incorrectly) for various other emetic roots.
Origin: Brazil. Roots are wild-collected, mainly in Matto Grosso, Brazil. Attempts at cultivating the plants in Malaysia were not very successful.
Parts Used: Dried roots (Ipecacuanhae radix) or standardised root powder (Ipecacuanhae pulvis normatus); isolated alkaloids (emetine).
Therapeutic Category: Expectorant, emetic.
Uses and Properties: Ipecac is mainly used against chronic bronchitis accompanied by a dry cough. At about 10 times the therapeutic dose, it is strongly emetic and therefore the active ingredient in emetic syrups. They are used to induce vomiting in cases of accidental poisoning.
Preparation and Dosage: The crude drug is not suitable for self-medication as the dose has to be very carefully measured. The expectorant dose is about 10 mL of a 0.5% infusion, while the emetic dose is 0.5 - 2 g of dried root or root powder.
Active Ingredients: The root contains numerous isoquinoline alkaloids (up to 4%), of which emetine and cephaeline are the most important compounds.
Pharmacological Effects: Emetine and cephaeline are almost equal to each other in their activity. The alkaloids irritate the nervus vagas in the stomach; this stimulates water secretion in bronchial tissues in a reflectory way, resulting in the known expectorant and secretolytic activities (note that saponins apparently work in the same way!). The alkaloids are also strongly emetic at high doses, and overdoses can be dangerous. Emetine strongly intercalates DNA and blocks protein biosynthesis; this is the base for its use as a cyrotoxic and anti-amoebic drug.
Status: Traditional medicine; Pharm.
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Directions
Select the remedy that most closely matches the symptoms. In conditions where self-treatment is appropriate, unless otherwise directed by a physician, a lower potency (6X, 6C, 12X, 12C, 30X, or 30C) should be used. In addition, instructions for use are usually printed on the label.
Many homeopathic physicians suggest that remedies be used as follows: Take one dose and wait for a response. If improvement is seen, continue to wait and let the remedy work. If improvement lags significantly or has clearly stopped, another dose may be taken. The frequency of dosage varies with the condition and the individual. Sometimes a dose may be required several times an hour; other times a dose may be indicated several times a day; and in some situations, one dose per day (or less) can be sufficient.
If no response is seen within a reasonable amount of time, select a different remedy.
Take 3 pellets 3 times a day.
Homeopathic medicines are safe and remarkably free from side effects. Your condition, however may require special care, so please observe the following: Do not take this product for pain for more than 10 days(adults) or 5 days(children) unless directed by a doctor. If pain gets worse, if new symptoms occur, or if redness or swelling is present, consult a doctor because these could be signs of a serious condition. As with any drug, if you are pregnant or nursing a baby, seek the advice of a health professional before using this product. Warning--Keep out of the reach of children.
Sublingual medication. Place under tongue; let dissolve. Take when mouth is in natural condition, 1/2 hour before or after eating, brushing teeth, or drinking anything but water.
Cautions
In order to maintain the potency and freshness of these products, it is very important to store them properly. They need protection against light, high temperatures and humidity, and, after use, are best stored in a small kit or bag.
Avoid opening a tube or any other container of homeopathic medication in a room where perfumes or strong odors are present. And, needless to say, keep them away from any cigarette smoke.
Additional Information
Homeopathy is a medical system based on the belief that illness can be cured by taking a minute dose of a substance that, if taken by a healthy person, would produce symptoms like those being treated. Homeopathy employs a variety of plant, animal, and mineral substances in very small doses to stimulate the body's natural healing powers and to bring the body back into balance.
Homeocan is Canada's leading manufacturer of homeopathic products
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Products are intended to support general well being and are not intended to treat, diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or cure any condition or disease. If conditions persist, please seek advice from your medical doctor. The essence of the current American rule on Traditional Uses is, as stated by FTC, "Claims based on historical or traditional use should be substantiated by confirming scientific evidence, or should be presented in such a way that consumers understand that the sole basis for the claim is a history of use of the product for a particular purpose."
