Grindelia robusta

Volume I — Appendix

Description. — This is a small herbaceous plant, with perennial root. It belongs to the order Composites. This species and the Grindelia squarrosa, which is often mistaken for it by herb-gatherers and druggists, is found on the plains of the Pacific Slope. The whole plant, like the G. squarrosa, is permeated with a peculiar resin, which is most abundant in the flower-heads.

Preparations. — Tincture of the plant ; dilutions.

° Chronic bronchitis and asthma.

° Humid asthma. Dyspnoea dependent on an accumulation of mucus in the smaller bronchi — tenacious and difficult to detach.

° Spasmodic asthma. Spasms due to irritability of the respiratory nerves.

0 Dyspnoea due to paresis of the respiratory nerves. ° A fear of going to sleep on account of loss of breath, which awakes him.

° Cardiac asthma, due to deficient spinal innervation. ° Dyspnoea from heart disease. ° Acute catarrhal asthma.

° Chronic bronchitis, and cough, with muco-purulent expectoration after pneumonia.

° In the catarrhal stage of pertussis with profuse mucous secretion.

° Many forms of renal and cystic diseases, when the mucous discharge is a prominent symptom.

° Gonorrhoea and gleet. ° Irritating leucorrhnea (locally).

° Local application for itching and erythematous eruptions, and mosquito-bites.

° Antidote for poisoning by Rhus toxic. Apply to the skin in the form of an infusion or dilute tincture.

Volume II — Special Therapeutics

This is a small, herbaceous plant, with perennial root. It belongs to the natural order Composites. This species and the Grindelia squarrosa, which is often mistaken for it by herb gatherers and druggists, is found on the plains of the Pacific Slope. The whole plant, like the G. squarrosa, is permeated with a peculiar resin, which is most abundant in the flower-heads.

The Grindelia robusta has been strongly recommended as a remedy for chronic bronchitis and asthma. It has also been successfully used in the treatment of gonorrhoea, gleet, and other mucous discharges. Dr. E. A. Gatchell, of Milwaukee, tells me that he has found Grindelia, in the form of a lotion, a sovereign application in itching or painful erythematous eruptions. It relieves the unpleasant sensation, as if by magic, and by preventing the scratching and rubbing promotes the cure. It has given relief when all the usual remedies have failed. He finds it also useful in relieving the effects of mosquito-bites. A lotion made by mixing one

part of the fluid extract or tincture in ten parts of water is all that is required.

Grindelia was first recommended as an antidote to the poisoning by Rhus tox. It is applied to the skin, either in the form of infusion or dilute tincture. No complete provings have been made with either species.

It seems to possess the same soothing effects on the mucous membranes as on the skin, in vaginitis, accompanied by violent itching, burning, with rawness and redness. An injection of 5j to a pint of warm water acts happily.

The following case is from an eclectic journal :

Mrs. - , aged fifty-three, married thirty-two years, mother of six children,

plump, somewhat inclined to obesity, of very fair and florid complexion, generally speaking healthy and of uncommon strength and endurance, bodily and mentally, had since her menses made their first appearance, always had a very copious flow, lasting three to four days, and the menses with great regularity returned every twenty-one days. About two years ago she underwent the “change of life.” Immediately after the menses stopped, vaginitis set in, and she says that the burning and itching she suffered day and night is beyond all description, and it had resisted every remedy that came within her knowledge. The flow of a whitish acrid fluid had also persistently continued. When the case was explained to me I recollected that Grindelia robusta was highly recommended. I

therefore put up

R. Extractis grindelise robust® fluidi, . 3 j .

Aquae pluvialis, . iv.

M. S. — Apply an injection with a common glass vaginal syringe twice or thrice a day, and apply the mixture to the parts inflamed externally by wet cloths changing them three to four times a day.

About a week afterwards patient reported success to my wife, saying, “ I have spent the first few days for years without suffering.” She was advised to keep the mixture about the house, and to apply it at the appearance of the slightest symptom of vaginitis.

There are two species of Grindelia now used in medicine, the Grindelia robusta and Grindelia squarrosa ; both are natives of California. They are physically remarkable for the large amount of resinous matters which they contain. Belonging to the same genus, their action on the human organism is quite similar. We have already a few suggestive provings and a large amount of clinical experience obtained by their empirical administration. As with other medicines, the provings verify the trustworthiness of

the clinical experience. The sphere of action of Grindelia appears to be principally manifested upon the mucous membranes and the nervous system. As a general rule, this is the case with all the gum-resins. Taken into the system they have to be carried out through the mucous surfaces whose function is to eliminate. Consequently the bronchial mucous membrane, and that lining the genito-urinary tract, are usually chiefly affected. But we know that in case such alimentary organs refuse to do their office, the drug imprisoned in the system attacks other portions of the organism. Therefore we find that Grindelia, as well as Copaiva, Terebinth., Balsam peru, Sambucus, and Stannum, often cause severe nervous symptoms.

The Grindelia robusta has been particularly useful in “humid asthma,” a disease which generally originates in catarrhal bronchitis. At first the dyspnoea depends on an abnormal accumulation of mucus in the smaller bronchi; it is tenacious and difficult to detach. The patient feels and knows that if he begins to expectorate he will get relief. As the disease becomes chronic, the “strain” on the respiratory nerves leads to such irritability that spasm results. This is called “ spasmodic asthma.” Grindelia robusta corresponds to these symptoms and conditions, and its provings already shadow forth a similar symptomatology. In purely nervous asthma, or the so-called paralytic asthma, where the bronchial tubes are so relaxed by paralysis of their circular muscular fibres that inhalation is easy, but expiration difficult, I do not think Grindelia will be found useful.

But there is a dyspnoea due to paresis of the respiratory nerves which obtain their vitality from the spinal cord, in which Grindelia is especially indicated. In a recent proving which I communicated to the “North American Journal of Homoeopathy,” occurs the following symptom: “ A fear of going to sleep on account of loss of breath , which awakes him.” This symptom occurs in chronic asthma sometimes, and very often in cardiac asthma. It is due to deficient spinal innervation. We have but few remedies which meet this symptom. Lachesis has been used, also Arsenicum, Nux, and Ignatia, but Strychnia6 is better than all. Soon after that symptom was published Dr. Wesselhoeft, of Boston, greatly relieved a case of dyspnoea from heart disease with this

particular symptom. He gave a low dilution. Eucalyptus, a kindred remedy, has relieved a similar symptom, also Tart. em.

The curative dose of Grindelia in asthmatic affections has a very wide range. Eclectics and allopaths report brilliant cures from teaspoonful doses of the strong fluid extract down to a few drops of the tincture. I have greatly relieved acute catarrhal asthma, even in children, with the lowest dilutions in drop doses.

The dose is of small consequence so that it does not reach the point of causing medicinal aggravation — a result which I have rarely seen in any remedy, and which is generally a myth.

Many cases of chronic bronchitis and cough, with muco-purulent expectoration, after pneumonia, has been cured by this medicine. It will doubtless prove useful in catarrhal conditions of the urinary and genital organs.

The Grindelia squarrosa developed in some recent provings very severe eye symptoms, resembling acute iritis, and a Dr. Fishe, in the “ Pacific Medical Journal,” reports several cases cured by its use internally and externally. He used appreciable doses. It may prove to be a very valuable agent.

In the catarrhal stage of pertussis, when the secretion of mucus is profuse, and there is dyspnoea therefrom, Grindelia gives relief sooner than Ipecac, or Tart. em.

In many forms of renal or eystie diseases, when mucous discharge is the prominent symptom, it will effect cures, but it must be taken perseveringly for some time.