WARNING: All medicines, drugs, plants, chemicals or medicial precedures below are for historical reference only. Many of these treatments are now known to be harmful and possibly fatal. Do not consume any plant, chemical, drug or otherwise without first consulting a licensed physician that practices medine in the appropriate field.
Felter's Materia Medica on Kalmia
KALMIA
The leaves of Kalmia latifolia, Linné (Nat. Ord. Ericaceae). A beautiful shrub of mountains and damp situations in the United States. Common Names: Mountain Laurel, Laurel, Sheep Laurel, Lambkill, etc. Principal Constituents.-A neutral, poisonous principle, andromedotoxin (C31H51O10), arbutin, resin, and tannin. Preparation.Specific Medicine Kalmia. Dose, 1 to 20 drops. Specific Indications.Fugitive rheumatic pains; aching pain in the back; pain upon movement of the eyeballs; excited circulation; cardiac palpitation reflex from gastro-intestinal irritation; chronic syphilitic cachexia. Action and Therapy.King valued kalmia in constitutional syphilis, with excited heart-action and rapid circulation. Being a sedative it is said to allay fever and inflammation, and it is credited with power to relieve symptoms due to cardiac hypertrophy. It is also a remedy for aching pain, shifting rheumatic pain, aching pain in the back during menstruation, and ocular pain upon movement of the eyes. Palpitation of the heart excited reflexly by gastro-intestinal disturbances is sometimes relieved by it. It is said to be most valuable when the disorders above mentioned are associated with a syphilitic taint. Kalmia has never obtained a very important place in medicine, though it possesses strongly toxic properties.1
The leaves of Kalmia latifolia, Linné (Nat. Ord. Ericaceae). A beautiful shrub of mountains and damp situations in the United States. Common Names: Mountain Laurel, Laurel, Sheep Laurel, Lambkill, etc. Principal Constituents.-A neutral, poisonous principle, andromedotoxin (C31H51O10), arbutin, resin, and tannin. Preparation.Specific Medicine Kalmia. Dose, 1 to 20 drops. Specific Indications.Fugitive rheumatic pains; aching pain in the back; pain upon movement of the eyeballs; excited circulation; cardiac palpitation reflex from gastro-intestinal irritation; chronic syphilitic cachexia. Action and Therapy.King valued kalmia in constitutional syphilis, with excited heart-action and rapid circulation. Being a sedative it is said to allay fever and inflammation, and it is credited with power to relieve symptoms due to cardiac hypertrophy. It is also a remedy for aching pain, shifting rheumatic pain, aching pain in the back during menstruation, and ocular pain upon movement of the eyes. Palpitation of the heart excited reflexly by gastro-intestinal disturbances is sometimes relieved by it. It is said to be most valuable when the disorders above mentioned are associated with a syphilitic taint. Kalmia has never obtained a very important place in medicine, though it possesses strongly toxic properties.1
References
1) Felter, Harvey Wickes, 1922, The Eclectic Materia Medica, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Cincinnati, Ohio.