Internal Medicine
Platelets, also known as thrombocytes, are blood cells. They form in your bone marrow, a sponge-like tissue in your bones. Platelets play a major role in blood clotting. Normally, when one of your blood vessels is injured, you start to bleed. Your platelets will clot (clump together) to plug the hole in the blood vessel and stop the bleeding. You can have different problems with your platelets:
- If your blood has a low number of platelets, it is called thrombocytopenia. This can put you at risk for mild to serious bleeding. The bleeding could be external or internal. There can be various causes. If the problem is mild, you may not need treatment. For more serious cases, you may need medicines or blood or platelet transfusions.
- If your blood has too many platelets, you may have a higher risk of blood clots.
- When the cause is unknown, this is called thrombocythemia. It is rare. You may not need treatment if there are no signs or symptoms. In other cases, people who have it may need treatment with medicines or procedures.
- If another disease or condition is causing the high platelet count, it is thrombocytosis. The treatment and outlook for thrombocytosis depends on what is causing it.
- Another possible problem is that your platelets do not work as they should. For example, in von Willebrand Disease, your platelets cannot stick together or cannot attach to blood vessel walls. This can cause excessive bleeding. There are different types of in von Willebrand Disease; treatment depends on which type you have.
NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
WARNING: All medicines, drugs, plants, chemicals or medicial precedures below are for historical reference only.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 Internal Medicine
GALLA
An excrescence on Quercus infectoria, Olivier, and other allied species of Quercus (Nat. Ord. Fagaceae), caused by the punctures and deposited ova... / ...Galls are astringent and owe this property to the large quantity of tannic acid they contain. As an internal medicine and largely for external purposes they have been supplanted by gallic and tannic a... / ...with opium for the same purpose.1
An excrescence on Quercus infectoria, Olivier, and other allied species of Quercus (Nat. Ord. Fagaceae), caused by the punctures and deposited ova... / ...Galls are astringent and owe this property to the large quantity of tannic acid they contain. As an internal medicine and largely for external purposes they have been supplanted by gallic and tannic a... / ...with opium for the same purpose.1
HUMULUS
The strobiles of Humulus Lupulus, Linné (Nat. Ord. Urticaceae). Europe and Asia; common in cultivation. Common Names: Hops, Hop. Principal Constituents.Lupulin (see Lupulinum),... / ...pepsia with acid eructations. For other uses see Lupulinum, which has superseded hops largely as an internal medicine.1
The strobiles of Humulus Lupulus, Linné (Nat. Ord. Urticaceae). Europe and Asia; common in cultivation. Common Names: Hops, Hop. Principal Constituents.Lupulin (see Lupulinum),... / ...pepsia with acid eructations. For other uses see Lupulinum, which has superseded hops largely as an internal medicine.1
VERATRINA
Veratrine, Veratria. A mixture of alkaloids obtained from the seeds of Schoenocaulon officinale, Asa Gray (Sabadilla officinarum, Brandt; Asagrea officinalis (Chamisso and Schlechtendal)... / ...ities of olive oil and oleic acid is usually employed. Internal. Veratrine should not be used as an internal medicine.1
Veratrine, Veratria. A mixture of alkaloids obtained from the seeds of Schoenocaulon officinale, Asa Gray (Sabadilla officinarum, Brandt; Asagrea officinalis (Chamisso and Schlechtendal)... / ...ities of olive oil and oleic acid is usually employed. Internal. Veratrine should not be used as an internal medicine.1
References
1) Felter, Harvey Wickes, 1922, The Eclectic Materia Medica, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Cincinnati, Ohio.