American root drugs

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

78958

Title

American root drugs

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

This authoritative 1907 bulletin details the botanical characteristics, collection methods, and medicinal uses of American root drugs. Written by Alice Henkel for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, it offers a scientific guide to native herbs like pinkroot and echinacea, addressing adulteration, pricing, and official pharmacopoeial status.

Summary up to 500 words

Published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Plant Industry in 1907, *American Root Drugs* serves as a definitive scientific catalog of the nation's medicinal flora, authored by Assistant Alice Henkel. This comprehensive bulletin profiles rhizomes and roots utilized in medicine, offering precise botanical descriptions, habitat ranges, and morphological details for species such as Pinkroot (*Spigelia marilandica*), American Colombo (*Frasera carolinensis*), Black Indian Hemp (*Apocynum cannabinum*), and Elecampane (*Inula helenium*). Henkel, working alongside a distinguished staff of pathologists and physiologists, addresses the critical challenges of the era, including the scarcity of native species and the rampant adulteration of drugs with substitutes like *Ruellia ciliosa*. The text clarifies nomenclature confusion, distinguishing true species from common misidentifications, and provides practical commercial data, listing prices ranging from a few cents to thirty cents per pound and noting which drugs were official in the United States Pharmacopoeia. Beyond mere identification, the bulletin details therapeutic applications, from the anthelmintic properties of Pinkroot to the respiratory remedies offered by Elecampane. It also cautions readers regarding toxicity, the need for careful preparation to prevent mold, and the specific seasonal windows for optimal collection. Standing as a vital historical record of early 20th-century ethnobotany, the work bridges the gap between indigenous knowledge and emerging pharmaceutical science, documenting the transition of American native plants into standardized medical commodities while highlighting the ecological pressures threatening their survival.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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