Medicinal
Applications
Action
Alterative, gastric stimulant and
appetizer; in large doses it is acro-narcotic poison. Locally it is vasicant. It has a specific action on the uterus.
Root is said to increase the digestive power and promote appetite.
Plumbagin stimulates the central nervous system in small doses, while with larger doses paralysis sets in leading ultimately to death. The blood pressure shows a slight fall.
Plumbagin is a powerful irritant and has well marked antiseptic
properties. In small doses, the drug is a sudorific; large doses cause death from respiratory failure.
It is suggested that the action is probably due to the direct effect of the drug on the
muscles.
Uses
A liniment made from bruised root
mixed with a little bland oil is used as a rubefacient in rheumatism, paralytic affections, in enlarged glands, buboes etc.
This herb cures certain cases of
leucoderma. It is also useful for other skin diseases and for scorpion-sting.
Scraped root is introduced into the mouth of the womb to procure
illegal abortion. It will expel the fetus from the womb whether dead or alive.
A tincture of the root is used in secondary syphilis, in leprosy, and also in dyspepsia, piles, flatulence, loss of appetite and other digestive complaints. It is a good remedy to check post partum
hemorrhage.
Caution: Use this
carefully. High doses are dangerous and can death.
Root, and root-bark are
used in making caustic pastes used for rubefacient applications (external).