AMYGDALUS PERSICA

(Peach Tree Bark)

PHARMACY - amyg-p. Amygdalus persica Peach tree bark. Persica amygdalus. Persica vulgaris.

N.0. Rosacea, Amygdalae. Fresh infusion or tincture.

Historical dose: Tincture and all potencies.

CLINICAL - Gastric and intestinal irritation. Hemorrhage. Morning sickness. Nausea. Vomiting.

HERBAL – Outside the old herbalists, thev1rtues of the bark and leaves of the peach tree have received little attention. The infusion is made by taking of the bark one part and of roiling distilled water ten parts. Infuse in a covered vessel for one hour and strain. The tincture is made by pounding the fresh bark of the twigs to a pulp and macerating in two parts by weight of alcohol.

HOMEOPATHIC - Amygdalus pers1ca is a most valuable remedy in vomiting of various kinds including morning sickness. Constant nausea and vomiting. Irritation of eyes. Ischuria and hematuria. Hemorrhage from the bladder. Gastric irritation of children, no form of food tolerated. Loss of smell and taste. Gastric and intestinal irritation when the tongue is elongated and pointed. tip and edges red.

COMMENTS - Dr. Oliver S. Haines of Philadelphia contributed his experience: "Apropos of the remarks made b) Dr. C.C. Edson upon the efficacy of infusion of peach bark in the gastric irritability of children. we might mention the following authentic case: "For an adult the dose is five drops and in urgent cases repeat every five to ten minutes until the symptoms subside after which give it at intervals of one to four hours. as indicated.

"After ten years use, I am thoroughly convinced that an) physician once giving it a thorough trial will never again be without it, of course. It is not a specific tor all "Upheavals of tire inner man," but will I think meet more indications than any other known remedy of its class.

"An infant during its second summer, had been much reduced by acute dyspeptic diarrhea. A marked feature of this case was the persistent vomiting of all food. The stomach would tolerate no form of baby food with or without milk. The child's parents had consulted some eminent physicians of our city. The child had been given homeopathic remedies. None of the remedies chosen seemed to produce the desired effect. After a consultation it was deemed best to send the infant to the mountains. The change aggravated its condition.

"While the parents hourly expected their baby would die, it was suggested that they send for an old practitioner living in the mountains near at hand. "This man had a local reputation as a saver of dying babies. His prescription as follows:

Two or three fresh peach leaves were to be put in a cup of boiling water. The infant to receive a "drink'" of this infusion at frequent interval.

"The effects of this were remedy as remarkable in this case as in the case narrated by Dr. Edson. Our child soon retained food and eventually recovered. It seems this ancient disciple of Aesculapius had long used peach leaves and regarded them as possessing specific virtues."

Anshutz noted ''Dr. C.C. Edson "rote in the Chicago Medical Times. 1890: Some ten years ago I had a little patient whose principal difficulty seemed to be an inability to retain anything whatever upon its stomach. It would vomit up promptly everything I gave it and I had given it everything I had ever heard of and also had eminent council. but it was no go, I was literally at my rope's end.

At this juncture an elderly lady neighbor. one of "the good old mothers," timidly suggested an infusion of peach bark. I started to find the coveted bark, which I was fortunate enough to procure. I prepared an infusion. gave the little patient a few. swallows and presto! the deed were done, the child cured. It fills all the indications of the leaves and many more. It fills the indications of hydrocyanic acid, ipecac or any other anti-emetic.

It will more frequently allay the vomiting of pregnancy than any remedy I have ever tried. And nearly every case of retching or vomiting (except it be reflex) will promptly yield under its use.

"In recent cases I have very rarely had to give the second prescription to relieve morning sickness. I was visiting a doctor in Quincy, while there he told me he was afraid he would have either to make a lady abort of let her die from the fact that he had failed to stop her vomiting. Ihappened to have a sample of the medicine with me, I gave it to him, he took it to the lady and in a few days, he reported her well. l may say like Dr. Edson, it is a standard remedy with me. I have found it very useful in hemorrhage from the bladder.

"Some of my lady patients find it very good in nervous headache. I have used the tincture prepared from the leaves. but it is far inferior to that prepared from the bark of the young shoots. A medical friend was

going to see a lady who had morning sickness, he told me he had thought of advising her to use popcorn, I handed him a small bottle of my Amygdalus and told him to take a couple of ears of com in h.is pocket and try both. The next time I met him he said my medicine had done the work."

RELATIONS

Compare: (1) Amygd. - pains through tonsils, throat dark, difficult swallowing. vomiting. cough with sore chest.

REFERENCES- Anshutz. Boericke.