Krameria. - Synonym. - Rhatany. The root of Krameria triandra Ruiz et Pavon, and of Krameria Ixina Linne (nat. ord. Polygaleae).

Habitat

Peru and Bolivia.

Characters

From 1 to 3 cm. thick, knotty and several-headed above, branched below, the branches long; bark smooth or, in the thinner pieces, scaly, deep rust-brown, I to 2 mm. thick, very astringent, inodorous; wood pale brownish red, tough, with fine medullary rays, nearly tasteless. The root of Krameria Ixina (Savanilla Rhatany) is less knotty and more slender, and has a dark purplish-brown bark, about 3 mm. thick.

Composition

The chief constituents are - (1) Kramerotannic Acid, C54H24O21, 20 per cent. (.2) Rhatanin. (3) Rhatanic red, C26H22O11, the coloring matter.

Incompatibles. - Alkalies, lime water, iron and lead salts, and gelatin.

Dose, 5 to 30 gr.; .30 to 2.00 gm.

Preparations

1. Extractum Krameriae. - Extract of Krameria. By percolation with water, straining and evaporation.

Dose, 5 to 10 gr.; .30 to .60 gm.

2. Extractum Krameriae Fluidum. - Fluid Extract of Kramer. By maceration and percolation with Glycerin and Diluted Alcohol, and evaporation.

Fluid Extract of Krameria is used to make Syrupus Krameriae. Dose, 5 to 30 m.; .30 to 2.00 c.c.

3. Tinctura Krameriae. - Tincture of Krameria. Krameria, 200; by maceration and percolation with Diluted Alcohol to 1000.

Dose, 1/2 to 2 fl. dr.; 2. to 8. c.c.

4. Trochisci Krameriae. - Troches of Krameria. Extract of Krameria, 6; Sugar, 65 ; Tragacanth, 2 gm.; Stronger Orange Flower

Water, a sufficient quantity to make 100 troches. Each troche contains about 1 gr.; .06 gm. Dose, 1 to 5 troches.

5. Syrupus Krameriae. - Syrup of Krameria. Fluid Extract of Krameria, 450; Syrup, 550.

Dose, 1/2 to 4 fl. dr.; 2. to 15. c.c.

Action Of Krameria

The action of krameria is due entirely to the tannic acid it contains. It is therefore a powerful astringent.

Therapeutics Of Krameria

The extract is the important ingredient of many tooth powders which are useful when the gums are liable to bleed. An infusion B. P., 1 to 20 is an excellent gargle for a relaxed throat, and the troches are also efficacious. The B. P. has a troche each containing 1 gr.; .06 gm. of the extract with 1/20 gr.; .003 gm. of cocaine hydrochlorate, with a fruit basis. Bleeding from the nose or the rectum may be stopped by applying powdered krameria locally; the infusion may be used as an injection in leucorrhoea or gonorrhoea. Any of its preparations, especially the fluid extract are powerful astringents for all varieties of diarrhoea, and may be taken to stop bleeding from the stomach and intestines. They are also given as remote haemostatics for haemoptysis and haematuria, but they are not reliable for these purposes.