Pulsatilla. - The herb of Anemone Pulsatilla and of Anemone pratensis Linne (nat. ord. Ranunculacea), collected soon after flowering.

Habitat

Europe.

Characters

Leaves radical, petiolate, silky-villous, twice or thrice deeply three-parted or pinnately cleft, with linear, acute lobes, appearing after the large, purple flowers; inodorous, very acrid.

Composition

The chief constituent is Anemonin, C10H8O4, which is colorless, inodorous and, when distilled with water, acrid.

Dose, 1 to 5 gr.; .06 to .30 gm.

Action And Uses Of Pulsatilla

It is said to be very nearly the equivalent of senega, and also to paralyze the heart and respiratory centres. It has been used for the treatment of the symptom of asthma, convulsive coughs and in bronchitis. Pulsatilla is a favorite remedy for dysmen-orrhoea in its various forms, obstructive excepted. The fluid extract (not official) in dose of 1 to 5 minims; .06 to .30 c.c., has been highly recommended for orchitis and epididymitis.