Sanguinaria. - Synonym. - Bloodroot. The rhizome of Sangui-naria canadensis Linne (nat. ord. Papaveraceae), collected in autumn.

Habitat

North America, in rich woods.

Characters

Of horizontal growth, about 5 cm. long, and 1 cm. thick, cylindrical, somewhat branched, faintly annulate, wrinkled, reddish-brown; fracture short, somewhat waxy, whitish with numerous small, red resin-cells, or of a nearly uniform, brownish-red color; bark, thin; odor, slight; taste persistently bitter and acrid.

Composition

Its chief constituents are - (1) Sanguinarine, C20H13No4 a white substance, soluble in Alcohol. (2) Chelerythrine, C20H15No4. (3) Protopine. - C20H27No5, also present in Opium. (4) Homochelidonine, C22 H21No4. (5) Resins. (6) Citric and Malic Acids.

Dose, 2 to 30 gr.; .12 to 2.00 gm.

Preparations

1. Extractum Sanguinariae Fluidum. - Fluid Extract of San-guinaria. By maceration and percolation with Alcohol, Water and Acetic Acid, and evaporation.

Dose, 1 to 5 m.; .06 to .30 c.c. (expectorant); 1/4 to 1 fl. dr.; 1. to 4. c.c. (emetic).

2. Tinctura Sanguinariae. - Tincture of Sanguinaria. Sangui-naria, 150; by maceration with Alcohol, Acetic Acid and Water, and percolation to 1000.

Dose, 5 to 30 m.; .30 to 2.00 c.c. (expectorant); 1 to 3 fl. dr.; 4. to 12. c.c. (emetic).

Action And Uses Of Sanguinaria

Sanguinaria is an acrid emetic with stimulant, and in large doses, narcotic powers; it is also expectorant and said to be an emmenagogue. It is chiefly used as a stimulating expectorant in chronic bronchitis or in advanced stages of the acute disease.