Pulsatilla

Pasque-flower

Pasque-flower. The herb of Anemone pulsatilla and Anemone pratensis Linné (Nat. Ord. Ranunculaceae), collected soon after flowering. (U. S. P.) Pulsatille, Fr.; Küchenschelle, Ger.

Preparations

There are no official preparations. The tincture is the form usually employed in medical practice, the dose of which varies from one minim to twenty minims. A fluid extract, made in accordance with the general formula, may also be prepared.

Composition

The peculiar powers of the plant depend on the presence in it of an alkaloid—anemonine, a camphor. Anemonine crystallizes in prisms—the regular rhombic system—and is hardly at all soluble in cold water and in alcohol (Husemann). Pulsatilla also contains a peculiar acid—anemonic acid.

Antagonists and Incompatibles

The caustic alkalies, tannic acid, and the metallic salts generally, are chemically incompatible. From the physiological standpoint, pulsatilla is antagonized by alcohol, by opium, digitalis, etc.

Synergists

The effects of pulsatilla are promoted by the para-lyzers, especially by the other members of the same family—notably, by aconite, veratrum viride, etc.

Physiological Actions

The local effects of pulsatilla (the fresh plant) are those of an irritant; and, after prolonged contact, even caustic effects are produced. Applied to the tongue, it gives rise to tingling, burning, followed by numbness—effects very similar to those caused by aconite. On the intestinal mucous membrane it has very pronounced irritating effects. The active principles diffuse into the blood with facility. Depression of the heart's action, lowering of the arterial tension, and declination of temperature, are caused by pulsatilla. It is a paralyzer of motility and sensibility, but, as respects the motor functions, it is not known whether it impairs the contractility of muscle or the irritability of nerve; and, as respects sensation, it has not yet been determined whether the lessened sensibility is due to an influence which this remedy has on the spinal cord, on the nerve-trunks, or on the peripheral expansion—end-organs of the sensory system. Dilated pupils, hebetude of mind, stupor, coma, and convulsions, are cerebral symptoms which occur after a lethal dose has been administered. These cerebral effects may be due to a primary action of pulsatilla on the brain, or to the carbonic-acid poisoning and the anaemia. When the action of the heart and the respiration are very feeble carbonic acid accumulates in the blood, and an extreme degree of cerebral anaemia ensues. Coma, convulsions, and insensibility, are natural effects of these causes. Nothing is positively known as to the time and mode of elimination of anemonine, but it is probable that excretion takes place by the kidneys.

The production of any given physiological effect will, of course, depend on the genuineness of the drug. The active principles are volatile, and often disappear in the process of desiccation.

Therapy

Owing to the irritating action of pulsatilla, it is not suited to the treatment of gastro-intestinal disorders, especially when a state of inflammation exists. Notwithstanding this local irritant effect, homoeopathists employ it for the relief of dyspepsia and the accompanying mental symptoms; but, in coming to conclusions as to its curative value, they calmly ignore the natural history of these maladies.

Pulsatilla is adapted to the treatment of acute inflammation of the nasal, faucial, laryngeal, and bronchial mucous membrane—acute catarrh. It is not proper in those cases when accompanied by gastrointestinal disturbance. It is clearly useful in acute inflammation of the cerebral and spinal meninges.

It is used by the homoeopathists in the treatment of catarrhal ophthalmia, by internal and local applications; and they hold that it is very efficacious in certain diseases of the uterus, on which organ they suppose it to have a special or specific action. Sudden arrest of the menstrual flow, whether caused by moral emotion or by cold, may be relieved, and the effects prevented, by pulsatilla. As aconite is very useful under the same circumstances, it may be assumed that good results may be had by the administration of pulsatilla.

Authorities referred to:

Gubler, Prof. A. Codex Medicamentarius, p. 17. Husemann, Drs. Aug. und Theod. Die Pflanzenstoffe, p. 795. Phillips, Dr. Charles D. F. Materia Medica and Therapeutics, p. 11.