Ambrosia Artemisifolia

NAT. ORD., Compositae.



COMMON NAMES, Rag Weed, Hog Weed.



PREPARATION.--The fresh leaves and flowers are pounded to a pulp and

macerated with two parts by weight of alcohol.



(The following concerning this little used remedy was

contributed to the HOMOEOPATHIC RECORDER, 1889, by Dr.

C. F. Millspaugh, at that time the editor):



Of late year much attention has been called to the species of the genus

Ambrosia (the Rag Weeds) as being, through the agency of their pollen,

the cause of hay fever. Many people afflicted with this troublesome

complaint lay the charge directly at its doors, while others claim that,

in all probability, it is the direct cause, as their sufferings always

commence during the anthesis of the plant. The general impression,

however, both among the laity and the medical fraternity, has been that

the effect was a purely mechanical one, the nasal mucous membranes

being directly irritated by the pollen dust in substance. If this were

true, would not every one suffer from hay fever? Impressed with the

above report, I had the pleasure of curing two attacks while writing my

work upon "American Medicinal Plants," in which the above species

figures. Since the publication of the work, all the cases I have had of

the disease (four) have yielded beautifully to the 3d centesimal potency

of the drug.



The four cases, Mr. B----, Mrs. I----, Mr. C---- and Miss P----,

presented the following generic symptoms: Inflammation of the mucous

membranes of the nose, adventing yearly in the autumn. At first dryness,

then watery discharges, finally involving the frontal sinuses and the

conjunctival membrane. In Mr. B. and Miss P. the irritation extended to

the trachea and bronchial tubes, in Mr. B. amounting to severe asthmatic

attacks. In all cases the coryza was very severe, and in previous years

lasted, in spite of all treatment, from four to eight weeks. Mr. B. has

found relief from Ambrosia [Latin: ezh], three times a day, in from

four to six days, for three successive years, with no return of the

trouble in the same year; Mrs. I. has been relieved in from two to four

days for two years; Mr. C. gets immediate relief in twenty-four hours

(three seasons); Miss P., in this her first experience with Ambrosia,

found entire relief from six doses.