Catalpa

Persistent spasmodic cough with wheeze in a debilitated, cold-natured patient, calling for a warming antispasmodic expectorant

Languid digestion with cold extremities and dull, inactive skin in a generally torpid constitution

Overview. Catalpa bignonioides is a spreading deciduous tree of the southeastern United States, long planted as an ornamental shade tree further north for its large heart-shaped leaves and showy white panicled flowers. The bark, and later the seed pods, were taken up by nineteenth century American physiomedical and eclectic practitioners as a warming bitter tonic and antispasmodic, though it never became a major materia medica item and has not been meaningfully studied in modern clinical research.

Clinical Notes. The historical physiomedical use centers on the bark as a bitter, mildly stimulating tonic for the person who is generally languid, cold, and sluggish in digestion and elimination, in the same broad category as other bitter alteratives of that tradition.

Properties and Uses. The bark of this tree is a strong bitter, and is among the positive and rather permanent stimulating tonics. It has been pronounced poisonous, but this is not my opinion. It arouses the stomach, and ultimately stimulates the circulation; and the entire list of secernent organs, but especially the skin, is steadily excited to better action under its use.

Description. Natural Order, Bignoniaceae. This is the beautiful spreading tree so common in the South, and cultivated widely in the Middle and Northern States as an ornamental shade tree. Its very large and nearly heart-shaped leaves, with its long panicles of large and nearly white flowers, at once attract the eye and make it a favorite. As cultivated, it commonly attains a height of thirty feet; and blooms during the latter part of June and early July in this latitude.