Curly dock

Action and Therapy. Rumex is decidedly alterative and might be used more extensively for that purpose. It should especially be brought into requisition in depraved states of the body fluids with tendency to chronic skin disorders, with glandular engorgement, tendency to ulceration, and slow recuperative powers. It is especially valuable in strumous patients with low deposits in the cellular and glandular tissues which break down easily but are very slow to repair. In small doses the specific medicine is also useful in nervous dyspepsia with epigastric fullness, and pectoral pain from gaseous distention of the stomach. It is also serviceable in laryngeal irritation, with cough of the types alluded to under Specific Indications.

Therapy. The alterative properties of this agent are underestimated. It is a renal depurant and general alterative of much value when ulceration of mucous surfaces or disease of the skin results from impure blood.

Properties and Uses. Yellow-dock root is an alterative of the slowly relaxing and stimulating class, leaving behind a mild tonic impression that is sometimes classed as astringent. (The other species above named are considerably astringent.) The greater portion of its power is expended upon the skin; but the gall-ducts, small intestines, and kidneys, feel its impressions to a fair extent.

Action, Medical Uses, and Dosage. This is an excellent alterative, prepared according to Prof. Scudder's formula. He believed that water extracted more of the alterative properties of mandrake than alcohol. It has been employed with advantage in scrofula, syphilis, cutaneous diseases, hepatic affections, in glandular affections where there is a tendency to hypertrophy and suppuration, and in other cases where an alterative is required. The dose is from 1 fluid drachm to ½ fluid ounce, 3 or 4 times a day (J. King).