Western Herbalism
Gutta-Percha
Gutta-Percha
Also known as Gutta-taban, Gutta-percha depurata, Gummi-plasticum.
Monesia appears to possess slightly stimulating and astringent properties. In doses of from 2 to 10 grains, repeated 2 or 3 times a day, it acts as a gentle excitant of the stomach, improving the appetite and the digestive functions.
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No toxicity, pregnancy or breastfeeding flag is recorded for this plant. That is the record speaking, not a promise; the library carries the full safety section.
Dosing as the sources wrote it
| Preparation | As written | Metric |
|---|---|---|
| Action, Medical Uses, and Dosage: Gutta-percha serves several useful ends in medicine, surgery, and pharmacy, and is likewise used for ornamental and various other purposes. Splints, etc., have been made of it, and employed in cases of fractures, diseased joints, and other cases where it is desired to keep the parts in a permanent position, and it is also formed into bougies, injection pipes, catheters, pessaries, specula, forceps, handles, etc. Its pliability after having been immersed into hot water renders it especially adapted for the preparation of splints, and such splints are preferable to carved wooden splints. The solution in bisulphide of carbon has been employed by M. Vogel in wounds effected by cutting instruments ... the fluid evaporates with great rapidity, and leaves a thin layer which protects the wound from atmospheric action, at the same time keeping its edges in close contact. The following compound is recommended for the hemorrhage supervening the extraction of teeth: Take of gutta-percha, 1 ounce | 31103 mg | |
| best tar | best tar, 1 ½ ounces | 46655-46655 mg |
| creosote | creosote, 1 drachm | 3888-3888 mg |
| when the gutta-percha is dissolved, add to it a solution of 5 grains of caoutchouc dissolved in ½ ounce of benzene (benzol). A clear solution of gutta-percha may be made by adding to the solution a mixture of ⅔ of a part of finely powdered carbonate of lead in 2 parts of chloroform | 324 mg | |
| agitating the whole | agitating the whole 2 or 3 times, and then allowing the mixture to stand 10 or 12 days. The carbonate of lead, in becoming deposited, carries with it coloring and insoluble matters | |
| the clear solution should then be decanted and placed in ½ fluid ounce vials, with closely-fitting glass stoppers (see Liquor Gutta-perchae). This will be found very valuable as a local application to irritated and abraded surfaces, chaps, small wounds, etc., as it forms a kind of cuticle over the parts. | 14.79 mL |
Doses are reproduced from the sources for practitioners and are not a recommendation for any person.
From the sources
Action, Medical Uses, and Dosage. Monesia appears to possess slightly stimulating and astringent properties. In doses of from 2 to 10 grains, repeated 2 or 3 times a day, it acts as a gentle excitant of the stomach, improving the appetite and the digestive functions.
History and Description. The bark is in fragments, nearly smooth, and cinnamon-colored internally. The pieces are thin, about ¼ or ½ inch in thickness; at first a sweetish taste is imparted, which subsequently becomes acrid and astringent.
Extract of the bark of Chrysophyllum Glyciphloeum, Casaretti (Chrysophyllum Buranhem, Riedel; Lucuma Glycyphloea, Martins et Eichler). Nat. Ord: Sapotaceae. COMMON NAME: Monesia.
Botanical Source. Chrysophyllum Glyciphloeum is a common Brazilian tree known locally as buranhem or guaranhem. It is often from 40 to 50 feet in height. The genus Chrysophyllum comprises several species, mostly South American trees, with milky juice. The leaves are alternate, entire, and furnished with a golden-yellow pubescence underneath, hence the name. The flowers are small, and in fascicled umbels in the axils of the leaves. The corolla is bell-shaped, and has 5 stamens. The ovary has 10 1-ovuled cells, and bears a peltate 10-lobed stigma.
Drawn from King's American Dispensatory, 18th edition (Felter and Lloyd), and the Bountiful Herbs editorial.
Often paired with
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GuggulCommiphora mukul
Gum ammoniacumDorema ammoniacum
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Gum weedGrindelia spp.
GymnemaGymnema sylvestre
Hair-cap mossPolytrichum juniperum
Hairy figFicus hispida
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