Mountain Laurel

Clinical Notes. Potent toxic plant primarily external use in traditional herbalism Eclectic use internal for syphilis, fevers with extreme caution modern sources strongly advise against internal use homeopathic use not relevant here

Action and Therapy. King valued kalmia in constitutional syphilis, with excited heart-action and rapid circulation. Being a sedative it is said to allay fever and inflammation, and it is credited with power to relieve symptoms due to cardiac hypertrophy. It is also a remedy for aching pain, shifting rheumatic pain, aching pain in the back during menstruation, and ocular pain upon movement of the eyes. Palpitation of the heart excited reflexly by gastro-intestinal disturbances is sometimes relieved by it. It is said to be most valuable when the disorders above mentioned are associated with a syphilitic taint. Kalmia has never obtained a very important place in medicine, though it possesses strongly toxic properties.

Therapy. Professor John King once reported the following case: “Some time since I treated a case of syphilis of five weeks' standing, which had not received any kind of treatment during that period. The patient at the time I saw him had several chancres; the surface of the body and head was covered with small red pimples, elevated above a jaundiced skin, and be was in a very debilitated condition.

Properties and Uses. The leaves are relaxant and moderately stimulant, acting slowly and somewhat persistently upon the glandular system. For this influence, it is particularly valued in secondary syphilis; and is good in combination with such stimulating agents as stillingia, dicentra, menispermum, etc.