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Herbal Glossary | Medicinal Glossary | Herbal Preparations | Ayervedic Formulas | Chinese Formulas IpecacContents:Common Names | Parts Usually Used | Plant(s) & Culture | Where Found | Medicinal Properties
Scientific Names
Common Names
Parts Usually UsedLeaves, root
Description of Plant(s) and CultureWild ipecac is a large-rooted perennial with underground stems; the plant grows 3-12 inches tall with a stem that is smooth, succulent. The leaves are inserted at the joints; rounded to linear, green to purple. Solitary flowers are on long stalks; the “cups” have 5 glands, with narrow, white, yellow, green, or purple appendages. Blooms in April to May.
Where FoundFound in sandy soil; mostly coastal. New Jersey to Florida. Found in southwestern Brazil.
Medicinal PropertiesEmetic, laxative, vermifuge
Legends, Myths and StoriesBecause it induces vomiting, this herb is often abused by teenage girls suffering from bulimia, an eating disorder characterized by gorging and purging.
UsesNative Americans used the leaf tea for diabetes; root tea as a strong laxative and emetic, for pinworms, rheumatism; poulticed the root on snakebites. This herb induces vomiting and is therefore a good remedy for food poisoning and other kinds of ingested poisoning.
How SoldSold as Syrup of Ipecac in pharmacies
WarningIt is not always appropriate to induce vomiting in cases of poisoning. Call your doctor or the local poison alert hotline before inducing vomiting or giving any drug to a poison victim. Extremely strong laxative. The juice from the fresh plant may cause blistering. The herb is very toxic except in diluted syrup form. Keep out of the reach of children and teenagers.
Bibliography
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Wild ipecac
American Folk Medicine
, by Clarence Meyer, Meyerbooks, publisher, PO Box 427, Glenwood, Illinois 60425, 1973
, by Steven Foster and James A. Duke., Houghton Mifflin Company, 215 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10000Copyright © 1996-2010 Lynn DeVries, all rights reserved.