150 lines
8.3 KiB
Plaintext
150 lines
8.3 KiB
Plaintext
BERBERIS AQUIFOLIUM
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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NATURAL ORDER: BERBERIDACEAE
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COMMON NAMES: MOUNTAIN GRAPE, OREGON GRAPE, MAHONIA AQUIFOLIA, HOLLY-LEAVED
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BARBARRY.
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PART USED: THE ROOT OF BERBERIS AQUIFOLIUM
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HISTORY
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-------
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THIS IS A TALL SHRUB, NATIVE OF THE WESTERN SECTION OF THE UNITED
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STATES. IT GROWN FROM COLORADO TO THE PACIFIC OCEAN, AND IS ESPECIALLY
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ABUNDANT IN OREGON AND THE NORTHERN PART OF CALIFORNIA. BERBERIS AQUIFOLIUM
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BELONGS TO THE SECTION MAHONIA OF THE GENUS BERBERIS.THE BERBERIS PROPER
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HAS SIMPLE LEAVES CLUSTERING IN THE AXIS OF A SIMPLE OR 3-PARTED SPINE. THE
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PETALS HAVE TWO GLANDS ON THE INSIDE OF EACH, AT THE BASE. THE FILAMENTS
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HAVE NO TEETH. BERBERIS AQUIFOLIUM AND THE OTHER SPECIES ARE LONG IN USE IN
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DOMESTIC PRACTICE THROUGHOUT THE WEST.MAHONIA SECTION SPECIES: THE WESTERN
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UNITED STATES BY, BERBERIS PINNATA, A TALL SHRUB WITH THE GENERAL
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APPEARANCE OF BERBERIS AQUIFOLIUM, DISTINGUISHED FROM IT BY THE LEAFLETS,
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WHICH ARE GLAUCOUS UNDERNEATH, AND THE LOWER PAIR APPROXIMATE TO THE BASE
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OF THE PETIOLE. BERBERIS REPENS, A SMALL CREEPING PLANT, WITH LEAVES OFTEN
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TERNATE, AND LEAFLETS NEARLY ORBICULAR, AND WHICH HAS BEEN MUCH CONFOUNDED,
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AND FREQUENTLY DESCRIBED AS BERBERIS AQUIFOLIUM. BERBERIS NERVOSA, A SMALL
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ERECT SHRUB, WITH LEAVES OFTEN LONGER THAN THE STEM - IT APPEARS TO BE MORE
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GENERALLY DISTRIBUTED THAN THE OTHER SPECIES. THE CHIEF CHARACTERISTICS OF
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THIS SPECIES ARE, THE LEAFLETS ARE THREE-VEINED FROM AN OBLIQUE BASE, THE
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COMMON PETIOLE IS JOINTED "LIKE A BAMBOO STEM", AND THE FLOWERS ARE IN
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SLENDER RACEMES. THE TWO OTHER SPECIES, BERBERIS FENDLERI AND BERBERIS
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FREMONTI, ARE OF RARE OCCURRENCE.
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BOTANICAL SOURCE: BERBERIS AQUIFOLIUM IS A SHRUB HAVING STEMS ABOUT 6 FEET
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HIGH, ERECT, AND RAPID GROWTH. THE LEAVES ARE ALTERNATE, AND CONSIST OF 3
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OR 4 PAIRS OF LEAFS, AND AN ODD ONE. THEY ARE EVERGREEN, BRIGHT AND SHINING
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ON THE UPPER SURFACE, AND VERY ORNAMENTAL, SO THE SHRUB IS OFTEN IN
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CULTIVATION, OFTEN UNDER THE IMPROPER NAME "HOLLY". THE LEAFS ARE SMOOTH,
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OVATE, FROM 2 TO 3 INCHES LONG, AND ONE-HALF AS WIDE. THEY ARE
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ACUTE,PINATELY VEINED, AND THE MARGIN IS INDENTED WITH FROM 15 TO 3O SPINY
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TEETH. THE LOWER PAIR OF LEAFLETS IS FROM 1 TO 2 INCHES DISTANT FROM THE BASE OF A COMMON PETIOLE.
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THE FLOWERS ARE NUMEROUS, SMALL, YELLOWISH-GREEN IN COLOR, AND APPEAR IN
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EARLY SPRING, WITH TERMINAL RACEMES. THE CALYX HAS 9 DISTINCT SEPALS,
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COLORED LIKE THE PETALS AND IN 2 ROWS, THE OUTER OF WHICH HAS 3 SEPALS. THE
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PETALS ARE 6, DISTINCT, ORBICULAR, AND IN ROWS OF 3 EACH. THE STAMENS ARE
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ALSO 6, AND OPPOSITE THE PETALS, THEY HAVE IRRITABLE
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FILAMENTS, AND ANTHERS, OPENING, EACH BY 2 LITTLE VALVES, HINGED AT A TOP.
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THE FRUIT, WHICH IS KNOWN AS "OREGON GRAPE" IS A CLUSTER OF PURPLE BERRIES,
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EACH CONTAINING AN ACID PULP GOOD TASTING, AND FROM 3 TO 9 SEEDS.
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DESCRIPTION
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-----------
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THE ROOT OF THE BERBERIS AQUIFOLIUM IS FROM1/2 TO 1 INCH IN
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DIAMETER, OFTEN INCREASING TO 2 AND 3 INCHES AT THE BASE OF THE STEM. IT IS
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WOODY, YELLOW THROUGHOUT, AND VERY HARD. THE BARK IS DEEP-YELLOW BENEATH
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AND BROWN UPON THE SURFACE. IT HAS NO ODOR AND IS VERY BITTER. THE ROOTS OF
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THE OTHER SPECIES OF MAHONIA ARE SMALLER, THE B.PINNATA MORE NEARLY
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APPROACHING THE B.AQUIFOLIUM IN SIZE, THE B.REPENS IS THE SMALLEST OF ANY
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OF THE KNOWN SPECIES.
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CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
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--------------------
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BERBERIS AQUIFOLIUM CONTAINS :BERBERINE, A YELLOW ALKALOID, BERBAMINE, AND
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OXYACANTHINE, BOTH WHITE ALKALOIDS, AND PHYTOSTERIN, GUM AND SUGAR. THE
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FLOWERS CONTAIN, IN ADDITION TO THE ABOVE ALKALOIDS, VOLATILE OIL, AND THE
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BERRIES CONTAIN MALIC ACID. THE PRESENCE OF BERBERINE RENDERS BOTH ROOT AND
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BARK BITTER. THE WHITE ALKALOID, OXYACANTHINE /CL9H2LNO3, WHICH FORM
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SOLUBLE SALTS WITH MOST ACIDS, IS ITSELF PRACTICALLY INSOLUBLE IN WATER,
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SOLUBLE IN HOT ALCOHOL AND HOT ETHER, AND SLIGHTLY SO IN COLD ALCOHOL AND
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COLD ETHER. IT DISSOLVES FREELY IN FATS AND VOLATILE OILS, AND IN
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CHLOROFORM AND BENZOL. IT IS ALKALINE, BITTER AND IN THE PRESENCE OF
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SUNLIGHT CHANGES COLOR, BECOMING YELLOWISH. IODIC ACID IS REDUCES BY IT
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WITH THE LIBERATION OF FREE IODINE. WITH NITRIC ACID A YELLOW COLOR IS
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PRODUCED, WHICH, WHEN HEATED, CHANGES TO PURPLE. COLD SULFURIC ACID TURNS
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IT BROWNISH-RED, ON HEATING IT CHANGES TO A VIVID RED, AND FINALLY A BROWN,
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COLOR. WITH FERRIC CHLORIDE, IN DILUTE SOLUTION OF POTASSIUM FERRICYANIDE,
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A BLUE COLOR IS PRODUCED WITH SALTS OF OXYACANTHINE. BERBAMINE (CL8HL3NO3)
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IS A WHITE ALKALOID THE SALTS OF WHICH DISSOLVE SLIGHTLY IN SOLUTIONS OF
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CHILI SALTPETRE (NITRATE OF SODIUM). THESE SALTS STRIKE A BLUE COLOR WITH
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FERRIC CHLORIDE IN A WEAK SOLUTION OF FERRICYANIDE OF POTASSIUM.PHYTOSTERIN
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(C26H44OH2O) IS A NEUTRAL BODY (FOUND ALSO IN CALABAR BEAN, PHYSOSTIGMA
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VENENOSUM, BALFOUR), DIFFERING FROM CHOLESTERIN, WHICH IT CLOSELY
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RESEMBLES, BY ITS SOLUTION IN CHLOROFORM NOT HAVING ANY AFFECT ON POLARIZED
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LIGHT.
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ACTION AND USES
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---------------
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AN ALTERNATIVE AND TONIC, AND HAS BEEN RECOMMENDED IN
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SYPHILITIC AFFECTIONS, SALT-RHEUM, PITYRIASIS, PSORIASIS, AND OTHER
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CUTANEOUS AFFECTIONS, AS WELL AS IN PROBLEMS SUPPOSED TO BE DUE TO SOME
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MAL-CONDITION OF THE BLOOD. EXCRETION AND SECRETION ARE PROMOTED BY IT,
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DIGESTION AND ASSIMILATION IMPROVED, THE LYMPHATIC GLANDULAR SYSTEM AND THE
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DUCTLESS GLANDS ARE STIMULATED, AND THE RENAL SECRETIONS SOMEWHAT
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AUGMENTED. IT ACTS AS A BLOOD-MAKER, AND IT IS A REMEDY TO INCREASE THE
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BODY-FLUIDS. AS A TONIC, IT MAY BE EMPLOYED AS A SYNONYM OF HYDRASTIS,
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COLOMBO, BERBERIS. GOOD IN DYSPEPETIC CONDITIONS, CHRONIC MUCOUS
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CONDITIONS,IN GASTRIC FUNCTIONS, IT IS A VALUABLE REMEDY FOR ATONIC
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DYSPEPSIA, AND PARTICULARLY IF ASSOCIATED WITH HEPATIC TORPOR. A CIRRHOTIC
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LIVER, ASSOCIATED WITH GASTRO-ENTERITIS, FOR CHRONIC CONSTIPATION WHEN
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COMBINED WITH CASCARA SAGRADA. IT IS SAID TO BE EFFECTUAL IN STOMATITIS. A
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MAJOR FIELD FOR BERBERIS AQUIFOLIUM IS IN CONSTITUTIONAL SYPHILIS, IF GIVEN
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EARLY ENOUGH IT WILL PREVENT TERTIARY PHASES, PROVIDED THE PATIENT HAS NOT
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BEEN TO THOROUGHLY MERCURIALIZED. ITS USE MUST BE PROLONGED IN APPRECIABLE
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DOSES. IT IS ESPECIALLY ADAPTED TO LONG-STANDING CASES OF SYPHILIS, THE
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OLDER THE BETTER.THAT BROKEN-DOWN STATE SO FREQUENTLY FOLLOWING. THE
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VARIOUS ERUPTIONS GIVE WAY TO IT, THE GASTRIC COMPLICATIONS ARE SUBDUED,
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AND THE MUCOUS MEMBRANES ARE TONED SO THAT EXCESSIVE SECRETIONS ARE
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RESTRAINED. THE BONE AND PERIOSTEAL, AS WELL AS THE MUSCULAR, PAINS OF
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SYPHILITICS, ITS ACTION IS SLOW. AS IT IS ALSO IN SEVERE MUSCULAR PAINS,
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WITH PARTIAL PARALYSIS, DUE TO SPINAL DISEASE. LONG STANDING SYPHILITIC
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PHAGADENAE AND HERPETIC AND ECZEMATOUS STATES, SYPHILITIC ANEMIA. STUBBORN
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CASES OF PSORIASIS, IN ERYSIPELATOUS AND CHRONIC SCROFULOUS AFFECTIONS.
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WHILE IT HAS FAILES TO CURE CARCINOMA, VALUABLE IN THE DYSCRASIAE DUE TO A
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CANCEROUS CACHEXIA. CERTAIN PULMONIC TROUBLES, BY CONTROLLING SECRETIONS OF
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THE MUCOUS TRACT. CASES OF PURPULENT BRONCHORRHOEA, PRONOUNCED INCURABLE,
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HAVE BEEN CURED BY IT, PHTHISIS EVEN WHERE THERE WERE EXTENSIVE CAVITIES.
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THE APPETITE IMPROVED, EXPECTORATION BECAME LESSENED, THE COUGH MILDER AND
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LESS FREQUENT, AND FLESH AND STRENGTH RETURNED. OF SOME VALUE IN
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LEUCORRHOEA, WHEN A SYPHILITIC TAINT EXISTS. IN GASTRIC AND INTESTINAL
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CATARRH.
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DOSAGE
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------
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THE DOSE OF BERBERIS AQUIFOLIUM SHOULD BE RELATIVELY LARGE.SMALL
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DOSES WORK LESS AFFECTEDLY. THE DOSE OF THE FLUID EXTRACT IS FROM 10 TO 20
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DROPS SOME SAY TO 30 DROPS, EVERY 3 OR 4 HOURS. IT MUST BE CONTINUED FOR
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SOME TIME TO HAVE IT'S EFFECT, CONTINUE A LONG TIME.SPECIFIC INDICATIONS:
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SYPHILITIC DYSCRASIAE, CONSTITUTIONAL SYPHILIS, WITH PERIOSTEAL OR MUSCULAR
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PAINS, CHRONIC SKIN AFFECTIONS, WITH BLOOD DYSCRAISAE, PROFUSELY SECRETING,
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TUMID MUCOUS TISSUES,INDIGESTION, WITH HEPATITIC TORPOR, YELLOW SKIN, WITH
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MARKED WEAKNESS AND EMACIATION.
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COMPARABLE
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CARBOLIC ACID,EUONYM,BERBERIS VULGARIS, HYDRASTIS.CLINICAL
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USES:BILIOUSNESS,BRONCHORRHOEA,ECZEMA,FACE ROUGHNESS,
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HEADACHE,HERPES,LEUCORRHOEA, PITYRIASIS, PSORIASIS, AFFECTIONS OF
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SPLEEN,STOMATITIS,SYPHILIS, TYPHOID,AFFECTIONS OF VOICE.
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CLINICAL TRIAL
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START ON NOV.17/1987 10 DROPS 4X A DAY ON A OLD CASE OF
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PSORIASIS SINCE 22 YEARS,20% IMPROVEMENT AFTER 3 WEEKS. ITCHING LESS,
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MARGIN OF HAIR AND NECK STILL FLAKING.
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CONCLUSION
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THIS SEEMS TO BE AN EXCELLENT REMEDY FOR THOSE AFFLICTIONS
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ASSOCIATED WITH LIVER, GALLBLADDER AND SPLEEN CONDITIONS. TAKE NOTE THAT
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THIS IS A SLOW ACTING REMEDY.
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