Dulcamara consists of the twigs or stems of Solanun Dulcamara, or woody nightshade, a half-climbing shrub, indigenous in the United States, and growing wild also in Europe. From its botanical relations, this medicine should be associated with the cerebral stimulants, as it is one of the same family, the Solanaceae, to which belladonna, stramonium, and hyoscyamus belong. it is also said to contain solania, an organic alkali, which certainly has narcotic properties. But, though I have used dulcamara often and freely, I have never witnessed any symptoms from it which would entitle it to be considered as a narcotic; and, as the almost exclusive use of it, at present made, is as an alterative in cutaneous diseases, it would seem to belong more properly to the class of medicines with which it is here associated.

Sensible Properties and Solubility. As kept in the shops, the dried twigs are cylindrical, about as thick as a goose-quill, wrinkled longitudinally, and of a grayish-ash colour externally. When cut across, they are found to consist of a cortical and ligneous portion, and a central pith. Though of a rather nauseous odour when fresh and bruised, they are inodorous when dry. Their taste, when they are chewed, is at first bitter and afterwards sweetish; properties which are expressed both in their English and Latin names. They are also slightly acrid. They yield their virtues to boiling water.

Active Principles

Besides the alkaloid solania, they contain a peculiar principle called picroglycion, or dulcamarin, which has a sweet and bitter taste, and is probably the source of these properties in the stems. But neither of these principles has been isolated for medical use.

Effects on the System

Dulcamara is thought to be feebly narcotic, and to have the property of increasing the secretions of the skin and kidneys. Considering the amount of liquid usually taken along with it, these latter effects might be expected; but I am not disposed to deny its influence on the secretions, though it is certainly not very obvious. The only physiological effect which I have witnessed from it, taken in the quantity of a pint of the decoction daily, has been retardation of the capillary circulation, with perhaps some weakness of the pulse. I have never known it to produce cerebral disturbance; and, in any ordinary dose, it is certainly not entitled to be considered as a narcotic. in very large quantities, it is said to produce nausea, vomiting, faintness, vertigo, some convulsive motions, and slight paralytic phenomena, without any loss of consciousness. Antaphrodisiac properties have also been ascribed to it.

Therapeutic Application

This remedy has at different times enjoyed some reputation in the treatment of chronic rheumatism and catarrh, and of the various cachexia for which the other vegetable alteratives are employed. At present, however, it is confined almost exclusively to chronic cutaneous diseases, in which it is supposed to act as an alterative. it appears to me to operate as a direct sedative to the capillary circulation, and may possibly prove useful in that way. it is almost always given in connection with other more powerful alteratives, such as arsenic and the antimonial. I employ it habitually in chronic psoriasis, lepra, pityriasis, and the advanced stage of eczema and impetigo; and should consider it appropriate to chronic lichenous affections. But, as I almost always prescribe one of the mineral alteratives at the same time, I find it difficult to determine how much of the cure is owing to the mineral, and how much to the vegetable remedy. Nevertheless, I think I have seen it, without aid, at least check the tendency of these affections to increase, and modify the constitutional condition on which they depend. it is also sometimes administered as an antaphrodisiac; and one or two cases have occurred to me, in which it seemed to act beneficially in this way.

Administration

Dulcamara is usually given in decoction. The officinal Decoction (Decoctum Dulcamara, U. S.) is made by boiling a troyounce of the bruised twigs in a pint of water for fifteen minutes, then straining, and adding, through the strainer, sufficient water to make the decoction measure a pint. Or, as in the older editions of the Pharmacopoeia, an ounce may be boiled in a pint and a half of water to a pint. The British Pharmacopoeia has substituted an infusion (infusum Dulcamara, Br.) for the decoction of the Colleges, made in essentially the same proportions; but for no sufficient reason that I can discover; and, on the whole, I prefer the U.S. decoction of 1850. The dose of either preparation is a wineglassful three or four times a day. I have sometimes, in skin affections, given twice this quantity daily.

A Watery Extract (Extractum Dulcamara, U. S.) is directed by the U. S. Pharmacopoeia, the dose of which is from five to ten grains, but of which a larger quantity may be given with impunity. A Fluid Extract (Extractum Dulcamara Fluidum, U. S.) is also directed, in which a fluidounce represents a troyounce of the twigs, and the dose of which is from thirty to sixty minims, three or four times a day.

There are three medicines, two belonging to this country, and one from India, which deserve a brief notice in this, place, as well from the fact that they hold a position in the Pharmacopoeias, as from the virtues they are reputed to possess. They are Stillingia, Aralia Nudicaulis, and Hemidesmus.