Baptisia Tinctoria.

Botanical name: 

Syn.—Baptisia, wild indigo.
P. E.—Part, root and leaves.
N. O.—Leguminosae.
N. H.—United States.

Properties: Antiseptic, stimulant, astringent.

Physiological action: Very large doses will cause severe purging and vomiting. Respiration and reflexes are over stimulated, resulting in asphyxia from paralysis of the reflex centers and death.

Indications: Dusky, purplish full face, dark or purplish tongue, lips and mucous membrane.

Use: We think of it in typhoid fever and other diseases showing typhoid symptoms. In delirium of typhoid or of typhoid nature; diphtheria, diphtheretic laryngitis; dysentery with offensive breath and fetid discharge of a dark prune juice character. Useful in tonsillitis if indicated. As baptisia is not a very powerful antiseptic it will be found to be of great advantage in most cases to associate it with echinacea.


The Materia Medica and Clinical Therapeutics, 1905, was written by Fred J. Petersen, M.D.