Gamboge
Where To Found It: Siam, Southern Cochin-China,
Cambodia, Ceylon.
The commercial Gamboge is obtained from several varieties, though
Garcinia Hanburyii is the official plant, an almost similar
gum is obtained from Hypericum (St. Johnswort). The Gamboge tree
grows to a height of 50 feet, with a diameter of 12 inches, and
the gum resin is extracted by incisions or by breaking off the leaves
and shoots of the trees, the juice which is a milky yellow resinous
gum, resides in the ducts of the bark and is gatheredin vessels,
and left to thicken and become hardened. Pipe Gamboge is obtained
by letting the juice run into hollowed bamboos, and when congealed
the bamboo is broken away from it. The trees must be ten years old
before they are tapped, and the gum is collected in the rainy season
from June to October. The term 'Gummi Gutta,' by which Gamboge is
generally known, is derived from the method of extracting it indrops.
Gamboge was first introduced into England by the Dutch about the
middle of the seventeenth century; it is highly esteemed as a pigment,
owing to the brilliancy of its orange colour. It has no odour, and
little taste, but if held in the mouth a short time it gives an
acrid sensation. The medicinal properties of Gamboge are thought
to be contained in the resin. It is official in the United States
Pharmacopoeia.
Resin gum, vegetable waste, garonolic acids; the gum is analogous
to gum acacia.
Modern Uses: A very powerful drastic
hydragogue, cathartic, very useful in dropsical conditions and to
lower blood pressure, where there is cerebral congestion. A full
dose is rarely given alone, as it causes vomiting, nausea and griping,
and a dose of 1 drachm has been known to cause death. It is usually
combined with other purgatives which it strengthens. A safe dose
is from 2 to 6 grains, but in the treatment of tapeworm the dose
is often as much as 10 grains. It provides copious watery evacuations
with little pain, but must be used with caution. Dose, 2 to 5 grains
in an emulsion or in an alkaline solution.
Other Names: Gutta gamba. Gummigutta.
Tom Rong. Gambodia. Garcinia Morella.
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