- Carapichea ipecacuanha is a flowering plant native to Brazil. Traditionally its roots were used to make a powerful emetic to induce vomiting at times of poisoning. Until recent times, it was still used within hospitals and homes for this purpose.
Homeopathy
- The homeopathic remedy, Ipecacuanha, is also prepared from the roots of the plant but, according to the similar principle, relieves types of vomiting. This is a classic example homeopathy’s ‘like treats like’ effect – something which causes symptoms in the healthy (ie, vomiting in this instance), relieves similar symptoms in the unwell. Homeopathic Ipecac is also a useful remedy for bright, profuse haemorrhages, headaches, and fevers. The keynote symptom is that nausea always accompanies the complaints.
Uses
- When the remedy matches the symptoms, Ipecac has the ability to treat conditions such as asthma, bronchitis, hemorrhage (especially nose or uterus), headache and migraine, miscarriage, pertussis (whooping cough), recurrent fevers.