Iris versicolor - Iris
"CONSTITUENTS: Acrid resinous matter, tannin, gum, starch.
PREPARATIONS: Oleoresina Iridis, Oleoresin of Iris: Dose, one to five grains. Extractum Iridis Fluidum, Fluid Extract of Iris: Dose, five to sixty minims. Specific Medicine Iris: Dose, one-fourth to five minims.
Therapy: The oleo-resin has been very successfully employed in hepatic jaundice, arising intestinal disorders, and the consequent dropsy. Chronic jaundice, arising from duodenal catarrh and obstruction of the biliary ducts, should be treated with Iris. It is said that malarial jaundice (so-called) may be cured by this drug alone, and that it exerts a favorable influence in bilious remittent fevers and chronic ague. This agent is directly indicated in that condition of the stomach which induces sick headache. It not only ameliorates the attack, but assists in the removal of the cause and in breaking up the tendency to recurrence of the condition.
This agent is employed in the treatment of syphilitic and strumous affections. In the treatment of syphilis this agent is a very useful remedy in those cases in which the glandular organs are inactive. Here the effects of Iris are strikingly conspicuous from the first. It will be found an excellent auxiliary also to the influence of other well known alteratives. It has also been largely employed in the successful treatment of many affections of the skin. Kinnett recommends it strongly in psoriasis.
In the treatment of certain cases of eczema of a persistent chronic character, as well as of other pustular and open ulcerating or oozing skin diseases, this agent, in from five to ten drop doses every two or three hours, will be found most useful. It may be diluted and applied externally also. Prurigo, crustalactea, and tinea yield readily to its influence at times.
It is a favorite remedy in the treatment of enlargement of the thyroid and other glandular affections. In recent cases of goiter, iris is used to good advantage. With many, if used in the form of a recent preparation, it is believed to be specific."
(Finley Ellingwood: The American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy, 1915)