Fabiana imbricata - Pichi
"CONSTITUENTS: A fluorescent glucoside, crystalline; a crystalline neutral resin, pavien, fraxin and an essential oil.
PREPARATIONS: Extractum Pichi, Extract of Pichi. Dose: from two to ten grains. Extractum Pichi Fluidum. Fluid extract of Pichi. Dose: from ten to sixty minims.
Therapy: It relieves general distress or discomfort in all the urinary organs, and in the prostate gland. In vesical tenesmus and in dysuria from any cause it is almost specific. In lithemia or the uric acid diathesis, it stimulates the liver to more perfect action, greatly increases the action of the kidneys, reduces the specific gravity of the urine, and permanently reduces the excess of uric acid. This influence renders it of value in rheumatism, either acute or chronic.
It has been used in gonorrhea and in acute and chronic cystitis of all forms with excellent results. It acts as a gastric tonic, like kava-kava, greatly increasing the appetite and promoting digestion. It has a direct action upon the function of the liver.
It stimulates the kidneys, too actively in those cases where there is structural degeneration, but it will quickly overcome simple recent cases of renal hyperemia. It is contra-indicated in Bright's disease, as in some protracted cases the albumen has been increased by the use of this remedy.
It is also useful where there are biliary calculi, as well as in the renal and vesicle forms. It allays urinary tenesmus, in those cases of cystitis, which are of mechanical or traumatic origin. In acute urethritis it has accomplished some good results.
Fifteen minims of the fluid extract every three hours has proved serviceable in the treatment of acute prostatitis, seminal vesiculitis, and in the subsidiary stage of orchitis, and epididymitis. In some cases the remedy is best given with an alkali. In those cases where the urine smells foully and is alkaline in reaction, it may be given in conjunction with borax and benzoic acid, with excellent results. Some forms of painful disease of the pelvic organs have been relieved by it. It is useful in dysmenorrhea, and acts in harmony with viburnum."
(Finley Ellingwood: The American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy, 1915)