ASTRINGENTS

An astringent substance is a chemical substance that tends to shrink or constrict body tissues, usually locally after topical medicinal application. The word "astringent" derives from Latin astringere, meaning "to bind fast". Two common examples are calamine lotion and witch hazel. The proprietary product Sea Breeze, which is an aqueous solution of denatured alcohol, camphor (0.68%) and several aromatic essential oils, is an astringent that is often used as an aftershave.

Astringency is also the dry, mouth-puckering sensation caused by tannins found in many fruits such as blackthorn, bird cherry and persimmon fruits. The tannins denature the salivary proteins, causing a rough "sandpapery" sensation in the mouth. Astringency tastes unpleasant to many mammals (including humans), which tend to avoid eating astringent fruit; conversely, birds do not taste astringency and readily eat these fruit. It is thought that fruit astringency survived in some plant varieties because birds are better than mammals at long-distance seed dispersal, often flying some distance before passing the seeds in their droppings, so plants that contained astringent substances in the fruit are more successful than those that did not.

Astringent substances are also found in some wines and teas. A small amount of astringency is expected in some wines, especially young red wines made from grapes such as cabernet sauvignon.

Astringent medicines cause shrinkage of mucous membranes or exposed tissues and are often used internally to check discharge of blood serum or mucous secretions. This can happen with a sore throat, hemorrhages, diarrhea, or with peptic ulcers. Externally applied astringents, which cause mild coagulation of skin proteins, dry, harden, and protect the skin. Acne sufferers are often advised to avoid astringents, which are believed to worsen the clogging of pores[citation needed]. Astringents also help heal stretch marks and other scars[citation needed]. Mildly astringent solutions are used in the relief of such minor skin irritations as those resulting from superficial cuts, allergies, insect bites, or fungal infections such as athlete's foot

BISTORT ROOT.

Bistort Root is one of the most- powerful astringents in the vegetable kingdom, and greatly used by us in all cases where an astringent is required; good in all discharges and fluxes; is excellent in decoction as an injection in leucorrhea, profuse menstruation, &c.; and makes a good mouth-wash and gargle in ulcerated throat and sore mouth; it makes a good lotion in old sores.

TORMENTIL ROOT

Is also a powerful astringent, and one that does not increase excitement; good in bleeding piles, diarrhoea, dysentery, &c. A decoction, made by boiling 1 oz. of the root in 11/2 pints of water down to 1 pint, makes a good wash for old sores.

CRANESBILL ROOT

Is an astringent of a milder nature, and having an agreeable taste is more pleasant to take. It may be used instead, or in conjunction with, either of the above in the complaints mentioned. Made strong it is also good for bleeding of the lungs.

BLOODWORT.

Is a powerful astringent, the roots being the best parts to use; good in all fluxes, spitting of blood, profuse menstruation, diarrhoea, &c.

BAYBERRY BARK

Is one of the most valuable productions of the vegetable kingdom; it is an astringent, narcotic, and emetic; it forms the basis of our composition powder; valuable for removing canker of the stomach and bowels. It is also excellent for cleansing the mouth; it makes a good snuff in polypus, and when the Passages of the nose are stopped. Dr. Beach highly extols this article as a poultice in scrofulous ulcers. It can be obtained either crude or in powder.

SUMACH.

The berries are most used; they are astringent, diuretic, antiseptic, and tonic; good in falling of the womb, stranguary, and, as a drink sweetened, for diarrhoea in children. They also make a good gargle for sore throat.

OAK BARK.

Astringent and antiseptic; makes a good gargle used in strong decoction, and useful as a wash in gangrenous ulcers, and as an injection in prolapsus uterus, &c.

CUDWEED.

Astringent, good in dysentery, profuse menstruation, and as an injection in tenesmus, &c. WHITE POND LILY ROOT.

Good in conjunction with other articles in fluor albus or whites, and in decoction with slippery elm bark as a poultice in swellings, king’s evil, &c.

RED RASPBERRY LEAVES.

An excellent and mild astringent; a tea nicely sweetened makes a good drink for infants when troubled with looseness of the bowels, thrush, or canker of the stomach; also good before and after confinement. Dr. Fox recommends scullcap and composition powder (equal quantities) in raspberry leaf tea for removing after pains, and we have proved their efficacy in such cases.

BLACKBERRY LEAVES.

The root and berries make an excellent syrup with the addition of sugar, for chronic diarrhoea and dysentery, and for the same complaint in children.

MARSH ROSEMARY

Is a most powerful bitter astringent, good in decoction as an inward astringent, and also as an injection in fluor albus, piles, &c.

AVENS ROOT

Is a powerful astringent, acting without confining the bowels, and was at one time used in America as a substitute for chocolate or coffee, in decoction with milk and sugar. It is a good tonic.

HEMLOCK BARK (Pinus Canadensis).

This well-known astringent is a good diuretic, and strengthens the kidneys and small of the back, and makes a good fomentation to allay swellings; also a good injection for bowel complaints, piles.

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