Πολεμώνιον,
Polemonium, Greek Valerian (called by some Philetærium), is attenuate and desiccative. Hence some give the root of it in wine for ischiatic disease, dysentery, and scirrhus of the spleen.
Commentary. It is the Polemonium cæruleum, Greek Valerian. It occurs in the Hippocratic treatises (Hippiatr. 108, ed. Basil), but is not found in the works of Celsus. Dioscorides recommends it to be given for the bites of venomous reptiles, for dysentery, dysuria, sciatica, and diseases of the spleen, and also as a masticatory for toothache. He further mentions that it was used as an amulet for the sting of the scorpion. (iv, 8.) Our author copies from Galen, as does also Aëtius. We have not been able to trace it in the works of the Arabians, with the exception of Ebn Baithar, whose account of it is made up entirely of extracts from Dioscorides and Galen. (i, 186.) Though it disappeared from our Dispensatory long ago, its root is still to be found in the shops of our apothecaries, where it retains the character of being astringent, vulnerary, and anti-dysenteric. See Gray (Suppl. to Pharm. 55.)
Πόλιον,
Polium, Poley; the smaller, which we use for antidotes, belongs to the third order of calefacients and desiccants. It therefore removes obstructions of all the viscera, and proves diuretic and emmenagogue. While green it agglutinates large wounds, and when dried it cures ill-conditioned ulcers if sprinkled upon them.
Commentary. The species indicated by our author is evidently the first species of Dioscorides, namely, the Teucrium Polium. The other is the Teucrium Creticum. Both these plants retained a place in our Dispensatory down to the days of Quincy (118), and both of them are still to be found in the shops of the apothecaries. Gray (Pharmacop. 49.) See further Parkinson (Theatre of Plants, 23), and Rutty (Mat. Med. 402.) Dioscorides says of both, that their decoction taken internally is beneficial to the bites of venomous reptiles, in cases of dropsy, jaundice, and diseases of the spleen along with vinegar; that it loosens the belly and is emmenagogue, but induces headache and is bad for the stomach; that in fumigations and placed below a couch, that they drive away reptiles; and in a cataplasm are vulnerary. Galen, Aëtius, and Oribasius, give them nearly the same characters. Celsus barely notices it once as one of the ingredients in the celebrated theriac of Mithridates. (v, 23.) The Arabians treat of the two species at greater length than the Greeks. See Avicenna (ii, 2, 537); Rhases (Cont. l. ult. i, 558); Serapion (c. 165); Averrhoes (Collig. v, 42.) They agree with the Greeks in considering it diuretic, emmenagogue, and a gentle purgative, and recommend it further as being anthelminthic and a remedy in cases of protracted fever. Serapion, by the way, quotes Dioscorides as calling the polium aphrodisiacal, but there is nothing in the chapter of Dioscorides on the poley to this effect.
Πολύγαλον,
Polygalon, the Milkwort, has leaves which are moderately austere. When taken in a draught it seems to engender milk, being of a hot and humid temperament.
Commentary. That it is the Polygala amara seems quite certain. Dioscorides and Galen treat of it in nearly the same language as our author. We have not been able to find it in the works of the Arabians except Ebn Baithar, who merely copies Dioscorides and Galen. (i, 186.)