What is Ipecac syrup for?

Question

I know it like makes you throw up, but why was it invented? what is it used for?

Answer 1

Homeopathic Uses of IPECAC Taken from the Homeopathic Materia Medica, By Dr.William Boericke MD :-

IPECACUANHA
Ipecac-root
(IPECA)

The chief action is on the ramifications of the pneumogastric nerve, producing spasmodic irritation in chest and stomach. Morphia habit. The principal feature of Ipecacuanha is its persistent nausea and vomiting, which form the chief guiding symptoms. Indicated after indigestible food, raisins, cakes, etc. Especially indicated in fat children and adults, who are feeble and catch cold in relaxing atmosphere; warm, moist weather. Spasmodic affections. Hæmorrhages bright-red and profuse.

Mind.--Irritable; holds everything in contempt. Full of desires, for what they know not.

Head.--Bones of skull feel crushed or bruised. Pain extends to teeth and root of tongue.

Eyes.--Inflamed, red. Pain through eyeballs. Profuse lachrymation. Cornea dim. Eyes tire from near vision. State of vision constantly changing. Spasm of accommodation from irritable weakness of the ciliary muscle. Nausea from looking on moving objects.

Face.--Blue rings around eyes. Periodical orbital neuralgia, with lachrymation, photophobia, and smarting eyelids.

Nose.--Coryza, with stoppage of nose and nausea. Epistaxis.

Stomach.--Tongue usually clean. Mouth, moist; much saliva. Constant nausea and vomiting, with pale, twitching of face. Vomits food, bile, blood, mucus. Stomach feels relaxed, as if hanging down. Hiccough.

Abdomen.--Amebic dysentery with tenesmus; while straining pain so great that it nauseates; little thirst. Cutting, clutching; worse, around the navel. Body rigid; stretched out stiff.

Stools.--Pitch-like green as grass, like frothy molasses, with griping at navel. Dysenteric, slimy.

Female.--Uterine hæmorrhage, profuse, bright, gushing, with nausea. Vomiting during pregnancy. Pain from navel to uterus. Menses too early and too profuse.

Respiratory.--Dyspnœa; constant constriction in chest. Asthma. Yearly attacks of difficult shortness of breathing. Continued sneezing; coryza; wheezing cough. Cough incessant and violent, with every breath. Chest seems full of phlegm, but does not yield to coughing. Bubbling rales. Suffocative cough; child becomes stiff, and blue in the face. Whooping-cough, with nosebleed, and from mouth. Bleeding from lungs, with nausea; feeling of constriction; rattling cough. Croup. Hæmoptysis from slightest exertion (Millef). Hoarseness, especially at end of a cold. Complete aphonia.

Fever.--Intermittent fever, irregular cases, after Quinine. Slightest chill with much heat, nausea, vomiting, and dyspnœa. Relapses from improper diet.

Sleep.--With eyes half open. Shocks in all limbs on going to sleep (Ign).

Extremities.--Body stretched stiff, followed by spasmodic jerking of arms towards each other.

Skin.--Pale, lax. Blue around eyes. Miliary rash.

Modalities.--Worse, periodically; from veal, moist warm wind, lying down.

Relationship.--Compare: Emetine-principal alkaloid of Ipecac (A powerful amebicide, but is not a bactericide. Specific for amæbiasis; of remarkable value in treatment of amæbic dysentery; also as a remedy in pyorrhea, 1/2 gr daily for three days, then less. Emetin, 1/2 gr hypodermically, in Psoriasis. Emetin hydroch. 2x, diarrhœa with colicky, abdominal pains and nausea. Emetin for endamoebic dysentery. In physiological doses must be carefully watched. May produce hepatization of lungs, rapid heart action, tendency for the head to fall forward and lobar pneumonia. In hæmatemesis and other hæmorrhages, compare: Gelatin which has a marked effect on the coagulability of the blood. Hypodermically; or if by mouth, a 10 per cent jelly, about 4 oz, three times a day) Arsenic; Cham; Puls; Tart em; Squill. Convolvulus (colic and diarrhœa). Typha latifolia-Cat-tail flag (dysentery, diarrhœa) and summer complaint. Euphorbia hypericifolia--Garden Spurge--(Very similar to Ipecac. Irritation of the respiratory and gastro-intestinal tracts and female organs). Lippia mexicana--(Persistent dry, hard, bronchial cough--asthma and chronic bronchitis).

In Asthma, compare: Blatta orientalis.

Antidotes: Arsenic; China; Tabac.

Complementary: Cuprum; Arn.

Dose.--Third to 200th potency.

http://homeoint.org/books/boericmm/i/ip.htm

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I hope this explains it for you!
Take Care and God Bless you !

Answer 2

Syrup of Ipecac is for emergency use in poisoning. It is a medicine that can be purchased in any pharmacy without a prescription that, when given to a child or an adult, will cause vomiting.

SYRUP OF IPECAC MUST NEVER BE USED BEFORE CALLING YOUR FAMILY PHYSICIAN OR THE SOUTHEAST TEXAS POISON CENTER AT 1(800) 764-7661

Normally Syrup of Ipecac should not be given at home if:
The patient is less than one year old or
Corrosives (lye, drain cleaners, oven cleaners, automatic dishwasher detergent, or other strong acids or bases) have been taken or burns are seen around or in the mouth or
A petroleum distillate-containing product (kerosene, gasoline, paint thinner, furniture polish, etc.) has been taken or
The patient is lethargic (sluggish), asleep, or commatose (unconscious) or
The patient is convulsing


Directions:

For children over one year and adults
Give on tablespoonful (15 ml, one half ounce) of Syrup of Ipecac.
Immediatly give 8-16 oz of any fluid except milk (kool-aid, soda pop, fruit juice, etc.).
Vomiting should occur in approximately 15-20 minutes.
IF vomiting has not occured in 20 minutes administer an additional tablespoonful of Syrup of Ipecac. Never give more than two tablespoonfuls.

Answer 3

The doctor's use it to induce vomiting for children who swallow poisonous substances. My niece ate some wild mushrooms from the back yard when she was little. The doctor gave her Ipecac so that she would throw up the mushroom. (She's hated mushrooms ever since). Guess it works on a psychological level as well!

Answer 4

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
What is Ipecac syrup for?
I know it like makes you throw up, but why was it invented? what is it used for?

Answer 5

What Is Ipecac

Answer 6

As an R.N; YES, as the others have told you , it is used to induce vomiting. We don't really use it anymore...we use charcoal in the ER, but if you come across a scary situation that should require vomiting, call your poison control center immediently!!!

Answer 7

Not sure of it's history but as a paramedic we carried it in our kits as a treatment for ingested poison.

Answer 8

It is used to loosen phlegm and induce coughing. to expel mucus Blech! It comes in handy for pneumonia.

Answer 9

First aid for ingested poison.

Answer 10

to induce vomiting. ( like if a child ingested a poison)

Answer 11

Sometimes you need to throw up what you just ingested.