Description and Composition
Colchicum is an annual herb with brownish fleshy underground stems. It is almost conical in shape, flattened on one side and round on the other. The plant has very narrow leaves, broadening towards the tip, large yellow flowers and fruits with recurved tips.
The chief constituent of colchicum is the alkaloid, colchicine, which occurs in the form of yellow flakes, crystals or as whitish yellow anorphous powder. Its odour resembles the hay when dampene and warmed.
Healing Power and Curative Properties
It is a medicine of great repute in Afghanistan and northern India. The medicinal properties were well known even amongst the Arabs. Its corms and seeds are incorporated in the British Pharmacopoeia and allopathic
medicine alludes it as a remedy for
gout
.
Gout
The active principle colchicine contained in the corms is useful in relieving pain and inflammations of
gout. Clinical experiments with colchicum in small doses over a long period have shown success in about 60 per cent of patients. The seeds, chiefly the rind also contain colchicine, and may be used in the treatment of gout in the same manner as the corms.
Rheumatism
The drug is beneficial in the treatment of rheumatic swelling. A paste made with saffron and egg can be applied beneficially to rheumatic and other swellings.
Wounds
Dried and powdered root of the plant is useful in the healing of wounds. It should be sprinkled on the affected area.
Precautions: It has a very bitter taste, and darkens on exposure to light. It has similar action as colchicine, but the latter is more active and toxic. When taken in large doses, colchinine causes intestinal pain,
diarrhoea and
vomiting. The use of the
drug can cause severe irritation in the intestines. To counteract this, it is advisable to use the
drug with belladonna or hyoscyamus (khurasana ajwain).