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  • Baldwin's Nervous Pills : cures nervousness, irritability of temper, want of strength and energy, fear, dread, neuralgia, hysteria, disturbed sleep, melancholy, insomnia, and all nerve pain and diseases.
  • Tortoise: paraphymosis, irritation of cloaca
  • Atoquinol (allyl phenylcinchoninester) : the most active eliminant of irritant or toxic acid waste without harmful action on digestive or other systems.
  • Curb & spavin cure : no more torturing with hot irons or irritating blisters : a safe easily applied and effective remedy.
  • The face of a man suffering from acute eczema and dermatitis, caused by irritant drug applications and poison ivy. Colour lithograph after Mracek (?), ca. 1905.
  • Hc45 Hydrocortisone Cream 1% : fast, effective relief for: insect bites, mild to moderate eczema, detergent hands, nickel allergy, plant allergy, irritation due to strong household chemicals.
  • Hc45 Hydrocortisone Cream 1% : fast, effective relief for: insect bites, mild to moderate eczema, detergent hands, nickel allergy, plant allergy, irritation due to strong household chemicals.
  • Hc45 Hydrocortisone Cream 1% : fast, effective relief for: insect bites, mild to moderate eczema, detergent hands, nickel allergy, plant allergy, irritation due to strong household chemicals.
  • Hc45 Hydrocortisone Cream 1% : fast, effective relief for: insect bites, mild to moderate eczema, detergent hands, nickel allergy, plant allergy, irritation due to strong household chemicals.
  • Remarks on irritative fever, commonly called the Plymouth dock-yard disease; with Mr. Dryden's detailed account of the fatal cases, including that of the lamented surgeon, Dr. [James] Bell / [John Butter].
  • Expériences sur le galvanisme et en général sur l'irritation des fibres musculaires et nerveuses / de Frédéric-Alexandre Humboldt; Traduction de l'allemand [by Gruvel or Gravel], publiée, avec des additions, par J. Fr. N. Jadelot.
  • Valeriana officinalis L. Valerianaceae Valerianus, Phu, Nardus sylvestris, Setwal. Distribution: Europe. Popular herbalism attributes sedation to Valerian, but this is not mentioned by Coles (1657) or Gerard (1633) or Lobel (1576) or Lyte (1578) or Dioscorides (ex Gunther, 1959) or Fuchs (1553), where he quotes Pliny, Dioscorides and Galen, or Parkinson (1640), or Pomet (1712). The English translation of Tournefort (1719-1730) covers a whole page of the uses of all the different valerians, but never mentions sedation or treating anxiety. Quincy (1718) does not mention it. Because it was used in epilepsy, for which Woodville (1792) says it was useless, Haller, in his Historia stirpium indegenarum Helvetae inchoatae (1768) advocates it for those with irritability of the nervous system, as does Thomson's London Dispensatory (1811) although he lists it as an 'antispasmodic and stimulant' and for inducing menstruation. Lindley (1838) notes (as many did) that the roots smell terrible and that this makes cats excited, and in man, in large doses, induce 'scintillations, agitation and even convulsions' so used in asthenic fever, epilepsy, chorea, hysteria and as an antihelminthic.' Fluckiger & Hanbury (1879) give a wonderful account of the history of its names, but give its use as 'stimulant and antispasmodic' as do Barton & Castle (1877). but by 1936 (Martindale's Extra Pharmacopoeia) its only use was 'Given in hysterical and neurotic conditions as a sedative. Its action has been attributed to its unpleasant smell'. The European Medicines Agency (2006) approves its use as a traditional herbal medicine for mild anxiety and sleeplessness for up to 4 weeks. Despite what is written continuously about its use in ancient Greece and Rome, the only reason for its use has been because it was thought, for a brief while, to be good for epilepsy and therefore might deal with persons of a nervous disposition because of its foul smell. It has been suggested that even its Greek name, 'Phu' came from the expression of disgust which is made when one sniffs an unpleasant odour. For 1,800 years, before the last century, no-one had thought it sedative. Photographed in the Medicinal Garden of the Royal College of Physicians, London.
  • Dianella tasmanica Hook.f. Phormiaceae Tasman flax lily. Distribution: Australia. A pretty plant, but also a source of fine fibre. The leaves are used for making baskets and the berries as a dye source. No medicinal use found, but the fruit is an irritant
  • Scour & diarrhoea mixture : very effective for use in cases of "curding" and obstinate cases of diarrhoea in foals, calves, sheep and pigs, and also for severe cases of dysentery or flux. It warms the stomach and irritated membranes, and neutralizes all acidity of the bowels.
  • Aralia spinosa L. Araliaceae. Devil's walking stick, Prickly ash, Hercules' club. Tree. Distribution: Eastern North America. Contact with sap causes skin irritation, raw berries mildly toxic to humans, causing diarrhoea and vomiting. Eaten by bears. Used medicinally by Native Americans for a variety of conditions. Photographed in the Medicinal Garden of the Royal College of Physicians, London.
  • Solanum atropurpureum Schrank Solanaceae. Purple Devil. Purple-spined Nightshade. Herbaceous perennial. Distribution: Brazil. This ferociously spined plant contains tropane alkaloids, atropine, hyoscyamine and scopolamine. All are anticholinergic and block the acetylcholine mediated actions of the parasympathetic nervous system. While the alkaloids are used in medicine and as an antidote to anticholinergic nerve gas poisons, the plant itself is not used in medicine. Its sharp spines can be irritant. Photographed in the Medicinal Garden of the Royal College of Physicians, London.
  • Iris unguicularis Poir. Iridaceae. Algerian iris. Rhizomatous perennial. Distribution: NW Africa, E. Mediterranean It has scientifically-based potential. The rhizomes contain the chemical kaempferol which inhibits the enzyme alpha-glucosidase in the gut, reducing the rate of glucose absorption. This could be used to prevent the dangerous peaks of blood sugar that occur in diabetics and reduce eye and kidney complications. The unprocessed rhizome contains iridin, a toxic glycoside, which causes 'nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and skin irritation'. Photographed in the Medicinal Garden of the Royal College of Physicians, London.
  • Opuntia humifusa Raf. Cactaceae Eastern prickly pear, Indian fig. Distribution: Eastern North America. Stearns (1801) reports 'OPUNTIA a species of cactus. The fruit is called the prickly pear. If eaten it turns the urine and milk in women's breast red'. This is likely to be Opuntia robusta. The ripe fruits are reported edible, raw, and the leaf pads also, either raw or cooked. The fine spines, glochids, cause severe skin irritation so should be wiped off or burnt off prior to cooking and eating. Moerman (1998) reports that O. hemifusa was widely used by Native American tribes for wounds, burns, snakebite, warts (fruit), and as a mordant for dyes used on leather. Widely used, with the spines removed, as a famine food, and dried for winter use. Photographed in the Medicinal Garden of the Royal College of Physicians, London.
  • Opuntia humifusa Raf. Cactaceae Eastern prickly pear, Indian fig. Distribution: Eastern North America. Stearns (1801) reports 'OPUNTIA a species of cactus. The fruit is called the prickly pear. If eaten it turns the urine and milk in women's breast red'. This is likely to be Opuntia robusta. The ripe fruits are reported edible, raw, and the leaf pads also, either raw or cooked. The fine spines, glochids, cause severe skin irritation so should be wiped off or burnt off prior to cooking and eating. Moerman (1998) reports that O. hemifusa was widely used by Native American tribes for wounds, burns, snakebite, warts (fruit), and as a mordant for dyes used on leather. Widely used, with the spines removed, as a famine food, and dried for winter use. Photographed in the Medicinal Garden of the Royal College of Physicians, London.
  • The power of movement in plants / Assisted by Francis Darwin.
  • The power of movement in plants / Assisted by Francis Darwin.
  • The movements and habits of climbing plants / by Charles Darwin, F.R.S.
  • Stinging hairs on a nettle leaf
  • SEM dust & mucus on bronchus,stereo.,RH
  • Emma Hamilton in an attitude towards a mimosa plant, causing it to demonstrate sensibility. Stipple engraving by R. Earlom, 1789, after G. Romney.
  • Emma Hamilton in an attitude towards a mimosa plant, causing it to demonstrate sensibility. Stipple engraving by R. Earlom, 1789, after G. Romney.
  • A Japanese physician applying moxa (a substance produced from leaves of various wormwoods) as a cautery: igniting it on the skin of a patient's back. Wood engraving.
  • Sedonil : en las neurosis, sindromes de angustia, irritabilidad, insomnio / Instituto Sanitas Sociedad Peruana.
  • Sedonil : en las neurosis, sindromes de angustia, irritabilidad, insomnio / Instituto Sanitas Sociedad Peruana.
  • A fierce battle between the supporters of John Brown (Bruno), in favour of treatment with stimulants, and those of F.J.V. Broussais, in favour of bloodletting. Pen drawing.