Demulcent

Demulcents (L. demulcere, to soothe), usually mucilaginous or oleaginous, are intended for soothing parts to which applied, being restricted generally to mucous membranes (internally), and emollients to the skin (externally): acacia, cetraria, starch, flaxseed, glycyrrhiza, gelatin, honey, althea, egg-white, tragacanth, olive and other bland oils [Culbreth1927, pp 46-47].

Demulcents are medicines suited to prevent the action of acrid and stimulating matters upon the mucous membranes of the throat, lungs, etc [Brown1878].

Demulcents are medicines suited to modify the action of acrid and stimulating matters upon the mucous membranes of the throat, lungs, etc [Meyer1932].

Remedies that have a notable soothing effect on the membranes to which they are exposed internally. May have incidental healing properties. Primarily mucilaginous substances [Sanchez BOTM680].

Water based, moisturizing [anonymous].

Soothes interally [Palmer2004].

•  ∧   
  Gastro-intestinal System (GI)
•  ∧   
  Integumentary System

•  >   
  Couch Grass (Elymus repens)
•  >   
  Marshmallow (Althea officinalis)
•  >   
  Pellitory-of-the-wall (Parietaria spp.)

[Brown1878] Oliver Phelps Brown. The Complete Herbalist; or the People Their Own Physicians. Jersey City, NJ (1878). Online Reprint.

[Culbreth1927] David Marvel Reynolds Culbreth. A Manual of Materia Medica and Pharmacology, Seventh Edition. Philadelphia, PA: Lea & Febiger (1927). Online Reprint.

[Meyer1932] Joseph Ernest Meyer. The Herbalist and Herb Doctor. Hammond, IN: Indiana Botanic Gardens (1932) Online Reprint.

[Palmer2004] Michelle Palmer class notes. Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine.

[Sanchez BOTM680] Joann Sanchez. Botanical Medicine 680 notes. Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine.