Asthma ipecac

The root of the ipecac is commonly used as an expectorant in the treatment of bronchitis, croup, asthma amoebacide and whooping cough, as an emetic in cases of poisoning, and an amoebacide in amoebic dysentery. It has appeared in the Japanese Pharmacopoeia (2001) as ipecac, powdered ipecac and ipecac S)nxip [6]. The ipecac is rich in isoquinoline alkaloids such as emetine, cephaeline, psychotrine. 

Concentrated preparations such as fluid extracts of ipecac can be extremely toxic (Gilman et al. 1985 Martindale and Reynolds 1996) and should be used only under proper supervision. Ipecac has an irritant effect on the skin and mucous membranes and should be handled with care. Inhalation of airborne dust from ipecac has been associated with induction of asthma and sensitization to ipecac (Persson 1991 Wichtl 2004). 

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