King's American Dispensatory, revised by Felter and Lloyd for the Eclectic medical movement of nineteenth century America, is a primary historical record of what Eclectic physicians believed and prescribed, not a peer reviewed or independently verified claim of efficacy. Its value here is exactly that: it is the documentary record of a real historical practice, the use of hydrangea root under the folk name seven barks as a diuretic for kidney and bladder complaints, cited by herbal historians today as the source for that specific traditional claim. The Eclectic movement's own record includes real failures and later abandoned remedies alongside uses that later pharmacology has vindicated, and this source is not cited to endorse any of them as effective. It is cited narrowly to establish that this specific traditional use is real and historically documented, not invented, which is the only claim made here.
Facts
Assessment
Reliability Tier3
Tier three: a primary historical record of what Eclectic physicians believed and prescribed, not a peer reviewed or independently verified claim of efficacy. It is cited narrowly to establish that the traditional use of hydrangea root as a diuretic is real and historically documented, not to endorse it as effective. NotesCited narrowly for the Eclectic-era American use of hydrangea root, known as seven barks, as a diuretic for kidney and bladder complaints, never for a claim about clinical effectiveness.
Citation
AuthorHarvey Wickes Felter and John Uri Lloyd
PublisherOhio Valley Company
Publication Year1898
Source TypeBook (primary)
Cross-Tradition Connections
Associated With
This source names Americas directly: "King's American Dispensatory, revised by Felter and Lloyd for the Eclectic medical movement of nineteenth century America, is a primary historical record of what Eclectic physicians believed and..."
Claims Backed By This Source (10 claims)
This source backs 10 claims across the atlas. As facts: 8 well-attested. As cited relationships: 1 holds. Plus 1 entities citing it as a general reference with no single fact or relationship attached.
Disposition By Topic
- Sources, 8 claims: 7 well-attested, 1 holds.
- Plants, 2 claims: 1 well-attested, 1 general references.
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