Ipecacuanha definition

<medicine> The root of a Brazilian rubiaceous herb (Cephaelis Ipecacuanha), largely employed as an emetic; also, the plant itself; also, a medicinal extract of the root. Many other plants are used as a substitutes; among them are the black or Peruvian ipecac (Psychotria emetica), the white ipecac (Ionidium Ipecacuanha), the bastard or wild ipecac (Asclepias Curassavica), and the undulated ipecac (Richardsonia scabra).

Origin: Pg. Ipecacuanha (cf. Sp. Ipecacuana); fr. Braz. Ipe-kaa-guena, prop, a creeping plant that causes vomiting.

(01 Mar 1998)