Definition of "ipecacuanha" [ip•e•cac•u•an•ha]

• A flowering plant, Psychotria ipecacuanha, the root of which has medicinal uses. (noun)
• The powdered root of this plant, used as an emetic; ipecac. (noun)

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• "The ipecacuanha is a pretty, delicate plant, which bears a bright orange-colored cluster of flowers."
• "The similia principle had a prior history in medicine, from Hippocrates in Ancient Greece -- who noted, for example, that recurrent vomiting could be treated with an emetic (such as ipecacuanha) that would be expected to make it worse -- to folk medicine. ("
• "He was forced to concentrate with all his will in order to remember which of them could stand ipecacuanha, and which of them were constitutionally unable to retain that powerful drug."