The elixir is the resin of Grindelia squarrosa extracted in ethyl alcohol. In my opinion Grindelia is the best cough suppressant and expectorant available in nature. It can be cut with honey, syrup or water. The label suggests 1 to 1 but I use up to four parts light weight syrup (from canned fruit) to one part elixir. It is recommended as a treatment for upper respiratory infections.
It has found wide use as a treatment for:
I use four ozs. of the cut elixir for horses with chronic cough twice daily.
Use four cc per 100 weight for carnivores orally as needed, cut by honey, syrup, juice or any palatable liquid is recommended.
Large doses may cause profuse sweating (i.e. more than five cc of the uncut elixir per 100 weight).
This is an amazingly effective medicinal plant. It is commonly called gumweed, curly cup gumweed and resin plant.
Grindelia was used extensively by Native Americans to treat a host of ailments for which it is doubtful there was any effect. It is used effectively for respiratory ailments ranging from pneumonia, sore throat, cough and stuffy sinuses.
Information in the literature regarding the chemistry of the plant is shallow, speculative and lacking in rigor. Meritorious publications have not been found.
The resin is extracted in ethyl alcohol and diluted with nearly any aqueous solvent: water, fruit juice, syrup, etc. for use.
Its anecdotal pharmacy is well known to Chinese and western herbalists. Grindelia is an expectorant that stimulates mucous secretion. It is analgesic and relieves sore throats. It is strongly anti-inflammatory. It is antispasmodic to calm a cough. It is also anti-microbial.
Grindelia is useful in horses with heaves, dogs with bordetella, cats, and birds, virtually all creatures with respiratory infections.
Grindelia elixir, for sore throat and laryngitis, should be cut 50/50 with water for gargling.
For horses one oz. elixir is mixed with a cup to a pint of light weight syrup from fruit. Four oz. bid for two or three days is sufficient by experience.
Feedback from veterinarians is very positive on Grindelia’s efficacy on dogs and cats treated with Grindelia. I’m told that it takes only a few drops with cats as they are very sensitive to many drugs including Grindelia.
Topical application of Grindelia is a well known, and very effective, remedy for poison ivy and poison oak induced dermatitis. Dilute with water and apply bid. It has been used full strength effectively – with one report of contact dermatitis.
Grindelia is also a diaphoretic. It takes about 10cc per hundred pounds weight to cause a “hot flash”. This “hot flash” can be used as an indicator that enough Grindelia has been dosed to deal with a respiratory infection.
Little information exists on contraindications, adverse reactions or toxicology.
Grindelia is such a good medicine and so little scientific work has been done that it is a prime candidate for research.
We did not invent botanical medicines and we do not recommend that the use of botanical medicines should be undertaken on the strength of our restatement of historical usage and documented research.
We do restate well documented traditional efficacy and the results of ongoing research. Personal experience is included where deemed appropriate.
Regardless of the merits of any plant medicine, side effects do sometimes occur. These may be real or imagined. Always seek the counsel and advice of qualified medical professionals and use caution with any medication, plant derived or otherwise. We do not accept responsibility for the use or misuse of any product put forth or any information provided.
This research is being conducted by the Veterinary Research Council, Inc., of which, Dr. Fox is Treasurer.