A drug made from the root of an American plant, used as a treatment for coughs, and also as an emetic.
The root of Cephaelis ipecacuanha, a Brazilian shrub. It contains an alkaloid, emetine, which acts as an irritant when brought into contact with the interior of the stomach, producing vomiting. Formerly used to induce vomiting among young children after poisoning and if still alert, but now of uncertain value, it was used in many traditional expectorant mixtures given in the treatment of bronchitis.
Ipecac is a drug formerly utilized to induce vomiting as a treatment for certain poisonings.