Indian physic

noun

1. American ipecac.
2. bowman's root.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Indian physic¹

An Americanism dating back to 1730–40

Example Sentences

Blennerhassett was convoyed to the depths of the island forest, where the strangely assorted pair conversed intimately on the virtues of pleurisy-root, Indian physic and columbo.

From Project Gutenberg

This plant—I'm taking the whole thing, root and stem, to show him how it grows—is the genuine Indian physic; I got it right by a big rotten log in Putnam's woods.

From Project Gutenberg

Mr. Buck went down by the creek and dug some roots he called Indian Physic, then steeped them until the infusion seemed as black as molasses, and, when cool told me to take a swallow every fifteen minutes for an hour, then half as much for another hour as long as I could keep it down.

From Project Gutenberg