Pronunciation: [skˈamənɪ] (IPA) 
Scammony is a word that can be a bit tricky to spell. The IPA phonetic transcription for this word is /ˈskæməni/. The first syllable is pronounced with a "sk" sound, followed by the short "a" sound and the letter "m". The second syllable is pronounced with an "uh" sound, followed by the letter "n" and the long "e" sound. Scammony, in case you're wondering, is a type of plant that produces a resin with medicinal properties.
Scammony is a noun that refers to a potent, purgative drug derived from the dried root of certain species of the bindweed family, Convolvulaceae. It is primarily obtained from the plant, Convolvulus scammonia, native to Europe and Western Asia. This plant produces a milky juice that is extracted and dried to form a resinous substance known as scammony.
Scammony has been used for centuries as a powerful laxative due to its cathartic properties. It contains active compounds called resin glycosides, particularly the glycoside scammonin, which stimulate bowel movements and promote the elimination of waste from the body. It is typically used to relieve constipation or as an emergency purgative.
In the field of medicine, scammony has been employed as an ingredient in various pharmaceutical preparations such as pills and tinctures. However, its potency as a purgative and potential side effects such as abdominal pain and diarrhea have led to its reduced usage in modern medicine.
Beyond its medical applications, scammony also has historical significance as a purgative in traditional folk medicine practices. It was often employed as a remedy for digestive disorders and believed to have other therapeutic properties. Additionally, scammony has been historically used as an adulterant or substitute for other substances due to its resemblance to other resinous drugs.
Overall, scammony is a potent drug derived from the bindweed plant that has been historically used as a powerful laxative due to its cathartic properties.
Scammonia.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
A plant of the genus convolvulus, from which a sort of gum-resin is obtained, of a blackish-grey colour and bitter acrid taste, used in medicine.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
The word "scammony" originates from the Late Latin term "scammonia", which was derived from the Greek word "skammōnia". In ancient Greek, "skammōnia" referred to a resinous juice obtained from the root of a plant known as scammony or scammonium. The Greek word likely comes from the Persian term "shamel", meaning "venom" or "harmful", as the plant's extract was used medicinally as a purgative. Over time, as the term was adopted into different languages, slight changes occurred, resulting in the modern English word "scammony".
