a. and sb. Med. Also 8 emenagogue. [f. Gr. ἔμμηνα the menses of women + ἀγωγός drawing forth.]
† A. adj. Having power to excite the menstrual discharge; = EMMENAGOGIC. Obs.
1702. Sir J. Floyer, in Phil. Trans., XXIII. 1168. All … are … Emmenagogue.
1830. Lindley, Nat. Syst. Bot., 135. Common Rue, and another species, are … emmenagogue.
1860. in Mayne, Expos. Lex.
B. sb. Agents that increase or renew the menstrual discharge.
1731–1800. in Bailey.
1732. Arbuthnot, Rules of Diet, 273. Emenagogues. Such as produce a Plethora or Fulness of the Vessels.
1875. H. C. Wood, Therap. (1879), 535. Emmenagogues are medicines … employed to promote the menstrual flux.
