1. Plural of ipecacuanha; tropical South American plants of the genus Psychotria, or the dried roots and rhizomes of these plants used medicinally as an emetic or expectorant.
Usage: Also spelled ipecacs (informal); primarily used in medical and pharmaceutical contexts; The singular form is ipecacuanha

Examples

• The pharmacist explained that ipecacuanhas were once commonly used to induce vomiting in cases of poisoning.
• Historical medical texts frequently referenced ipecacuanhas as a standard treatment for respiratory ailments.
• Ipecacuanhas contain alkaloids that stimulate the stomach lining and bronchial secretions.
• The dried ipecacuanhas were imported from Brazil and sold in apothecaries throughout Europe.
• Modern medicine has largely replaced ipecacuanhas with safer and more effective alternatives.