What is "rheumatism root"

Rheumatism \Rheu"ma*tism\, n. [L. rheumatismus rheum, Gr. ????, fr.??? to have or suffer from a flux, fr. ??? rheum: cf. F. rheumatisme. See 2d Rheum.] (Med.) A general disease characterized by painful, often multiple, local inflammations, usually affecting the joints and muscles, but also extending sometimes to the deeper organs, as the heart.

Inflammatory rheumatism (Med.), acute rheumatism attended with fever, and attacking usually the larger joints, which become swollen, hot, and very painful.

Rheumatism root. (Bot.) See Twinleaf.

Rheumatism root is a common name for several plants and may refer to:

• Apocynum cannabinum, also known as dogbane, Amy root, hemp dogbane, Indian hemp, or wild cotton
• Chimaphila maculata, also known as spotted wintergreen
• Jeffersonia, also known as twinleaf