Author: Urenus

The mother tincture is prepared from the dried leaved twigs of the plant Rhododen- dron campylocarpum Hook. f., Rhododendron chrysanthum Pall. and their hybrids separately or in combination, which occurs in Siberia and Northern Russia. N.O. Ericaceae.

This most important remedy produces a typical aggravation of all complaints in windy weather, in wet, cold weather, particularly before rain begins to fall, but also in other changes in the weather and before a thunderstorm.

Complaints occur periodically and frequently change their location. In the case of pains in the limbs these frequently originate in small, circumscribed sites on the pe- riosteum, associated with drawing pain deep inside the bone, and possibly also with paraesthesias and twitching sensations. They are accompanied by relaxation, a sore, bruised feeling and lassitude after the slightest exertion.

Repeatedly one notices a striking sensitivity to cold and wind, and a resurgence of complaints in rough, changeable weather.

Frequently there is an indifferent, cross or reluctant mood.

Rhododendron is required in many cases where there are tearing or jerking pains in the face, or toothache which is better for warmth and may cease for one or two hours after eating a meal.

Apart from the pains in bones, muscles and joints, heart complaints are also char- acteristic of Rhododendron, the heart-beat often becoming stronger, in many cases typified by an aggravation of complaints before a change occurs in the weather.

In Rhododendron there are also vesicular eruptions, as well as epididymitis and pains in the testes, which feel as though they had been squashed; these symptoms may also occur in the glans penis. Thus Rhododendron acts (alongside penicillin) where there is a specific cause. It has also occasionally proved its worth in hydro- coele of boys.

Since the nervous system is also affected, and disturbances of sleep were observed during the provings, Rhododendron may also be used in sleeplessness, above all when this has a rheumatic cause or is the result of rheumatic complaints occurring, particularly if the patients cannot get to sleep because of physical restlessness.

In general Rhododendron is an anti-rheumatic, but it can be used where there are gouty deposits, and particularly in primary chronic arthritis, for which it is one of the chief remedies, especially where there is deformity of the small interphalangeal joints. Rhododendron, apart from having an aggravation while at rest, which pre- vents sleep, also has an amelioration from movement (cf. Rhus Toxicodendron).

Indeed, Rhododendron bears an uncommon similarity to Rhus Toxicodendron, however the pains of Rhododendron are deeper, and localised in the periosteum.

A summary produces the following main symptoms:

1. Rheumatic remedy with a typical aggravation before rainy weather and changes of weather in general.

• 2.   Aggravation of complaints at night and at rest; amelioration on continued move- ment. The pains are located deeply, as if originating in the periosteum.
• Special localisation (primary chronic polyarthritis) in the small joints (fingers). Neuralgia in the arm.
• Vesicular eruptions.
• 5.   Affections of the testes. Epididymitis. Neuralgia of the spermatic cord. Conse- quences of gonorrhoea and syphilis (neural complications).
• 6.   Heart complaints, with increased strength of the heart-beat, possibly associated with feelings of anxiety, and with aggravation before a change in the weather.
• 7.   Tearing, jerking pains in the face, resulting from toothache, ameliorated after eat- ing and by warmth.

The German Monograph-Preparation Commission for the Homoeopathic Field of Therapy has, under the Preparation Monograph for Rhododendron, published the following indication(s) in the German Bundesanzeiger (German Federal Gazette) for rhododendron: rheumatism; neuralgia; orchitis.

The mother tincture is prepared from the dried rootstock, peeled off almost to the cambium, of the plant Rheum officinale Baill., Rheum palmatum L. or hybrids of ei- ther, which are present in China. N.O. Polygonaceae.

The main indications are:

Diarrhoea, sour, mucous, as if fermented. Anus sore and red. Tenesmus and cut- ting pains in the abdomen. The child smells sour. Teething complaints with diar- rhoea (in summer).

The German Monograph-Preparation Commission for the Homoeopathic Field of Therapy has, under the Preparation Monograph for Rheum, published the following indication(s) in the German Bundesanzeiger (German Federal Gazette) for rheum: diarrhoea; behavioural disorders among children; teething complaints.

The attenuations of this sarcode are prepared from the fresh retina removed from the eyes of healthy pigs (Sus scrofa domesticus).

The main indications are:

Choroiditis. Disorders of vision. Myopia. Degenerative illnesses of the retina and of the eye in general. May be tried in glaucoma.

The attenuations of this sarcode are prepared from the fresh kidney removed from healthy pigs (Sus scrofa domesticus).

The main indications are:

Nephrolithiasis. Hydronephrosis. Urinary-tract infections. Albuminuria. Nephros- es. In glomerulonephritis, do not give in the acute stage. Hypertrophy of the prostate. Oedema. Oxaluria. Depressed renal function with oliguria. Hyperhydrosis.

The attenuations of this sarcode are prepared from the fresh rectum of a healthy pig (Sus scrofa domesticus).

The main indications are:

Intestinal tenesmus. Constipation. Insufficient elimination per rectum. Pre-can- cerous condition of the rectum. Diverticulitis. Carcinoma of the rectum and its pre- liminary stage. Mucous colitis. Anal fissure.

The mother tincture is prepared from the dried root of the plant Rauwolfia serpenti- na (L.) Benth. ex Kurz., which occurs in the Himalayan region. N.O. Apocynaceae.

The main indication is:

Hypertension.

The German Monograph-Preparation Commission for the Homoeopathic Field of Therapy has, under the Preparation Monograph for Rauwolfia serpentina, published the following indication(s) in the German Bundesanzeiger (German Federal Gazette) for rauwolfia: hypertension; emotional discord or upset.

The mother tincture is prepared from the whole fresh plant, gathered when in flower, of Ranunculus bulbosus L., which occurs in Europe and North America.

N.O. Ranunculaceae.

Ranunculus Bulbosus, the buttercup, a member of the Ranunculaceae family, is used to treat rheumatic and neuralgic symptoms, and likewise skin-eruptions, partic- ularly crops of vesicles which occur grouped closely together (herpes zoster with burning and itching).

Attacks of vertigo, swimming in the head and a sensation of heaviness may also be present, also stabbing, tearing headaches with congestion of blood, and burning and itching of the eyelids with redness. There may be earaches deep in the ear and in the area of the ear drum.

There are characteristic complaints in the chest muscles, with drawing pains in the nape of the neck and in the axilla, bruised, sore pain in the sacrum, and soreness in the right lower arm and small muscles of the hand, as well as a painful sensation of jerking and tearing. There may also be blisters on the fingers; and drawing pains in the hips and inner side of the knee and ankle, stabbing pulsations in the heel with a clamping pain in the calf muscles, weakness and giving-way of the legs, and pain in the heels as if from external pressure, which are all typical of Ranunculus.

There may also be coryza with a discharge of viscid mucus, and possibly ulcera- tion of the nasal mucosa with a painful red swelling of the tip of the nose, usually accompanied by the characteristic chest complaints with shortness of breath and a sense of construction, so that the patient has to hold the chest with his hands when coughing (cf. Bryonia). Thus Ranunculus is also a good remedy in adhesions fol- lowing pleurisy.

Typical of Ranunculus are burning, pressing pains, and a bruised soreness which is felt particularly in the left and right hypochondria. These may be accompanied by gastric symptoms with purging, eructations and nausea, burning in the stomach, ab- dominal rumbling and bleeding haemorrhoids, as well as erections and seminal emissions in the early hours of the morning.

Thus Ranunculus Bulbosus is chiefly indicated in illnesses of a neuralgic or rheu- matic kind with spasmodic and paralytic symptoms, in gouty complaints, but also in oozing eczemas and vesicular eruptions (as in herpes zoster, in pemphigus and par- ticularly in coryza with a red, swollen nose). Complaints are aggravated by change of temperature and by damp weather. The skin eruptions are frequently also present on the palms of the hands in the form of desquamating vesicular eruptions.

A summary provides us with the following remedy-picture:

1. Intercostal neuralgia and rheumatism of the chest muscles. Disc prolapse in the area of the dorsal spine, but also generally.
2. Pleurisy, dry or with serous effusion, consequent adhesions and pleuritic com- plaints.

• 3.   Skin eruptions of a vesicular nature, particularly herpes zoster and pemphigus (according to Dahlke, especially in children). Should also be tried as a supporting remedy in epithelioma and skin cancer. Vesicular eruptions on the palms of the hands.
• 4.   Chronic rheumatism of the joints, and gouty symptoms.
• Acute excoriating coryza, possibly lasting for weeks, with a red, inflamed nose.

The German Monograph-Preparation Commission for the Homoeopathic Field of Therapy has, under the Preparation Monograph for Ranunculus bulbosus, published the following indication(s) in the German Bundesanzeiger (German Federal Gazette) for ranunculus bulbosus: virus diseases of the skin and the cornea; dis- eases of the parietal pleura; rheumatism in the thoracic region; neuralgia.

The mother tincture is prepared from the dried bark of trunks and twigs of Aspi- dosperma quebracho-blanco Schlecht., a native of South America. N.O. Apocy- naceae.

The main indications are:

Bronchial asthma and asthmatic bronchitis with dyspnoea; also in emphysema and catarrh of smokers.

The German Monograph-Preparation Commission for the Homoeopathic Field of Therapy has, under the Preparation Monograph for Aspidosperma quebracho-blan- co, published the following indication(s) in the German Bundesanzeiger (German Federal Gazette) for quebracho: chronic diseases of the respiratory passages, ac- companied by acute respiratory distress.

The mother tincture is prepared from the dried wood of trunks and branches of Quassia amara L. or Picrasma excelsa [Sw.] Planch., a native of tropical America.

N.O. Simarubaceae.

The main indications are:

Liver and biliary remedy; also in cirrhosis of the liver with ascites.

The German Monograph-Preparation Commission for the Homoeopathic Field of Therapy has, under the Preparation Monograph for Picrasma excelsa, Quassia amara, published the following indication(s) in the German Bundesanzeiger (Ger- man Federal Gazette) for quassia amara: hepatic diseases; digestive insufficiency.

The attenuations of this nosode are prepared from the pus from septic skin lesions.

The main indications are:

Acute and chronic skin diseases, oozing eczema and boils. Acute acne vulgaris and cystic acne. Relapsing carbuncle. Illnesses occurring after retoxically treated skin eruptions, including asthma, neuralgias, liver damage etc. Otherwise should be used in a similar way to Psorinum and the Psoriasis Nosode. Works well in combi- nation with the Asthma Nosode.