Category: Materia Medica Hans-Heinrich Reckeweg

The mother tincture is prepared from the dried, ripe seeds of the plant, Strychnos nux-vomica L., a native of the East Indies, North Australia and especially Sri Lanka.

N.O. Loganiaceae.

Nux Vomica contains the alkaloids strychnine and brucine, compounds of strych- ninic acid, and also tannic acid fat and a small quantity of a glycoside, Loganin.

Through the whole symptomatology of this important homoeopathic polychrest there runs a nervous irritability, a tendency to cramps and spasms, with lassitude, weakness with a bruised, beaten feeling, pains in the limbs and joints, and a height- ened sensitivity to gentle touch, jarring and noises of any kind. Patients who require Nux Vomica are in need of rest. There are often muscle cramps, even tonic and clonic spasms of various limbs.

There is a striking tendency to catch colds and a wariness of cool air. Influenza pa- tients who need Nux Vomica cover themselves up in fear, right up to the neck, be- cause every draught upsets them. Aggravation results from mental exertion and after consumption of coffee and alcoholic drinks. In humid weather a slight amelioration is present.

Toxicologically, gastro intestinal inflammations are typical, as is a congestion of blood in the brain, spinal cord and meninges, with sweating into the cavities, the blood itself being viscous, tarry and of a dark colour.

The Nux Vomica patient is tired in the mornings, and is very sleepy during the day, with much yawning and stretching of the limbs, may go to sleep late, sleeps lightly, and has a typical sleeplessness beginning at about 3:00 a.m. and lasting until about 6:00 or 7:00 a.m. The patient may go off to sleep again, and could sleep in until midday.

Emotionally the Nux Vomica patient presents the picture of a gloomy hypochon- driac with heightened irritability, irascibility, intensity of feeling, lachrymosity and quarrelsome disposition. The skin frequently shows a yellow discolouration. The complexion is pale, wretched and sallow, possibly alternating with flushing. The palms of the hands are cool and clammy.

The psychological symptoms are particularly notable in the mornings. The pa- tients cannot concentrate, they omit words and syllables, say the wrong thing, and also complain of headaches, in the frontal, temporal and occipital regions, and pos- sibly of one-sided, migraine-like conditions, especially after alcohol. The student with a hangover is typical of Nux Vomica. There may also be irritative conditions of the conjunctiva, hypersensitivity of hearing and auditory delusions, itching in the nose, and a refined sense of smell. Nux Vomica is also indicated especially for stiff- ness of the joints, the neck and the spine with painful rheumatic complaints, sensa- tions of heaviness and weakness in the legs, pains in the heels, stinging, burning pains in the soles of the feet and severe itching of the toes.

Immoderate eating is followed by a feeling of constriction in the heart with ar- rhythmia and pulsation of the carotid arteries, accompanied by a feeling of oppres- sion and anxiety. There may be fits and also at the same time high-pitched, rough coughing, especially in the morning, which may be followed by retching (morning sickness).

Nux Vomica is the required remedy for glossitis, stomatitis with vesicles and ul- ceration on the mucosa of mouth and tongue, and incipient periodontitis. Also for aversion and disgust for any food, heartburn, bitter or sour eructations, sensation of fullness and heaving of the contents of the stomach with nausea, retching and vom- iting. In the morning particularly this may be of mucus or bile, or even blood; in old drinkers these constitute characteristic indications for Nux Vomica.

Nux Vomica is a remedy for intestinal peristalsis with frequent unsuccessful urg- ing and pushing to defaecate, a few mucous, bloody shreds occasionally being passed. The stool may be initially hard, followed by diarrhoea, or there may be con- stipation with congestion in the head, or haemorrhoids with much itching and pass- ing of threadworms, or else spasm of the anal sphincter. Enlargement of the liver and gastroenteritis may also occur.

The tenesmus which is typical of Nux Vomica may also present in the bladder with dysuria, strangury and cystitis. In the morning there may be persistent erec- tions, and also seminal emissions with following coldness, especially of the feet. In the female genitalia there is the sensation of bearing down, as in Sepia; there may also be muco-purulent discharge and itching, as well as arrival of the menses sever- al days early.

Although Nux Vomica is a gastro intestinal remedy par excellence, and is used in glossitis, stomatitis, gastritis, enterocolitis and haemorrhoids, as well as in liver and biliary conditions, it can also act superbly in sleep-disorders of the kind described above, and particularly where the modalities apply: worse in the morning and from cold. Thus cases of influenza can often experience a remarkable recovery by means of Nux Vomica.

If we sum up the most important symptoms once more, the following typical rem- edy-picture is the result:

1. Chilliness. Tendency to catch cold (especially fluent coryza), and general sensi- tivity to cold air, even in fever. Generally sensitive to external impressions and noises. Cold, clammy hands.
2. Typical aggravation in the mornings (haemorrhoidal civil-servant type). Grumpi- ness. Irascibility. Unjustified raging. Deathly sickness in the mornings (morning sickness), in the evening in good spirits with his beer and tobacco.
3. Consequences of abuse of stimulants, especially alcohol, coffee and nicotine.
4. Characteristic sleeplessness, with waking around 3:00 a.m. (acidity). Lies awake till about 7:00 a.m. and could then sleep until about midday.
5. Inflammations and discomfort along the entire length of the alimentary canal. Stomatitis. Gingivitis. Glossitis.
6. Gastritis with heaviness and pressure, as if of a stone, and flatulence, must loosen the belt (cf. Lycopodium). Digestive disorders, especially after meals, with dis- tension. Sour and bitter eructations. White coating of posterior half of the tongue.
7. Enterocolitis and colitis with frequent unsuccessful urging and possibly knotty stool. Also indicated after abuse of laxatives.
8. Haemorrhoidal complaints, mostly without bleeding.

The German Monograph-Preparation Commission for the Homoeopathic Field of Therapy has, under the Preparation Monograph for Strychnos nux-vomica, pub- lished the following indication(s) in the German Bundesanzeiger (German Federal Gazette) for nux vomica: feverish disorders, inflammation of the respiratory or- gans; inflammations and spasmodic conditions of the gastrointestinal tract; hepato- biliary disorders; constipation; haemorrhoids; complaints elicited by medication, foods, beverages, or by luxury and semi-luxury stimulants and foodstuffs such as al- cohol, tobacco, coffee, and the like; diseases of the urinary tract; circulatory com- plaints; vertigo; angina pectoris complaints; haemorrhages; headaches; neuralgia and rheumatic pain; spasmodic conditions suffered in hollow organs; muscular cramps; paralysis; insomnia; overexcitedness; emotional discord or upset.

The mother tincture is prepared from the dried seeds of the plant Myristica fragrans Houtt., a native of the Moluccas and New Guinea. N.O. Myristicaceae.

The main indications are:

Aggravated by draughts and damp, cold weather. Hysterical and hypochondriacal symptoms. Brain feels as if loose. Sensation of hovering in the air. As if in a dream. Eyes dry, can hardly close them. As if the tongue had gone to sleep. Thirstlessness in spite of the sensation of dryness. Excessive abdominal distension and wind. Soft stools can hardly be passed. Toothache, headache, diarrhoea, vomiting and coughing during pregnancy. Mental fatigue. Muscular rheumatism. Strangury after drinking beer or wine. Breasts under-developed. There is a characteristic hysterical aphonia,

i.e. speaking with a toneless, soft, whispering voice.

The German Monograph-Preparation Commission for the Homoeopathic Field of Therapy has, under the Preparation Monograph for Mysterica fragrans, published the following indication(s) in the German Bundesanzeiger (German Federal Gazette) for nux moschata: nervous physical complaints; insufficiency of digestive organs accompanied by flatulence; perception disorders.

The attenuations are prepared from Nitric acid, HNO₃ , MW: 63.0.

Potentised Nitric Acid is one of the most important polychrests, as they are known, with typical symptoms and a wide therapeutic range, especially in chronic impregnation phases, brought about by eruptions, sycosis, vitamin deficiency or re- toxication associated with tuberculosis, syphilis and other diseases. Also in numer- ous conditions of the skin, mucosa, blood, glands, digestive system, respiratory or- gans and skeletal system.

There is a strong tendency to colds and mucous discharges after abuse of mercury, with all discharges offensive, and sticking, splinter-like pains predominating.

Fissures, ulceration and desquamation occur particularly at the muco-cutaneous borders (corners of the mouth, nose, anus). It is also indicated for aphthous ulcers, stomatitis with salivation, and gingivitis with an offensive odour, especially if there is a history of treatment with mercury.

It is indicated in anal fissures (cf. Ratanhia) and in bleeding, very painful haemor- rhoids, especially if there is “violent pain after stool, even a soft stool” (Nash). In contrast to Nux Vomica there is no relief after stool, but the patient has to walk about for an hour or two after defaecation, on account of the violent pain. As in Collinsonia, Nitric Acid also has a sticking splinter-like pain, which may be accom- panied by loss of unusually bright red blood from any orifice of the body, especially in typhus and haemorrhoids.

Another typical symptom is offensive urine, which may contain albumen and which the patient may be unable to hold if the bladder is full.

Pedunculated warts and boils appear on the skin, also ulcers which bleed easily, especially on the buttocks (cf. Sulphur), where they may be erosive with irregular edges, exuding an offensive fluid. Inflammations of the eye may be present, with specks on the cornea.

In earlier days Nitric Acid was particularly effective with syphilitic conditions arising after over-dosing with mercury. These included particularly mercurial affec- tions of the bones, with caries and inflammation of the periosteum and nocturnal rheumatic complaints, especially with changes in the weather, and possibly accom- panied by constant chilliness and offensive night-sweats, swelling and suppuration of the inguinal glands.

Nitric Acid is also called for in hearing impairment after abuse of mercury (cf. Pe- troleum), and chronic colds with watery, excoriating, offensive coryza. Especially, too, in scarlet fever and diphtheria, looseness of the teeth and bleeding of the gums, violent toothache in advanced caries and dental pulpitis, pulmonary abscess and pul- monary haemorrhages in thin elderly persons.

As in Carbo Animals and Muriaticum Acidum, there is an aversion to meat and a craving for fats and herring. There may be a bitter or sweetish taste in the mouth, and also an aversion to bread.

The wide variety of secretions of Nitric Acid have a characteristic, offensive smell, which is also found in the thin leucorrhoea. Chilblains have a light pinky-red ap- pearance and itch strongly.

Aggravation is in the evening and night, also on rising from sitting and on touch- ing the affected parts, on motion and after eating. There is a characteristic ameliora- tion from riding in a car, and also from eructations.

In Nitric Acid there is frequently a tendency to diarrhoea, at least not to hard stools, and the remedy normally helps with this.

Mentally there is irritability, obstinacy and hopeless despair; there may be malice and thirst for revenge with sensitivity to noise, pain, touch and jarring, which may give rise to fear of death. The scalp is sensitive, and there may be the sensation of a band around the head, or headache from pressure of the hat.

The tongue of Nitric Acid is characteristic: clean, red and wet with a central fur- row; bloody saliva is often present, especially when there are also ulcers on the soft palate.

Summing up the principal symptoms of Nitric Acid, we have the following reme- dy-picture:

1. Pains as from a splinter. Ulcerations and fissures at orifices of the body, on muco-cutaneous borders, especially in dark-skinned persons above middle age. Sycotic conditions and hydrogenoid constitution.
   1. Ulceration of mouth and tongue. Aphthae. Condylomata and fissures, bleeding easily. Anal fissures with pains lasting for hours after defaecation.
   1. Strongly offensive urine, faeces and sweat. Tendency to chills and diarrhoea.
   1. Irritable, obstinate patients with hopeless despair. Sensitivity to noise, fear of death. Sensation of a band around the head and headache from pressure of the hat.
   1. Corneal ulcers. Photophobia. Constant lachrymation. Offensive nasal discharge. Excoriated, bleeding nostrils (sensation of splinters in the nose). Mastoiditis.
   1. Tongue red, wet, clean with a central furrow. Bloody saliva with ulceration of the soft palate. Pain as from a splinter on swallowing.
   1. Loves fat and salt. In pregnancy, craving for earth, chalk, etc. Dyspepsia. Anal prolapse. Easy bleeding of haemorrhoids. Icterus.
   1. Urine offensive and maybe containing albumen or blood, (hypertrophy of prostate). Ulcers beneath the prepuce. Balanitis. Leucorrhoea. Menses accompa- nied by violent pains and stitching. Metrorrhagia.
   1. Hoarseness with a dry cough. Offensive foot-sweat.
   1. Chilblains. Sweating of the hands. Offensive sweating of the axilla at night. Large warts, full of cracks, bleeding on washing. Also ulcers on the lower leg, sensitive and bleeding easily with splinter-like pains and indented edges, like raw meat. Excess of granulation tissue.
   1. Aggravation in the evening and at night, from cold, and also in hot weather. Amelioration when driving.

The German Monograph-Preparation Commission for the Homoeopathic Field of Therapy has, under the Preparation Monograph for Acidum nitricum, published the following indication(s) in the German Bundesanzeiger (German Federal Gazette) for acidum nitricum: inflammations of the skin and mucosae, with tendency to cracked skin; ulceration; benign and malignant proliferation of tissue (hyperblastosis); ill- ness associated with excessive loss of weight; emotional discord or upset.

The attenuations are prepared from Pyridine-3-carboxamide, C₆H₆N₂O, MW: 122.1.

Nicotinamidum is used to activate the energy metabolism in cases of insufficien- cies of the respiratory chain. The substance which occurs naturally in the body is an important component of Nadidum and its Phosphate. Deficiencies of Nicotin- amidum lead to skin lesions with disturbances of pigmentation. Other symptoms are diarrhoea, glossitis, stomatitis as well as mental and neurological disturbances.

The drug picture of Nicontinamidum was composed in September 1995 by David Riley, M.D., Santa Fe (New Mexico), USA.

The most important symptoms from David Riley’s drug proving were:

Essential Characteristics

Strong headaches and blurry vision are prominent with this remedy. Difficult con- centration. Increased physical energy. Desires meat. Severe headaches. Dull headaches. Blurry vision. Sore throat. Cramping abdominal pain. Increased flatus.

Mind

Difficulty concentrating, particularly while reading and studying. Increased mental activity and mental restlessness. Dullness and forgetfulness, particularly for what he had just read. Vivid dreams about frogs as well as nightmares. Desire for conversa- tion and loquacity with a sense of insight. Dreams that are vivid and remembered. Dreams that are anxious and about animals. Nightmares especially in the morning.

Generalities

INCREASED ENGERGY, particularly in the afternoon improves. Increased energy also

alternating with fatigue and lassitude with a desire to lie down and take a nap. Food desires of MEAT, fried foods, potatoes, cheese, and cheesecake. Must have sauce on food. Fatigue, especially in the evening.

Vertigo

Nausea with associated with vertigo, worse in the morning. Faint sensation with vertigo. Vertigo worse with motion.

Head

HEADACHES AND PAIN. DULL HEAD PAIN in the forehead and temples, especially the right temple. Headache, worse in the evening around 8 p.m., or the onset of menses, or congestive. Pressing head pain on the left occiput. Full sensation in the head with heaviness. Itching of the scalp. Jerking of the head when falling asleep.

Eye

Scratching sensation on the eyelids. Tiredness of the eyes during headache.

Vision

BLURRY VISION.

Ear

Aching pain, worse in the right ear.

Nose

Discharge that is thick, yellowish and green in color. Discharge alternating with coryza. Sense of fullness, particularly in the area of the frontal sinus. Sneezing. Con- gestion with coryza.

Face

Contraction and tension of the jaw articulation improves. Aphthae on the lips.

Taste

Bad taste in the mouth, particularly after eating.

Throat

PAIN. Throat pain worse in the morning or with clearing the throat. Raw throat pain worse on swallowing and clearing the throat. Itching of the uvula. Dry throat. Swelling of the throat with swelling of the tonsils.

Stomach

APPETITE is excessive or decreased. Gnawing pain in the stomach, worse with hunger. NAUSEA, worse in the morning. Increased thirst.

Abdomen

CRAMPING ABDOMINAL PAIN, causing waking at night, particularly at 2 a.m. Cramp- ing abdominal pain associated with passing flatus. Abdominal pain in the hypochondria and umbilical area. Abdominal distension with flatus, with improve- ment during the menses.

Rectum

INCREASED FLATUS that is copious and offensive. Constipation with sensation of a lump in the rectum. Cramping pain. Increased urging for stool. Constipation and di- arrhea.

Stool

Yellow mucous with the stools. Offensive stools. Stools that are hard, or loose, or frequent.

Bladder

Frequent need to urinate. Genitalia, Male Decreased sexual urge. Genitalia, Female

Itching of the external genitalia. Clear leucorrhea. Cramping uterine pain, worse before onset of menses.

Larynx & Trachea

Tickling in the air passages with cough as from dust.

Speech & Voice Painless hoarseness. Respiration

Short, superficial respirations.

Cough Dry cough. Back

Back pain in the lumbar region. Stiffness in the cervical region, particularly on the right side.

Extremities

Sensation like an electrical vibrations or current in the arms. Pain in the right fore- arms extending to the head. Left forearm pain as if crushed in a vise. Weakness of the arms. Trembling and weakness in the forearm, and extending to the hand. Itching of the skin of the legs.

Sleep

Overpowering sleepiness, worse in the afternoon around 5 p.m.

Perspiration

Increased perspiration in general.

Skin

Skin eruption associated with an itching rash.

The attenuations are prepared from metallic Nickel, Ni, AW: 58.7.

The main indications are:

Hoarseness, spasmodic coughing and nosebleeds. Constipation. Dysmenorrhoea. The German Monograph-Preparation Commission for the Homoeopathic Field of Therapy has, under the Preparation Monograph for Niccolum metallicum, published the following indication(s) in the German Bundesanzeiger (German Federal Gazette) for niccolum metallicum: inflammations of the mucosae of the respiratory

passages; rheumatism; headaches; emotional discord or upset.

The attenuations are prepared from Nickel acetate, C₄H₆NiO₄ · 4H₂O, MW: 248.9.

Characteristic of the symptomatology of nickel and its salts are tearing, contrac- tive pains, itching, burning stinging pains, as if from insect-bites here and there on the body, associated with lassitude and feeling generally unwell, weakness and trem- bling of the limbs, which is ameliorated in fresh air.

Sleep is usually restless, with frequent waking from a sensation of heat and pain in the head and limbs. Not until nearly morning does the patient achieve calm sleep with fantastic, lascivious dreams, and then he feels sleepy during the daytime. He exhibits extremely changeable moods, varying between timidity, despondency, peev- ishness, anger and brawling, as well as cheerfulness.

All over the body there are itching eruptions like herpes, and also pustular acne on the face with swelling of the tissue.

Tearing headaches occur in the morning with vertigo, spasmodic twitching of the eyelids, itching, burning and lachrymation of the eyes with redness and swelling of the rims and slight conjunctivitis. Also there are various neuralgic pains in the neck muscles, dislocated pain in the shoulder joints, pains in the sacrum, stinging pains in the fingers (especially the joints) and toes, pain in the hips, crawling and cramps in the toes, tearing pains in the knee joint and muscle pains in the thigh. These may be replaced by shivering and alternating heat and chill with thirst, a dominating feeling of heat by day and by night with violent thirst, and sweating in the afternoons and after midnight. The picture of Niccolum and its salts may be rounded off by frequent sneezing with dry nasal mucosa, nocturnal nasal congestion and nose-bleeds, laryn- geal catarrh and tickling sensation with bursts of dry coughing, slight expectoration, nocturnal attacks of coughing with a sensation of pressure on the chest and shortness of breath while sitting, and general painfulness of the chest.

Other symptoms include toothache, offensive mouth-odour with dryness of the oral mucosa, swollen gums, tonsillitis, accumulation of mucus in the pharynx with lack of appetite, violent thirst, eructations and hiccups, nausea and a sensation of cramp and pressure in the stomach with burning, stinging pains, plentiful wind with distension in the intestines, and stools which, even when soft, can only be voided with difficulty and with stabbing pains in the rectum. In the genito-urinary organs there is burning at the urethral meatus, increased and frequent urination, particularly unusually copious urination at night, and itching of the genitalia which is not re- lieved by scratching. The menses arrive too early and are then interrupted with a feeling of great weakness and replaced by watery discharge.

The whole picture suggests the presence of impregnation phases, which have the tendency to become inflammations with temporary fevers. There are vertigo and states of weakness as well as spasmodic complaints, particularly hoarseness and at- tacks of coughing with epistaxis, flatulent complaints with diarrhoea or unaccus- tomed spastic constipation, likewise menstrual complaints with leucorrhoea.

Simpson recommends Niccolum Sulphuricum particularly for stubborn, periodic headaches; Hale observed good results in periodic neuralgic pains following malar- ia.

The attenuations of this nosode are prepared from the surgically removed neurofi- broma.

Recklinghausen’s disease or generalised neurofibromatosis are the names given to multiple neurofibromata which are distributed throughout the body, the neurofibro- mata arising from the peripheral nerve branches, with a possibility of sarcomatous degeneration.

Apart from symptoms of sensory irritation there are occasionally conductive dis- orders of the affected nerves; other possible symptoms include anomalies of skin pigmentation, multiple naevi, bone anomalies and background lesions of the eyes; there may also be mental disorders. It is also possible for fibromatous tumours to de- velop on the nerves of the brain (acoustic neuroma). The basis for the disease lies probably in a rudimentary malformation, and often in dominant hereditary factors within the family. Thus the Neurofibroma Nosode will be used both in Reckling- hausen’s disease and possibly also in sarcomas of the skin, neuralgias and neurally determined degenerations, and experimentally in pareses also.

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

The main indications are:

Atrophy of the optic nerve (post-syphilitic or toxic). Disturbances of vision. Flick- ering scotoma. Migraine.

The attenuations of this sarcode are prepared from fresh olfactory nerve removed from a healthy pig (Sus scrofa domesticus).

The main indications are:

Anosmia. Vasomotor rhinitis. Hay fever (prophylactic). Illnesses resulting from re- flex action of the nasal mucosa; may also be tried in bronchial asthma.

The attenuations are prepared from dehydrated Sodium sulphate, Na₂ SO₄, MW: 142.0.

The main indications are:

Aggravation in wet weather. Asthma in fog (!). Bitter taste. Pain in the heel, pene- trating. Cracking of the joints. Chronic liver problems, chronic diarrhoea. Diabetes mellitus, Hydrogenoid constitution, compatible with Dulcamara and Aranea Diadema. The German Monograph-Preparation Commission for the Homoeopathic Field of Therapy has, under the Preparation Monograph for Natrium sulphuricum, published the following indication(s) in the German Bundesanzeiger (German Federal Gazette) for natrium sulphuricum: hepatobiliary disorders; morning diarrhoea; bronchial asthma; sequelae of a trauma suffered by the nervous system; rheumatism.