The mother tincture is prepared from the dried underground parts of Cephaelis ipecacuanha [Brot.] A. Rich., a plant growing in Brazil, India and Malaysia. N.O. Rubiaceae.

Ipecacuanha is one of those homoeopathic remedies whose indications are few, but typical. Nausea, vomiting and retching are characteristic, occurring not only in gastric disorders but also with coughing. There is also purging at both ends, with fer- mented, grass-green or mucous stools which may be dysenteric and contain blood. With gastric and duodenal ulcers there is often nausea, but especially in whooping cough and other types of cough, and also in asthma, where an excessive accumula- tion of mucus always suggests Ipecacuanha. This nausea is also characteristic of Ipecacuanha in feverish states, not only in intermittent fever and malarial illnesses but also in influenzal feverish catarrhs or in rattling respiration, the expectoration being difficult to loosen, e.g. in emphysema and asthma.

Haemorrhages also suggest Ipecacuanha, bright red, gushing haemorrhages, oc- curring both acutely and profusely, e.g. menorrhagia and metrorrhagia, but also from the rectum, lungs, nose, bladder and any orifice of the body.

A summary gives us the following characteristic symptoms:

1. 1.   Nausea, not relieved by vomiting, frequently with a clean tongue.
2. 2.   Gastroenteritis with frothy, grass-green, mucous or bloody stools.
3. Cough with retching, as if the stomach were turning over. Whooping cough.
4. Burning in the stomach with thirst, restlessness and nausea. Duodenal ulcer.
5. 5.   Asthma. Emphysema.
6. Bright red, gushing haemorrhages. Menorrhagia and metrorrhagia.

The German Monograph-Preparation Commission for the Homoeopathic Field of Therapy has, under the Preparation Monograph for Cephaelis ipecacuanha, pub- lished the following indication(s) in the German Bundesanzeiger (German Federal Gazette) for ipecacuanha: bronchitis; bronchial asthma; whooping cough; gastroin- testinal inflammation; mucosal bleeding; circulatory disorders.

The mother tincture is prepared from Iodine, I₂ , MW: 253.8.

The main indications are:

Heat and restlessness. Amelioration in cool air, in cool rooms and walking about. Emaciation in spite of eating well. Thyrotoxicosis. Sensation of emptiness in the stomach, also with duodenal ulcer. Glandular swellings. Nasal discharge and partic- ularly certain forms of coryza (acute fluent coryza). In coryza, when other remedies fail, Iodum often acts surprisingly well. Insufferable, grumpy, irritable mood. Com- pulsion to be on the move: wanders about day and night. Exophthalmos. Underde- velopment of the breasts. Dyspnoea in pneumonia of the upper lobes. Blood- streaked sputum, spasmodic tickling cough. Tuberculosis.

The German Monograph-Preparation Commission for the Homoeopathic Field of Therapy has, under the Preparation Monograph for Iodum, published the following indication(s) in the German Bundesanzeiger (German Federal Gazette) for iodum: hyperthyroidism; furunculosis; acne vulgaris.

The attenuations are prepared from the pig’s polypeptide hormone Insulin C₂₅₆H₃₈₁N₆₅O₆₇S₆, MW: 5778 (potentised allopathic compound).

The main indications are:

Disorders of glucose metabolism and liver function. Arteriosclerosis and vascular spasms. May be tried in Raynaud’s disease and in intermittent claudication.

The German Monograph-Preparation Commission for the Homoeopathic Field of Therapy has, under the Preparation Monograph for Insulinum, published the fol- lowing indication(s) in the German Bundesanzeiger (German Federal Gazette) for insulin: general weakness and debilitation and hyperhidrosis, experienced several hours after meals.

The attenuations are prepared from the insecticide Parathion, C₁₀H₁₄NO₅PS, MW: 291.27.

The main indications are:

Acute dermatitis. Liver damage. Air-hunger. States of stimulation of the sympa- thetic nerves. Autonomic disturbances.

The attenuations of this nosode are prepared from heat-inactivated vaccine of a defined strain of influenza virus.

This is one of the most-used nosodes, since numerous later, chronic illnesses can be traced back to retoxic treatment of influenza and colds.

General tendency to corpulence and adiposity, even in children, arising from thy- roid hypofunction. Has an excellent tonic action in exhaustion and tiredness. Intran- sigent hoarseness. Rheumatic complaints with violent pains, especially in cold, wet weather (cf. Rhododendron, Psorinum). Tendency to catch cold, may also be used as a prophylactic for influenza. Vascular diseases in the legs (varicose veins, intermit- tent claudication). Surge of blood to the head. Trivial heart complaints (so-called neurosis).

Bronchial asthma, chronic polysinusitis and other sequelae of influenza, also ia- trogenic damage.

May also have a good effect in telangiectasis.

The German Monograph-Preparation Commission for the Homoeopathic Field of Therapy has, under the Preparation Monograph for Influencinum-Nosode, published the following indication(s) in the German Bundesanzeiger (German Federal Gazette) for Grippe-Nosode: parainfluenzal diseases.

The attenuations are prepared from Indole (2,3-benzopyrrole) C₈H₇N, MW: 117.15.

The main characteristics and the indications are:

Factor in the putrefaction of albumen in the intestines. In toxicosis, sepsis, ty- phus, cholera; may be used generally as an intercurrent in poisonings.

The German Monograph-Preparation Commission for the Homoeopathic Field of Therapy has, under the Preparation Monograph for Indolum, published the follow- ing indication(s) in the German Bundesanzeiger (German Federal Gazette) for indol: putrescence dyspepsia.

The mother tincture is prepared from the dried ripe seeds of the plant, Strychnos ignatii Berg., a native of the Philippines. N.O. Loganiaceae.

The “Ignatia” tincture produced from the St. Ignatius’ beans contains, like its sis- ter-remedy Nux Vomica, strychnine and brucine as main ingredients.

Ignatia is considered the main remedy for hysteria and states of nervous exhaus- tion, and is indicated in changeable moods, hypersensitivity to pain, twitching, headaches, stomach complaints, dysmenorrhoea, sensitivity to tobacco-smoke and smells generally, rectal prolapse, and absurd symptoms of a general kind.

However, in critically evaluating Ignatia symptoms, we must avoid the opinion that the symptoms which respond to Ignatia, because of their hysterical or nervous factor, can be dismissed with a wave of the hand. You see, with these symptoms we are dealing almost every time with impregnation phases, such as are consistent with disturbances of the autonomic nervous system, for example. In children this may be a prelude to meningitis and otitis media. Also typical are gastro intestinal symptoms, particularly with a feeling of weakness in the pit of the stomach, as if the stomach were hanging down.

Ignatia patients are supposed in the main to be intolerant, quarrelsome, irascible people of great touchiness, who react very easily to fright (cf. Aconitum, Opium and Veratrum), and who also tend easily towards spasms and convulsions, and in whom a typical migraine occurs with the symptom, as if a nail were being driven out through the side of the head.

We must be quite clear in our minds that such complaints can in many cases actu- ally be of a very unpleasant and stubborn nature and do not respond – or only tem- porarily – to the usual drugs, even to Atarax; on the other hand they can soon be re- moved with combination remedies which contain Ignatia.

One symptom in particular must be picked out, which is generally described as protracted sighing or taking a deep breath; that, however, does not give the full pic- ture. It is better described as dyspnoea, and in fact a possibly malignant dyspnoea, as if from inner suffocation. Nor are Ignatia patients necessarily always of the female sex; the male sex suffers with such symptoms just as often; even men in the prime of life often need Ignatia, e.g. heart-patients with dyspnoea. Nash tells us that the tear- ful, sensitive mood may be traced back both to fright and also to chronic worry. This is indeed the case. On the other hand, Ingatia patients do tend to take everything very badly and to work themselves up over comparatively simple and harmless prob- lems, regarding them as insurmountable, with the result that complaints then arise such as migraine-like headaches which are ameliorated by warmth and lying on the affected side, spasmodic contractions in the intestinal area with stabbing pains in the rectum, shooting up into the colon and awakening the suspicion of rectal cancer. Give a dose of Ignatia and these complaints will move in regressive vicariation from within outwards, maybe in the form of inflamed haemorrhoids or an anal or umbili- cal eczema.

An example of the absurd symptoms peculiar to Ignatia is intermittent fever where, during the chill, and only at that stage, there is a feeling of thirst, and also a red face, which is characteristic of no other remedy.

Ignatia also has a sensation of pressure in the throat, like a ball, as if choking were imminent, similar to the globus hystericus, or perhaps to be interpreted in the con- text of the dyspnoea already mentioned.

Skin eruptions may also occur: little acne pustules around the eyes and on the chin, as well as urticarial eruptions and falling out of hair.

Eye symptoms may include optical illusions, e.g. white, flickering, shining zig- zags at the periphery of the field of vision, as occurs in detachment of the retina.

Articular pains may occur in the hands and fingers with stiffness and drawing pains, and there may be weakness in the lower limbs, as in incipient primary chron- ic polyarthritis or the paresis of tabes.

There may be hypersensitivity of the skin to draughts and fresh air.

The exhaustion and weakness are aggravated by coffee, spirits and tobacco smok- ing, which is particularly intolerable.

This is accompanied by an extraordinary slowness in thinking. The mood may switch rapidly from one extreme to the other.

However, Ignatia may also be the remedy for more or less purely physical phases such as balanitis, prostatitis, leucorrhoea, metrorrhagia with congealed pieces of black blood smelling offensively, inflammatory symptoms on the eyelids, nose and lips, tickling cough, laryngospasm, oesophageal spasms, difficulties in swallowing, anal prolapse, jaundice, spasm of the bladder and febrile attacks similar to malaria, or even genuine malaria.

Although in all these symptoms frequently no serious organic change can be found in the context of degeneration phases, nevertheless we are clearly dealing with toxic effects, often with impregnation phases, which must have the correct an- tihomotoxic remedy, which is Ignatia.

Ignatia should also be borne in mind in numerous retoxic phases. The irritability of the nervous system may provide a pointer here (effects of strychnine and brucine), since this is characteristic of Ignatia and constitutes the organic foundation for the frequently changing symptoms which occur in impregnation phases resulting in many cases from retoxication.

The following essential symptomatology results from a summary of the above:

1. Nerve remedy. Hypersensitivity of all the sensory organs, including the skin. Hypersensitivity to smells, tobacco, smoke, and consumption of alcohol and cof- fee.
2. Consequences of worry, takes everything hard. Tendency to weep. Hides her worries from people at large. Taciturnity. Emotional depression (exogenous). Consequences of fright. Longs for solitude.
3. Slowness in thinking and speaking. Absent-mindedness. Bewildered air. Weak- ness of memory. Thoughtlessness. Confusion.
4. Trembling. Twitching. Fits of crying or laughing. Oesophageal spasms. Globus hystericus. Migraine (like a nail through the side of the head, followed by pass- ing of colourless urine).
5. Laryngospasm. Globus hystericus. Also Sydenham’s chorea and epileptiform at- tacks.
6. Tonsillitis, with amelioration of the throat-pains from swallowing.
7. Sensation of weakness in the stomach, as though hung down limply (cf. Sepia).
8. Anal prolapse with violent contracting pains which also shoot upwards in the rectum and into the colon.
9. Intermittent fever with thirst and hot head during the chill.
10. Dysmenorrhoea. Menses with black, lumpy, foetid blood.
11. Dyspnoea as from internal suffocation, also in asthma. Has to keep sighing deeply, but cannot complete a breath owing to retoxic enzyme-damage. (Espe- cially complements Carbo Vegetabilis.)

The German Monograph-Preparation Commission for the Homoeopathic Field of Therapy has, under the Preparation Monograph for Strychnos ignatii, published the following indication(s) in the German Bundesanzeiger (German Federal Gazette) for ignatia: nervous disorders; emotional discord or upset; spasmodic conditions expe- rienced at hollow organs and muscles.

(Ammonium Bituminosulphonicum)

The attenuations are prepared from the carbonisation oil obtained from dry distil- lation of bituminous slate, sulphonated with sulphuric acid and neutralised with ammoniac.

The main indications are:

Pustular acne. Violent pruritus (facial).

In practice, Ammonium Bituminosulphonicum (Ichthyol) is used principally in the form of Ichthyol ointment. This serves to soften and clear out abscesses and as stimulative treatment in inflammations.

About 35 years ago the author began a proving of Ichthyol, but had to break it off because incrasingly unpleasant symptoms were making their presence felt, as follows: On taking Ichthyol 30X, 5–8 drops three times a day (hand-successed potencies, prepared from bottle to bottle), no symptoms of any kind were produced. On taking Ichthyol 27X, every evening on lying down to sleep a considerable itching set in, typically on the cheek-bone on both sides, round about the place where acne rosacea tends to be located. The complaints increased, and intensified with the eruption of

small vesicles and, on taking the 25X, inflamed pustules.

As the author was practising every day, this eruption caused him not a little incon- venience. Along with his wife, who was also doing the proving and had the same symptoms, he therefore discontinued the proving.

Bearing in mind the high degree of biological activity of the slate-oils, this remedy should have a more thorough homoeopathic proving.

The German Monograph-Preparation Commission for the Homoeopathic Field of Therapy has, under the Preparation Monograph for Ammonium bitumino-sulfon- icum, published the following indication(s) in the German Bundesanzeiger (German Federal Gazette) for ichthyolum: suppurative dermal inflammations; chronic bron- chitis.

The mother tincture is prepared from the dried ripe seeds of the plant, Iberis amara L., a native of Central and Southern Europe and often cultivated ornamen- tally in gardens. N.O. Cruciferae.

The main indications are:

Pericarditis and endocarditis. Palpitations. Stabbing pains in the heart.

In the foreground of the picture of Iberis are its heart symptoms, such as palpita- tion after slight movement, with no intrinsic cause, palpitations with vertigo and anxiety,  heaviness  and  pressure  in   the   praecordium   with   shooting   pains (cf. Spigelia), and particularly a nocturnal aggravation, with visible throbbing of the heart and possible cessation of the heart beat or fibrillation with a small irregular pulse. However, it also has noteworthy nervous symptoms such as weakness of memory, swimming in the head with inability to fix the attention, vertigo on rising, congestion of the head with tinnitus, headache and hearing-impairment with red- dened eyes and optical illusions of light.

In the right shoulder there may be drawing pains with a dull pain and sensation of heaviness in the left arm, and trembling in the lower limbs after movement.

The congestive states of the heart may be ameliorated by increased mucous secre- tion and hawking up of the mucus from the larynx and trachea; there may occur a sensation in the larynx as if bound up with string and suffocating, with inhibited res- piration, shortness of breath and air-hunger.

The abdominal organs may also be involved, with eructations, weakness of diges- tion, distension, sensations of pressure and pain in the liver region, and frequent stools of soft consistency, the colour of clay (biliary disease).

The German Monograph-Preparation Commission for the Homoeopathic Field of Therapy has, under the Preparation Monograph for Iberis amara, published the fol- lowing indication(s) in the German Bundesanzeiger (German Federal Gazette) for iberis amara: arrhythmia; cardiac insufficiency.

The attenuations of this sarcode are prepared from hypothalamus taken from a healthy pig (Sus scrofa domesticus). It is situated in the mid-brain.

The main indications are:

Disturbed sleep pattern. Parkinson’s disease. Epileptiform states. Disorders of maturation and development, including those of a mental kind in children. Syden- ham’s chorea. Nymphomania. States of excitement. Simmond’s disease.