Category: Materia Medica Hans-Heinrich Reckeweg

The attenuations of this sarcode are prepared from fresh pituitary taken from a healthy pig (Sus scrofa domesticus). It is a gland the size of a cherry, situated at the base of the brain.

The main indications are:

Endocrine disorders. Pituitary obesity. Dystrophia adiposo-genitalis. Symptoms of ovarian deficiency. Disturbances in menstruation and ovulation. Chronic arthros- es and primary chronic polyarthritis. Disorders of connective tissue. Growth disor- ders. Dysmenorrhoea. Galactorrhoea. Neurodermatitis and other skin diseases.

The German Monograph-Preparation Commission for the Homoeopathic Field of Therapy has, under the Preparation Monograph for Hypophysis cerebri, published the following indication(s) in the German Bundesanzeiger (German Federal Gazette) for hypophysis suis: vertigo; states of confusion.

The mother tincture is prepared from the whole fresh plant, Hypericum perforatum L., gathered in flower. It is very frequently found in meadows, pastures and in sparse woodland in Europe and Central Asia. N.O. Guttiferae.

The main indications are:

Injuries to nerves and brain. Osteoarthritis with sensitivity of the cervical spine. Strangury in cystitis. Endometritis, vaginitis, cervicitis. Sense of smell more deli- cate. Dryness of the nasal mucosa. Hypericum is “The Arnica of the Nerves” (Dr. Schlegel of Lindau).

Hypericum is especially indicated in puncture wounds and nerve irritation, not only after injury but in changes of postural balance in the spine, when nerves are trapped or pressed (in the intervertebral foramina) as a result of faulty posture, and in complaints arising from osteo-arthritis.

However, the remedy picture of Hypericum also contains emotional changes, ex- citement with ensuing relaxation, lassitude, trembling and unaccustomed thirst, as well as spasmodic complaints.

One symptom which may point to the remedy is the sensation as if the head were enlarged, (cf. Paris Quadrifolia).

The German Monograph-Preparation Commission for the Homoeopathic Field of Therapy has, under the Preparation Monograph for Hypericum perforatum, pub- lished the following indication(s) in the German Bundesanzeiger (German Federal Gazette) for hypericum: traumata suffered by the peripheral or central nervous sys- tems; emotional discord or upset; cerebral angiosclerosis; asthma.

The mother tincture is prepared from the whole fresh plant in flower of hyoscya- mus niger L. N.O. Solanaceae.

There is a close relationship between the three Solanaceae: Hyoscyamus, Bel- ladonna and Stramonium. The main active ingredient of Hyoscyamus is the alkaloid, hyoscyamine.

The three related alkaloids, hyoscyamine, atropine (Belladonna) and daturine (Stramonium) enlarge the pupils constantly, and cause great dryness of the mouth and pharynx, larynx and bronchi, and external skin, as well as difficulty in swallow- ing and hoarseness. In larger doses they bring about swimming in the head, with ver- tigo, hallucinations and delirium. In smaller doses they depress the heart function and slow the pulse rate, whereas after a large dose an immediate initial slowing of the pulse rate is followed by an equally rapid compensatory increase above the nor- mal.

Whereas atropine in large doses almost always causes an erythema of the skin, a flushing similar to that of scarlet fever, this is only exceptionally noticed with hyoscyamine.

As a rule, atropine causes an ecstatic delirium with a tendency towards wrestling, scuffling, laughing and all sorts of unconventional behaviour, although on the other hand there may also be unusual unsteadiness and great muscular weakness. With hyoscyamine neither is the case; on the contrary there is a tendency towards sleep and rest. On odd occasions when too high a dose has been taken, atropine-like symptoms of excitement may be noticed.

Atropine also causes paralysis of the sphincters of anus and bladder, in contrast to hyoscyamine, which has a more paralytic effect on the sphincters of the iris than does atropine. Hyoscyamine is not identical to atropine.

With long-term use, hyoscyamine is followed by heavy haemorrhage from the womb, as well as sweats and peculiar skin eruptions.

Hyoscyamus has a characteristic aggravation of complaints in the evening-time, with an irresistible urge to sleep and to day-dream predominating, with a long, deep sleep as if drugged, characterised by grindling of the teeth (!).

Apart from states of excitement with great restlessness, mobility and loquacity, there are passionate vehemence, jealousy, raving and attacks of fury. At the other end of the scale there may also be depression to the point of melancholia, and dull apathy (in chronic poisoning).

The skin symptoms are itching and redness. Brown patches appear here and there and disappear again. The typical facial appearance is puffed up and dark red with purulent vesicles on the lips and pustular conditions on the chin and cheeks; these may also occur around the hips and knees.

The picture of Hyoscyamus also includes parotitis and tonsillitis.

Particularly typical are, however, disorders of the intellectual functions, with ex- citement and possible subsequent weakening; there is inane chatter and foolish ges-

tures and actions, betraying a confusion of ideas, as also in delirium, weakness of thinking and memory and finally characterised by a dulling of the powers of com- prehension.

Attacks of epileptic spasms with tetany, convulsions, trismus, congestion of blood in the head and headaches are also typical.

The eyes have a glazed stare and an unusual sheen, and there may be protrusion, distortion and spasms of the eye muscles.

Further indications are conjunctival discharge, and marked pupil-enlargement, dullness of vision, weakness of vision and myopia – for Hyoscyamus and for Bel- ladonna (Atropinum Sulphuricum).

There may also be amaurosis, with flickering and dark spots in the field of vision and abnormal refraction of the light-rays, so that objects appear smaller, change po- sition, or their outlines are blurred. Objects may also appear in a scarlet light, or shining like gold. Double vision may also occur.

There may also be disturbances in the hearing, with complete deafness, pains in the cartilage of the ear, and tearing pains, especially in the evenings.

In the provings there also occurred spasmodic tension and painful stiffness of the neck- and shoulder-muscles, with tearing pains in the back and loins and swelling of the ankle. There was also trembling of the arm and rheumatic pains in the elbows and wrists, with swelling and stiffness of the hands, and diminished feeling or “pins and needles” in the arms and hands.

As with Belladonna there can be a paralysis and coldness of the lower limbs, with pains in the hip-joints, knees or ankles, weakness of the legs, swelling of the feet and tearing pains in the soles. According to the dose, there may be a stronger and irregu- lar heart contraction and an accelerated, full, strong pulse, with pulsation of the ar- teries, or else a smaller, slower or more rapid, scarcely detectable, failing pulse.

The respiratory symptoms are characterised by catarrhs of the larynx, nasal mu- cosa and bronchi, with greenish mucous expectoration on coughing, constriction of the chest and shortness of breath. On inspiration stitching pains are felt in the chest (cf. Bryonia). The spasmodic, dry cough shows a marked nightly aggravation, espe- cially when lying, which fades on sitting up: a guiding symptom which should lead to the prescription of Hyoscyamus.

Hyoscyamus should also always be indicated by the symptom of grinding the teeth in sleep, bearing in mind Ignatia and Cina also.

Acute tonsillitis reacts mostly not only to Belladonna, but also to Hyoscyamus, when there is the sensation of great dryness, scratching and burning in the palate and the oesophagus, with swallowing difficulties on account of the inflamed swelling of the tonsils.

There may also be a loathing for drinks. After drinking there are convulsive move- ments with disordered consciousness, and there may also be retching with nausea but not vomiting, stomach pains with severe distension, flatulence and violent colics, constipation and evacuation of firm faeces or else loose stools with abdominal rum- blings and cutting pains. Frequent passing of threadworms is also said to be typical, as is discharge from the haemorrhoids.

Inflammatory symptoms and paralytic weakness are also found in the bladder, with frequent urging and painful, scanty urination, possibly associated with erec- tions and sexual phantasizing to the point of priapism, linked with temporary impo- tence; in the female sex there are inflammatory conditions of the vaginal mucosa, with intensified desire and violent phantasizing to the point of nymphomania, also hysterical moods ands menses beginning 14 days too early with copious bleeding.

If the main symptoms of Hyoscyamus are summed up, we have the following typ- ical remedy-picture:

1. Symptoms of cerebral irritation with convulsions, muscle-twitching, catalepsy and epileptiform spasms. Mental disorders, characterised by silliness and uncon- ventional behaviour, or erotic states of ecstasy.
   1. Eye-conditions. Conjunctivitis. Double vision. Objects seen appear red.
   1. Tearing pains in the ears at night. Hearing impairment and facial pain. Delusions of jealousy.
   1. Spasmodic nocturnal attacks of tickling cough, ameliorated by sittig up. Expecto- ration of green muscus on coughing. Dryness in the throat, larynx and lungs.
   1. 5.   Nose-bleeds. Stomach pains. Inflammations of the gastric mucosa and intestines with retching, vomiting, colic and diarrhoea.
   1. 6.   Spasms of the bladder. Paralysis of the bladder with arousal in the sexual sphere. Menses too early and too heavy.
   1. 7.   Rheumatism or gouty conditions in nervous tracts and joints.

The German Monograph-Preparation Commission for the Homoeopathic Field of Therapy has, under the Preparation Monograph for Hyoscyamus niger, published the following indication(s) in the German Bundesanzeiger (German Federal Gazette) for hyoscyamus: restlessness and conditions of excessive excitement; in- somnia; spastic conditions of the respiratory passages and of the alimentary tract.

The attenuations are prepared from diluted Hydrogen cyanide, HCN, MW: 27.03.

Epileptic attacks, preceded by a sensation of a flash of lightning from head to feet. Cholera with collapse. Pernicious forms of scarlatina. Malaria with fainting, icy coldness of the body, pulse undetectable. Dry, tickling cough in tuberculosis.

The German Monograph-Preparation Commission for the Homoeopathic Field of Therapy has, under the Preparation Monograph for Acidum hydrocyanicum, pub- lished the following indication(s) in the German Bundesanzeiger (German Federal Gazette) for acidum hydrocyanicum: various conditions of spasmodic contraction (cramps); cerebral seizure disorders; angina pectoris; bronchial asthma; renal failure and intestinal cramps; paralysis in conjunction with cerebrovascular accidents; car- diac and circulatory failure; respiratory paralysis.

The mother tincture is prepared from the dried aerial parts of Centella asiatica [L.] Urb. N.O. Umbelliferae.

The main indications are:

Itching of the skin, lupus, leprosy. Psoriasis. Heavy desquamation in skin condi- tions. Hyperkeratosis. Scleroderma.

In the foreground of Hydrocotyle’s symptom picture are skin symptoms, particu- larly reddening, erythema with itching of the face, neck, chest, back, arms and thighs, with a sensation of heat, stinging, itching and burning in various places. Apart from this, it also has eruptions of small pustules and vesicles, with desquama- tion and sloughing, increased suppuration of existing ulcers, malformation of the nails, and also neuralgic facial pains. In addition there are kidney symptoms in par- ticular, in the form of heaviness and pressure in the renal area, bladder spasms with creeping in the urethra, urinary tenesmus and increased excretion of urine.

The picture also includes dull pains in the womb and ovaries, with a sensation of itching, stinging and heat in the vagina, violent congestive states and pains in the uterus, premature arrival of the menses, and discharge.

The German Monograph-Preparation Commission for the Homoeopathic Field of Therapy has, under the Preparation Monograph for Centella asiatica, published the following indication(s) in the German Bundesanzeiger (German Federal Gazette) for hydrocotyle asiatica: metritis; dermal disorders with pachynsis and pruritus.

The attenuations are prepared from Hydroquinone (1,4-dihydroxy-benzene) C₆H₆O₂, MW: 110.14.

The main indications are:

Disturbances in oxygen utilisation. Impregnation phases. Pre-cancerous states. Bronchial asthma. Skin diseases.

Like all the quinones, hydroquinone is indicated in impregnation phases where dyspnoea, which is characteristic of disturbance in the respiratory chain, is observ- able. Thus hydroquinone is indicated alongside alpha-ketoglutaric acid and Benzo- quinone, to compensate for side-effects of allopathic drugs on the respiratory centre, and also for the progressive dyspnoea and cardiac weakness of lung cancer. The dose selected must not be too strong here, nor repeated too frequently, since it may lead to bloody expectoration with a strong, cheesy odour, (beware: internal haemor- rhage!), although the bleeding normally tends not to be dangerous, because Hydro- quinone obviously has a similar action on the vascular system to that of rutin.

In the course of relapses of cancer in the breast or abdomen, if haemorrhages of short duration are observed which improve the general state of health, then Hydro- quinone must be given at short intervals, say every two days, in order to cleanse the toxicity of the body. (Koch – Kastner – Seutemann).

Depressive states in youth and loss of powers of concentration can be helped by a combination of Aurum and Hydroquinone; likewise angina pectoris, heart condi- tions of the elderly and vascular sclerosis, most preferably in combination with Malicum Acidum.

Like all quinones, Hydroquinone is also indicated in toxicity of the liver, e.g. in jaundice from various causes, in chronic cholecystitis and in areas of disturbance in the gastro intestinal area, also in abuse of medicine and the associated kidney dam- age (after barbiturates and phenacetin).

A combination of Oöphorinum, Baryta Oxalsuccinica, Hydroquinone and Pitu- itary can do good work in underdevelopment of the genitalia with adiposity, and also after antibiotic treatment for gonorrhoea.

Like most quinones, Hydroquinone acts on chronic, dry eczema, especially if this is aggravated by the slightest dietary indiscretion. Typical are scales, itching areas of skin without being particularly red, also greasy facial skin and fissured, calloused changes in the skin and disorders in the jaw area. In the treatment of these the ap- propriate nosode should be used concurrently (Mandibular Osteitis Nosode, Granu- loma Dentis Nosode, etc.).

The drug picture of Hydrochinonum was composed in January 1997 by David Riley, M.D., Santa Fe (New Mexico), USA.

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

Essential Characteristics:

Several unique characteristics were noted with this remedy. Restlessness or fre- quent waking during sleep. Unrefreshing sleep improves. Eczema of the hands and

fingers especially on the right hand was also prominent. The eczema was dry and flaky and worse from moisture.

Mind

Active thoughts cause sleeplessness. Absent of thoughts when alone and while driving and startles when awareness returns. Vacancy of thought and must force the mind to concentrate while driving to avoid collisions. Daydreaming. Memory weak- ness and forgets what he is about to do or has just done. Feeling of being in a trance or as if in a dream. Dullness. Vivid or fragments of dreams or nightmares with dark- ness, desolation and bleakness, destruction, imprisonment, being among strangers, violence, and being whipped. Sensation of isolation or separation. Delusions that friends are looking down on her. Confidence in self. Strong irritability when skin lightly stroked or touched. Nail biting decreases.

Generalities

Increased physical energy while having decreased sleep. Food desires of cold ce- real, meat, especially a hamburger with cheese. Flushes of heat during the night re- quiring the blankets to be removed and replaced several times.

Head

Chronic daily head pain of 2 years duration, like a band or that is pressing, im- proves. PAIN. Sudden head pains. Usual sinus headache during menses is absent.

Eye

Photophobia during the day that causes squinting.

Vision

Foggy vision and incoordination.

Nose

Right sided epistaxis or coryza. Right sided epistaxis with bright red blood and on blowing the nose. Post nasal discharge that is bloody. Right sided coryza or epis- taxis.

Mouth

Dry mouth with thirst. Soreness of gums and tongue. Indented tongue. Sensation of swelling of tongue, as if too large for the mouth.

Teeth

Stitching pain while eating.

Throat

Boil-like eruptions on opposite sides of the neck of same size and location. Exter- nal sensation of swelling.

Stomach

Decreased appetite during clenching pain. Sensation of fullness or loss of appetite after only a few bites. Improvement of usual daily heartburn or morning acid. Thirsty.

Abdomen

Distention is decreased before menses or in the afternoon. PAIN that is clutching or

cramping and extends to the middle of back. Pain before or during menses improves.

Rectum

Feeling of incomplete evacuation after straining at stool. DIARRHEA that is urgent and sudden, or after eating, or anticipatory diarrhea improves. Improvement of flatus and diarrhea especially before a sports competition. Flatus. Cramping pain before stool.

Stool

Sudden and explosive. Watery stool.

Genitalia, Female

Absence of bloody discharge preceding the onset of menses. Menses stops sud- denly; followed by swelling of fingers, face, and breasts; then menses begins again shortly thereafter. Painful, aching menstrual cramps.

Larynx and Trachea

Burning sensation in the trachea after running a short distance.

Speech and Voice

Improvement of voice hoarseness and huskiness. Clearing throat improved hoarse- ness that prevented speech.

Back

Abdominal cramps extending into the thoracic region. Lower back stiffness on motion after sitting that is better with heat.

Extremities

Eruptions of eczema on the fingers, hand, or palm of hand. Eczema that is painful stinging or burning, itching, or desquamating. Eczema only on the right hand and worse moisture. Fingers sensitive and shriveled and small: appearing with the eczema and sensitive to pressure. Decreased palm perspiration with eczema. Eczema with flaky white dry skin. Itchy red rash in hollow of knee. Incoordianation with dropped objects or if hand eye coordination is necessary.

Sleep

Falling asleep difficult especially after waking. Perspiration during sleep. RESTLESS SLEEP or improvement from the usual tossing and turning. Sleepless from thoughts. Unrefreshing sleep. FREQUENT WAKING that is sudden or improvement of frequent waking.

Perspiration

Perspiration during sleep that mats the hair and soaks the pillow.

Skin

Eczema on fingers and hands that is dry, desquamating, and stinging. Eczema on fingers and hand that is dry, flaky, and worse moisture.

The mother tincture is prepared from the dried rootstock, with roots attached, of the plant, Hydrastis canadensis L., which occurs in shady mountain forests of at- lantic North America. N.O. Ranunculaceae.

Hydrastis, Canadian Golden Seal, is prepared from the dried rootstock and con- tains three alkaloids: hydrastine, berberine and meconin, apart from physosterin, volatile oil and resins. It is used principally in serious disorders of the autonomic nervous system, and also in cancer and septic states, in protracted catarrhs, influenza with great secretion of mucus, coughs, epistaxis, great weakness, and also in gastro- intestinal ulceration, liver conditions with jaundice and in cystitis. In roseola and eczematous skin eruptions, especially where there is a general physical weakness and exhaustion, and also in rheumatic muscular and nervous pains, whether fixed or changing location, and also particularly in illnesses of the uterus with vaginal dis- charge, in breast lumps, and in neuralgias of the spermatic cord and testicles.

Nash refers to special indications for Hydrastis, e.g. thick, tough, bloody discharges from the nose, a swollen, relaxed tongue showing imprints of the teeth and a sensation as if burnt or scalded, with tough, yellow mucus in the pharynx. Also a sunken feeling in the stomach with persistent palpitations and lumpy stools covered in mucus.

There is also a characteristic dull pain in the renal area and thick, tough, mucous sediment in the urine, often associated with palpitations and weakness, especially a high degree of muscular weakness; also a sensation of heat all over the body, alter- nating with shivering.

In the clinical picture we find cachexia with suspected neoplasm, especially where there is complete failure of the stomach; also there is uterine prolapse and cervical erosion with thick, tough, yellow discharge and general weakness. Hydrastis can also be used to good effect in stomatitis after abuse of mercury, in hearing which is impaired by catarrh, in ear-discharge and tinnitus, and in chronic constipation. How- ever it is especially effective in leucorrhoea and in any other acrid, raw, excoriating discharges when a general deterioration of energy is present, as e.g. in cancer and cancerous degeneration, tumours in various organs and parts of the body, including the female breast, and also in pruritus vulvae. According to information from Fel- lenberg-Ziegler it can also be used in general energy-deterioration during smallpox (one drop of the tincture internally every 2 hours and a teaspoonful of tincture to a glass of lukewarm water on compresses, which is said to prevent scarring).

By summarising we arrive at the following remedy-picture for Hydrastis:

1. Moist skin eruptions and ulcers with offensive discharges, itching and burning. Catarrhal conditions of the mucosa with heavy discharge. Chronic conjunctivitis. Stomatitis.
2. Catarrhal conditions of the gastric mucosa and the bronchi with a scratching, rough cough. Coryza with continual mucous discharges, burning and feeling of rawness.
3. Congestive coryza. Nasal ulcers. Cholesteatoma. Otorrhoea.
4. Atonic constipation. Chronic cystitis and urethritis. Vaginal discharge.
5. Suspected cancer. Tumours in the breasts and in other organs. Emaciation when eating well. General lack of energy.

The German Monograph-Preparation Commission for the Homoeopathic Field of Therapy has, under the Preparation Monograph for Hydrastis canadensis, published the following indication(s) in the German Bundesanzeiger (German Federal Gazette) for hydrastis: mucosal suppuration, also accompanied by ulceration, in- flammations and colic of the hepatobiliary system, and of the gastrointestinal tract; polyps.

The attenuations are prepared from Histamine, 2-(4-imidazolyl)ethylamine, C₅H₉N₃, MW: 111.15 (potentised allopathic compund).

In reaction phases, Histamine is of decisive importance for the initial phase of the inflammation, and widens the capillaries to allow an infusion of plasma into the tis- sues, resulting in the consecutive symptoms of pain, swelling, heat and redness. His- tamine becomes biologically especially dangerous if such inflammations are sup-

pressed by drugs, when the histamine can no longer undergo the degradation which is provided for in the course of the inflammation. It can then assume an allergic ac- tion on other tissues (in the literal sense of allergy: allos ergos = other action) and other symptoms develop in completely different locations which do not have any- thing to do with the previously occurring inflammation. In actual fact they are only the transfer of the toxic state (Histamine) to another phase.

If the inflammation is allowed to run its natural course undisturbed, (or if its course is speeded up by means of biotherapeutic or homoeopathic remedies), then there should be no associated allergy, since the histamine is rendered non-toxic in the normal course of events, or as a result of biological – or particularly homoeo- pathic – treatment, and leaves the body through the normal excretory processes. Thorough accounts of this will be found in the literature on homotoxicology; here we can give only the barest outline.

The main indications are:

Impregnation phases and retoxications of all kinds. Allergic illnesses. Bronchial asthma. Vasomotor rhinitis. Eczemas and other skin diseases. Neurodermitis. Pem- phigus. Pyoderma. Boils and carbuncles. Angina pectoris. Gastric and duodenal ul- cers. Burns. After contusions, fractures, tissue destruction and emotional traumas. Frequently indicated as an intermediate remedy in all cellular phases, possibly in combination with the intermediary acids of the Citric Acid cycle and other interme- diary catalysts (q.v.).

The German Monograph-Preparation Commission for the Homoeopathic Field of Therapy has, under the Preparation Monograph for histaminum, published the fol- lowing indication(s) in the German Bundesanzeiger (German Federal Gazette) for histamine: allergic dermal and mucosal disorders; hypotension; cardiac complaints.

The attenuations of this nosode are prepared from killed Herpes Zoster viruses (adjusted to 10⁶ plaque-forming units per milliliter).

Indications for the use of this viral nosode are provided not only by herpes zoster itself, and the unpleasant and painful herpetic eruptions, labial, genital or elsewhere, which often occur during menstruation, but also in pre-cancerous states of the uterus, or in outright cancer of the womb or parts of it, since relationships have come to light between the Herpes Zoster Nosode and the genesis of uterine cancer.

See also under “Herpes Simplex Nosode”.

The attenuations of this nosode are prepared from inactivated Herpes Simplex viruses (adjusted to 10 ⁶ plaque-forming units per ml).

One result of research into viral diseases has been that the herpes virus has ac- quired great importance, even in the origins of neoplasms. Malignant disease of the womb in particular is said to show a close relationship with earlier herpetic infec- tions generally, so that it would seem expedient to use the Herpes Simplex and Her- pes Zoster Nosodes in cancer of the womb also.

The Nosode is also said to be of use particularly in influenzal illnesses, since her- petic conditions (on the cheeks, around the mouth) frequently appear in these; like- wise before, during and after menstruation. It should also be tried in shingles with typical neural localisation in segmental areas. The Herpes Simplex Nosode can also be used in cases of post-herpetic neuralgia following remission of herpes zoster and in those very difficult to treat – alongside the otherwise indicated homoeopathic remedies (such as Mezereum, Rhus Tox., Ranunculus, Vaccininum, Variolinum, etc.).