Category: Materia Medica Hans-Heinrich Reckeweg

The attenuations of this sarcode are prepared from the fresh skin and mucosa of the external auditory canal of a healthy pig (Sus scrofa domesticus).

The principal indications are:

Chronic eczema of the external auditory canal. Disturbances in excretion of ear- way. Boils in the auditory canal. Chronic otitis externa.

The mother tincture is prepared from the fresh whole plants of Drosera intermedia Hayne, Drosera anglica Huds. and Drosera rotundifolia L., gathered at the com- mencement of flowering. N.O. Droseraceae.

The sundew (Drosera species) occurs in Eastern Europe, Asia and North America and is an insectivorous plant, growing in peat-bogs, marshy meadows and on the banks of ponds. One can scarcely discover the plant, because only the hair-thin stalks rise out of the surrounding moss. On each of the purple glandular hairs which spread out like rosette around the stem, is a small drop of clear, sticky fluid, like a dew-drop. If a tiny insect touches one of these fine glandular hairs, it sticks fast. The rosette of hairs then closes in a reflex action, so that the insect is caught and is di- gested by enzymes.

As a homoeopathic remedy, Drosera has a typical sphere of indication, covering principally the respiratory organs and the cough. The coughing comes in paroxysms with frequent bursts, so that the patient can scarcely catch a breath between them, and it is worse at night. It is often accompanied by vomiting and epistaxis. The stab- bing pains in the chest are so strong that the chest (and abdomen) must be pressed with the hands. Thus Drosera is the prime remedy in whooping cough, and to a cer- tain extent represents the model of this illness (Dahlke). However, it is also indicated in tubercular irritative cough and catarrh with simultaneous pleurisy.

In Drosera we also find a deep, hoarse voice and chronic hoarseness, such as oc- curs, for example, in tuberculous laryngitis. A similar cough is an indication for Verbascum; however in Drosera the focus is more in the larynx.

If we sum up the main symptoms of Drosera, we have the following characteristic remedy-picture:

1. Whooping cough (Pertussis) with whistling breath and stabbing pains in the chest, with cyanosis and suffocation, retching, and great diffiuclty in expectorat- ing the mucus. Vomiting occurs, possibly accompanied by epistaxis.
2. Great fear with the attacks. Children usually hold the chest and abdomen during coughing.
3. Laryngeal catarrhs with intercurrent irritation of the pleura, with deep hoarse voice. Chronic hoarseness in tubercular patients.
4. Asthma with violently spasmodic symptoms, cyanosis and retching.

The German Monograph-Preparation Commission for the Homoeopathic Field of Therapy has, under the Preparation Monograph for Drosera, published the follow- ing indication(s) in the German Bundesanzeiger (German Federal Gazette) for drosera: inflammations of the respiratory passages, especially whooping cough.

The attenuations are prepared from the antibiotic Doxycycline hyclate C₂₂H₂₅ClN₂O₈ · 0.5 C₂H₆O · 0.5 H₂O, MW: 512.9 (Potentised allopathic compound).

The principal indications are:

Iatrogenic damage. Enzyme damage. Mutations. General use in cellular phases.

The attenuations are prepared from the dried hairs from the pods of the plant, Mu- cuna pruriens [L.] DC., a native of the West and East Indies. N.O. Leguminosae.

The main indications are:

Jaundice with pruritus. Eczema in liver damage.

Dolichos Pruriens affects the right-hand side of the body with pronounced liver and skin symptoms, the intolerable itching being aggravated at night to extend to the whole body, hindering sleep. It is aggravated rather than ameliorated by scratching; however the skin shows no kind of exfoliation. Apart from jaundice with itching, there is usually exhaustion with abdominal distension and pale stools, and there may also be inflamed, swollen and extremely painful gums, so that food and drink can

hardly be taken into the mouth. A painful feeling occurs in the throat, below the angle of the right lower jaw, as though a vertical splinter were lodged there; the pain is worse on swallowing.

Dolichos is said to follow Rhus Tox. Functions well in herpetic eruptions. It is also useful in teething, when the child has pains in the gums which hinder sleep.

The German Monograph-Preparation Commission for the Homoeopathic Field of Therapy has, under the Preparation Monograph for Mucuna pruriens, published the following indication(s) in the German Bundesanzeiger (German Federal Gazette) for dolichos pruriens: pruritus associated with hepatic diseases.

The attenuations of this nosode are prepared from the surgically removed diverti- culi of the large intestine.

The Diverticulosis Nosode is indicated both in the presence of diverticuli and in related conditions, e.g. general pre-cancerous states of the intestine.

Even though treatment of diverticulosis with the nosode of diverticulosis is obvi- ously purely isopathic, and isopathy – even theoretically – is less effective than ho- moeopathy, it must always be borne in mind that the material for the nosode was ob- tained from some one other than the patient under treatment and that therefore cer- tain differences of albumen-composition and in the specific foundations of the dis- ease apply. Thus even in such cases (where we are using the nosode of exactly the same disease as presents in the patient), we may speak of a certain Law of Similars, which is also borne out in the results of treatment. In general, the potencies needed for each treatment and the indications for them are obtained by testing with electro- acupuncture.

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

The main indications are:

Osteochondritis of the spine. Cervical spondylosis. Prolapse of nucleus pulposus. Rheumatism and neuralgias of spinal origin.

The attenuations of this nosode are prepared from diphtheria vaccine.

The action of the remedy includes throat inflammations, especially recurring ones (in combination with Baryta Carbonica). Such chronic throat inflammations can be cured with Diphtherinum and Baryta Carbonica (to which might be added Spleen sarcode once weekly, in order to strenghten the body’s defences).

In addition, Diphtherinum is effective in all oedematous swellings of the mucosa, and also in illnesses which proceed with the discharge of serous exudates, such as endocarditis, pleurisy, chronic nephritis with oedema, acute and chronic polyarthritis with swellings. Diphtherinum can also be beneficial in tumours, e.g. cancer of the oesophagus or larynx, and of the bronchi. Diphtherinum is beneficial in chronic ble- pharitis, and in offensive, foetid mouth odour. Dangerously high fevers with dysp- noea also often react well (in combination with Phosphorus). In acute illnesses, low potencies are indicated.

The German Monograph-Preparation Commission for the Homoeopathic Field of Therapy has, under the Preparation Monograph for Diphterinum-Nosode, published the following indication(s) in the German Bundesanzeiger (German Federal Gazette) for diphtherinum: tonsillitis; paralysis after diphtheria.

The mother tincture is prepared from the fresh underground parts of Dioscorea villosa L., gathered after flowering. N.O. Dioscoreaceae.

The main indications are:

Gastro intestinal colics. Eructations of large quantities of tasteless air. Pain in the left hypochondrium and in the centre of the abdomen, beginning in a small spot and radiating out, starting during eating and persisting. Thin stools. Pancreatitis.

The author had the opportunity of proving homoeopathic Dioscorea Villosa, and in so doing he was particularly troubled by the violent stomach-pains, which always began during meals and persisted, so that he could only ever eat half as much as he wanted.

The pains were localised in the left hypochondrium and radiated towards the cen- tre and as far as the heart. They were only relieved by standing upright. The pain could also extend along the sternum and into the arm, however. There were also general complaints in the intestines, worse when lying down, with rumblings and discharge of much flatus, and colics with a tendency to bend double, relieved by walking about.

Dioscorea Villosa is also suggested by renal colics with pains which extend into the extremities.

Besides liver and biliary conditions, in which it is said to ease the passage of stones, Dioscorea is also indicated in stomach cramps. It should be tried in renal colic, and in diarrhoea which drives the patient out of bed first thing in the morning. The German Monograph-Preparation Commission for the Homoeopathic Field of Therapy has, under the Preparation Monograph for Dioscorea villosa, published the following indication(s) in the German Bundesanzeiger (German Federal

Gazette) for dioscorea villosa: colic of the gastro intestinal tract.

The mother tincture is prepared from the fresh leaves, gathered at the commence- ment of flowering, of the one or two years old plant Digitalis purpurea L., which oc- curs, often in massive quantities, in upland woods of Europe where trees have been cleared. N.O. Scrophulariaceae.

The main indications and symptoms are:

Deathly nausea with clean tongue. Vomiting. Uninterrupted urging to urinate. Irri- tation of the neck of the bladder. Scanty urine with albumin, dark and cloudy. Hy- drocoele. Hypertrophy of the prostate. Hyperemesis gravidarum. Dreams of falling. Weakness of the heart muscle. Sensation as if the heart stood still. Can lie neither on the left nor the right side; best lying flat on the back. Dilated veins. Cold limbs. Pains and swelling of the liver with heart pains. Heart failure. Oedema.

In the case of Digitalis it is usually forgotten that, apart from the circulatory symp- toms, other symptoms may also constitute an indication.

Thus gastro intestinal symptoms – albeit largely of circulatory origin – point to Digitalis, particularly a sensation of pressure and cramp in the left hypochondrium, possibly moving to the heart and mimicking the symptoms of infarction, or leading into them. In this case, in order to prevent the infarction, it is absolutely necessary to use Digitalis tincture, which is best mixed with Crataegus tincture. Restless sleep, interrupted by many dreams and by nocturia, and by frequent waking (on account of fear, restlessness and fear of dying), is typical of Digitalis, particularly dreams of falling.

Digitalis is also indicated for stabbing pains in the renal area with urging towards the bladder and symptoms of bladder irritation, desire to urinate but with retention of urine, and frequent strangury, the urine possibly containing blood. These symptoms are found in hypertrophy of the prostate.

The German Monograph-Preparation Commission for the Homoeopathic Field of Therapy has, under the Preparation Monograph for Digitalis purpurea, published the following indication(s) in the German Bundesanzeiger (German Federal Gazette) for digitalis: cardiac insufficiency; migraine.

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

The name diencephalon is used to denote the hypothalamus, and the thalamus, which lies above and behind it, both in the lower area of the brain and separated from each other by the sulcus hypothalamicus.

In this part of the brain are localised the central switch-boards for almost all the autonomic nervous functions, not only for sleep and blood-pressure, but also for the whole autonomic innervation.

The indications for use of Diencephalon – also of Thalamus or Hypothalamus – are impregnation and degeneration phases, e.g. manifestations of autonomic dysto- nia, possibly in combination with other suitable remedies, or as a compound remedy.