Category: Materia Medica Hans-Heinrich Reckeweg

The attenuations of this nosode are prepared from the sputum of a person suffer- ing from bronchial asthma gathered at the end of the attack.

Bronchial asthma. Emphysema. Chronic bronchitis. Pulmonary congestion. Silicosis. Cyanosis. Has been found helpful in empirical use for dribbling of urine and in attacks of whooping cough, spastic constipation, chronic eczemas and anxiety- states of all kinds, even in children. Agoraphobia. Frigidity. To encourage histamine- detoxification in other impregnation phases.

The mother tincture is prepared from the starfish, Asterias rubens L. N.O. Aster- oidae.

Carcinomatous ulcers.

Asterias Rubens was used by Hippocrates in ailments of the womb. It is also an old remedy for epilepsy.

Characteristic symptoms include surges of blood to the head, obstinate constipa- tion, dull occipital headache, pressure in the forehead, pressure in the eyes with flushed face, stabbing pains in the breasts and itching of the skin, with a tendency for the symptoms to appear more on the left half of the body. If other significant symptoms are present, it may be used in mammary cancer, threatened apoplexy and obstinate constipation, as well as ulcers of a cancerous nature.

The German Monograph-Preparation Commission for the Homoeopathic Field of Therapy has, under the Preparation Monograph for Asterias rubens, published the following indication(s) in the German Bundesanzeiger (German Federal Gazette) for asterias rubens: paramenia; hardening of the mammary gland; acne; headaches.

The attenuations are prepared from L-Aspartic acid, COOHCH(NH₂)CH₂COOH(C₄H₇NO₄), MW: 133.1.

An intermediary factor in the function of enzymes and redox systems. All im- pregnation phases, also asthma, angina pectoris, pruritus, skin diseases, psoriasis, pre-cancerous states and in neoplasm phases (especially in the early stages), to im- prove cell-respiration.

The mother tincture is prepared from the fresh rootstock of the plant Asclepias tuberosa L., which is a native of North America and former Jugoslavia. N.O. Ascle- piadaceae.

Intercostal neuralgia.

The American name of the plant, “Pleurisy Root”, shows the particular relation- ship with the pleura, and also to the chest-muscles. Stabbing pains, aggravated by motion, on either side of the rib-cage, between the scapulae and in the intercostal spaces, all respond well and quickly to the remedy.

Abdominal symptoms too are found, e.g. nausea with retching, flatulent colic and dysenteric stools, also with fever symptoms and subsequent sweating.

All complaints are aggravated by cold, damp weather. There is also a sensitivity to tobacco.

The German Monograph-Preparation Commission for the Homoeopathic Field of Therapy has, under the Preparation Monograph for Asclepias tuberosa, published the following indication(s) in the German Bundesanzeiger (German Federal Gazette) for asclepias tuberosa: dry pleurisy; rheumatism; neuralgia in thoracic areas.

The attenuations of this nosode are prepared from maw-worms, (Ascaris lumbri- coides), parasites inhabiting the human small intestine.

When they occur in large quantities, maw-worms can bring about a symptomatol- ogy corresponding to paralytic ileus. According to the Law of Similars, therefore, the Ascarides Nosode is used in spastic complaints in the abdominal cavity, espe- cially in the intestinal area, in children, not on its own but complementing spasmod- ic remedies such as Cuprum, Colocynthis, Veratrum, Belladonna, Nux Vomica and others. Apart from this, however, we must take into account the nervous reflex-states arising from worm-infestation, such as tics, and neural affections of many kinds, es- pecially if the patient has dark rings around the eyes, and in excessively nervous and irritable children (cf. Chamomilla, Antimonium Crudum, Staphisagria); in such cases it may also be used alongside Cina, Tanacetum, Thymus Serpyllum, Chenopodium, Ambra and others.

One must also think of the Ascarides Nosode in epileptic spasms and gastric ul- ceration.

The mother tincture is prepared from the dried gum-resin from various species of Ferula, such as Ferula assa foetida L., Ferula foetida (Bunge) Regel. N.O. Umbellif- erae.

The tincture, prepared as above, has an unpleasant, obtrusive odour and taste. It was formerly used allopathically in various nervous illness.

Important indications are bone problems and ulcers, which are best treated with medium and high potencies, whilst in nervous problems and in digestive complaints with distension, lower potencies are rather indicated. (“Full of wind, flatulence with eructations, everything pressing upwards, but nothing downwards.” Nash.)

Mental and physical hypersensitivity and irritability are present, with a tendency to hypochondria, hysteria and nervousness, especially when normal discharges have been suppressed. (Retoxic phases.)

In chronic paronychia, according to Fellenberg-Ziegler, Asa foetida acts even when other remedies fail.

Asa foetida is indicated in syphilitic iritis, and after abuse of mercury, such as was formerly common in treatment of syphilis; especially when burning, pulsating pains predominate in the bones of the eye-socket. The characteristic pains of Asa foetida proceed from within outwards, and are stabbing, tearing, pulsating, intermittent, and may change into other kinds of complaint on being touched, often linked with a sensation of numbness.

A further Asa foetida symptom is a chronic discharge of pus from the ear (perfo- ration), possibly linked with hearing impairment. Particularly characteristic however is the “globus hystericus”, with gastric and oesophageal cramps and the feeling of an object rising in the gullet. This may be accompanied by a feeling of emptiness in the stomach, rancid eructations, burning in the gullet and a greasy taste.

The colicky distension, as if everything would burst and as if there were reversed peristalsis in the intestines, is especially prominent when discharges have previously been suppressed, or uterine problems of various kinds have been retoxically treated, or also if the milk suddenly dries up during lactation in hypersensitive women.

In such cases, Asa foetida is said to bring in the milk again.

Nash emphasises especially that all the discharges are offensive, and that there is great sensitivity to touch, which may be a prominent symptom in osteitis or caries of the bones with violent nocturnal symptoms.

Complaints are aggravated in a room, at night, by touch and at rest, and are ame- liorated by pressure, rubbing and movement in the open air.

The symptom-picture of Asa foetida is characterised by numerous objective changes on the physical level, but also by further symptoms of a nervous kind such as bad moods, work-shyness, irritation and hastiness, restless sleep with sleepiness in the daytime, twitching in individual muscle-groups, headaches and vertigo, as if light-headed and depraved. There are spasmodic twitchings of the eyelids, possible ringing in the ears, and a dulling of the acuity of hearing. There may also be pressure on the heart, shuddering with hot flushes, feeling of constriction with coughing, tenesmus at defaecation with reversed peristalsis, everything pushing upwards, but also ulceration of soft parts and in bone-tissue with viscous or thin offensive pus and a general physical and mental hypersensitivity.

Summing up the main symptoms of Asa foetida, we have the following typical picture of the remedy:

1. Globus hystericus with spasmodic contractions of the oesophagus, as though a foreign body were rising and falling or being swallowed.
2. Lack of appetite. Rancid or greasy eructations. Retching. Distension with flatus pressing upwards and offensive flatulence.
3. Hot flushes with surges of blood, light-headedness and vertigo.
4. Offensive secretions from ulcers, also from the skin.
5. Osteitis, periostitis and caries of the bones with violent pains at night, better from pressure and rubbing.
6. Milk dries up during lactation.
7. Chronic otitis media with purulent discharge and hearing impairment. Chronic paronychia and iritis.

The German Monograph-Preparation Commission for the Homoeopathic Field of Therapy has, under the Preparation-Monograph for Asa foetida, published the fol- lowing indication(s) in the German Bundesanzeiger (German Federal Gazette) for asa foetida: chronic inflammations of the respiratory passages; nervous disorders of the alimentary tract; bone diseases; varicose veins; skin ulceration and development of fistulas; dysfunction in normal milk flow; headaches; various nervous disorders.

The mother tincture is prepared from the fresh tuber, gathered before the develop- ment of the leaves. The plant grows wild in North and South America and in China. Arisaema triphyllum (L.) Torr. N.O. Araceae.

Acute laryngitis. Cracking of the voice. Hoarseness of speakers. Acute catarrhs, pharyngitis, bronchitis. Scarlatina.

A prominent symptom is the tendency to copious sweating. A certain forgetfulness and absent-mindedness indicate Arum Triphyllum, especially if there is a pre- dominantly irritable mood and sleep is restless and disturbed.

The German Monograph-Preparation Commission for the Homoeopathic Field of Therapy has, under the Preparation-Monograph for Arisaema triphyllum, published the following indication(s) in the German Bundesanzeiger (German Federal Gazette) for arum triphyllum: acute inflammations of the upper respiratory pas- sages and of the oral cavity; vocal overstrain.

The mother tincture is prepared from the fresh tuber, gathered before the leaves develop. The plant Arum maculatum L. is found in damp woodlands of Central and Southern Europe. N.O. Araceae.

The main indications are as follows:

Pharyngitis, laryngitis. Hay fever. Bulbar palsy with inability to swallow. Exces- sive salivation. Cramps. Paralyses (with bulbar involvement). The nose, mouth and pharynx are hot and inflamed, raw and painful.

Contact of the freshly-pressed juice of this plant with the skin produces redness, swelling and blistering. If it is injected intravenously, death follows, with paralysis and spasms. This gives the symptoms which also emerged in the provings, such as swimming in the head, sleepiness, flushing of the face in sleep, catarrhs of the mu- cosa of eyes and nose, stomatitis with bleeding of the gums at the slightest touch, tongue swollen and painful. In the gullet there is a sensation of tickling, stinging and burning, and difficulty in swallowing, linked with pain.

The mucosa of the respiratory and digestive tracts are also affected, with burning, contractive stomach pain. There is vomiting of mucus and blood, cramping intestin- al colics, and also copious menstrual bleeding.
The German Monograph-Preparation Commission for the Homoeopathic Field of Therapy has, under the Preparation-Monograph for Arum maculatum, published the following indication(s) in the German Bundesanzeiger (German Federal Gazette) for arum maculatum: inflammation of the upper respiratory passages; nasal polyps.

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

Disturbances of circulation. Periarteritis. Intermittent claudication. Diabetes mel- litus. Gangrene. Buerger’s disease. Cramps in the calf-muscles.

The mother tincture is prepared from the fresh rootstock of the plant Artemisia vul- garis L., a native of Europe, Asia and North America. N.O. Compositae.

Sydenham’s chorea. Hysteria. Complaints due to worms. Asthenopia. Vertigo from coloured light.

The German Monograph-Preparation Commission for the Homoeopathic Field of Therapy has, under the Preparation Monograph for Artemisia vulgaris, published the following indication(s) in the German Bundesanzeiger (German Federal Gazette) for artemisia vulgaris: spasmodic disorders (cramps); worms.