Category: Materia Medica Hans-Heinrich Reckeweg

The attenuations are prepared from Anthraquinone, C₁₄H₈O₂, MW: 208.2.

According to W. F. Koch (U.S.A.), it regenerates blocked cell-respiration by “burning away” accumulated toxins (amines and others), and is therefore indicated in all cellular phases (impregnation, degeneration and neoplasm).

As Anthraquinone is the raw material for numerous chemical products designed to enhance the appearance and shelf-life of food-products, and moreover is the active ingredient of numerous laxatives, together with Hydroquinone it is one of the most- used quinones. It acts on the regulation of the respiratory-chain function.

Everything affects the colon with diarrhoea. There is almost no other remedy to match its effect on hypotension. There is scarcely another remedy in which the irri- tability and feeling of misery in intestinal disturbances, from infancy to old age, is so marked as in Anthraquinone.

In affections of the lungs, pleurisy, pneumonia and respiratory illness arising from chill there is effusion in most cases.

Kidney ailments also react to Anthraquinone, especially when loose stools, a great feeling of misery and raging headache are present together.

In cancer of the prostate, continual erections and painful discharges of purulent matter are an indication for Anthraquinone; also in cancer of the uterus, when there is watery, brown discharge with great tiredness and possibly ascites. On the skin, es- pecially in the creases, red pustules appear, itching severely, and repeatedly giving way to new patches. These get better and worse in conjunction with the sluggishness of the bowels, and there is a tormenting itching, especially at night in bed, as well as pruritus vulvae.

The drug picture of Anthrachinon was composed in July 1996 by David Riley, M.D., Santa Fe (New Mexico), USA.

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

Essential Characteristics

The essential characteristic of Anthrachinon elicited in this proving had a signifi- cant effect on the female provers. Symptoms focused on the psycho-sexual sphere. There was a feeling of increased self confidence and optimism. Also irritability to- wards family members, and increased sexual desire.

Improvement of the normal symptom of straining, tearing pain, or bleed with the bowl evacuation.

Irritability. Mistakes. Anxiety and fears. Increased energy or fatigue. Desires ice cream. Head pain. Eruptions on the face. Distention, flatulence, and cramping ab- dominal pain. Constipation with straining or sudden diarrhea. Hard stools like balls

or loose water stools. Frequent urination at night. Soreness, achiness, or weariness of the extremities.

Mind

Difficult concentration especially during conversation. FEELING MORE SELF CONFI- DENT or improvement of lack of self confidence. Timid to appear in public. Discon- tented. Starting on waking. Dreams that continue after returning to sleep. IRRITABILI- TY to family or over trifles. Mistakes in speaking or in writing the wrong word. OPTI- MISTIC or improvement of lack of optimism. Sadness with weeping and pitying her- self. Sensitive to sad stories and sadness. Rapid thoughts. Anxiety about the future or when dancing improves. Fear of being injured or looked at.

Generalities

ENERGY INCREASED especially in the morning, or improvement of low energy. Food desires of ice cream, meat. sweets with salt, yogurt. Aversion to sweets. FATIGUE. Weakness or pain in joints and muscles.

Vertigo

Pitching forward on rising with sensation of floating. Better after eating.

Head

Noises in head when falling asleep. HEAD PAIN on waking or improvement of head aches. Throbbing in forehead behind the eyes or in the temples improves. Sharp prickling sensation on the forehead. Decrease in number of headaches.

Ear

Painful pimple behind ear. Sharp ear pain in right ear. Dull ear pain.

Nose

Coryza. Improvement of obstruction. Bland green discharge only when blowing the nose.

Mouth

Aphthae on tip of tongue. Swelling of upper and lower gums that is sensitive.

Face

Eruptions on the chin that is a red rash or pustules on the chin.

Throat

Dryness. Burning pain.

Stomach

Appetite diminished. Pain from flatulence. Shooting pains from gas. Nausea.

Abdomen

DISTENSION before menses, from gas, on waking, and at the umbilical region. Heaviness in abdomen before menses. Cramping pain with diarrhea or from gas. Cutting pain before stool. Flatulence that causes cramping pain. Sore pain in the iliac region.

Rectum

CONSTIPATION that is painful, or from incomplete evacuation, or with ineffectual urging, or with straining or an improvement of straining. DIARRHEA that is sudden, painful, or better lying down. Sense of fullness. PAIN before or during. Long lasting pain after stool improves. Cutting or burning pain. Tearing pain during stool im-

proves. Ineffectual urge. Pressing sensation as if diarrhea would happen. Flatus in evening. Improvement of bleeding hemorrhoids. Improvement of rectal itch.

Stool

Hard formed balls. Loose or watery stool. Hard stool. Frequent. Elimination with- out tearing pain, bleeding, straining. or pain after stool. [Cured.]

Bladder

Frequent urination especially at night.

Genitalia, Female

Many effects on the menses. Menses with bright red blood, copious bleeding and large clots like chunks of liver. Menses either frequent or intermittent or scanty menstrual flow. Vaginal pain that is cutting, stitching, or lancinating pain and that extends backward. SEXUAL DESIRE INCREASED or improvement of low desire. Feeling more feminine and having more sexual feelings. Herpetic eruptions on labia.

Expectoration

Thick, greenish phlegm with a bad taste is decreasing.

Respiration Difficult inspiration. Chest

Chest tightness.

Back

Herpetic eruptions. Back pain from constipation. Soreness of the low back and lumbar region.

Extremities

Cramps in the calf or left hip and left thigh. Heaviness of the right knee, or heavi- ness or the leg before menses. Swelling of right knee. Trembling of arms, hands, and fingers. Weakness of forearm, or left leg. Aching pain in joints or calf. Sore pain in knee, calf, or upper arm. Contraction of leg.

Skin

Dry and itching on neck and upper shoulders.

The attenuations are prepared from the dried ripe fruits of the plant Illicium verum Hook. (also known as Chinese Anise), which is a native of China and Tonkin.

N.O. Magnoliaceae.

Anise (Aniseed) has proved its worth as a carminative and mild spasmolytic, es- pecially in flatulent distension. According to Nash it is also especially effective in catarrhal conditions of an asthmatic nature, if the pain goes through the upper part of the left breast and radiates towards the shoulder. It has a mild expectorant action, and is reputed also to function well as a galactogogue.

The German Monograph-Preparation Commission for the Homoeopathic Field of Therapy has, under the Preparation-Monograph for Illicium verum, published the

following indication(s) in the German Bundesanzeiger (German Federal Gazette) for

anisum stellatum: bronchitis; flatulence.

The mother tincture is prepared from the dried ripe fruits of the tree Semecarpus anacardium L., which is native to the East Indies. N.O. Anacardiaceae.

According to Nash the tincture of the fruits of this tree, Semecarpus anacardium, used for the homoeopathic attenuations, is a valuable remedy which is generally un- dervalued. In many cases of so-called dyspepsia, where otherwise Nux Vomica is prescribed indiscriminately, Anacardium is better indicated, since it has a typical stomach-ache, which always occurs with an empty stomach and is ameliorated by eating, whereas the distinctive stomach-ache of Nux Vomica is ameliorated when the digestive process is finished. This distinguishing symptom has led to the prescription of Anacardium in cases of duodenal ulcer and duodenal catarrh, in which of course such hunger-pain sensations are characteristic.

Like Nux Vomica, Anacardium also has the symptom of frequent unsuccessful urging to pass stool, but in Anacardium there is the additional sensation of a plug or lump in the rectum, which cannot be squeezed out. This symptom does not occur in the picture of Nux Vomica.

A. v. Fellenberg-Ziegler characterises the action of Anacardium as bearing partic- ularly on the skin and brain, and draws attention to the periodicity of the complaints which are typical in cases of duodenal ulcer. The sensation of a plug is not restricted to the rectum, but may occur in a variety of parts of the body, linked with weakness in the limbs, especially the knees.

Cramps in the calves may also occur while walking or on risig from sitting. There may also be an anaesthesia of the skin or a great sensitivity to draughts and cold, linked with a burning itching of the skin, urticarial vesicles and wart-like excres- cences. Also characteristic of Anacardium are retoxic impregnations after sup- pressed skin-eruptions, in particular cerebral and emotional symptoms with hypochondriacal irritability, timidity and fearfulness of misfortune and danger.

Such irritative symptoms of the central nervous system may also occur after ex- hausting mental work, with brain-fag and tearing pains in the forehead, temples and occiput; here again there may be the sensation of a plug in the head, or as of a tight band placed around the forehead.

In many cases there is also extraordinary weakness of memory, such as may occur after recovery from serious illnesses, possibly associated with a feeling of pressure or swimming in the head. This may be accompanied by a fear of company or out- right agoraphobia, linked with hard-heartedness, inhumanity and a tendency to use

bad language. Precisely this last symptom may provide a characteristic pointer to Anacardium. If a patient incessantly swears about everything (including the political situation etc.) one should cast about for Anacardium symptoms, and not infrequent- ly such symptoms will be found. In such cases Anacardium is capable of curing the whole condition.

Nash also draws attention to a further symptom: the patient has a feeling as if he had two wills, each driving him to do opposing things. Here then we are dealing with a symptom such as is found in schizophrenia.

If we sum up the most essential symptoms of Anacardium, the following picture emerges:

1. Periodicity of complaints and pains, stomach ulcers aggravated in spring.
2. Itching, burning and sensation of heat in the skin. Formation of vesicles, pustules and warts. Urticaria with a yellowish fluid exuded.
3. Anxious and worried mood. Timidity, sensitivity. Tendency to cursing and swear- ing.
4. Sensation of a plug in various places in the body, e.g. in the head, the lower ab- domen, in the rectum or anus, associated with constipation, (even a soft stool can only be passed with difficulty).
5. Typical hunger-pains with empty stomach, ameliorated by eating.
6. Marked weakness of memory in old people, linked with nervous breakdown, weakness in the limbs (especially the knees), and possibly headache (with plug sensation). Cramps in the calf-muscles when walking.

The German Monograph-Preparation Commission for the Homoeopathic Field of Therapy has, under the Preparation-Monograph for Semecarpus anacardium, pub- lished the following indication(s) in the German Bundesanzeiger (German Federal Gazette) for anacardium: skin rashes; gastric digestive insufficiency; gastric and duodenal ulcers; mental exhaustion; emotional discord or upset; delusions.

The attenuations are prepared from Ammonium nitrate, NH₄NO₃, MW: 80.0.

The principal indications are:

Catarrhs. Discharges sharp and excoriating.

The German Monograph-Preparation Commission for the Homoeopathic Field of Therapy has, under the Preparation Monograph for Ammonium nitricum, published the following indication(s) in the German Bundesanzeiger (German Federal Gazette) for ammonium nitricum: catarrh; pungent and biting secretions.

In earlier times Amyl Nitrate served as a smelling and inhaling remedy (4 to 6 drops on a handkerchief), for chronic facial blushing or sudden surges of blood, also during the menopause and in sunstroke.

The German Monograph-Preparation Commission for the Homoeopathic Field of Therapy has, under the Preparation Monograph for Amylium nitrosum, published the following indication(s) in the German Bundesanzeiger (German Federal Gazette) for amylium nitrosum: headaches; tachycardia.

The attenuations are prepared from Ammonium chloride, NH₄Cl, MW: 53.5.

The main indications are as follows:

Coughs and catarrhs in liver diseases. Hacking cough at night as if ulcerous, ame- liorated by rubbing. Tired, worn, shattered, better in the open air, on motion. Sciati- ca aggravated by sitting (!), better when walking, good lying down. Sciatic neuralgia with pains in the popliteal fossa (as if the tendons were too short).

Ammonium Chloride (Sal Ammoniac) encourages the secretion of urine, also the secretions of the mucosa generally, especially in the respiratory and digestive or- gans, and also enhances the action of the sweat glands in the skin, whereby, apart from uric acid, the excretion of urea is also increased.

On the basis of animal experiments and provings, similar symptoms to those of Ammonium Carbonate are shown to be present, though to a milder degree.

Only the mucosa are more strongly affected with catarrhs, tickling and coughing, hoarseness, râles and constriction of the chest.

Pappy, bitter taste, nausea and tendency to vomit, burning pains in the stomach. Abdominal distension on account of copious flatus. Discharge of copious loose stools with tenesmus and mucus. Bleeding from haemorrhoids.

A dominant symptom is the distaste and revulsion to all food and drink during ill- ness, which may be of long duration.

The German Monograph-Preparation Commission for the Homoeopathic Field of Therapy has, under the Preparation Monograph for Ammonium chloratum, pub- lished the following indication(s) in the German Bundesanzeiger (German Federal Gazette) for ammonium muriaticum: subacute and chronic inflammations of the respiratory passages; sciatica; neuralgia.

The attenuations are prepared from a mixture of Ammonium bicarbonate (NH₄HCO₃) and Ammonium carbamate (H₂NCOONH₄) in varying proportions.

Like all carbonates, this is a remedy of weakness. Epistaxis when washing. Chron- ic colds (acute also). Catarrhal blockage with weakness of cardiac muscle. “The chest is full of mucus, coughs a lot but no expectoration.” Ganglion on the back of the hand. Incipient cataracts.

The right half of the body is mainly affected. Complaints are aggravated in the evenings, nights or mornings, and also by fresh air. There is a tearful, low-spirited mood with outbursts of anger.

There is sleepiness in the daytime, whilst at night sleep is disturbed, full of dreams, with jerking and waking.

There are skin eruptions like scarlatina, also papules, spots and vesicles with vio- lent burning and itching. Desquamation.

Apart from the catarrhs of the respiratory mucosa, there are also catarrhs of the di- gestive tract with burning pains down the gullet, a sore feeling with increased sali- vation, sensitive bleeding gums and a chalky scratching taste.

There are also catarrhs of the urinary tract with frequent urging, dark, reddish urine and seminal emissions at night; in women there is leucorrhoea, strong itching of the external genitalia and shivering with attacks of faintness during dysmenor- rhoea.

Also prominent is unusual irritability and excitement of the nervous system in weaker constitutions, especially in acute illness of weakened patients, in diseases of the mucosa and in rheumatic or gouty pains, and also with menses which are painful and too early and with leucorrhoea.

The German Monograph-Preparation Commission for the Homeopathic Field of Therapy has, under the Preparation Monograph for Ammonium carbonicum, pub- lished the following indication(s) in the German Bundesanzeiger (German Federal Gazette) for ammonium carbonicum: infectious diseases with circulatory insuffi- ciency; inflammations of the oral cavity and of the respiratory passages; cardiac and circulatory insufficiency.

The attenuations are prepared from Ammonium bromide, NH₄Br, MW: 97.9.

The main indications are as follows:

Catarrhs of the larynx and air-passages. Hoarseness. Soreness of the mucosa.

Further noteworthy symptoms are: headaches, as if a tight band were around the head, with the pressure worst above the ears, or a headache above or near the right eye, as if a nail were being driven in, aggravated by coughing. In the evening the eyelids droop and can scarcely be opened. Feeling as of sand in the eyes.

The nose is congested in a warm room (cf. Pulsatilla). However cold air aggra- vates nasal catarrhs with thick, stringy mucus and a tickling cough which comes in paroxysms with pains in the stomach, stabbing pains in the lungs, nocturnal cough- ing attacks and possible hoarseness.

The left ovary may also be swollen and painful.

Sensation of pressure in the right kidney, better under firm pressure (cf. Bryonia). Complaints are ameliorated by warmth and hot drinks, and aggravated in cold air,

e.g. sneezing on entering a cold room.

The German Monograph-Preparation Commission for the Homoeopathic Field of Therapy has, under the Preparation Monograph for Ammonium bromatum, pub- lished the following indication(s) in the German Bundesanzeiger (German Federal Gazette) for ammonium bromatum: respiratory inflammation.

see Ichthyolum

The attenuations are prepared from ambergris, a waxy substance excreted by the sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus). N.O. Physeteridae.

The principal symptoms are as follows:

Heaviness and sensation of pressure in the head with vertigo. Dryness of the nose and oral mucosa. Halitosis. Itching of the genitalia. Nervous excitement, hearing impairment, difficulty in concentration. Seminal emissions followed by weakness.

Ambra Grisea is not a remedy for inflammatory conditions. In the foreground of its picture we find nervous symptoms of a predominantly chronic nature such as nervous weakness of vision and hearing, vertigo, weakness of memory, deterioration of brain- function and generaly powers of decision; senility with general mental prostration.

However, Ambra Grisea is also indicated in nocturnal coughing paroxysms with dyspnoea, whooping cough, states of heightened sexual excitement with seminal emissions and neurasthenia, and in women with frequent menstruation and leucor- rhoea.

The German Monograph-Preparation Commission for the Homoeopathic Field of Therapy has, under the Preparation Monograph for Ambra, published the following indication(s) in the German Bundesanzeiger (German Federal Gazette) for ambra: nervous hyperexcitability and nervous exhaustion; insomnia; dysregulation of the au- tonomous nervous system; melancholic emotional discord or upset; angiosclerosis; premature ageing.

The attenuations are prepared from Aluminium oxide (Al₂O₃, MW: 101.9).

A weakened constitution (impregnation phases). Great weakness and exhaustion, also irritability. Protracted skin eruptions, – colds, ulcerations of the lips, gums and oral mucosa. Inflammations of the eyes and ears. Leucorrhoea. Hoarseness of speak- ers and singers. Defaecation difficult. Atonic constipation: even a soft stool is passed only with difficulty. Megacolon.

The German Monograph-Preparation Commission for the Homoeopathic Field of Therapy has, under the Preparation Monograph for Aluminium oxydatum, published the following indication(s) in the German Bundesanzeiger (German Federal Gazette) for alumina: dry skin rashes; chronically dry mucosal inflammations; lameness; constipation; premature ageing.