Category: Allen’s Keynotes

Hydrated Oxide of Bismuth (Bi2O3OH2.)

Solitude is unbearable; desires company, child holds on to its mother’s hand for company (Kali c., Lil., Lyc.); Anguish; he sits, then walks, then lies, never long in one place. Headache returning every winter; alternating with, or attended by gastralgia. Face, deathly pale, blue rings around the eyes. Toothache > holding cold water in mouth. (Bry., Coff., Puls.). Vomiting: of water as soon as it reaches the stomach, food retained longer (vomits food and water, Ars.); of enormous quantities, at intervals of several days when food has filled the stomach; of all fluids as soon as taken; and purging, offensive stools (watery stools, Ver.); with convulsive gagging and inexpressible pain, after laprotomy (Nux, Staph.). Stomach: pressure as from a load in one spot; alternating with burning; pain crampy, spasmodic; with irritation, cardialgia and pyrosis. Cholera morbus and summer complaint, when vomiting predominates; stools foul; papescent, watery, offensive very prostrating (Ars., Ver.).

Barberry (Berberidaceae)

The renal or vesical symptoms predominate. Pain in small of back; very sensitive to touch in renal region; < when sitting and lying, from jar, from fatigue. Burning and soreness in region of kidneys. Numbness, stiffness, lameness with painful pressure in renal and lumbar regions. Pale, earthy complexion, with sunken cheeks and hollow, blue-encircled eyes. Rheumatic and gouty complaints, with diseases of the urinary organs. Colic from gall-stones. Bilious colic, followed by jaundice; clay-colored stools; fistula in ano, with bilious symptoms and itching of the parts; short cough and chest complaints, especially after operations for fistulae (Cal. p., Sil.). Stitching, cutting pain from left kidney following course of ureter into bladder and urethra (Tab., – r. kidney, Lyc.). Renal colic. < left side (Tab. – either side), with urging and strangury. (Canth.). Rubbing sensation in kidneys (Med.). Urine: greenish, blood-red, with thick, slimy mucus; transparent, reddish or jelly-like sediment. Movement brings on or increases urinary complaints.

Relation. – Similar: to, Canth., Lyc., Sars., Tab., in renal colic. Acts well after, Arn., Bry., Kali bi., Rhus, Sulph., in rheumatic affections.

Aggravations. – Motion, walking or carriage riding; any sudden jarring movement.

(C6H5COOH.)

A gouty, rheumatic diathesis engrafted on a gonorrhoeal or sypilitic patient. Gouty concretions; arthritis vaga; affects all the joints, especially the knee, cracking on motion; nodosities (Berb., Lith., Lys.). Urine dark brown, and the urinous odor highly intensified. Enuresis nocturna of delicate children; dribbling urine of old men with enlarged prostrate; strong characteristic odor; excesses of uric acid. Catarrah of bladder after suppressed gonorrhea. Diarrhoea of children; white, very offensive, exhausting liquid stools, running “right through the diaper” (Pod.); urine offensive and of a deep red color. Cough: with expectoration of green mucus (Natr. s.); extreme weariness, lassitude. Pains tearing, stitching, in large joints of big toe; redness and swelling of joints; gout < at night.

Relation. – Similar: to, Cop., Nitr., Fer., Thuja, especially in enuresis after Nitr. has failed; Berb., Lith. c., in arthiritic complaints. Useful after Colch. fails in gout; after abuse of Cop. in suppression of gonorrhoea. Incompatible: wine, which aggravates urinary gouty and rheumatic affections.

Deadly Nightshade. (Solanaceae)

Adapted to bilious, lymphatic, plethoric constitutions; persons who are lively and entertaining when well, but violent and often delerious when sick. Women and children with light hair and blue eyes, find complexion, delicate skin; sensitive, nervous, threatened with convulsions; tuberculous patients. Great liability to take cold; sensitive to drafts of air, especially when uncovering the head; from having the hair cut; tonsils become inflamed after riding in a cold wind (Acon., Hep., Rhus – takes cold from exposure of feet, Con., Cup., Sil.). Quick sensation and motion; eyes snap and move quickly; pains come suddenly, last indefinitely and cease suddenly (Mag. p.). Pains usually in short attacks; cause redness of face and eyes; fulness of head and throbbing of carotids. Imagines he sees ghosts, hideous faces, and various insects (Stram.); black animals, dogs, wolves. Fear of imaginary things, wants to run away from them; hallucinations. Violent delirium; disposition to bite, spit, strike and tear things; breaks into fits of laughter and gnashes the teeth; wants to bite and strike the attendants (Stram.); tries to escape (Hell.). Head hot and painful; face flushed; eyes wild, staring, pupils dilated; pulse full and bounding, globular, like buckshot striking the finger; mucous membrane of mouth dry; stool tardy and urine suppressed; sleepy; but cannot sleep (Cham., Op.). Convulsions during teething, with fever (without fever, Mag. p.); come on suddenly, head hot, feet cold. Rush of blood to head and face (Amyl., Glon., Mel.). Headache, congestive, with red face, throbbing of brain and carotids (Met.); < from slight noise, jar, motion, light, lying down, least exertion; > pressure, tight bandaging, wrapping up, during menses. Boring the head into the pillow (Apis, Hell., Pod.). Vertigo when stooping, or when rising after stooping (Bry.); on every change of position. Abdomen tender, distended < by least jar, even of the bed; obliged to walk with great care for fear of a jar. Pain in right ileo-coecal region, < by slightest touch, even of the bed- cover. The transverse colon protrudes like a pad. Skin: of a uniform, smooth, shining scarlet redness; dry, hot, burning; imparts a burning sensation to examining had; the true Sydenham scarlet fever, where eruption is perfectly smooth and truly scarlet. Pressing downwards as if the contents of abdomen would issue from the vulva; > standing and sitting erect; worse mornings (Lil., Mur., Sep.).

Relations. – Complementary: Calcarea. Belladonna is the acute of Calcarea, which is often required to complete a cure. Similar: to, Acon., Bry., Cic., Gels., Glon., Hyos., Mel., Op., Stram.

Aggravation. – From touch, motion, noise, draught of air, looking at bright, shining objects (Lys., Stram.); after 3 p. m.; night, after midnight; while drinking; uncovering the head; summer sun; lying down.

Amelioration. – Rest; standing or sitting erect; warm room.

Barium Carbonate. (BaCO3.)

Especially adapted to complaints of first and second childhood; the psoric or tubercular. Memory deficient; forgetful, inattentive; child cannot be taught for it cannot remember; threatened idiocy. Scrofulous, dwarfish children who do not grow (children who grow too rapidly, Cal.); scrofulous ophthalmia, cornea opaque; abdomen swollen; frequent attacks of colic; face bloated; general emaciation. Children both physically and mentally weak. Dwarfish, hysterical women and old maids with scanty menses; deficient heat, always cold and chilly. Old, cachetic people; scrofulous, especially when fat; or those who suffer from gouty complaints (Fluor. ac.). Diseases of old men; hypertrophy or induration of prostrate and testes; mental and physical weakness. Apoplectic tendency in old people; complaints of old drunkards; headache of aged people, who are childish. Persons subject to quinsy, take cold easily, or with every, even the least, cold have an attack of tonsillitis prone to suppuration (Hep., Psor.). Inability to swallow anything but liquids (Bap., Sil.). Haemorrhoids protrude every time he urinates (Mur. ac.). Chronic cough in psoric children; enlarged tonsils or elongated uvula; < after slight cold (Alum.). Swelling and indurations, or incipient suppuration of glands, especially cervical and inguinal. Offensive foot sweat; toes and soles get sore; of the heels; throat affections after checked foot sweat (compare, Graph., Psor., Sanic., Sil.). Great sensitiveness to cold (Cal., Kali c., Psor.).

Relation. – Frequently useful before or after Psor., Sulph., and Tub. After Bar. c., Psor will often eradicate the constitutional tendency to quinsy. Similar: to, Alum, Cal. iod., Dul., Fluor. ac., Iod., Sil. Icompatible: after Calc. in scrofulous affections.

Aggravation. – When thinking of his disease (Oxal. ac.); lying on painful side; after meals; washing affected parts.

Wild Indigo. (Leguminosae)

For the lymphatic temperament. Great prostration, with disposition to decomposition of fluids (Pyr.); ulceration of mucous membranes. All exhalations and discharges fetid, especially in typhoid or other acute disease; breath, stool, urine, perspiration, ulcers (Psor., Pyr.). Aversion to mental exertion; indisposed, or want of power to think. Perfect indifference, don’t care to do anything, inability ot fix the mind to work. Stupor; falls asleep while being spoken to or in the midst of his answer (when spoken to, answers correctly, but delirium returns at once, Arn.). Tongue: at first coated white with red papillae; dry and yellow-brown in center; later dry, cracked, ulcerated. Face flushed, dusky, dark-red, with a stupid, besotted drunken expression (Gels.). Can swallow liquids only (Bar. c.); least solid food gags (can swallow liquids only, but has aversion to them, Sil.). Painless sore throat; tonsils, soft palate and parotids dark red, swollen; putrid, offensive discharge (Diph.). Dysentry of old people; diarrhoea of children, especially when very offensive (Carbo v., Pod., Psor.). Cannot go to sleep because she cannot get herself together; head or body feels scattered about the bed; tosses about to get the pieces together; thought she was three persons, could not keep them covered (Petr.). In whatever position the patient lies, the parts rested upon feel sore and bruised (Pyr. – compare, Arn., Pyr.). Decubitus in typhoid (Arn., Mur. ac., Pyr.).

Relation. – Similar: to, Arn., Ars., Bry., Gels., in the early stages of fever with malaise, nervousness, flushed face, drowsiness, and muscular soreness. When Ars. has been properly given or too often repeated in typhoid or typhus. After Baptisia: Crot., Ham., Nit. ac. and Tereb. act well in haemorrhage of typhoid and typhus.

Tartar Emetic.

Adapted to torpid, phelgmatic persons; the hydrogenoid constitution (of Grauvogl). Diseases originating from exposure in damp basements or cellars (Ars., Aran., Tereb.). Through the pneumogastric nerve it depresses the respiration and circulation, thus producing the keynote of the remedy, viz., when the patient coughs there appears to be a large collection of mucus in the bronchi; it seems as if much would be expectorated, but nothing comes up. Child clings to those around; wants to be carried; cries and whines if any one touches it; will not let you feel the pulse (Ant. c., Sanic.). Face cold, blue, pale, covered with cold sweat (Tab.). Tongue coated pasty, thick, white, with reddened papillae and red edges; red in streaks; very red, dry in the middle; extraordinary craving for apples (Aloe- for acids, pickles, Ant. c.). Vomiting: in any position except lying on right side; until he faints; followed by drowsiness and prostration; of cholera morbus with diarrhoea and cold sweat, a dose after each attack (Ver.). Asphyxia: mechanical, as apparent death from drowning; from mucus in bronchi; from impeding paralysis of lungs; from foreign bodies in larynx or trachea; with drowsiness and coma. Great sleepiness or irresistible inclination to sleep, with nearly all complaints (Nux m., Op.). Child at birth pale, breathless, gasping; asphyxia neonatorum. Relieves the “death rattle” (Taran.). Icterus with pneumonia, especially of right lung.

Relations. – Similar: to Lycopodium; but spasmodic motion of the alae is replaced by dilated nostrils; to Veratrum, both have diarrhoea, colic, vomiting, coldness and craving for acids; to Ipecac, but more drowsiness from defective respiration; nausea, but > after vomiting. When lungs seem to fail, patient becomes sleepy, cough declines or ceases, it supplants Ipec. For bad effects of vaccination when Thuja fails and Silicea is not indicated. Before Silicea in dyspnoea from foreign bodies in the larynx or trachea; Puls. in suppressed gonorrhoea; Tereb. from damp basements. Children not easily impressed when Ant. tart. seems indicated in coughs, require Hepar. In spring and autumn, when damp weather commences, coughs of children get worse.

Aggravation. – In damp, cold weather; lying down at night; warmth of room; change of weather in spring (Kali s., Nat. s.).

Amelioration. – Cold open air; sitting upright; expectorating; lying of right side (Tab.).

Sulphide of Antimony. (SbS3.)

For children and young people inclined to grow fat (Cal.); for the extremes of life. Old people with morning diarrhoea, suddenly become constipated, or alternate diarrhoea and constipation; pulse hard and rapid. Sensitive to the cold. < after taking cold. Child is fretful, peevish, cannot bear to be touched or looked at; sulky, does not wish to speak or be spoken to (Ant. t., Iod., Sil.); angry at every little attention. Great sadness, with weeping. Loathing life. Anxious lachrymose mood, the slightest thing affects her (Puls.); abject despair, suicide by drowning. Irresistible desire to talk in rhymes or repeat verses. Sentimental mood in the moonlight, especially ecstatic love; bad effects of disappointed affection (Cal. p.). Nostrils and labial commissures sore, cracked and crusty. Headache: after river bathing; from taking cold; alcoholic drinks; deranged digestion, acids, fat, fruit; suppressed eruption. Gastric complaints from over-eating; stomach weak, digestion easily disturbed; a thick milky-white coating on the tongue, which is the red strand of the remedy; very subject to canker sores in the mouth (Arg. n., Sulph.). Longing for acids and pickles. Gastric and intestinal affections: from bread and pastry; acids, especially vinegar; sour or bad wine; after cold bathing; over-heating; hot weather. Constant discharge of flatus, up and down, for years; belching, tasting of ingesta. Mucus: in large quantities from posterior nares by hawking; from anus, ichorous, oozing, staining yellow; mucous piles. Disposition to abnormal growths of the skin; fingernail do not grow rapidly; crushed nails grow is splits like warts and with horny spots. Large horny corns on soles of feet (Ran. b.); very sensitive when walking, especially on stone pavements. Loss of voice from becoming over-heated. Cannot bear the heat of the sun; worse from over-exertion in the sun. (Lach., Nat. m.); < from over-heating near the fire; exhausted in warm weather; ailments from sunburn. Whooping cough: < by being over-heated in the sun or in a warm room; from cold washing. When symptoms reappear they change locality or go from one side of the body to the other. Aversion to cold bathing; child cries when washed or bathed with cold water; cold bathing causes violent headache; causes suppressed menses; colds from swimming or falling into the water (Rhus).

Relations. – Complementary: Squilla. Similar: to, Bry;, Ipec., Lyc., Puls., in gastric complaints. Follows well: after, Ant. c., Puls., Mer., Sulph.

Aggravation. – After eating; cold baths, acids or sour wine; after heat of sun or fire; extremes of cold or heat.

Amelioration. – In the open air; during rest; after a warm bath.

Anthrax Poison. (A Nosode)

In carbuncle, malignant ulcer and complaints with ulceration, sloughing and intolerable burning. When Arsenicum or the best selected remedy fails to relieve the burning pain of carbuncle or malignant ulceration. Haemorrhages: blood oozes from mouth, nose, anus or sexual organs; black, thick, tar-like, rapidly decomposing (Crot.). Septic fever, rapid loss of strength, sinking pulse, delirium and fainting (Pyr.). Gangrenous ulcers; felon, carbuncle, erysipelas of a malignant type. Felon: the worst cases, with sloughing and terrible burning pain (Ars., Carb. ac., Lach.). Malignant pustule; black or blue blisters; often fatal in twenty- four or forty-eight hours (Lach., Pyr.). Carbuncle; with horrible burning pains; discharge of ichorous offensive pus. Dissecting wounds, especially if tendency is to become gangrenous; septic fever, marked prostration (Ars., Pyr.). Suspicous insect stings. If the swelling changes color and red streaks from the wound map out the course of lymphatics (Lach., Pyr.). Septic inflammation from absorption or pus or other deleterious substances, with burning pain and great prostration (Ars., Pyr.). Epidemic spleen diseases of cattle, horses and sheep. Bad effects from inhaling foul odors of putrid fever or dissecting-room; poisoning by foul breath (Pyr.). Hering says: “To call a carbuncle a surgical disease is the greatest absurdity. An incision is always injurious and often fatal. A case has never been lost under the right kind of treatment, and it should always be treated by internal medicine only.”.

Relations. – Similar: to, Ars., Carb. ac., Lach., Sec., Pyr., in malignant and septic conditions. Compare: Euphor. in the terrible pains of cancer, carbuncle or erysipelas when Ars. or Anth. fail to >.

Marking Nut. (Anacardiaceae.)

Sudden loss of memory; everything seems to be in a dream; patient is greatly troubles about his forgetfulness; confused, unfit for business. Disposed to be malacious, seems bent on wickedness. Irresistible desire to curse and swear (Lac. c., Lil., Nit. ac. – wants to pray continually, Stram.). Lack of confidence in himself and others. Feels as though he had two wills, one commanding him to do what the other forbids. When walking, is anxious, as if some one were pursuing him; suspects everything around him. Weakness of all the senses. Hypochondriac, with haemorrhoids and constipation. Strange temper, laughs at serious matters and is serious over laughable things. Thinks herself a demon; curses and swears. Sensation as of a hoop or band around a part (Cac., Carb. ac., Sulph.). Headache: relieved entirely when eating (Psor.); when lying down in bed at night, and when about falling asleep; worse during motion and work. Gastric and nervous headaches of sedentary persons (Arg. n., Bry., Nux). Apt to choke when eating and drinking (Can. s., Kava kava, Nit. ac.). Swallows foods and drink hastily; symptoms disappear while eating (Kali p., Psor.). Stomach: sensation of fasting “all gone,” comes one only when stomach is empty and is > by eating (Chel., Iod.); > during process of digestion (rev. of Bry., Nux). Warts on palms of hands (Nat. m.). Great desire of stool, but with the effort the desire passes away without evacuation; rectum seems powerless, paralyzed, with sensation as if plugged up (irregular peristaltic or over action, Nux).

Relations. – Compare: Rhus r., Rhus t., and Rhus v. Symptoms are prone to go from right to left (Lyc.). Anacardium follows well: after Lyc., and Puls. Anacardium follows, and is followed by Platina.