Category: Allen’s Keynotes

Rhatany. (Polygalaceae.)

Terrible toothache during early months of pregnancy; tooth feels elongated; < lying, compelling to rise and walk about. Constipation: stool hard with great straining; protrusion of haemorrhoids followed by long lasting aching and burning in anus (Sulph.); bowels inactive; pain after stool as if splinters of glass were sticking in anus and rectum (Thuja). Excruciating pains after stool; burning after soft stool (Nit. ac.). Fissures of anus, great sensitiveness of rectum. Fissures of nipples in nursing women (Graph., Sep.).

Relations. – Compare: Canth., Carb. ac., Iris, Sulph., Thuja.

Buttercup. (Ranunculaceae.)

One of our most effective remedies for the bad effects of alcoholic beverages; spasmodic hiccough; delirium tremens. Day blindness; mist before eyes; pressure and smarting in eyeballs (Phos.). Muscular pains about margins of shoulder blades in women of sedentary employment, often burning in small spots (Agar., Phos.); from needle- work, typewriting, piano playing (Act.). Pains: stitches, sharp, shooting, neuralgic, myaligic or rheumatic in walls of chest, coming in paroxysms; excited or brought on by atmospheric changes; inflammatory; depending upon spinal irritation (Agar.). Pleurisy or pneumonia from sudden exposure to cold, while overheated, or vice versa (Acon., Arn.). Corns sensitive to touch, smart, burn (Salic. ac.). Intercostal rheumatism; chest sore, bruised, < from touch, motion or turning the body (Bry.); in wet, stormy weather (Rhus). Shingles: preceded or followed by intercostal neuralgia (Mez.); vesicles may have a bluish appearance.

Relations. – Compare: Acon., Arn., Bry., Clem., euphorb., Mez. Incompatible: with Sulph. and Staph.

Aggravation. – Contact: motion; atmospheric changes, especially, wet stormy weather (Rhus).

A Product of Sepsis. (A Nosode.)

For sapraemia or septicemia; puerperal or surgical from ptomaine or sewer gas infection; during course of diphtheria, typhoid or tyhpus; when the best selected remedy fails to > or permanently improve. The bed feels hard (Arn.); parts lain on feel sore and bruised (Bapt.); rapid decubitus (Carb. ac.). Great restlessness; must move constantly to > the soreness of parts (Arn., Eup.). Tongue: large, flabby; clean, smooth as if varnished; fiery red; dry, cracked, articulation difficult (Crot., Ter.). Taste: sweetish; terribly fetid; pus-like; as from an abscess. Vomiting: persistent; brownish, coffee-ground; offensive, stercoraceous; with impacted or obstructed bowels (Op., Plb.). Diarrhoea: horribly offensive (Psor.); brown or black (Lep.); painless, involuntary; uncertain, when passing flatus (Aloe, Olean.). Constipation: with complete inertia (Op., Sanic.); obstinate from impaction, in fevers; stool, large, black, carrion-like; small black balls, like olives (Op., Plb.).[sheep dung?] Foetus: or secundines retained, decomposed; dead for days, black; horribly offensive discharge: “never well since” septic fever, following abortion or confinement. To arouse vital activity of uterus. Lochia: thin, acrid, brown, very fetid (Nit. ac.); suppressed, followed by chills, fever and profuse fetid perspiration. Distinct consciousness of a heart: it feels tired; as if enlarged; purring, throbbing, pulsating, constant in ears, preventing sleep; cardiac asthenia from septic conditions. Pulse abnormally rapid, out of all proportion to temperature (Lil.). Skin; pale, cold, of an ashy hue (Sec.); obstinate, varicose, offensive ulcers of old persons (Psor.). Chill: begins in the back, between scapulae; severe, general, of bones and extremities; marking onset of septic fever; temperature 103 to 106; head sudden, skin dry and burning; pulse rapid, small, wiry, 140 to 170; cold clammy sweat follows. In septic fevers, especially puerperal, Pyrogen has demonstrated its great value as a homeopathic dynamic antiseptic.

Relations. – Compare: Ars., Carbo v., Carb. ac., Op., Psor., Rhus, Sec., Ver. Latent pyogenic process, patient continually relapsing after apparent simillimum.

Anemone. (Ranunculaceae)

Adapted to persons of indecisive, slow, phelgmatic temperament; sandy hair, blue eyes, pale face, easily moved to laughter or tears; affectionate, mild, gentle, timid, yielding disposition – the woman’s remedy. Weeps easily: almost impossible to detail her ailments without weeping (weeps when thanked, Lyc.). Especially, in diseases of women and children. Women inclined to be fleshy, with scanty and protracted menstruation (Graph.). The first serious impairment of health is referred to puberic age, have “never been well since” – anaemia, chlorosis, bronchitis, phthisis. Secretions from all mucus membranes are thick, bland and yellowish- green (Kali s., Nat. s.). Symptoms ever changing: no two chills, no two stools, no two attacks alike; very well one hour, very miserable the next; apparently contradictory (Ign.). Pains: drawing, tearing, erratic, rapidly shifting from one part to another (Kali bi., Lac c., Mang. a.); are accompanied with constant chilliness; the more severe the pain, the more severe the chill; appear suddenly, leave gradually, or tension much increases until very acute and then “lets up with a snap;” on first motion (Rhus). Thirstlessness with nearly all complaints; gastric difficulties from eating rich food, cake, pastry, especially after pork or sausage; the sight or even the thought of port causes disgust; “bad taste” in the morning. Great dryness of mouth in the morning, without thirst (Nux m. – mouth moist, intense thirst, Mer.). Mumps; metastasis to mammae or testicle. “All-gone” sensation in stomach, in tea drinkers especially. Diarrhoea: only, or usually at night, watery, greenish-yellow, very changeable; soon as they eat; from fruit, cold food or drinks, ice-cream (Ars., Bry.; eating pears, Ver., China; onions, Thuja; oysters, Brom., Lyc.; milk, Cal., Nat. c., Nic., Sul.; drinking impure water, Camp., Zing.). Derangements at puberty; menses, suppressed from getting feet wet; too late, scanty, slimy, painful, irregular, intermitting flow, with evening chilliness; with intense pain and great restlessness and tossing about (Mag. p.); flows more during day (on lying down, Kreos.). Delayed first menstruation. Sleep: wide awake in the evening, does not want to go to bed; first sleep restless, sound asleep when it it time to getup; wakes languid, unrefreshed (rev. of, Nux). Styes: especially on upper lid; from eating fat, greasy, rich food or pork (compare, Lyc., Sulph.). Threatened abortion; flow ceases and then returns with increased force; pains spasmodic, excite suffocation and fainting; must have fresh air. Toothache: relieved by holding cold water in the mouth (Bry., Coff.); worse from warm things and heat of room. Unable to breathe well, or is chilly in a warm room. Nervousness, intensely felt about the ankles.

Relations. – Complementary: Kali m., Lyc., Sil., Sulph. ac.; Kali m. is its chemical analogue. Silicea is the chronic of Pulsatilla in nearly all ailments. Follows, and is followed by, Kali m. One of the best remedies with which to begin the treatment of a chronic case (Cal., Sulph.). Patients, anaemic or chlorotic, who have taken much iron, quinine and tonics, even years before. Ailments: from abuse of chamomile, quinine, mercury, tea-drinking, sulphur.

Aggravation. – In a warm close room; evening, at twilight; on beginning to move; lying on the left, or on the painless side; very rich, fat, indigestible food; pressure on the well side if it be made toward the diseased side; warm applications; heat (Kali m.).

Amelioration. – In the open air; lying on painful side (Bry.); cold air or cool room; eating or drinking cold things; cold applications (Kali m.).

A Product of Psora. (A Nosode.)

Especially adapted to the psoric constitution. In chronic cases when well selected remedies fail to relieve or permanently improve (in acute diseases, Sulph.); when Sulphur seems indicated by fails to act. Lack of reaction after severe acute diseases. Appetite will not return. Children are pale, delicate, sickly. Sick babies will not sleep day or night, but worry, fret cry (Jalap.); child is good, plays all day; restless, troublesome, screaming all night (rev. of Lyc.). Great weakness and debility; from loss of animal fluids; remaining after acute diseases; independent of or without any organic lesion, or apparent cause. Body has a filthy smell, even after bathing. The whole body painful, easily sprained and injured. Great sensitiveness to cold air or change of weather; wears a fur cap, overcoat or shawl even in hottest summer weather. Stormy weather he feels acutely; feels restless for days before or during a thunderstorm (Phos.); dry scaly eruptions disappear in summer, return in winter. Ailments: from suppressed itch or other skin diseases, when Sulphur fails to relieve; sever, from even slight emotions. Feels unusually well day before attack. Extremely psoric patients; nervous, restless, easily startled. All excretions – diarrhoea, leucorrhoea, menses, perspiration – have a carrion-like odor. Anxious, full of fear; evil forebodings. Religious melancholy; very depressed, sad suicidal thoughts; despairs of salvation (Mel.), of recovery. Despondent: fears he will die; that he will fail in business; during climaxis; making his own life and that of those about him intolerable. Driven to despair with excessive itching. Headache: preceded, by flickering before eyes, by dimness of vision or blindness (Lac d., Kali bi.); by spots or rings. Headache: always hungry during; >while eating (Anac., Kali p.); from suppressed eruptions, or suppressed menses; > nosebleed (Mel.). Hair, dry, lustreless, tangles easily, glues together (Lyc.). Plica polonica (Bar., Sars., Tub.). Scalp: dry, scaly or moist, fetid, suppurating eruptions; oozing a sticky, offensive fluid (Graph., Mez.). Intense photophobia, with inflamed lids; cannot open the eyes; lies with face buried in pillow. Ears: humid scurfs and soreness on and behind ears; oozing and offensive viscid fluid (Graph.). Otorrhoea: thin, ichorous, horribly fetid discharge, like decayed meat; chronic, after measles or scarlatina. Acne: all forms, simplex, rosacea; < during menses, from coffee, fats, sugar, meat; when the best selected remedy fails or only palliates. Hungry in the middle of night; must have something to eat (Cina, Sulph.). Eructations tasting of rotten eggs (Arn., Ant. t., Graph.). Quinsy, tonsils greatly swollen; difficult, painful swallowing; burns, feels scalded; cutting, tearing, intense pain to ears on swallowing (painless, Bar. c.); profuse, offensive saliva; tough mucus in throat, must hawk continually. To not only > acute attack but eradicate the tendency. Hawks up cheesy balls, size of pea, of disgusting taste and carrion-like odor (Kali m.). Diarrhoea: sudden, imperative (Aloe, Sulph.); stool watery, dark brown, fetid; smells like carrion; involuntary, < at night from 1 to 4 a. m.; after severe acute diseases; teething; in children; when weather changes. Constipation: obstinate, with backache: from inactivity of rectum; when Sulphur fails to relieve. Enuresis: from vesical paresis; during full moon, obstinate cases, with a family history of eczema. Chronic gonorrhoea of year’s duration that can neither be suppressed nor cured; the best selected remedy fails. Leucorrhoea: large, clotted lumps of an intolerable odor; violent pains in sacrum; debility; during climaxis. During pregnancy: most obstinate vomiting, foetus moves too violently; when the best selected remedy fails to relieve; to correct the psoric diathesis of the unborn. Profuse perspiration after acute diseases, with relief of all suffering (Calad., Nat. m.). Asthma, dyspnoea: < in open air, sitting up (Laur.); > lying down and keeping arms stretched far apart (rev. of Ars.); despondent, thinks he will die. Cough returns every winter. Hay fever: appearing regularly every year the same day of the month; with an asthmatic, psoric or eczematous history. Patient should be treated the previous winter to eradicate the diathesis and prevent summer attack. Cough: after suppressed itch, or eczema; chronic, of years’ duration; < mornings on waking and evenings on lying down (Phos., Tub.); sputa green, yellow or salty mucus; pus-like; coughs a long time before expectorating. Skin: abnormal tendency to receive skin diseases (Sulph.); eruptions easily suppurate (Hep.); dry, inactive, rarely sweats; dirty look, as if never washed; coarse, greasy, as if bathed in oil; bad effects from suppression by sulphur and zinc ointments. Sleepless from intolerable itching, or frightful dreams of robbers, danger, etc (Nat. m.). Psorinum should not be given for psora or the psoric diathesis, but like every other remedy, upon a strict individualization – the totality of the symptoms – and then we realize its wonderful work.

Relations. – Sulphur and Tuberculinum. Is followed well: by, Alum., Bor., Hep., Sulph., Tub. After: Lactic ac., in vomiting of pregnancy. After: Arn in traumatic affections of ovaries. Sulphur follows Psorinum well in mammary cancer. Whether derived from purest gold or purest filth, our gratitude for its excellent service, forbids us to enquire or care. – J. B. Bell.

May Apple. (Berberidaceae)

Adapted to persons of bilious temperament who suffer from gastro- intestinal derangement, especially after abuse of mercury; “bilious attacks.”. Thirst for large quantities of cold water (Bry.). Pains: sudden shocks of jerking pains. Depression of spirits, imagines he is going to die or be very ill (Ars.); disgust for life. Headache alternates with diarrhoea (Aloe); headache in winter, diarrhoea in summer. Painless cholera morbus; cholera infantum (Phyt.). Violent cramps in feet, calves, thighs, watery, painless stools. Difficult dentition: moaning, grinding the teeth at night; intense desire to press the gums together (Phyt.); head hot and rolling from side to side (Bell., Hell.). Diarrhoea: of long standing; early in morning, continues through forenoon, followed by natural stool in evening (Aloe), and accompanied by sensation of weakness or sinking in abdomen or rectum. Diarrhoea of children: during teething; after eating; while being bathed or washed; of dirty water soaking napkin through (Benz. ac.); with gagging. Stool: green, watery, fetid, profuse (Calc.); gushing out (Gamb., Jat., Phos.); chalk-like, jelly-like (Aloe); undigested (Cinch., Ferr.); yellow meal-like sediment; prolapse of rectum before or with stool. Prolapsus uteri: from overlifting or straining; from constipation; after parturition; with subinvolution. In early months of pregnancy, can lie comfortably only on stomach (Acet. ac.). Patient is constantly rubbing and shaking the region of liver with his hand. Fever paroxysm at 7 a. m. with great loquacity during chill and heat; sleep during perspiration. Affects right throat, right ovary, right hypochondrium (Lyc.). Pain and numbness in right ovary, running down thigh of that side (Lil.). Suppressed menses in young girls (Puls., Tub.).

Relations. – Compare: Aloe, Chel., Collin., Lil., Merc., Nux, Sulph. It antidoes the bad effects of mercury. After: Ipec., Nux, in gastric affections; after Calc. and Sulph. in liver diseases.

Aggravation. – In early morning (Aloe, Nux, Sulph.); in hot weather; during dentition.

Lead. (The Metal.)

Adapted to diseases from spinal origin (Phos., Pic. ac., Zinc.). Excessive and rapid emaciation; general or partial paralysis; extreme, with anaemia and great weakness. Muscular atrophy from scelorisis of spinal system. Lassitude; faints on going into a room full of company. Slow of perception; intellectual topor, gradually increasing apathy (in fevers, Phos. ac.). Weakness or loss of memory; unable to find the proper word (Anac., Lac c.). Delirium alternating with colic. Assumes strangest attitudes and positions in bed. Complexion: pale, ash-colored, yellow, corpse-like cheeks sunken; expressive of great anxiety and suffering. Skin of face, greasy, shiny (Nat. m., Sanic.). Distinct blue line along margin of gums; gums swollen, pale, show a lead-colored line. Excessive pain in abdomen, radiating to all parts of body. Sensation in abdomen at night, which causes patient to stretch violently for hours; must stretch in every direction (Amyl. n.). Violent colic, sensation as if abdominal wall was drawn as if by a string to the spine. Intussusception, with colic and faecal vomiting; strangulated hernia, femoral, inguinal or umbilical. Constipation: stools hard, lumpy, black like sheep-dung (Chel., Op.); with urging and terrible pain from spasm of anus; obstructed evacuation from indurated faeces, dryness of the excretions, paralysis or muscular atony; during pregnancy; from impaction of faeces; when Platina fails. Bright’s disease: colic pain; abdomen retracted; rapid emaciation; excessive debility; contracted kidney. Feels a lack of room for foetus in uterus; inability of uterus to expand; threatening abortion. Spasm: clonic; tonic; from cerebral sclerosis or tumor; epilepsy or epileptiform convulsions. Yellow skin: dark brown “liver spots” in climacteric years; jaundice, the eyes, skin and urine yellow.

Relations. – Compare: Alum., Plat., Op., in colic; Pod. in retraction of navel; Nux in strangulated hernia; Pod. the vegetable analogue. The bad effects of Plumbum are antidoted by Alum., Petr., Plat., Sulph. ac., Zinc.

Aggravation. – At night (pains in limbs).

Amelioration. – Rubbing; hard pressure.

Adapted to women, dark hair, rigid fibre; thin, of a sanguine temperament; who suffer from too early and too profuse menses. Sexual organs exceedingly sensitive; cannot bear the napkin to touch her; will go into spasms from an examination; vulva painfully sensitve during coitus: will faint during or cannot endure, coitus (compare, Mur., Orig.). The pains increase gradually and as gradually decrease (Stan.); are attended with numbness of parts (Cham.). For hysterical patients; alternately gay and sad, who cry easily (Croc., Ign., Puls.); pale, easily fatigued. Arrogant, proud, contemptuous and haughty; pitiful “looking down” upon people usully venerated; a kind of “casting them off” unwillingly. Mental delusions, as if everything about her were small; all persons physically and mentally inferior, but she physically large and superior. Sensation of growing larger in every direction. Trifling things produce profound vexation (Ign., Staph.); remains a long time in the sulks. Satiety of life, with taciturnity and fear of death (Acon., Ars.). Mental symptoms appear as physical symptoms disappear and vice versa. Headache: numb, heavy pain in brain or on vertex; from anger or chagrin; hysterical, from uterine disease; pains gradually increase and decrease. Nymphomania: < in lying-in women; excessive sexual development, especially in virgins (Kali p.); vaginismus, spasms and constriction. Menses too early, too profuse, too long-lasting; dark-clotted, offensive, with bearing down spasms; pains in uterus with twitching; genitals sensitive. Excessive itching in uterus; pruritis vulvae. Constipation; while traveling (at sea, Bry.); after lead poisoning; from inertia of bowels; frequent, unsuccessful urging; stools adhere to rectum and anus like soft clay (Alum.); of emigrants; of pregnancy; obstinate cases after Nux has failed. Metrorrhagia: flow in black clots and fluid; thick black, tarry or in grumous mass (Croc.).

Relations. – Compare: Aur., Croc., Ign., Kali p., Puls., Sep., Stan.; Val. the vegetable analogue.

HC6H2(NO2)3O.

Is often restorative of a wasted and worn-out system; a fair picture of “nervous prostration” (Kali p.). Progressive, pernicious, anaemia; neurasthenia. Brain fag: of literary or business people; slightest excitement, mental exertion or overwork brings on headache, and causes burning along the spine (Kali p.). Headache: of students, teachers and overworked business men; from grief or depressing emotions; in occiputal-cervical region (Nat. m., Sil.); < or brought on by slightest motion or mental exertion. Priapism, with spinal disease; erections; satyriasis (Canth., Phos.). Small boils in any part of body, but especially in external auditary canal. Burning along spine and great weakness of spine and back; softening of cord (Phos., Zinc.). Weariness, progressing from a slight feeling of fatigue on motion to complete paralysis. Tired heavy feeling all over body, especially of limbs, < on exertion.

Relations. – Compare: Arg. n., Gels., Kali p., Phos ac., Phos., Petr., Sil.

Amelioration. – From cold air and cold water.

Aggravation. – Least mental exertion; motion; study; wet weather.

Poke Root. (Phytolaccaceae.)

Patients of a rheumatic diathesis; rheumatism of fibrous and periosteal tissue; mercurial or syphillitic. Emaciation, chlorosis; loss of fat. Great exhaustion and profound prostration. Occupies a position between Bryonia and Rhus; cures when these fail, though apparently well indicated. In rheumatism and neuralgia after diphtheria, gonorrhea, mercury or syphilis. Pain flying like electric shocks; shooting, lancinating: rapidly shifting (Lac c., Puls.); worse from motion and at night. Entire indifference to life; sure she will die. Vertigo: when rising from bed feels faint (Bry.). Intense headache and backache; lame, sore bruised feeling all over; constant desire to move but motion < pains (Lac c., Mer. – motion > Rhus). Irresistible desire to bit the teeth or gums together (Pod.); during dentition. Sore throat; of a dark color; uvula large, dropsical, almost translucent (Kali bi., Rhus). Diphtheria: pains shoot from throat into ears on swallowing; great pain at root of tongue when swallowing; burning, as from a coal of fire or a red-hot iron: dryness; difficult to swallow with trembling of the hands; sensation of a lump in the throat with continuous desire to swallow; tonsils, uvula and back part of throat covered with ash-colored membrane; cannot drink hot fluids (Lach.). Carotid and submaxillary glands indurated after diphtheria, scarlet fever. Mammae full of hard, painful nodosities. Breast; shows an early tendency to cake; is full, stony, hard and painful, especially when suppuration is inevitable; when child nurses pain goes from nipple to all over body (goes to back, Crot. t.; to uterus, Puls., Sil.). Mammary abscess; fistulae, gaping, angry ulcers; pus sanious, ichorous, fetid; unhealthy. Tumefied breast neither heals nor suppurates, is of a purple hue and “hard as old cheese” (Bry., Lac c., Phel.). Nipples, sensitive, sore, fissured (Graph.); < intensely by nursing, pain radiates over whole body. Hastens suppuration (Hep., Lach., Mer., Sil.).

Relations. – Compare: Kali i., its analogue.

Aggravation. – When it rains: exposure to damp, cold weather.