Category: Clarke Materia Medica

General Action.
Acts principally on the upper digestive tract and the respiratory mucosa. Characteristic is a hard, indigestible sensation lodged at the cardia or lower œsophagus, as of a boiled egg; relieves dyspepsia due to tea or tobacco; eases cough with or without haemoptysis when this sensation as if a hard substance must be expectorated is present.

Mind.
Melancholic, depressed; easily nervous and unable to concentrate or think clearly when the gastric symptoms predominate.

Head.
Vertigo; sensation of malaise or heaviness in the head with flushed, hot cheeks; headache aggravated after eating and accompanied by epigastric distress.

Eyes.
Vision sometimes disturbed by black specks; burning smart in eyes as from smoke; conjunctiva may be mildly injected.

Ears.
Dull aching pain in the left external meatus; hearing easily fatigued when digestive disorder is marked.

Nose.
Frequent coryza with crusting; nasal mucosa dry or alternately congested and runny; nostrils cracked.

Face.
Cheeks flushed or red with concurrent dyspeptic head-symptoms; complexion may appear sallow when chronic.

Mouth.
Tongue coated; eructations of sour or bitter fluid; frequent belching relieves pressure pain.

Throat.
Sensation of choking or constriction low in the throat; as though something is sticking in the lower œsophagus at swallowing.

Appetite.
Great hunger at night with inability to sleep; complete loss of appetite on rising, with ravenous hunger at midday and in the evening; craving for cold drinks.

Stomach.
Pain always appearing after eating; sensation of a hard lump or “egg” in the epigastrium which must be “coughed up” though nothing is expelled; frequent eructations; constant gnawing sense of discomfort, worse when weak.

Abdomen.
Distension and fullness of epigastrium; sensation as if food remains undigested at cardia; flatulence and griping when debilitated.

Stool.
Constipation with atonic rectum; may alternate with occasional semi-fluid evacuation.

Urinary Organs.
No prominent urinary symptoms unless secondary to general weakness; urine normal or slightly scanty.

Female Sexual Organs.
Menstruation delayed by several months; uterine hypochondriasis with dyspeptic headache and epigastric distress.

Respiratory Organs.
Shortness of breath on slightest exertion; cough dry or loose when the “hard body” sensation descends into chest, with or without haemoptysis.

Cardiac.
Pulse slow and heavy; heart-beats laborious, with occasional sharp, cutting pains.

Back.
Tensive or bruised pain in the lumbar region; occasional sensation of coldness across sacrum.

Extremities.
Rheumatic, aching pains in bones and muscles; alternation of heat and chilling in limbs; general weakness.

Generalities.
Marked prostration; tendency to chill around the stomach region even when body otherwise feels cold.

Sleep.
Daytime somnolence yet restless, wakeful night; vivid, unpleasant dreams.

Fever.
Chilliness after meals or when epigastric sensation is severe; overall chill greatly relieved by ingestion of food.

Modalities.
Worse after eating; worse on lying down; ameliorated by external warmth around the stomach.

Relations.
Compare: Abies canadensis, Cupressus species, Thuja, Sabina (all with painful dyspepsia); Nux vomica, Bryonia, Pulsatilla, Kali carbonicum, Natrum muriaticum (for tea and tobacco effects).

Causation.
Symptoms often follow excessive tea or tobacco; aggravated by eating.

General Action.
Acts principally on the digestive and hepatic systems and the uterine ligaments; produces great appetite with tendency to overeat; relieves epigastric sinking with copious eructations; mitigates hepatic congestion; supports displaced or relaxed uterine structures.

Mind.
Quiet, negligent, yet easily displeased; irritable when touched or spoken to; great loquacity in secondary proving .

Head.
Vertiginous sensation as if the head were full of water; confused, stupefied feeling when lying down; bruised pain in occiput.

Eyes.
Sensation as of a stye at the outer canthus of the left eye.

Ears.
No significant auricular symptoms recorded.

Nose.
No significant nasal symptoms recorded.

Face.
Pallid countenance with cold, clammy skin; expression of faintness as if the vertex were congested.

Mouth.
Slight thirst; saliva increased.

Throat.
Unrecorded.

Appetite.
Ravenous hunger with gnawing sensation in epigastrium; intense craving for meat, cucumbers, and other raw foods; tendency to eat beyond digestive capacity.

Stomach.
Distension of stomach and epigastrium with burning; sensation of faintness in the pit of the stomach; strong heart­beat following distension.

Abdomen.
Sickening sensation in intestines; loud rumbling after meals despite great hunger; sensation as if the liver were small and hard and bile deficient.

Stool and Anus.
Burning in rectum; constipation.

Urinary Organs.
Frequent micturition by day and night; urine pale straw-coloured.

Female Sexual Organs.
Sensation of uterine debility—fears miscarriage; aching in fundus of uterus, ameliorated by pressure.

Respiratory Organs.
Difficulty of breathing; sensation as if the right lung were small and hard; dry cough deep in chest with soreness.

Heart.
Laboured cardiac action; increased palpitations when stomach is distended.

Neck and Back.
Pain under right scapula; weakness in sacral region; sensation of cold fluid between shoulders.

Extremities.
Cold, shrivelled hands; general muscle contractions; lies with legs drawn up.

Skin.
Cold, clammy skin; great prostration; desires constant recumbency.

Sleep.
Frequent yawning; somnolence by day; great restlessness at night, tossing from one side to the other.

Fever.
Chilliness as if the blood were turned to cold water; violent shaking chills descending over the body.