Category: Materia Medica

PREFACE NINTH EDITION

In preparing the ninth edition of this work, I have followed the lines laid out for all the previous editions, namely, to present in a condensed form the homśopathic Materia Medica for practical use.

The book contains the well known verified characteristic symptoms of all our medicines besides other less important symptoms aiding the selection of the curative remedy, All the new medicines and essentials of the published clinical experience of the school have been added. In its present compact form it contains the maximum number of reliable Materia Medica facts in the minimum space.

I have tried to give a succinct resume of the symptomatology of every medicine used in Homśopathy, including also clinical suggestions of many drugs so far not yet based on provings, thus offering the opportunity to experiment with these and by future provings discover their distinctive use and so enlarging our armamentarium.

I am aware that there is a difference of opinion about the advisability of further introduction of remedies, especially of such as seem obsolete or to some minds illusory. But it is not for the compiler to leave out information about any substance that has received the clinical endorsement from a reliable source.

Our Materia Medica must include all substances which have been proved and which have been used with apparent efficacy. It rests with the individual student to judge for himself the accuracy and, reliability of such observation. In this connection, I cannot forego to avail myself of the high authority of that master of Homśopathy, Dr. Constantine Hering, favoring the introduction of all remedies capable of producing reactions in the body that may guide to their medicinal employment. “Homśopathy is essentially not only many-sided but all-sided. She investigates the action of all substances, whether articles of diet, beverages, condiments, drugs or poisons. She investigates their action on the healthy, the sick, animals and plants. She gives; a new interpretation to that ancient, oft quoted saying of Paul, Prove all things–a new meaning, a new application that acts universally. Elimination of the useless may gradually take place with the growth of accurate physiological and pathological knowledge.”

Again, imperfectly proved remedies necessitate the use of names of diseases at times instead of the component symptoms that alone are the legitimate guide to the choice of the curative remedy. Here, too, I have Hering as pioneer guide for the ligitimacy of this method, which he also followed in his great work, the Guiding Symptoms. He said that he used the disease designations not for the purpose of recommending the particular remedy for that disease, but to show the great variety of remedies that may be used for any form of disease when otherwise indicated. For the same reason I have included nosological terms in the symptomatology and Therapeutic Index, as this is a practical handbook for every-day service, and any aid for finding the curative remedy ought to be utilized. As Dr. J. Compton Burnett expresses it:

“The fact is we need any and every way of finding the right remedy; the simple simile, the simple symptomatic similimum and the farthest reach of all-the pathologic similimum, and I maintain that we are still well within the line- of Homśopathy that is expansive, progressive, science fostered and science fostering.”

The dosage needs some apology. It is, of course, suggestive only; more often to be wholly disregarded. I have followed the lines of the earlier Homśopathists in this regard, and given what was then considered the usual range of potency, to which I have added my own experience and that of many observing practitioners. Every teacher of Materia Medica is constantly importuned by students to suggest the potency–something to start with at least.

The book is in no sense a treatise, and must not be considered or judged as such. It is as accurate and reliable a compilation and the fullest collection of verified Materia Medica facts and clinical suggestions as it is possible to obtain within the compass of the volume. It supplements every other work on Materia Medica, and if used as a ready reminder of the essential facts of our vast symptomatology and as an introduction to the larger books of reference and record of provings, it will fulfill its purpose and prove a useful aid to the student and general practitioner. As such it is again offered with much appreciation of past endorsement to his professional brethren.

I have been aided in seeing this edition through the press by the efficient help of Mr. F. O. Ernesty, who has lightened the labor of making the manuscript more acceptable to the printers, and I desire to express my hearty appreciation of this kind and helpful service.

BOERICK MD

  • BARYTA IODATA

    Iodide of Baryta

    Acts on the lymphatic system, increased leucocytosis. Quinsy. Indurated glands, especially tonsils and breasts. Strumous ophthalmia, with tumefaction of cervical glands and stunted growth. Tumors.

    Relationship.–Compare: Acon lycotonum (swelling of cervical, axillary, and mammary glands). Lapis; Con. Merc iod; Carbo an.

    Dose.–Second and third trituration.

  • BARYTA CARBONICA

    Carbonate of Baryta
    (BARYTA CARB)

    Specially indicated in infancy and old age. This remedy brings aid to scrofulous children, especially if they are backward mentally and physically, are dwarfish, do not grow and develop, have scrofulous ophthalmia, swollen abdomen, take cold easily, and then always have swollen tonsils. Persons subject to quinsy which is prone to suppurate; gums bleed easily. Diseases of old men when degenerative changes begin;-cardiac vascular and cerebral;-who have hypertrophied prostate or indurated testes, very sensitive to cold, offensive foot-sweats, very weak and weary, must sit or lie down or lean on something. Very averse to meeting strangers. Catarrh of posterior nares, with frequent epistaxis. Often useful in the dyspepsias of the young who have masturbated and who suffer from seminal emissions, together with cardiac irritability and palpitation. Affects glandular structures, and useful in general degenerative changes, especially in coats of arteries, aneurism, and senility. Baryta is a cardio-vascular poison acting on the muscular coats of heart and vessels. Arterial fibrosis. Blood-vessels soften and degenerate, become distended, and aneurisms, ruptures, and apoplexies result.

    Mind.–Loss of memory, mental weakness. Irresolute. Lost confidence in himself. Senile dementia. Confusion. Bashful. Aversion to strangers. Childish; grief over trifles.

    Head.–Vertigo; stitches, when standing in the sun, extending through head. Brain feels as if loose. Hair falls out. Confusion. Wens.

    Eyes.–Alternate dilatation and contraction of pupils. Photophobia. Gauze before eyes. Cataracts (Calc; Phos; Sil).

    Ears.–Hardness of hearing. Crackling noise. Glands around ears painful and swollen. Reverberation on blowing nose.

    Nose.–Dry; sneezing; coryza, with swelling of upper lip and nose. Sensation of smoke in nose. Discharge of thick, yellow mucus. Frequent bleeding. Scabs around wings of nose.

    Face.–Pale, puffed; sensation as of cobweb (Alumina). Upper lip swollen.

    Mouth.–Awakes with dry mouth. Gums bleed and retract. Teeth ache before menses. Mouth filled with inflamed vesicles, foul taste. Paralysis of tongue. Smarting, burning pain in tip of tongue. Dribbling of saliva at dawn. Spasm of œsophagus when food enters.

    Throat.–Submaxillary glands and tonsils swollen. Takes cold easily, with stitches and smarting pain. Quinsy. Suppurating tonsils from every cold. Tonsils inflamed, with swollen veins. Smarting pain when swallowing; worse empty swallowing. Feeling of a plug in pharynx. Can only swallow liquids. Spasm of œsophagus as soon as food enters œsophagus, causes gagging and choking (Merc cor; Graphit). Throat troubles from over use of voice. Stinging pain in tonsils, pharynx or larynx.

    Stomach.–Waterbrash, hiccough, and eructation, which relieves pressure as of a stone. Hungry, but refuses food. Pain and weight immediately after a meal, with epigastric tenderness (Kali carb). Worse after warm food. Gastric weakness in the aged with possible malignancy present.

    Abdomen.–Hard and tense, distended. Colicky. Enlarged mesenteric glands. Pain in abdomen swallowing food. Habitual colic, with hunger, but food is refused.

    Rectum.–Constipation, with hard, knotty stools. Hæmorrhoids protrude on urinating. Crawling in rectum. Oozing at anus.

    Urinary.–Every time patient urinates, his piles come down. Urging to urinate. Burning in urethra on urinating.

    Male.–Diminished desire and premature impotence. Enlarged prostate. Testicles indurated.

    Female.–Before menses, pain in stomach and small of back. Menses scanty.

    Respiratory.–Dry, suffocative cough, especially in old people, full of mucus but lacking strength to expectorate, worse every change of weather (Senega). Larynx feels as if smoke were inhaled. Chronic aphonia. Stitches in chest; worse inspiration. Lungs feel full smoke.

    Heart.–Palpitation and distress in region of heart. Aneurism (Lycop). Accelerates the heart’s action at first, blood pressure much increased, contraction of blood vessels. Palpitation when lying on left side, when thinking of it especially; pulse full and hard. Cardiac symptoms after suppressed foot-sweat.

    Back.–Swollen glands in nape of occiput. Fatty tumors about neck. Bruised pain between scapulæ. Stiffness in sacrum. Weakness of spine.

    Extremities.–Pain in axillary glands. Cold, clammy feet (Calc). Fetid foot-sweats. Numbness of limbs. Numb feeling from knees to scrotum; disappears when sitting down. Toes and soles sore; soles painful when walking. Pain in joints; burning pains in lower limbs.

    Sleep.–Talking in sleep; awakens frequently; feels too hot. Twitching during sleep.

    Modalities.–Worse, while thinking of symptoms; from washing; lying on painful side. Better, walking in open air.

    Relationship.–Compare: Digitalis; Radium; Aragallus; Oxytrop; Astrag. Complementary: Dulc; Silica; Psorin. Incompatible: Calc. Antidote for poisonous doses: Epsom salts.

    Dose.–Third to thirtieth potency, the latter to remove the predisposition to quinsy. Baryta is slow in action, bears repetition.

  • BARYTA ACETICA

    Acetate of Barium

    Produces paralysis beginning at the extremities and spreading upward. Pruritus of aged.

    Mind.–Forgetful; wavering long between opposite resolutions. Lack of self confidence.

    Face.–Feeling of cobweb in face.

    Extremities.–Drawing pain down whole left leg. Crawling, with burning stitches. Paralysis. Lumbago and rheumatic pain in muscles and joints.

    Dose.–Second and third trituration in repeated dosage.

  • BAPTISIA TINCTORIA

    Wild Indigo
    (BAPTISIA)

    The symptoms of this drug are of an asthenic type, simulating low fevers, septic conditions of the blood, malarial poisoning and extreme prostration. Indescribable sick feeling. Great muscular soreness and putrid phenomena always are present. All the secretions are offensive-breath, stool, urine, sweat, etc. Epidemic influenza. Chronic intestinal toxæmias of children with fetid stools and eructations.

    Baptisia in low dilutions produces a form of anti-bodies to the bac typhosus, viz, the agglutinins (Mellon). Thus it raises the natural bodily resistance to the invasion of the bacillary intoxication, which produces the typhoid syndrome. Typhoid carriers. After inoculation with anti-typhoid serum. Intermittent pulse, especially in the aged.

    Mind.–Wild, wandering feeling. Inability to think. Mental confusion. Ideas confused. Illusion of divided personality. Thinks he is broken or double, and tosses about the bed trying to get pieces together (Cajeput). Delirium, wandering, muttering. Perfect indifference. Falls asleep while being spoken to. Melancholia, with stupor.

    Head.–Confused, swimming feeling. Vertigo; pressure at root of nose. Skin of forehead feels tight; seems drawn to back of head. Feels too large, heavy, numb. Soreness of eyeballs. Brain feels sore. Stupor; falls asleep while spoken to. Early deafness in typhoid conditions. Eyelids heavy.

    Face.–Besotted look. Dark red. Pain at root of nose. Muscles of jaw rigid.

    Mouth.–Taste flat, bitter. Teeth and gums sore, ulcerated. Breath fetid. Tongue feels burned; yellowish-brown; edges red and shining. Dry and brown in center, with dry and glistening edges; surface cracked and sore. Can swallow liquids only; least solid food gags.

    Throat.–Dark redness of tonsils and soft palate. Constriction, contraction of œsophagus (Cajeput). Great difficulty in swallowing solid food. Painless sore throat, and offensive discharge. Contraction at cardiac orifice.

    Stomach.–Can swallow only liquids, vomiting due to spasm of œsophagus. Gastric fever. No appetite. Constant desire for water. Sinking feeling at stomach. Pain in epigastric region. Feeling of hard substance (Abies nig). All symptoms worse from beer (Kali bich). Cardiac orifice contracted convulsively and ulcerative inflammation of stomach and bowels.

    Abdomen.–Right side markedly affected. Distended and rumbling. Soreness over region of gall-bladder, with diarrhœa. Stools very offensive, thin, dark, bloody. Soreness of abdomen, in region of liver. Dysentery of old people.

    Female.–Threatened miscarriage from mental depression, shock, watching, low fevers. Menses too early, too profuse. Lochia acrid, fetid. Puerperal fever.

    Respiratory.–Lungs feel compressed, breathing difficult; seeks open window. Fears going to sleep on account of nightmare and sense of suffocation. Constriction of chest.

    Back and Extremities.–Neck tired. Stiffness and pain, aching and drawing in arms and legs. Pain in sacrum, around hips and legs. Sore and bruised. Decubitus.

    Sleep.–Sleepless and restless. Nightmare and frightful dreams. Cannot get herself together, feels scattered about bed. Falls asleep while answering a question.

    Skin.–Livid spots all over body and limbs. Burning and heat in skin (Arsenic). Putrid ulcers with stupor, low delirium and prostration.

    Fever.–Chill, with rheumatic pains and soreness all over body. Heat all over, with occasional chills. Chill about 11 am.Adynamic fevers. Typhus fever. Shipboard fever.

    Modalities.–Worse; Humid heat; fog; indoors.

    Relationship.–Compare: Bryonia and Arsenic may be needed to complete the favorable reaction. Ailanthus differs, being more painful. Baptisia more painless. Rhus; Muriat acid; Arsenic; Bryon; Arnica; Echinac. Pyrogen.

    Baptisia confusia (Pain in right jaw and oppression in left hypochondrium, producing dyspnœa and necessity to assume erect position).

    Dose.–Tincture, to twelfth attenuation. Has rather short action.

  • BALSAMUM PERUVIANUM

    Peruvian Balsam from Myroxylon Pereiræ

    Useful in bronchial catarrh, with copious, purulent expectoration. Debility; hectic fever.

    Nose.–Profuse, thick discharge. Eczema, with ulceration. Chronic, fetid, nasal catarrh.

    Stomach.–Vomiting of food and mucus. Catarrh of stomach.

    Chest.–Bronchitis, and phthisis, with muco-purulent, thick, creamy expectoration. Loud rales in chest (Kali sulph; Ant tar). Very loose cough. Hectic fever and night-sweats, with irritating, short cough and scanty expectoration.

    Urine.–Scanty; much mucus sediment. Catarrh of bladder (Chimaph).

    Relationship.–Balsamum Tolutanum-the balsam of Myroxylon toluifera–(chronic bronchitis with profuse expectoration) (Oleum caryophyllum-oil of cloves-in profuse septic expectoration-3 to 5 minims in milk or capsules).

    Dose.–First attenuation: In hectic 6x.

    Extra homeopathic uses locally. As a stimulant to raw surfaces in indolent ulcers, scabies, cracked nipples, rhagades, itch. Promotes granulation, removes fetor. A one per cent solution in alcohol or ether may be used with the atomizer in respiratory affections. Internally, as an expectorant, in chronic bronchitis. Dose, 5 to 15 M, made into an emulsion with mucilage or yolk of egg.

  • BADIAGA

    Fresh-water Sponge

    Soreness of muscles and integuments; worse motion and friction of clothes, with sensitiveness to cold. Glands swollen. General paresis. Basedow’s disease. Lues, bubo, roseola.

    Head.–Sensation of enlargement and fullness. Pain in forehead and temple, extending to eyeballs, worse in afternoon. Blueness under eyes. Dandruff; scalp sore, dry, tetter-like. Dull, dizzy feeling in head. Coryza, sneezing, watery discharge, with asthmatic breathing and suffocative cough. Influenza. Slight sounds are greatly accentuated.

    Eyes.–Twitching of left upper lid; eyeballs tender; aching in eyeballs. Intermittent sore pain in eyeball, coming on at 3 pm.

    Respiratory.–Cough; worse in afternoon, better in warm room. The mucus flies out of mouth and nostrils. Whooping-cough, with thick yellow expectoration; flies out. Hay-fever, with asthmatic breathing. Pleuritic stitches in chest, neck, and back.

    Stomach.–Mouth hot. Much thirst. Lancinating pain in pit of stomach extending to vertebra and scapula.

    Female.–Metrorrhagia; worse at night, with feeling of enlargement of head (Arg). Cancer of breast (Asterias; Con; Carbo an; Plumb iod).

    Heart.–Indescribable bad feeling about the heart with soreness and pain, flying stitches all over.

    Skin.–Sore to touch. Freckles. Rhagades.

    Back.–Stitches in nape, scapulć. Pain in small of back, hips and lower limbs. Very stiff neck. Muscles and skin sore, as if beaten.

    Modalities.–Worse by cold. Better, by heat.

    Relationship.–Compare: Merc similar but opposite modalities. Spongia; Kali hyd; Phytol; Conium.

    Complementary: Sulph; Merc; Iod.

    Dose.–First to sixth attenuation.

  • BACILLINUM BURNETT

    A Maceration of a Typical Tuberculous Lung introduced by Dr. Burnett
    (BACILLINUM)

    Has been employed successfully in the treatment of tuberculosis; its good effects seen in the change of the sputum, which becomes decreased and more aerated and less purulent. Many forms of chronic non-tubercular disease are influenced favorably by Bacillinum, especially when bronchorrhœa and dyspnœa are present. Respiratory pyorrhea. The patient expectorates less.

    Bacillinum is especially indicated for lungs of old people, with chronic catarrhal condition and enfeebled pulmonary circulation, attacks of suffocation at night with difficult cough. Suffocative catarrh. Tubercular meningitis. Favors falling off of tartar of teeth. Constant disposition to take cold.

    Head.–Irritable, depressed. Severe, deep-in headache, also as of a tight hoop. Ringworm. Eczema of eyelids.

    Abdomen.–Abdominal pains, enlarged lands in groins, tabes mesenterica. Sudden diarrhœa before breakfast. Obstinate constipation, with offensive flatus.

    Respiratory.–Oppression. Catarrhal dyspnœa. Humid asthma. Bubbling rales and muco-purulent expectoration. Note. This muco-purulent expectoration of bronchitic patients is equally poly-bacillary; it is a mixture of diverse species and hence Bacillinum is truly indicated (Cartier). Often relieves congestion of the lungs, thus paving way for other remedies in Tuberculosis.

    Skin.–Ringworm; pityriasis. Eczema of eyelids. Glands of neck enlarged and tender.

    Modalities.–Worse, night and early morning; cold air.

    Relationship.–Antimon iod; Lach; Arsenic iod; Myosotis. Levico, 5-10 drops, follows as an intercurrent where much debility is present (Burnett).

    Complementary: Calc phos; Kali carb.

    Compare: Its effects seem to be identical to that of Koch’s Tuberculinum. Both are useful in the tubercular diathesis before phthisis had developed. In the early stages of tubercular disease of glands, joints, skin and bones. Psorinum. Seems to be its chronic equivalent. Bacillin testium acts especially on lower half of the body.

    Dose.–The does is important. Should not be given below the thirtieth and not repeated frequently. One dose a week often sufficient to bring about reaction. It is rapid in action, and good results ought to be seen, otherwise there is no need of repetition.

  • AZADIRACHTA INDICA

    Margosa Bark

    An afternoon fever and rheumatic pains in various parts are caused by this remedy. Pain in sternum and ribs, in back and shoulders and extremities; heat, pricking and aching in hands, especially palms, fingers, also toes.

    Head.–Forgetful; giddy on rising; head aches, scalp sensitive; eyes burn, pain in right eyeball.

    Fever.–Slight chill, afternoon fever, glowing heat in face, hands, and feet, copious sweat on upper part of body.

    Relationship.–Compare: Cedron; Natr mur; Arsenic.

  • AVENA SATIVA

    Common Oat

    Has a selective action on brain and nervous system, favorably influencing their nutritive function.

    Nervous exhaustion, sexual debility, and the morphine habit call for this remedy in rather material dosage. Best tonic for debility after exhausting diseases. Nerve tremors of the aged; chorea, paralysis agitans, epilepsy. Post-diphtheritic paralysis. Rheumatism of heart. Colds. Acute coryza (20 drop doses in hot water hourly for a few doses). Alcoholism. Sleeplessness, especially of alcoholics. Bad effects of Morphine habit. Nervous states of many female troubles.

    Mind.–Inability to keep mind on any one subject.

    Head.–Nervous headache at menstrual period, with burning at top of head. Occipital headache, with phosphatic urine.

    Female.–Amenorrhœa and dysmenorrhœa, with weak circulation.

    Male.–Spermatorrhœa; impotency; after too much indulgence.

    Extremities.–Numbness of limbs, as if paralyzed. Strength of hand diminished.

    Relationship.–Compare: Alfalfa (General tonic similar to avena-also in scanty and suppressed urine).

    Dose.–Tincture ten to twenty drop doses, preferably in hot water.

  • AURUM MURIATICUM NATRONATUM

    Sodium Chloroaurate

    This remedy has a most pronounced effect on the female organs, and most of its clinical application has been based thereon. Has more power over uterine tumors than any other remedy (Burnett). Psoriasis syphilitica. Periosteal swelling on lower jaw. Swelling of testicle. High blood pressure due to disturbed function of nervous mechanism. Arterio-sclerosis Syphilitic ataxia.

    Tongue.–Burning; stitches, and induration. Old cases of rheumatism and gouty pains. Hepatic cirrhosis. Interstitial nephritis.

    Female.–Indurated cervix. Palpitation of young girls. Coldness in abdomen. Chronic metritis and prolapsus. Uterus fills up whole pelvis. Ulceration of neck of womb and vagina. Leucorrhœa, with spasmodic contraction of vagina. Ovaries indurated. Ovarian dropsy. Sub-involution. Ossified uterus.

    Dose.–Second and third trituration.