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

  • TABACUM

    Tobacco

    The symptomatology of Tabacum is exceedingly well marked. The nausea, giddiness, death-like pallor, vomiting, icy coldness, and sweat, with the intermittent pulse, are all most characteristic. Has marked antiseptic qualities, antidotal to cholera germs. Complete prostration of the entire muscular system. Collapse. Gastralgia, enteralgia, seasickness, cholera infantum; cold, but wants abdomen uncovered. Vigorous peristaltic activity diarrhœa. Produces high tension and arteriosclerosis of the coronary arteries. Should prove the most homeopathic drug for angina pectoris, with coronaritis and high tension (Cartier). Constriction of throat, chest, bladder, rectum. Pallor, breathlessness, hard-cordlike pulse.

    Mind.–Sensation of excessive wretchedness. Very despondent. Forgetful. Discontented.

    Head.–Vertigo on opening eyes; sick headache, with deathly nausea; periodical. Tight feeling as from a band. Sudden pain, as if struck by a hammer. Nervous deafness. Secretion from eyes, nose and mouth increased.

    Eyes.–Dim sight; sees as through a veil; strabismus. Amaurosis; muscæ volitantes. Central scotoma. Rapid blindness without lesion, followed by venous hyperæmia and atrophy of optic nerve.

    Face.–Pale, blue, pinched, sunken, collapsed, covered with cold sweat (Ars; Verat). Freckles.

    Throat.–Nasopharyngitis and tracheitis, hemming, morning cough, sometimes with vomiting. Hoarseness of public speakers.

    Stomach.–Incessant nausea; worse, smell of tobacco smoke (Phos); vomiting on least motion, sometimes of fecal matter, during pregnancy with much spitting. Seasickness; terrible faint, sinking feeling at pit of stomach. Sense of relaxation of stomach, with nausea (Ipec). Gastralgia; pain from cardiac end extending to left arm.

    Abdomen.–Cold. Wants abdomen uncovered. It lessens the nausea and vomiting. Painful distension. Incarcerated hernia.

    Rectum.–Constipation; rectum paralyzed, prolapsed. Diarrhœa, sudden, watery, with nausea and vomiting, prostration, and cold sweat; discharges look like sour milk, thick, curdled, watery. Rectal tenesmus.

    Urinary.–Renal colic; violent pain along ureter, left side.

    Heart.–Palpitation when lying on left side. Pulse intermits, feeble, imperceptible. Angina pectoris, pain in præcordial region. Pain radiates from center of sternum. Tachycardia. Bradycardia. Acute dilatation caused by shock or violent physical exertion (Royal).

    Respiratory.–Difficult, violent constriction of chest. Præcordial oppression, with palpitation and pain between shoulders. Cough followed by hiccough. Cough dry, teasing, must take a swallow of cold water (Caust; Phos). Dyspnœa, with tingling down left arm when lying on left side.

    Extremities.–Legs and hands icy cold; limbs tremble. Paralysis following apoplexy (Plumb). Gait shuffling, unsteady. Feebleness of arms.

    Sleep.–Insomnia with dilated heart, with cold, clammy skin and anxiety.

    Fever.–Chills, with cold sweat.

    Modalities.–Worse, opening eyes; evening; extremes of heat and cold. Better, uncovering, open fresh air.

    Relationship.–Compare: Hydrobromic acid; Camph; Verat; Ars. Compare: Nicotinum (Alternate tonic and clonic spasms, followed by general relaxation and trembling; nausea, cold sweat, and speedy collapse; head drawn back, contraction of eyelids and masseter muscles; muscles of neck and back rigid; hissing respiration from spasm of laryngeal and bronchial muscles).

    Antidotes.–Vinegar; sour apples. Camphor in the physiological antagonist. Ars (chewing tobacco); Ign; (smoking); Sep (neuralgia and dyspepsia); Lycop (impotency); Nux (bad taste due to tobacco); Calad and Plantag (cause aversion to tobacco); Phosph (tobacco heart, sexual weakness).

    Dose.–Third to thirtieth and higher potencies.

  • SYZYGIUM JAMBOLANUM

    Jambol Seeds – Enlexing, active principle

    Has an immediate effect of increasing the blood sugar, glycosuria results.

    A most useful remedy in diabetes mellitus. No other remedy causes in so marked degree the diminution and disappearance of sugar in the urine. Prickly heat in upper part of the body; small red pimples itch violently. Great thirsts, weakness, emaciation. Very large amount of urine, specific gravity high. Old ulcers of skin. Diabetic ulceration. The seeds powdered, ten grains three times a day; also the tincture.

    Relationship.–Compare: Insulin-An aqueous solution of an active principle from pancreas which affects sugar metabolism. If administered at suitable intervals in diabetes mellitus, the blood sugar is maintained at a normal level and the urine remains free of sugar. Overdosage is followed by weakness and fatigue and tremulousness and profuse sweating.

  • SYPHILINUM

    The Syphilitic Virus – A Nosode

    Utter prostration and debility in the morning.

    Shifting rheumatic pains. Chronic eruptions and rheumatism.

    Ichthyosis. Syphilitic affections. Pains from darkness to daylight; decrease and increase gradually. Hereditary tendency to alcoholism. Ulceration of mouth, nose, genitals, skin. Succession of abscesses.

    Mind.–Loss of memory; remembers everything previous to his illness. Apathetic; feels as if going insane or being paralyzed. Fears the night, and the suffering from exhaustion on awakening. Hopeless; despairs of recovery.

    Head.–Linear pains from temple across, or from eyes backward; cause sleeplessness and delirium at night. Falling of the hair. Pain in bones of head. Top of head feels as if coming off. Stupefying cephalalgia.

    Eyes.–Chronic, recurrent, phlyctenular inflammation of cornea; successive crops of phlyctenular and abrasions of epithelial layer of cornea; photophobia intense, lachrymation profuse. Lids swollen; pain intense at night; ptosis. Tubercular iritis. Diplopia; one image seen below the other. Feeling of cold air blowing on eye (Fluor ac).

    Ears.–Caries of ossicles in ear of syphilitic origin.

    Nose.–Caries of nasal bones, hard palate and septum, with perforation; ozæna.

    Mouth.–Teeth decay at gum; edges serrated, dwarfed. Tongue coated, teeth-indented; deep longitudinal cracks. Ulcers smart and burn. Excessive flow of saliva; it runs out of mouth when sleeping.

    Stomach.–Craves alcohol.

    Rectum.–Feels tied up with strictures. Enemas very painful. Fissures, prolapse.

    Extremities.–Sciatica; worse at night; better about day-break. Rheumatism of shoulder-joint, at insertion of deltoid. Run-around. Severe pain in long bones. Redness and rawness between toes (Sil). Rheumatism, muscles are caked in hard knot or lumps. Always washing the hands. Indolent ulcers. Muscles contracted in hard knots.

    Female.–Ulcers on labia. Leucorrhœa profuse, thin, watery, acrid, with sharp, knife-pain in ovaries.

    Respiratory.–Aphonia; chronic asthma in summer, wheezing and rattling (Tart emet). Cough dry, hard; worse at night; windpipe sensitive to touch (Lach). Lancinating pains from base of heart to apex at night.

    Skin.–Reddish-brown eruption, with a disagreeable odor. Extreme emaciation.

    Relationship.–Compare: Merc; Kal hyd; Nit ac; Aur; Alum.

    Modalities.–Worse, at night, sundown to sunrise, seashore, in summer. Better, inland and mountains, during day, moving about slowly.

    Dose.–The highest potencies only, and in infrequent doses.

  • SYMPHORICARPUS RACEMOSUS

    Snowberry
    (SYMPHORICARPUS RACEMOSA)

    This drug is highly recommended for the persistent vomiting of pregnancy. Gastric disturbances, fickle appetite, nausea, waterbrash, bitter taste. Constipation. Nausea during menstruation. Nausea, worse any motion. Averse to all food. Better, lying on back.

    Dose.–Second and third potency.

    200th has proved curative.

  • SYMPHYTUM OFFICINALE

    Comfrey-Knitbone
    (SYMPHYTUM)

    The root contains a crystalline solid, that stimulates the growth of epithelium on ulcerated surfaces. It may be administered internally in the treatment of gastric and duodenal juries to sinews, tendons and the periosteum. Acts on joints generally. Neuralgia of knee.

    Of great use in wounds penetrating to perineum and bones, and in non-union of fractures; irritable stump after amputation, irritable bone at point of fracture. Psoas abscess. Pricking pain and soreness of periosteum.

    Head.–Pain in occiput, top and forehead; changing places. Pain comes down bone of nose. Inflammation of inferior maxillary bone, hard, red, swelling.

    Eye.–Pain in eye after a blow of an obtuse body. For traumatic injuries of the eyes no remedy equals this.

    Relationship.–Compare: Arn; Calc phos.

    Dose.–Tincture.

    Externally as a dressing for sores and ulcers and pruritus ani.

  • SUMBULUS MOSCHATUS

    Musk-root
    (SUMBUL – FERULA SUMBUL)

    Has many hysterical and nervous symptoms, and is of use in neuralgic affections and anomalous, functional, cardiac disorders. Numbness on becoming cold. Numbness on left side. Insomnia of delirium tremens (fifteen drops of tincture). Sensation as if water dropped down spine. Asthma. A tissue remedy for sclerosed arteries.

    Head.–Emotional and fidgety. Dull in morning, clear in evening. Mistakes in writing and adding. Comedones. Tenacious, yellow, mucus in nose.

    Throat.–Chocking constriction; constant swallowing. Belching of gas from stomach. Spasm of pharyngeal muscles. Tenacious mucus in throat.

    Heart.–Nervous palpitation. Neuralgia around left breast and left hypochondriac region. Cardiac asthma. Aching in left arm, heavy, numb an weary. Loses breath on any exertion. Pulse irregular.

    Female.–Ovarian neuralgia. Abdomen full, distended, and painful. Climacteric flushes.

    Urinary.–Oily pellicle on surface of urine.

    Modalities.–Worse, active exercise; left side.

    Relationship.–Compare: Asaf; Mosch.

    Dose.–Tincture, to third potency. Dr. W. McGeorge advises the 2x every 3 hours for arterio-sclerosis.

  • SULPHUR

    Sublimated Sulphur

    This is great Hahnemannian anti-psoric. Its action is centrifugal-from within outward-having an elective affinity for the skin, where it produces heat and burning, with itching; made worse by heat of bed. Inertia and relaxation of fiber; hence feebleness of tone characterizes its symptoms. Ebullitions of heat, dislike of water, dry and hard hair and skin, red orifices, sinking feeling at stomach about 11 am, and cat-nap sleep; always indicate Sulphur homeopathically. Standing is the worst position for sulphur patients, it is always uncomfortable. Dirty, filthy people, prone to skin affections. Aversion to being washed. When carefully-selected remedies fail to act, especially in acute diseases, it frequently arouses the reactionary powers of the organism. Complaints that relapse. General offensive character of discharge and exhalations. Very red lips and face, flushing easily. Often great use in beginning the treatment of chronic cases and in finishing acute ones.

    Mind.–Very forgetful. Difficult thinking. Delusions; thinks rags beautiful things-that he is immensely wealthy. Busy all the time. Childish peevishness in grown people. Irritable. Affections vitiated; very selfish, no regard for others. Religious melancholy. Averse to business; loafs-too lazy to arouse himself. Imagining giving wrong things to people, causing their death. Sulphur subjects are nearly always irritable, depressed, thin and weak, even with good appetite.

    Head.–Constant heat on top of head (Cup sulph; Graph). Heaviness and fullness, pressure in temples. Beating headache; worse, stooping, and with vertigo. Sick headache recurring periodically. Tinea capitis, dry form. Scalp dry, falling of hair; worse, washing. Itching; scratching causes burning.

    Eyes.–Burning ulceration of margin of lids. Halo around lamp-light. Heat and burning in eyes (Ars; Bell). Black motes before eyes. First stage of ulceration of cornea. Chronic ophthalmia, with much burning and itching. Parenchymatous keratitis. Cornea like ground glass.

    Ears.–Whizzing in ears. Bad effects from the suppression of an otorrhœa. Oversensitive to odors. Deafness, preceded by exceedingly sensitive hearing; catarrhal deafness.

    Nose.–Herpes across the nose. Nose stuffed indoors. Imaginary foul smells. Alæ red and scabby. Chronic dry catarrh; dry scabs and readily bleeding. Polypus and adenoids.

    Mouth.–Lips dry, bright red, burning. Bitter taste in morning. Jerks through teeth. Swelling of gums; throbbing pain. Tongue white, with red tip and borders.

    Throat.–Pressure as from a lump, as from splinter, as of a hair. Burning, redness and dryness. Ball seems to rise and close pharynx.

    Stomach.–Complete loss of, or excessive appetite. Putrid eructation. Food tastes too salty. Drinks much, eats little. Milk disagrees. Great desire for sweets (Arg nit). Great acidity, sour eructation. Burning, painful, weight-like pressure. Very weak and faint about 11 am; must have something to eat. Nausea during gestation. Water fills the patient up.

    Abdomen.–Very sensitive to pressure; internal feeling of rawness and soreness. Movements as of something alive (Croc; Thuj). Pain and soreness over liver. Colic after drinking.

    Rectum.–Itching and burning of anus; piles dependent upon abdominal plethora. Frequent, unsuccessful desire; hard, knotty, insufficient. Child afraid on account of pain. Redness around the anus, with itching. Morning diarrhœa, painless, drives out of bed, with prolapsus recti. Hæmorrhoids, oozing and belching.

    Urine.–Frequent micturition, especially at night. Enuresis, especially in scrofulous, untidy children. Burning in urethra during micturition, lasts long after. Mucus and pus in urine; parts sore over which it passes. Must hurry, sudden call to urinate. Great quantities of colorless urine.

    Male.–Stitches in penis. Involuntary emissions. Itching of genitals when going to bed. Organs cold, relaxed and powerless.

    Female.–Pudenda itches. Vagina burns. Much offensive perspiration. Menses too late, short, scanty, and difficult; thick, black, acrid, making parts sore. Menses preceded by headache or suddenly stopped. Leucorrhœa, burning, excoriating. Nipples cracked; smart and burn.

    Respiratory.–Oppression and burning sensation in chest. Difficult respiration; wants windows open. Aphonia. Heat, throughout chest. Red, brown spots all over chest. Loose cough; worse talking, morning, greenish, purulent, sweetish expectoration. Much rattling of mucus. Chest feels heavy; stitches, with heart feeling too large and palpitating pleuritic exudations. Use Tinctura sulphuris. Stitching pains shooting through to the back, worse lying on back or breathing deeply. Flushes of heat in chest rising to head. Oppression, as of a load on chest. Dyspnœa in middle of night, relieved by sitting up. Pulse more rapid in morning than in evening.

    Back.–Drawing pain between shoulders. Stiffness of nape. Sensation as if vertebræ glided over each other.

    Extremities.–Trembling of hands. Hot, sweaty hands. Rheumatic pain in left shoulder. Heaviness; paretic feeling. Rheumatic gout, with itching. Burning in soles and hands at night. Sweat in armpits, smelling like garlic. Drawing and tearing in arms and hands. Stiffness of knees and ankles. Cannot walk erect; stoop-shouldered. Ganglion.

    Sleep.–Talks, jerks, and twitches during sleep. Vivid dreams. Wakes up singing. Wakes frequently, and becomes wide awake suddenly. Catnaps; slightest noise awakens. Cannot sleep between 2 an 5 am.

    Fever.–Frequent flashes of heat. Violent ebullitions of heat throughout entire body. Dry skin and great thirst. Night sweat, on nape and occiput. Perspiration of single parts. Disgusting sweats. Remittent type.

    Skin.–Dry, scaly, unhealthy; every little injury suppurates. Freckles. Itching, burning; worse scratching and washing. Pimply eruption, pustules, rhagades, hang-nails. Excoriation, especially in folds (Lyc). Feeling of a band around bones. Skin affections after local medication. Pruritus, especially from warmth, is evening, often recurs in spring-time, in damp weather.

    Modalities.–Worse, at rest, when standing, warmth in bed, washing, bathing, in morning, 11 am, night, from alcoholic stimulants, periodically. Better, dry, warm weather, lying on right side, from drawing up affected limbs.

    Relationship.–Complementary: Aloe; Psorin; Acon; Pyrarara (a fish caught in the Amazon, clinically used for various skin affections). Lepra, tuberculides, syphilides, varicosities, etc.

    Compare: Acon (Sulph often follows in acute diseases); Mercur and calcarea are frequently useful after Sulphur, not before. Lyc; Sep; Sars; Puls; Sulphur hydrogenisatum (delirium, mania, asphyxia); Sulphur terebinthinatum (chronic rheumatic arthritis; chorea); Tannic acid (Nasal hæmorrhage; elongated uvula; gargle; constipation). Magnes artificialis (great hunger in evening, profuse sweat on face, bruised pain in joints, rectal constriction after stool).

    Magnetis polus Articus (anxious, coldness of eyes as if a piece of ice lay in orbit, increased flow of saliva, constipation, sopor, trembling, abdominal flatulence).

    Magnetis polus Australis (dryness of lids, easy dislocation of ankle, ingrowing toe-nails, aching in patella, shooting in soles).

    Compare in adenoids: Agraphis.

    Dose.–Acts in all potencies from the lowest to the highest. Some of the best results are obtained from the higher, and not too frequent doses. The twelfth potency is a good one to begin treatment with, going higher or lower according to the susceptibility of the patient. In chronic diseases, 200th and upward. In torpid eruptions the lowest potencies.

  • SULPHUROSUM ACIDUM

    Sulphurous acid, (tonsillitis (as a spray), acne rosacea, ulcerative stomatitis, pityriasis versicolor).

    Head.–Anxious, furious, disposed to fight. Headache better by vomiting. Ringing in ears.

    Mouth.–Ulcerative inflammation of mouth. Tongue red or bluish-red. Coated.

    Stomach.–Loss of appetite. Obstinate constipation.

    Respiratory.–Persistent choking cough with copious expectoration. Hoarseness, constriction of chest. Difficult breathing.

    Female.–Fluor albus. Debility.

    Dose.–As a spray in tonsillitis. According to Ringer, ten to fifteen minims taken ten minutes before each meal will remedy pyrosis and prevent fermentation and flatulence. It also removes thrush. Homeopathically, third attenuation.

  • SULPHUR IODATUM

    Iodide of Sulphur

    Obstinate skin affections, notably in barber’s itch and acne. Weeping eczema.

    Throat.–Uvula and tonsils enlarged and reddened. Swollen. Tongue thick. Parotid hypertrophied.

    Skin.–Itching on ears, nose, and in urethra. Papular eruption on face. Cold-sores on lips. Boils on neck. Barber’s itch. Acne. Lichen planus. Arms covered with itching rash. Hair feels as if erect.

    Dose.–Third trituration.

  • SULFONALUM

    A Coal-tar Product
    (SULFONAL)

    Vertigo of cerebral origin, cerebellar disease, ataxic symptoms and chorea, present a field for the homeopathic employment of this drug. Profound weakness, gone, faint feeling, and despondency. Loss of control of sphincter. Muscular inco-ordination.

    Mind.–Mental confusion, incoherency, illusions; apathetic. Alternation of happy, hopeful states with depression and weakness. Extreme irritability.

    Head.–Dropsy, stupid; pain on attempting to raise head. Double vision; heavy look about eyes; tinnitus, aphasia; tongue as if paralyzed. Eyes bloodshot and restless. Vertigo, unable to rise. Double vision; ptosis; tinnitus; dysphagia, difficult speech.

    Urinary.–Albuminuria, with casts. Scanty. Pink color. Constant desire to urinate; scanty, brownish red. Hæmato-porphyrinuria.

    Respiratory.–Congestion of lungs; stertorous breathing. Sighing dyspnœa.

    Extremities.–Ataxic movements, staggering gait; cold, weak, trembling; legs seem too heavy. Extreme restlessness; muscular twitchings. Knee-jerks disappear. Stiffness and paralysis of both legs. Anæsthesia of legs.

    Sleep.–Fidgety, wakeful, drowsy. Insomnia.

    Skin.–Itching, bluish purpura. Erythema.

    Relationship.–Trional; insomnia associated with physical excitement; (vertigo, loss of equilibrium, ataxia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhœa, stertorous breathing, cyanosis, tinnitus, hallucinations).

    Dose.–Third trituration.

    Non-Homeopathic Uses.–As a hypnotic. Dose, ten to thirty grains in hot water. Takes about two hours to act.