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

  • STICTA PULMONARIA

    Lungwort
    (STICTA)

    Offers a set of symptoms like coryza, bronchial catarrh and influenza, together with nervous and rheumatic disturbances. There is a general feeling of dullness and malaise, as when a cold is coming on; dull, heavy pressure in forehead, catarrhal conjunctivitis, etc. Rheumatic stiffness of neck.

    Mind.–Feels as if floating in air (Datura arborea; Lac. Can). Confusion of ideas; patient must talk.

    Head.–Dull headache, with dull heavy pressure in forehead and root of nose. Catarrhal headache before discharge appears. Burning in eyes and soreness of balls. Sensation as if scalp were too small. Burning in eyelids.

    Nose.–Feeling of fullness at the root of the nose (Nux). Atrophic rhinitis (Calc fluor). Dryness of nasal membrane. Constant need to blow the nose, but no discharge. Dry scabs, especially in evening and night. Hay-fever; incessant sneezing (Sabad).

    Female.–Scanty flow of milk.

    Abdomen.–Diarrhœa; stools profuse, frothy; worse, morning. Urine increased, with soreness and aching in bladder.

    Respiratory.–Throat raw; dropping of mucus posteriorly. Dry, hacking cough during night; worse, inspiration. Tracheitis, facilitates expectoration. Loose cough in morning. Pain through chest from sternum to spiral column. Cough after measles (Sang); worse towards evening and when tired. Pulsation from right side of sternum down to abdomen.

    Extremities.–Rheumatic pain in right shoulder joint, deltoid, and biceps. Swelling, heat, redness of joints. Spot of inflammation and redness over affected joint. Pain severe and drawing. Chorea-like spasms; legs feel floating in air. Housemaid’s knee (Rhus; Kali hyd; Slag). Shooting pains in knees. Joints and neighboring muscles red, swollen, painful. Rheumatic pains precede catarrhal symptoms.

    Modalities.–Worse, sudden changes of temperature.

    Relationship.–Compare: Datura arborea-Bougmancia candida (cannot concentrate thoughts; brain floats in thousands of problems and grand ideas. Floating sensation as if ideas were floating outside of brain. Headache, heartburn. Burning sensation around cardiac and of stomach, extending to œsophagus with sense of constriction. Heat and fullness over liver region). Cetraria-Iceland Moss (chronic diarrhœa, phthisis, bloody expectoration. Is used as a decoction and boiled with milk as an expectorant and nutrient in bronchorrhœa, catarrh, etc). Also compare: Eryng; Dros; Stilling; Rumex; Sambuc.

    Dose.–Tincture, to sixth potency.

  • STELLARIA MEDIA

    Chickweed

    Induces a condition of stasis, congestion, and sluggishness of all functions. Morning aggravation.

    Sharp, shifting, rheumatic pains in all parts very pronounced. Rheumatism; darting pains in almost every part; stiffness of joints; parts sore to touch; worse, motion. Chronic rheumatism. Shifting pains (Puls; Kali sulph). Psoriasis. Enlarged and inflamed gouty finger joints.

    Head.–General irritability. Lassitude, indisposition to work. Smarting and burning in eyes, feel protruded. Dull, frontal headache; worse in morning and left side with sleepiness. Neck muscles stiff and sore. Eyes feel protruded.

    Abdomen.–Liver engorged, swollen, with stitching pain and sensitive to pressure. Clay-colored stools. Hepatic torpor. Constipation or alternating constipation and diarrhœa.

    Extremities.–Rheumatoid pains in different parts of the body. Sharp pain in small of back, over kidneys, in gluteal region, extending down thigh. Pain in shoulders and arms. Synovitis. Bruised feeling. Rheumatic pains in calves of legs.

    Modalities.–Worse, mornings, warmth, tobacco. Better, evenings, cold air, motion.

    Relationship.–Compare: Pulsat (similar in rheumatism, pains shifting, worse rest, warmth; better cold air).

    Dose.–Tincture, externally. Internally, 2x potency.

  • STAPHYSAGRIA

    Stavesacre

    Nervous affections with marked irritability, diseases of the genito-urinary tract and skin, most frequently give symptoms calling for this drug. Acts on teeth and alveolar periosteum. Ill effects of anger and insults. Sexual sins and excesses. Very sensitive. Lacerated tissues. Pain and nervousness after extraction of teeth. Sphincters lacerated or stretched.

    Mind.–Impetuous, violent outbursts of passion, hypochondriacal, sad. Very sensitive as to what others say about her. Dwells on sexual matters; prefers solitude. Peevish. Child cries for many things, and refuses them when offered.

    Head.–Stupefying headache; passes off with yawning. Brain feels squeezed. Sensation of a ball of lead in forehead. Itching eruption above and behind ears (Oleand).

    Eyes.–Heat in eyeballs, dims spectacles. Recurrent styes. Chalazæ (Platanus). Eyes sunken, with blue rings. Margin of lids itch. Affections of angles of eye, particularly the inner. Lacerated or incised wounds of cornea. Bursting pain in eyeballs of syphilitic iritis.

    Throat.–Stitches flying to the ear on swallowing, especially left.

    Mouth.–Toothache during menses. Teeth black and crumbling. Salivation, spongy gums, bleed easily (Merc; Kreos). Submaxillary glands swollen. After eating feels sleepy pyorrhea (Plantago)

    Stomach.–Flabby and weak. Desire for stimulants. Stomach feels relaxed. Craving for tobacco. Canine hunger, even when stomach is full. Nausea after abdominal operations.

    Abdomen.–Colic after anger. Hot flatus. Swollen abdomen in children, with much flatus. Colic, with pelvic tenesmus. Severe pain following an abdominal operation. Incarcerated flatus. Diarrhœa after drinking cold water, with tenesmus. Constipation (2 drops tincture night and morning), hæmorrhoids, with enlarged prostate.

    Male.–Especially after self-abuse; persistent dwelling on sexual subjects. Spermatorrhœa, with sunken features; guilty look; emissions, with backache and weakness and sexual neurasthenia. Dyspnœa after coition.

    Female.–Parts very sensitive, worse sitting down (Berb; Kreos). Irritable bladder in young married women. Leucorrhœa. Prolapsus, with sinking in the abdomen; aching around the hips.

    Urinary.–Cystocele (locally and internally). Cystitis in lying-in patients. Ineffectual urging to urinate in newly married women. Pressure upon bladder; feels as if it did not empty. Sensation as if a drop of urine were rolling continuously along the channel. Burning in urethra during micturition. Prostatic troubles; frequent urination, burning in urethra when not urinating (Thuja; Sabal; Ferr pic). Urging and pain after urinating. Pain after lithotomy.

    Skin.–Eczema of head, ears, face, and body; thick scabs, dry, and itch violently; scratching changes location of itching. Fig-warts pedunculated (Thuja). Arthritic nodes. Inflammation of phalanges. Night-sweats.

    Extremities.–Muscles, especially of calves, feel bruised. Backache; worse in morning before rising. Extremities feel beaten and painful. Joints stiff. Crural neuralgia. Dull aching of nates extending to hip-joint and small of back.

    Modalities.–Worse, anger, indignation, grief, mortification, loss of fluids, onanism, sexual excesses, tobacco; least touch on affected parts. Better, after breakfast, warmth, rest at night.

    Relationship.–Inimical: Ranunc bulb.

    Complementary: Caust; Colocy.

    Compare: Ferrum pyrophos (tarsal cysts); Colocy; Caust; Ign; Phos ac; Calad.

    Antidote: Camph.

    Dose.–Third to thirtieth potency.

  • STANNUM METALLICUM

    Tin
    (STANNUM)

    Chief action is centered upon the nervous system and respiratory organs. Debility is very marked when Stannum is the remedy, especially the debility of chronic bronchial and pulmonary conditions, characterized by profuse muco-purulent discharges upon tuberculosis basis. Talking causes a very weak feeling in the throat and chest. Pains that come and go gradually, call unmistakably for Stannum. Paralytic weakness; spasms; paralysis.

    Mind.–Sad, anxious. Discouraged. Dread of seeing people.

    Head.–Aching in temples and forehead. Obstinate acute coryza and influenza with cough. Pain worse motion; gradually increasing and decreasing as if constricted by a band; forehead feels pressed inwards. Jarring of walking resounds painfully in head. Drawing pains in malar bones and orbits. Ulceration of ringhole in lobe of ear.

    Throat.–Much adhesive mucus, difficult to detach; efforts to detach cause nausea. Throat dry and stings.

    Stomach.–Hunger. Smell of cooking causes vomiting. Bitter taste. Pain better pressure, but sore to touch. Sensation of emptiness in stomach.

    Abdomen.–Cramp-like colic around navel, with a feeling of emptiness. Colic relieved by hard pressure.

    Female.–Bearing-down sensation. Prolapsus, with weak, sinking feeling in stomach (Sep). Menses early and profuse. Pain in vagina, upward and back to spine. Leucorrhœa, with great debility.

    Respiratory.–Hoarse; mucus expelled by forcible cough. Violent, dry cough in evening until midnight. Cough excited by laughing, singing, talking; worse lying on right side. During day, with copious green, sweetish, expectoration. Chest feels sore. Chest feels weak; can hardly talk. Influenzal cough from noon to midnight with scanty expectoration. Respiration short, oppressive; stitches in left side when breathing and lying on same side. Phthisis mucosa. Hectic fever.

    Sleep.–Sleeps with one leg drawn up, the other stretched out.

    Extremities.–Paralytic weakness; drops things. Ankles swollen. Limbs suddenly give out when attempting to sit down. Dizziness and weakness when descending. Spasmodic twitching of muscles of forearm and hand. Fingers jerk when holding pen. Neuritis. Typewriters’ paralysis.

    Fever.–Heat in evening; exhausting night-sweats, especially towards morning. Hectic. Perspiration, principally on forehead and nape of neck; debilitating; smelling musty, or offensive.

    Modalities.–Worse, using voice (i.e, laughing, talking, singing), lying on right side, warm drinks. Better, coughing or expectorating, hard pressure.

    Relationship.–Complementary: Puls.

    Compare: Stann iod. 3x (Valuable in chronic chest diseases characterized by plastic tissue changes). Persistent inclination to cough, excited by tickling dry spot in the throat, apparently at root of tongue. Dryness of throat. Trachial and bronchial irritation of smokers. Pulmonary symptoms; cough, loud, hollow, ending with expectoration (Phellandrium). State of purulent infiltration. Advanced phthisis sometimes when Stann jod has not taken effect, an additional dose of Iodine in milk caused the drug to have its usual beneficial effect (Stonham). Compare: Caust; Calc; Sil; Tuberc; Bacil; Helon. Myrtus chekan (chronic bronchitis, cough of phthisis, emphysema, with gastric catarrhal complications and thick, yellow difficult sputum. Old persons with weakened power of expectoration).

    Dose.–Third to thirtieth potency.

  • STACHYS BETONICA

    Betony Wood
    (BETONICA)

    Produces pains in various parts.

    Head.–Stitches in right temple. Inability to concentrate mind.

    Abdomen.–Pains in abdomen, hepatic region and of transverse colon, also in gall-bladder and right inguinal region and spermatic cords.

    Extremities.–Shooting pain in back of both wrist joints. Wrist drops. Pain in right popliteal space down leg, which feels paralyzed.

  • SQUILLA MARITIMA

    Sea-onion

    A slow acting remedy. Corresponds to ailments requiring several days to reach their maximum. Persistent, dull, rheumatic pains permeate the body. A spleen medicine; stitches under left free ribs. Important heart and kidneys medicine. Broncho-pneumonia.

    Acts especially on mucous membranes of the respiratory and digestive tracts, and also upon the kidneys. Valuable in chronic bronchitis of old people with mucous rales, dyspnœa, and scanty urine.

    Eyes.–Feel irritable; child bores into them with fists. Sensation as if swimming in cold water.

    Stomach.–Pressure like a stone.

    Respiratory.–Fluent coryza; margins of nostrils feel sore. Sneezing; throat irritated; short, dry cough; must take a deep breath. Dyspnœa and stitches in chest, and painful contraction of abdominal muscles. Violent, furious, exhausting cough, with much mucus; profuse, salty, slimy expectoration, and with involuntary spurting of urine and sneezing. Child rubs face with fist during cough (Caust; Puls). Cough provoked by taking a deep breath or cold drinks, from exertion, change from warm to cold air. Cough of measles. Frequent calls to urinate at night, passing large quantities (Phos ac). Sneezing with coughing.

    Heart.–A cardiac stimulant affecting the peripheral vessels and coronary arteries.

    Urinary.–Great urging; much watery urine. Involuntary spurting of urine when coughing (Caustic; Puls).

    Skin.–Small, red spots over body, with prickling pain.

    Extremities.–Icy cold hands and feet, with warmth of the rest of the body (Menyanthes). Feet get sore from standing. Tender feet with shop girls.

    Modalities.–Better, rest; worse, motion.

    Relationship.–Compare: Digit; Strophant; Apocyn can; Bry; Kali carb. Squilla follows Digitalis, if this fails to relieve water-logged cases.

    Dose.–First to third potency.

  • SPONGIA TOSTA

    Roasted Sponge

    A remedy especially marked in the symptoms of the respiratory organs, cough, croup, etc. Heart affections and often indicated for the tubercular diathesis. Children with fair complexion, lax fiber; swollen glands. Exhaustion and heaviness of the body after slight exertion, with orgasm of blood to chest, face. Anxiety and difficult breathing.

    Mind.–Anxiety and fear. Every excitement increases the cough.

    Head.–Rush of blood; bursting headache; worse, forehead.

    Eyes.–Watering; gummy or mucus discharge.

    Nose.–Fluent coryza, alternating with stoppage. Dryness; chronic, dry, nasal catarrh.

    Mouth.–Tongue dry and brown; full of vesicles.

    Throat.–Thyroid gland swollen. Stitches and dryness. Burning and stinging. Sore throat; worse after eating sweet things. Tickling causes cough. Clears throat constantly.

    Stomach.–Excessive thirst, great hunger. Cannot bear tight clothing around trunk. Hiccough.

    Male.–Swelling of spermatic cord and testicles, with pain and tenderness. Orchitis. Epididymitis. Heat in parts.

    Female.–Before menses, pain in sacrum, hunger, palpitation. During menses, wakes with suffocative spells (Cupr; Iod; Lach). Amenorrhœa, with asthma (Puls).

    Respiratory.–Great dryness of all air-passages. Hoarseness; larynx dry, burns, constricted. Cough, dry, barking, croupy; larynx sensitive to touch. Croup; worse, during inspiration and before midnight. Respiration short, panting, difficult; feeling of a plug in larynx. Cough abates after eating or drinking, especially warm drinks. The dry, chronic sympathetic cough or organic heart disease is relieved by Spongia (Naja). Irrepressible cough from a spot deep in chest, as if raw and sore. Chest weak; can scarcely talk. Laryngeal phthisis. Goitre, with suffocative spells. Bronchial catarrh, with wheezing, asthmatic cough, worse cold air, with profuse expectoration and suffocation; worse, lying with head low and in hot room. Oppression and heat of chest, with sudden weakness.

    Heart.–Rapid and violent palpitation, with dyspnœa; cannot lie down; also feels best resting in horizontal position. Awakened suddenly after midnight with pain and suffocation; is flushed, hot, and frightened to death (Acon). Valvular insufficiency. Angina pectoris; faintness, and anxious sweat. Ebullition of blood, veins distended. Surging of heart into chest, as if it would force out upward. Hypertrophy of heart, especially right, with asthmatic symptoms.

    Skin.–Swelling and induration of glands; also exophthalmic; cervical glands swollen with tensive pain on turning head, painful on pressure; Goitre. Itching; measles

    Sleep.–Awakes in a fright, and feels as if suffocating. Generally worse after sleep, or sleeps into and aggravation (Lach).

    Fever.–Attacks of heat with anxiety; heat and redness of face and perspiration.

    Modalities.–Worse, ascending, wind, before midnight. Better, descending, lying with head low.

    Relationship.–Compare: Acon; Hep; Brom; Lach; Merc prot; Iod (Goitre).

    Dose.–Second trituration, or tincture to third potency.

  • SPIRAEA ULMARIA

    Hardhack

    Burning and pressure in œsophagus, feels contracted but not made worse by swallowing. Morbidly conscientious. Relieves irritation of the urinary passages; influences the prostate gland; checks gleet and prostatorrhœa; has been used for eclampsia, epilepsy, and hydrophobia. Bites of mad animals. Heat in various parts (Salicylic acid is found in Spiraea).

  • SPIRANTHES AUTUMNALIS

    Lady’s Tresses
    (SPIRANTHES)

    Has been used for milk-flow in nursing women, lumbago and rheumatism, colic, with drowsiness and spasmodic yawning. Is an anti-phlogistic remedy akin to Acon its symptoms showing congestion and inflammation. Acidity and burning in śsophagus with eructation.

    Female.–Pruritus; vulva red; dryness and burning in vagina. Burning pain in vagina during coition. Leucorrhśa, bloody.

    Extremities.–Sciatic pain, especially right side. Pain in shoulders. Swelling of veins of hands. Pain in all articulations of hands. Coldness of feet and toes.

    Fever.–Flushes of heat. Sweat on palms. Hands alternately hot and cold.

    Dose.–Third potency.

  • SPIGELIA ANTHELMIA

    Pinkroot
    (SPIGELIA)

    Spigelia is an important remedy in pericarditis and other diseases of the heart, because the provings were conducted with the greatest regard for objective symptoms and the subjective symptoms are by innumerable confirmations proved to be correct (C. Hering).

    Has marked elective affinity for the eye, heart, and nervous system. Neuralgia of the fifth nerve is very prominent in its effects. Is especially adapted to anæmic, debilitated, rheumatic, and scrofulous subjects. Stabbing pains. Heart affections and neuralgia. Very sensitive to touch. Parts feel chilly; send shudder through frame. A remedy for symptoms due to the presence of worms. Child refers to the navel as the most painful part (Granat; Nux mosch).

    Mind.–Afraid of sharp, pointed things, pins, needles, etc.

    Head.–Pain beneath frontal eminence and temples, extending to eyes (Onos). Semi-lateral, involving left eye; pain violent, throbbing; worse, making a false step. Pain as if a band around head (Carbol ac; Cact; Gels). Vertigo, hearing exalted.

    Eyes.–Feel too large; pressive pain on turning them. Pupils dilated; photophobia; rheumatic ophthalmia. Severe pain in and around eyes, extending deep into socket. Ciliary neuralgia, a true neuritis.

    Nose.–Forepart of nose always dry; discharge through posterior nares chronic catarrh, with post-nasal dropping of bland mucus.

    Mouth.–Tongue fissured, painful. Tearing toothache; worse, after eating and cold. Foul odor from mouth. Offensive taste.

    Face.–Prosopalgia, involving eye, zygoma, cheek, teeth, temple, worse, stooping, touch, from morning until sunset.

    Heart.–Violent palpitation. Præcordial pain and great aggravation from movement. Frequent attacks of palpitation, especially with foul odor from mouth. Pulse weak and irregular. Pericarditis, with sticking pains, palpitation, dyspnœa. Neuralgia extending to arm or both arms. Angina pectoris. Craving for hot water which relieves. Rheumatic carditis, trembling pulse; whole left side sore. Dyspnœa; must lie on right side with head high.

    Rectum.–Itching and crawling. Frequent ineffectual urging to stool. Ascarides.

    Fever.–Chilliness on the slightest motion.

    Modalities.–Worse, from touch, motion, noise, turning, washing, concussion. Better, lying on right side with head high; inspiring.

    Relationship.–Compare: Spigelia Marylandica (maniacal excitement, paroxysmal laughing and crying, loud, disconnected talking, vertigo, dilated pupils, congestions); Acon; Cact; Cimicif; Arnica (Spigela is a chronic Arnica); Cinnab (supra-orbital pain); Naja; Spong (heart); Sabad; Teucr; Cina (worm symptoms).

    Antidote: Pulsat.

    Dose.–Sixth to thirtieth potency for neuralgic symptoms; second to third potency for inflammatory symptoms.