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

  • MERCURIUS SOLUBILIS

    Quicksilver
    (MERCURIUS – HYDRARGYRUM)

    Every organ and tissue of the body is more or less affected by this powerful drug; it transforms healthy cells into decrepit, inflamed and necrotic wrecks, decomposes the blood, producing a profound anæmia. This malignant medicinal force is converted into useful life saving and life preserving service if employed homeopathically, guided by its clear cut symptoms. The lymphatic system is especially affected with all the membranes and glands, and internal organs, bones etc. Lesions produced by mercury very similar to those of syphilis. Very often indicated in the secondary stage of syphilis where there is a febrile chloro-anæmia, rheumatoid pains behind sternum, around joints, etc; ulcerations of mouth and throat, falling of the air, the eruptions and ulcerations of mouth and throat, etc. These are the special conditions and stages to which Mercur is homeopathic and where the 2x will do surprising work. Again, hereditary syphilis manifestations, are within its range; bullæ, abscesses, snuffles, marasmus, stomatitis or destructive inflammations. Tremors everywhere. Weakness with ebullitions and tremblings from least exertion. All Mercury symptoms are worse at night, from warmth of bed, from damp, cold, rainy weather, worse during perspiration. Complaints increase with the sweat and rest; all associated with a great deal of weariness, prostration, and trembling. A human “thermometer”. Sensitive to heat and cold. Parts are much swollen, with raw, sore feeling; the profuse, oily perspiration does not relieve. Breath, excretions and body smell foul. Tendency to formation of pus, which is thin, greenish, putrid; streaked with thin blood.

    Mind.–Slow in answering questions. Memory weakened, and loss of will-power. Weary of life. Mistrustful. Thinks he is losing his reason.

    Head.–Vertigo, when lying on back. Band-feeling about head. One-sided, tearing pains. Tension about scalp, as if bandaged. Catarrhal headaches; much heat in head. Stinging, burning, fetid eruptions on scalp. Loss of hair. Exostosis, with feeling of soreness. Scalp tense; oily sweat on head.

    Eyes.–Lids red, thick, swollen. Profuse, burning, acrid discharge. Floating black spots. After exposure to glare of fire; foundrymen. Parenchymatous keratitis of syphilitic origin with burning pain. Iritis, with hypopyon.

    Ears.–Thick, yellow discharge; fetid and bloody. Otalgia, worse warmth of bed; at night sticking pains. Boils in external canal (Calc pic).

    Nose.–Much sneezing. Sneezing in sunshine. Nostrils raw, ulcerated; nasal bones swollen. Yellow-green, fetid, pus-like discharge. Coryza; acrid discharge, but too thick to run down the lip; worse, warm room. Pain and swelling of nasal bones, and caries, with greenish fetid ulceration. Nosebleed at night. Copious discharge of corroding mucus. Coryza, with sneezing; sore, raw, smarting sensation; worse, damp weather; profuse, fluent.

    Face.–Pale, earthy, dirty-looking, puffy. Aching in facial bones, Syphilitic pustules on face.

    Mouth.–Sweetish metallic taste. Salivary secretions greatly increased; bloody and viscid. Saliva fetid, coppery. Speech difficult on account of trembling tongue. Gums spongy, recede, bleed easily. Sore pain on touch and from chewing. Whole mouth moist. Crown of teeth decay. Teeth loose, feel tender and elongated. Furrow in upper surface of tongue lengthwise. Tongue heavy, thick; moist coating; yellow, flabby, teeth-intended, feels as if burnt, with ulcers, Fetid odor from mouth, can smell it all over room. Alveolar abscess, worse at night. Great thirst, with moist mouth.

    Throat.–Bluish-red swelling. Constant desire to swallow. Putrid sore throat; worse right side. Ulcers and inflammation appearing at every change in weather. Stitches into ear on swallowing; fluids return through nose. Quinsy, with difficult swallowing, after pus has formed. Sore, raw, smarting, burning throat. Complete loss of voice. Burning in throat, as from hot vapor ascending.

    Stomach.–Putrid eructations. Intense thirst for cold drinks. Weak digestion, with continuous hunger. Stomach sensitive to touch. Hiccough and regurgitation. Feels replete and constricted.

    Abdomen.–Stabbing pain, with chilliness. Boring pain in right groin. Flatulent distention, with pain. Liver enlarged; sore to touch, indurated. Jaundice. Bile secreted deficiently.

    Stool.–Greenish, bloody and slimy, worse at night, with pain and tenesmus. Never-get-done feeling. Discharge accompanied by chilliness, sick stomach, cutting colic, and tenesmus. Whitish-gray stools.

    Urine.–Frequent urging. Greenish discharge from urethra; burning in urethra on beginning to urinate. Urine dark, scanty, bloody, albuminous.

    Male.–Vesicles and ulcers; soft chancre. Cold genitals. Prepuce irritated; itches. Nocturnal emissions, stained with blood.

    Female.–Menses profuse, with abdominal pains. Leucorrhœa excoriating, greenish and bloody; sensation of rawness in parts. Stinging pain in ovaries (Apis). Itching and burning; worse, after urinating; better, washing with cold water. Morning sickness, with profuse salivation. Mammæ painful and full of milk at menses.

    Respiratory.–Soreness from fauces to sternum. Cannot lie on right side (Left side, Lycop). Cough, with yellow muco-purulent expectoration. Paroxysms of two; worse, night, and from warmth of bed. Catarrh, with chilliness; dread of air. Stitches from lower lobe of right lung to back. Whooping-cough with nosebleed (Arnica) Cough worse, tobacco smoke.

    Back.–Bruised pain in small of back, especially when sitting. Tearing pain in coccyx; better, pressing on abdomen.

    Extremities.–Weakness of limbs. Bone-pains and in limbs; worse, night. Patient very sensitive to cold. Oily perspiration. Trembling extremities, especially hands, paralysis agitans. Lacerating pain in joints. Cold, clammy sweat on legs at night. Dropsical swelling of feet and legs.

    Skin.–Almost constantly moist. Persistent dryness of the skin contra indicates mercurius. Excessive odorous viscid perspiration; worse, night. General tendency to free perspiration, but patient is not relieved thereby. Vesicular and pustular eruptions. Ulcers, irregular in shape, edges undefined. Pimples around the main eruption. Itching, worse from warmth of bed. Crusta lactea; yellowish-brown crusts, considerable suppuration. Glands swell every time patient takes cold. Buboes. Orchitis (Clemat, Hamam, Puls).

    Fever.–Generally gastric or bilious, with profuse nightly perspiration; debility, slow and lingering. Heat and shuddering alternately. Yellow perspiration. Profuse perspiration without relief. Creeping chilliness, worse in the evening and into night. Alternate flashes of heat in single parts.

    Modalities.–Worse, at night, wet, damp weather, lying on right side, perspiring; warm room and warm bed.

    Relationship.–Compare: Capparis coriaccea (polyuria, glandular affections, mucous diarrhœa; influenza); Epilobium–Willow herb–(chronic diarrhœa with tenesmus and mucous discharges; ptyalism, dysphagia; wasting of body and much debility; cholera infantum); Kali hyd (in hard chancre); Mercur acet (Congestion with stiffness, dryness and heat of parts affected. Eyes inflamed, burn and itch. Lack of moisture. Throat dry, talking difficult. Pressure in lower sternum; chancre in urethra; tenia capitis favosa margin of ulcers painful): Mercurius auratus (psoriasis and syphilitic catarrh; brain tumors; lues of nose and bones; ozæna; swelling of testicles); Mercurius bromatus (secondary syphilitic skin affection); Mercurius nitrosus-Nitrate of Mercury–(especially in postular conjunctivitis and keratitis; gonorrhœa and mucous patches, with sticking pains; syphilides); Mercurius phosphoricus (nervous diseases from syphilis; exostoses); Mercurius precipitatus ruber (suffocative attacks at night on lying down while on the point of falling asleep, obliged to jump up suddenly which relieves; gonorrhœa; urethra felt as a hard string; chancroid; phagedenic ulcer and bubo; pemphigus, mucous patches, eczema with rhagades and fissures, barber’s itch; blepharitis, internally and externally; leaden heaviness in occiput, with otorrhœa); Mercurius tannicus (syphilides in patients with gastro-intestinal diseases, or, if very sensitive, to ordinary mercurial preparations); Erythrinus-South American Red Mullet Fish–(in pityriasis rubra and syphilis; red rash on chest; pityriasis); Lolium temulentum (in trembling of hands and legs); Mercur cum kali (inveterate colds, acute facial paralysis). Henchera-Alum root–(Gastro-enteritis nausea, vomiting of bile and frothy mucus; stools watery, profuse, slimy, tenesmus, never-get-done feeling. Dose, 2 to 10 drops of tincture).

    Compare: Mez; Phos; Syph; Kali mur; Aethiops.

    Antidote: Hep; Aur; Mez.

    Complementary: Badiaga.

    Dose.–Second to thirtieth potency.

  • MEPHITIS PUTORIUS

    Skunk
    (MEPHITIS)

    A great medicine for whooping-cough. In order to insure its full success, it should be given in the lower dilutions from 1x to 3x. Suffocative feeling, asthmatic paroxysms, spasmodic cough; cough so violent, seems as if each spell would terminate life. Child must be raised up, gets blue in face, cannot exhale, Mucous rales through upper part of chest. Patient wants to bathe in ice-cold water.

    Mind.–Excited, full of fancies. Can neither sleep nor work.

    Eyes.–Pain from overexertion; blur; unable to distinguish letters; conjunctiva red; eyes hot and painful.

    Mouth.–Painful jerks in root of teeth. Bloated face. Coppery taste, as after eating onions.

    Respiratory.–Sudden contraction of glottis, when drinking or talking. Food goes down wrong way. False croup; cannot exhale. Spasmodic and whooping-cough. Few paroxysms in day-time, but many at night; with vomiting after eating. Asthma, as if inhaling sulphur; cough from talking; hollow, deep, with rawness, hoarseness, and pains through chest. Violent spasmodic cough; worse at night.

    Sleep.–Awakes at night with rush of blood to lower legs. Vivid dream of water, fire, etc.

    Relationship.–Compare: Dros; Coral; Sticta.

    Dose.–First to third potency. Has a very short action.

  • MENYANTHES TRIFOLIATA

    Buck-bean
    (MENYANTHES)

    A remedy for certain headaches, intermittent fever. Coldness of abdomen. Twitchings. Sensation of tension and compression. Fidgets and urinary difficulties in women. Diabetes.

    Head.–Pressing in vertex; better, hard pressure with hand. Pressing-together pain. Weight pressing on brain with every step on ascending. Pain from nape over whole brain; better, stooping, sitting; worse, going upstairs. Cracking in jaw and twitching of facial muscles.

    Stomach.–No thirst at any time. Revenous hunger; passing away after eating a little. Desire for meat. Sensation of coldness extending up to śsophagus.

    Abdomen.–Distended and full; increased by smoking tobacco. Coldness of abdomen.

    Extremities.–Icy coldness of hands and feet. Cramp-like pain. As soon as patient lies down, legs jerk and twitch.

    Fever.–Coldness predominates; felt most acutely in abdomen and legs and tip of nose.

    Modalities.–Worse, during rest, ascending better, pressure on affected part, stooping, motion.

    Relationship.–Compare: Caps; Puls; Calc; Phos ac; Sang.

    Antidote: Camph.

    Dose.–Third to thirtieth potency.

  • MENTHOLUM

    (MENTHOL)

    The stearopten from the essential oil of Mentha. Mucous membrane of naso-pharynx and spinal nerve plexus, producing neuritic pains and parethesias. Menthol has proved curative in acute nasal catarrh; in acute eustachian catarrh; pharyngitis; laryngitis; neuralgias, etc (Wm. B. Griggs, M. D). Itching, especially pruritus valvæ.

    Head.–Frontal headache, pain over frontal sinus, descends to eyeballs. Mental confusion. Supra orbital pain over left eye. Pain in face above zygoma with numbness. Pain in eyeballs. Coryza with post-nasal dripping. Cold sensation in nose. Eustachian tubes feel blocked and some deafness.

    Respiratory.–Tickling in the fauces. Stabbing pains in the præcordia, radiating over entire chest. Short, dry cough, worse smoking. Asthmatic breathing, with congestive headache.

    Extremities.–Muscular pain in cervical region, Soreness of lumbar muscles.

    Relationship.–Compare: Kali bich; Spigel.

    Dose.–Sixth potency. Externally for itching, use 1 per cent solution or ointment.

  • MENTHA PIPERITA

    Peppermint

    Stimulates the cold-perceiving nerves, so just after taking it, a current of air at the ordinary temperature seems cold. Marked action on respiratory organs and skin. Useful in gastrodynia, flatulent cold.

    Abdomen.–Bloated, disturbing sleep. Infantile colic. Bilious colic with great accumulation of gas.

    Respiration.–Voice husky. Tip of nose to touch. Throat dry and sore, as if pin crosswise in it. Dry cough, worse from air into larynx, tobacco smoke, fog, talking; with irritation in suprasternal fossa (Rumex). Trachea painful to touch.

    Skin.–Every scratch becomes a sore. Itching of arm and hand when writing. Vaginal pruritus. Herpes zoster (Ars; Ran bulb).

    Relationship.–Compare: Rumex; Laches; Mentha pulegium–European pennyroyal–(pain in bones of forehead and extremities). Mentha viridis-Spearmint–(scanty urine with frequent desire).

    Dose.–Tincture, 1 to 20 drops, to thirtieth potency. Locally, in pruritus vaginæ.

  • MENISPERMUM CANADENSE

    Moonseed
    (MENISPERMUM)

    A remedy for megrim, associated with restlessness and dreams. Pain in spine. Dryness, itching all over. Dry mouth and throat.

    Head.–Pressure from within outward, with stretching and yawning and pain down back. Sick headache; pain in forehead and temples, moving to occiput. Tongue swollen and much saliva.

    Extremities.–Pain in back, thighs, elbows, shoulders. Legs sore, as if bruised.

    Relationship.–Compare: Cocculus; Bryon.

    Dose.–Third potency.

  • MELILOTUS OFFICINALIS

    Yellow Melilot – Sweet Clover
    (MELILOTUS)

    Congestions and hæmorrhages seem to be the special manifestations of this drug. Violent congestive and nervous headaches. Infantile spasms. Epilepsy from blow on head. Pain and debility point to it. Coldness but also increase of temperature; tenderness, and pain. Muscular system depressed. Dreams and emissions.

    Mind.–Unable to fix mind. Memory treacherous. Stupor. Wants to run away and hide. Delusions; thinks every one is looking at her, fears to talk loud, and wants to run away, etc.

    Head.–Headache with retching, vomiting, sense of pressure over orbits, pallor, cold hands and feet, black spots before eyes. Heavy, oppressed; frontal, throbbing, undulating sensation in brain. Sick headache; relieved by epistaxis or menstrual flow. Fullness all over head. Eyes heavy; blurred sight; wants to close them tightly for relief. Neuralgia around and over right side of head and neck. Scalp sore and tender to touch.

    Nose.–Stopped up, dry, must breathe through mouth; dry, hard clinkers in nose; profuse epistaxis.

    Face.–Intensely red and flushed, with throbbing carotids (Bell).

    Stool.–Difficult, painful, constipated. Anus feels constricted, full, throbs. No desire until there is a large accumulation (Bry; Alum).

    Female.–Menses scanty, intermit, with nausea and bearing down sticking pain in external parts. Dysmenorrhœa. Ovarian neuralgia.

    Respiratory.–Feels as if smothering, especially from rapid walking. Hæmoptysis. Weight on chest. Tickling in throat with cough.

    Extremities.–Pain in knee; wants to stretch leg, but does not relieve. Joints sore. Skin and extremities cold. Numbness and aching in knee-joints.

    Modalities.–Worse, rainy, changeable weather, approach of storm, motion; 4 pm.

    Relationship.–Compare: Melilotus alba–(White Clover)–practically the same action (Hæmorrhages, congestive headaches, engorged blood vessels, spasms). Amyl; Bell; Glon.

    Dose.–Tincture, for inhaling; lower potencies.

  • MEL CUM SALE

    Honey with Salt

    Prolapsus uteri and chronic metritis, especially when associated with subinvolution and inflammation of the cervix. The special symptom leading to its selection is a feeling of soreness across the hypogastrium from ileum to ileum. Uterine displacements, and in the commencement of metritis Sensation as if bladder were too full. Pain from sacrum towards pubes. Pain as if in ureters.

    Dose.–Third to sixth potency. Honey for itching of anus and worms.

  • MEDUSA

    Jelly-fish

    Whole face puffed śdematous-eyes, nose, ears, lips.

    Skin.–Numbness; burning, pricking heat. Vesicular eruption especially on face, arms, shoulders, and breasts. Nettlerash (Apis; Chloral; Dulc).

    Female.–Marked action on lacteal glands. The secretion of milk was established after lack of it in all previous confinements.

    Relationship.–Compare: Pyrarara, Physalia (urticaria); Urtica, Homar, Sep.

  • MEDORRHINUM

    The Gonorrhœal Virus

    A powerful and deep-acting medicine, often indicated for chronic ailments due to suppressed gonorrhœa. For women with chronic pelvic disorders. Chronic rheumatism. Great disturbance and irritability of nervous system. Pains intolerable; tensive; nerves quiver and tingle. Children dwarfed and stunted. Chronic catarrhal conditions in children. Nose dirty, tonsils enlarged, thick yellow mucus from nostrils; lips thickened from mouth breathing. State of collapse and trembling all over. History of sycosis. Often restores a gonorrhœal discharge. Intensity of all sensations. Œdema of limbs; dropsy of serous sacs. Disseminated sclerosis.

    Mind.–Weak memory. Loses the thread of conversation. Cannot speak without weeping. Time passes too slowly (Cannab ind; Arg n). Is in a great hurry. Hopeless of recovery. Difficult concentration. Fears going insane (Mancinella). Sensibility exalted. Nervous, restless. Fear in the dark and of some one behind her. Melancholy, with suicidal thoughts.

    Head.–Burning pain in brain; worse, occiput. Head heavy and drawn backward. Headache from jarring of cars, exhaustion, or hard work. Weight and pressure in vertex. Hair dry, crispy. Itching of scalp; dandruff.

    Eyes.–Feels as if she stared at everything. Eyeballs ache. Feels as if sticks in eyes. Lids irritated.

    Ears.–Partial deafness, pulsation in ears. Quick, darting pains in right ear.

    Nose.–Intense itching. Coldness of tip. Posterior nares obstructed. Chronic nasal and pharyngeal catarrhs.

    Face.–Pallor, acne, blotches of reddish color. Small boils break out during menses.

    Mouth.–Tongue coated brown and thick, blistered; canker sores. Blisters on inner surface of lips and cheeks.

    Stomach.–Coppery taste and eructations of sulphuretted hydrogen. Ravenous hunger soon after eating. Very thirsty. Cravings for liquor, salt, sweets, etc, warm drinks. Pernicious vomiting of pregnancy.

    Abdomen.–Violent pain in liver and spleen. Rests more comfortably lying on abdomen.

    Stool.–Can pass stool only by leaning very far back. Painful lump sensation on posterior surface of sphincter. Oozing of fetid moisture. Intense itching of anus.

    Urine.–Painful tenesmus when urinating. Nocturnal enuresis. Renal colic (Berb; Ocim; Pareir). Urine flows very slowly.

    Female.–Intense pruritus. Menses offensive, profuse, dark, clotted; stains difficult to wash out, urinates frequently at that time. Sensitive spot near os uteri. Leucorrhœa thin, acrid, excoriating, fishy odor. Sycotic warts on genitals. Ovarian pain, worse left side, or from ovary to ovary. Sterility. Metrorrhagia. Intense menstrual colic. Breasts cold, sore, and sensitive.

    Male.–Nocturnal emissions, followed by great weakness. Impotence. Gleet; whole urethra feels sore. Urethritis. Enlarged and painful prostate with frequent urging and painful urination.

    Respiratory.–Much oppression of breathing. Hoarse while reading. Pain and soreness through chest and mammæ. Incessant, dry, night cough. Asthma. Incipient consumption. Larynx feels sore. Dyspnœa; cannot exhale (Samb). Cough; better lying on stomach.

    Extremities.–Pain in back, with burning heat. Legs heavy; ache all night; cannot keep them still (Zinc). Ankles easily turn when walking. Burning of hands feet. Finger-joints enlarged, puffy. Gouty concretions. Heels and balls of feet tender (Thuja). Soreness of soles. Restless; better, clutching hands.

    Skin.–Yellow. Intense and incessant itching; worse night and when thinking of it. Fiery red rash about anus in babies. Copper-colored spots. Favus. Tumors and abnormal growth.

    Fever.–Wants to be fanned all the time. Chills up and down back; coldness of legs, hands, and forearms. Flashes of heat in face and neck. Night-sweat and hectic.

    Sleep.–Dreams she is drinking (Ars; Phos). Sleeps in knee-chest position.

    Modalities.–Worse, when thinking of ailment, from daylight to sunset, heat, inland. Better, at the seashore, lying on stomach, damp weather (Caust).

    Relationship.–Compare: (Lactation: Galega; Lactuca). Sulph; Syphil; Zinc.

    Dose.–The very highest potencies only of service. Must not be repeated often.