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

  • MANGIFERA INDICA

    Mango Tree

    One of the best general remedies for passive hæmorrhages, uterine, renal, gastric, pulmonary and intestinal. Rhinitis, sneezing, pharyngitis, and other acute throat troubles, suffocative sensation as if throat would close. Relaxation of mucous membrane of alimentary canal. Catarrhal and serous discharges, chronic intestinal irritation. Varicose veins. Drowsiness. Atomic conditions, poor circulation, relaxed muscles.

    Skin.–Itching of palms. Skin as if sunburned, swollen. White spots, intense itching. Lobes of ears and lips swollen.

    Relationship.–Compare: Erigeron; Epilobium.

    Dose.–Tincture.

  • MANGANUM ACETICUM

    Manganese Acetate

    Manganum causes anæmia with destruction of the red corpuscles. Jaundice, nephritis with albuminuria. Fatty degeneration of liver. Paralysis agitans. Cellulitis, subacute stage, promotes suppuration and hastens regeneration.

    Symptoms of chronic poisoning, according to Professor yon Jaksch, were involuntary laughter and involuntary weeping and walking backwards. Strongly exaggerated reflexes and physical disturbances, evidenced by men making fun of each other’s gait. Paraplegia progressive; wasting, feeble and staggering gait.

    Inflammation of bones or joints, with nightly digging pains Asthmatic persons who cannot lie on a feather pillow. Syphilitic and chlorotic patients with general anæmia and paralytic symptoms often are benefited by this drug. Gout. Chronic arthritis. For speakers and singers. Great accumulation of mucus. Growing pains and weak ankles. General soreness and aching; every part of the body feels sore when touched; early tuberculosis.

    Head.–Anxiety and fear; better lying down. Feels large and heavy, with rush of blood; pain from above downward. Field of vision contracted. Stolidy mask-like face.

    Mouth.–Nodes on palate. Toothache; worse, anything cold (Coff opposite). Hemming all the time. Low, monotonous voice.

    Nose.–Dry, obstructed. Chronic catarrh, with bleeding, dryness; worse in cold damp weather.

    Ears.–Feel stopped; cracking on blowing nose. Pain from other parts extends to ears. Deafness in damp weather. Whistling tinnitus.

    Alimentary Canal.–Tongue sore and irritable with ulcers or warts. Flatulence; chronic enlargement of liver.

    Respiratory.–Chronic hoarseness. Larynx dry, rough, constricted. Tuberculosis of larynx. Cough; worse evening, and better lying down and worse in damp weather. Mucus difficult to loosen. Stitches in larynx extending to ear. Heat in chest. Hæmoptysis. Every cold rouses up a bronchitis (Dulc).

    Female.–Derangements of menstruation, amenorrhœa; menses too early and scanty, in anæmic subjects. Flushes of heat at climacteric.

    Extremities.–Muscular twitching. Cramps in calves. Stiffness in muscles of legs. Inflammation of bones and joints with insupportable nightly digging pains. Every part of body feels sore when touched. Cannot walk backwards without falling. Tending to fall forward. Walks stooping forward. Legs feel numb. Wilson’s disease. Paralysis agitans. Peculiar slapping gait, walks on metacarpo-phalangeal joint; walks backwards. Ankles painful. Bones very sensitive. Shiny red swelling of joints. Knees pain and itch. Rheumatism of feet. Intolerable pain in skin of lower limbs. Burning spots about joints. Periosteal inflammation. Suppuration of skin around joints.

    Sleep.–Languor and sleepiness. Vivid dreams. Sleepy very early in evening.

    Skin.–Suppuration of skin around joints. Red, elevated spots. Itching; better, scratching. Deep cracks in bends of elbows, etc. Psoriasis and pityriasis. Burning around ulcers. Chronic eczema associated with amenorrhœa, worse at menstrual period or at menopause.

    Modalities.–Worse, cold wet weather, change of weather. Better, lying down (cough)

    Relationship.–Compare: Colloidal Manganese (Boils and other staphylococcal infections); Mangan mur (painful ankles, bone-pains); Mangan oxydat (pain in tibia, dysmenorrhœa, colic, and diarrhœa. Easily fatigued and heated; sleepy. Stolid, mask-like facies; low monotonous voice “Economical Speech”. Muscular twitching, cramps in calves; stiff leg muscles; occasional uncontrollable laughter. Peculiar slapping gait. Similar symptoms to paralysis agitans, progressive lenticular degenerations and pseudo sclerosis. Workers in Mangan binoxide are frequently affected with bulbar paralysis. Use 3x homeopathically). Mangan sulph (liver affections, excess of bile; a powerful intestinal stimulant); Argent; Rhus; Sulph.

    Antidotes: Coff; Merc.

    Dose.–Third to thirtieth potency.

  • MANCINELLA

    Hippomane-Manganeel Apple

    Skin symptoms most marked. Dermatitis, with excessive vesiculation, oozing of sticky serum and formation of crusts. To be remembered in mental depressed states at puberty and at climacteric, with exalted sexuality (Hering). Loss of vision. Pain in the thumb.

    Mind.–Silent mood, sadness. Wandering thoughts. Sudden vanishing of thought. Bashful. Fear of becoming insane.

    Head.–Vertigo; head feels lights, empty. Scalp itches. Hair falls out after acute sickness.

    Nose.–Illusions of smell; of gunpowder, dung, etc. Pressure at root of nose.

    Mouth.–Feels peppery. Copious, offensive saliva. Taste of blood. Burning of fauces. Dysphagia from constriction of throat and œsophagus.

    Stomach.–Continual choking sensation rising from stomach. Vomiting of ingesta, followed by gripping and copious stools. Burning pains and black vomit.

    Extremities.–Icy coldness of hands and feet. Pain in thumb.

    Skin.–Intense erythema. Vesicles. Fungoid growths. Erysipelas. Large blisters, as from scalds. Heavy, brown crusts and scabs. Pemphigus.

    Relationship.–Compare: Croton; Jatropha; Canth; Anacard.

    Dose.–Sixth to thirtieth potency.

  • MALANDRINUM

    Grease in Horses

    A very effectual protection against smallpox. Ill effects of vaccination (Thuja; Silica). Efficacious in clearing of the remnants of cancerous deposits (Copper).

    Skin.–Scab on upper lip, with stinging pain when torn off. Aching in forehead. Dry, scaly; itching; rhagades of hands and feet in cold weather and from washing. Toes feel scalded and itch terribly. Bone-like protuberances.

    Dose.–Thirtieth potency and highest.

  • MAGNESIUM SULPHURICUM

    Epsom Salt
    (MAGNESIA SULPHURICA)

    The skin, urinary, and female symptoms are most marked. The purgative action of Sulphate of Magnesia is not a quality of the drug, but a quality of its physical state, which renders its absorption impossible. The properties inherent in the substance itself can only be discovered by attenuation (Percy Wilde).

    Head.–Apprehensive; vertigo; head heavy during menses. Eyes burn, noises in ears.

    Stomach.–Frequent eructations, tasting like bad eggs. Rising of water in mouth.

    Urinary.–Stitches and burning in the orifice of the urethra after urinating. Stream intermits and dribbles. The urine passed in the morning copious, bright yellow, soon becomes turbid, and deposits a copious red sediment. The urine is greenish as passed; is of a clear color, and in a large quantity. Diabetes (Phos ac; Lact ac; Ars brom).

    Female.–Thick leucorrhœa, as profuse as the menses, with weary pain in the small of the back and thighs, on moving about. Some blood from the vagina between the menses. Menstruation returned after fourteen days; the discharge was thick, black, and profuse. Menses too early, intermit.

    Neck and Back.–Bruised and ulcerative pain between the shoulders, with a feeling as of a lump as large as the first, on which account she could not lie upon her back or side; relieved by rubbing. Violent pain in the small of the back, as if bruised, and as before menstruation.

    Extremities.–The left arm and foot fall asleep in bed, in the morning after waking.

    Skin.–Small pimples over the whole body, that itch violently. Suppressed itch (Sulph). Crawling in the tips of the fingers of the left hand; better on rubbing. Warts. Erysipelas (applied locally as a saturated solution). Dropsy (physiological doses).

    Fever.–Chill from 9 to 10 am. Shuddering in back; heat in one part and chill in another.

    Relationship.–It is claimed that the addition of a small amount of Magnes. Sulph to the usual hypodermic of Morphine increases the value of the hypodermic from 50 to 100 %.

    Physiologic Dosage.–Magnes. Sulph is of diagnostic and therapeutic value in Gallstone colic. From 2 to 4 teaspoonfuls in glass hot water taken at onset of a colicky attack may abort or stop the colic.

    Epsom salt is one of the most active saline cathertics, operating with little pain or nausea, especially if pure. It has but little if any effect on intestinal peristalsis, its action causing a rush of fluid into the intestine, which by producing a distention of the bowel produces evacuation. It causes little or no irritation in the intestine. In common with the other salines, it is the classical evacuant to be employed in connection with mercurials and anthelmintics and in cases of poisoning. Epsom salt usually acts within from one to two hours, more quickly if taken in hot water and in the morning before breakfast. The ordinary dose as a mild laxative is a heaping teaspoonful; as a cathartic, two to four teaspoonfuls. The taste may be improved, if necessary, by the addition of a little lemon juice and sugar.

    Besides its chief use as a saline cathartic, magnesium sulphate is used to a considerable extent externally in saturated solution as an antiphlogistic and antipruritic in erysipelas, ivy poisoning, cellulitis and other local inflammations. Use on compresses saturated with solution.

    Dose.–The pure salt to the third potency. Locally 1:4 in water in septic conditions, erysipelas, orchitis, boils, etc.

  • MAGNESIUM PHOSPHORICUM

    Phosphate of Magnesia
    (MAGNESIA PHOSPHORICA)

    The great anti-spasmodic remedy. Cramping of muscles with radiating pains. Neuralgic pains relieved by warmth. Especially suited to tired, languid, exhausted subjects. Indisposition for mental exertion. Goitre.

    Mind.–Laments all the time about the pain. Inability to think clearly. Sleepless on account of indigestion.

    Head.–Vertigo on moving, falls forward on closing eyes, better walking in open air. Aches after mental labor, with chilliness; always better warmth (Sil). Sensation as if contents were liquid, as if parts of brain were changing places, as of a cap on head.

    Eyes.–Supraorbital pains; worse, right side; relieved by warmth applied externally. Increased lachrymation. Twitching of lids. Nystagmus strabismus, ptosis. Eyes hot, tired, vision blurred, colored lights before eyes.

    Ears.–Severe neuralgic pain; worse behind right ear; worse, by going into cold air, and washing face and neck with cold water.

    Mouth.–Toothache; better by heat and hot liquids. Ulceration of teeth, with swelling of glands of face, throat and neck and swelling of tongue. Complaints of teething children. Spasms without febrile symptoms.

    Throat.–Soreness and stiffness, especially right side; parts seem puffy, with chilliness, and aching all over.

    Stomach.– Hiccough, with retching day and night. Thirst for very cold drinks.

    Abdomen.–Enteralgia, relieved by pressure. Flatulent colic, forcing patient to bend double; relieved by rubbing, warmth, pressure; accompanied with belching of gas, which gives no relief. Bloated, full sensation in abdomen; must loosen clothing, walk about and constantly pass flatus. Constipation in rheumatic subjects due to flatulence and indigestion.

    Female.–Menstrual colic. Membranous dysmenorrhœa. Menses too early, dark, stringy. Swelling of external parts. Ovarian neuralgia. Vaginismus.

    Respiratory.–Asthmatic oppression of chest. Dry, tickling cough. Spasmodic cough, with difficulty in lying down. Whooping-cough (Corall). Voice hoarse, larynx sore and raw. Intercostal neuralgia.

    Heart.–Angina pectoris. Nervous spasmodic palpitation. Constricting pains around heart.

    Fever.–Chilliness after dinner, in evening. Chills run up and down the back, with shivering, followed by a suffocating sensation.

    Extremities.–Involuntary shaking of hands. Paralysis agitans. Cramps in calves. Sciatica; feet very tender. Darting pains. Twitchings. Chorea. Writers’ and players’ cramp. Tetanic spasms. Weakness in arms and hands, finger-tips stiff and numb. General muscular weakness.

    Modalities.–Worse, right side, cold, touch, night. Better, warmth, bending double, pressure, friction.

    Relationship.–Compare: Kali phos; Colocy; Silica; Zinc; Diosc.

    Antidotes: Bell; Gels; Lach.

    Dose.–First to twelfth potency. Sometimes the highest potencies are preferable. Acts especially well, given in hot water.

  • MAGNOLIA GRANDIFLORA

    Magnolia

    Rheumatism and cardiac lesions are prominent features in toe symptomatology of this drug. Stiffness and soreness. Alternating pains between spleen and heart. Patient tired and stiff. Soreness when quiet. Erratic shifting of pains.

    Heart.–Oppression of chest with inability to expand the lungs. Feeling of a large bolus of food which distressed the stomach. Suffocated feeling when walking fast or lying on left side. Dyspnœa. Crampy pain in heart. Angina pectoris. Endocarditis and pericarditis. Tendency to faint. Sensation as if heart had stopped beating. Pains around heart accompanied by itching of the feet.

    Extremities.–Stiffness and sharp erratic pains; worse in joints. Feet itch. Numbness in left arm. Rheumatic pain in clavicles. Shooting in all limbs.

    Modalities.–Worse, damp air, lying on left side; in morning on first rising. Better, dry weather, motion; intermenstrual flow (Ham; Bovista; Bell; Elaps).

    Relationship.–Compare: Rhus; Dulcam; Aurum

    Dose.–Third potency.

  • MAGNESIUM MURIATICUM

    Muriate of Magnesia
    (MAGNESIA MURIATICA)

    A liver remedy with pronounced characteristic constipation. Chronic liver affections with tenderness and pain, extending to spine and epigastrium, worse after food. Especially adapted to diseases of women, with a long history of indigestion and uterine disease; children who cannot digest milk. Evil effects of sea bathing.

    Head.–Sensitive to noise; bursting headache; worse, motion, open air; better, pressure, and wrapping up warmly (Sil; Stront). Much sweating of head (Calc, Sil). Facial neuralgia pains, dull, aching, worse damp weather, slightest draft, better pressure heat.

    Nose.–Nostrils ulcerated, Coryza. Nose stopped and fluent. Loss of smell and taste, following catarrh. Cannot lie down. Must breathe through mouth.

    Mouth.–Blisters on lips. Gums swollen, bleed easily. Tongue feels burnt and scalded. Throat dry, with hoarseness.

    Stomach.–Appetite poor, had taste in mouth. Eructations like rotten eggs. Continued rising of while froth into mouth Cannot digest milk. Urine can be passed only by pressing abdominal muscles.

    Abdomen.–Pressing pain in liver; worse lying on right side. Liver enlarged with bloating of abdomen; yellow tongue. Congenital scrotal hernia. Must use abdominal muscles to enable him to urinate.

    Urine.–Urine difficult to void. Bladder can only be emptied by straining and pressure.

    Bowels.–Constipation of infants during dentition; only passing small quantity; stools knotty, like sheep’s dung, crumbling at verge of anus. Painful smarting hæmorrhoids.

    Female.–Menses black, clotted. Pain in back and thighs. Metrorrhagia; worse at night. Great excitement at every period. Leucorrhœa with every stool and after exercise. Tinea ciliaris, eruptions in face and forehead worse before menses.

    Heart.–Palpitation and cardiac pain while sitting; better by moving about (Gels). Functional cardiac affections with liver enlargement.

    Respiration.–Spasmodic dry cough; worse forepart of night, with burning and sore chest.

    Extremities.–Pain in back and hips; in arms and legs. Arms “Go to sleep” when waking in morning.

    Sleep.–Sleep during day; restless at night on account of heat and shock: anxious dreams.

    Modalities.–Worse, immediately after eating, lying on right side: from sea bathing. Better, from pressure, motion: open air, except headache.

    Relationship.–Antidotes: Camph; Cham.

    Compare: Nat m; Puls; Sep; Amm m; Nasturtium equaticum -Water-cress–(useful in scorbutic affections and constipation, related to strictures of urinary apparatus; supposed to be aphrodisiacal in its action. Is also antidotal to tobacco narcosis and sedative in neurotic affections, neurasthenia, hysteria. Cirrhosis of liver and dropsy).

    Dose.–5 drops of tincture. Third to 200th potency.

  • MAGNESIUM CARBONICUM

    Carbonate of Magnesia
    (MAGNESIA CARBONICA)

    Gastro-intestinal catarrh, with marked acidity. Often used with advantage for complains arising in people who have been taking this drug to sweeten the stomach. Is frequently indicated in children; whole body smells sour, and disposed to boils. Broken-down, “worn-out” women, with uterine and climacteric disorders. With numbness and distension in various, parts and nerve prostration. Sensitive to the least start, noise, touch, etc. Affection of the antrum of Highmore. Effects of shock, blows, mental distress. Sense of numbness; nerve prostration; tendency to constipation after nervous strain; sensitive to least touch, it causes starting, or cold winds or weather or from excess of care and worry with constipation and heaviness. Intense neuralgic pains.

    Head.–Sticking pain in the side of the head on which he lies, as if the hair was pulled; worse, mental exertion. Itching of scalp worse in damp weather. Pain above margin of right orbit. Blank motes before eyes.

    Ears.–Diminished hearing. Deafness; comes suddenly and varies. Numbness of outer ear. Feeling of distention of middle ear. Subdued tinnitus.

    Face.–Tearing pain in one side; worse; quiet; must move about. Toothache, especially during pregnancy; worse at night; worse, cold and quiet. Teeth feel too long. Ailments from cutting wisdom teeth (Cheiranthus). Pain in malar bone, worse during rest, night. Swelling of malar bone with pulsating pain, worse exposure to cold wind.

    Mouth.–Dry at night. Sour taste. Vesicular eruption; bloody saliva. Sticking pain in throat; hawking up fetid, pea-colored particles.

    Stomach.–Desire for fruit, acids, and vegetables. Eructations sour, and vomiting of bitter water. Craving for meat.

    Abdomen.–Rumbling, gurgling. Dragging towards pelvis. Very heavy; contractive, pinching, pain in right illiac region.

    Stool.–Preceded by griping, colicky pain. Green, watery, frothy, like a frog-pond’s scum. Bloody mucous stools. Milk passes undigested in nursing children. Sour, with tenesmus (Rheum). Constipation after mental shock or severe nervous strain.

    Female.–Sore throat before menses appear. Before menses, coryza and nasal stoppage. Menses too late and scanty, thick, dark, like pitch; mucous leucorrhœa. Menses flow only in sleep; more profuse at night (Amm m), or when lying down; cease when walking.

    Respiratory.–Ticking cough, with salty, bloody expectoration. Constrictive pains in chest, with dyspnœa. Soreness in chest during motion.

    Extremities.–Tearing in shoulders as if dislocated. Right shoulder painful, cannot raise it (Sang). Whole body feels tired and painful, especially legs and feet. Swelling in bend of knee.

    Skin.–Earthy, sallow and parchment-like; emaciation. Itching vesicles on hands and fingers. Nodosities under skin. Sore; sensitive to cold.

    Fever.–Chilly in evening. Fever at night. Sour, greasy perspiration.

    Sleep.–Unrefreshing; more tired on rising than on retiring.

    Modalities.–Worse, warmth of bed; change of temperature; cold wind or weather; every three weeks; rest. Better, warm air; walking in open air.

    Relationship.–Antidotes: Ars; Merc.

    Complementary: Cham.

    Compare: Rheum; Kreos; Aloes; Cheiranthus-Wall flower –(deafness, otorrhœa, nose stopped up at night from irritation of cutting wisdom-teeth).

    Dose.–Third to thirtieth potency.

  • LYSSINUM

    Lyssin-Saliva of Rabid Dog
    (HYDROPHOBINUM)

    Affects principally the nervous system; aching in bones. Complaints from abnormal sexual desire. Convulsions brought on by dazzling light or sight of running water.

    Head.–Lyssophobia; fear of becoming mad. Emotion and bad news aggravate; also, thinking of fluids. Hypersensitiveness of all senses. Chronic headache. Boring pain in forehead.

    Mouth.–Constant spitting; saliva tough, viscid. Sore throat; constant desire to swallow, which is difficult; gagging when swallowing water. Froths at mouth.

    Male.–Lascivious; priapism, with frequent emissions. No emission during coition. Atrophy of testicles. Complaints from abnormal sexual desire.

    Female.–Uterine sensitiveness; conscious of womb (Helon). Feels prolapsed. Vagina sensitive, rendering coition painful (Berberis). Uterine displacements.

    Respiratory.–Voice altered in tone. Breathing held for a time. Spasmodic contraction of respiratory muscles.

    Stool.–Desire for stool on hearing or seeing running water. Profuse, watery stools, with pain in bowels; worse, evening. Constant desire to urinate on seeing running water.

    Modalities.–Worse, sight or sound of running water or pouring water, or even thinking of fluids; dazzling or reflected light; heat of sun; stooping.

    Relationship.–Compare: Xanthium spinosum-Cockle–(said to be specific for hydrophobia and is recommended for chronic cystitis in women). Canth; Bell; Stram; Lach; Nat mur.

    Dose.–Thirtieth potency.