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

  • NATRIUM ARSENICOSUM

    Arseniate of Sodium
    (NATRUM ARSENICUM)

    A remedy for nasal catarrh, with headache, pain at root of nose, dry and painful eyes. Psoriasis (Ars; Chrysoph ac; Thyroid). Bronchitis of children over seven years. Facilitates the termination of the cold and conserves strength and appetite (Cartier).

    Head.–Floating sensation on turning head quickly; aching in frontal region and root of nose, over orbits. Headache; worse pressure and tobacco smoke.

    Nose.–Watery discharge; drops into throat. Feels stopped; pain at root. Dry crusts, on removal, leave mucous membrane raw. Post-nasal dropping of thick, bland, yellowish mucus. Crusts in nose.

    Ears.–Catarrhal conjunctivitis and blepharitis marginalis. Eyes feel weak, stiffness of balls and tendency of lids to close. Feel heavy and droop. Lachrymation in wind. Agglutination in morning. Dry, painful, burning; soon tire. Œdema of orbital region. Supraorbital pain.

    Throat.–Dark, purplish, swollen, œdematous; red and glassy.

    Respiratory.–Racking cough, with profuse greenish expectoration. Oppression of chest and about heart, and also larynx. Miner’s asthma. Lungs feel as though smoke had been inhaled.

    Extremities.–Aching in arms; worse in shoulder. Pain in anterior crural nerves. Joints stiff. Feels tired all over. Knee-joints crack.

    Relationship.–Compare: Ars; Kali carb; Apis.

    Dose.–Third to thirtieth potency.

  • NARCISSUS PSEUDONARCISSUS

    Daffodil
    (NARCISSUS)

    Symptoms of nausea followed by violent vomiting and diarrhœa.

    Daffodil bulbs contain an alkaloid the action of which, according to authorities, varies as to whether the alkaloid is extracted from the flowering bulb or from the bulb after flowering. Thus in the former case the alkaloid produces dryness of the mouth, checks cutaneous secretions, dilates the pupil of the eye, quickens the pulse, and slows and weakens the heart contractions. On the other hand, the alkaloid from the bulbs after flowering produces copious salivation, increases cutaneous secretion, contracts the pupil of the eye, produces slight relaxation of the pulse, and slight faintness and nausea.–The Lancet.

    A remedy for cough and bronchitis. Continuous cough, Coryza; frontal headache. Convulsive stage of whooping-cough.

    Skin.–Erythema of a papular, vesicular and pustular type, aggravation in wet weather.

    Dose.–First attenuation.

  • NAPHTHALINUM

    A chemical compound from Coal-tar; Tar Camphor
    (NAPHTHALINE)

    Coryza, hay-fever, phthisis pulmonalis, also gonorrhœa have been influenced favorably by this drug. Pyelonephritis. Irritation of the periphery of the urinary apparatus. Whooping-cough.

    Head.–Lying as if stupefied by a narcotic. Restless. Face pale yellowish hue.

    Eyes.–Marked affinity for the eye. It produces detachment of the retina; papillo-retinal infiltration; deposits in patches upon the retina; amblyopia and consecutive amaurosis; sparkling synchisis; soft cataract. Exudation in the retina, choroid and ciliary body. Cataract. Opacity of the cornea.

    Urine.–Irresistible desire. Meatus red swollen, and œdema of prepuce. Black urine. Cutting pain down penis. Pain in bladder. Terribly offensive odor of decomposing ammoniacal urine.

    Respiratory.–Sneezing; eyes inflamed; painful; head hot. Hay-fever. Spasmodic asthma; better in open air. Soreness in chest and stomach; must loosen clothing. Dyspnœa and sighing inspiration. Emphysema in the aged with asthma. Whooping-cough, long and continued paroxysms of coughing, unable to get a respiration. Acute laryngo-tracheitis. Bronchitis when the spasmodic element is associated with tenacious expectoration and oppression (Cartier).

    Skin.–Dermatitis; itching infiltration. Eruptions at corners of mouth and pigmentation around nails.

    Non-homeopathic Uses-For worms, and especially pin–worms, one-gramme dose. Externally in skin diseases, five per cent ointment.

    Relationship.–Compare: Dros; Corall; Coccus. Terpin hydrat (Whooping-cough, hay asthma and bronchial affections. 1-2 grain doses).

    Dose.–Third trituration.

  • NAJA TRIPUDIANS

    Virus of the Cobra

    Naja produces a typical bulbar paralysis (L. J. Boyd). Causes no hæmorrhage but only œdema, hence the victims of this reptile frequently bear very little sign of external injury a small scratch or puncture being the only indication where the fangs have worked their havoc. The tissue lying beneath the wound is colored dark purple, and a large quantity of viscid blood-like fluid collects in the vicinity of the wound. An intense burning pain at the spot bitten is the first symptom. In man there follows an interval before fresh symptoms occur. The average is about an hour. Once developed, the symptoms follow a rapid course. A feeling of intoxication is produced, followed by a loss of power over the limbs. The patient is bereft of speech, swallowing, and the control over the movement of the lips. The saliva is ejected in large quantities, the respiration gradually becomes slower and slower, and at length ceases. Conscious all time. Is not a hæmorrhagic or septic, medicine like Lachesis and Crotalus. Its action settles around the heart; valvular troubles. Marked surging of blood upwards, marked dyspnœa, inability to lie on left side. Hypertrophy, and valvular lesions. Organs seem to be drawn together. Very susceptible to cold. With heart symptoms, pain in forehead and temples. Diseases, primarily depending upon degeneration of motor cells. Control of sphincters lost.

    Mind.–Broods constantly over imaginary troubles. Suicidal insanity (Aur). Depressed. Aversion to talking. Blurred speech. Melancholy. Dreads to be left alone. Fear of rain.

    Head.–Pain in left temple and in left orbital region, extending to occiput, with nausea and vomiting. Hay-fever, with dry larynx. Suffocative spells after sleeping (Lach). Eyes staring. Ptosis of both lids.

    Ears.–Illusions of hearing; otalgia; chronic otorrhœa, black discharges; smells like herring brine.

    Respiratory.–Grasping at throat, with sense of choking. Irritating, dry cough, dependent on cardiac lesions (Spong; Lauroc) Sticky mucus and saliva. Asthmatic constriction in evening. Asthma beginning with coryza.

    Heart.–Dragging and anxiety in præcordia. Feeling of weight on heart. Angina pains extending to nape of neck, left shoulder and arm with anxiety and fear of death. With the heart symptoms pain in forehead and temples. Pulse irregular in force. Threatened paralysis of heart, body cold, pulse slow, weak, irregular, tremulous. Acute and chronic endocarditis. Palpitation. Stitching pain in region of heart. Damaged heart after infections diseases. Marked symptoms of low tension (Elaps, Vipera).

    Female.–Neuralgia of left ovary; often serviceable in obscure pain in left groin, especially in post-operative cases; seems to be drawn to heart.

    Sleep.–Profound, like a log, with stertorous breathing, a typical reptilian state.

    Modalities.–Worse, from use of stimulants; better, from walking or riding in open air.

    Relationship.–Compare: Serpent poisons generally. Bungarus Fasciatus (Banded Krait). This venom produces a condition like an acute polioencephalitis and myelitis, both symptomatically and histologically. Lach; Crotal; Spig; Spong.

    Dose.–Sixth to thirtieth potency.

  • MYRTUS COMMUNIS

    Myrtle

    The leaves contain Myrtol, an active antiseptic. Chest pains, as found often in consumptives, call for this remedy. Incipient phthisis. Nerve sedative and stimulant to mucous membranes, bronchitis, cystitis and pyelitis.

    Chest.–Stitching pain in left breast, running through to shoulder-blade (Illic; Therid; Pix). Dry, hollow cough, with tickling in chest. Worse in the morning. Sensation of burning in left chest.

    Relationship.–Compare: Myrtus Chekan (Chronic bronchitis with dense, yellowish sputum, difficult to detach. Copious expectoration keeps patient distressed and coughing).

    Dose.–Third potency.

  • MYRISTICA SEBIFERA

    Brazilian Ucuba

    A remedy of great antiseptic powers. Inflammation of skin, cellular tissue and periosteum. Traumatic infections. Parotitis. Fistulas. Carbuncles. Specific action in panaritium. Pain in the finger nails with swelling of the phalanges. Hands are stiff, as if from squeezing something a long time. Coppery taste and burning in throat. Tongue white and cracked. Phlegmonous inflammations. Hastens suppuration and shortens its duration. Often does away with use of the knife. Inflammation of middle ear, suppurative stage. Fistula in ano. Acts more powerfully often than Heper or Silica.

  • MYRICA CERIFERA

    Bayberry
    (MYRICA)

    Marked action on the liver, with jaundice and mucous membranes. Persistent sleeplessness. Jaundice.

    Mind.–Despondent, irritable, indifferent. Gloomy.

    Head.–Scalp feels tight. Headache, with drowsiness; yellow sclerotica; aching in eyeballs. Pressure in vertex and forehead. Dull, heavy aching in temples and forehead on waking in the morning. Pain and stiffness in nape of neck.

    Face.–Yellow, Itching and stinging. Creeping sensation.

    Mouth.–Tongue furred, with bad taste in mouth, and nausea. Tenacious, thick, nauseous secretion. Tender, spongy and bleeding gums (Merc).

    Throat.–Constricted and rough feeling, with a constant desire to swallow. Stringy mucus; detached with difficulty.

    Stomach.–Taste bitter and nauseous, with offensive breath. Complete loss appetite, but with a feeling of fullness in the stomach after a hearty meal. Strong desire for acids. Weak, sinking feeling in the epigastrium, approaching nausea; increased after eating; relieved by rapid walking.

    Abdomen.–Dull pain in the region of the liver. Complete jaundice, with bronze-yellow skin; loss of appetite. Fullness in the stomach and abdomen. Scanty, yellow, frothy urine.

    Stool.–Constant discharge of flatus when walking. Urging to stool, with no other results than the expulsion of a great amount of flatus. Loose, light-colored stool; ash-colored and destitute of bile.

    Urinary.–Dark, frothy, scanty, high-colored, biliary.

    Sleep.–Disturbed, bad dreams and frequent waking; insomnia.

    Extremities.–Staggering gait. Pain under shoulder-blades and back of neck, in all muscles, in hollow of right foot.

    Skin.–Yellow and itching. Jaundice. Creeping sensation, as of insects.

    Relationship.–Compare: Ptel; Cornus cir; Chelid; Lept; Fagop.

    Antidote: Digit (jaundice).

    Dose.–Tincture, to third potency.

  • MYOSOTIS SYMPHYTIFOLIA

    Forget-me-not
    (MYOSOTIS)

    Chronic bronchitis and phthisis. Night-sweats.

    Respiratory.–Cough with profuse muco-purulent expectoration, gagging and vomiting during cough; worse while or after eating. Bronchorrhœa. Pain in left lung (lower); painful while coughing and sensitive to percussion.

    Dose.–Tincture to second potency.

  • MYGALE LASIODORA

    Black Cuban Spider

    Weakness, palpitation, nervousness, fear, like other spider preparations. Chorea is the principal therapeutic field of this. Sexual symptoms are important.

    Mind.–Delirious, restless, sad; fears death; despondent.

    Face.–Twitching of facial muscles. Mouth and eyes open in rapid succession. Hot and flushed. Tongue dry and parched; put out with difficulty. Head jerked to one side. Grating of teeth at night.

    Stomach.–Nausea, with dim sight. Aversion to food. Excessive thirst.

    Male.–Violent erections. Chordee (Kali brom; Camph).

    Extremities.–Unsteady gait. Constant motion of whole body. Tremulous. Intense redness in streaks, following course of lymphatics. Twitching of limbs. Restless hands. Convulsive, uncontrollable movements of arms and legs. Limbs drag while walking.

    Relationship.–Compare: Agar; Tarant; Cupr, Zizia.

    Modalities.–Better, during sleep. Worse, in morning.

    Dose.–Third to thirtieth potency.

  • MUREX PURPUREA

    Purple Fish
    (MUREX)

    The symptoms of the female sexual organs are most-prominent, and have been clinically verified. Especially adapted to nervous, lively, affectionate women. Patient weak and run down.

    Mind.–Great sadness, anxiety, and dread.

    Stomach.–Sinking, all-gone sensation in stomach (Sep). Hungry, must eat.

    Female.–Conscious of a womb. Pulsation in neck of womb. Desire easily excited. Feeling as if something was pressing on a sore spot in the pelvis: worse sitting. Pain from right side of womb to right or left breast. Nymphomania. Least contact of parts causes violent sexual excitement. Sore pain in uterus. Menses irregular, profuse, frequent, large clots. Feeling of protrusion. Prolapse; enlargement of uterus, with pelvic tenesmus and sharp pains, extending toward breasts; aggravated lying down. Dysmenorrhœa and chronic endometritis, with displacement. Must keep legs tightly crossed. Leucorrhœa green or bloody, alternate with mental symptoms and aching in sacrum. Benign tumors in breasts. Pain in them during menstrual period.

    Urinary.–Urine frequent at night; smells like Valerian constant urging (Kreos).

    Modalities.–Worse, least touch.

    Relationship.–Compare: Plat; Lil; Sep (the latter lacks sexual erethism of Murex).

    Dose.–Third to thirtieth potency.