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

  • EUONYMUS ATROPURPUREA

    Wahoo, Burning Bush

    Brunettes more easily affected, producing headache, mental disturbances and much distress in hepatic and renal region; albuminuria. Migraine. Passive Congestion and torpor of liver; chronic catarrhal affections of stomach and intestines. Weak heart. Chronic rheumatism and gout.

    Mind.–Mental confusion, despondent, irritable; loss of memory, unable to recall familiar names.

    Head.–Heavy frontal headache. Sore, tired feeling; bruised feeling of scalp. Pain over right eye extending back through the head. Bilious headache; coated tongue, bad taste, constipation. Vertigo, obscure vision and gastric derangement, associated with albuminuria. Headache over eyebrows.

    Stomach.–Mouth dry, pasty taste; thirsty, stomach full and uncomfortable.

    Abdomen.–Flatus and pain. Anus very sore and burning. Constipation with hćmorrhoids and severe backache. Diarrhśa; stools variable and profuse, bloody. Pain about umbilical region.

    Urinary.–Urine scanty, high-colored; acidity increased, poured out rapidly.

    Back.–Dull pain between shoulders and about renal and splenic region; pain in lumbar region better lying down.

    Extremities.–Aching in all joints, especially ankles. Feet feel swollen and tired.

    Modalities.–Better cool draught, pressure. Worse evening.

    Relationship.–Euonymus Europoea-Spindle-tree (Liver disorders, biliousness, lumbago, gastric derangements with albuminuria. Cutting pains in malar bones, tongue, penis up to bladder); Podophyl; Ammon pic; Chel; Euonymin 1x trit (albuminuria).

    Dose.–Tincture and lower attenuations.

  • EUGENIA JAMBOS

    Rose-apple
    (JAMBOSA VULGARIS)

    Eugenia produces a state of intoxication like alcohol. Everything appears beautiful and larger; excitement soon changing to depression. Acne, simple and indurated. The pimples are painful for some distance around. Acne rosacea. Nausea, better smoking. Comedones.

    Head.–Headache as if a board were lying on right side. Talkative. Hot lachrymation.

    Extremities.–Nightly cramp in soles of feet (Cupr; Zing). Skin cracks about toes. Fissures between toes. Skin recedes from the nails, forming pus.

    Relationship.–Compare: Eugenia chekun-Myrtus chekan (chronic Bronchitis); Antim; Berb aquif.

  • EUCALYPTUS GLOBULUS

    Blue Gum-tree

    Eucalyptus is a powerful antiseptic and destructive to low forms of life, a stimulating expectorant and an efficient diaphoretic. Atonic dyspepsia, gastric and intestinal catarrh. A remedy with marked effects on catarrhal processes, malaria, and intestinal disturbance. Influenza. Fevers of a relapsing character. Produces diuresis and great increase of urea. Hæmorrhages internally and locally (Hamam). Typhoid. Symptoms of exhaustion and toxæmia. Conditions of the mucous surfaces of the air passages, genito-urinary organs and gastro-intestinal tract. A gastro-intestinal irritant with pain in stomach and upper intestines several hours after eating.

    Head.–Exhilaration. Desire for exercise. Dull congestive headache. Coryza; sore throat. Eyes smart and burn.

    Nose.–Stuffed-up sensation; thin, watery coryza; nose does not stop running; tightness across bridge. Chronic catarrhal, purulent and fetid discharge. Ethmoid and frontal sinus involved.

    Throat.–Relaxed, aphthous condition of mouth and throat. Excessive secretion of saliva. Burns, feels full. Constant sensation of phlegm in throat. Enlarged, ulcerated tonsils and inflamed throat (Use tincture locally).

    Stomach.–Slow digestion. Much fetid gas. Beating and goneness with pulsation in epigastric arteries. Spleen hard and contracted. Pain in epigastrium and upper abdomen ameliorated by food. Malignant disease of stomach with vomiting of blood and sour fluid.

    Abdomen.–Acute diarrhœa. Aching pains in bowels with feeling of impending diarrhœa. Dysentery, with rectal heat; tenesmus; hæmorrhage. Diarrhœa; stools thin, watery, preceded by sharp pains. Typhoid diarrhœa.

    Urinary.–Acute nephritis complicating influenza. Hæmaturia. Suppurative inflammation of kidneys. Urine contains pus and is deficient in urea. Bladder feels loss of expulsive force. Burning and tenesmus; catarrh of bladder; diuresis; urethral caruncle. Spasmodic stricture; gonorrhœa.

    Respiratory.–Asthma, with great dyspnœa and palpitation. Moist asthma. Expectoration white, thick mucus. Bronchitis in the aged. Bronchorrhœa (Bals. Peru). Profuse expectoration of offensive muco-pus. Irritative cough. Whooping-cough in rachitic children. Fetid form of bronchitis, bronchial dilatation and emphysema.

    Female.–Leucorrhœa, acrid, fetid. Ulcer around orifice of urethra.

    Extremities.–Rheumatic pains; worse at night, walking or carrying anything. Stiff, weary sensation. Pricking sensation, followed by painful aching. Nodular swellings over metacarpal and metatarsal joints.

    Skin.–Glandular enlargements and nodular swelling over joints. Foul and indolent ulcers. Herpetic eruptions.

    Fever.–Elevation of temperature. Continued and typhoid fevers. Scarlet fever (protective and curative). Discharges show a tendency to foulness, high temperature, accelerated but not strong pulse. Use the tincture.

    Relationship.–Compare: Oil of Eucalyptus.–(Produces remarkable bodily exhaustion, no desire for any motion, unable to do any real mental work, study, etc. The volatile oil possesses, in common with other terpenes, the property of converting water, in presence of air and sunlight, into hydrogen peroxide, or to convert oxygen into ozone, which is the explanation usually given of its deodorizing and antiseptic properties (Merrel). Locally, in catarrhal affections, especially when of a suppurating or putrid nature). Eucalyptus tereticoris (menstrual cough and prostration). Eucalyptol (depresses temperature of healthy body more than Quinine; acts on kidneys like Terebinth); Anacard; Hydrast; Kali sulph. Eucalyptus neutralizes ill effects of Strychnin. Angophora-Red Gum–(dysentery, pains, tenesmus; better lying flat on face; obstinate constipation). Eucalyptus rostrata; Kino.

    Dose.–Tincture in one to 20 drop doses, and lower potencies. Also Oil of Eucalyptus in five-drop doses.

  • ESCHSCHOLTZIA CALIFORNICA

    California Poppy

    Experiments upon animals showed it to act more powerfully than morphine which is contained in the plant. It causes general weakness, torpor, accelerated respiration, complete paralysis of the limbs. Slowing of circulation.

    A soporific remedy which is harmless. Use the tincture.

  • ERYNGIUM AQUATICUM

    Button Snake-root

    A remedy for urinary disorders. Strangury, etc, with nervous erethism. Thick, yellow mucous discharges. Influenza. Uridrosis, sweat of urinous odor in evening.

    Respiratory.–Cough, with sense of constriction. Smarting in throat and larynx.

    Urinary.–Tenesmus of bladder and urethra. Difficult and frequent micturition. Pain behind pubes. Spasmodic stricture. Renal colic (Pareira; Calc). Congestion of kidneys with dull pain in back, running down the ureters and limbs. Irritable bladder from enlarged prostate gland, or from pressure of uterus.

    Male.–Discharge of prostatic fluid from slight causes. Seminal emissions without erections, with lassitude (Dioscor; Phos ac).

    Relationship.–Compare: Conium; Cannab; Dios; Ocim; Clemat.

    Dose.–Tincture, to third potency.

  • ERIODYCTION CALIFORNICUM

    Yerba Santa
    (ERIODICTYON)

    A remedy for asthmatic and bronchial affections. Bronchial phthisis, with night-sweats and emaciation. Asthma relieved by expectoration. Cough after influenza. Furthers absorption of effusion in plural cavity. Appetite poor and impaired digestion. Whooping cough.

    Head.–Dizzy, feels intoxicated. Pressure outwards; worse, occiput. Pain in ears. Coryza. Burning in throat. Foul mouth in morning. Coryza with dizziness and sneezing.

    Respiratory.–Wheezing; asthma, with coryza and mucous secretions. Dull pain in right lung. Burning in fauces. Chronic bronchitis, bronchial tuberculosis, with profuse, easily raised bronchial secretion, giving relief.

    Male.–Sore, dragging in testicle, could not bear any pressure; better gentle support.

    Relationship.–Compare: Grind; Aral; Eucalyp; Ipec.

    Dose.–Tincture in doses of 2 to 20 drops and attenuations.

  • ERIGERON CANADENSE

    Fleabane
    (ERIGERON – LEPTILON CANADENSE)

    Hæmorrhages are caused and cured by this remedy. Persistent hæmorrhage from the bladder. Hæmorrhage from the uterus, with painful micturition. Profuse bright-red blood. Pain in left ovary and hip. Chronic gonorrhœa, with burning micturition; continual dribbling. Dysentery, with soreness and burning in bladder. Tympanites.

    Female.–Metrorrhagia, with violent irritation of rectum and bladder, and prolapsus uteri. Bright-red flow. Menorrhagia; profuse leucorrhœa; bloody lochia returns after least motion, comes in gushes; between periods, leucorrhœa with urinary irritation; pregnant women with “weak uterus;” a bloody discharge on slight exertion. Bleeding hæmorrhoids; nosebleed instead of menses (Bry).

    Modalities.–Worse, left side.

    Relationship.–Terebinthina similar.

    Dose.–Tincture, to third potency. Oil of Erigeron 1x internally for tympanites. An enema of one dram of the oil with the yolk of an egg and pint of milk will reduce the most enormous tympanites.

  • ERECHTHITES HIERACIFOLIA

    Fire-weed
    (ERECHTHITES)

    A hćmorrhagic remedy. Epistaxis of bright blood. Hćmorrhage from any part, especially lungs; always attended by excitement of the circulation. Flashes of heat and coldness. Scanty urine, śdema of the extremities.

    Skin.–Symptoms like Rhus poisoning.

    Relationship.–Compare: Erig; Millef; Hamam; Rhus.

    Dose.–Tincture. Locally for Poison Oak.

  • EQUISETUM HYEMALE

    Scouring-rush
    (EQUISETUM)

    Principal action on the bladder. A remedy for enuresis and dysuria.

    Urinary.–Severe, dull pain and feeling of fullness in bladder, not relieved by urinating. Frequent urging with severe pain at the close of urination. Urine flows only drop by drop. Sharp, burning, cutting pain in urethra while urinating.

    Incontinence in children, with dreams or night-mares when passing urine. Incontinence in old women, also with involuntary stools. Retention and dysuria during pregnancy and after delivery. Much mucus in urine. Albuminuria. Involuntary urination.

    Kidney.–Deep pain in region of right kidney, extending to lower abdomen, with urgent desire to micturate. Right lumbar region painful.

    Modalities.–Worse, right side; movement, pressure, touch, sitting down; better, in afternoon from lying down.

    Relationship.–Compare: Hydrangea; Ferr phos; Apis; Canth; Linaria; Chimaph. Equisitum contains silica in appreciable quantity.

    Dose.–Tincture, to sixth potency. A decoction, teaspoonful doses, or the tincture in hot water, is found useful to allay irritability of urinary tract, calculus, dysuria, etc; also for pleuritic effusion and dropsy.

  • EPIPHEGUS VIRGINIANA

    Beechdrop
    (EPIPHEGUS – OROBANCHE)

    A remedy for sick, neurasthenic, and nervous headaches, especially in women, brought on or made worse by exertion, shopping, etc. Tongue coated yellow; bitter taste. Drowsy after meals. Loose stools. Subinvolution, with painful menstruation and congestion.

    Head.–Pressing pain in temples from without inwards, worse, left side. Viscid salivation, constant inclination to spit. Sick headache coming on when deviating from ordinary pursuits. Headaches from nerve tire caused by mental or physical exhaustion, preceded by hunger.

    Modalities.–Worse, from working in open air. Better, from sleep.

    Relationship.–Compare: Iris, Melilot; Sanguinar. Fagus-Beech-nuts–(headache and salivation; swelling on mouth; dread of water).

    Dose.–First to thirtieth potency.