Category: Materia Materica

Materia medica is a Latin term from the history of pharmacy for the body of collected knowledge about the therapeutic properties of any substance used for healing. The term derives from the title of a work by the Ancient Greek physician Pedanius Dioscorides in the 1st century AD. The term materia medica was used from the period of the Roman Empire until the 20th century but has now been generally replaced in medical education contexts by the term pharmacology. The term survives in the title of the British Medical Journal’s Materia Non Medica column.

  • LACTUCA VIROSA

    Acrid Lettuce

    This remedy acts principally upon the brain and circulatory system. Delirium tremens with sleeplessness, coldness, and tremor. Hydrothorax and ascites. Impotence. Sense of lightness and tightness affecting whole body, especially chest. Seems to be a true galactogogue. Marked action on extremities.

    Mind.–Stupefaction of sense. Great restlessness.

    Head.–Dull, heavy, confused, dizzy. Heat of face and headache, with general coldness. Headache, with affections of respiratory organs.

    Abdomen.–Sensation of weight, of fullness; borborygmi; abundant emission of wind. Colic in early morning, abdomen tense, relieved somewhat by evacuation and passing of wind.

    Chest.–Difficult breathing. Suffocative breathing from dropsy of the chest. Constant tickling cough. Incessant, spasmodic cough, as if chest would fly to pieces. Squeezing sensation in lower chest.

    Female.–Promotes catamenia. Increase of milk in breasts (Asafoet).

    Sleep.–Restless; impossible to get to sleep. Deep, comatose sleep.

    Extremities.–Lame hip down left side; worse walking. Coldness and numbness of feet and legs. Tremor of hands and arms. Cramps in shin bones, extending to toes and side of leg involving calves.

    Relationship.–Antidotes: Acet ac; Coff.

    Compare: Nabalus-Prenanthes Serpentaria-Rattlesnake root-White lettuce, similar to Lactuca, (chronic diarrhœa, worse after eating, nights and towards morning. Pain in abdomen and rectum; emaciation. Constipation and somnolence; susceptible to aura of others. Dyspepsia, with acid burning eructation. Craving for acid food. Leucorrhœa with throbbing in uterus); Lach; Kali carb; Spiranthes (galactagogue).

    Dose.–Tincture.

  • LACHNANTHES TINCTORIA

    Spirit-weed
    (LACHNANTHES)

    Head, chest and circulation are affected. Bridge of nose as if pinched. A remedy for torticollis, rheumatic symptoms about neck. Tuberculosis-light-complexioned people. Early stages, and established chest cases, with much coldness. Produces a desire to talk-a flow of language and the courage to make a speech.

    Head.–Right-sided pain, extending down to jaw; head feels enlarged; worse, least noise. Scalp painful. Sleepless. Circumscribed red cheeks; scalp feels sore, as if hair was standing on end; burning in palms and soles. Bridge of nose feels as if pinched.

    Chest.–Sensation of heat-bubbling and boiling around heart region rising to head.

    Back.–Chilliness between the shoulder-blades; pain and stiffness in back.

    Neck.–Drawn over to one side in sore throat. Rheumatism of the neck. Stiffness of neck. Pain in nape, as if dislocated.

    Skin.–Body icy cold; face yellow; tendency to sweat.

    Relationship.–Compare: Dulc; Bry; Puls; also Fel tauri (nape of neck pains, and great tension there).

    Dose.–Third potency. Tincture in phthisis, unit doses, once or twice a week, or three drops every four hours.

  • LACHESIS MUTUS

    Bushmaster or Surucucu
    (LACHESIS)

    Like all snake poisons, Lachesis decomposes the blood, rendering it more fluid; hence a hæmorrhagic tendency is marked. Purpura, septic states, diphtheria, and other low forms of disease, when the system is thoroughly poisoned and the prostration is profound. The modalities are most important in guiding to the remedy. Delirium tremens with much trembling and confusion. Very important during the climacteric and for patients of a melancholic disposition. Ill effects of suppressed discharges. Diphtheritic paralysis (Botulinum). Diphtheria carriers. Sensation of tension in various parts. Cannot bear anything tight anywhere.

    Mind.–Great loquacity. Amative. Sad in the morning; no desire to mix with the world. Restless and uneasy; does not wish to attend to business; wants to be off somewhere all the time. Jealous (Hyos). Mental labor best performed at night. Euthanasia. Suspicious; nightly delusion of fire. Religious insanity (Verat; Stram). Derangement of the time sense.

    Head.–Pain through head on awaking. Pain at root of nose. Pressure and burning on vertex. Waves of pain; worse after moving. Sun headaches. With headache, flickerings, dim vision, very pale face. Vertigo. Relieved by onset of a discharge (menses or nasal catarrh).

    Eyes.–Defective vision after diphtheria, extrinsic muscles too weak to maintain focus. Sensation as if eyes were drawn together by cords which were tied in a knot at root of nose.

    Ears.–Tearing pain from zygoma into ear; also with sore throat. Ear-wax hard, dry.

    Nose.–Bleeding, nostrils sensitive. Coryza, preceded by headache. Hay asthma; paroxysms of sneezing (Silica; Sabad).

    Face.–Pale. Trifacial neuralgia, left side, heat running up into head (Phos). Tearing pain in jaw-bones (Amphisbæna; Phos). Purple, mottled, puffed; looks swollen, bloated, jaundiced, chlorotic.

    Mouth.–Gums swollen, spongy, bleed. Tongue swollen, burns, trembles, red, dry and cracked at tip, catches on teeth. Aphthous and denuded spots with burning and rawness. Nauseous taste. Teeth ache, pain extends to ears. Pain in facial bones.

    Throat.–Sore, worse left side, swallowing liquids. Quinsy. Septic parotiditis. Dry, intensely swollen, externally and internally. Diphtheria; membrane dusky, blackish; pain aggravated by hot drinks; chronic sore throat, with much hawking; mucus sticks, and cannot be forced up or down. Very painful; worse slightest pressure, touch is even more annoying. In diphtheria, etc, the trouble began on the left side. Tonsils purplish. Purple, livid color of throat. Feeling as if something was swollen which must be swallowed; worse, swallowing saliva or liquids. Pain into ear. Collar and neck-band must be very loose.

    Stomach.–Craving for alcohol, oysters. Any food causes distress. Pit of stomach painful to touch. Hungry, cannot wait for food. Gnawing pressure made better by eating, but returning in a few hours. Perceptible trembling movement in the epigastric region. Empty swallowing more painful than swallowing solids.

    Abdomen.–Liver region sensitive, cannot bear anything around waist. Especially suitable to drunkards. Abdomen tympanitic, sensitive, painful (Bell).

    Stool.–Constipated, offensive stool. Anus feels tight, as if nothing could go through it. Pain darting up the rectum every time be sneezes or coughs. Hæmorrhage from bowels like charred straw, black particles. Hæmorrhoids protrude, become constricted, purplish. Stitches in them on sneezing or coughing. Constant urging in rectum, not for stool.

    Female.–Climacteric troubles, palpitation, flashes of heat, hæmorrhages, vertex headache, fainting spells; worse, pressure of clothes. Menses too short, too feeble; pains all relieved by the flow (Eupion). Left ovary very painful and swollen, indurated. Mammæ inflamed, bluish. Coccyx and sacrum pain, especially on rising from sitting posture. Acts especially well at beginning and close of menstruation.

    Male.–Intense excitement of sexual organs.

    Respiratory.–Upper part of windpipe very susceptible to touch. Sensation of suffocation and strangulation on lying down, particularly when anything is around throat; compels patient to spring from bed and rush for open window. Spasm of glottis; feels as if something ran from neck to larynx. Feels he must take a deep breath. Cramp-like distress in præcordial region. Cough; dry, suffocative fits, tickling. Little secretion and much sensitiveness; worse, pressure on larynx, after sleep, open air. Breathing almost stops on falling asleep (Grind). Larynx painful to touch. Sensation as of a plug (Anac) which moves up and down, with a short cough.

    Heart.–Palpitation, with fainting spells, especially during climacteric. Constricted feeling causing palpitation, with anxiety. Cyanosis. Irregular beats.

    Back.–Neuralgia of coccyx, worse rising from sitting posture; must sit perfectly still. Pain in neck, worse cervical region. Sensation of threads stretched from back to arms, legs, eyes, etc.

    Extremities.–Sciatica, right side, better lying down. Pain in tibia (may follow sore throat). Shortening of tendons.

    Sleep.–Patient sleeps into an aggravation. Sudden starting when falling asleep. Sleepiness, yet cannot sleep (Bell; Op). Wide-awake in evening.

    Fever.–Chilly in back; feet icy cold; hot flushes and hot perspiration. Paroxysm returns after acids. Intermittent fever every spring.

    Skin.–Hot perspiration, bluish, purplish appearance. Boils, carbuncles, ulcers, with bluish, purple surroundings. Dark blisters. Bed-sores, with black edges. Blue-black swellings. Pyemia; dissecting wounds. Purpura, with intense prostration. Senile erysipelas. Wens. Cellulitis. Varicose ulcers.

    Modalities.–Worse, after sleep, (Kali bich). Lachesis sleeps into aggravation; ailments that come on during sleep (Calc); left side, in the spring, warm bath, pressure or constriction, hot drinks. Closing eyes. Better, appearance of discharges, warm applications.

    Relationship.–Antidotes: Ars; Merc; Heat; Alcohol; Salt.

    Complementary: Crotalus cascavella often completes curative work of Lachesis (Mure; Lycop; Hep; Salamandra).

    Incompatible: Acet ac; Carb ac.

    Compare: Cotyledon (climacteric troubles); Nat m; Nit ac; Crotal; Amphisbœna -snake lizard–(right jaw swollen and painful, lancinating pains; headaches, lancinating pains. Eruption of vesicles and pimples); Naja; Lepidium.

    Dose.–Eighth to 200th potency. Doses ought not be repeated too frequently. If well indicated, a single dose should be allowed to exhaust its action.

  • LACHESIS MUTUS

    Bushmaster or Surucucu
    (LACHESIS)

    Like all snake poisons, Lachesis decomposes the blood, rendering it more fluid; hence a hæmorrhagic tendency is marked. Purpura, septic states, diphtheria, and other low forms of disease, when the system is thoroughly poisoned and the prostration is profound. The modalities are most important in guiding to the remedy. Delirium tremens with much trembling and confusion. Very important during the climacteric and for patients of a melancholic disposition. Ill effects of suppressed discharges. Diphtheritic paralysis (Botulinum). Diphtheria carriers. Sensation of tension in various parts. Cannot bear anything tight anywhere.

    Mind.–Great loquacity. Amative. Sad in the morning; no desire to mix with the world. Restless and uneasy; does not wish to attend to business; wants to be off somewhere all the time. Jealous (Hyos). Mental labor best performed at night. Euthanasia. Suspicious; nightly delusion of fire. Religious insanity (Verat; Stram). Derangement of the time sense.

    Head.–Pain through head on awaking. Pain at root of nose. Pressure and burning on vertex. Waves of pain; worse after moving. Sun headaches. With headache, flickerings, dim vision, very pale face. Vertigo. Relieved by onset of a discharge (menses or nasal catarrh).

    Eyes.–Defective vision after diphtheria, extrinsic muscles too weak to maintain focus. Sensation as if eyes were drawn together by cords which were tied in a knot at root of nose.

    Ears.–Tearing pain from zygoma into ear; also with sore throat. Ear-wax hard, dry.

    Nose.–Bleeding, nostrils sensitive. Coryza, preceded by headache. Hay asthma; paroxysms of sneezing (Silica; Sabad).

    Face.–Pale. Trifacial neuralgia, left side, heat running up into head (Phos). Tearing pain in jaw-bones (Amphisbæna; Phos). Purple, mottled, puffed; looks swollen, bloated, jaundiced, chlorotic.

    Mouth.–Gums swollen, spongy, bleed. Tongue swollen, burns, trembles, red, dry and cracked at tip, catches on teeth. Aphthous and denuded spots with burning and rawness. Nauseous taste. Teeth ache, pain extends to ears. Pain in facial bones.

    Throat.–Sore, worse left side, swallowing liquids. Quinsy. Septic parotiditis. Dry, intensely swollen, externally and internally. Diphtheria; membrane dusky, blackish; pain aggravated by hot drinks; chronic sore throat, with much hawking; mucus sticks, and cannot be forced up or down. Very painful; worse slightest pressure, touch is even more annoying. In diphtheria, etc, the trouble began on the left side. Tonsils purplish. Purple, livid color of throat. Feeling as if something was swollen which must be swallowed; worse, swallowing saliva or liquids. Pain into ear. Collar and neck-band must be very loose.

    Stomach.–Craving for alcohol, oysters. Any food causes distress. Pit of stomach painful to touch. Hungry, cannot wait for food. Gnawing pressure made better by eating, but returning in a few hours. Perceptible trembling movement in the epigastric region. Empty swallowing more painful than swallowing solids.

    Abdomen.–Liver region sensitive, cannot bear anything around waist. Especially suitable to drunkards. Abdomen tympanitic, sensitive, painful (Bell).

    Stool.–Constipated, offensive stool. Anus feels tight, as if nothing could go through it. Pain darting up the rectum every time be sneezes or coughs. Hæmorrhage from bowels like charred straw, black particles. Hæmorrhoids protrude, become constricted, purplish. Stitches in them on sneezing or coughing. Constant urging in rectum, not for stool.

    Female.–Climacteric troubles, palpitation, flashes of heat, hæmorrhages, vertex headache, fainting spells; worse, pressure of clothes. Menses too short, too feeble; pains all relieved by the flow (Eupion). Left ovary very painful and swollen, indurated. Mammæ inflamed, bluish. Coccyx and sacrum pain, especially on rising from sitting posture. Acts especially well at beginning and close of menstruation.

    Male.–Intense excitement of sexual organs.

    Respiratory.–Upper part of windpipe very susceptible to touch. Sensation of suffocation and strangulation on lying down, particularly when anything is around throat; compels patient to spring from bed and rush for open window. Spasm of glottis; feels as if something ran from neck to larynx. Feels he must take a deep breath. Cramp-like distress in præcordial region. Cough; dry, suffocative fits, tickling. Little secretion and much sensitiveness; worse, pressure on larynx, after sleep, open air. Breathing almost stops on falling asleep (Grind). Larynx painful to touch. Sensation as of a plug (Anac) which moves up and down, with a short cough.

    Heart.–Palpitation, with fainting spells, especially during climacteric. Constricted feeling causing palpitation, with anxiety. Cyanosis. Irregular beats.

    Back.–Neuralgia of coccyx, worse rising from sitting posture; must sit perfectly still. Pain in neck, worse cervical region. Sensation of threads stretched from back to arms, legs, eyes, etc.

    Extremities.–Sciatica, right side, better lying down. Pain in tibia (may follow sore throat). Shortening of tendons.

    Sleep.–Patient sleeps into an aggravation. Sudden starting when falling asleep. Sleepiness, yet cannot sleep (Bell; Op). Wide-awake in evening.

    Fever.–Chilly in back; feet icy cold; hot flushes and hot perspiration. Paroxysm returns after acids. Intermittent fever every spring.

    Skin.–Hot perspiration, bluish, purplish appearance. Boils, carbuncles, ulcers, with bluish, purple surroundings. Dark blisters. Bed-sores, with black edges. Blue-black swellings. Pyemia; dissecting wounds. Purpura, with intense prostration. Senile erysipelas. Wens. Cellulitis. Varicose ulcers.

    Modalities.–Worse, after sleep, (Kali bich). Lachesis sleeps into aggravation; ailments that come on during sleep (Calc); left side, in the spring, warm bath, pressure or constriction, hot drinks. Closing eyes. Better, appearance of discharges, warm applications.

    Relationship.–Antidotes: Ars; Merc; Heat; Alcohol; Salt.

    Complementary: Crotalus cascavella often completes curative work of Lachesis (Mure; Lycop; Hep; Salamandra).

    Incompatible: Acet ac; Carb ac.

    Compare: Cotyledon (climacteric troubles); Nat m; Nit ac; Crotal; Amphisbœna -snake lizard–(right jaw swollen and painful, lancinating pains; headaches, lancinating pains. Eruption of vesicles and pimples); Naja; Lepidium.

    Dose.–Eighth to 200th potency. Doses ought not be repeated too frequently. If well indicated, a single dose should be allowed to exhaust its action.

  • LAC VACCINUM DEFLORATUM

    Skimmed Milk
    (LAC DEFLORATUM)

    A remedy for diseases with faulty nutrition; sick headaches, with profuse flow of urine during pain. Car sickness.

    Head.–Despondent. Pain begins in forehead to occiput, in morning on rising. Intense throbbing, with nausea, vomiting, blindness, and obstinate constipation; worse, noise, light, motion, during menses, with great prostration, and better by pressure and bandaging head tightly.

    Stool.–Constipation. Stools hard, large, with great straining; painful, lacerating anus.

    Relationship.–Compare: Colostrum (Diarrhœa in infants. Whole body smells sour. Colic). Nat mur.

    Dose.–Sixth, to thirtieth potency and higher.

  • LAC CANINUM

    Dog’s Milk

    This remedy is of undoubted value in certain form of sore throat and diphtheria, and rheumatism. Corresponds to a low-vitiated, non-feverish type of sickness. The keynote symptom is, erratic pains, alternating sides. Feels as if walking on air, or of not touching the bed when lying down. Great lassitude. Ozæna. Decided effect in drying up milk in women who cannot nurse the baby. Great weakness and prostration. Sinking spells every morning. Mastitis.

    Mind.–Very forgetful; in writing, makes mistakes. Despondent; thinks her disease incurable. Attacks of rage. Visions of snakes. Thinks himself of little consequence.

    Head.–Sensation of walking or floating in the air (Sticta). Pain first one side, then the other. Blurred vision, nausea and vomiting at height of attack of headache. Occipital pain, with shooting extending to forehead. Sensation as if brain were alternately contracted and relaxed. Noises in ears. Reverberation of voice.

    Nose.–Coryza; one nostril stuffed up, the other free; alternate. Alæ nasi and corners of mouth cracked. Bones of nose sore to pressure. Bloody pus discharged.

    Mouth.–Tongue coated white with bright red edges; profuse salivation. Drooling in diphtheria. Cracking of jaw while eating (Nit ac; Rhus). Putrid taste increased by sweets.

    Throat.–Sensitive to touch. Painful swallowing; pain extends to ears. Sore throat and cough with menstruation. Tonsillitis and diphtheria symptoms change repeatedly from side to side. Shining glazed appearance of deposit, pearly-white or like pure white porcelain. Stiffness of neck and tongue. Throat feels burned raw. Tickling sensation causes constant cough. Sore throat beginning and ending with menses.

    Female.–Menses too early, profuse, flow in gushes. Breasts swollen; painful before (Calc c; Con; Puls) and better on appearance of menses. Mastitis; worse, least jarHelps to dry up milk. Sinking at epigastrium. Sexual organs easily excited. Backache; spine very sensitive to touch or pressure. Galactorrhœa.

    Extremities.–Sciatica, right side. Legs feel numb and stiff, cramps in feet. Rheumatic pains in extremities and back, from one side to the other. Pain in arms to fingers. Burning in palms and soles.

    Sleep.–Dreams of snakes.

    Modalities.–Worse, morning of one day and in the evening of next. Better, cold, cold drinks.

    Relationship.–Compare: Lach; Con; Lac felinum-Cat’s Milk–(ciliary neuralgia; eye symptoms, photophobia; asthenopia; dysmenorrhœa); Lac vaccinum-Cows’ Milk–(headache, rheumatic pains, constipation); Lac vaccinum coagulatum-Curds–(nausea of pregnancy); Lactis vaccini floc–Cream–(diphtheria, leucorrhœa, menorrhagia, dysphagia); Lactic ac.

    Dose.–Thirtieth and the highest potencies.

  • LACTICUM ACIDUM

    Lactic Acid

    Morning sickness, diabetes, and rheumatism offer a field for this remedy. Troubles in the breasts. Locally, in the tuberculous ulceration of vocal cords.

    Stomach.–Tongue dry, parched. Thirst; voracious hunger. Canker, copious salivation and water-brashNausea; morning sickness, especially in pale anæmic women. Hot, acrid eructation. Nausea; better, eating. Burning, hot gas from stomach to throat, causing profuse secretion of tenacious mucus, worse smoking.

    Throat.–Fullness or lump like a puff ball. Keeps swallowing. Constricted low down.

    Chest.–Pain in breasts, with enlargement of axillary glands, and pain extends into hand.

    Extremities.–Rheumatic pain in joints and shoulders, wrists, knees, with much weakness. Trembling of whole body while walking. Limbs feel chilly.

    Urine.–Large quantities passed, frequently. Saccharine.

    Relationship.–Compare: Sarcolactic acid q v. Lithia; Phos ac.

    Dose.–Third to thirtieth potency. Six to ten drops in a small glass of water in acute gastro-enteritis (Cartier).

  • KREOSOTUM

    Beechwood Kreosote

    Kreosotum is a mixture of phenols obtained from this distillation.

    Pulsations all over the body, and profuse bleeding from small wounds. Very severe, old neuralgic affections; pains rather aggravated by rest. Excoriating, burning, and offensive discharges. Hæmorrhages, ulcerations, cancerous affections. Rapid decomposition of fluids and secretions, and burning pains. Overgrown, poorly developed children. Post-climacteric diseases. Tumefaction, puffiness, gangrene. Ailings of teething children.

    Mental.–Music causes weeping and palpitation. Vanishing of thought; stupid, forgetful, peevish, irritable. Child wants everything but throws it away when given.

    Head.–Dull pain, as from a board pressing against forehead. Menstrual headache. Occipital pain (Gels; Zinc pic).

    Eyes.–Salty lachrymation. Lids red and swollen.

    Ears.–Eruption around and pimples within. Difficult hearing and buzzing.

    Face.–Sick, suffering expression; hot, cheeks red.

    Mouth.–Lips red, bleeding. Very painful dentition; child will not sleep. Very rapid decay of teeth, with spongy, bleeding gums; teeth dark and crumbly (Staph; Ant c). Putrid odor and bitter taste.

    Nose.–Offensive smell and discharge. Chronic catarrh of old people. Acrid rawness. Lupus (Ars).

    Throat.–Burning, choking sensation. Putrid odor.

    Stomach.–Nausea; vomiting of food several hours after eating; of sweetish water in the morning. Feeling of coldness, as of ice water in stomach. Soreness; better eating. Painful hard spot. Hæmatemesis. Bitter taste after a swallow of water.

    Abdomen.–Distended. Burning hæmorrhoids. Diarrhœa; very offensive; dark brown. Bloody, fetid stools. Cholera infantum in connection with painful dentition, green stools, nausea, dry skin, exhaustion, etc.

    Urine.–Offensive. Violent itching of vulva and vagina, worse when urinating. Can urinate only when lying; cannot get out of bed quick enough during first sleep. Dreams of urinating. Enuresis in the first part of night. Must hurry when desire comes to urinate.

    Female.–Corrosive itching within vulva, burning and swelling of labia; violent itching between labia and thighs. During menses, difficult hearing; buzzing and roaring; eruption after. Burning and soreness in external and internal parts. Leucorrhœa, yellow, acrid; odor of green corn; worse between periods. Hæmorrhage after coition. Menses too early, prolonged. Vomiting of pregnancy, with ptyalism. Menstrual flow intermits (Puls); ceases on sitting or walking; reappears on lying down. Pain worse after menses. Lochia offensive; intermits.

    Respiratory.–Hoarse, with pain in larynx. Cough; worse evening, with efforts to vomit, with pain in chest. Raw burning in chest; pains and oppression. Cough after influenza (Eriodyction). Winter coughs of old people, with heavy pressure on sternum. Gangrene of lungs. After every cough, copious, purulent expectoration. Hæmoptysis; periodic attacks. Sternum feels pressed in.

    Back.–Dragging backache, extending to genitals and down thighs. Great debility.

    Extremities.–Pain in joints, hip and knee. Boring pain in hip-joints. Scapulæ sore.

    Skin.–Itching, worse towards evening. Burning in soles. Senile gangrene. Small wounds bleed freely (Crot; Lach; Phos). Pustules and herpes. Ecchymosis; dorsal surface of fingers and hands eczematous.

    Sleep.–Disturbed with tossing. Paralytic sensation in limbs on waking. Anxious dreams of pursuit, fire, erections, etc.

    Modalities.–Worse, in open air, cold rest, when lying; after menstruation. Better, from warmth, motion, warm diet.

    Relationship.–Antidote: Nux. Inimical: Carbo.

    Complementary in malignant diseases: Ars; Phos; Sulph.

    Guaiacol (is the principal constituent of Kreosote, and similar in action. Used in pulmonary tuberculosis. Dose 1 to 5 m).

    Matico-Artanthe or Piper augustifolia, (Gonorrhœa, hæmorrhage from lungs; catarrhal conditions of genito-urinary organs and gastro-intestinal tract. Topically a hæmostatic. Difficult, dry, deep, winter cough. Use tincture).

    Compare also: Fuligo ligni; Carbol ac; Iod; Laches.

    Dose.–Third to thirtieth potency. The 200th in sensitive patients.

  • KOLA

    Neurasthenia. Regulates the circulation, is tonic and anti-diarrheic, regulates cardiac rhythm and acts diuretically. Weak heart.

    The remedy for the drinking habit. It promotes the appetite and digestion, and lessens the craving for liquor. Asthma. Gives power to endure prolonged physical exertion without taking food and without feeling fatigued.

    Relationship.–Coca.

    Dose.–Three to ten drops, even one dram doses, three times a day.

  • KALMIA LATIFOLIA

    Mountain Laurel

    A rheumatic remedy. Pains shift rapidly. Nausea and slow pulse frequently accompanying. Has also a prominent action on the heart. In small doses, it accelerates the heart’s action; in larger it moderates it greatly. Neuralgia; pains shoot downwards, with numbness. Fulgurating pains of locomotor ataxia. Protracted and continuous fevers, with tympanites. Paralytic sensations; pains and aching in limbs accompany nearly every group of symptoms. Albuminuria.

    Head.–Vertigo; worse stooping. Confusion of brain. Pain in front and temporal region from head to nape and to teeth; from cardiac origin.

    Eyes.–Vision impaired. Stiff, drawing sensation when moving eyes. Rheumatic iritis. Scleritis, pain increased by moving the eye.

    Face.–Neuralgia; worse right side. Stitches in tongue. Stitches and tearing in bones of jaw and face.

    Stomach.–Warm, glowing sensation in epigastrium. Nausea; vomiting. Pain in pit of stomach; worse by bending forward; relieved by sitting erect. Bilious attacks, with nausea, vertigo, and headache. Sensation of something being pressed under the epigastrium.

    Urinary.–Frequent, with sharp pains in lumbar region. Post-scarlatinal nephritis.

    Heart.–Weak, slow pulse (Dig; Apoc can). Fluttering of heart, with anxiety. Palpitation; worse leaning forward. Gouty and rheumatic metastasis of heart. Tachycardia, with pain (Thyroid). Tobacco heart. Dyspnœa and pressure from epigastrium toward the heart. Sharp pains take away the breath. Shooting through chest above heart into shoulder-blades. Frequent pulse. Heart’s action tumultuous, rapid and visible. Paroxysms of anguish around heart.

    Female.–Menses too early, or suppressed, with pain in limbs and back and inside of thighs. Leucorrhœa follows menses.

    Back.–Pain from neck down arm; in upper three dorsal vertebræ extending to shoulder-blade. Pain down back, as if it would break; in localized regions of spine; through shoulders. Lumbar pains, of nervous origin.

    Extremities.–Deltoid rheumatism especially right. Pains from hips to knees and feet. Pains affect a large part of a limb, or several joints, and pass through quickly. Weakness, numbness, pricking, and sense of coldness in limbs. Pains along ulnar nerve, index finger. Joints red, hot, swollen. Tingling and numbness of left arm.

    Sleep.–Sleepless, wakes very early in morning.

    Modalities.–Worse, leaning forward (opposite, Kali carb); looking down; motion, open air.

    Relationship.–Compare: Kalmia contains Arbutin g v. Derris pinuta (of great service in neuralgic headaches of rheumatic origin).

    Compare: Spigelia; Pulsat.

    Complementary: Benz acid.

    Dose.–Tincture, to sixth potency.