Category: Materia Materica

Guao

Important eye and skin symptoms. Affections of antrum. Sacro-iliac and abdominal pain. Throbbing pains worse by heat. Pain in joints and ankles.

Eyes.–Ciliary neuralgia with eyes feeling large and protruded, especially right. Worse, near warm stove; feels as if pressed outward. Sees only glimmer of light with left eye. Glaucoma, sense of fullness; eyeball feels too large. Motion of eyes aggravates.

Face.–Swollen, with eyes projecting.

Skin.–Itches, red and pimples. Redness all over, like scarlatina. Erysipelas. Deep ulcers, with hard edges. Leprosy. Red stripes on skin (Euphorb). Eczema (papular) of the trunk and extremities; also pustular type.

Chest.–Acute pain in left mammary gland. Pain from right side of chest down arm to fingers. Cough with pain under left breast, going through to left scapula.

Modalities.–Better, open air, scratching; by motion. Worse, touch, warmth, rest; night.

Relationship.–Compare: Rhus; Anacard; Euphorb.

Dose.–First to thirtieth potency.

Bitter Cucumber

Often indicated in the transition season when the air is cold, but the sun is still powerful enough to heat the blood.

Develops most of its symptoms in the abdomen and head, causing intense neuralgias. It is especially suitable for irritable persons easily angered, and ill effects therefrom. Women with copious menstruation, and of sedentary habits. Persons with a tendency to corpulency. The neuralgic pains are nearly always relieved by pressure. Cramps and twitching and shortening of muscles. Constrictions and contractions. Cystospasm following operations on orifices (Hyper). Urinous odor of perspiration (Berb; Nitr ac). Agonizing pain in abdomen, causing patient to bend double, is most characteristic. Sensations; cutting, twisting, grinding, contracting and bruised; as if clamped with iron bands.

Mind.–Extremely irritable. Becomes angry when questioned. Mortification caused by offense. Anger, with indignation (Cham; Bry; Nux).

Head.–Vertigo when turning head to the left. Lateral cutting headache, with nausea, vomiting. Pains (better pressure and heat), with soreness of scalp. Burning pains, digging, rending, and tearing. Frontal headache; worse, stooping, lying on back, and moving eyelids.

Eyes.–Pains sharp, boring, better pressure. Sensation on stooping, as if eye would fall out. Gouty affections of eyes. Violent pain in eyeballs which precede the development of glaucoma.

Face.–Tearing, shooting, and swelling of face; left side great soreness. Get relief from pressure (China). Neuralgia, with chilliness; teeth seem too long. Sounds re-echo in ears. Pain in stomach, always with pain of teeth or head.

Stomach.–Very bitter taste. Tongue rough, as from sand, and feels scalded. Canine hunger. Feeling in stomach as if something would not yield; drawing pain.

Abdomen.–Agonizing cutting pain in abdomen causing patient to end over double, and pressing on the abdomen. Sensation as if stones were being ground together in the abdomen, and would burst. Intestines feel as if bruised. Colic with cramps in calves. Cutting in abdomen, especially after anger. Each paroxysm is attended with general agitation and a chill over the cheeks, ascending from the hypogastrium. Pain in small spot below navel. Dysenteric stool renewed each time by the least food or drink. Jelly-like stools. Musty odor. Distention.

Female.–Boring pain in ovary. Must draw up double, with great restlessness. Round, small cystic tumors in ovaries or broad ligaments. Wants abdomen supported by pressure. Bearing-down cramps, causing her to bend double (Opium).

Urine.–Intense burning along urethra during stool. Vesical catarrh, discharge like fresh white of egg. Viscid (Phos acid) fetid; small quantities, with frequent urging. Itching at orifice. Red, hard crystals, adhering firmly to vessel. Tenesmus of bladder. Pains on urinating over whole abdomen.

Extremities.–Contraction of muscles. All the limbs are drawn together. Pain in right deltoid (Guaco). Cramp-like pain in hip; lies on affected side; pain from hip to knee. Spontaneous luxation of the hip-joints. Stiffness of joints and shortening of tendons. Sciatic pain, left side, drawing, tearing; better, pressure and heat; worse, gentle touch. Contraction of the muscles. Pain down right thigh; muscles and tendons feel too short; numbness with pains (Gnaphal). Pain in left knee joint.

Modalities.–Worse, from anger and indignation. Better, doubling up, hard pressure, warmth, lying with head bent forward.

Relationship.–Antidote: Coffea; Staphis; Cham. Colocynth is the best antidote to lead poisoning (Royal).

Compare: Lobelia erinus (violent cork-screw-like pains in abdomen). Dipodium punctatum (Writhing. Twisting like a dying snake. Intractable insomnia). Dioscor; Chamom; Coccul; Merc; Plum; Magn phos.

Dose.–Sixth to thirtieth potency.

Stone-Root

Pelvic and portal congestion, resulting hæmorrhoids and constipation, especially in females. Depressed arterial tension, general atony of muscular fiber. Chronic nasal, gastric, and pharyngeal catarrh, due to portal obstruction. Dropsy from cardiac disease. Pruritus in pregnancy, with piles. Constipation of children from intestinal atony. Said to be of special value when given before operations, for rectal diseases. Sense of weight and constriction. Venous engorgement.

Head.–Dull frontal headache; from suppressed hæmorrhoids. Chronic catarrh. Yellow-coated tongue. Bitter taste (Colocy; Bry).

Rectum.–Sensation of sharp sticks in rectum. Sense of constriction. Vascular engorgement of rectum. Dry feces. Most obstinate constipation, with protruding hæmorrhoids. Aching in anus and hypogastrium. Constipation during pregnancy; with membranous dysmenorrhœa, following labor (Nux). Painful bleeding piles. Dysentery, with tenesmus. Alternate constipation and diarrhœa, and great flatulence. Itching of anus (Teucrium; Ratanh).

Female.–Dysmenorrhœa; pruritus of vulva; prolapse of womb; swelling and dark redness of genitals; pain on sitting down. Membranous dysmenorrhœa, with constipation. Pruritus. Cold feeling in thighs after menstruation. Sensation of swelling of labia and of clitoris.

Respiratory.–Cough from excessive use of voice; “minister’s sore throat”; sharp pain in larynx. Hoarseness. Harassing, dry cough.

Heart.–Palpitation; rapid but weak. Dropsy. After heart symptoms relieved, piles or menses return. Chest-pains alternate with hæmorrhoids. Oppression, faintness, and dyspnœa (Acon ferox).

Modalities.–Worse, from the slightest mental emotion or excitement; cold. Better, heat.

Relationship.–Antidote: Nux.

Compare: Aescul; Aloes; Hamam; Lycopus; Negundo; Sulph; Nux.

Dose.–Tincture, to third attenuation. Higher potencies where there is organic heart affection.

Meadow Saffron
(COLCHICUM)

Affects markedly the muscular tissues, periosteum, and synovial membranes of joints. Has specific power of relieving the gouty paroxysms. It seems to be more beneficial in chronic affections of these parts. The parts are red, hot, swollen. Tearing pains; worse, in the evening and at night and from touch; stubbing the toes hurts exceedingly. There is always great prostration, internal coldness, and tendency to collapse. Effects of night watching and hard study. Shocks as from electricity through one half of body. Bad effects from suppressed sweat. Dreams of mice.

Head.–Headache chiefly frontal and temporal, but also occipital and in nape of neck, worse afternoon and evening.

Eyes.–Pupils unequal; left pupil contracted. Variations in visual acuity. Lachrymation worse in open air; violent tearing pain in eyes. Dim vision after reading. Spots before eyes.

Ears.–Itching in ears; sharp, shooting pains below right tragus.

Face.–Pain in facial muscles, moving about. Tingling and œdematous swelling; cheeks red, hot, sweaty. Very irritable with the pains (Cham). Pain behind angle of right lower jaw.

Stomach.–Dry mouth, tongue burns, gums and teeth pain. Thirst; pain in stomach and flatulence. The smell of food causes nausea even to fainting, especially fish. Profuse salivary secretion. Vomiting of mucus, bile and food; worse, any motion; great coldness in stomach. Craving for various things, but is averse to then when smelling them, seized them with nausea. Gouty gastralgia. Burning or icy coldness in stomach and abdomen. Thirst for effervescent, alcoholic beverages. Pain in transverse colon.

Abdomen.–Distention of abdomen, with gas, inability to stretch out legs. Borborygmi. Pain over liver. Cæcum and ascending colon much distended. Fullness and continuous rumbling. Ascites.

Stool.–Painful, scanty, transparent, jelly-like mucus; pain, as if anus were torn open, with prolapse. Autumnal dysentery; stools contain while shreddy particles in large quantities. Ineffectual pressing; feels feces in rectum, but cannot expel them.

Female.–Pruritus of genitals. Cold feeling in thigh after period. Sensation of swelling in vulva and clitoris.

Urine.–Dark, scanty or suppressed; bloody, brown, black, inky; contains clots of putrid decomposed blood, albumin, sugar.

Heart.–Anxiety in region of heart. Impulse not felt. Pericarditis, with severe pain, oppression and dyspnœa, pulse threadlike. Sound of heart become weaker, pulse of low tension.

Extremities.–Sharp pain down left arm. Tearing in limbs during warm weather, stinging during cold. Pins and needles in hands and wrists, fingertips numb. Pain in front of thigh. Right plantar reflex abolished. Limbs, lame, weak, tingling. Pain worse in evening and warm weather. Joints stiff and feverish; shifting rheumatism; pains worse at night. Inflammation of great toe, gout in heel, cannot bear to have it touched or moved. Tingling in the finger nails. Knees strike together, can hardly walk. Œdematous swelling and coldness of legs and feet.

Back.–Aching in lumbar and lumbo-sacral region. Dull pain across loins. Backache, better, rest and pressure.

Skin.–Blotchy papular rash on face. Pink spots on back, chest and abdomen. Urticaria.

Modalities.–Worse, sundown to sunrise; motion, loss of sleep, smell of food in evening, mental exertion. Better, stooping.

Relationship.–Antidotes: Thuja; Camph; Coccul; Nux; Puls.

Compare: Colchicine (intestinal catarrh with shreddy membranes; convulsive jerkings of right hand; rheumatic fever, gout, endo and pericarditis, pleurisy, arthritis, deformans in early stages; intense pain of rheumatism 3x trit). Also, Carbo; Arnica; Lilium; Arsen; Verat.

Dose.–Third to thirtieth attenuation.

Unroasted Coffee

Stimulates the functional activity of all organs, increasing the nervous and vascular activity. The drinking of coffee by the aged is likely to increase production of uric acid, causing irritation of kidneys; muscle and joint pains, and with the increased susceptibility of old people to the stimulating action of coffee and tea, their use should be curtailed or carefully watched. Great nervous agitation and restlessness. Extreme sensitiveness characterizes this remedy. Neuralgia in various parts; always with great nervous excitability and intolerance of pain, driving to despair. Unusual activity of mind and body. Bad effects of sudden emotions, surprises, joy, etc. Nervous palpitation. Coffea is specially suited to tall, lean, stooping persons with dark complexions, temperament choleric and sanguine. Skin hypersensitive.

Mind.–Gaiety, easy comprehension, irritability, excited; senses acute. Impressionable, especially to pleasurable impressions. Full of ideas, quick to act. Tossing about in anguish (Acon).

Head.–Tight pain, worse from noise, smell, narcotics. Seems as if brain were torn to pieces, as if nail were driven in head. Worse in open air. Sensitive hearing.

Face.–Dry heat, with red cheeks. Prosopalgia extending to molar teeth, ears, forehead, and scalp.

Mouth.–Toothache; temporarily relieved by holding ice-water in the mouth (Mangan opposite). Hasty eating and drinking. Delicate taste.

Stomach.–Excessive hunger. Intolerance of tight clothing. After wine and liquor.

Female.–Menses too early and long lasting. Dysmenorrhœa, large clots of black blood. Hypersensitive vulva and vagina. Voluptuous itching.

Sleep.–Wakeful; on a constant move. Sleeps till 3 am, after which only dozing. Wakes with a start, sleep disturbed by dreams. Sleepless, on account mental activity; flow of ideas, with nervous excitability. Disturbed by itching of anus.

Respiratory.–Short, dry cough of measles in nervous, delicate children.

Heart.–Violent irregular palpitation especially after excessive joy or surprise. Rapid high tension pulse and urinary suppression.

Extremities.–Crural neuralgia; worse, motion, afternoon and night; better, by pressure.

Modalities.–Worse, excessive emotions (joy), narcotics, strong odors, noise, open air, cold, night. Better, warmth, from lying down; holding ice in mouth.

Relationship.–Incompatible: Camph; Coccul. Complementary: Acon.

Compare: Coffea tosta (Roasting develops certain vitamin-like substances (P. T. Mattei). Pigeons which have developed “deficiency” neuritis and paralysis on diet of polished rice lost their disabilities on the addition of 8 cc to a 5 % infusion of coffee to their food. Unroasted coffee was useless). Caffeine.–(A crystalline alkaloid-is a direct heart stimulant and diuretic. Dropsy depending on cardiac insufficiency. Myocardial degeneration. Cardiac insufficiency in pneumonia and other infectious diseases. Raises the blood pressure, increases pulse rate and stimulates the heart muscle; hence, a support in extreme feebleness or threatened failure. Stimulates the respiratory center, nerve centers and increases diuresis. One of the best stimulants of the vaso-motor centers. Acute pulmonary œdema. Brachialgia and other neuralgias characterized by nocturnal exacerbations. Jousset uses equal parts of caffeine and sachar lac. 3 grains taken in divided doses every other day. Hypodermically, 1/4 grain. Excruciating facial neuralgia from decayed teeth); Acon; Cham; Nux; Cyp; Caffeine and plants containing it, as Kola, Thea, etc.

Strong black coffee, drunk as hot as possible, is indispensable as an antidote in a large number of poisons, especially narcotics. Hot coffee by rectum in cases of extreme collapse.

Antidotes: Nux; Tabac.

Dose.–Third to two hundredth potency.

An Alkaloid from Opium

Trembling of whole body. Involuntary twitching of muscles of arms and lower limbs. Itching, with feeling of warmth, numbness and prickling. Diabetes.

Head.–Pain from occiput to back of neck. Skin of face and scalp sore after neuralgia.

Eyes.–Involuntary twitching of lids (Agar).

Stomach.–Spasmodic pain at pit of stomach. Eructations. Great thirst, with desire for bitter substances.

Respiratory.–Short and irritating cough; worse, at night. Copious, purulent expectoration. Night cough of phthisis.

Relationship.–Compare: Opium; Agaricus; Hyoscy; Ammon brom.

Dose.–One-quarter of a grain doses to third trituration.

Horse-radish
(ARMORACIA SATIVA)

Frontal bone and sinus, antrum and salivary glands are specifically affected by this drug. Bloated sensation. Raises vital forces. Used as a gargle in scorbutic gums and sore throat. Hoarseness and in relaxed conditions of the fauces. Internally in gonorrhœa. Useful as a condiment in enfeebled states of the stomach. An infusion of the root in cider, for dropsy, causes copious diuresis. Locally cures dandruff.

Head.–Thinking is difficult. Anxiety, driven to despair by pain. Pressing, boring pain as if frontal bone would fall out. Violent headache with vomiting. Impaired hearing.

Eyes.–Sore and scrofulous; traumatic inflammation of eyes, blearedness and cataract. Copious running from eyes.

Stomach.–Pain towards back; worse, pressure on dorsal vertebræ. Belching and cramps. Colic with backache. Violent cramp from stomach through both sides around to back. Griping around navel.

Back.–Pain in back as from incarcerated flatulence from abdomen through to back and down into sacrum.

Respiratory.–Dry, hacking, laryngeal cough, also post-influenzal cough, dry or loose, worse lying down. Chest painful to touch. Coryza, with hoarseness. Mucous asthma. Œdema of lungs. Throat feels rough and hoarse.

Urinary.–Burning and cutting at glans penis before, during, and after urination. Frequent urination.

Modalities.–Worse evening and at night.

Relationship.–Compare: Cannab; Sinapis; Caps.

Dose.–First to third attenuation.

Lady Bug

This remedy ought to be remembered in neuralgias, teeth, gums, mouth, etc. Is awakened by profuse accumulation of saliva. Uvula feels too long. Symptoms of hydrophobia; worse, by any bright object.

Head.–Pain in forehead over right eye, sensitive to touch; from superior molars to forehead. Aching in temples and occiput. Rush of blood to face. Throbbing toothache. Cold sensation in teeth and mouth (Cistus). Periodical attacks of frontal neuralgia. Cannot open eyes during paroxysm. Pain worse from any bright object; better, sleep.

Stomach.– Hiccough and burning in stomach.

Back.–Pain in region of kidneys and loins. Icy cold extremities.

Relationship.–Compare: Canth; Magn c.

Dose.–Third potency.

Cochineal

The clinical application of the symptoms of this remedy, place it among the medicines for spasmodic and whooping coughs, and catarrhal conditions of the bladder; spasmodic pains in kidneys, with visceral tenesmus. Anuria, anasarca, ascites.

Mind.–Early morning or afternoon sadness.

Head.–Suboccipital soreness; worse after sleep and exertion. Headache, worse from lying on back, better with the head high. Dull pain over right eye in morning. Sensation of a foreign body between upper lid and eyeball. Distress from cinders lodged in eye.

Respiratory.–Constant hawking from enlarged uvula; coryza, with inflamed fauces; accumulation of thick viscid mucus, which is expectorated with great difficulty. Tickling in larynx. Sensation of a crumb behind larynx, must swallow continually; brushing teeth causes cough. Fauces very sensitive. Suffocative cough; worse, first waking, with tough, white mucus, which strangles. Spasmodic morning cough. Whooping cough attacks end with vomiting of this tough mucus. Chronic bronchitis complicated with gravel; large quantities of albuminous, tenacious mucus, are expectorated. Walking against wind takes breath away.

Heart.–Sensation as if everything were pressed toward the heart.

Urinary.–Urging to urinate; brick-red sediment. Urinary calculi, hæmaturia, urates, and uric acid; lancinating pains from kidney to bladder. Deep-colored, thick urine. Dysuria.

Female.–Menses too early, profuse, black and thick; dark clots, with dysuria. Intermittent menstruation; flow only in evening and at night. Large clots escape when passing water. Labia inflamed.

Modalities.–Worse, left side, after sleep, touch, pressure of clothing, brushing teeth, slightest exertion. Better, walking.

Relationship.–Compare: Canth; Cact; Sars.

Dose.–Lower triturations.

Indian Cockle
(COCCULUS)

Within the sphere of action of Cocculus are many spasmodic and paretic affections, notably those affecting one-half of the body. Affects the cerebrum, will not cure convulsive seizures proceeding from the spinal cord (A. E. Hinsdale) Painful contracture of limbs and trunk; tetanus. Many of the evil effects of night-watching are relieved by it. It shows a special, attraction for light-haired females, especially during pregnancy, causing much nausea and backache. Unmarried and childless women, sensitive and romantic girls, etc. All its symptoms are worse riding in a carriage or on shipboard; hence its use in seasickness. Sensation of hollowness, or emptiness, as if parts had gone to sleep. Feels too weak to talk loud.

Mind.–Capricious. Heavy and stupid. Time passes too quickly; absorbed in reveries. Inclination to sing irresistible. Slow of comprehension. Mind benumbed. Profound sadness. Cannot bear contradiction. Speaks hastily. Very anxious about the health of others.

Head.–Vertigo, nausea, especially when riding or sitting up. Sense of emptiness in head. Headache in occiput and nape; worse, lying on back of head. Sick headache from carriage riding, cannot lie on back part of head. Pupils contracted. Opening and shutting sensation, especially in occiput. Trembling of head. Pain in eyes as if torn out of head.

Face.–Paralysis of facial nerve. Cramp-like pain in masseter muscle; worse, opening mouth. Prosopalgia in afternoon, with wide radiations of pain.

Stomach.–Nausea from riding in cars, boat, etc, or looking at boat in motion; worse on becoming cold or taking cold. Nausea, with faintness and vomiting. Aversion to food, drink, tobacco. Metallic taste. Paralysis of muscles preventing deglutition. Dryness of œsophagus. Seasickness (Resorcin. 1x). Cramp, in stomach during and after meal. Hiccough and spasmodic yawning. Loss of appetite. Desire for cold drinks, especially beer. Sensation in stomach as if one had been a long time without food until hunger was gone. Smell of food disgusts (Colch).

Abdomen.–Distended, with wind, and feeling as if full of sharp stones when moving; better, lying on one side or the other. Pain in abdominal ring, as if something were forced through. Abdominal muscles weak; it seems as if a hernia would take place.

Female.–Dysmenorrhœa, with profuse dark menses. Too early menses, clotted, with spasmodic colic. Painful pressing in uterine region, followed by hæmorrhoids. Purulent, gushing leucorrhœa between menses; very weakening, can scarcely speak. So weak during menstruation, scarcely able to stand.

Respiratory.–Sensation of emptiness and cramp in chest. Dyspnœa as from constriction of trachea, as if irritated by smoke. Choking constriction in upper part of œsophagus, oppressing breathing and inducing cough.

Back.–Cracking of cervical vertebræ when moving head. Paralytic pain in small of the back. Pain in shoulder and arms as if bruised. Pressure in scapula and nape. Stiffness on moving shoulders.

Extremities.–Lameness; worse by bending. Trembling and pain in limbs. Arms go to sleep. One-sided paralysis; worse after sleep. Hands are alternately hot and cold; numbness and cold sweat now of one, now of the other hand. Numb and unsteady. Knees crack on motion. Lower limbs very weak. Inflammatory swelling of knee. Intensely painful, paralytic drawing. Limbs straightened out, painful when flexed.

Sleep.–Spasmodic yawning. Coma vigil. Constant drowsiness. After loss of sleep, night-watching, nursing.

Fever.–Chill, with flatulent colic, nausea, vertigo, coldness of lower extremities, and heat of head. Sweat general. Nervous form of low fever. Chilliness, with perspiration, and heat of skin.

Modalities.–Worse, eating, after loss of sleep, open air, smoking, riding, swimming, touch, noise, jar; afternoon. Menstrual period. After emotional disturbance.

Relationship.–Antidotes:; Coffee; Nux.

Compare: Picrotoxin-alkaloid of Cocculus–(epilepsy, attacks in the morning on leaving horizontal position, hernia, locomotor ataxia, night-sweats); Symphoricarpus (morning sickness); Petrol; Puls; Ignat.

Dose.–Third to thirtieth potency.