Category: Materia Materica

Rag-Weed
(AMBROSIA)

A remedy for hay-fever, lachrymation and intolerable itching of the eye-lids. Some forms of whooping-cough. Respiratory tract in its entire length stopped up. Many forms of diarrhœa, especially during summer months, also dysentery.

Nose.–Watery coryza; sneezing; watery discharge. Nosebleed. Stuffed up feeling of nose and head. Irritation of trachea and bronchial tubes, with asthmatic attacks (Aral; Eucalypt). Wheezy cough.

Eyes.–Smart and burn. Lachrymation.

Relationship.–Compare in hay-fever: Sabadilla, Wyethia; Succin ac; Ars jod; Arundo.

Dose.–Tincture, to third potency; 10 drops in water during and after attack of epistaxis. In hay-fever high potencies.

Bromide of Ammonia

Indicated in chronic laryngeal and pharyngeal catarrh, neuralgic headaches, and obesity. Constrictive pain in head, chest, legs, etc. Irritable feeling under finger nails; relieved only by biting them.

Head.–Cerebral congestion. Feeling of a band above ears. Sneezing; thick nasal discharge.

Eyes.–Edges of lids red and swollen, also Meibomian glands. Eyeballs feel large and pain around eyes into head.

Throat.–Smarting in mouth. Tickling in throat, with inclination to dry, spasmodic cough, especially at night. Burning in fauces. White, sticky, mucus. Chronic speakers’ catarrh.

Respiratory.–Sudden, short cough, strangling. Tickling in trachea and bronchial tubes. Wakes at 3 am with cough. Feels suffocated; continuous cough, when lying down at night; sharp pain in lungs. Whooping Cough.–Dry, spasmodic cough on lying down.

Relationship.–Hyos; Con; Arg nit; Kali bich.

Dose.–First potency.

Ambergis-A Morbid Secretion of the Whale

Suitable to excitable, nervous children and thin, nervous patients. Extreme nervous hypersensitiveness. External numbness of whole body in the morning and weakness. Nervous bilious temperament. Thin, scrawny women. Adapted to hysterical subjects, or those suffering from spinal irritation, with convulsive cough, eructation, etc. Also for patients weakened by age or overwork, who are anæmic and sleepless. Great remedy for the aged, with impairment of all functions, weakness, coldness and numbness, usually of single parts, fingers, arms, etc. One-sided complaints call for it. Music aggravates symptoms. Ebullitions and pulsations after walking in open air. One-sided complaints.

Mind.–Dread of people, and desire to be alone. Cannot do anything in presence of others. Intensely shy, blushes easily. Music causes weeping. Despair, loathing of life. Fantastic illusions. Bashful. Loss of love of life. Restless, excited, very loquacious. Time passes slowly. Thinking, difficult in the morning with old people. Dwells upon unpleasant things.

Head.–Slow comprehension. Vertigo, with weakness in head and stomach. Pressure on front part of head with mental depression. Tearing pain in upper half of brain. Senile dizziness. Rush of blood to head, when listening to music. Hearing impaired. Epistaxis, especially in the morning. Profuse bleeding from teeth. Hair falls out.

Stomach.–Eructations, with violent, convulsive cough. Acid eructations, like heartburn. Distention of stomach and abdomen after midnight. Sensation of coldness in abdomen.

Urinary.–Pain in bladder and rectum at the same time. Burning in orifice of urethra and anus. Feeling in urethra as if a few drops passed out. Burning and itching in urethra while urinating. Urine turbid, even during emission forming a brown sediment.

Female.–Nymphomania, Itching of pudendum, with soreness and swelling. Menses too early. Profuse, bluish leucorrhœa. Worse at night. Discharge of blood between periods, at every little accident.

Male.–Voluptuous itching of scrotum. Parts externally numb; burn internally. Violent erections without voluptuous sensations.

Respiratory.–Asthmatic breathing with eructation of gas. Nervous, spasmodic cough, with hoarseness and eructation, on waking in morning; worse in presence of people. Tickling in throat, larynx and trachea, chest oppressed, gets out of breath when coughing. Hollow, spasmodic, barking cough, coming from deep in chest. Choking when hawking up phlegm.

Heart.–Palpitation, with pressure in chest as from a lump lodged there, or as if chest was obstructed. Conscious of the pulse. Palpitation in open air with pale face.

Sleep.–Cannot sleep from worry; must get up. Anxious dreams. Coldness of body and twitching of limbs, during sleep.

Skin.–Itching and soreness, especially around genitals. Numbness of skin. Arms “go to sleep”.

Extremities.–Cramps in hands and fingers, worse grasping anything. Cramps in legs.

Modalities.–Worse, music; presence of strangers; from any unusual thing; morning, warm room. Better, slow motion in open air; lying on painful part; cold drinks.

Relationship.–Do not confound with Amber-Succinum q v. Moschus frequently follows advantageously. Compare: Oleum succinum (hiccough). Sumbul; Castor; Asaf; Crocus; Lilium.

Dose.–Second and third potencies; may be repeated with advantage.

Benzoate of Ammonia

One of the remedies for albuminuria, especially in the gouty. Gout, with deposits in joints. Urinary incontinence in the aged.

Head.–Heavy, stupid.

Face.–Bloated, swollen eyelids. Swelling under tongue like ranula.

Urine.–Smoky, scanty. Albuminous and thick deposits.

Back.–Pain across sacrum, with urgency to stool. Soreness in region of right kidney.

Relationship.–Compare: Terebinth; Benz ac; Ammonia salts; Caust.

In albuminuria compare: Kalmia; Helon; Merc cor; Berb; Canth.

Dose.–Second trituration.

Andalasite rock-Alumina 63, Silica 37 parts

Deep acting remedy for chronic complaints of brain, spine and nerves. Constriction is a marked general symptom, also constriction of orifices. Venous distention. Weakness, especially spinal. Aching and burning in spine. Formication, numbness, pain in all limbs. Epileptiform convulsion. Coldness during pains.

Head.–Congestion of brain. Constriction of scalp. Pain in head, better heat, perspires. Pain in eyes, flickering. Frequent coryzas. Swelling and ulceration of nose.

Respiratory.–Catarrh of chest, pain, raw feeling. Feeling of great weakness in chest. Stitching pains. Spasmodic cough with purulent viscid expectoration.

Extremities.–Heaviness, jerking, numbness, aching and pains.

Skin.–Formication along course of nerves, veins feel full and distended. Sore to touch and pressure.

Modalities.–Worse, cold air, after eating, standing. Better, warmth, fasting, resting in bed.

Dose.–Higher potencies. -Lower triturations.

Common Potash Alum

The clinical application of this remedy points to its bowel symptoms, both in obstinate constipation and in hćmorrhage from bowels in the course of typhoid-one phase of the paralytic weakness of the muscles in all parts of the body. Tendency to induration is also marked, a low form of tissue-making is favored. Hardening of tissues of tongue, rectum, uterus, etc; ulcers with indurated base. Adapted to old people, especially bronchial catarrhs. Sensation of dryness and constriction. Mental paresis; dysphagia especially to liquids. Tendency to induration, Scirrhus of the tongue.

Head.–Burning pain as of weight on top of lead better by pressure of hand. Vertigo, with weakness in pit of stomach. Alopecia.

Throat.–Throat relaxed. Mucous membrane red and swollen. Cough. Tickling in throat. Tendency to throat colds. Enlarged and indurated tonsils. Burning pain down the śsophagus. Complete aphonia. Every cold settles in throat. Constriction of śsophagus.

Heart.–Palpitation, from lying down on right side.

Rectum.–Constipation of the most aggravated kind. No desire for stool for days. Violent ineffectual urging to stool. No ability to expel stool. Marble-like masses pass, but rectum still feels full. Itching after stool. Itching in anus. Long lasting pain and smarting in rectum after stool; also hćmorrhoids. Yellow, like an infant’s. Hćmorrhage from bowels.

Female.–Tendency to induration of neck of uterus and mammary glands (Carb an; Con). Chronic yellow vaginal discharge. Chronic gonorrhśa, yellow, with little lumps along urethra. Aphthous patches in vagina (Caul). Menses watery.

Respiratory.–Hćmoptysis, great weakness of chest; difficult to expel mucus. Copious, ropy morning expectoration in old people. Asthma.

Skin.–Ulcers, with indurated base. To be thought of in indurated glands, epithelioma, etc; veins become varicose and bleed. Indurations resulting from long-continued inflammatory irritations. Glands inflame and harden. Alopecia, Scrotal eczema and on back of penis.

Extremities.–Weakness of all muscles, especially arms and legs. Constricted feeling around limbs.

Modalities.–Worse, cold except headache, which is relieved by cold.

Dose.–First to thirtieth potency. The very highest potencies have proved efficacious. Powdered alum, 10 grains, placed on tongue, said to arrest an attack of asthma.

Oxide et Aluminum-Argilla

A very general condition corresponding to this drug is dryness of mucous membranes and skin, and tendency to paretic muscular states. Old people, with lack of vital heat, or prematurely old, with debility. Sluggish functions, heaviness, numbness, and staggering, and the characteristic constipation find an excellent remedy in Alumina. Disposition to colds in the head, and eructations in spare, dry, thin subjects. Delicate children, products of artificial baby foods.

Mind.–Low-spirited; fears loss of reason. Confused as to personal identity. Hasty, hurried. Time passes slowly. Variable mood. Better as day advances. Suicidal tendency when seeing knife or blood.

Head.–Stitching, burning pain in head, with vertigo, worse in morning, but relieved by food. Pressure in forehead as from a tight hat. Inability to walk except with eyes open. Throbbing headache, with constipation. Vertigo, with nausea; better after breakfast. Falling out of hair; scalp itches and is numb.

Eyes.–Objects look yellow. Eyes feel cold. Lids dry, burn, smart, thickened, aggravated in morning; chronic conjunctivitis. Ptosis. Strabismus.

Ears.–Humming; roaring. Eustachian tube feels plugged.

Nose.–Pain at root of nose. Sense of smell diminished. Fluent coryza. Point of nose cracked, nostrils sore, red; worse touch. Scabs with thick yellow mucus. Tettery redness. Ozœna atrophica sicca. Membranes distended and boggy.

Face.–Feels as if albuminous substance had dried on it. Blood-boils and pimples. Twitching of lower jaw. Rush of blood to face after eating.

Mouth.–Sore. Bad odor from it. Teeth covered with sordes. Gums sore, bleeding. Tensive pain in articulation of jaw when opening mouth or chewing.

Throat.–Dry, sore; food cannot pass, œsophagus contracted. Feels as if splinter or plug were in throat. Irritable, and relaxed throat. Looks parched and glazed. Clergyman’s sore throat in thin subjects. Thick, tenacious mucus drops from posterior nares. Constant inclination to clear the throat.

Stomach.–Abnormal cravings-chalk, charcoal, dry food, tea-grounds. Heartburn; feels constricted. Aversion to meat (Graph; Arn; Puls). Potatoes disagree. No desire to eat. Can swallow but small morsels at a time. Constriction of œsophagus.

Abdomen.–Colic, like painter’s colic. Pressing in both groins toward sexual organs. Left-sided abdominal complaints.

Stool.–Hard dry, knotty; no desire. Rectum sore, dry, inflamed, bleeding. Itching and burning at anus. Even a soft stool is passed with difficulty. Great straining. Constipation of infants (Collins; Psor; Paraf) and old people from inactive rectum, and in women of very sedentary habit. Diarrhœa on urinating. Evacuation preceded by painful urging long before stool, and then straining at stool.

Urine.–Muscles of bladder paretic, must strain at stool in order to urinate. Pain in kidneys, with mental confusion. Frequent desire to urinate in old people. Difficult starting.

Male.–Excessive desire. Involuntary emissions when straining at stool. Prostatic discharge.

Female.–Menses too early, short, scanty, pale, followed by great exhaustion (Carb an; Coccul). Leucorrhœa acrid, profuse transparent, ropy, with burning; worse during daytime, and after menses. Relieved by washing with cold water.

Respiratory.–Cough soon after waking in the morning. Hoarse, aphonia, tickling in larynx; wheezing, rattling respiration. Cough on talking or singing, in the morning. Chest feels constricted. Condiments produce cough. Talking aggravates soreness of chest.

Back.–Stitches. Gnawing pain, as if from hot iron. Pain along cord, with paralytic weakness.

Extremities.–Pain in arm and fingers, as if hot iron penetrated. Arms feel paralyzed. Legs feel asleep, especially when sitting with legs crossed. Staggers on walking. Heels feel numb. Soles tender; on stepping, feel soft and swollen. Pain in shoulder and upper arm. Gnawing beneath finger nails. Brittle nails. Inability to walk, except when eyes are open or in daytime. Spinal degenerations and paralysis of lower limbs.

Sleep.–Restless; anxious and confused dreams. Sleepy in morning.

Skin.–Chapped and dry tettery. Brittle nails. Intolerable itching when getting warm in bed. Must scratch until it bleeds; then becomes painful. Brittle skin on fingers.

Modalities.–Worse, periodically; in afternoon; from potatoes. Worse, in morning on awaking; warm room. Better, in open air; from cold washing; in evening and on alternate days. Better damp weather.

Relationship.–Compare: Aluminum chloridum (Pains of loco-motor ataxia. Lower trits in water). Slag Silico-Sulphocalcite of Alumina 3x (anal itching, piles, constipation, flatulent distention); Secale; Lathyr; Plumb. Aluminum acetate solution. Externally a lotion for putrid wounds and skin infections. Arrests hæmorrhage from inertia of uterus. Parenchymatous hæmorrhage from various organs-23 % solution. Hæmorrhage following tonsillectomy is controlled by rinsing out nasopharynx with a 10 % sol.

Complementary: Bryonia.

Antidotes: Ipecac; Chamom.

Dose.–Sixth to thirtieth and higher. Action slow in developing.

Dita Bark

Malarial diseases, with diarrhœa, dysentery, anæmia, feeble digestion, are the general conditions suggesting this remedy. Characteristics are the gone sensation in stomach and sinking in abdomen, with debility. A tonic after exhausting fevers.

Abdomen.–Violent purging and cramp in bowels. Heat and irritation in lower bowels. Camp diarrhœa, bloody stool, dysentery; diarrhœa from bad water and malaria. Painless watery stools (Phosph ac). Diarrhœa immediately after eating.

Relationship.–Compare: Similar in action to Alstonia constricta, the bitter bark or native quinine of Australia. Ditain (active principle, is anti-periodic, like quinine, but without unpleasant effects). Cinchona (similar in diarrhœa, chronic dyspepsia and debility). Hydrastis; Fer cit et chin.

Dose.–Tincture to third potency. Locally, for ulcers and rheumatic pains.

Socotrine Aloes
(ALOE)

An excellent remedy to aid in re-establishing physiological equilibrium after much dosing, where disease and drug symptoms are much mixed. There is no remedy richer in symptoms of portal congestion and none that has given better clinical results, both for the primary pathological condition and secondary phenomena. Bad effects from sedentary life or habits. Especially suitable to lymphatic and hypochondriacal patients. The rectal symptoms usually determine the choice. Adapted to weary people, the aged, and phlegmatic, old beer-drinkers. Dissatisfied and angry about himself, alternating with lumbago. Heat internally and externally. Has been used successfully in the treatment of consumption by giving the pure juice.

Head.–Headache alternates with lumbago, with intestinal and uterine affections. Disinclination to mental labor. Aches above forehead, with heaviness in eyes, must partially close them. Headache after stool. Dull, pressive pain; worse from heat.

Eyes.–Compelled to make small during pain in forehead. Flickering before eyes. Redness of eyes with yellow vision. Pain deep in orbits.

Face.–Marked redness of lips.

Ears.–Cracking when chewing. Sudden explosion and clashing in left ear. Tinkling as of some thin, shivered, metallic globe in head.

Nose.–Coldness of tip. Bleeding in morning on awakening. Full of crusts.

Mouth.–Taste bitter and sour. Tasteless eructations. Lips cracked and dry.

Throat.–Thick lumps of tough mucus. Varicose condition of veins in pharynx. Dry, scrapy feeling.

Stomach.–Aversion to meat. Longing for juicy things. After eating, flatulence, pulsation in rectum and sexual irritation. Nausea, with headache. Pain in pit when making false step.

Abdomen.–Pain around navel, worse pressure. Fullness in region of liver, pain under right ribs. Abdomen feels full, heavy, hot, bloated. Pulsating pain around navel. Weak feeling, as if diarrhœa would come on. Great accumulation of flatus, pressing downwards, causing distress in lower bowels. Sensation of plug between symphysis pubis and os coccygis, with urging to stool. Colic before and during stool. Burning, copious flatus.

Rectum.–Constant bearing down in rectum; bleeding, sore, and hot; relieved by cold water. Feeling of weakness and loss of power of sphincter ani. Sense of insecurity in rectum, when passing flatus. Uncertain whether gas or stool will come. Stool passes without effort, almost unnoticed. Lumpy, watery stool. Jelly-like stools, with soreness in rectum after stool. A lot of mucus, with pain in rectum after stool. Hæmorrhoids protrude like grapes; very sore and tender; better cold water application. Burning in anus and rectum. Constipation, with heavy pressure in lower part of abdomen. Diarrhœa from beer.

Urinary.–Incontinence in aged, bearing-down sensation and enlarged prostate. Scanty and high colored.

Female.–Bearing down in rectum, worse standing and during menses. Uterus feels heavy, cannot walk much on that account. Labor-like pains in loins; extend down legs. Climacteric hæmorrhage. Menses too early and too profuse.

Respiratory.–Winter coughs, with itching. Difficult respiration, with stitches from liver to chest.

Back.–Pain in small of back; worse moving. Stitches through sacrum. Lumbago alternating with headache and piles.

Extremities.–Lameness in all limbs. Drawing pains in joints. Soles pain when walking.

Modalities.–Worse early morning; summer; heat; in hot, dry weather; after eating or drinking. Better from cold, open air.

Relationship.–Complementary: Sulphur; compare: Kali bich; Lycop; Allium sat.

Antidotes: Opium; Sulph.

Dose.–Sixth potency and higher. In rectal conditions, a few doses of the third, then wait.

Red Alder
(ALNUS)

Has some reputation as a remedy for skin affections, glandular enlargements, and indigestion from imperfect secretion of gastric juice. It stimulates nutrition, and thus acts favorably upon strumous disorders, enlarged glands, etc. Ulcerated mucous membranes of mouth and throat. Fingers covered by crust caused by pustules, disagreeable odor. Indigestion from imperfect secretion of gastric juice.

Female.–Leucorrhœa, with erosions of cervix, bleeding easily. Amenorrhœa, with burning pains from back to pubis.

Skin.–Chronic herpes. Enlarged sub-maxillary glands. Eczema, prurigo. Purpura hæmorrhagica. Poison-oak. Use locally.

Dose.–Tincture to third potency.