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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.
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MURIATICUM ACIDUM
Muriatic Acid
This acid has an elective affinity for the blood, producing a septic condition similar to that found in low fevers with high temperature and great prostration. Patient becomes so weak she slides down the bed. Decomposition of fluids. Involuntary stools while passing urine. Hæmorrhages. Mouth and anus chiefly effected.
Mind.–Irritable and peevish; fretful Loud moaning. Great restlessness. Sad, taciturn; suffers in silence.
Head.–Vertigo; worse lying on right side; occiput heavy as if filled with lead. Sound of voice is intolerable. Pain as if brain were crushed.
Nose.–Hæmorrhage; much sneezing.
Face.–Lower jaw fallen; pimples and freckles; lips raw, dry, cracked.
Mouth.–Tongue, pale, swollen, dry, leathery, paralyzed. Deep ulcers on tongue. Hard lumps in tongue. Epithelioma; edges bluish-red (Carbol ac). Aphthous mouth. Gums and glands swollen. Fetid Breath. Sordes on teeth.
Throat.–Uvula swollen. Ulcers and false membrane. Œdematous, dark, raw. Attempted swallowing produces spasm and choking.
Stomach.–Cannot bear sight or thought of meat. At times, ravenous appetite and constant desire to drink. Achlorhydria and fermentation of food.
Rectum.–Tendency to involuntary evacuations while urinating. Hæmorrhoids most sensitive to all touch; even sheet of toilet paper is painful. Anal itching and prolapsus ani while urinating. Hæmorrhoids during pregnancy; bluish, hot with violent stitches.
Heart.–Pulse rapid, feeble, and small. Intermits every third beat.
Urine.–Cannot urinate without having bowels move at same time.
Female.–Menses appear too soon. Leucorrhœa. During menses, soreness of anus. Ulcer in genitals.
Extremities.–Heavy, painful, and weak. Tottering gait. Pain in tendo-Achilles.
Skin.–Papular and vesicular eruptions, with great itching (Rhus). Carbuncles; foul-smelling ulcers on lower extremities. Scarlet fever, livid, with petechiæ; scanty eruption. Eczema on back of hands.
Fever.–Cold extremities. Heat without thirst. Typhoid types, stupid. Hæmorrhages. Restlessness. Involuntary discharges. Bed-sores. Pulse rapid and feeble. Excessive prostration.
Modalities.–Worse, in damp weather, before midnight. Better, lying on left side.
Relationship.–Compare: Phos ac; Ars; Bapt. Follows well after Bry and Rhus.
Antidote; Bryonia.
Dose.–First to third potency.
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MOSCHUS
Musk
A remedy for hysteria and nervous paroxysms, fainting fits and convulsions, catalepsy, etc. The characteristic condition being aggravation by cold; there is great sensitiveness to air. Much nervous trembling and frequent fainting. Great flatulence. Diseases do not follow a normal course. Coldness. Tension in muscles, skin and mind.
Mind.–Uncontrollable laughter. Scolding. Anxiety with palpitation; starting as if frightened. Sexual hypochondriasis.
Head.–Compressive pain over root of nose. Pressure on top of head. Vertigo on least motion; sensation as if falling from a great height. Scalp sensitive. Sounds in ears as from the report of a cannon.
Stomach.–Desire for black coffee, stimulants. Aversion to food. Everything tastes flat. With stomach symptoms, anxiety in chest. Distended. Faints when eating. Abdomen greatly distended. Spasmodic, nervous hiccough (Hydrocy ac; Sulph ac; Ignat; Cajap).
Male.–Violent desire; involuntary emissions. Impotence, associated with diabetes (Coca). Premature senility. Nausea and vomiting after coition.
Female.–Menses too early, too profuse, with disposition to faint (Nux m; Veratr). Sexual desire, with intolerable titillation in parts. Drawing and pushing in the direction of the genitals; sensation as if menses appear.
Urine.–Profuse urination. Diabetes.
Respiratory.–Tightness of chest, is obliged to take a deeper breath. Sudden constriction of larynx and trachea. Difficult respiration; chest oppressed; hysterical spasm of chest; asthma. Spasm of glottis. Impending paralysis of lungs. Asthma, with intense anxiety, fear, and smothering sensation. Cough ceases, mucus cannot be expectorated. Globus hystericus.
Heart.–Hysterical palpitation. Trembling around heart. Weak pulse and fainting.
Modalities.–Better, in open air, rubbing. Worse, cold. The open air is felt very, very cold.
Relationship.–Compare: Nux mosch; Asaf; Valer; Sumbul; Ign; Castor.
Compatible: Ambra.
Antidotes: Camph; Coff.
Dose.–First to third potency.
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MORPHINUM
An Alkaloid of Opium
Morphine bears the same relation to Opium as Atropine to Belladonna-i.e, represents its nervous side. It is less stimulating, less convulsant, and more decidedly hypnotic. Constipates less and affects contractility of the bladder more. It is less diaphoretic and more pruritic.
Mind.–Profound depression. Irritable, fault-finding, hysterical. Shock induced by terror. Dream-like state.
Head.–Vertigo from the least movement of the head. Headache with sensation of being “wound-up”. Bursting pain; head drawn back.
Eyes.–Bluish, drooping lids. Itching of eyes. Delusion of vision on closing eyes. Starting, injected; diverging strabismus. Pupils unequally contracted. Look unsteady. Ptosis. Paresis of recti interni.
Ears.–Left ear throbs painfully; better, heat. Seems to hear circulation all over body.
Face.–Dusky red or pallid lividity of face, lips, tongue, mouth or throat.
Nose.–Sneezing in paroxysms. Itching and tingling on end of nose.
Mouth.–Very dry. Tongue dry, brown violet in middle. Thirst. Loss of appetite, with aversion to meat.
Throat.–Dry and constricted. Pharynx paralyzed, swallowing almost impossible; better hot drinks, worse solids.
Stomach.–Nausea incessant and deathly, faintness, constant retching. Vomiting of green fluid. Nausea and vomiting on rising up.
Abdomen.–Distended. Acute pain in abdomen and along spinal column. Tympanitis.
Rectum.–Diarrhœa watery, brown, or black with horrible tenesmus. Constipation; stools large, dry knotty, with tendency to bruise and fissure.
Urinary.–Paresis of bladder. Strangury. Slow and difficult urination. Retention of prostatic hypertrophy. Uræmia, acute and chronic.
Male.–Impotency. Pain in right spermatic cord, (Oxal ac).
Heart.–Alternation of tachycardia and bradycardia. Cardiac muscular tissue is intact, even if severely exhausted. Pulse small, weak, dicrotic.
Respiratory.–Faint and struggling for breath diaphragmatic paralysis; hiccough; dyspnœa, paroxysmal, on first falling asleep (Lach; Grindel). Cheyne-Stokes respiration. Chest tight. Pain in middle of sternum. Dry, hard, teasing, exhausting cough, worse at night. Strangling cough, with viscid mucus sputum; thin, scanty, but sounds loose and abundant.
Back.–Pain along spine. Weakness of loins. Aching across lumbo-sacral region; cannot walk erect (Cimicif).
Extremities.–Staggering gait. Numbness.
Skin.–Livid; purple spots; zoster-like herpes. Itching. Skin lost its elasticity. Urticaria appearing at climaxis.
Nervous.–Restlessness and hyperethesia; trembling, twitching, jerking, convulsions. Extremely susceptible to pain. Pain causes twitching and jerking of limbs. Violent and sudden neuralgic pains and sudden fainting. Delirium, melancholic in character. Neuralgias intensely painful, left supraorbital; right intercostal, better from heat; multiple neuritis. Sore feeling all over. Bed feels too hard. Aggravation after sleep (Lach). Neuralgia after zoster (Mezer).
Sleep.–Yawning, drowsy; prolonged, deep sleep, Sleepless; restless sleep, with frequent startings. Sleepy, but cannot sleep.
Fever.–Chills. Icy coldness. Burning heat; profuse sweat.
Dose.–Third to sixth trituration.
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MOMORDICA BALSAMICA
Balsam Apple
Griping, colic, pain in back and hypogastrium with painful and excessive menses. Accumulation of flatus in splenic flexure of colon. Dropsy.
Head.–Dizzy, contents of head feel lighter; mist before eyes.
Abdomen.–Rumbling, griping, colicky pains, starting from back, spreading over abdomen.
Female.–Painful and profuse menses; labor-like pains, followed by gushes of blood; pain at small of back coming towards front of pelvis.
Relationship.–Momordica charantia-Indian variety–(more sever symptoms-intestines full of yellow watery fluid, discharged explosively-cramps, thirst, prostration. Choleraic symptoms. Similar to Croton, Elaterium. Use 3x).
Dose.–Tincture. Used also externally as a liniment and poultice for burns, chapped hands, etc.
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MITCHELLA REPENS
Partridge-berry
(MITCHELLA)Bladder symptoms accompany complaints, especially uterine congestion.
Urinary.–Irritation at neck of bladder, with urging to urinate (Eup purp; Apis). Dysuria. Catarrh of bladder.
Female.–Cervix dark red, swollen. Dysmenorrhœa and uterine hæmorrhage; blood bright red.
Relationship.–Compare: Chimaph; Senecio; Uva; Geran; Gossyp.
Dose.–Tincture.
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MILLEFOLIUM
Yarrow
An invaluable remedy for various types of hæmorrhages; blood bright red. Incarcerated hernia; smallpox, with great pain in pit of stomach. After operations for stone. Bad effects from fall from a height; overlifting. Continued high temperature. Hæmoptysis.
Head.–Vertigo when moving slowly. Sensation as if he had forgotten something. The head seems full of blood. Convulsions and epilepsy from suppressed menses. Piercing thrusts of pain.
Nose.–Nosebleed (Erecht). Piercing pain from eyes to root of nose.
Stool.–Hæmorrhage from bowels. Bleeding hæmorrhoids. Urine bloody (Senec aur).
Female.–Menses early, profuse, protracted. Hæmorrhage from uterus; bright red, fluid. Painful varices during pregnancy.
Respiratory.–Hæmoptysis in incipient phthisis. Cough, with bloody expectoration, in suppressed menses or hæmorrhoids. Violent palpitation.
Relationship.–Compare: Ficus venosa (Pakur). Hæmorrhage from bowels and lungs. Acalypha and Helix tosta-Snail–(in hæmoptysis, diseases of chest, consumption); also, Secale; Ipec; Erecht; Geran; Hamam.
Dose.–Tincture, to third potency.
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MICROMERIA DOUGLASII
Yerba Buena
(MICROMERIA)A California mint-like plant acting on stomach and bowels. Used as a tea to cure colic and relieve flatulence. Is a pleasant beverage and febrifuge, blood purifyer and tonic.
Stomach.–Nausea; pain in stomach and bowels; flatulence.
Dose.–Tincture.
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MEZEREUM
Spurge Olive
Skin symptoms, affections of bones, and neuralgias most important, especially about teeth and face. Bruised, weary feeling in joints, with drawing and stiffness. Pains of various kinds, with chilliness and sensitiveness to cold air. Bone pains. Eruptions after vaccination. Burning, darting sensation in the muscles; subsultus tendinum. Pains shoot upward and seem to draw patient up out of bed. Semi-lateral complaints. Patient is very sensitive to cold air.
Head.–Hard work to talk. Headache; worse from talking. Stupefying headache in right side. Affections of external head; scaly eruption, white scabs. Head covered with thick, leathery crusts, under which pus collects, Violent neuralgia about face and teeth, running towards ear, at night; worse, eating; better near hot stove. Roots of teeth decay. Teeth feel elongated.
Nose.–Sneezing, coryza, interior of nose, excoriated. Post-nasal adenoids.
Ears.–Feel too much open, as if tympanum was exposed to the cold air and it blew into the ear. Desire to bore fingers in.
Eyes.–Ciliary neuralgia after operations. Especially after removal of eyeball. Pains radiate and shoot downward, with cold feeling and stiffness of bone.
Face.–Red. Eruption around mouth, with coryza.
Stomach.–Desire for ham-fat. Burning in tongue, extending to stomach. Mouth waters. Nausea felt in throat; better, eating. Chronic gastritis; burning, corroding pain; nausea, vomiting, chocolate color. Gastric ulcer with much burning.
Abdomen.–Swelling of glands with large abdomen in children. Pressure in inguinal ring. Flatulent colic, with shivering and difficult respiration.
Rectum.–Constipation after confinement. Prolapse of rectum. Diarrhœa, with small, white particles. Green discharges. Constipation, with hepatic and uterine inertia. Constriction of anus; stitches and prolapse of rectum.
Urine.–Red flakes float on top of urine. Hot, bloody Biting, burning in forepart of urethra at the close of micturition. Hæmaturia preceded by cramp pain in the bladder, After urinating, a few drops of blood are passed.
Female.–Menses too frequent, soon, profuse. Leucorrhœa like albumen; very corroding.
Male.–Enlargement of testicles. Violent sexual desire. Gonorrhœa, with hæmaturia.
Respiratory.–Soreness and burning in bones of thorax. Constriction across chest. Cough; worse; eating, irritation lower than can be reached, on taking a warm drink.
Extremities.–Pain in neck and back; worse, motion and at night; intolerant of all touch. Pain and burning in tibia and long bones. Legs and feet go to sleep. Pain in hip and knee.
Skin.–Eczema; intolerable itching; chilliness with pruritus; worse in bed. Ulcers itch and burn, surrounded by vesicles and shining, fiery-red areola. Zona, with burning pain. Bones, especially long bones, inflamed and swollen; caries, exostosis; pain worse night, touch, damp weather (Merc; Syph). Eruptions ulcerate and form thick scabs under purulent matter exudes (Chrysophanic acid).
Modalities.–Worse, cold air; night, evening until midnight, warm food, touch, motion. Better, open air.
Relationship.–Compare: Dirca palustris-Leather wood–(a gastro-intestinal irritant inducing salivation, emesis and purgation; cerebral hyperæmia; neuralgic pains, with depression, palpitation, and dyspnœa); Merc; Phyt; Rhus; Guaiac; Syph.
Antidotes: Kali hyd; Merc.
Dose.–Sixth to thirtieth potency.
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METHYLENUM COERULEUM
One of the Aniline Dyes
(METHYLENE BLUE)A remedy for neuralgia, neurasthenia, malaria; typhoid, here it diminishes the tympanites, delirium, and fever; pus infection. Tendency to tremor, chorea and epilepsy. Nephritis (acute parenchymatous), scarlatinal nephritis. Urine acquires a green color. Bladder irritation from its use antidoted by a little nutmeg. Surgical kidney with large amount of pus in urine. Gonorrhœal rheumatism and cystitis. Backache, sciatica. Later states of apoplexy (Gisevius).
Dose.–3x attenuation. A 2 per cent solution locally, in chronic otitis with foul smelling discharge.
A 1 per cent aqueous solution for ulcers and abscesses of cornea.
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MERCURIALIS PERENNIS
Dog’s Mercury
Great exhaustion and drowsiness. Tumor at ensiform appendix, very sensitive. Affections of the muscular fibers of stomach, intestines, bladder.
Head.–Vertigo on going down stairs. Head confused. Pain as from a band tightly across forehead. Nostrils sore, conscious of nose, feels as if she had two noses.
Mouth.–Great dryness of mouth and throat, tongue feels heavy and dry, numb. Burning blisters of tongue, lips and cheeks. Ulcers on palate, tonsils and back of pharynx. Dryness of throat.
Female.–Amenorrhœa, scanty menses, accompanied with orgasms. Pains and swelling of breasts. Dysmenorrhœa.
Relationship.–Compare: Borax; Croton; Euphorb.
Dose.–Third potency.