Category: Materia Materica

Darnel
(LOLIUM TUMULENTUM)

Has been made use of in cephalalgia, sciatica, paralysis. Prostration and restlessness.

Head.–Anxious and depressed, confused. Vertigo; must close eyes. Head heavy. Noises in ears.

Stomach.–Nausea, vomiting. Pain in pit of stomach and abdomen. Severe purging.

Extremities.–Gait unsteady. Trembling of all limbs. Loss of power in extremities. Violent pain in calves, as if bound with cords. Cold extremities. Spasmodic motions of arms and legs. Cannot write; cannot hold a glass of water. Trembling of hands in paralysis.

Relationship.–Compare: Secale; Lathyr; Astrag.

Dose.–Sixth potency.

Purple Lobelia

Profound prostration of all the vital forces and of the nervous system; respiratory paralysis. Nervous prostration of influenza. Coma. Tongue white and paralyzed.

Head.–Confused and depressed. Headache with nausea, vertigo; especially between eyebrows. Cannot keep eyes open; spasmodic closure of lids.

Chest.–Superficial respiration; heart and lungs feel paralyzed; respiration slow. Heart beats sound to him like boom of a drum.

Eyes.–Impossible to keep open. Drowsy.

Relationship.–Compare: Baptisa; Lobelia cardinalis (debility, especially of lower extremities; oppressed breathing, pleurisy, sticking pain in chest on taking a long breath. Pain in left lung, intermitting pricking during the day).

Dose.–Third potency.

Indian Tobacco

Is a vaso-motor stimulant; increases the activity of all vegetative processes; spends its force mainly upon the pneumogastric nerve, producing a depressed relaxed condition with oppression of the chest and epigastrium, impeded respiration, nausea and vomiting.

Languor, relaxation of muscles, nausea, vomiting and dyspepsia are the general indications that point to the use of this remedy, in asthma and gastric affections. Best adapted to light complexioned fleshy people. Bad effects of drunkenness. Suppressed discharges (Sulph). Diphtheria. Catarrhal jaundice (Chionanth).

Head.–Vertigo, and fear of death. Gastric headache, with nausea, vomiting, and great prostration; worse, afternoon until midnight; tobacco. Dull, heavy pain.

Face.–Bathed in cold sweat. Sudden pallor.

Ears.–Deafness due to suppressed discharges or eczema. Shooting pain from throat.

Mouth.–Profuse flow of saliva; acrid burning taste; mercurial taste; tenacious mucus, tongue coated white.

Stomach.–Acidity, flatulence, shortness of breath after eating. Heartburn with profuse flow of saliva. Extreme nausea and vomiting. Morning sickness. Faintness and weakness at epigastrium. Profuse salivation, with good appetite. Profuse sweat and prostration. Cannot bear smell or taste of tobacco. Acrid, burning taste; acidity, with contractive feeling in pit of stomach. Flatulence, shortness of breath after eating. Heartburn.

Respiratory.–Dyspnœa from constriction of chest; worse, any exertion. Sensation of pressure or weight in chest; better by rapid walking. Feels as if heart would stop. Asthma; attacks, with weakness, felt in pit of stomach and preceded by prickling all over. Cramp, ringing cough, short breath, catching at throat. Senile emphysema.

Back.–Pain in sacrum; cannot bear slightest touch. Sits leaning forward.

Urinary.–Deep red color and copious red sediment.

Skin.–Prickling, itching with intense nausea.

Modalities.–Worse, tobacco, afternoon, slightest motion, cold, especially cold washing. Better, by rapid walking; (chest pain), toward evening, and from warmth.

Relationship.–Antidote: Ipec.

Compare: Tabac; Ars; Tart e; Verat; Rosa.

Lobelia syphilitica or cerulea (gives a perfect picture of sneezing influenza, involving the posterior nares, palate, and fauces. Very depressed. Pain in forehead over eyes; pain and gas in bowels, followed by copious watery stools with tenesmus and soreness of anus. Pain in knees. Prickling in soles. Great oppression in lower part of chest, as if air could not reach there. Pain in chest under short ribs of left side. Dry, hacking cough. Breathing difficult. Dull, aching pain over root of nose. Eustachian catarrh. Pain in posterior part of spleen). Lobelia erinus (malignant growths, extremely rapid development; colloid cancer of the omentum; cork-screw-like pains in abdomen; great dryness of skin, nasal and buccal mucous membranes; distaste for brandy; dry, eczematous patches covering points of first fingers. Malignant disease of the face. Epithelioma).

Dose.–Tincture, to thirtieth potency. Locally the tincture is antidotal to Poison-oak. Often the Acetum Lobelia acts better than any other preparation. Lobelia hypodermically acts clinically almost precisely as the antitoxin of diphtheria does upon the infection and renders the system stronger to resist future infections (F. Ellingwood).

Carbonate of Lithium

Chronic rheumatism connected with heart lesions and asthenopia offer a field for this remedy. Rheumatic nodes. Uric acid diathesis Whole body is sore. Gout and tophi.

Head.–Tension, as if bound; better, sitting and going out. Externally sensitive. Headache ceases while eating. Trembling and throbbing. Pain in heart; extends to head. Dizzy states with ringing in ears. Both cheeks covered with dry, bran-like scales.

Eyes.–Half vision; invisible right half. Photophobia. Pain over eyes. Dry lids. Eyes pain after reading.

Stomach.–Acidity, nausea, gnawing, relieved by eating (Anacard). Cannot endure slightest pressure of clothes (Laches).

Urine.–Tenesmus. Turbid urine, with mucus and red deposit. Pain in region of right kidney. Free and colorless. While urinating, pressure in heart. Cystitis, subacute and chronic.

Respiratory.–Constriction of chest. Violent cough when lying down. Air feels cold when inspired. Pain in mammary glands, which extend into the arms and fingers.

Heart.–Rheumatic soreness in cardiac region. Sudden shock in heart. Throbbing, dull stitch in cardiac region. Pains in heart before menses, and associated with pains in bladder, and before urinating; better, after. Trembling and fluttering in heart, extending to back.

Urinary.–Soreness of bladder; pain in right kidney and ureter. Turbid urine with mucus, scanty and dark, acrid; sandy deposit.

Extremities.–Paralytic stiffness all over. Itching about joints. Rheumatic pains throughout shoulder-joint, arm, and fingers and small joints generally. Pain in hollow of foot, extending to knee. Swelling and tenderness of finger and toe joints; better, hot water. Nodular swellings in joints. Ankles pain when walking.

Skin.–Scabby, tettery eruption on hands, head, and cheeks, preceded by red, raw skin. Dull stitch, ending in itching. Barber’s itch (use high). Rough rash all over body, much loose epithelium, tough, dry, itchy skin.

Modalities.–Worse, in morning, right side. Better, rising and moving about.

Relationship.–Compare: Lyc; Ammon phos; Benz ac; Calc; Lithium chlor (symptoms of cinchonism, viz.: Dizzy head, full, bluring of vision Ringing in ears; marked tremors; general weakness; marked muscular and general prostration; no gastro-intestinal effects. Nose sore, heartburn, pain in teeth). Lithium lacticum (rheumatism of shoulder, and small joints relieved by moving about; worse, resting). Lithium benzoicum (deep-seated pains in loins; in small of back; uneasiness in bladder. Cystic irritation. Gallstones. Frequent desire. Diminishing uric acid deposit). Lithium bromatum (cerebral congestion, threatened apoplexy, insomnia and epilepsy).

Dose.–First to third trituration.

Common Flax

The application of Linseed poultice has produced in sensitive subjects severe respiratory disturbances, as asthma, hives, etc. Its action in such cases is marked by intense irritation. It has been found to contain small quantity of Hydrocyanic acid, which may account for this intensity. The decoction is of service in inflammation of the urinary passages, cystitis, strangury, etc. Also in diseases of the intestinal tract. It has a place in the treatment of asthma, hay-fever and urticaria. Trismus and paralysis of the tongue.

Relationship.–Compare: Linum Catharticum-Purging flax –(Similar respiratory symptoms, but also colic and diarrhœa).

Dose.–Lower potencies.

Toad-flax-Snap Dragon
(LINARIA)

Acts prominently within the domain of the pneumogastrics. Eructations, nausea, salivation, pressure on stomach. Jaundice, splenic and hepatic hypertrophy. Enteric symptoms and great drowsiness very marked. Cardiac fainting. Enuresis. Rectal symptoms. Tongue rough, dry; throat constricted. Coldness. Confusion in head. Irresistible sleepiness. Symptoms worse walking in open air.

Dose.–Third potency.

Horse-foot-King-crab
(LIMULUS – XIPHOSURA)

Limulus was introduced by C. Hering and partially proved by him and Lippe. Hering was surprised to see the blood of the King-crab that he dissected, blue, which on investigation, was found to contain copper as he had surmised and which he thought would prove to be another medicine for Cholera. Further provings are necessary to establish this, though symptoms so far observed make this probable. Hering’s fertile mind always lead him to pioneer paths into practical therapeutics.

Bodily and mental exhaustion; drowsiness after sea bathing. Gastro-enteric symptoms. Painful fullness of whole right side of body.

Head.–Mental depression. Difficult to remember names, confused with heat of face, rush of blood to face, worse when meditating. Pain behind left eye-ball.

Nose.–Fluent coryza. Sneezing worse drinking water. Constant nasal dropping. Pressure above nose and behind eyes.

Abdomen.–Colic with heat. Cramp-like pain with watery stools. Abdomen hot and constricted. Piles, constriction of anus.

Respiratory.–Husky voice. Dyspnœa after drinking water. Oppression of chest.

Extremities.–Crural neuralgia. Soles of feet ache, feel numb. Pain in right hip-joint. Heels sore.

Skin.–Itching spots and vesicles on face and hands. Burning in palms.

Relationship.–Compare: Asterias; Homarus; Cuprum.

Dose.–Sixth potency.

Tiger-lily

Manifests powerful influence over the pelvic organs, and is adapted to many reflex states dependent on some pathological condition of uterus and ovaries. More often indicated in unmarried women. The action of the heart is very marked. Pain in small spots (Oxal ac). Rheumatic arthritis.

Mind.–Tormented about her salvation. Consolation aggravates. Profound depression of spirits. Constant inclination to weep. Anxious; fears some organic and incurable disease. Disposed to curse, strike, think obscene things. Aimless, hurried manner; must keep busy.

Head.–Hot, dull, heavy. Faint in warm room. Wild feeling in head.

Eyes.–Hyperæsthesia of retina. Pain, extending back into head; lachrymation; and impaired vision. Myopic astigmia. Useful in restoring power to the weakened ciliary muscle (Arg nit).

Stomach.–Flatulent; nausea, with sensation of lump in stomach. Hungry; longs for meat. Thirsty, drinks often and much, and before severe symptoms.

Abdomen.–Abdomen sore, distended; trembling sensation in abdomen. Pressure downwards and backwards against rectum and anus; worse, standing; better, walking in open air. Bearing down in lower part of abdomen.

Urinary.–Frequent urging. Urine milky, scanty, hot.

Stool.–Constant desire to defecate, from pressure in rectum, worse standing. Pressure down the anus. Early-morning urgent stool. Dysentery; mucus and blood, with tenesmus, especially in plethoric and nervous women at change of life.

Heart.–Sensation as if heart were grasped in a vise (Cact). Feels full to bursting. Pulsations over whole body. Palpitation; irregular pulse; very rapid. Pain in cardiac region, with feeling of a load on chest. Cold feeling about heart. Suffocating feeling in a crowded and warm room. Angina pectoris with pain in right arm.

Female.–Menses early, scanty, dark, clotted, offensive; flow only when moving about. Bearing down sensation with urgent desire for stool, as though all organs would escape. Ceases when resting (Sep; Lac c; Bell). Congestion of uterus, prolapse, and anteversion. Constant desire to support parts externally. Pain in ovaries and down thighs. Acrid, brown leucorrhœa; smarting in labia. Sexual instinct awakened. Bloated feeling in uterine region. Sub-involution. Pruritus pudendi.

Extremities.–Cannot walk on uneven ground. Pain in back and spine, with trembling, but oftener in front of a pressing-down character. Pricking in fingers. Pain in right arm and hip. Legs ache; cannot keep them still. Pain in ankle joint. Burning palms and soles.

Sleep.–Unrefreshing, with disagreeable dreams. Unable to sleep, with wild feeling in head.

Fever.–Great heat and lassitude in afternoon, with throbbing throughout body.

Modalities.–Worse consolation, warm room. Better, fresh air.

Relationship.–Compare: Cact; Helon; Murex; Sep; Plat; Pallad.

Antidote: Helon.

Dose.–The middle and higher potencies seem to have done best. Its curative action sometimes is slow in developing itself.

Colic Root
(LIATRIS SPICATA – SERRATULA)

A vascular stimulant. Increases functional activity of the skin, mucous membranes.

Of use in dropsy due to liver and spleen diseases, also renal dropsy. Here the suppressed urination is most favorably influenced. General anasarca due to heart and kidney disease. Diarrhœa with violent urging and pain in lower part of back. Colic. Locally, applied to ulcers and unhealthy wounds.

A prompt diuretic.

Dose.–1 to 4 drams of tincture of infusion.

Culver’s Root
(LEPTANDRA)

A liver remedy, with jaundice and black, tarry stools. Bilious states. Enfeebled portal circulation. Malarial conditions.

Head.–Dull frontal pain; vertigo, drowsiness, and depression. Smarting and aching in eyes.

Stomach.–Tongue coated yellow. Great distress in stomach and intestines, with desire for stool. Aching in region of liver extending to spine, which feels chilly.

Stool.–Profuse black, fetid stools, with pain at umbilicus. Bleeding piles. Typhoid stools turn black and look like tar. Clay colored stools with jaundice. Prolapse of rectum with hæmorrhoids. Rectal hæmorrhage.

Relationship.–Compare: Podop; Iris; Bry; Merc; Ptel; Myrica.

Dose.–Tincture, to third potency.