Glonoinum – Nitroglycerin

The attenuations are prepared from Glyceryl trinitrate, C₃H₅N₃H₉, MW: 227.1.

Even though Glonoin (Nitroglycerin) is used essentially for heart conditions, particularly angina pectoris, nevertheless the symptom-picture presents other symptoms too, which mark out Glonoin as an effective remedy with other indi- cations. The name Glonoin  is  based  on  the  three  components:  Gl  =  glycerol, O = oxygen, N = nitrogen.

The main characteristic symptoms are palpitations extending to the neck, which can be seen in the pulsating carotid arteries, a tendency to sudden violent irregulari- ties in the circulation, active hyperaemia of the brain with symptoms such as are found e.g. in sunstroke. There is also cerebral vomiting, white tongue, empty sensa- tion in the pit of the stomach with pale face and full pulse, laboured respiration, in other words, such symptoms as may be present in sunstroke; these point to Glonoin. There are also headaches which are ameliorated by having the head uncovered and often by lying quietly, but are aggravated by bending the head backwards. In con- trast to Belladonna cases, the face is often not flushed, and the patient must walk about, preferably in the open air, because that is what gives him relief. Generally Belladonna symptoms are exactly the opposite.

The most important symptoms of Glonoin are the heart symptoms. A sensation of fullness in the praecordium is reported, and strong pulsations throughout the body, as if the chest would burst, linked with pains radiating out into the arms and throat.

Nash draws our attention to the similarity with Melilotus, so that differentiation is often difficult.

One symptom of Glonoin deserves our attention: gets lost in familiar streets, pos- sibly accompanied by thoughtlessness. Apart from this there are also weakness and trembling in the upper and lower limbs and a sensation of heaviness and restlessness in the arms and legs, associated with numbness and a “gone to sleep” sensation. There is also a spasmodic drawing and feeling of stiffness in the nape of the neck, and a spasmodic feeling of tension and contraction in the muscles, possibly also with stabbing in the shoulder-blades.

The blood vessels may be injected, even in the eye with reddened conjunctiva, sparks and flashes in the field of vision, weak or dull vision and occasional inability to see.

There may also be twitching and numbness in the lips with pulsating toothache, and also particularly in increased production of saliva and mucus, with frequent ex- pectoration and a sensation as if the tongue were enlarged and raw, with a sharp taste and a bitter, scratching sensation towards the palate.

The remedy picture also contains diarrhoea with retching, nausea, vomiting, flatu- lence and cutting pains in the abdomen; also polyuria and congestion of the head during the menstrual periods.

The specific indications which have generally emerged are the complaints follow- ing sunstroke, the ciruclatory disturbances in the heart and the pulsating and beating in the blood vessels. Thus Glonoin is likely to be effective in strokes, delirium, epileptiform spasms, meningitis, migraines and also dysmenorrhoea, so long as the symptomatology indicates it to a reasonable extent. It may also be mentioned that the symptoms are aggravated by drinking spirits, and that head symptoms may also occur after having the hair cut.

When these symptoms are summarised, we have the following characteristic rem- edy-picture:

1. Complaints are aggravated by heat of the sun, hot weather, movement, drinking spirits, and having the hair cut. They are ameliorated at rest and in the fresh air.
2. Pulsations throughout the body, proceeding from the heart. Pulsation of the carotid arteries. Blood vessels distended. Hot flushes passing over the head from the nape of the neck. Painful feeling in the praecordium. Angina pectoris and lancinating pains, extending from the heart to the back and shoulders with a spas- modic feeling of pressure in the heart (cf. Cactus). Violent reactions of the heart, extending as far as the finger-tips, and accelerated heart activity. Pulse full and rapid or fast and small. Angina pectoris.
3. Cannot find his way in familiar streets and towns.
4. Violent frontal and temporal headaches, ascending from the nape of the neck and taking in the whole back part of the head, aggravated by any movement and jar- ring, better at times in fresh air and by lying quietly.
5. Diarrhoea with gastric symptoms, vomiting and retching; also polyuria and dys- menorrhoea with congestion of the head. Supporting remedy in meningitis.

The German Monograph-Preparation Commission for the Homoeopathic Field of Therapy has, under the Preparation Monograph for Nitroglycerinum, published the following indication(s) in the German Bundesanzeiger (German Federal Gazette) for glonoinum: headaches; hypertension; angina pectoris.