Rhododendron – Yellow Snow-Rose

The mother tincture is prepared from the dried leaved twigs of the plant Rhododen- dron campylocarpum Hook. f., Rhododendron chrysanthum Pall. and their hybrids separately or in combination, which occurs in Siberia and Northern Russia. N.O. Ericaceae.

This most important remedy produces a typical aggravation of all complaints in windy weather, in wet, cold weather, particularly before rain begins to fall, but also in other changes in the weather and before a thunderstorm.

Complaints occur periodically and frequently change their location. In the case of pains in the limbs these frequently originate in small, circumscribed sites on the pe- riosteum, associated with drawing pain deep inside the bone, and possibly also with paraesthesias and twitching sensations. They are accompanied by relaxation, a sore, bruised feeling and lassitude after the slightest exertion.

Repeatedly one notices a striking sensitivity to cold and wind, and a resurgence of complaints in rough, changeable weather.

Frequently there is an indifferent, cross or reluctant mood.

Rhododendron is required in many cases where there are tearing or jerking pains in the face, or toothache which is better for warmth and may cease for one or two hours after eating a meal.

Apart from the pains in bones, muscles and joints, heart complaints are also char- acteristic of Rhododendron, the heart-beat often becoming stronger, in many cases typified by an aggravation of complaints before a change occurs in the weather.

In Rhododendron there are also vesicular eruptions, as well as epididymitis and pains in the testes, which feel as though they had been squashed; these symptoms may also occur in the glans penis. Thus Rhododendron acts (alongside penicillin) where there is a specific cause. It has also occasionally proved its worth in hydro- coele of boys.

Since the nervous system is also affected, and disturbances of sleep were observed during the provings, Rhododendron may also be used in sleeplessness, above all when this has a rheumatic cause or is the result of rheumatic complaints occurring, particularly if the patients cannot get to sleep because of physical restlessness.

In general Rhododendron is an anti-rheumatic, but it can be used where there are gouty deposits, and particularly in primary chronic arthritis, for which it is one of the chief remedies, especially where there is deformity of the small interphalangeal joints. Rhododendron, apart from having an aggravation while at rest, which pre- vents sleep, also has an amelioration from movement (cf. Rhus Toxicodendron).

Indeed, Rhododendron bears an uncommon similarity to Rhus Toxicodendron, however the pains of Rhododendron are deeper, and localised in the periosteum.

A summary produces the following main symptoms:

1. Rheumatic remedy with a typical aggravation before rainy weather and changes of weather in general.

• 2.   Aggravation of complaints at night and at rest; amelioration on continued move- ment. The pains are located deeply, as if originating in the periosteum.
• Special localisation (primary chronic polyarthritis) in the small joints (fingers). Neuralgia in the arm.
• Vesicular eruptions.
• 5.   Affections of the testes. Epididymitis. Neuralgia of the spermatic cord. Conse- quences of gonorrhoea and syphilis (neural complications).
• 6.   Heart complaints, with increased strength of the heart-beat, possibly associated with feelings of anxiety, and with aggravation before a change in the weather.
• 7.   Tearing, jerking pains in the face, resulting from toothache, ameliorated after eat- ing and by warmth.

The German Monograph-Preparation Commission for the Homoeopathic Field of Therapy has, under the Preparation Monograph for Rhododendron, published the following indication(s) in the German Bundesanzeiger (German Federal Gazette) for rhododendron: rheumatism; neuralgia; orchitis.