HOMŒOPATHIC MATERIA MEDICA
by
WILLIAM BOERICKE, M.D.

 

  
APIUM GRAVEOLENS
Common Celery

Contains a soporific active principle. Obstinate retention of urine, throbbing headaches and heartburn, have been produced by celery. Swelling of throat, face, and hands. Rheumatic pain in muscles of neck also in sacrum. Growing pains. Hungry for apples. Dysmenorrhœa, with sharp, short pains, better flexing legs.

Head.--Depressed; energetic; feeling of fidgets; cannot sleep from thinking. Headache; better eating. Eyeballs feel sunken. Itching in eyes. Itching and smarting in inner canthus of left eye.

Abdomen.--Sore; sharp sticking pain as if stool was coming on; diarrhœa, sharp pain in left iliac region going over to right. Nausea increases with pains.

Female.--Sharp sticking pains in both ovarian regions, left, better bending over, by lying on left side, with legs flexed; nipples tender.

Respiratory.--Tickling, dry cough. Intense constriction over sternum, with drawing feeling through to back on lying down. Throat swollen, dyspnœa.

Skin.--Itching blotches; burning, creeping sensation. Profuse discharge from granulating ulcers. Urticaria with shuddering.

Sleep.--Unrefreshed; sleepless. Wakes from 1 to 3 am.Eating does not help sleep. Not fatigued from loss of sleep.

Dose.--First to thirtieth potency.

  
APHIS CHENOPODII GLAUCI
Plant-lice from Chenopodium
(CHENOPODI GLAUCI APHIS)

Partakes largely of the properties of the plant upon which the insect lives.

Head.--Sad; aching, worse from motion. Brain seems swashed hither and thither. Coryza, with burning or biting in nostrils. Noise in ears, as of cannon. Yellow face. Orbital right neuralgia, with profuse lachrymation. Toothache, relieved by general warm sweat (Cham). Toothache extends to ear, temple, and cheek-bone (Plantago).

Stomach.--No appetite for meat and bread. Vesicles at end of tongue. Much mucus. Colic with much rumbling and ineffectual urging to stool.

Stools.--Hard and knotty. Diarrhœa in morning, with painful urging and burning in anus, and pressure in rectum and bladder.

Urine.--Voluptuous feeling in glans. Burning in urethra. Urination frequent, copious, frothy.

Back.--Severe pains in region of lower inner angle of left shoulder-blade, running into chest.

Fever.--Shuddering all over; burning in palms; hot sweat in bed.

Relationship.--Compare: Nat sulph; Nux.

Dose.--Sixth to thirtieth potency.

  
APIS MELLIFICA
The Honey-Bee

Acts on cellular tissues causing œdema of skin and mucous membranes.

The very characteristic effects of the sting of the bee furnish unerring indications for its employment in disease. Swelling or puffing up of various parts, œdema, red rosy hue, stinging pains, soreness, intolerance of heat, and slightest touch, and afternoon aggravation are some of the general guiding symptoms. Erysipelatous inflammations, dropsical effusions and anasarca, acute, inflammation of kidneys, and other perenchymatous tissues are characteristic pathological states corresponding to Apis. Apis acts especially on outer parts, skin, coatings of inner organs, serous membranes. It produces serous inflammation with effusion, membranes of brain, heart, pleuritic effusion, etc. Extreme sensitiveness to touch and general soreness is marked. Constricted sensations. Sensation of stiffness and as of something torn off in the interior of the body. Much prostration.

Mind.--Apathy, indifference, and unconsciousness. Awkward; drops things readily. Stupor, with sudden sharp cries and startings. Stupor alternating with erotic mania. Sensation of dying. Listless; cannot think clearly. Jealous, fidgety, hard to please. Sudden shrill, piercing screams. Whining. Tearfulness. Jealously, fright, rage, vexation, grief. Cannot concentrate mind when attempting to read or study.

Head.--Whole brain feels very tired. Vertigo with sneezing, worse on lying or closing eyes. Heat, throbbing, distensive pains, better on pressure, and worse on motion. Sudden stabbing pains. Dull, heavy sensation in occiput, as from a blow, extending to neck (better on pressure), accompanied with sexual excitement. Bores head into pillow and screams out.

Eyes.--Lids swollen, red, œdematous, everted, inflamed; burn and sting. Conjunctiva bright red, puffy. Lachrymation hot. Photophobia. Sudden piercing pains. Pain around orbits. Serous exudation, œdema, and sharp pains. Suppurative inflammation of eyes. Keratitis with intense chemosis of ocular conjunctiva. Staphyloma of cornea following suppurative inflammation. Styes, also prevents their recurrence.

Ears.--External ear red, inflamed, sore; stinging pains.

Nose.--Coldness of tips of nose. Red, swollen, inflamed, with sharp pains.

Face.--Swollen, red, with piercing pain. Waxy, pale, œdematous. Erysipelas with stinging burning œdema. Extends from right to left.

Mouth.--Tongue fiery red, swollen, sore, and raw, with vesicles. Scalding in mouth and throat. Tongue feels scalded, red hot, trembling. Gums swollen. Lips swollen, especially upper. Membrane of mouth and throat glossy, as if varnished. Red, shining, and puffy, like erysipelas. Cancer of the tongue.

Throat.--Constricted, stinging pains. Uvula swollen, sac-like. Throat swollen, inside and out; tonsils swollen, puffy, fiery red. Ulcers on tonsils. Fiery red margin around leathery membrane. Sensation of fishbone in throat.

Stomach.--Sore feeling. Thirstless. Vomiting of food. Craving for milk (Rhus).

Abdomen.--Sore, bruised on pressure, when sneezing. Extremely tender. Dropsy of abdomen. Peritonitis. Swelling in right groin.

Stool.--Involuntary on every motion; anus seems open. Bloody, painless. Anus feels raw. Hæmorrhoids, with stinging pain, after confinement. Diarrhœa watery, yellow; cholera infantum type. Cannot urinate without a stool. Dark, fetid, worse after eating. Constipation; feels as if something would break on straining.

Urine.--Burning and soreness when urinating. Suppressed, loaded with casts; frequent and involuntary; stinging pain and strangury; scanty, high colored. Incontinence. Last drops burn and smart.

Female.--Œdema of labia; relieved by cold water. Soreness and stinging pains; ovaritis; worse in right ovary. Menses suppressed, with cerebral and head symptoms, especially in young girls. Dysmenorrhœa, with severe ovarian pains. Metrorrhagia profuse, with heavy abdomen, faintness, stinging pain. Sense of tightness. Bearing-down, as if menses were to appear. Ovarian tumors, metritis with stinging pains. Great tenderness over abdomen and uterine region.

Respiratory.--Hoarseness; dyspnœa, breathing hurried and difficult. Œdema of larynx. Feels as if he could not draw another breath. Suffocation; short, dry cough, suprasternal. Hydrothorax.

Extremities.--Œdematous. Synovitis. Felon in beginning. Knee swollen, shiny, sensitive, sore, with stinging pain. Feet swollen and stiff. Feel too large. Rheumatic pain in back and limbs; Tired, bruised feeling. Numbness of hands and tips of fingers. Hives with intolerable itching. Œdematous swellings.

Skin.--Swellings after bites; sore, sensitive. Stinging. Erysipelas, with sensitiveness and swelling, rosy hue. Carbuncles, with burning, stinging pain (Ars; Anthrac). Sudden puffing up of whole body.

Sleep.--Very drowsy. Dreams full of care and toil. Screams and sudden starting during sleep.

Fever.--Afternoon chill, with thirst; worse on motion and heat. External heat, with smothering feeling. Sweat slight, with sleepiness. Perspiration breaks out and dries up frequently. Sleeps after the fever paroxysm. After perspiration, nettle rash, also with shuddering.

Modalities.--Worse, heat in any form; touch; pressure; late in afternoon; after sleeping; in closed and heated rooms. Right side. Better, in open air, uncovering, and cold bathing.

Relationship.--Complementary.: Nat mur. The "chronic", Apis; also Baryta carb, if lymphatics are involved. Inimical. Rhus.

Compare: Apium virus (auto-toxæmia, with pus products); Zinc; Canth; Vespa; Lachesis.

Dose.--Tincture to thirtieth potency. In œdematous conditions the lower potencies. Sometimes action is slow; so several days elapse before it is seen to act, and then urine is increased. Apium virus, sixth trituration.

  
APOCYNUM CANNABINUM
Indian Hemp

Increases secretions of mucous and serous membranes and acts on cellular tissue, producing œdema and dropsy and on skin causing diaphoresis. Acute hydrocephalus. A diminished frequency of the pulse is a prime indication. This is one of our most efficient remedies, in dropsies, ascites, anasarca and hydrothorax, and urinary troubles, especially suppression and strangury. In the digestive complaints of Bright's disease, with the nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, difficult breathing, it will be found of frequent service. The dropsy is characterized by great thirst and gastric irritability. Arrhythmia. Mitral and tricuspid regurgitation. Acute alcoholism. Relaxation of sphincters.

Mind.--Bewildered. Low spirited.

Nose.--Long-continued sneezing. Snuffles of children (Sambucus). Chronic nasal catarrh with tendency to acute stuffiness with dull, sluggish memory. Dull headache. Takes cold easily, nostrils become congested and blocked up easily.

Stomach.--Nausea, with drowsiness. Thirst on walking. Excessive vomiting. Food or water is immediately ejected. Dull, heavy, sick feeling. Oppression in epigastrium and chest, impeding breathing (Lobelia infl). Sensation of sinking in stomach. Abdomen bloated. Ascites.

Stool.--Watery, flatulent, with soreness in anus; worse after eating. Feeling as if sphincter were open and stools ran right out.

Urine.--Bladder much distended. Turbid, hot urine, with thick mucus and burning in urethra, after urinating. Little expulsive power. Dribbling. Strangury. Renal Dropsy.

Female.--Amenorrhœa, with bloating; metrorrhagia with nausea; fainting, vital depression. Hæmorrhages at change of life. Blood expelled in large clots.

Respiratory.--Short, dry cough. Respiratory short and unsatisfactory. Sighing. Oppression about epigastrium and chest.

Heart.--Tricuspid regurgitation; rapid and feeble, irregular cardiac action, low arterial tension, pulsating jugulars, general cyanosis and general dropsy.

Sleep.--Great restlessness and little sleep.

Modalities.--Worse, cold weather; cold drinks; uncovering.

Relationship.--Cymarin is the active principle of Apocyn, lowers pulse rate and increases blood-pressure. Strophanthus (extreme cardiac depression with intense gastric disturbance; dropsy). Aralia hispida-Wild Elder-a valuable diuretic, useful in dropsy of the cavities, either due to hepatic or renal disease with constipation. Urinary disorders, especially with dropsy. Scudder advises doses of five to thirty drops in sweetened cream of tartar, (Solution). Apis, Arsenic, Digital; Helleb.

Dose.--Tincture (ten drops three times daily) and in acute alcoholism 1 dram of decoction in 4 oz water.

  
APOCYNUM ANDROSAEMIFOLIUM
Dogbane

The rheumatic symptoms of this remedy promise most curative results. Its pains are of a wandering nature, with much stiffness and drawing. Everything smells and tastes like honey. Worms. Trembling and prostration. Swollen sensations.

Extremities.--Pain in all joints. Pain in toes and soles. Swelling of hands and feet. Profuse sweat, with much heat in soles. Tingling pain in toes. Cramps in soles. Violent heat in soles (Sulph).

Dose.--Tincture and first potency.

  
APOMORPHINUM
Alkaloid from Decomposition of Morphine by Hydrochloric Acid
(APOMORPHIA)

The chief power of this drug lies in the speedy and effective vomiting that it produces, which becomes a strong guiding symptom to its homeopathic use. The vomiting is preceded by nausea, lassitude and increased secretion of sweat, saliva, mucus and tears. Pneumonia with vomiting. Combined alcoholism, with constant nausea, constipation, insomnia.

Head and Stomach.--Vertigo. Dilated pupils. Nausea and vomiting. Violent inclination to vomit. Hot feeling all over body, especially head. Empty retching and headache; heartburn; pain between shoulder-blades. Reflex vomiting-pregnancy. Seasickness.

Non-homeopathic Uses.--The hypodermic injection of one-sixteenth of a grain will cause full emesis within five to fifteen minutes in an adult without developing any other direct action apparently. Do not use in opium poisoning. Apomorph hypodermically, one-thirtieth grain or less, acts as a safe and sure hypnotic. Acts well even in delirium. Sleep comes on in half an hour.

Dose.--Third to sixth potency.

  
AQUILEGIA VULGARIS
Columbine
(AQUILEGIA)

A remedy for hysteria. Globus and clavus hystericus. Women at climaxis, with vomiting of green substance, especially in the morning. Sleeplessness. Nervous trembling of body; sensitive to light and noise. Dysmenorrhœa of young girls.

Female.--Menses scanty, with dull, painful, nightly increasing pressure in the right lumbar region.

Dose.--First potency.

 

CD Copyright © 2003 HBI Health & Homoeopathy Centre