HOMŒOPATHIC MATERIA MEDICA
by
WILLIAM BOERICKE, M.D.

 

  
HAEMATOXYLON CAMPECHIANUM
Logwood
(HAEMATOXYLON)

Sense of constriction is characteristic. Sensation as if a bar lay across chest. Angina pectoris.

Head.--Feels constricted; heavy, hot. Eyelids heavy.

Stomach.--Painful digging from abdomen to throat, causing pain in region of heart with oppression. Colic, tympanitis. Borborygmi and diarrhœa. Swollen, painful.

Chest.--Constriction, extending to epigastrium. Sensation of a bar across chest. Convulsive pain in heart region with oppression. Great soreness in region of heart. Palpitation.

Female.--Pain in hypogastrium, attended with slimy, whitish leucorrhœa. Weak feeling, with painful bearing down sensation at menstrual period.

Relationship.--Compare: Cactus; Colocy; Naja.

Dose.--Third potency.

  
HAMAMELIS VIRGINIANA
Witch-hazel
(HAMAMELIS VIRGINICA)

Venous congestion, hæmorrhages, varicose veins, and hæmorrhoids, with bruised soreness of affected parts, seem to be the special sphere of this remedy. Acts upon the coats of the veins causing relaxation with consequent engorgement. Passive venous hæmorrhages from any part. Great value in open, painful wounds, with weakness from loss of blood. After operations, supersedes the use of morphia (Helmuth).

Head.--Wants "the respect due to me" shown. Feeling as of a bolt from temple to temple. Fullness, followed by epistaxis. Numbness over frontal bone.

Eyes.--Painful weakness; sore pain in eyes; bloodshot appearance; inflamed vessels greatly injected. Hastens absorption of intraocular hæmorrhage. Eyes feel forced out.

Nose.--Bleeding from nose profuse; flow passive, non-coagulable, with tightness in bridge of nose. Bad odor from nose.

Throat.--Mucous membrane distended and bluish; varicosis of throat.

Stomach.--Tongue feels burnt. Thirst. Blisters on side. Hæmatemesis of black blood. Throbbing and pain in stomach.

Stool.--Anus feels sore and raw. Hæmorrhoids, bleeding profusely, with soreness. Dysentery. Pulsation in rectum.

Urine.--Hæmaturia, with increased desire.

Female.--Ovarian congestion and neuralgia; feel very sore. Vicarious menstruation. Uterine hæmorrhage, bearing-down pain in back. Menses dark, profuse, with soreness in abdomen. Metrorrhagia, occurring midway between menstrual periods. Intermenstrual pain (Jas. W. Ward). Vagina very tender. Profuse leucorrhœa. Vulva itches. Milk-leg, hæmorrhoids, and sore nipples, after confinement. Metrorrhagia; passive flow. Vaginismus, ovaritis, soreness over whole abdomen. Phlegmasia alba.

Male.--Pain in spermatic cord, running into testes. Varicocele. Pain in testicles. Orchitis. Testicles enlarged, hot, and painful. Epididymitis.

Respiratory.--Hæmoptysis; tickling cough. Chest feels sore and constricted.

Back.--Sore pain down cervical vertebræ. Severe pain in lumbar and hypogastric region, extending down legs.

Extremities.--Tired feeling in arms and legs. Very sore muscles and joints. Varicose veins. Chilliness in back and hips, extending down legs. Neuralgia of internal saphenous nerve.

Skin.--Bluish chilblains. Phlebitis. Purpura. Varicose veins and ulcers; very sore. Burns. Ecchymosis. Traumatic inflammations (Arnica).

Modalities.--Worse, warm, moist air.

Relationship.--Compare in hæmorrhoids: Calc fluor; Aloe; Mur ac in varicose veins. Mangifera indica.

Compare: Arnica; Calend; Trillium; Bellis; Sulph ac; Pulsatilla.

Antidote: Arnica.

Complementary: Ferrum.

Dose.--Tincture, to sixth attenuation. Distilled extract locally.

  
HECLA LAVA
Lava Scoriæ from Mt. Hecla
(HEKLA LAVA)

Marked action upon the jaws. Of great use in exostosis, gum abscess, difficult teething. Nodosities, caries of bone, etc. Osteitis, periostitis, osteosarcoma; rachitis. Tumors in general. Bone necrosis. Necrosis and sinus after mastoid operation.

Face.--Ulceration of nasal bones. Facial neuralgia from carious teeth and after extraction. Toothache, with swelling about jaws. Abscess of gums. Enlargement of maxillary bone. Cervical glands enlarged and indurated.

Relationship.--Compare: Silica; Mercur; Phos; Conchiolinum--Mother of pearl (diaphysis of bone affected; parts extremely sensitive to touch).

Amphisbæna-Snail-like lizard (great affinity for the jaw bones, worse by air and dampness).

Slag--(Great itching of parts).

Dose.--Lower triturations.

  
HEDEOMA PULEGIOIDES
Pennyroyal
(HEDEOMA)

Female symptoms are most marked; usually associated with nervous disturbances. Red sand in urine. Pain along ureter. Flatulent colic. Antidotes effects of Poison-oak (Grindelia).

Head.--Dull, heavy feeling in morning. Sore pain, as from a cut. Weak, faint; better, lying down.

Stomach.--Gastritis. Everything taken into stomach causes pain. Tongue coated thin white. Nausea.

Abdomen.--Distended, sore, and sensitive.

Urine.--Frequent urging, cutting pains. Pain along left ureter. Dragging pain from kidney to bladder. Dull burning pain over left kidney. Burning irritation at neck of bladder causing frequent intense desire to urinate and inability to retain urine for more than few minutes, better urinating.

Female.--Bearing-down pains, with much backache; worse, least movement. Leucorrhœa, with itching and burning Ovaries congested and painful; bearing-down spasmodic contractions.

Extremities.--Pain in thumb-joint. Pain, coldness, and paretic condition. Twitchings, jerkings, soreness. Tendo-Achilles painful, as if sprained and swollen; walking painful.

Relationship.--Compare: Mentha; Sepia; Lilium; Ocimum (uric acid diathesis, pain in ureters). Hedera Helix--Common Ivy--(Delirium and chronic convulsions. Chronic hydrocephalus Rhinorrhea, cerebro-spinalis. Cataract. Acts on blood vessels, menorrhagia). Glechoma Hederacea--Ground Ivy--(Hæmorrhoids with rectal irritation and bleeding. Diarrhœa. Anus feels raw and sore. Cough with laryngeal and tracheal irritation. Glandula sub-mentalis inflamed).

Dose.--First potency.

  
HELIANTHUS ANNUUS
Sunflower
(HELIANTHUS)

Old cases of intermittent fever. Coryza, catarrh, nasal hæmorrhage and thick scabs in nose. Rheumatic pain in left knee. Vomiting, black stools, congestion and dryness of mouth and pharynx, redness and heat of skin. Symptoms aggravated by heat and relieved by vomiting. Spleen remedy. Marked effects on stomach, with nausea and vomiting. Stools black (Leptandra). Dry mouth. Externally, as a vulnerary like Arnica and Calendula.

  
HELLEBORUS NIGER
Snow-rose
(HELLEBORUS)

Produces a condition of sensorial depression. Sees, hears, tastes imperfectly, and general muscular weakness, which may go on to complete paralysis, accompanied by dropsical effusions. Hence, a remedy in low states of vitality and serious disease. Characteristic aggravation from 4 to 8 pm (Lycop). Sinking sensation. State of effusion in hydrocephalus. Mania of a melancholy type.

Mind.--Slow in answering. Thoughtless; staring. Involuntary sighing. Complete unconsciousness. Picks lips and clothes.

Head.--Forehead wrinkled in folds. Cold sweat. Stupefying headache. Rolls head day and night; moaning, sudden screams. Bores head into pillow; beats it with hands. Dull pain in occiput, with sensation of water swashing inside. Headache culminates in vomiting.

Eyes.--Eyeballs turn upwards; squinting, vacant look. Pupils dilated. Eyes wide open, sunken. Night-blindness.

Nose.--Dirty, dry nostrils. Rubs nose. Smell diminished. Nose pointed.

Face.--Pale, sunken. Cold sweat. Wrinkled. Neuralgia on left side; parts so tender he cannot chew.

Mouth.--Horrible smell from mouth. Lips dry and cracked. Tongue red and dry. Falling of lower jaw. Meaningless picking of lips. Grinding of teeth. Chewing motion. Greedily swallows cold water, though unconscious. Child nurses greedily, with disgust for food. Ptyalism, with sore corners of mouth.

Abdomen.--Gurgling, as if bowels were full of water. Swollen, painful to touch.

Stool.--Jelly-like, white mucus; involuntary.

Urine.--Suppressed; scanty, dark; coffee-grounds sediment. Frequent urging. Child cannot urinate. Bladder overdistended.

Respiratory.--Frequent sighing. Respiration irregular. Chest constricted; gasps for breath. Hydrothorax (Merc sulph).

Extremities.--Automatic motion of one arm and leg. Limbs heavy and painful. Stretching of limbs. Thumb drawn into palm (Cupr). Vesicular eruption between fingers and toes.

Sleep.--Sudden screams in sleep. Soporous sleep. Cri encephalique. Cannot be fully aroused.

Skin.--Pale, dropsical, itching. Livid spots on skin. Sudden, watery, swelling of skin. Falling off of hair and nails. Angio-neurotic œdema.

Modalities.--Worse, from evening until morning, from uncovering.

Relationship.--(Hellebor fætidus, or, Polymnia-Bear's foot--Acts especially on spleen (Ceanothus); also rectum and sciatic nerve. Splenic pains extend to scapula, neck and head, worse left side and evening; chronic ague cake; hypertrophied uterus; glandular enlargements; hair and nails falling off; skin peeling). Hellebor orientalis (salivation).

Antidote: Camphor; Cinch.

Compare: Threatening effusion; Tuberc; Apis; Zinc; Opium; Cinch; Cicuta; Iodoform.

Dose.--Tincture, to third potency.

  
HELODERMA
Gila Monster

The result of the bite is a benumbing paralysis like paralysis agitans or locomotor ataxia. There is no tetanic phase-a condition almost reverse in objective symptoms to Hydrocy acid or Strychnia. The most unusual action of the drug is noted upon the eye of the mouse. The eyeball becomes more prominent and the cornea opacities. The exophthalmus is due to the pressure of the blood behind the eyeball (Boyd). Homeopathically, it is indicated in many forms of disease characterized by great coldness-"arctic" coldness. Colic waves from occiput to feet or ascending.

Head.--Very depressed. Sensation as if would fall to right side. Cold band around head; cold pressure within the skull. Eyelids heavy. Pain beginning in right ear, extending round back of head to left ear.

Face.--Cold crawling feeling, as if facial muscles were tight.

Mouth.--Tongue cold, tender, and dry. Very thirsty. Swallowing difficult. Breath cold.

Chest.--Cold feeling in lungs and in heart. Slow labored thumping of heart.

Back.--Coldness across scapulæ. Burning along spine.

Extremities.--Numbness and trembling. Cyanosis of hands. Coldness. Sensation as if walking on sponge, and as if feet were swollen. Staggering gait. Cock's gait. When walking, lifts feet higher than usual, and puts down heel hard. Feet cold as ice or burn. Stretching relieves pains in muscles and limbs.

Fever.--Internal coldness, as if frozen to death. Cold rings around body. Cold waves (Abies c; Acon). Cold spots. Arctic coldness. Temperature subnormal-96° (Camph).

Relationship.--Compare: Lacerta-Green Lizard (skin eruptions. Vesicles under tongue. Increased mental acumen. Difficult swallowing. Constant accumulation of saliva in the mouth. Nausea; violent pressure in stomach). Camphor; Lachesis.

Dose.--Thirtieth potency.

  
HELONIAS DIOICA
Unicorn-root
(HELONIAS - CHAMAELIRIUM)

Sensation of weakness, dragging and weight in the sacrum and pelvis, with great languor and prostration, are excellent indications for this remedy. There is a sensitiveness expressed as a consciousness of a womb. Tired, backachy females. The weakness shows itself also in a tendency to prolapse and other malposition of the womb. The menses are often suppressed and the kidneys congested. It seems as if the monthly congestion, instead of venting itself as it should through the uterine vessels, had extended to the kidneys. With it all, there is a profound melancholia. Patient must be doing something to engage the mind. Remember it, for women with prolapsus from atony, enervated by indolence and luxury (better when attention is engaged-hence when the doctor comes), or for those worn out with hard work; tired, strained muscles burn and ache; sleepless. Diabetes mellitus, and insipidus. Constant aching and tenderness over kidneys.

Mind.--Profound melancholy. Patient is better when kept busy, with mind engaged, when doing something. Irritable; cannot endure the least contradiction.

Head.--Burning sensation on top. Headache, better mental exertion.

Back.--Pain and weight in back; tired and weak. Aching and burning across the lumbar region; can trace outlines of kidneys by constant burning. Boring pain in lumbar region, extending down legs. Great languor, better exercising.

Female.--Dragging in sacral region, with prolapse, especially after a miscarriage. Pruritus vulvæ. Backache after miscarriage (Kali c). Weight and soreness in womb; conscious of womb. Menses too frequent, too profuse. Leucorrhœa. Breasts swollen, nipples painful and tender. Parts hot, red, swollen; burn and itch terribly. Albuminuria during pregnancy. Debility attending the menopause.

Urine.--Albuminous, phosphatic; profuse and clear, saccharine. Diabetes.

Extremities.--Sensation as if a cool wind streamed up calves of legs. Feet feel numb when sitting.

Modalities.--Better, when doing something (mental diversion). Worse, motion, touch.

Relationship.--Compare: Agrimonia-Cockleburr--(painful kidneys, impaired digestion and menstrual difficulties; Bronchorrhœa and catarrh of bladder. Cough with profuse expectoration attended with expulsion of urine. Tincture 1-10 gtt). Aletris; Lilium; Puls; Senecio; Stannum.

Dose.--Tincture, to sixth attenuation.

  
HEPAR SULPHUR
Hahnemann's Calcium Sulphide
(HEPAR SULPHURIS CALCAREUM)

Suits especially scrofulous and lymphatic constitutions who are inclined to have eruptions and glandular swellings. Unhealthy skin. Blondes with sluggish character and weak muscles. Great sensitiveness to all impressions. Sweating patient pulling blanket around him. Locally, it has special affinity to the respiratory mucous membrane, producing croupous catarrhal inflammation, profuse secretion; also easy perspiration. After abuse of Mercury. Infected sinus with pus forming. The tendency to suppuration is most marked, and has been a strong guiding symptom in practice. The lesions spread by the formation of small papules around the side of the old lesion. Chilliness, hypersensitiveness, splinter-like pains, craving for sour and strong things are very characteristic. Feeling as if wind were blowing on some part. The side of the body on which he lies at night becomes gradually insufferably painful; he must turn. Pellagra (material doses required). Syphilis after antispecific gross medication.

Mind.--Anguish in the evening and night, with thoughts of suicide. The slightest cause irritates him. Dejected and sad. Ferocious. Hasty speech.

Head.--Vertigo and headache, when shaking the head or riding. Boring pain in the right temple and in root of nose every morning. Scalp sensitive and sore. Humid scald-head itching and burning. Cold sweat on head.

Eyes.--Ulcers on cornea. Iritis, with pus in anterior chamber; purulent conjunctivitis, with marked chemosis, profuse discharge, great sensitiveness to touch and air. Eyes and lids red and inflamed. Pain in the eyes, as if pulled back into the head. Boring pain in upper bones of the orbits. Eyeballs sore to touch. Objects appear red and too large. Vision obscured by reading; field reduced one-half. Bright circles before eyes. Hypopion.

Ears.--Scurfs on and behind the ears. Discharge of fetid pus from the ears. Whizzing and throbbing in the ears, with hardness of hearing. Deafness after scarlet fever. Pustules in auditory canal and auricle. Mastoiditis.

Nose.--Sore, ulcerated. Soreness of nostrils, with catarrhal troubles. Sneezes every time he goes into a cold, dry wind, with running from nose, later, thick, offensive discharge. Stopped up every time he goes out into cold air. Smell like old cheese. Hay-fever (Hepar 1x will often start secretions and profuse drainage in stuffy colds).

Face.--Yellowish complexion. Middle of lower lip cracked. Vesicular erysipelas, with pricking in parts. Neuralgia of right side, extending in streak into temple, ear, alæ, and lip. Pains in bones of face, especially when being touched. Ulcers in corners of mouth. Shooting in jaw on opening mouth.

Mouth.--Ptyalism. Gums and mouth painful to touch and bleed readily.

Throat.--When swallowing, sensation as if a plug and of a splinter in throat. Quinsy, with impending suppuration. Stitches in throat extending to the ear when swallowing. Hawking up of mucus.

Stomach.--Longing for acids, wine, and strong-tasting food. Aversion to fat food. Frequent eructations, without taste or smell. Distention of stomach, compelling one to loosen the clothing. Burning in stomach. Heaviness and pressure in stomach after a slight meal.

Abdomen.--Stitching in region of liver when walking, coughing, breathing, or touching it (Bry; Merc). Hepatitis, hepatic abscess; abdomen distended, tense; chronic abdominal affections.

Stool.--Clay-colored and soft. Sour, white, undigested, fetid. Loss of power to expel even a soft stool.

Urine.--Voided slowly, without force-drops vertically, bladder weak. Seems as if some always remained. Greasy pellicle on urine. Bladder difficulties of old men (Phos; Sulph; Copaiva).

Male.--Herpes, sensitive, bleed easily. Ulcers externally on prepuce similar to chancre (Nitr acid). Excitement and emission without amorous fancies. Itching of glans, frænum, and scrotum. Suppurating inguinal glands. Figwarts of offensive odor. Humid soreness on genitals and between scrotum and thigh. Obstinate gonorrhœa "does not get well".

Female.--Discharge of blood from uterus. Itching of pudenda and nipples, worse during menses. Menses late and scanty. Abscesses of labiæ with great sensitiveness. Extremely offensive leucorrhœa. Smells like old cheese (Sanicula). Profuse perspiration at the climacteric (Tilia; Jaborandi).

Respiratory.--Loses voice and coughs when exposed to dry, cold wind. Hoarseness, with loss of voice. Cough troublesome when walking. Dry, hoarse cough. Cough excited whenever any part of the body gets cold or uncovered, or from eating anything cold. Croup with loose, rattling cough; worse in morning. Choking cough. Rattling, croaking cough; suffocative attacks; has to rise up and bend head backwards. Anxious, wheezing, moist breathing, asthma worse in dry cold air; better in damp. Palpitation of heart.

Extremities.--Finger-joints swollen; tendency to easy dislocation. Nail of great toe painful on slight pressure.

Skin.--Abscesses; suppurating glands are very sensitive. Papules prone to suppurate and extend. Acne in youth. Suppurate with prickly pain. Easily bleed. Angio-neurotic œdema. Unhealthy skin; every little injury suppurates. Chapped skin, with deep cracks on hands and feet. Ulcers, with bloody suppuration, smelling like old cheese. Ulcers very sensitive to contact, burning, stinging, easily bleeding. Sweats day and night without relief. "Cold-sores" very sensitive. Cannot bear to be uncovered; wants to be wrapped up warmly. Sticking or pricking in afflicted parts. Putrid ulcers, surrounded by little pimples. Great sensitiveness to slightest touch. Chronic and recurring urticaria. Small-pox. Herpes circinatus. Constant offensive exhalation from the body.

Fever.--Chilly in open air or from slightest draught. Dry heat at night. Profuse sweat; sour, sticky, offensive.

Modalities.--Worse, from dry cold winds; cool air; slightest draught, from Mercury, touch; lying on painful side. Better, in damp weather, from wrapping head up, from warmth, after eating.

Relationship.--Antidotes: Bellad; Cham; Sil.

Compare: Acon; Spongia; Staphis; Silica; Sulph; Calc sulph; Myristica. Hepar antidotes bad effects from Mercury, Iodine, Potash, Cod-liver oil. Removes the weakening effects of ether.

Dose.--First to 200th. The higher potencies may abort suppuration, the lower promote it. If it is necessary to hasten it, give 2x.

  
HEPATICA TRILOBA
Liver-Wort
(HEPATICA)

Pharyngeal catarrh, with profuse, serous sputa and hoarseness. Tickling and irritation of the throat. Scraping and rough sensation. Induces free and easy expectoration. Viscid, thick, tenacious phlegm causes continued hawking. Soreness at the nostrils. Sensation about epiglottis as if particles of food remained. Sputa sweet, profuse, creamy.

Dose.--Second potency.

 

  
HERACLEUM SPHONDYLIUM
Hogweed
(HERACLEUM - BRANCA URSINA)

Recommended as a spinal stimulant; in epilepsy with flatulency, gouty and skin symptoms.

Head.--Aches, with drowsiness, worse moving in open air, better tying up head with cloth. Much fatty perspiration on head and violent itching. Seborrhœa capitis. Sick headache.

Stomach.--Pain with inclination to vomit. Bitter risings and taste. Hungry but unable to eat. Abdominal and spleenic pain.

Dose.--Third potency.

 

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