HOMŒOPATHIC MATERIA MEDICA
by
WILLIAM BOERICKE, M.D.

 

  
NICCOLUM METALLICUM
Metallic Nickel
(NICCOLUM)

Periodical nervous sick headaches, with asthenopia, weak digestion, constipation. Catarrh. Suits debilitated, nervous, literary patients, with frequent headaches, dyspepsia and constipation.

Head.--Cracking in cervical vertebræ when moving the head. Pain on top as from a nail. Pressure on vertex, in morning; worse till noon and in warm room. Stitches. Objects appear too large. Migraine; first on left side. Twitching of upper lip.

Nose.--Violent sneezing; stopped up. Nasal catarrh, with redness and swelling at tip of nose. Acute pain at root of nose, extending to vertex and through temples.

Throat.--Sore, right side with great tenderness; soreness to touch externally. Strangulated feeling.

Gastric.--Gone, empty feeling in epigastrium, without desire for food. Acute gastralgia with pains extending to shoulder. Thirst and intense hiccough. Sour, fetid secretions ooze from molar teeth. Diarrhœa and tenesmus after milk.

Female.--Menses late, scanty, with great debility and burning in eyes. Profuse leucorrhœa; worse, after urinating (Mag mur, Plat); also worse after menses.

Respiratory.--Hoarseness. Dry, hacking cough, with stitches in chest. Obliged to set up and hold head. Must put arms on thighs, when coughing.

Skin.--Itching all over, worse on neck, not relieved by scratching.

Modalities.--Worse, periodically, every two weeks; yearly, forenoon. Better, in evening.

Dose.--Third trituration.

  
NICCOLUM SULPHURICUM
Sulphate of Nickel

Useful in climacteric disturbances. Periodic neuralgias of malarial origin. Urine and saliva increased. Coppery taste. Weak, asthenopic literally persons with weak digestion and constipation, are worse in morning and suffer from periodic headaches and hoarseness.

Head.--Nervous, uneasy, desire to recline, tired, cannot settle down to any occupation. Periodic headaches, occipital pain, extending down to spine, worse lying on back; sore pain in eyes.

Back.--Stiff, numb sensation, worse in neck. Spine sore. Awakened in morning with burning soles, Spinal pains, legs and arms heavy and weak, cannot lie on back.

Female.--Dull aching in ovaries, with sensation as if menses appear. Hot flashes, followed by perspiration on parts touching each other, when separated become dry.

Dose.--Second trituration.

  
NITRICUM ACIDUM
Nitric Acid

Selects for its special seat of action the outlets of the body where the mucous membrane and skin meet; these pain as from splinters. Sticking pains. Marked improvement of all symptoms while riding in a carriage. Acts best on the dark complexioned and past middle life. Syphilis, after abuse of Mercury. Pains appear and disappear quickly (Bell). Hydrogenoid constitution. Sycotic remedy.

Blisters and ulcers in mouth, tongue, genitals; bleed easily. Fissures, with pain during stool, as if rectum were torn. All discharges very offensive, especially urine, feces, and perspiration. Persons who have chronic diseases, and take cold easily and disposed to diarrhœa. Excessive physical irritability. Cachexia, due to syphilis, scrofula, intermittent fever with liver involvement and anæmia, etc. Gravel; arthritis. Capillary bleeding after curettage.

Mind.--Irritable, hateful, vindictive, headstrong. Hopeless despair. Sensitive to noise, pain, touch, jar. Fear of death.

Head.--Sensation of a band around head. Headache from pressure of hat; full feeling; worse from street noises. Hair falls out. Scalp sensitive.

Ears.--Difficult hearing; better by riding in carriage or train. Very sensitive to noise, as the rattle of wagons over pavements (Coff; Nux). Cracking in ears when chewing.

Eyes.--Double vision; sharp, sticking pains. Ulceration of cornea. Gonorrhœal ophthalmia, photophobia, constant lachrymation. Syphilitic iritis.

Nose.--Ozæna. Green casts from nose every morning. Coryza, with sore and bleeding nostrils. Tip red. Stitches, as of a splinter in nose. Caries of mastoid. Nosebleed, with chest affections. Chronic nasal catarrh, with yellow, offensive, corrosive discharge. Nasal diphtheria, with watery and exceedingly excoriating discharge.

Mouth.--Putrid breath. Salivation. Bleeding of gums. Painful pimples on the sides of the tongue. Tongue clean, red and wet with center furrow. Teeth become loose; gums soft and spongy. Ulcers in soft palate, with sharp, splinter-like pains. Salivation and fetor oris. Bloody saliva.

Throat.--Dry. Pain into ears. Hawks mucus constantly. White patches and sharp points, as from splinters, on swallowing.

Stomach.--Great hunger, with sweetish taste. Longing for indigestible things-chalk, earth, etc. Pain in cardiac orifice. Dyspepsia with excess of oxalic acid, uric acid and phosphates in urine and great mental depression. Loves fat and salt (Sulph).

Abdomen.--Great straining, but little passes, Rectum feels torn. Bowels constipated, with fissures in rectum. Tearing pains during stools. Violent cutting pains after stools, lasting for hours (Ratanh). Hæmorrhages from bowels, profuse, bright. Prolapsus ani. Hæmorrhoids bleed easily. Diarrhœa, slimy and offensive. After stools, irritable and exhausted. Colic relieved from tightening clothes. Jaundice, aching in liver.

Urine.--Scanty, dark, offensive. Smells like horse's urine. Cold on passing. Burning and stinging. Urine bloody and albuminous. Alternation of cloudy, phosphatic urine with profuse urinary secretion in old prostatic cases.

Male.--Soreness and burning in glans and beneath prepuce. Ulcers; burn and sting; exude, offensive matter.

Female.--External parts sore, with ulcers (Hep.: Merc; Thuja). Leucorrhœa brown, flesh-colored, watery, or stringy, offensive. Hair on genitals falls out (Natr m, Zinc). Uterine hæmorrhages. Menses early, profuse, like muddy water, with pain in back, hips and thighs. Stitches through vagina. Metrorrhagia after parturition.

Respiratory.--Hoarseness. Aphonia, with dry hacking cough, from tickling in larynx and pit of stomach. Soreness at lower end of sternum. Short breath on going upstairs (Ars; Calc). Cough during sleep (Cham).

Extremities.--Fetid foot-sweat, causing soreness of toes, with sticking pain; chilblains on toes. Sweating of palms, hands; cold, blue nails. Offensive sweat in axillæ at night.

Skin.--Warts, large jagged; bleed on washing. Ulcers bleed easily, sensitive; splinter-like pains; zigzag, irregular edges; base looks like raw flesh. Exuberant granulations. Black pores on face, papules worse on forehead.

Modalities.--Worse, evening and night, cold climate, and also hot weather. Better, while riding in carriage (Reverse: Cocculus).

Relationship.--Complementary: Ars; Calad; Lac can; Sepia.

Inimical: Lach.

Compare: Merc; Kali; Thuja; Hepar; Calc.

Dose.--Sixth potency. As the nitric acid patient begins to improve skin symptoms may appear for a time, a favorable indication.

  
NITROMURIATICUM ACIDUM
Aqua Regia
(NITRO-MURIATIC ACID)

Almost a specific in Oxaluria. Removes the distressing skin symptoms resembling psoriasis. Three to five drops three times a day. So-called bilious conditions; torpid liver, hepatitis and early cirrhosis of liver. More adapted to hepatic torpor and gastric catarrh common in hot and damp climates and aggravated by meat eating and alcohol (Hale). Constricted anus. Gravel.

Mouth.--Gums bleed easily. Ptyalism. Constant drooling at night (Merc). Cankers; small, superficial ulceration over inside of mouth and tongue. Metallic taste (Cupr met).

Stomach.--Sour eructations, with empty hungry feeling in stomach; not relieved by eating. Salivation, worse at night.

Stool.--Constipated, with ineffectual urging. Sphincter constricted. Anus moist and sore.

Urine.--Cloudy. Burning in urethra. Oxaluria.

Dose.--Five to ten drops, well diluted.

  
NITRI SPIRITUS DULCIS
Sweet Spirits of Nitre

Sensorial apathy in low fevers when there is stupor, difficulty of arousing patient, is met by this remedy. Dry skin, nausea, flatulence. Salty taste. Ill-effects of salt (halophagia) (Ars; Phos). Catching cold in stormy weather. Acute nephritis following Scarlet fever. Dropsy. Is an excellent diuretic.

Face.--Prosopalgia, with photophobia. Burning in cheeks, and vomiting, followed by lassitude. Boring in facial bones; in angles of lower jaw. Very sensitive to cold.

Respiratory.--Very rapid breathing by going only a short walk. Painful constriction beneath sternum.

Modalities.--Worse, from mental disturbance, during winter and spring.

Relationship.--Increases the action of Digitalis.

Compare: Phos ac; Lycop.

Dose.--A few drops of the pure spirits in water every two or three hours.

  
NUPHAR LUTEUM
Yellow Pond-lily

Produces nervous weakness, with marked symptoms in the sexual sphere.

Male.--Complete absence of sexual desire; parts relaxed; penis retracted. Impotency, with involuntary emissions during stool, when urinating. Spermatorrhœa. Pain in testicles and penis.

Stool.--Entero-colitis. Yellow diarrhœa; worse in the morning. Diarrhœa during typhoid.

Relationship.--Compare: in sexual weakness; Agnus; Kali brom; Lycop; Selen; Yohimbin. In diarrhœa: Chelid; Gambog; Sulph, Nymphea odorata-Sweet Water Lily--(early morning diarrhœa, backache); acrid leucorrhœa, offensive ulcers; bronchorrhœa; ulcerative sore throat.

Dose.--Tincture to sixth potency.

  
NUX MOSCHATA
Nutmeg

Marked tendency to fainting fits, with heart failure. Cold extremities, extreme dryness of mucous membranes and skin. Strange feeling, with irresistible drowsiness. Indicanuria. General inclination to become unconscious during acute attacks. Lypothymia (Ignatia). Staggers on trying to walk.

Mind.--Changeable; laughing and crying. Confused, impaired memory. Bewildered sense, as in a dream. Thinks she has two heads.

Head.--Vertigo when walking in open air; aches from eating a little too much. Feeling of expansion, with sleepiness. Pulsating in head. Cracking sensation in head. Sensitive to slightest touch in a draught of air. Bursting headache; better hard pressure.

Eyes.--Objects look larger, very distant, or vanish. Motes before eyes. Mydriasis.

Nose.--Oversensitive to smell; nosebleed, dark blood; dry, stopped up.

Mouth.--Very dry. Tongue adheres to roof of mouth; but no desire for water. Saliva like cotton (Berb). Toothache in pregnancy. Tongue numb, paralyzed. Dryness of throat.

Stomach.--Excessively bloated. Flatulent dyspepsia. Hiccough, and craving for highly-seasoned food. Retrocession of gout to stomach.

Abdomen.--Paralytic weakness of intestines. Enormously distended. Stool is soft, and yet is unable to expel it, even with long straining (Alum). Faintness during or after stool. Protruding piles.

Female.--Uterine hæmorrhage. Menses too long, dark, thick. Leucorrhœa muddy and bloody. Suppression, with persistent fainting attacks and sleepiness (Kali c). Variableness of menstruation irregularity of time and quantity.

Respiratory.--Loss of voice from walking against the wind (Hep). Cough when getting warm in bed.

Heart.--Trembling, fluttering. Sensation as if something grasped heart. Palpitation; pulse intermits.

Extremities.--Pain in right hip to knee; worse, motion, especially going upstairs. Rheumatism from getting feet wet, from exposure to draughts. Rheumatism relieved by dry, warm clothes. Fatigue on slight exertion.

Sleep.--Great drowsiness (Indol). Complaints cause sleepiness. Coma.

Fever.--Chill begins in left hand (Carbo). Chilliness and heat without thirst; want of perspiration. Dry skin and of inner parts, also of eyes, nose, lips, mouth, tongue, throat, etc.

Modalities.--Worse, cold moist wind, cold food, cold washing, lying on painful side, motion, jar. Better, warmth, dry weather.

Relationship.--Oleum myristicae-Oil of Nutmeg--(as a remedy for boils, felons, poisonous ulcers, it has been used in the 2x potency); Ornithogalum (flatulence, swollen feeling across lower chest; whenever she turns in bed, feels as if a bag of water turned also; gastric ulcer and cancer). Myristica Sebifera (phlegmonous inflammations, hastens suppuration; powerful antiseptic. Ulcerative tendency in all tissues. Said to act more powerfully than Hepar and Silica).

Compare: Nux v; Puls; Rhus; Ign; Asaf.

Antidotes: Camph; Gels; Valer.

Dose.--First to sixth potency.

  
NUX VOMICA
Poison-nut

Is the greatest of polychrests, because the bulk of its symptoms correspond in similarity with those of the commonest and most frequent of diseases. It is frequently the first remedy, indicated after much dosing, establishing a sort of equilibrium of forces and counteracting chronic effects.

Nux is pre-eminently the remedy for many of the conditions incident to modern life. The typical Nux patient is rather thin, spare, quick, active, nervous, and irritable. He does a good deal of mental work; has mental strains and leads a sedentary life, found in prolonged office work, overstudy, and close application to business, with its cares and anxieties. This indoor life and mental strain seeks stimulants, coffee, wine, possibly in excess; or, again, he hopes to quiet his excitement, by indulging in the sedative effects of tobacco, if not really a victim, to the seductive drugs, like opium, etc. These things are associated with other indulgences; at table, he takes preferably rich and stimulating food; wine and women play their part to make him forget the close application of the day. Late hours are a consequence; a thick head, dyspepsia, and irritable temper are the next day's inheritance. Now he takes some cathartic, liver pills, or mineral water, and soon gets into the habit of taking these things, which still further complicate matters. Since these frailties are more yielded to by men than women. Nux is pre-eminently a male remedy. These conditions, produce an irritable, nervous system, hypersensitive and over-impressionable, which Nux will do much to soothe and calm. Especially adapted to digestive disturbances, portal congestion, and hypochondrical states depending thereon. Convulsions, with consciousness; worse, touch, moving. Zealous fiery temperament. Nux patients are easily chilled, avoid open air, etc. Nux always seems to be out of tune; inharmonious spasmodic action.

Mind.--Very irritable: sensitive to all impressions. Ugly, malicious. Cannot bear noises, odors, light, etc. Does not want to be touched. Time passes too slowly. Even the least ailment affects her greatly. Disposed to reproach others. Sullen, fault-finding.

Head.--Headache in occiput or over eyes, with vertigo; brain feels turning in a circle. Oversensitiveness. Vertigo, with momentary loss of consciousness. Intoxicated feeling; worse, morning, mental exertion, tobacco, alcohol, coffee, open air. Pressing pain on vertex, as if a nail driven in. Vertigo in morning and after dinner. Scalp sensitive. Frontal headache, with desire to press the head against something. Congestive headache, associated with hæmorrhoids. Headache in the sunshine (Glon; Nat carb). Feels distended and sore within, after a debauch.

Eyes.--Photophobia; much worse in morning. Smarting dry sensation in inner canthi. Infra-orbital neuralgia, with watering of eyes. Optic nerve atrophy, from habitual use of intoxicants. Paresis of ocular muscles; worse, tobacco and stimulants. Orbital twitching radiating towards the occiput, Optic neuritis.

Ears.--Itching in ear through Eustachian tube. Auditory canal dry and sensitive. Otalgia; worse in bed. Hyperæsthesia of auditory nerves; loud sounds are painful, and anger him.

Nose.--Stuffed up, at night especially. Stuffy colds, snuffles, after exposure to dry, cold atmosphere; worse, in warm room. Odors tend to produce fainting. Coryza: fluent in daytime; stuffed up at night and outdoors; or alternates between nostrils. Bleeding in morning (Bry). Acrid discharge, but with stuffed up feeling.

Mouth.--Jaws, contracted. Small aphthous ulcers, with bloody saliva. First half of tongue clean; posterior covered with deep fur; white, yellow, cracked edges. Teeth ache; worse, cold things. Gums swollen, white, and bleeding.

Throat.--Rough, scraped feeling. Tickling after waking in morning. Sensation of roughness, tightness, and tension. Pharynx constricted. Uvula swollen. Stitches into ear.

Stomach.--Sour taste, and nausea in the morning, after eating. Weight and pain in stomach; worse, eating, some time after. Flatulence and pyrosis. Sour, bitter eructations. Nausea and vomiting, with much retching. Ravenous hunger, especially about a day before an attack of dyspepsia. Region of stomach very sensitive to pressure (Bry; Ars). Epigastrium bloated, with pressure s of a stone, several hours after eating. Desire for stimulants. Loves fats and tolerates them well (Puls opposite). Dyspepsia from drinking strong coffee. Difficult belching of gas. Wants to vomit, but cannot.

Abdomen.--Bruised soreness of abdominal walls (Apis; Sulph). Flatulent distension, with spasmodic colic. Colic from uncovering. Liver engorged, with stitches and soreness. Colic, with upward pressure, causing short breath, and desire for stool. Weakness of abdominal ring region. Strangulated hernia (Op). Forcing in lower abdomen towards genitals. Umbilical hernia of infants.

Stool.--Constipation, with frequent ineffectual urging, incomplete and unsatisfactory; feeling as if part remained unexpelled. Constriction of rectum. Irregular, peristaltic action; hence frequent ineffectual desire, or passing but small quantities at each attempt. Absence of all desire for defecation is a contra-indication. Alternate constipation and diarrhœa-after abuse of purgatives. Urging to stool felt throughout abdomen. Itching, blind hæmorrhoids, with ineffectual urging to stool; very painful; after drastic drugs. Diarrhœa after a debauch; worse, morning. Frequent small evacuations. Scanty stool, with much urging. Dysentery; stools relieve pains for a time. Constant uneasiness in rectum. Diarrhœa, with jaundice (Dig).

Urine.--Irritable bladder; from spasmodic sphincter. Frequent calls; little and often. Hæmaturia (Ipec; Tereb). Ineffectual urging, spasmodic and strangury. Renal colic extending to genitals, with dribbling urine. While urinating, itching in urethra and pain in neck of bladder.

Male.--Easily excited desire. Emissions from high living. Bad effects of sexual excesses. Constrictive pain in testicles. Orchitis (Hama; Puls). Spermatorrhœa, with dreams, backache, burning in spine, weakness and irritability.

Female.--Menses too early, lasts too long; always irregular, blood black (Cycl; Lach; Puls) with faint spells. Prolapsus uteri. Dysmenorrhœa, with pain in sacrum, and constant urging to stool. Inefficient labor-pains; extend to rectum, with desire for stool and frequent urination (Lil). Desire too strong. Metrorrhagia, with sensation as if bowels wanted to move.

Respiratory.--Catarrhal hoarseness, with scraping in throat. Spasmodic constriction. Asthma, with fullness in stomach, morning or after eating. Cough, with sensation as if something were torn loose in chest. Shallow respiration. Oppressed breathing. Tight, dry hacking cough; at times with bloody expectoration. Cough brings on bursting headache and bruised pain in epigastric region.

Back.--Backache in lumbar region. Burning in spine; worse, 3 to 4 am. Cervico-brachial neuralgia; worse, touch. Must situp in order to turn in bed. Bruised pain below scapulæ. Sitting is painful.

Extremities.--Arms and hands go to sleep. Paresis of arms, with shocks. Legs numb; feel paralyzed; cramps in calves and soles. Partial paralysis, from overexertion or getting soaked (Rhus). Cracking in knee-joints during motion. Drags his feet when walking. Sensation of sudden loss of power of arms and legs in the morning.

Sleep.--Cannot sleep after 3 am until towards morning; awakes feeling wretchedly. Drowsy after meals, and in early evening. Dreams full of bustle and hurry. Better after a short sleep, unless aroused.

Skin.--Body burning hot, especially face; yet cannot move or uncover without feeling chilly. Urticaria, with gastric derangement. Acne; skin red and blotchy.

Fever.--Cold stage predominates. Paroxysms anticipate in morning. Excessive rigor, with blueness of finger-nails. Aching in limbs and back, and gastric symptoms. Chilly; must be covered in every stage of fever. Perspiration sour; only one side of body. Chilliness on being uncovered, yet he does not allow being covered. Dry heat of the body.

Modalities.--Worse, morning, mental exertion, after eating, touch, spices, stimulants, narcotics, dry weather, cold. Better, from a nap, if allowed to finish it; in evening, while at rest, in damp, wet weather (Caust), strong pressure.

Relationship.--Nux seeds contain copper, notice the cramp-causing proclivites of both. Complementary; Sulphur; Sepia.

Inimical: Zinc.

Compare: Strychnia.

Compare: Kali carb; Hydr; Bry; Lyc; Graph.

Antidotes: Coff; Ignat; Cocc.

Dose.--First to thirtieth potency and higher. Nut is said to act best given in the evening.

  
NYCTANTHES ARBOR TRISTIS
Paghala-malli-Sad Tree

Bilious and obstinate remittent fever; sciatica; rheumatism. Constipation of children.

Head.--Anxious and restless; dull headache. Tongue coated.

Stomach.--Burning sensation, better cold application. Thirst, better vomiting.

Abdomen.--Tenderness of liver. Profuse, bilious stool, with nausea. Constipation.

Fever.--Thirst, before and during chill and heat; better vomiting as close of chill; sweat no marked.

Dose.--Tincture, drop doses.

 

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