Homeopathic Materia Medica

Alnus rubra

Alias: Aln., Alnus, Alnus serrulata

Pocket Manual of Homoeopathic Materia Medica, William Boericke

Red Alder (ALNUS)

Has some reputation as a remedy for skin affections, glandular enlargements, and indigestion from imperfect secretion of gastric juice. It stimulates nutrition, and thus acts favorably upon strumous disorders, enlarged glands, etc. Ulcerated mucous membranes of mouth and throat. Fingers covered by crust caused by pustules, disagreeable odor. Indigestion from imperfect secretion of gastric juice.

Female.--Leucorrhoea, with erosions of cervix, bleeding easily. Amenorrhoea, with burning pains from back to pubis.

Skin.--Chronic herpes. Enlarged sub-maxillary glands. Eczema, prurigo. Purpura haemorrhagica. Poison-oak. Use locally.

Dose.--Tincture to third potency.

A Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica, John Henry Clarke

Alnus rubra, Tag Alder; and Alnus glutinosa, Common Alder of Europe. N. O. Cupuliferae. (Not to be confounded with certain of the Rhamnaceae, which are also popularly called "Alders.") Tinctures of the bark, and of the young shoots.

Clinical.─Amenorrhoea. Glands, enlarged. Gleet. Haemorrhage. Herpes. Impetigo. Leucorrhoea. Prurigo. Psora. Rheumatism. Scrofula. Syphilis.

Characteristics.─Alnus is an unproved remedy. The bark-tincture of Alnus rubra is used by eclectics as an "alterative" in scrofulous conditions, in chronic skin affections, rheumatism, syphilis, gravel, and gleet. The plant grows in swamps and marshes. Among its indications are: Leucorrhoea with erosions which bleed easily; amenorrhoea with burning pains from back to pubis. Haematuria. Cooper, who has used a fresh plant tincture of A. glutinosa, gives: "Pain in rectum after stool"; and "heaviness in head as after being drunk the night before" as having been produced by it. Hale gives as particularly indicating it: "Eruptions on the skin alternating with diseased conditions of mucous membrane."

Relations.─Compare: Hamam., Stilling., Phytol., Kali i., Merc., Nux v., Bapt. Alternating conditions, Alo., Pod., Kali bi.