Homeopathic Materia Medica

Lectures on Homoeopathic Materia Medica, James Tyler Kent

Head: Euphrasia is a short acting remedy of great usefulness in acute catarrhal affections with or without fever. Headaches that occur with coryza and eye symptoms, head aches in the evening as if bruised. Stitching pain in the head.

Headaches; as if the head would burst with dazzling of the eyes from sunlight. These are catarrhal headaches with profuse watery discharge from the eyes and nose. The eye symptoms of Euphrasia are its most prominent feature.

Catarrh condition of the eyes with copious, acrid, watery discharge with or without coryza. Cutting pain in the eyes extending into the head, pressure in the eyes as if caused by sand. Sensation of dryness, burning, biting in the eyes. Sensation of dust in the eyes. Violent itching of the eyes obliging rubbing and winking, with copious lachrymation. Pupils much contracted and much tumefaction of the mucous membrane with redness and enlarged blood vessels and smarting.

Iritis: from rheumatism or in connection with rheumatic joints. Copious thin or thick discharges. General inflammation of all the tissues of the eyes. Ulceration of the cornea. It has cured Pannus. Pustular inflammation. Opacity of the cornea after injuries of the eye. It is suitable in the most violent acute conjunctivitis. Amblyopia with inflammation of conjunctiva and lids.

Copious lachrymation and burning. The mucous membranes of the lids and eyeballs are injected, red, and vascular. agglutination of the lids in the morning. Copious, acrid lachrymation with fluent discharge from the nose during coryza. Dryness of the lids and the margins of the lids red swollen, and burning. The lids are very sensitive and swollen. The margins of the lids itch and burn.

Suppuration of the margins of the lids. Much swelling of the lids with inflammation. Fine rash about the eyes with puffiness of the lids. Blurred vision. Paralysis of the third nerve.

The next most important group of symptoms is in connection with the nose. Sneezing and fluent coryza. The discharge is bland and this occurs with acrid lachrymation. The nasal mucous membrane is swollen.

Profuse, bland, fluent, coryza. After this coryza has existed for a day or two it extends into the larynx with a hard cough. The coryza is worse during the night while lying down. The cough is worse in the daytime and ameliorated by lying down.

The remedy has a rash like measles and it has febrile symptoms; therefore, when these symptoms are duly considered, it will be seen that Euphrasia is similar to the symptoms that occur in measles. It is a wonderful medicine in measles though not so frequently indicated as Pulsatilla, owing to the fact that this combination of symptoms does not often come.

Larynx and cough: Hoarseness in the morning. Irritation in the larynx compelling him to cough, followed by pressure beneath the sternum. Abundant secretion in the larynx causing loose cough with rattling in the chest.

Deep inspiration is difficult. The cough, considered by itself, furnishes a very rare group of symptoms. Cough with copious expectoration along with or following coryza. Difficult respiration ameliorated at night while lying down.

Worse in the morning when moving about with copious expectoration. Violent cough from tickling in the larynx. No cough at night causes the remedy to resemble Bry. and Mang. The dyspnoea and cough are ameliorated by lying down. The coryza symptoms, otherwise, are worse at night and from lying down. When these symptoms occur in grippe or influenza, this becomes a very suitable remedy.

The abundance of mucus scraped from the larynx and trachea is often like the ending of bad colds. The expectoration is easy and almost without cough. It comes up without much effort. Pressive pain beneath the sternum showing that the trachea is especially involved in the catarrhal condition. The pain in the eyes is worse in the open air. The coryza is worse in the open air. The cough sometimes comes on in the open air.

Windy weather causes fluent coryza. Cold air and windy weather cause lachrymation. He is a chilly patient and cannot get warm in bed.

There is chill, fever, and sweat in this remedy. This chill predominates. The fever occurs mostly during the day with red face and cold hands. The heat descends the body. The perspiration is often confined to the front part of the body. Perspiration during sleep at night. Strange odor sometimes very offensive and most profuse upon the chest. It is especially suitable in catarrhal fever, influenza and measles.

When the symptoms agree, it will make a violent attack of measles turn into a very simple form, making the patient feel better, bring out the eruption, control the fever, and relieve the cough, coryza, and other catarrhal symptoms. Streaming, hot, burning tears with rash, photophobia, running from the nose, intense throbbing headaches, redness of the eyes, photophobia from fever, dry cough during measles.

A Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica, John Henry Clarke

Euphrasia officinalis. Eye-bright. N. O. Scrophulariaceae. Tincture of whole plant.

Clinical.─Blepharitis. Cataract. Cold. Colic. Condylomata. Conjunctivitis. Cough. Eyes, affections of. Glandular swellings. Granular lids. Influenza. Iritis. Lachrymation. Lips, stiffness of. Measles. Nasal catarrh. Nose, cancer of. Parotitis. Phlyctenulae. Pimples. Ptosis. Prolapsus ani. Prostate gland, affections of. Scrofula. Staphyloma. Sycosis.

Characteristics.─According to Grauvogl, the "signature" of a black spot in the corolla which looks like the pupil," marked Euphrasia as an eye medicine to the ancients, and homoeopathic experiments have fully confirmed its old-time reputation. Eye-symptoms appear in great variety, and the irritation extends to the skin around the eye, and to the nose, producing nasal catarrh and affections of the external nose. Hering mentions "flat cancer on right side of nose" as having come within its curative range. The catarrhal effect is prolonged into the chest, producing hoarseness and cough with profuse expectoration, "Vomiting from hawking mucus," and "vomiting breakfast on clearing throat of offensive phlegm," have been cured by Euphras. Cough after the disappearance of haemorrhoids. In the digestive track there are: Colic, haemorrhoids, and condylomata at anus. Sensations: as if dust or sand in eyes; as if a hair hung over eyes; as if upper lip were made of wood; stiffness of left cheek; of tongue. Ames, of Rockland, Ohio, has recorded the case of an old man, of 79, to whom he gave Euphras. 3x for lachrymation and sneezing, with the result that it relieved him, in addition, of a prostatic trouble he had had for some years, compelling him to rise frequently in the night to urinate. This led Ames to give Euphr. in other cases of prostatic trouble, with good results. As an eye-lotion Euphr. has great value, I have seen corneal opacities removed by its prolonged use. Among the noteworthy symptoms of Euphras. is "frequent yawning when walking in the open air." There is drowsiness without being able to sleep; frequent waking in the night as from fright. Lying down < coryza; > cough. Walking = stitches and itching in female sexual organs; walking in open air = yawning. < After sleep. Most symptoms are < during night and in the morning; cough > at night. > In bed; > getting out of bed. Cold air and wind = lachrymation. < From touch.

Relations.─Antidoted by: Camph., Puls. Compatible: Acon., Calc. c., Con., Nux., Phos., Puls., Rhus., Sil., Sul. Compare: Aethus., Cepa (tears bland; of Euphr., corrosive), Apis, Arg. n., Ars., Hep., Kali bi., Kali iod., Merc., Merc. cor., Puls.; Grat., Dig., Tabac. (Botan.)

SYMPTOMS.

1. Mind.─Taciturnity, and repugnance to conversation; abstraction of mind.─Hypochondriacal indifference.─Indolence.─Melancholy.

2. Head.─Confusion, and pain as from a bruise in the head (with coryza), in the evening, augmented by lying down.─Pressive headache, with photophobia, and heat, chiefly in the forehead; with sensation as if the head would burst.─Shootings in the temples and in the forehead.─Beating in the head, perceptible on the outside.

3. Eyes.─Aching in the eyes.─Gnawing sensation in the eyes.─Inflammatory redness of the eyes.─Inflammation and redness of the eye from being wounded.─Inflammation of the cornea.─Obscuration of and pellicle over cornea (after mechanical injuries).─Bluish obscuration of cornea.─Inflammation and ulceration of the edges of the eyelids, with headache.─Scars from ulcers and specks in the cornea.─Abundant flow of corrosive tears, so as to prevent seeing, esp. when exposed to the wind.─Swelling and agglutination of the eyelids.─Swelling of the lower eyelid.─Smarting in the eyes, as from sand.─Lancinations in the eyes (ball), excited by too bright a light.─Eruption of small miliary pimples round the eyes.─Copious secretion of mucus, sometimes sanguineous, from the eyes and eyelids.─Dryness and pressure in the eyes.─Compression in the eyelids.─Contraction in the eyes and eyelids, which occasions winking.─The light seems obscure and vacillating.─Photophobia, esp. in daylight and in the sunshine.

4. Ears.─Otalgia, with piercing pains in the region of the tympanum.

5. Nose.─Purulent pimples on the alae nasi.─Excoriation and painful sensibility of the nostrils.─Epistaxis.─Fluent coryza, by day; obstruction of the nose, at night.─Violent fluent coryza, with abundant secretion of mucus (from the anterior and posterior nares), excessive confusion in the head, corrosive tears in the eyes, and photophobia.─Profuse fluent coryza, with cough and expectoration in the morning.

6. Face.─Stiffness of the cheeks when speaking and during mastication, with sensation of heat and burning pains.─Redness of the face.─Miliary eruption on the face, with sensation of burning and redness, on wetting the face.─Lip stiff, as if made of wood.─Shootings in the lower jaw and chin.

7. Teeth.─Shooting pains in lower teeth.─Copious bleeding of gums.

8. Mouth.─Stammering, and frequent interruptions in the speech.─Speech difficult, in consequence of a paralytic stiffness of the tongue, and of the cheeks.─Sensation of clucking, which mounts into the throat.

11. Stomach.─Mawkish taste.─Nausea and bitterness in the mouth after smoking.─Risings, with taste of food.─Hiccough.

12. Abdomen.─Pinchings in abdomen by short fits.─Pressive squeezing and burning across abdomen.─Colic, alternately with affections of eyes.

13. Stool and Anus.─Evacuations hard and scanty.─Pressure in anus while sitting; haemorrhoids.─Old flat condylomata at anus with severe burning; < at night.

14. Urinary Organs.─Frequent and copious emission of clear urine.

15. Male Sexual Organs.─Spasmodic retraction of the genital parts (with pressure above the ossa pubis), in the evening in bed.─Lancination and voluptuous itching in the glans, and in the prepuce.─Condyloma.─Retraction and tingling of the testes.─Sycotic excrescence, itching, stinging, with sore and burning pain when touched.

16. Female Sexual Organs.─Menses at the regular period, but they last only one hour.

17, 18. Respiratory Organs and Chest.─Difficulty of breathing, shortness of breath.─Stitches under the sternum, esp. during an inspiration.─Cough only during the day, with mucus in the chest, which cannot be detached; mucus frequently blood-streaked, thin; expectoration only in the morning.─Cough loose during the day, dry at night.─Cough, esp. by day, with difficult expectoration.─Cough, with suspension of respiration.─Cough in the morning, with copious expectoration of mucus, and fluent coryza.─Difficulty of respiration, even when seated.

20. Back.─Cramp-like, pressive pains in the back.

22. Upper Limbs.─Numbness in the arms and hands.─Cramp-like pressive pains in the hands, and the fingers.─Fits of (painless) swelling in the joints of the hand, or of the fingers on moving them.─Cramp pain in the metacarpus.─Torpor of the fingers.

23. Lower Limbs.─Shootings in the legs during repose.─Stitches in the hip and knee-joints when walking.─Tension, as from contraction of the tendons in the ham, and the tendo Achillis, on walking.─Sensation of heaviness and cramp-like pain in the calves of the legs, after remaining long standing.─Succussions (shocks, like electric shocks), which ascend along the thigh, followed by paralytic torpor of that part.─Cracking in the outer ankle of l. foot, when stepping.

24. Generalities.─Cramp-like pains over the whole body.─Pricking in the extremities, as from a gnat, with sensation of torpor.─Crawling as of a fly in one or the other limb, from below upwards in a straight line, with numbness of the part.─Aggravation of symptoms in the evening.─Great drowsiness in the day, as from fatigue of the eyes.─Violent lancinations in different parts, which prevent sleep.─Shooting, itching stitches (the whole night).

25. Skin.─Consequences of blows, bruises, and contusions.─Condylomata, itching when walking, burning when touched.

26. Sleep.─Yawning, when walking in the open air.─Frequent waking (as from fright) at and after 3 a.m., lasting till 6 a.m., when he falls in a stupor, from which he wakens with many complaints.─Frightful dreams, with frequent waking and starting with fright.

27. Fever.─Chill in the forenoon.─Chilliness predominating.─Copious nocturnal sweat.

Keynotes and Characteristics with Comparisons of Some of the Leading Remedies of the Materia Medica (Allen's Keynotes), Henry Clay Allen

Eyebright (Scrophularaceae)

Bad effects from falls, contusions or mechanical injuries of external parts (Arn.). Catarrhal affections of mucous membranes, especially of the eyes and nose. Profuse acrid lachrymation, with profuse, bland coryza (reverse of All. c.). The eyes water all the time and are agglutinated in the morning; margins of lids red, swollen, burning. Profuse fluent coryza in morning with violent cough and abundant expectoration, < from exposure to warm south wind. When attempting to clear the throat of an offensive mucus in the morning, gagging until he vomits the breakfast just eaten (Bry.). Profuse expectoration of mucus by voluntary hawking, < on rising in morning. Amenorrhoea, with catarrhal symptoms of eyes and nose; profuse acrid lachrymation. Menses: painful, regular, now lasting only one hour; or late, scanty, short, lasting only one day (Bar.). Pertussis: excessive lachrymation during cough; cough only in day time (Fer., Nat. m.).

Relations. - Similar: to, Puls. in affections of the eyes; reverse of All. c. in lachrymation and coryza.

Aggravation. - In the evening, in bed, indoors, warmth, moisture; after exposure to south wind; when touched (Hep.).

Leaders In Homoeopathic Therapeutics, Eugene Beauharnais Nash

The action of this remedy seems to center in the eyes. If you read the symptoms as laid down in "Hering's Guiding Symptoms", you would think that it would cure almost all possible affections of the eyes, acute or chronic conjunctivitis, iritis, kerato-iritis, spots, vesicles, pannus, etc., and so it will if indicated by the symptoms.

In colds with cough and severe fluent coryza it will sometimes cure, but here the choice must be made between it and Arsenicum, Cepa and Mercurius. (See Cepa for comparison).

In measles with watery eyes and fluent coryza it is sometimes the best remedy. I remember Dr. C. W. Boyce, of Auburn, N. Y., reporting great success with it in an epidemic in that city.

He cured all his cases with it. So I went for the next epidemic in my vicinity with Euphrasia, and my failure was as marked as his success. It was not the remedy for my epidemic. But I know enough not to "go it blind" that way very long, and hunted up my simillimum. Then I succeeded, too. Look out, young man, for the remedy that is recommended for all cases of any disease, or you'll "come down hard" some time.

One very prominent characteristic in eye troubles for this remedy is a tendency to an accumulation of sticky mucus on the cornea, which is removed by winking. All cases of any kind attended with photophobia and lachrymation, with or without coryza, should suggest this remedy, or at least call it to mind. In the eye affections of Euphrasia the lids are often involved. Of course this is so with other remedies, such as Arsenicum, Apis, Rhus toxic., etc. Study up. one more symptom: Cough, sometimes dry, but generally loose, worse during the day, not troublesome at night. This is important, as more coughs are < at night.