Homeopathic Materia Medica

Lectures on Homoeopathic Materia Medica, James Tyler Kent

Generalities: Blood root is an old domestic remedy. A great many eastern farmers' wives will not go into the winter without blood root in the house.

In the cold winter days, when the coryzas come on, a "cold" in the head, throat and chest, then they get the blood root ready and make a tea of it. With them it is a routine remedy for "colds." They give it to combat all complaints, and there is no doubt but that even in this crude form it does break up "colds.," because the provings show its relation to chest troubles and "colds" that go to the chest.

Head: Periodic headaches, when the headache comes once in seven days it begins in the morning on waking or wakes the patient up.

It begins in the occiput and travels upward and settles over the right eye and in the right temple. It gets worse during the day and is aggravated by light, so that he is driven into a dark room and compelled to lie down.

Vomiting comes on and the vomited matter is bile, slime, bitter substance and food, and then comes relief of the pain. The headaches are, relieved from passing flatus up or down. If the patient suffers when he goes to bed with hot palms and soles, so that he must put them out of bed, this is an additional striking feature.

Take an individual who has missed his chronic headache, by some means, for a considerable time, but since then he has become increasingly sensitive to cold, and "colds" settle in the nose, throat and bronchial tube and these parts feel as if on fire, with rawness and burning; the expectoration is thick, tenacious mucus; disturbance of the belly, with much belching, and the belching is especially noticed after a violent attack of coughing.

It is not a very long acting remedy. When a periodic sick headache is interrupted by Sanguinaria, if a deeper drug, an antipsoric, is not given, the headache will return or something worse will come on, as Sanguinaria does not go deep into the nature of the case. I remember a case in which the patient missed his Sanguinaria headache and an epithelioma developed, which was cured by Phosphorus.

I am convinced that if Phosphorus had been given at the end of the attack the cancer would not have developed, as Phosphorus was his constitutional remedy. If a chronic sick headache is interrupted the patient will tend to phthisis.

Chest: Chest troubles come on and grow worse and worse. Its ability to palliate phthisis is very well known.

A patient much debilitated with bronchial catarrh; susceptible to cold, to every change in the weather, from change to damp weather, to every draft, to change of clothing; always taking new "cold."

There is burning in the chest behind the sternum; thick, tough, ropy expectoration; spasmodic cough, and every cough ends in belching; eructations of gas; empty eructations. If to the burning in the chest, the severe pains in the larynx and trachea when talking, and cough ending in belching, you add heat in the palms and, soles, Sanguinaria will patch him up and mitigate the trouble.

Many such cases get Sulphur, but to their destruction. There is a class of remedies that suits these phthisical patients better than Sulphur, Silicea and Graphites; remedies such as Pulsatilla, Sanguinaria, Senecio gracilis and Coccus cacti, which palliate, mitigate his sufferings, and may even build him up so that he could take a medium potency of a deep remedy.

But the deeper remedies ought to be avoided if the vital force is low, if the body is too much damaged to be repaired. Hahnemann warned against the use of Phosphorus in such cases of deficient vitality. Sanguinaria is a surface remedy; it does excellent palliation.

Nose and throat: Catarrhal conditions of nose and throat, especially those due to colds and to poisonous plans; also rue colds.

The Sanguinaria patient has "rose colds" in June. Sensitive to flowers and odors; subjects with bay fever. Hay fever patients with burning in the nose, in the throat, as if dry; as if the mucous membrane would crack open.

Dryness and burning in the larynx, with hoarseness; dryness and burning throughout the chest, with asthma; associated with burning of the palms and soles. Examination shows the palms to be dry, wrinkled and hot to the touch; so, also, the soles, where the skin is thickened and indurated. Corns that burn; the toes burn and the patient puts the feet out of bed for relief.

Head again: When the headache is present it seems to be a general congestive headache; although beginning in the morning, coming up the back and extending to the right eye, the whole head is hot and aches.

Sulphur, Silicea and Sanguinaria have periodic weekly headaches. Arsenicum has a headache every two weeks. Not that these remedies will not cure other headaches, for Sanguinaria has also a headache every three days. The majority of headaches coming every two weeks are cured by Arsenicum or greatly mitigated in broken down constitutions. The attempt to cure a chronic sick headache should be made before the senile decline.

"Pulsations in the head with bitter vomiting; aggravated by motion."

The headache is generally aggravated by motion, but not so strikingly as in Bryonia. When the Sanguinaria headache increases. towards the afternoon or night, it becomes so severe he must go to bed; and the head becomes sore, and then a step or jar is extremely painful. A severe headache is likely to be disturbed by light, noise, motion, etc.

"Headache as if forehead would burst with chill, and burning in stomach."

"Headache over right eye."

This is a characteristic feature.

"Periodic sick headache; begins in the morning, increases during the day, lasts till evening; head feels as if it must burst, or as if eyes would be pushed out; throbbing, lancinating pains through brain, worse on the right side, especially in the forehead and vertex; followed by chills, nausea, vomiting of food or bile; must lie down or remain quiet; ameliorated by sleep."

Some of these things are not found in every case, but they all go to make up a Sanguinaria headache.

Pains: All sorts of neuralgic pains; cutting, tearing, lacerating pains; as if the muscles were torn, or put on a stretch.

Tearing pains anywhere, neuralgic or rheumatic. Pains about the scalp, but more particularly about the shoulder and neck; stiff neck; cannot turn over in bed; cannot raise the arm, though he can swing it back and forth.

Pain streaks up the neck; pain in the deltoid. It prefers the right side, but also cures the left side. Rheumatic pains in the right shoulder so that ho cannot raise the arm, and all the muscles of the neck and back of the neck become involved; stiff neck. If the pain comes on in the day it increases as the day advances to night. Complaints are worse at night in Sanguinaria.

A patient comes to you after exposure to cold; he cannot raise the arm; it hangs by his side; pain worse at night in bed, worse turning over (as he uses the shoulder muscle to turn over). It is probably in the deltoid, but you need not speculate on the tissues involved.

It competes with Ferrum. All red-faced, highly-flushed people, who cannot raise the arm and have pain which is worse in the daytime, not night, and ameliorated by slow motion need Ferrum. Sanguinaria is not relieved by motion; it is aggravated by such motion as calls the arm into use. Ferrum has relief from slow motion, aggravated from rapid motion and the pain comes in the daytime.

While Ferrum has a uniformly red, plethoric face, Sanguinaria has a pale face. In the chest complaints Sanguinaria has a circumscribed red spot over the malar bones, such as seen in hectic patients.

Headache from stomach disturbances, overeating, rich food, drinking wine. Almost as useful as Nux in old drinkers. Those who disorder their stomachs and weaken their digestion by beer drinking; they cannot eat; vomiting of even a teaspoonful of water.

No food or drink stays on the stomach. Headaches associated with such troubles. Vomiting and diarrhea with complaints.

Catarrhal affections are prominent.

Chronic catarrh of the throat apparent thickening of the mucous membranes of the throat. Nose and pharynx fill with mucus. He hawks it out; there is a dry burning sensation, but the burning is most marked every time he takes a fresh cold.

Acridity of discharges is another feature. Acrid mucus forms in the nose, causing burning in the throat. Acrid, hot fluids eructated from the stomach, excoriating the throat and mouth. The diarrhea is accompanied by an acrid watery stool; especially in infants; the nates become raw and red. This burning extends all through the bowels; burning in the abdomen and stomach in old gastric troubles; vomiting of even a teaspoonful of water with burning; old gastric irritation; dyspepsia; all sorts of disorders of the stomach.

Tongue red and burns as if in contact with something hot. Burning in pharynx and oesophagus, burning in roof of mouth. Tonsillitis with burning.

"Heat in throat, ameliorated by inspiring cold air; throat so dry it seems as if it would crack."

This burning excoriated feeling applies to all the mucous membranes affected.

Patient suddenly taken w bed with a chill; burning in the chest symptoms of pneumonia; rusty expectoration; violent cough; every cough felt as a concussion at the bifurcation of the trachea; as if a knife were in the parts; as if torn asunder; and after the cough copious, loud, empty eructations. No other remedy has this.

"Nausea with burning at the stomach, with much spitting."

Nausea not relieved by vomiting. Keeps on vomiting and retching. Burns as if on fire. Arsenic is often given by mistake, because of the great burning.

"Vomiting of bitter water; of sour, acrid fluids; of ingesta; of worms; preceded by anxiety; with headache and burning in stomach; head relieved afterwards; with prostration."

Such symptoms occur in headache, disordered stomach, sour stomach. The sour stomach is manifested by sour eructations or sour vomiting. A patient often speaks of "a sour stomach.," and you must find out whether be means sour eructations or sour vomiting.

He says he "spits up" sour food.

With the headache and many complaints Sanguinaria has a faintness; like a hunger, yet not for food. A sinking, faint, "all gone.," empty feeling. It is like Phosphorus with its "hungry headache."

Psorinum leads all others in "hungry headaches.," but Psorinum wants to eat and cannot get enough.

Sanguinaria has a hunger, but it is not for food; aversion at the thought and smell of food. Psorinum can eat a wolf meal, and so can Phosphorus. It is a false hunger with the headache in Sanguinaria.

"Burning in stomach; with headache and chill."

Belching up of acrid fluids in asthma; hay asthma. Sanguinaria palliates asthma associated with stomach disorders. Do not forget Nux in asthma from stomach troubles.

Liver complaints; pains and aches and sense of fullness. Bilious trouble described in general terms. It seems as if the liver makes an enormous quantity of bile, but there is a gastro-duodenal catarrh, so that the bile is regurgitated into the stomach instead of going down, and it is eructated as bitter, green, yellow fluid; vitiated bile.

This is a peculiar thing. If you watch a chronic Sanguinaria patient you will notice that the stomach will be disordered for a week; spitting up bile much flatulence; sour hot eructations; then all at once this will disappear, and a diarrhoea, which fairly floods him, comes on suddenly; a bilious, liquid, gushing stool. Natrum sulph., Sanguinaria, Pulsatilla and Lycopodium cure this alternation of diarrhoea and constipation.

"Os uteri ulcerated; foetid, corrosive leucorrhoea."

"Distension of abdomen in the evening and flatulent discharges by vagina from os uteri, which was constantly open; at same time a pain passing in rays from nape of neck to head."

"Chronic dryness in throat, sensation of swelling in the larynx and expectoration of thick mucus when associated with dryness, rawness, burning and smarting."

"Whooping cough; constricted, spasmodic across throat beneath jaws; cough worse at night with diarrhoea."

Cough worse at night with diarrhoea is the feature this remedy is prescribed for.

"Severe cough occurring after whooping cough when patient takes cold, which partakes of the spasmodic nature of whooping cough."

An adult takes cold and has a spasmodic cough, like whooping cough. He says it is a stomach cough, because there is a gagging with it. In all there is burning and diarrhoea.

"Distressing, dry, spasmodic, exhaustive coughs, especially in children; worse towards night, lying down, going into a cold room to. sleep, feeling of rawness and burning in bronchi."

The trachea seems so sore, and it is sore; a bolus of food passing down the oesophagus can be plainly felt; he can outline the part where the food passes.

A Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica, John Henry Clarke

Sanguinaria canadensis. Blood-root. Puccoon. N. O. Papaveraceae. Tincture of fresh root. (The resin, leaves, seeds, seed-vessels, powdered root, and expressed juice have also been used.) Acetum.

Clinical.─Alcoholism. Aphonia. Asthma. Breast, tumour of. Bronchitis. Cancer. Catarrh. Chest, pains in. Climaxis. Cold. Croup. Deafness. Diphtheria. Dysmenorrhoea. Dyspepsia. Ear, polypus of. Flushes, climacteric. Gleet. Granular lids. Haemoptysis. Headache. Influenza. Keratitis. Liver-cough. Menstruation, breasts painful during. Nails, ulceration of. Neuralgia. Oedema glottidis. Ophthalmia. Pharyngitis. Phthisis florida. Physometra. Pneumonia, acute. Polypus. Pregnancy, affections during. Pyrosis. Quinsy. Rheumatism. Rhus poisoning. Shoulder, rheumatism of. Smell, illusions of; loss of. Stomach, neurosis of. Syphilis. Tinnitus. Tumours. Vomiting. Whitlow. Whooping-cough.

Characteristics.─The Blood-root, or Puccoon, commonly found throughout the United States and Canada, is the sole representative of the genus Sanguinaria of the Papaveraceae. It is herbaceous, has a thick, branching root stock, which creeps along underground; and in early spring sends up from the ends of the little side branches a single long-stalked leaf, and another stalk bearing a solitary flower. The leaf is wrapped round the flower-bud when it rises from the ground, and is bluntly five to nine-lobed, roundish at first, but afterwards kidney-shaped. The American Indians formerly used the orange-coloured juice of the root for smearing their bodies, and for staining various domestic articles. The plant has also been successfully used by American and French dyers (Treas. of Bot.). Hale says of the root: "It is succulent, and when cut or broken emits from numerous points on the transverse surface a light orange, or rather dark vermilion-coloured juice, which has a bitterish, acrid but peculiar taste, which remains long in the mouth and leaves a persistent burning in the throat. The juice of the stem is between a red colour and a yellow, as that from the stem of Chel. maj. is pure yellow, and that from Papaver somnif. [Opium] is white." It is well to bear in mind the parallelism observable between these three Poppies, no less in their medicinal than in their physical properties. The time for collecting the root is early spring or late autumn. An alkaloid, Sanguinarin (identical with Chelerythrin of Chelidonium majus), has been isolated, and the Nitrate of this has been studied separately. Hale refers to a paper by Dr. Tully, published in 1813, in which Sang. is described as being analogous in its action to Squills, Senega, Digitalis, Guaiacum, and Ammonia, which shows an accurate conception of its range. In doses of from eight to twenty grains of the powdered root, Sang. is an active poison producing Nausea; burning in stomach; tormenting thirst; faintness; vertigo indistinct vision; violent, spasmodic efforts of the stomach, free vomiting, followed by alarming prostration. S. L. Mitchell has recorded fatal poisoning of four workmen who drank the tincture in mistake for brandy. They were all soon seized with severe racking and burning pains in the stomach and bowels with intense thirst. "Burning" is one of the leading notes of the remedy, and is found in many different parts. Winterburn has published (H. M. vii. 532) two cases illustrating this indication in the region of the stomach: (1) Mr. F., 48, of sanguino-bilious temperament, energetic, refined, had been ill with pains in the stomach several months. A clairvoyant had recommended "a decoction of blood-root and bone-set in tablespoonful doses." Each dose produced "intense burning pains in the stomach lasting for hours," and it had to be discontinued. Several-weeks later Winterburn was consulted, and this is the condition he found: Burning in epigastrium, with pressure, < at night, but coming on soon after lying clown and compelling patient to arise. Eructations gave no >. Appetite great; bowels torpid, an unsatisfactory relief each morning, leaving a sense of discomfort. Peculiar drawing pain in shoulders and arms during sleep, so that when she woke the lists were tightly clenched and flexed on the sternal end of clavicle; lameness and weariness of the muscles followed. Sang. 200, chosen after careful comparison with Nux, Graph., and others, was given every night at bedtime. After the first dose the symptoms disappeared "like magic," and the patient was soon well. (2) Mrs. S., 30, a chronic inebriate, had been drinking steadily for three weeks when sickness and diarrhoea set in. Nux 1x aggravated the nausea. Ars. 6 checked the diarrhoea and relieved the intense thirst, but did nothing to allay the vomiting. Patient was irritable, angry. Everything she took, even water, was instantly ejected. About every twenty minutes she had a spasm or cramp of the stomach, with gagging and coughing, bringing up some frothy mucus. The straining caused great pain in chest and abdomen. There was, besides, the most intense burning, extending from the stomach up the oesophagus to pharynx, which felt swollen and dry. The only tolerable position was lying slightly turned on her left side. Lying on right side was impossible. Rising from lying = vertigo. Cheeks and hands livid. She believed she would soon die, and was unwilling to be left alone. Sang. 200 was given every two hours. By evening the nausea had ceased, but the burning pain remained as before. The smallest particle of food gave great agony; it seemed as if a spot the size of a florin was ulcerated, and any contact with this was excruciating. She slept better, but awakened next morning in a fright. Next afternoon she was able to take a little solid food, and from that time recovery was rapid. Burning is a leading note of Sang. Burning of eyes; of ears. Tongue and throat feel as if they had been burnt or scalded. Burning palms and soles. Burning in chest; between breasts, streaming from breasts to abdomen. Leonard (Min. H. Mag., ii. 295) says "a circumscribed burning in the chest, commonly followed by heat through abdomen and diarrhoea," is a strong indication for Sang. in pneumonic conditions. Sang. has also the circumscribed hectic flush on the cheeks, as in phthisis, in which it is frequently indicated. (Sang. has also the "hopefulness" of phthisical patients.) The flushed face, at times dark red or livid, is also a prominent feature of Sang., as it is of Op. Sang. affects the whole respiratory tract, irritates the nasal mucous membrane, and causes coryza, with pain at root of nose, lost or perverted sense of smell, and sensitiveness to the odour of flowers. Influenza, hay-fever, ozaena, and polypus have all come within its range. Laryngitis and membranous croup have been cured by it; and I have found it meet a greater proportion of the tracheal and bronchial coughs of epidemic influenza than any other remedy. The chief features are: Violent, dry cough; wheezing, whistling, metallic; sputa almost impossible to raise. I have seen several cases of this kind rescued from apparently imminent death by Sang., the relief conies by the expectoration of a thick plug of mucus which was causing suffocation, and which the patient was too weak to dislodge. Like Chel., Sang. is a right-side medicine, and affects especially the right lung; and is suited to pulmonary affections with liver involvement. After influenza children often get a cough scarcely distinguishable from whooping-cough. I have found Sang. the chief remedy for this. It is also the remedy for severe cough after whooping-cough─the cough returns with every fresh cold. Sang. also acts powerfully on the outer chest, sternum, and mammae. Like Chel., it has a reputation for curing cancer, polypi, and new growths. I have seen breast tumours diminish under its action. Offensiveness and acridity characterise the discharges of Sang.; and the breath and flatus are also offensive. Menses offensive, flow bright red; later blood darker and less offensive. Before menses itching of axillae. Eruption on the face of young women, especially during scanty menses. Climacteric disorders: flashes of heat; leucorrhoea; painful enlargement of breasts. The headaches of Sang. are of great intensity, and have some striking characteristics. They are (1) periodic─every seventh day; (2) begin in the morning, increase to noon, and then diminish; (3) are bursting, or as if the eyes would be pressed out; (4) begin at occiput, spread upwards and forwards, and settle over right eye; (5) like a flash of lightning in occiput; (6) > by sleep; (7) return at climacteric. Hering described the headache of Sang. as the "American sick-headache"─rush of blood causing faintness and nausea, pains lancinating or throbbing. Can neither bear light nor odours nor least jar, as any one stepping across the floor; at height of headache vomiting of food and bile; pain so violent patient goes out of her mind or seeks relief by pressing head against pillow or with the hands. Cooper gives as a keynote: "If he goes without food, gets bilious headaches." Sang. has also neuralgia of the face > by kneeling down and pressing head firmly against the floor; pain extends in all directions from the upper jaw. The ears are strongly affected by Sang. Cooper gives me this case: Girl, 19, had her throat bad three years from scarlatina, and lately increasing deafness; noises all over head, and vertigo and sudden flushings in daytime; menses too frequent, and profuse leucorrhoea; it pains tier to walk from backache; had to give up teaching from this; appetite poor from the headaches and tinnitus; often has pain behind angles of lower jaw and swellings of gland. All disappeared after a single dose of Sang. Ø, though at first the leucorrhoea was increased. "Fulness and tenderness behind angle of jaws" is, according to Cooper, a keynote. Sang. causes many symptoms of rheumatism, but the most characteristic is a rheumatic pain in right arm and shoulder; cannot raise the arm, < at night. Pains in places where the bones are least covered. Peculiar Sensations are: As if paralysed. As if forehead would burst. As of a band across forehead. As if head were drawn forward. As if electric current shooting through head. As if temples and scalp were alive with irrepressible pulsation. As if eyes would be pressed out. As if hairs were in eyes. As if she was in a railway car which was moving and jarring her, and as if all about her moved rapidly and confusedly. Pain like drawing a rope on a windlass as tight as possible. Tongue as if burnt. Tip of tongue as if scalded. Tongue as if in contact with something hot. Throat as if swollen. Throat so (try it seems as if it would crack. Pharynx as if burnt or scalded. As if some hard substance in stomach. Constriction in pit of stomach as if suffocating. As of a mass in lower part of rectum. As if upper part of chest were too full of blood. Larynx as if swollen. F. Nichol in giving Hale his experience with Sang. in croup, says he used (following Paine, eclectic) a solution of Sanguinarin in vinegar, and he found that the most effective preparation. The symptoms are < by touch. [A painful sensitiveness is very characteristic of Sang.: Temporal veins painfully sensitive; head and eye very painful; nipples sore.] Hard pressure >; (must kneel down and press head hard to floor in neuralgia). Slightest jar <. Lifting = lumbago. Lying dawn > rheumatism and headache; but < cough and most other complaints. Cough <. Lying with head low < cough. Lying on left side >. < Lying on right side. Sitting up and passing flatus > cough. Motion; turning head quickly; turning in bed; stooping; coughing; exercise <. Cannot raise arm from side but can swing it to and fro (in rheumatism). Eating <. Going without food = headache. > Eructations (mind confused). Swallowing <. Vomiting > (Nausea; headache). Smoking = hiccough, < At night. > After sleep. Headache < by day, sunrise to sunset. Cold open air >. Cold room < cough. Damp weather <. The right side is more affected than the left. Symptoms go from right to left. Periodicity is very marked.

Relations.─It antidotes: Opium. Compatible: Bell. (scarlatina). Compare: Botan., Chel., Op. In rheumatism of right deltoid, Mg. c. (of left, Fer., Nx. m.). Headache extending forward from occiput and settling over (right) eye, Spi. (left eye), Sill., Sep. (both eyes); extending forward, Gels., Lac c.; (backward, Anac., Bry., Chi. s., Naj., Nux). Headache > by hard pressure, Chi., Indg., Mg. m. Paroxysms of headache ending in profuse urination, Ign., Gels., Ver. Menstrual headache, Sep. (Sep. scanty flow; Sang. profuse). Offensive breath with cough, Caps. Faint from odours, Pho., Ig., Val., Nux. Right-side, throbbing, congestive headache, < light and noise, Bell. (Bell. has "cold feet, hot head," and is > sitting propped up; Sang. headache has more of the gastric form, and is > lying down), Meli. Periodic sick headaches, Ir. v. (Ir. v. every eighth day; every seventh, Saba., Sang., Sil., Sul.). Pneumonia, Ver. v. (more marked arterial excitement), Pho., Ant. t. (face livid, blood carbonised, rattling cough), Sul. (resolution imperfect).─(Sang. has sputa very offensive, even to patient). Rheumatism of right ankle, Chel. > Lying left side, Lil. t. Painfulness to touch of parts where pain has been, Lcprs. Sensitive to sudden sounds, Brx. Jerking or jumping as from something alive in stomach, Croc. Physometra, Lyc., Bov. Liver-cough (Scil. spleen-cough). Pain in bones covered only with skin, Rh. ven. Laryngeal and nasal polypi, Sang. n., Pso., Teuc. Eruption on face of young women during scanty menses, Bels., Calc., jamb., Pso. Right-side complaints; right to left, Lyc., Chel. > By sleep, Pho.

SYMPTOMS.

1. Mind.─Angry irritability; moroseness.─Anxiety and dread preceding the vomiting.─Mind confused, > by eructations.─Mental torpor, stupor, heaviness, sleepiness.─Hopefulness, sanguine of recovery.─Disgusting ideas.─Dreamy state with eyes open.

2. Head.─Vertigo: terrible; when moving head rapidly and looking upward; with nausea, fainting, and headache; with ringing in ears; on rising from a sitting or stooping position; on quickly turning the head; with dim vision; with dull, heavy feeling in stomach as if caused by some hard substance there; in cold weather; during sleep; at climaxis.─Head swims on lying down suddenly; gets pain l. side of back near waist, as from spleen; bowels confined; complexion spotty (cured in woman, 32.─R. T. C.).─Sensation of heaviness in head.─Determination of blood to head, with whizzing in ears; flushes of heat; accumulation of water in mouth.─Headache over whole head from 5 p.m. to midnight; then free; and then sickness (vomiting) from 5 p.m. to midnight (agg.─R. T. C.).─Headache, with rheumatic pains and stiffness of limbs and neck.─Periodical sick headache; with vomiting of bile; begins in morning, < during day, lasts till evening; < from motion, stooping, noise, and light; only endurable when lying still, and > by sleep or after vomiting; esp. severe over r. eye.─Headache returns periodically.─Heaviness in head from vertex to centre of forehead, with pressing in glabella and buzzing in head; eyes dull.─Terrific headache as if caused by approaching coryza which does not come, in forehead and middle of vertex, with pressure in eyes, which burn and are moved with difficulty.─Terrific headache during the fever.─Dull, pressive frontal headache.─Headache as if forehead would burst, with chill and burning in stomach.─Frontal headache extending into cheek-bones.─Headache or neuralgia over r. eye.─Headache as if it must burst, or as if eyes would be pressed out; > walking in open air.─Headache with shuddering.─Headache begins in occiput, spreads upward, and settles over r. eye.─Pain in head in rays drawing upwards from neck.─Headache with nausea and chilliness, followed by flushes of heat, extending from head to stomach.─Headache with flushed face.─Pains in head in spots.─Pains in head, which pass rapidly from one place to another, like electric shocks.─Pulsations in head (throbbing headache), with bitter vomiting, < from motion.─Headache rising up from neck.─Feeling as if head were drawn forward.─Distension of veins on head, esp. on temples, perceptible to the touch and sore.─Sensation of mobility in the scalp.─Head very painful to touch; where pain has been.─Distension of veins in temples; sore when touched.

3. Eyes.─Neuralgia in and over l. eye.─Burning and watering of r. eye, which is painful to the touch, followed by coryza.─Acute conjunctivitis with ecchymoses, tending to trachoma.─Blepharitis.─Burning dryness in eyes; followed by copious lachrymation.─Retinal congestion with flushed face and congestive headache.─Yellow sclerotica, jaundice.─Catarrhal ophthalmia, granular lids.─Redness of eyes in morning.─Hard swelling like scirrhus over eyebrows.─Dim eyes, with sensation as if hairs were in them.─Pain in eyeballs on moving them.─Balls sore, with darting through them and dim vision.─Violent twittering before eyes.─Vapour or cloud before eyes.

4. Ears.─Burning of ears, with redness of cheeks.─Earache, with headache, with singing in ears and vertigo.─Humming and roaring in ears with painful sensitiveness to sudden sounds in women at climaxis.─Cracking in r. ear while stroking cheek.─Every stroke of a hammer heard near a blacksmith's shop is painful to r. ear.─Vein on r. temple swells up in woman, 50, subject to neuralgia and old vascular deafness; after Sang. Ø, one dose, hearing improves for six days strikingly, and then reverts (R. T. C.).─Throat affections causing deafness and earache.─Acts strongly on l. Eustachian tube (Hydrast. on r.); acts on ethmoid cells specially (R. T. C.).─Increased redness of external ear, with humming and roaring in ears from increased circulation of blood through aural structures.─Burning ears, cheeks red.─Aural polypus.

5. Nose.─Fluent coryza with frequent sneezing; < r. side.─Heat in nose; coryza, rawness in throat, pain in breast, cough, and finally diarrhoea.─Coryza, watery, acrid; with tingling; with heavy pain at root of nose and stinging in nose.─Dry coryza, as from a sudden cold.─Alternately fluent and dry coryza.─Smell in nose like roasted onion.─Rose-cold, with subsequent asthma; sick and faint from odour of flowers.─Loss of smell and taste.─Dislike to odour of syrup.─Nasal polypus.

6. Face.─Circumscribed redness of one or both cheeks.─Paleness of face, with disposition to vomit.─Pain in cheek.─Stitches l. side of face with pains in forehead.─Neuralgia in upper jaw, extending to nose, eye, ear, neck, and side of head; shooting, burning pains; must kneel down and hold head tightly to the floor.─Face bloated, with sensation of rigidity and fulness.─Veins distended, feel stiff and sore to touch.─Twitching of cheeks toward eyes.─Stiffness of articulation of jaws.─Fulness and tenderness behind angles of jaw (a keynote.─R. T. C.).─Red cheeks: with burning ears; with cough.─Lips feel dry.─Under lip burns, is swollen, hard, and blistered; blisters dry up and form crusts which fall off.

7. Teeth.─Pain in hollow teeth, esp. when touched by food.─Toothache from picking teeth.─Pain in carious teeth after cold drinking.─Looseness of teeth (with salivation).─Bleeding, spongy, fungoid gums.

8. Mouth.─Pricking on the point of the tongue.─Tongue feels as if burned or as if sore; is coated white.─White coated tongue with slimy, fatty taste.─Red streak through middle of tongue.─Tip of tongue burns as if scalded.─Pricking in tip of tongue.─Stitches in l. side of tongue.─Crawling on tip of tongue followed by astringent sensation of whole tongue, on waking.─Dry, acrid sensations, beginning r. side and extending over whole tongue.─Prickling on tongue and hard palate as after chewing Mezereum.─Sweet things taste bitter, followed by burning in fauces.─Loss of smell and taste; with a burnt feeling on tongue.─Sore on gums and roof of mouth.─Fetid breath, clammy mouth, sticky teeth.─White patches on mucous membrane.

9. Throat.─Ulcerated sore throat, as if raw and denuded.─Feeling of swelling in throat on swallowing, < on r. side.─Throat feels swollen as if to suffocation, aphonia.─Tonsillitis, promotes suppuration.─Throat so dry, seems as if it would crack.─Feeling of dryness in throat (with tickling cough), not > by drinking.─Sensation in pharynx as if scalded by hot drink.─Uvula sore and burning.─Burning pharynx and oesophagus.─Heat in throat > by drawing in cold air.─Inflammation in throat.─Warming sensation in fauces, esp. soft palate.─Burning in fauces extending to centre of sternal region.

10. Appetite.─Craving for he knows not what, with loss of appetite; wants piquant, spiced things.─Loss of appetite with great weakness of digestion.─Aversion to butter, which leaves a sweetish taste.─Sugar tastes bitter and = burning.─Tormenting thirst.─Sweet things <, = burning.─Soon after eating: feels empty; difficult breathing, nausea, waterbrash, lassitude almost to fainting, cold sweat to 12 p.m., after a little food.─If goes without food, gets bilious headaches (keynote.─R. T. C.).

11. Stomach.─Burning in stomach, with headache.─Inflammation of stomach.─Sensation of emptiness in stomach soon after eating (faint, feverish feeling).─Soreness and pressure in epigastrium; < after eating.─Hiccough whilst smoking.─Spasmodic eructation of flatus.─Frequent fetid eructations with disposition to vomit and pale face.─Pyrosis.─Nausea, which is not > by vomiting.─Extreme nausea with great salivation and constant spitting.─Nausea with headache, and with chill and heat.─Vomiting preceded by anxiety.─Vomiting: of bitter water; of sour, acrid fluids of ingesta; of worms; with craving to eat in order to quiet the nausea.─Vomiting and diarrhoea.─Sudden attacks of constriction in pit of stomach as if suffocating.─Goneness with sick headache.─Jerking or jumping in stomach as if from something alive.─Neurosis of stomach.─Pain in stomach-pit extending down into bowels, causing rumbling.

12. Abdomen.─Hot streaming from breast towards liver.─Sensation as if hot water poured itself from breast into abdomen, followed by diarrhoea.─Dull burning in r. hypochondrium and chest.─Awoke with severe pain in region of spleen.─Violent stitches in spleen.─Pain in l. hypochondrium; < by coughing, > by pressure and lying on l. side.─Jaundice.─Liver-cough.─Colic, with torpor of liver.─Beating and spasms in abdomen.─(Flatus, cough and sneezing.─R. T. C.).─Flatulent distension of abdomen, evening, with escape of flatus from vagina (the os uteri being dilated).─Beating in abdomen.─Induration in abdomen.─Cutting bellyache from r. to l. of iliac fossa, thence to rectum.─Throbbing in abdomen.─Shooting pains through bowels extending to lower limbs, afternoon.─Knife-thrusts in abdomen followed by watery stools.─Cramp extending from place to place.

13. Stool and Anus.─Ineffectual urging to stool; then vomiting.─Urging to stool, afternoon, but only discharges of flatus.─Distressing, cutting, spasmodic sensation in rectum in evening; recurred several days.─In effectual desire with sensation of thick mass in anus; repeated several times in the day without stool.─Diarrhoeic stools with much flatulence.─Copious apple-green stools with flatus (offensive) and sudden urging (agg.─R. T. C.).─Frequent discharges of very offensive flatus.─Colic followed by diarrhoea.─Diarrhoea with disappearance of coryza, catarrh, or pains in chest and cough.─Stools undigested.─Dysentery.─Alternate diarrhoea and constipation.─Constipation; stools in hard lumps.─Haemmorrhoids.

14. Urinary Organs.─Dull, heavy pain across kidneys.─Pain from kidneys penetrates r. iliac fossa, then shoots through sigmoid flexure to rectum.─Frequent and copious nocturnal urination, urine as clear as water.─(Retention of urine consequent on gravel and calculus.).─Urine is thick and white next day (agg. from 200th.─R. T. C.).─Copious urination goes on all night with much > to chest symptoms (in a lady.─R. T. C.).─Very copious urine at night, with pain in l. hypochondrium; < from coughing; > from pressure and lying on l. side.─Urine: dark yellow; high-coloured, red sediment.─Ardor urinae.

15. Male Sexual Organs.─Burning in glans.─Emissions two nights in succession; after which he felt very well.─Gleet; old cases.─Cheesy secretions from glans (syphilis).

16. Female Sexual Organs.─Climacteric disorders, esp. flushes of heat and corrosive, fetid leucorrhoea.─Burning of palms and soles at climaxis compelling to throw off clothes.─Painful enlargement of breasts at climaxis.─Abdominal pains as if menses would appear.─[Delaying menses, chilliness followed by flushes of heat and occasional palpitation, faintness, vertigo, nausea, and violent vomiting, burning in oesophagus, neuralgia in r. temple, in l. chest (mamma) and lower extremities, occasional hacking cough and gastralgia.─Carmichael.].─Menstruation too early, with a discharge of black blood.─Menses: more profuse than usual; with headache r. side; at night time, very offensive, putrid, bright red, clotting, becoming darker towards end and less offensive.─Amenorrhoea.─Metrorrhagia.─Dysmenorrhoea of feeble, torpid subjects, with tendency to congestion of lungs, liver, or head.─Burning pain between breasts in afternoon, < on r. side.─Shootings in bosom and pain in mammae as from excoriation.─The nipples are sore and painful.─Stitches in nipples, esp. r.─Sharp, piercing pain in r. breast, just beneath nipple; < deep breath, some dyspnoea.─Pain in r. breast extends to shoulder, can hardly place hand on head.─Threatened abortion, pains in loins extending through epigastric and iliac regions and down thighs.─Hydrops uteri.

17. Respiratory Organs.─Dryness in throat and sensation of swelling in larynx; with expectoration of thick mucus.─Aphonia with swelling in throat.─Oedema of larynx.─Tickling in throat, evening, after lying down, with dry, hacking cough and headache.─Crawling sensation extending down behind sternum. Tracheal irritation secondary to heart disease.─Croup: hearse, muffled cough; complete aphonia; spasmodic cough, painful crowing, stridulous breathing.─Cough dry, tickling in throat-pit.─Distressing, spasmodic, exhaustive cough.─Dry cough, awakens him from sleep, which did not cease until he sat upright in bed, and flatus was discharged both upwards and downwards.─Continual severe cough, with circumscribed redness of cheeks, with pain in chest; with coryza, then diarrhoea.─Coughs in old men with l. earache, and pains going from l. throat to ear.─Expectoration: tough; difficult; rust-coloured; extreme dyspnoea; hepatisation.─Breath and sputa smell badly even to patient.─Pulmonary consumption, expectoration and breath exceedingly offensive.─Whooping-cough.─Severe cough after whooping-cough; the cough returns every time patient takes cold.─Asthma: excessive dyspnoea; esp. after "rose-cold," < from odours.

18. Chest.─Hydrothorax.─Haemoptysis.─Pneumonia: catarrhal; chronic; r. side; l. side, with heart disease.─Typhoid pneumonia, with very difficult respiration, cheeks and hands livid, pulse full, soft, vibrating, and easily compressed.─Severe dyspnoea and constriction of chest, with inclination to take deep inspirations.─Sharp stitches in r. chest.─Stitches in lower part of l. breast to shoulder.─Pain in breast with periodic cough.─A shooting, sticking pain beneath sternum.─Persistent pain beneath sternum and in r. breast.─Intense burning between breasts, < r. side.─Sharp, piercing, neuralgic pain half-way between sternum and nipple.─Hot, burning streaming from r. chest to liver.─Pain under l. clavicle on waking.─Constriction across both breasts.─Violent stitches under short ribs.─Burning and pressing in breast, followed by heat through abdomen and diarrhoea.─Pain in r. chest to shoulder; can only with difficulty place hand to head.

19. Heart.─Painful stitches or pressive pain beneath praecordial region. Surging of blood and racing palpitation, with dry and burning skin.─Weak feeling about heart.─Metastasis of rheumatism (or gout) to heart from outward applications.─Palpitation of heart.─Irregularity of heart's action and of the pulse, with coldness, insensibility, etc.─Pulse slow, irregular, feeble.

20. Neck and Back.─Soreness of nape on being touched.─Rheumatic pain in nape, shoulders, and arms.─Pain in r. side of neck as if strained; in l. side.─Soreness down muscles of back; pains shifting about; feels pain more when drawing long breath.─Pain in inner border of r. shoulder-blade.─Pain in sacrum from lifting; the pain in sacrum is > on bending forward.─Pain in sacrum and bowels.

21. Limbs.─Rheumatic pain in limbs, esp. in shoulders, arms, and thighs, and < at night.─Burning in hands and feet < night.

22. Upper Limbs.─Itching in axillae before menses.─Rheumatic pain in r. arm and shoulder, < at night in bed; cannot raise arm; motion (turning in bed) much < it.─Pain in top of r. shoulder.─Pain in r. deltoid.─R. arm hung helpless.─Coldness in body and r. arm.─Burning of palms.─Stiffness of finger-joints.─Aching in ball of r. thumb.─Fungoid growth between second and third metacarpal bones, protruding about a quarter of an inch out of palm.─Ulceration at roots of nails on all the fingers of both hands.─Panaritium, first r. then l. finger.─Shooting pains from r. thumb to symphysis menti.

23. Lower Limbs.─Rheumatic pain in l. hip.─Rheumatic pain inside of r. thigh.─Bruise-like pain in thigh, alternating with burning and pressure in chest.─Stiffness of knees.─Burning of soles, < at night.─Rheumatic pains in limbs; pain in those places where the bones are least covered with flesh, but not in the joints; on touching the painful part the pain immediately vanished and appeared in some other part.─(Have seen ulcers connected with carious ankles and shins change almost visibly after Sang.─Gutteridge).─Sharp pain in r. ankle and great toe-joint.─Cold feet, afternoon.

24. Generalities.─Great debility and weakness in limbs (esp. in morning on waking), whilst walking in the open air.─Paralysis of r. side.─General torpor and languor.─An uncomfortable, prickling sensation of warmth spreading over whole body.─Weakness and palpitation of heart; fainting weakness.─Convulsive rigidity of limbs.─We find this very useful where there is a pain rising from the back of the neck over the top of the head, running down into the forehead; this symptom may occur alone, or in connection with some other trouble (H. N. G.).─Often useful for troubles occurring in females at the climacteric period of life─such as flashes of heat, etc. (H. N. G.).

25. Skin.─Heat and dryness of skin.─Itching and nettle-rash before the nausea.─Old, indolent ulcers, with callous borders and ichorous discharge.─Nasal polypi; fungus excrescences.─Jaundice.─Eruption on face of young women with menstrual troubles, esp. deficiency.─Scaly eruptions, carbuncles.─Rhus poisoning.

26. Sleep.─Drowsiness causing mental and bodily indolence.─Sleeplessness at night; awakens in a fright as if he would fall.─Can't sleep without brandy.─Slightest noise disturbs, yet is sleepy and dreamy. (R. T. C.).─Dreams: of sea voyages, with sensation of being rocked; of business matters; frightful.

27. Fever.─Pulse too frequent and full.─Coldness of feet in afternoon, with painful, sore tongue; stiffness of knee and finger-joints.─Chill and shivering in back, evening, in bed.─Shaking chill.─Chill with nausea, headache.─Heat flying from head to stomach.─Fever heat and delirium.─Burning heat rapidly alternating with chill and shivering.─Intermittent fevers; marsh fevers; nervous fever.─Fever from pulmonary, hepatic, or gastric inflammation.─Copious sweat; cold sweat.

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

Bloodroot (Papaveraceae)

The periodical sick headache; begins in morning, increases during the day, lasts until evening; head feels as if it would burst, or as if eyes would be pressed out; relieved by sleep. American sick headache, > by perfect quiet in a dark room ("tired headache" from over mental or physical exertion, epigea; sick headache < during rest > by rubbing, pressure, motion, Indigo). Headache begins in occiput, spreads upwards and settles over right eye (Sil., - over or in left orbit, Spig.). Headaches, return at the climacteric; every seventh day (Sabad., Sil., Sulph. - eight day, Iris). Neuralgia of face > by kneeling down and pressing the head firmly against the floor; pain extends in all directions from the upper jaw. Circumscribed red cheeks in afternoon; burning in ears; in bronchitis, pneumonia, phthisis. Rheumatic pain in the right arm and shoulder (left, Fer.); cannot raise the arm, < at night. Pains in places where the bones are least covered, as tibia, backs of hands, etc (Rhus ven.). Burning in pharynx and oesophagus. Laryngeal or nasal polypi (Sang. n., Psor., Tuec.). Climacteric ailments: flushes of heat and leucorrhoea; burning of palms and soles; compelled to throw off bedclothes; painful enlargement of breasts; when Lachesis and Sulphur fail to relieve. Asthma after the "rose cold," < from odors. Cough: dry, waking him at night and not ceasing until he sits up in bed and passes flatus; circumscribed red cheeks; night sweats; diarrhoea. Severe cough after whooping-cough; the cough returns every time patient takes cold. Eruption on face of young women, especially during scanty menses (Bellis, Cal., Eug. j., Psor.).

Relations. - Compare: Bell., Iris, Mellil., in sick headache; Lach., Sulph., Ver. v., in chronic bronchitis or latent pneumonia. After Bell. fails in scarlatina. As a dynamic remedy for the narcosis of Opium.

Leaders In Homoeopathic Therapeutics, Eugene Beauharnais Nash

Pain beginning in occiput; spreads over the head and settles over the right eye, with nausea and vomiting. Sensitive to noise and light.

Loose cough with badly smelling sputa; the breath and sputa smell badly to the patient himself.

Pain in right arm and shoulder; worse at night in bed; cannot raise the arm. Also pain in places where the bones are the least covered.

Heat and tension behind sternum. Cough day and night with great emaciation.

Burning and pressing in breast, followed by heat through abdomen and diarrhoea. Acts intensely on right lung and chest.

* * * * *

Sick headache. Pain commences in the back of the head, rises and spreads over the head, and settles down over the right eye (left eye, Spigelia), with nausea and vomiting; patient wants to be in a dark room and perfectly quiet. I have made some fine cures in long-standing cases of habitual sick headaches of this kind with this remedy. It will probably cure, or greatly relieve, the ordinary American sick headache as often as any other remedy. I use the 200th. Loose cough, with badly smelling sputa; the breath and sputa smelling badly to the patient himself. There is sometimes a pain behind the sternum (Kali hydroid.). This kind of cough usually comes on after a severe bronchitis or pneumonia, and it looks as though the patient were fast running into consumption. There may also be flushes of fever with circumscribed redness of the cheeks, like hectic fever. Many a case of this kind has been helped by this remedy. Dr. T. L Brown used the first trituration of the alkaloid with fine effect. The 200th has made just as good cures. In typhoid pneumonia with great dyspnoea and circumscribed redness of the cheeks, Sanguinaria has, in my hands, done good service. The right lung seems to come markedly under its influence, either in acute or chronic troubles. "Rheumatic pain in right arm and shoulder, worse at night in bed, cannot raise the arm". This condition has often been relieved by this remedy in my hands and has won me much credit. I have seen one dose of the first trituration cure such cases of long standing. I have seen the c. m. do the same thing. Flashes of heat, with hot palms and soles, at the climacteric find a remedy in Sanguinaria. Sometimes indicated after Sulphur and Lachesis have failed, especially if the circumscribed redness of the cheeks appears.