GLEANED POINTERS

Originally published in  "The Homeopathic Recorder, Vol. XXVI, Lancaster, Pa. 1911". 

Edited By: Dr Ravinder S. Mann

Dr. J. V. Mott, Amelia, O. (Ec. M. J., Jan.), writes of Sumbul 

in asthma which gives prompt results, almost as much so as 

morphine, without the danger. He gives big doses, a dram, 

in hot water, and “it is a horrible dose, but the patient is glad 

to take it for the expected relief.” “Continued in small doses, 

it will cure most cases of asthma, if the disease begins before 

middle life.” 

Dr. Simpson (Hom. World, Jan.) reports case of a married 

Woman, age 35, very much troubled with sudden, urgent desire 

to urinate, the urine often escaping involuntarily. “Over the 

region of the bladder a dull pain was mostly present,” worse by 

standing or walking; no mal-position. Equisetum hyemale 6 

effected a complete cure. 

Dr. B. C. Woodbury, Jr., Portsmouth, N. H. (N. Am. J. 

Hom. j February), reports a case of sciatica of twenty years 

standing, always worse in wet weather, entirely cured by Rhus 

tox. 200. 

A case of intercostal neuralgia following a bruise cured 

by Ranunculus bulb. 3X. 

Also, Silicea mariana 3X has proved itself of service in consti- 

pation, with inactivity of the rectum with receding stool (Silicea 

and Natrum mur.) . 

“Given a pain in the region of the kidneys, and I always think 

of Agrimonia as the remedy. In my practice I have seen wonder- 

ful results from it, in cases of months' and years' duration, and 

when everything had failed. I have found other uses for it, but 

this has been so prominent that I always associate the medicine 

and the position of the pain.” — Scadder. 

The Agrimonia here referred to is Agrimonia eupatoria. Used in 

small material doses. 

Among the old-timers it had great repute as a remedy for kidney 

and bladder diseases. There is no proving but it has been used 

by some Homoeopaths after the methods of Burnett. 

Dr. Ashley B. Palmer, Seattle, Wash. (Pacific Coast J. of Hom.), 

reports a case of anterior poliomyelitis in a baby aged under two 

years. Gelsemium in this case had a quick and favorable action, 

though he gave other remedies, Aethusa, Kali phos. and Helle- 

bore for certain symptoms,  “but, in the main, I am staying by 

Gelsemium, for I see a constant improvement”. 

For sudden, sharp pains in any part just recall Kali carb. 

 Dr. Royal E. S. Hayes, Farmington, Conn. (Med. Advance, 

January), says that “Nux vomica appears to be the ‘ineffectual 

Effort’ remedy.” “Ineffectual effort is a general characteristic,” 

with excitement, irritability, etc. 

Dr. G. W. Harvey, Millville, Cal. (Cal. Ec. Med. Jour., Febru- 

ary), finds that Bryonia is as sure a prophylactic in measles as 

Belladonna is in scarlet fever, Echinacea for diphtheria, Pulsa- 

tilla for whooping cough, and “malaria is prevented and the pa- 

tient made immune in any climate by Arsenicum iodide 3X.”

Dr. Truman Coates, Oxford, Pa., in a letter mentions the case 

of a man, deaf for years, who complained much of noises in his 

ears, indeed more of than that of the deafness. He received 

Thiosinamine 2x tablets, and in a week his whole condition was 

much improved ; the noises no longer bothered him, and he could 

hear better. Some bad weather threw him back, and he came 

back for more of the “same medicine.” 

A correspondent of the Homeopathic World, February, tells of 

a lady who suddenly “became stone deaf.” A London specialist 

pronounced the case to be hopeless, but under Pulsatilla nutall- 

iana her hearing was restored and has remained for eight months. 

The correspondent got the hint from Clarke's Materia Medica, 

who credits it to Burnett. 

According to Burnett, 5 drop doses of Chelidonium is about 

the best “liver medicine” going — if one may drop into the ver- 

nacular. 

Granatum has been reported as a remedy of use where persist- 

ent vertigo is the most marked feature of the case. 

In cases where there is great difficulty in retaining the urine, 

day and night, the first remedy to be thought of is Ferrum phos. 

It has given relief in many cases of inability to retain the urine. 

THERAPEUTIC POINTERS

THE

 Homeopathic Recorder

 Vol. XXVI Lancaster, Pa., January, 1911 

Edited By : Dr. Ravinder Singh Mann

THERAPEUTIC POINTERS 

McCandlish, Hom. World, reports a case of a woman aged 23, 

who since her eighteenth year, had suffered horribly from dys- 

menorrhea, so much so that she would scream with pain. Allo- 

paths and Homoeopaths could give no relief, until he carefully 

took the symptoms, worked them out in the repertory, and was 

surprised to find the result was "Apis." which remedy completely 

cured the patient. 

McCandlish, Hom. World, tells of a "large, hard, tense red 

scar" on a woman's breast from an operation, which, under 

Phytolacca 1. became more like the surrounding skin. 

McCandlish, Hom. World,reports a case of a ten-year-old 

girl discharged as incurable from hospital. She had from birth a 

weakness of the ankle joint, which caused her to drag her right 

foot along the ground when walking ;latterly the weakness began 

to spread up the leg. Conium 30 morning and night, enabled 

her to walk and run “quite nicely now when she likes and when 

she knows she is being watched.” The italics seem to indicate a 

queer mental state. 

McCandlish, Hom. World, reports a case of a man aged 43, 

suffering from itching anus, which was moist, wet, edematous 

and sore. Anacardium 30, morning and night, cured the case. 

Hom. Monthly, November, reports several cases in which 

blood was passed from internal parts by mouth or rectum in 

which Calendula Q. ten drops in half a tumblerful of water, tea- 

spoonful doses of the latter, acted in a most gratifying manner. 

The diseases were tuberculosis, cancer, disease of the bowels, 

etc. The indication is the passing or coughing of blood. Calen- 

dula is a wonderful but little known remedy. 

Dr. Williams (Medical Record) says that the pulp of a ripe 

pineapple applied to a boil will establish drainage in a short time. 

It seems to digest the necrotic head. This seems to be on the 

same principle by which it clears away the membranous throat 

deposits in diphtheria. 

Dr. D. W. Dimock, Brockton, Mass. (Medical World), advises 

as a “mother's friend” the application of ‘olive oil’ over the 

lower abdomen, around and over the vulva and perineum every 

night on retiring" for pregnant women. Keep this up every 

night for months before confinement. One woman who had 

always suffered agonies before had such an easy delivery after 

doing this that she named the girl baby born ‘Olive.’ 

Dr. Geo. D. Scott (Therap. Gaz., Aug.) advises the use of 

fruit juices in the diet of infants : cooked fruit juices are nourish- 

ing and mildly laxative. Perhaps a little fresh juice of ripe 

fruit would also be beneficial. 

Dr. McCandlish, Hom. World, tells of a woman with pains in 

her legs that had been getting worse for three years ; worse in 

the morning so that she dreaded to get up ; neither bone nor joints 

were affected: remedies, including liniments, did no good. On 

the theory that the seat of the trouble might be the facise and 

muscle sheaths. Dr. McCandlish prescribed Phytolacca 1. In 

seven days the pain had entirely disappeared. 

Dr. Ashley B. Palmer, of Seattle, Washington, reports a case 

of anterior poliomyelitis in Iowa Hom. Journal, December. It 

was first treated, but not recognized by an allopath who gave 

castor oil. When seen by Palmer the paralysis was established. 

Case made complete recovery under Gelsemium in rather high 

potency, with some other inter-current remedies as indicated. 

But Gelsemium seemed to be the remedy for the central disease. 

Dr. Lewis Robinson, of Carmel, Maine, writes that he has used 

Crataegus extensively in heart murmurs with excellent results. 

Dr. A. L. Fisher writes of Arnica oil that “it is of great value 

in stopping the falling out of the hair, a serious thing for those 

afflicted, and for which Arnica oil was recommended many years 

ago. I have used the preparation for this trouble many 

times with excellent success, in fact, not a failure.” If we re- 

member aright it was either Dr. Clifton or Dr. Ussher who first 

wrote of this use, in Homoeopathic World, fifteen or twenty years 

ago. 

It should be remembered that an important indication for 

Rumex crispus exists when there is a lacerating pain under the 

clavicle, especially when there is hawking. It should be espe- 

cially kept in mind when the pain is in the breast, in the upper part 

of the lobe of the lung forward, or in the region of the left 

shoulder. — Pop. Z. f. H. 

Caulophyllum is useful in inflammatory rheumatism of the 

wrist. There is sharp pain in the hand and in the finger joints, 

especially in the second joint when closing the hand, and the 

joints are stiff. — Pop. Z. f. H. 

“Cancers — epithelioma — yield very rapidly to the local and in- 

ternal administration of Echinacea. Carcinomas can be arrested, 

the odor destroyed, and the patient made comfortable under its 

use, and I believe that many cures have been and will be effected 

by its use in this most loathsome of all diseases.” — Holmes' 

Eclectic Quarterly, Dec. 

We have often been called to a case which looked to the pa- 

tient and friends that appendicitis was in full blast. The intense 

pain, hardly endurable, with these cases of intestinal colic, I have 

seen them fade away by giving 15-drop doses of Dioscorea in hot 

water every ten, fifteen or twenty minutes. — Dr. F. R. Crowell, 

Lawrence, Mich., in Ec. M. Dec. 

“My first knowledge of the use of Variolinum was given to me 

by that close student and staunch Homoeopath, the late Dr. 

Martin Deschere, of New York. He told me of his experience in 

an epidemic of small-pox in Hoboken, N. J., in the first years of 

his practice. Quarantine was not really attempted at that time, 

and cases were all treated in their own homes. He told me that 

he had small-pox in over one hundred families, and that he used 

Variolinum as a prophylactic in every instance upon those who 

were exposed and did not have a second case in any family where 

the Variolinum was given at once.” — John B. Garrison, M. D., 

in North Am. J. of Hom. 


Next Clinical Pointers

TWELVE REMEDIES IN HEADACHE, WITH COMPARISONS By W. A. Dewey

 THE

HOMOEOPATHIC RECORDER.

Vol. X. Philadelphia and Lancaster, Feb, 1895. No. 2.

TWELVE REMEDIES IN HEADACHE, WITH

COMPARISONS

By W. A. Dewey, M. D., 52 West 25th Street, New York.

I. Belladonna. 

Belladonna is probably the first remedy thought of in headache; 

its symptoms, however, are so clear that by rights it should 

only be thought of when indicated. Of course throbbing is the 

great keynote, but violent shooting pains in the head, so severe 

as to drive the patient almost wild, are scarcely less characteristic. 

The patient cannot lie down, must sit up, nor can he bear 

light, noise or jarring; this last is most characteristic. The 

location of the ache is mostly in the frontal region or right side, 

flushed face, dilated pupils accompany. Glonoine is the only 

remedy having throbbing as characteristic as Belladonna. Glonoine, 

however, does not have such a lasting effect as Belladonna, it 

is more relieved by motion, the face is not so deeply flushed and 

there is aggravation from bending the head backwards, all of 

which will serve to distinguish the two remedies. Cinchona also 

has throbbing, but here it is due to anaemia. Belladonna has 

also a symptom common to both Nux vomica and Bryonia, 

namely, a feeling as if the head would burst. The headaches of 

Belladonna are usually worse in the afternoon. 

II. Nux vomica. 

Probably, taken all in all, Nux vomica is more often indicated 

in headache than any other remedy; this is, presumably, 

due in the main to the causes of headache calling for Nux 

vomica; thus, we have headache from the excessive use of alcohol, 

the morning “big head,” tobacco, coffee, headache from digestive 

troubles, constipation, bilious derangement. These are all common 

causes of the Nux vomica headache. The ache is situated 

over one or the other eye, usually the left, or else in the occiput. 

It is apt to begin in the morning and last all day until night, 

and is accompanied with sour taste and perhaps nausea and 

violent retching. The dull, wooden, bursting feeling of the head 

following a debauch is most characteristic of Nux vomica. Head- 

aches of high livers call for Nux. 

There are some modalities to the Nux vomica headache that 

should be carefully noted, as this point will sometime aid greatly 

in making a selection, for instance: Stooping and coughing aggravate 

the headache; it is worse in the morning; moving the 

eyes and motion in general makes the head feel worse. What 

relieves the Nux vomica headache is not so clear; certain headaches 

calling for Nux will be better by wrapping the head up warm 

and by rest, but these conditions are rare ones calling for the 

drug. In general, nothing relieves the Nux vomica headache, 

but it will often disappear after rising and being about for a few 

hours. This is a characteristic point in those headaches due to 

alcoholic excesses. 

III. Sanguinaria 

Genuine sick headache calls for this drug, and the symptoms 

in brief are these: The pain begins in the morning and in the 

occiput; it comes up over the head and settles in the right eye. 

The pain increases in severity until there is vomiting of food 

and bile, then oftentimes the ache is relieved. Noise and light 

are unbearable, and sleep relieves. The pain will be so intense 

at times that the patient will frantically bore her head into the 

pillow for relief. Belladonna may be easily differentiated by the 

following points: It has hot head, more throbbing, flushed face 

and cold feet, and the pain coming up from the occiput is not so 

marked as under Sanguinaria. The Sanguinaria headache is 

relieved by lying down, Belladonna by being propped up in bed, 

and Sanguinaria is more useful in the gastric form of headache. 

There may be also profuse micturition with Sanguinaria relieving 

the headache, as we find under Gelsemium, Ignatia and in 

a less degree under some other drugs. 

IV. Iris Versicolor. 

The Iris headache characteristically commences with a partial 

blindness or blurring of vision, being similar here to Gelsemium, 

and it is especially a remedy for gastric or bilious headaches. 

It is a useful remedy for Sunday headaches, not, however, in 

that form which sometimes occurs as a convenient excuse for 

non-church attendance, which is incurable, but that form which 

occurs in teachers, scholars, professors, etc., in whom a relief of 

the strain for the preceding six days produces the headache. 

The pains are mostly located over the eyes in the supra- orbital 

ridges, usually on one side at a time. The pains are throbbing 

or sharp, and when at their acme, vomiting occurs which is apt 

to be bitter or sour. Especially characteristic is vomiting of 

matters so sour that the teeth are set on edge. The headache of 

Iris is aggravated by motion, cold air and coughing; moderate 

exercise in the open air relieves. In sick headache with continuous 

nausea it is one of our most useful remedies, and if 

indicated closely by the above symptoms it will not fail. 

V. Gelsemium. 

Gelsemium is another remedy which has a headache commencing 

with blindness, and especially it is a remedy for headaches 

due to eye strain. Onosmodium is another. The ache under 

Gelsemium commences in the occiput or nape of the neck. Comes 

up over the head and settles in an eye like Sanguinaria. There 

is a feeling as if a band were about the head, the patient is dull 

and apathetic, and there is great soreness in the eyes when moving 

them. Occipital headaches often find their remedy in Gelsemium. 

Cocculus is another remedy for these conditions. 

Remember the copious urination which relieves the headache, 

and that the headaches are accompanied with visual troubles, 

such as double vision, squinting and dim sight, and Gelsemium 

will be easily recognized. 

Gelsemium headaches are also relieved by sleep, and dizziness 

may accompany. 

VI. Cocculus. 

Another remedy for occipital headache is Cocculus, and it is a 

most excellent one; the symptoms are these: The ache occurs in 

the lower part of the occiput and extends to the nape, and it is 

nearly always associated with vertigo, the head feels numb, 

empty and stupefied, and with this vertigo there is constant 

nausea. Among the causes of headache calling for Cocculus may 

be mentioned riding in the cars or a carriage. A peculiar symptom 

of Cocculus is the sensation as if the occiput were opening 

and shutting like a door. Cannabis Indica has the sensation as 

if the vertex were opening and shutting. This is one of the 

most characteristic symptoms of Cannabis. 

The headaches of Cocculus in general are worse from mental  

effort, and are better indoors and during rest. 

VII. Spigelia. 

This remedy holds about the same relation to the left side of 

the head that Sanguinaria does to the right side. The pains are 

neuralgic in character and settle over the left eye, and they are 

apt to follow the course of the sun, beginning in the morning, 

reaching the acme at noon and subsiding at sunset. There is 

often a sensation as if the head were open along the vertex. 

Noise and jarring of the bed as under Belladonna aggravates the 

pain, stooping and change of weather also make the pain worse. 

The pure neuralgic character of the pain, and its left side preference, 

should lead to the remedy. 

VIII. Cimicifuga 

This is another remedy for the neuralgic form of headache, 

and it has some valuable symptoms. There is first a sensation 

as if the top of the head would fly off. There are sharp, lancinating 

pains in and over the eyes, shooting to the top of the 

head. The brain seems to move in waves, and there may be the 

symptom of a sharp pain extending from the occiput to the 

frontal region, as if a bolt was driven through the head. Headaches 

which are reflex or dependent on some uterine irritation 

are met by this remedy. When there is a feeling as if the 

patient would go crazy it is especially indicated. Many of the 

pains begin in the occiput and shoot down the spine; there is a 

tendency to bend the head forward, which relieves somewhat. 

IX. Silicea

Silicea is a very useful remedy in headache, but one not very 

often used. When a patient with headache has her head tied up 

with a towel or handkerchief it will probably indicate one of two 

remedies. Argentum nitricum if the head be tied up tightly, for 

here we have relief from pressure, and Silicea if the head is tied 

up simply to keep it warm. The headache of Silicea is nervous 

and caused by excessive mental exertion. It is supra-orbital 

and worse over the right eye, the pains coming up from the back 

of the head. Noise, motion and jarring aggravate. Warmth 

relieves. Menyanthes is similar in some respects to Silicea, but 

pressure rather than warmth relieves, and on going up stairs 

there is a sensation of a heavy weight on the vertex. The 

headache of Silicea, like Ignatia and Gelsemium is relieved by 

copious urination. 

An additional indication for Silicea is an extreme sensitiveness 

of the scalp. 

X. Argentum nitricum. 

A characteristic of this drug is that the head seems enormously 

large. There is much boring pain in the left frontal 

eminence. Thuja has a sensation as if a nail were driven into 

the frontal eminence. Ignatia and Coffea have these sharp, 

nail-like pains also. The pains under Argentum nitricum 

increase to such a degree that the patient seems as if she would 

lose her senses. Tying the head up tightly relieves the headache 

of this drug, it being the pressure that relieves. 

XI. Melilotus alba. 

A remedy often overlooked in the treatment of the congestive 

forms of headache is Melilotus. With this remedy there is a 

sensation of bursting; it seems as if the brain would burst 

through the forehead; the pains are intense and throbbing and 

almost drive the patient frantic. The eyes are bloodshot and 

the headache tends to recur every afternoon. Sometimes the 

headache culminates in nosebleed, which relieves. There is 

with this drug, which reminds of Cimicifuga, an undulating 

sensation in the brain. 

XII. Natrum mur 

The headache of Natrum mur. is as if there were little hammers 

beating in the skull, worse from moving the head or eyeballs. 

It comes on in the morning, is worse about 10 A. m., and 

is preceded by partial blindness, as we found under Iris and Gel- 

semium. The little hammer sensation is also found under 

Psorinum. Natrum mur., as well as Calcarea phos., is an excel- 

lent remedy for certain headaches in school girls during menses. 

A malarial basis for a headache will sometimes suggest this 

remedy. 

To read more medicines for headache read Homeopathic medicines for Headache and Migraine.

Homeopathic medicines for Headache and Migraine

Compiled By:

Dr Ravinder S. Mann

Dr. Vandana Patni

Homeopathic medicines for Headache and Migraine

Tweleve remedies in Headache By W. A. Dewey

For prescribing Homeopathic medicines to any patient we need to chose a strict similimum criteria, it means a patient need only that medicine which exhibit the very similar symptoms and signs during the proving of medicine.

Every homeopathic medicine is proved on humans. The signs and symptoms; which every medicine exhibit during proving are recorded in Text Book of Homeopathic Materia Medica. Every Homeopathic medicine exhibit the sign and symptoms of more then one system, it means every medicine has capability to cure diseases of more then one system.

So matching the sign and symptoms, of a patient with medicine, for purpose of prescribing needs lot much expertise. 

Following homeopathic medicines with short indications in headache are just few from long list of medicines.

Aconite – Headache due to Sunstroke, sleeping in direct sun-rays. Burning headache as if brain were agitated by boiling water. Aggravation by noise, light, motion. Amelioration by lying in a dark room, by nosebleed  and by copious urination.

Aethusa Cynapium – Violent pain, as if the brain were dashed to pieces; headache ceases with discharge of flatus downward; distressing pain in the occiput, nape and down the spine, better from bending stiffly backward; sensation as if she were constantly pulled by hair; hemicrania ( One side headache) driving the patient into open air, which relieves; desire to have a band fastened tightly around the head.

Agaricus – Headache from overwork at the desk. Pain as if sharp ice touched the head or cold needles pierced it. Pain remains confined to very small spot. Pain as if fine splinters were driven into the brain.

Agnus Castus – Headaches from sexual debility after sexual excesses or subject to seminal emissions, persons suffering from nervous debility, melancholia and has hypochondriac mood, keeps repeating that he will die. Pains just above the right eye  and temple better by looking at one point.

Allium Cepa – Headache as if whole head is wrapped in hot clothes. Headache ceases during menses and returns back just after cessation of menses. Headache with coryza, lachrymation (watering from eyes), sneezing. 

Aloes – Headaches alternating with low back pains ( Lumbago). Headache increases with every footstep, headache from insufficient stool (defecation), can’t bear mental labor, perfect relief after complete stool. Patients who have headache in winters and diarrhea in summers.

Argentum Nitricum – Headaches of dyspeptic persons. Migraine; headache with sensation as if the head is enormously large; Pain increases by taking coffee and better by eating dinner and taking wine. Patient feel as if his skull bones are separating apart and pains better by pressure and tight bandaging. Pains gradually increasing and then ceases suddenly.

Arsenicum Alb – Hemicranias (one side head pains), Headaches better by cold applications. Anxiety, thirst, fears are another clinical feature.

Belladona - Pains starts suddenly, gradually increase to great severity and then ceases suddenly. Headaches are throbbing, especially on right side, with intolerance of light and noise, hot head and cold feet, headache aggravates when lying down with head low and in open air, pains better by bending head backward and by covering the head.

Bryonia – Headache with vertigo and confusion of mind on slightest motion; sticking, jerking, throbbing pain from forehead backward to occiput. Pains aggravated by any kind of motion, on opening eyes, from stooping, on coughing, on stepping hard, slightest motion. Pains ameliorated by closing eyes, external pressure, by tying up the head. But pain in head always shifts to the side lain on.

Calcarea Carb – Icy coldness in and on head; Headache better by closing eyes and from tight bandaging.

Camphor – Pains ceases when thinking of it.

Carbo Veg – Headache with congestion of head from overheated rooms. Associated symptoms with headache are important here as burning pain in epigastrium, disgust for fat food and milk, belchings and borborygmi offensive, insatiable thirst for cold water.

China – Headaches better by moving the head especially up and down. Headaches caused by loss of fluids eg. Hemorrhage.

Colocynthis – Intermittent and paroxysmal headaches, Pains better by lying on painful side and hard pressure.

Crocus Sativus – Headache and all other symptoms are worse at time of menses.

Gelsemium – Vision lost just before headache, dislike to speak or be spoken to during headaches. Pains better by copious urination and after sleeping.

Gloninum – Violent headache with menses, headache from exposure to sun; sunstroke; Pains worse by motion and better by bandaging head.

Iris V – Great medicine for migraine, sick headaches of gastric and hepatic (liver) origin. Head pains always beginning with blur before eyes and followed by sour vomiting.

Kali Bichrom – Blindness before headache which disappears as headache increases. One sides pains in small spots, sharp stitches in bones of head.

Kalmia – Sun headache, shooting from nape up into head; especially right side better by profuse urination.

Lachesis – Head pains relieves as soon as menses starts; burning on vertex in climacteric; aggravations during and after sleep.

Lycopodium – Headache of intellectuals, headache from brain overwork. Pains worse by from rising up, from stooping, followed by weakness, from warmth of bed, mental exertion, mainly of right side, extending down to neck, pains better by lying down, from open cold air and from uncovering the head.

Magnesia Carb – Headache relieved by wrapping up the head, pains worse when among many persons, pain on top of head as if hair were pulled, aggravations standing and ameliorates sitting.

Melilotus – Congestive headaches with violent palpitations, especially in winters. Sensation as if brain would burst through forehead. Pains are severe better by nosebleed, frequent urination.

Natrum Carb – Sun Headaches, chronic effects of sunstroke. Head pain starts every time patient exposes to heat of sun, pains increases during a thunderstorm and from electric changes in atmosphere, headache from working under gaslight, pains from turning head rapidly and mental labor increase the pain.

Natrum Mur – Periodically appearing frontal headaches of great severity as if bursting and beating from little hammers. Pain aggravated from moving head and eyes, increases in forenoon, by warmth and motion, pains better by sitting, lying and perspiring; headache from sunrise to sunset; head pains before, during and after menses.

Nux Vomica – Congestive and abdominal headaches, with nausea and vomiting, worse by coughing and stooping; pain as from a nail driven into the brain. Head pains worse towards morning on waking, after eating, in the open air, pains on stopping and on motion, pain after drinking coffee.

Many more medicines can be described here, but prescribing true similimum to any case of headache need very expertise. Some more medicines are named here:-

Nitric Acid, Opium, Palladium, Phosphorus, Phosphoric acid, Phytolacca, Picric acid, Psorinum, Pulsatilla, Rhus Tox, Sabadilla, Sanguinaria, Selenium, Sepia, Silicea, Spigelia, Sulphur, Thuja and more.

Rheumatism By P.P. Wells, MD PART I

 This Article on RHEUMATISM was published by P.P.Wells in The American Homeopathic Review, Vol 3, New York, Nov, 1862. No 5,6,7. Here it is again published in two parts. PART II can be read here.

PART  I

 RHEUMATISM

BY P. P. WELLS, M. D., BROOKLYN, N. Y.

By this term we indicate an extended class of affections by no means easily brought within the brief and explicit terms of scientific definition. The difficulty is not so much in the vagueness of the subject, as in its extent, and the varied character of cases brought within the domain ascribed to it. When we suffer the pains of rheumatism we find them neither shadowy nor uncertain, but when we attempt to define what we mean by the word, to present the elements belonging to the genus, found in all its examples and found no where else, we fail, even after much labor, to produce anything satisfactory, and may be compelled to sit down, as the writer now is to the employment of the word, trusting to its general use by readers, for a recognition of the fact that we refer to that numerous class of painful affections which are gathered under this denomination, for the good reason that it has not been so convenient to place them under any other. When he says Rheumatism, the reader thinks he means a definite thing enough, and if perchance he has felt its grip he is quite sure of it. Will he be so good as to tell us what he means, and in terms which shall equally describe the tortures of his ten dear neighbors and friends who also had suffered and who certainly came to sympathize with him, and each to bring the knowledge of a "certain cure." If he will do this, he will have made an addition to the literature of this subject which will deserve to be remembered. If this definition were essential to that understanding of cases as they occur in practice, requisite to their intelligent treatment and speedy cure, it would be a matter for the deepest regret. But as the relationship of curatives to diseases has not been made to depend on strictly scientific definitions, however valuable these may be, and as the chief duty of the physician, in these, as in all other cases, is to find the curative, and as definition, if given, cannot materially aid him in the discharge of this duty, its consideration may for the present be safely waived. The improvements in nomenclature may hereafter make definitions more possible, the signification of terms used more explicit, and thereby enhance convenience in the interchange of ideas, but whether increased certainty of cure, or an abridged duration of the disease, would necessarily result may well be doubted.

In order to a certain and speedy cure of rheumatism, it is essential to begin with that first of all requisites to intelligent and successful treatment of diseases, a strict individualization of the case. It will be a help towards this, if at the outset the case can be referred to either of the following classes: With fever; without fever; swelling with redness and heat; without swelling; swelling with oedema; pains aggravated by motion; pains relieved by motion; pains suddenly shifting from place to place; pains aggravated by change of weather, especially on the approach of a storm. The exciting cause, if known, should be carefully considered, as this is often an important element in the individualization, and also the quality of the pain. The time and circumstances of aggravation are also matters for the strictest inquiry. The character of the tissue invaded—is it muscular, tendonous, ligamentous, membranous, or a mixture of these?

The necessity of this individualization is apparent from the nature of disease of whatever kind, and if there be any variety where this is more imperative than with others, perhaps this variety is rheumatism. If disease be a modification of those actions of the vital forces, the just balance of which conserves the whole and each part of the individual, so that these forces, instead of conservative become destructive of the whole or of parts—-and we assert of disease that it is nothing else—then it is evident that a proper knowledge of their modifications can only be reached after a thorough examination of all the elements of a case, which alone can disclose the nature of the modifications with which we have to deal. This is what we mean by individualization, and this the result we propose to attain by it.

It is only by this process that we gain possession of the elements of these modified vital actions, the finding of the similimum of which is the great duty of the physician, and the cure. Different exciting causes of these disturbances must produce different modifications of vital action; and the same cause, under different circumstances, may be so affected by these as to produce results quite different in their nature, and consequently in their curative relations, though for convenience we give the same name to them all. A man becomes severely chilled by exposure to low temperature, the atmosphere at the same time being dry, and there follows after* the reaction from this state, swelling of the joints, which is red and painful, intolerant of touch and motion, with fever more or less violent. Another is chilled by becoming wet in a rain storm, and results follow so similar that no eyes can perceive a difference. But that sensibility, keener than all human sense, the sensibility of diseased condition to the presence and action of its curative, will, and most certainly the remedy which promptly and completely cures the one will be found powerless for good with the other. Another is chilled by falling into water, or by long working in it, and suffers in like manner, but though we call his pains, swelling and fever rheumatism, his cure requires a different remedy from each of the others, though the sufferings of all result from chill, and we are compelled to call all by the same name. And this requirement of different curatives in these cases is determined by the one circumstance of dry or wet, in the two first cases, and by the manner of becoming wet in the two last. An interesting instance of rheumatism from the last cause came under the notice of the writer about a year and a half since. It was of two years standing, had resisted all remedies, and seemed to have fastened on the poor man a torture for life. He was given a single powder of Calc. carb. 200 which he took, and in a week was perfectly well. He has ever since done duty as a good soldier of the United States. Even the exposures of camp life, for more than a year, have been borne with impunity. Another has suffered from the poison of Gonorrhoea, and has similar sufferings, but the drugs which cured the other cases are powerless with him, and yet we call his case rheumatism also. These examples sufficiently illustrate the necessity of careful attention to the nature of the exciting cause in all cases where it can be ascertained.

The quality of the pain in different cases is exceedingly various, being determined either by the nature of the exciting cause, the vital condition or susceptibilities of the individual, or the circumstances of the attack. There is often a difficulty in the way of investigating this element, arising from the peculiarity of our national mind. It has been trained to the consideration, and has had to do almost exclusively with objective life and phenomena. The life within is to our nation almost an unobserved domain. This fact has stamped itself on our language, and left it poor in the terms necessary to the description of its phenomena, and hence great difficulty is often met in attempts to individualize this element of cases, the patients having no words to express what they feel. A pain is to them only a pain—and every one has been thought of as like every other. The word to most, certainly to many, patients has never had an adjective prefixed to it in their minds. And there is still another difficulty in the way of obtaining exact information, in the liability of persons to attach different meanings to the same word; or what is nearly equivalent to this, of using different terms to describe the same sensation. To avoid errors from these causes, will require the utmost caution. But it is believed the importance of the subject warrants and demands that patient care and perseverance which can and will overcome these and all other difficulties in the way of that knowledge necessary to success.

It is not necessary to say to the experienced observer that almost all diseases have their periods of exacerbation; and when the time arrives in successive days of their progress, it brings with it the aggravation of some or all their elements. Each case has its own periodicity. It is as little necessary to say to the experienced Homoeopathist that this periodicity is of immense importance in directing to the choice of curative remedies. But all have not had the experience which has shown to this class of physicians the extent of this imporance, and it may not be amiss to urge upon such the careful observation of this element, and to assure them that often it alone brings the light which can rightly decide the choice between two remedies, so equal else may the claims of each be, till the case is so decided. The same remark is equally applicable to whatever circumstance aggravates or relieves the sufferings of the case.

The disposition of the patient is also often very significant of the relationship of the proper curative to the case. It is often decisive between Aconite and Bryonia; Pulsatilla and Sulphur, etc. This should never be overlooked.

Having made all the necessary preliminary examinations and drawn out all the essential elements of a case of rheumatism, how shall the curative be found? To show the manner of this will be one object of the remainder of this paper.

When about to attempt a prescription, after the individualization which has been insisted on, and after noting that the case has attacked one or more of the joints with swelling, which is red, hot, painful; the skin is burning and dry or moist, it may be either; the patient has great thirst; the affected parts are intolerant of touch and motion; the pulse has increased frequency, fullness, and hardness; the urine is scanty and high colored. These are the symptoms ordinarily met at first visits to acute, or, as it is often called, and well enough, inflammatory rheumatism. It is a tolerably complete picture of such a case, for all purposes except prescribing; and yet for this, it is all but valueless. With only these elements, a Hering is as powerless for a specific prescription as the veriest tyro, and even more so. He would clearly perceive the necessity of a knowledge of other elements, before such a prescription could be made, and consequently would do nothing till this should be gained, while the tyro would guess, move, and probably blunder and fail. The case so presented has nearly equal claims on Acon., Arn., Bell., Bry., Dulc, Nux v., Puls., Rhus tox., so nearly equal that no man can say that one should be preferred to the others, and yet the physician must select. There are two courses open to him, and whether he takes the one or the other depends much on the knowledge he has of the Materia Medica, and his personal habits of practice. A very moderate share of this knowledge will probably suggest the above named remedies, and perhaps some others, and if his habits of prescribing are loose he will begin by giving two or more of them in alternation, at short intervals, and substituting others for those first selected, if these fail, as most likely they will, till the series has been run through, if the right remedy have not been stumbled on before, and then if the poor patient is not relieved, the prescriber is at the end of his tether. It is certain that this course sooner exhausts the number of supposed available remedies than a simpler and exact one, but it as certainly fails to show any other very obvious recommendation for its adoption, while to it there are two very strong objections. The first is it begets and perpetuates a loose practice, with no definite aims, and can rarely be followed by definite results, other than decided failures. It must be regarded, if rightly, at the best, as only a convenience of either indolence or ignorance, in the first instance, and perhaps of habit afterwards. The second objection is, we have no certainty in this course of practice, that the second remedy given will not injure or destroy the specific curative action of the first, if it be perchance specific, or the first that of the second. We have no right to infer from them conjointly the sum of their actions when employed singly. That they do continually modify the action of each other when so employed there can be no doubt. How, no man can tell. This objection must be fatal to whatever of claim may be set up for this course as an example of specific practice. There may be added a third objection. When the practice is not successful, it leaves the case in increased, and often inextricable, confusion. A further discussion of the practice of alternating remedies is deferred to a future occasion, when we propose to show the class of cases where it may be admissible, and the principles by which it should be governed.

The second course is to proceed to the discovery and analysis of the other symptoms of the case which alone can show its true nature and the remedy required for the cure. The general symptoms of the case supposed are strongly suggestive of Aconite, at the first glance, but a second look, and the query arises, may not Bryonia be better, or Arnica, or Belladonna, or Rhus tox.? The group of symptoms here given is well represented in the pathogenesis of Aconite and Bryonia, but there are differences in the other symptoms of these drugs. The disposition under the sufferings of these two remedies is not the same, nor is there much need of confounding the two. Aconite is characterized by loud complaints and outcries, with weeping, tears and despairing anxiety. Any attempted playfulness, on the part of attendants, for the encouragement of the patient is very offensive to him. He is timid, and intolerant of noise, even musical sounds offend. Bryonia has not the characteristic outcries and complaints of Aconite. Its general tone of disposition is more subdued, or easily excited to anger. It has weeping and despairing with Aconite. Thirst with the two is somewhat different. With Aconite the thirst is incessant, while with Bryonia the calls are occasional for large draughts of cold drinks. In the general symptoms given above there is much resemblance to those of Bryonia and Nux vom., but these drugs differ in the disposition they excite, and also in the time of their aggravation. Nux is after midnight and morning. Bryonia, evening and before midnight. Aconite, evening and night. The disposition of Nux is sad, depressed, silent or angry, despairing of health and recovery. Excessive sensibility to all external impressions. The slightest jarring or concussion is insupportable. The patient complains much of his sufferings but is not so loud, as are the outcries of Aconite. He is impatient of the least opposition. Arnica, in disposition resembles both Nux and Pulsatilla; Nux, in its angry irritability, Pulsatilla, in its despairing hopelessness. The great irritability of Arnica is of the mind; of Nux, of the senses. In periodicity Arn. ranks with Puls., evening and night. In disposition Rhus resembles Puls, but in periodicity Nux. The patient is depressed, sad, without courage, despairing, tearful, with exacerbations chiefly after midnight and morning. Belladonna, in disposition, ranks with Nux, but the manifestations are more violent; its period is rather with Puls., afternoon, evening, and before midnight. The disposition of Dulc. is angry, impatient, morose; which rather affiliates it with Nux, but its period is that of Puls., evening and night.

The quality of the pains is an element of importance. With the above named remedies we have with Acon. pressure like a weight, shooting, as if bruised, tearing (drawing). With Arn. pains as if bruised, broken, dislocated, burning, cutting. Bell., shooting or tearing pressure, and cramp like. Bry. has painful tension, like bruise, shooting, as if the flesh were loose on the bones. Dulc, dull shootings, shooting drawings. Nux v., like bruise (in the joints), painful tension, drawing. Puls., drawing, fine shootings, drawing especially in the joints, like the pains of abscess, on touching the affected part. Rhus, tension, drawing, tearing with sense of dull numbness after motion, shooting (in the joints), like a bruise, like a sprain, as if the flesh were loosened on the bones, paralytic pains (in the joints).

It will be seen that while some of the pains are repeated by the different medicines, there is on the wholes marked individuality in the others, not easily overlooked. In the case of the repetitions, other symptoms must decide the choice of the remedy. The aggravation or relief of pains by motion is an element of the first importance to a specific prescription. In those cases, with the symptoms given, where the pains are increased by motion, if the exacerbation occurs evening and night, Bry. is appropriate; if after midnight and morning, Nux v. When the pains are relieved by motion, and the exacerbation is after midnight and morning, Rhus tox. is called for; if in the evening and before midnight Puls. or Dulc. In relation to the relief of pain by motion, it should be remembered that in many cases of this kind, the pains are much increased by the beginning of motion, though relieved by its continuance. This is true of many of the pains of Rhus.

In the matter of the swelling, it is intense with Acon., Bry., Puls. and Rhus. It is bright red with Acon. Bright and shining with Bry.; with Puls. and Rhus the color is more dull; with Arn., blvmh. Bell. is likely to show an erysipelatous hue, while the swelling in cases characteristic for Dulc. and Nux v. is likely to be less intense. With Nux the color is dull; Dulc. brighter. If the swelling be oedematous, especially of the feet or ankles, Merc. sol. is the remedy.

As to the exciting cause of the variety of rheumatism presented in the group of symptoms given above, it may be stated that most of these cases are the result of atmospheric impressions. Sudden change of temperature from a higher to a lower degree. Continued cold and damp, or cold and dry weather; small jets or currents of air falling upon an individual for a length of time, are all sufficient to produce rheumatism in persons predisposed by their vital condition to this form of disease; and the variety most likely to result is that which we have been considering. In its relationship to remedies it will be found that those cases caused by cold dry air will most frequently call for Acon. and Bry.; cold damp air, Dulc. and Rhus; from currents and jets, Nux and Puls. Rhus has this specialty that it is almost a specific for those cases contracted by exposure to chill and rain. Puls. shares with Rhus a relationship to cases contracted by exposure to rain, while it is especially appropriate to cases caused by protracted wet weather.

We have attempted by the analysis of the above group of symptoms which generally represents rheumatism accompanied by fever to point out its relationships to remedies, and also to show the method by which those relationships are ascertained. For this purpose we have taken a group most commonly met in acute cases and have purposely avoided in its consideration the many modifying symptoms and circumstances which are sometimes associated with this group, and which indicate or establish relationships to other remedies. This has been avoided because it has been thought a view of the simple case better adapted to the object in view—to show the homoeopathic method of dealing with this sometimes obstinate enemy. This being clearly understood, it is easy to extend its application to other cases composed of more numerous elements, it being only an extension of the same process.

Thus, if with the symptoms considered, the swelling and pain suddenly leave the joint affected and appear with the same attending phenomena in another, how are we to decide on the remedy?  Am. and Puls., among the remedies cited above, have this peculiarity of sudden transition from joint to joint. It will not be difficult to decide which is the right, if we note the character of the swelling and the disposition of the patient. In both these elements the remedies differ, as has been already noted. But there is another variety of rheumatism with erratic pains, which has neither heat, redness nor swelling, which is relieved by other remedies. Sulphur if the pains are increased at night and by the heat of the bed; Nux mos., if it has been the result of protracted cold, wet weather; Asaf., if the seat of the pain is in the periosteum.

The difficulty of bringing the different forms of rheumatism into classes, the better to show their relation to remedies, is scarcely less than that of giving a definition of the genus. This grows very much out of the fact that the same remedy, on examination, will be found required in individual cases of several, and perhaps many classes. That most common division into acute and chronic is of very little avail in practice, many remedies being almost equally called for in both Nux vom., Puls., Rhus, and Sulph. are examples of this. Besides, the curative power of a drug in a given case depends on the similarity of its pathogenesis to the symptoms to be cured, and not much, generally, on the duration of the case. In view of this difficulty it has been decided in what we have to say on the relation of rheumatism to remedies, to take these up and point out some of the more common and prominent symptoms of each, by which they may be related to cases in practice.

Ant. crud., if there be drawings, shootings, and tensive pains; shortening of the muscles or tendons, with bending of the limbs; the pains are aggravated by warm air and heat of the sun. It is chiefly appropriate in rheumatic inflammation of muscular tissue; especially of the biceps flexor cubiti. It is oftener appropriate in chronic than acute case's.

  PART II