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MATERIA MEDICA

Our Materia Medica is a special reference book. It is being prepared to standardize the indications of medicines in homoeopathic practice. Homoeopathic symptoms of a standard homoeopathic Materia Medica are being compared with the available Ayurvedic, eclectic, herbal as well as modern medicine literature. Only those indications are being given which are common to other system also.

The co-authors of Materia Medica are:

Dr. Subhash Chand  B.H.M.S.

Chief medical officer , Health department, New Delhi Municipal Council , New Delhi Ex. Asst. Research Officer, Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy

Dr. Ajay Kumar Grover B.H.M.S.

Vice-President, Datavya Charitable Clinic, 1, Bhagmal Complex, Sec-15, Noida(U.P.)

Dr. Tushita  B.H.M.S., M.D.(Hom.)

Ex.CMO, Datavya Charitable Clinic, 1, Bhagmal Complex, Sec-15, Noida(U.P.)

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Dear Colleagues,

Our extensive study of medical literature including homoeopathy, Ayurveda, eclectic and herbal and clinical experience spanning several years has been put in record in form of DEFINITE THERAPEUTIC INDEX. To improve this index clinically and make it more useful for the profession remains a life-long commitment of our team.

We wish to discourage the tendency to argue over symptomatology and pathology. A clinically sound mind can make excellent prescriptions with sure and certain results using this index.

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1.Understanding Gelsemium

2.Understanding Aconite

3.Understanding Borax Veneta

4.Understanding Taraxacum

5.Understanding Cina

6.Understanding Alumen

7.Understanding Asafoetida

8.Understanding Cannabis

9.Understanding Aurum Met.

10.Understanding Arsenic

11.Understanding Arctic Lappa

12.Understanding Moschus

13.Understanding Arsenic sulph flavum

14.Understanding Artemesia Vulgaris

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Understanding Gelsemium

(Knowing the curative drug action (on whatever principles it is explainable) helps in understanding the symptoms better, opens new possibilities for its application in other similar conditions and builds up your confidence for further use)

The following lines are quoted from introduction to this drug from Boericke’s Materia medica and are supposed to be the pure homoeopathic indications for this drug as they relate to the action of the drug in physiological doses. The herbal indications are exactly opposite to these indications.

• Centers its action upon the nervous system, causing various degrees of motor paralysis.
• * General prostration.
• * Dizziness, drowsiness, dullness, and trembling.
• * Slow pulse, tired feeling, and mental apathy.
• * Paralysis of various groups of muscles about the eyes, throat, chest, larynx, sphincter, extremities, etc.
• * Post-diphtheritic paralysis.
• * Muscular weakness.
• * Complete relaxation and prostration.
• * Lack of muscular co-ordination.
• * Sluggish circulation.
• Herbal medicine uses it as sedative, painkiller, antispasmodic, fever reducing drug indicated as the first line drug in all fevers characterized by cerebral excitation due to increased passive congestion to the brain and thereby is the prime remedy to prevent febrile convulsions. It is alsoindicated in spasmodic disorders like whooping cough, asthma and is one of the most important remedies in colic surpassing the use of Colocynth or Dioscorea.
• Homoeopathic Materia Medica does contain many more keynotes related to such herbal use unknowingly confirming few of its uses based on its physiological action. Gelsemium produces paralysis by action on the neuromuscular junction at the lower motor neuron level. This action is utilized daily by Homoeopaths in many different conditions. It is the prime remedy in homoeopathic doses  for examination funk and ailments from stage fright. Both these conditions  stimulate the sympathetic nervous system inducing secretion of adrenaline thereby stimulating the heart rate and trembling of muscles. Gelsemium blocks the action of adrenaline and thereby does not let the body to produce increased heart rate or trembling.  Nash has also confirmed its use in trembling without chill that is mentioned as nervous trembling.

The several other typical indications in Boericke’s can be interpreted in terms of its   antispasmodic and sedative physiological actions:

•   * Children fear falling, grab nurse orcrib.
• * Nervous affections of cigar-makers.
•    – Emotional excitement, fear, etc., lead to bodily ailments.
•   – Wants to have head raised on pillow.
•   – Corrects blurring and discomfort in eyes even after accurately adjusted glasses.
•   – Orbital neuralgia, with contractions and twitching of muscles.

Face

•   – Facial muscles contracted, especially around the mouth.
• - Chin quivers.

Stomach

•    – Hiccough; worse in the evening.
•    – Diarrhoea from emotional excitement, fright, bad news. [Phos. ac.]

 Urine

•   – Retention.

Female

• - Rigid os. [Bell.]
• - Vaginismus.
• - False labor-pains; pains pass up back.
• - Dysmenorrhoea, with scanty flow; menses retarded.
•   – Sensation as if uterus were squeezed.[Cham., Nux v.; Ustilago.]

Male

• - Spermatorrhoea, without erections.
•   – Gonorrhoea, first stage; discharge scanty; tendency to corrode; little pain, but much heat; smarting at meatus.

Respiratory

•    – Spasm of the glottis.
• - Aphonia; acute bronchitis, respiration quickened, spasmodic affections of lungs and diaphragm.

Heart

•    – Palpitation; pulse soft, weak, full and flowing.

Extremities

•  - Cramp in muscles of forearm.
• - Professional neuroses.
• - Writer’s cramp.
• - Excessive trembling and weakness of all limbs.
• - Hysteric convulsions.

 Sleep

• - Cannot get fully to sleep.
• - Delirious on falling asleep.
• - Insomnia from exhaustion; from uncontrollable thinking; tobacco.
• - Yawning.
• - Sleepless from nervous irritation.[Coffea.]

Fever

• - Wants to be held, because he shakes so.
•    – Nervous chills.
• - Bilious remittent fever, with stupor, dizziness, faintness; thirstless, prostrated.

An  interpretation of these symptoms makes their remembrance as well as use easy. It opens options for its use in diverse clinical conditions characterized by such pathology. The medicine can be frequently and harmlessly combined with other paralyzing drugs like Conium, Actea racemosa, Valeriana, Causticum, Passiflora, Viburnum opulus, Cannabis sativa. Try singly or in combination in all sorts of clinical conditions characterized by spasm e.g. in cervical spondylosis, menstrual cramps and spasmodic colic. You have been unknowingly doing this for many years and now you  can prescribe with confidence.

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Understanding Aconite Napellus

This shloka relates to ayurvedic action of Indian aconite, i.e. Aconite ferox which is said to be similar in action but more violent than Aconite napellus:

Visham pranaharam proktam vayavapi ch vikashi ch.  Agneyam vatakaphahridyoyogvahi madavaham. Tadev yuktiyuktam tu pranadayi rasayanam. Yogvahi tridoshaghnam brihanam veeryavardhanam.

(Bhava prakash)

Visham – Poison

Pranaharam- takes away the life

 Proktam- it is said

 Vayavapi- the one which spreads throughout the body

 ch vikashi ch- shows its action before metabolism

 Agneyam – is hot in veerya

vatakaphahridyoyogvahi – relieves vata, kapha, is good for heart and carrier of other drugs action to the target organ

madavaham- is sedative

 Tadev yuktiyuktam tu pranadayi rasayanam- if used with intelligence is good for life and rejuvenator for body

 Yogvahi – promotes other drugs action

Tridoshaghnam- relieves tridoshas

 Brihanam- increases body weight

 Veeryavardhanam- Increases the strength

Vatsanabhatimadhuram – is madhur in rasa

soushno – ushna in veerya

vatakaphapaha- relieves vata and kapha

 Kanthruksantipataghnam- is good for pain in throat and sannipataj disorders

 pitasanshodhanoapi ch – cleans the pitta

Visham rasayanam balyam vatashleshmvikarnut. Vayvayi sheetanuddhahi kushthashothvinashnam. Agnimandhshwaskaspleehodarjavarapaham. Kanthruksannipataghnam madhumehharam tatha. Parlepachcchvayathum peedamapachim ch vinashyet

Visham- poison,

Rasayanam- rejuvenator

balyam – the strength giving

vatashleshmvikarnut -  Good for vata and kapha disorders.

Vayvayi – spreads throughout the body

Sheetanuddhahi - relieves the coldness

 kushthashothvinashnam – relieves skin disorders and swellings .

 Agnimandh- weak digestive fire

Shwaskaspleehodarjavarapaham – cough, dyspnoea, spleen enlargement and fever.

Kanthruk- pain in throat

Sannipataghnam - complicated fevers

 Madhumehharam – is good for diabetes

tatha Parlepa – delirium

chcchvayathum – weakness

Peedamapachim – pains and indigestion

Visham yujjet nityam hi rasayangunenishina. Dhritopaskritdehasay vishudhasya hitashina. Satviksyoudite bhanno youjyam sheetvasantayo. Grishme chaatyyike vayadho na varshasu na durdine. Na krodhini na pitaarte na kaleebe rajveshmani. Kschuttrishbhramadharmaadhvvyadhayantarnipeedite. Grabhinyam balvridheshu na ruksheshu na marmasu. Abhyasteapi vishe yatnad varjaneeyan viverjayet. Katuamlalavanam telam divasvapnanalatapan. Brahmcharyam vararohe vishkale samachret. Gavye ksheerdhrite paye shalyannam godhumam tatha. Sheetalam ch pibetoyam madhurani ch sevayet. (Rasa Ratna Samuchaye)

The above shloka describes the method of taking Aconite as rejuvenator. It is to be taken in winter or spring season. It should be avoided during summer, in serious illness, rainy season, pitta disorders, angry persons, persons suffering from hunger, thirst, delustion, summer heat, exertion due to walking, and persons suffering from other diseases, pregnant, children, old age, dry and painful parts. During its intake spicy, sour, salt, oily, day sleep and fire and sunlight exposure should be avoided. During its intake, cow’s milk, ghee, rice, wheat, cold water and sweet substances should be taken.

Atimatram yada bhuktam tadajyam tankanam pibet. Lihayadwa madhursarpibhyam sanpishthamarjuntavacham

This shloka relates to its overuse which should be antidote by borax, terminalia arjuna, moschus and castroeum.

The usage of Aconite ferox whose action is said to be similar to Aconite napellus is much more wider than that of Aconite in Homoeopathy. It is one of the polychrests in Ayurveda. There is a shloka in Ayurveda that says:

Mastryaprayogain kushthanyasht haredvisham. Shanmasasay pryogain kamrupo bhavennara. Sanvatsarprograin sarvarogan vyapohati

Mastryaprayogain – if used for three months

kushthanyasht haredvisha-  relieves all types of skin diseases

 Shanmasasay pryogain kamrupo bhavennara – if used for six months , it improves the overall functioning with improment in sexual functions

Sanvatsarprograin sarvarogan vyapohati- if used for one year, it relieves all types of diseases.

Thus, it is much above the concept of acute remedy in Homoeopathy.  It is used in tridosha disorders especially kapha and vata disorders. It is used in cases of paralysis and weakenss of nerves. It relieves cases of nocutranal enuresis and polyuria due to weakness of nerves and also reduces the amount of sugar in urine. It is good for heart used in weakness of heart. It stops the acute inflammations of throat, bronchi, lungs and heart. It also relieves spermatorrhoea and scanty menses. It is a popular remedy for fever especially inflammatory fevers by promoting sweating, urine, reducing pulse and pain and swelling.

Homoeopathy also confirms many of its ayurvedic uses. The drug is extremely underutilized in homoeopathy. It is equally effective for treating any chronic disease in Ayurveda and is a rejuvenator ie. It promotes longevity and health if consumed by healthy persons. It is basically kapha and vata shamak and pit sanshodhak. Therefore homeopathically this should be kept in mind and its veerya is ushna, the symptoms of aggravation from heat and burning sensations rubrics should be taken with due care unless the drug is truly indicated.

The following symptoms from Allen’s materia medica given in bold corroborate Ayurvedic use and those in italics and underlined should be used with care as they are opposite to those of traditional use:

• Is generally indicated in acute or recent cases occurring in young persons, especially girls of a full, plethoric habit who lead a sedentary life; persons easily affected by atmospheric changes; dark hair and eyes, rigid muscular fibre.
•  Complaints caused by exposure to dry cold air, dry north or west winds,  or exposure to draughts of cold air while in a perspiration; bad effects of checked perspiration. ( is ushna in veerya)
• Great fear and anxiety of mind,  with great nervous excitability; afraid to go out, to go into a crowd where there is any excitement or many people; to cross the street. ( as it is balya to the heart)
• The countenance is expressive of fear; the life is rendered miserable by fear; is sure his disease will prove fatal; predicts the day he will die; fear of death during pregnancy-is good for heart and delirium
• Restless, anxious, does everything in great haste; must change position often; everything startles him.
•  Pains : are intolerable, they drive him crazy; he becomes very restless; at night.- is sedative – Hahnemann says : “Whenever Aconite is chosen homoeopathically, you must, above all, observe the moral symptoms, and be careful that it closely resembles them; the anguish of mind and body; the restlessness; the disquiet not to be allayed.”
• This mental anxiety, worry, fear accompanies the most trivial ailment.
•  Music is unbearable, makes her sad (Sab.-during menses, Nat. c.).
• On rising from a recumbent position the red face becomes deathly pale, or he becomes faint or giddy and falls, and he fears to rise again; often accompanied by vanishing of sight and unconsciousness.
• Amenorrhoea in plethoric young girls; after fright,  to prevent suppression of menses.
• For the congestive stage of inflammation before localization takes place.
• Fever : skin dry and hot; face red, or pale and red alternately; burning thirst for large quantity of cold water; intense nervous restlessness, tossing about in agony; becomes intolerable towards evening and ongoing to sleep.
• Convulsions : of teething children; heat, jerks and twitches of single muscles; child gnaws its fist, frets and screams; skin hot and dry; high fever.
• · – Cough, croup; dry, hoarse, suffocating; loud, rough, croaking; hard, ringing, whistling; on expiration (Caust.-on inhalation, Spong.); from dry, cold winds or drafts of air.
• Aconite should never be given simply to control the fever, never alternated with other drugs for that purpose. If it be a case requiring Aconite no other drug is needed; Aconite will cure the case.
• Unless indicated by the exciting cause, is nearly always injurious in first stages of typhoid fever.
• Modalities:
• · – Aggravation. Evening and night, pains are insupportable; in a warm room; when rising from bed; lying on affected side (Hep., Nux. m.).
• · – Amelioration. In the open air (Alum., Mag. c., Puls., Sab.).
• ·

The following symptoms from Boericke’s  Materia Medica given in bold corroborate Ayurvedic use and those in italics and underlined should be used with care as they are opposite to those of traditional use:

• Sudden and great sinking of strength.
•  Complaints and tension caused by exposure to dry, cold weather, draught of cold air, checked perspiration, also complaints from very hot weather, especially gastro-intestinal disturbances, etc.
•  First remedy in inflammations, inflammatory fevers.
•  Serous membranes and muscular tissues affected markedly.
•  Burning in internal parts; tingling, coldness and numbness.
•  Influenza
•  Tension of arteries; emotional and physical mental tension explain many symptoms.
•  When prescribing Aconite remember Aconite causes only functional disturbance, no evidence that it can produce tissue change – its action is brief and shows no periodicity
•  Its sphere is in the beginning of an acute disease and not to be continued after pathological change comes.
• In Hyperaemia, congestion not after exudation has set in.
•  Influenza [Influenzin]

Mind

•  Great fear, anxiety, and worry accompany every ailment, however trivial
•  Delirium is characterized by unhappiness worry, fear, raving, rarely unconsciousness.
•  Forebodings and fears. Fears death but believes that he will soon die; predicts the day
•  Fears the future, a crowd, crossing the street
•  Restlessness, tossing about
•  Tendency to start
•  Imagination acute, clairvoyance
•  Pains are intolerable; they drive him crazy
•  Music is unbearable; makes her sad. [Ambra.]
•  Thinks his thoughts come from the stomach – that parts of his body are abnormally thick
•  Feels as if what had just been done was a dream

 Head

•  Fullness; heavy, pulsating, hot, bursting, burning undulating sensation
•  Intercranial pressure. (Hedera Helix.)
• Burning headache, as if brain were moved by boiling water [Indigo.]
• Vertigo; worse on rising [Nux. Opium] and shaking head
•  Sensation on vertex as if hair were pulled or stood on end
•  Nocturnal furious delirium

Eyes

•  Red, inflamed
•  Feel dry and hot, as if sand in them
•  Lids swollen, hard and red
•  Aversion to light
•  Profuse watering after exposure to dry, cold winds, reflection from snow, after extraction of cinders and other foreign bodies

Ears

•  Very sensitive to noises; music is unbearable
•  External ear hot, red, painful, swollen
•  Earache [Cham.]
•  Sensation as of drop of water in left ear

Nose

• Smell acutely sensitive. Pain at root of nose
•  Coryza much sneezing; throbbing in nostrils
•  Haemorrhage of bright red blood
• Mucous membrane dry, nose stopped up; dry or with but scanty watery coryza

 Face

•  Red, hot, flushed, swollen
•  One cheek red, the other pale (Cham., Ipec.). On rising the red face becomes deathly pale, or he becomes dizzy. Tingling in cheeks and numbness
• Neuralgia, especially of left side, with restlessness, tingling, and numbness
• Pain in jaws

Mouth

• Numb, dry, and tingling
• Tongue swollen; tip tingles
• Teeth sensitive to cold
•  Constantly moves lower jaw as if chewing
•  Gums hot and inflamed. Tongue coated white. [Antim. crud.]

Throat

•  Red, dry, constricted, numb, prickling, burning, stinging
•  Tonsils swollen and dry

Stomach

• Vomiting, with fear, heat, profuse sweat and increased urination
•  Thirst for cold water
• Bitter taste of everything except water
• Intense thirst
•  Drinks, vomits, and declares he will die
•  Vomiting, bilious mucous and bloody, greenish
• Pressure in stomach with dyspnea
•  Haematemesis
•  Burning from stomach to oesophagus

Abdomen

•  Hot, tense, tympanitic
•  Sensitive to touch. Colic, no position relieves
•  Abdominal symptoms better after warm soup
• Burning in umbilical region

Rectum

•  Pain with nightly itching and stitching in anus
•  Frequent, small stool with tenesmus; green, like chopped herbs
•  White with red urine
•  Choleraic discharge with collapse, anxiety, and restlessness
•  Bleeding haemorrhoids. [Hamam.
• Watery diarrhoea in children
•  They cry and complain much, are sleepless and restless

Urine

•  Scanty, red, hot, painful
•  Tenesmus and burning at neck of bladder
•  Burning in urethra
• Urine suppressed, bloody
• Anxiety always on beginning to urinate
• Retention, with screaming and restlessness, and handling of genitals
•  Renal region sensitive
•  Profuse urination, with profuse perspiration and diarrhoea

Male

•  Crawling and stinging in glans
• Bruised pain in testicles, swollen, hard
•  Frequent erections and emissions
• Painful erections

Female

• Vagina dry, hot, sensitive
• Menses too profuse, with nosebleed, too protracted, late
• Frenzy on appearance of menses
• Suppressed from fright, cold, in plethoric subjects
•  Ovaries congested and painful
•  Sharp shooting pains in womb
•  After-pains, with fear and restlessness

Respiratory

• Constant pressure in left chest; oppressed breathing on least motion
•  Hoarse, dry, croupy cough; loud, labored breathing
•  Child grasps at throat every time he coughs
•  Very sensitive to inspired air
• Shortness of breath
•  Larynx sensitive
•  Stitches through chest
• Cough, dry, short, hacking; worse at night and after midnight
•  Hot feeling in lungs.
• Blood comes up with hawking
• Tingling in chest after cough

Heart

•  Tachycardia
• Affections of the heart with pain in left shoulder
•  Stitching pain in chest
• Palpitation, with anxiety, fainting, and tingling in fingers
• Pulse full, hard; tense and bounding; sometimes intermits
•  Temporal and carotid arteries felt when sitting

Back

•  Numb, stiff, painful
•  Crawling and tingling, as if bruised
•  Stiffness in nape of neck
•  Bruised pain between scapulae

Extremities

• Numbness and tingling; shooting pains; icy coldness and insensibility of hands and feet
• Arms feel lame, bruised, heavy, numb
•  Pain down left arm [Cact., Crotal., Kalmia, Tabac.] Hot hands and cold feet
•  Rheumatic inflammation of joints; worse at night; red shining swelling, very sensitive
• Hip-joint and thigh feel lame, especially after lying down
•  Knees unsteady; disposition of foot to turn.  [Aes.]
• Weak and lax ligaments of all joints
•  Painless cracking of all joints
•  Bright red hypothenar eminences on both hands
•  Sensation as if drops of water trickled down the thigh

Sleep

•  Nightmare
•  Nightly ravings
•  Anxious dreams
• Sleeplessness, with restless and tossing about. [Use thirtieth potency]
• Starts up in sleep
• Long dreams, with anxiety in chest
• Insomnia of the aged

Skin

•  Red, hot, swollen, dry, burning
• Purpura miliaris
• Rash like measles
• Gooseflesh
• Formication and numbness
• Chilliness and formication down back
•  Pruritus relieved by stimulants

Fever

• Cold stage most marked
• Cold sweat and icy coldness of face
• Coldness and heat alternate
• Evening chilliness soon after going to bed
• Cold waves pass through him. Thirst and restlessness always present
• Chilly if uncovered or touched
• Dry heat, red face
• Most valuable febrifuge with mental anguish, restlessness, etc
• Sweat drenching, on parts lain on; relieving all symptoms

Modalities

- Better in open air; worse in warm room, in evening and night; worse lying on affected side, from music, from tobacco-smoke, dry, cold winds.

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Understanding Borax veneta

Tankana katurushnashch rukshsteekshansch saraka. Kaphavishleshno hridyo vatamayanishudana Kasashwasahar kamam sthavaradivishapaha. Agideeptikarshchapi bhrishmadhmaannashana. Stripushpajano balyo vividhlavansudn. Pitkrit samakhyato mudgarbhpravartaka. Tankanam vahinkridruksham kaphahridavtapitkrit.

Tankana- the Borax

 Katurushnashch- is katu in rasa and ushna in veerya means it is hot

Rukshsteekshansch- is ruksha or dryness inducing and teekshan means irritating

 Sarak means laxative

Kapha- is useful in kapha disorders

vishleshno – destroys kapha

hridyo- is good for heart

 vatamayanishudana- for vata disorders

 Kasashwasahar- relieves cough and dyspnoea

 Sthavaradivishapaha – antidotes effects of poisons

 Agnideeptikarshchapi – promotes gastric fire

Bhrishmadhmaannashana- relieves indigestion

Stripushpajano – promotes ovulation

balyo – is strength giving

Pitkrit – increases pitta disorders

mudgarbhpravartaka- promotes expulsion of dead foetus

Tankanam vahinkridruksham- promotes fire, destroys worms and induces dryness

Kaphahridavtapitkri- relieves kapha doshas, is good for heart, and increases pitta.

Homoeopathy do confirms some of the ayurvedic uses of Borax given in bold and does mention few symptoms which are opposite to its ayurvedic concept. Those symptoms are in italics and underlines are due to its pitta dosha increasing power and should a be carefully utilized unless they are found to be repeatedly curative in their clinical application.

Some of the symptoms from Allen and Boericke’s Materia medica  find their explanation from Ayurvedic concept of drug action:

The heart strenghthening effects of Borax are evident from following symptoms from Allne and Boericke and should be interpreted in terms of its hridyae effects.

Dread of downward motion in nearly all complaints:

• Great anxiety from downward motion; when laying the child down on a couch or in the crib, cries and clings to the nurse; when rocking, dancing, swinging; going down stairs, or rapidly down hill; horseback-riding (compare, Sanic.).
• Children awake suddenly, screaming and grasping side of cradle, without apparent cause (Apis, Cina, Stram.).

The effect of Borax on hair is limited to its vata and kapha doshas relieving powers:

•  Hair becomes frowsy and tangled; splits, sticks together at the tips; if these bunches are cut off, they form again, cannot be combed smooth (Fluor. ac., Lyc., Psor., Tub.).
• ·
•   Eyelashes : loaded with dry, gummy exudation; agglutinated in morning; turn inward and inflame the eye, especially at outer canthus; tendency to “wild hairs.”
• · – Nostrils crusty, inflamed; tip of nose shining red; red noses of young women.
• · – Stoppage of r. nostril, or first r. then left with constant blowing of nose (Am. c., Lac., c., Mag. m.).

Other symptoms of vata and kapha dosa are:

•  Aphthous sore mouth; is worse from touch; eating salty or sour food; of old people, often from plate of teeth (Alumen.).
• Child has frequent urination and screams before urine passes (Lys., Sanic., Sars.).
• ·
•   Leucorrhoea : profuse, albuminous, starchy, with sensation as if warm water were flowing down; for two weeks between the catamenia (compare, Bov., Con.).

From Boericke’s Materia Medica:

• For homoeopathic purposes, the peculiar nervous symptoms are very characteristic, and have frequently been verified, especially in the therapeutics of children.
•  Of much value in epilepsy.
• ·
•  Aphthous ulceration of mucous membranes.

 Mind

• Extreme anxiety, especially from motions which have a downward direction, rocking, being carried downstairs, laid down.
•   Anxious expression of face during the downward motions, starts and throws up hands on laying patient down, as if afraid of falling.
•   Excessively nervous; easily frightened.
•  Sensitive to sudden noises.
•  Violent fright from report of a gun, even at a distance.
•  Fear of thunder.

Head

• Aches, with nausea and trembling of whole body.
•  Hair tangled at tips, cannot be separated, as in Plica Polonica. [Vinca min.]

Eyes

•  Lashes turn inward.
•  Visions of bright waves.
• Eyelids inflamed, lids cut against eyeball.  Entropium.

Ears

• Very sensitive to slightest noise; not so much disturbed by louder ones.

 Nose

•  Red nose, of young women. [Nat. carb.]
•   Red and shining swelling, with throbbing and tensive sensation.
• Tip swollen and ulcerated.
•  Dry crusts.

 Face

•  Pale, earthy, with suffering expression.
•  Swollen, with pimples on nose and lips.
• Feeling of cobwebs.

Mouth

•  Aphthae.
•  White fungous like growth.
•   Mouth hot and tender; ulcers bleed on touch and eating
•  Painful gumboil.
•  Taste bitter. [Bry.; Puls.; Cup.]
•  Taste of “cellar mould”.

Stomach and abdomen

•  Distention after eating; vomiting
•  Gastralgia, depending upon uterine disturbance.
•  Pain as if diarrhoea would result.

Stool

• Loose, pappy, offensive stools in children.
•  Diarrhoea, offensive, preceded by colic; stools mucous, with aphthous sore mouth.

 Urine

•   Hot, smarting pain in orifice.
•   Pungent smell.
• Child afraid to urinate, screams before urinating. [Sarsap.]
•  Small red particles on diaper.

 Female

•   Labor pains with frequent eructations.
•  Galactorrhoea. [Cal.; Con.; Bell.] In nursing, pain in opposite breast.
•   Leucorrhoea like white of eggs, with sensation as if warm water was flowing.
• Menses too soon, profuse, with griping, nausea and pain in stomach extending into small of back.
•  Membranous dysmenorrhoea.
• Sterility.  Favors easy conception.
•  Sensation of distention in clitoris with sticking.
•  Pruritus of vulva and eczema.

Respiratory

• Hacking and violent cough; expectoration, mouldy taste and smell.
•  Stitches in chest, with inspiration and cough.
•  Cough with mouldy taste - breath smells mouldy.
•   Pleurodynia; worse upper part of right chest.
•   Arrest of breathing when lying; is obliged to jump and catch breath, which causes pain in right side.
•   Out of breath on going up stairs.

 Extremities

•   Feeling as of cobwebs on hands.
•  Itching on back of finger-joints and hands.
•  Throbbing pain in tip of thumb.
•  Stitches in sole.
•  Pain in heel.
•  Burning pain in great toe; inflammation of balls of toes.
•   Eczema of toes and fingers with loss of nails.

 Skin

•  Psoriasis.
•  Erysipelas in face.
•   Itching on back of finger-joints.
•  Unhealthy skin; slight injuries suppurate.
•  Herpes. [Rhus.]
•  Erysipelatous inflammation with swelling and tension.
•   Chilblains relieved in open air.
•   Trade eruptions on fingers and hands, itching and stinging.
•  Ends of hair become tangled.

Sleep

•   Voluptuous dreams.
•  Cannot sleep on account of heat, especially in head.
•  Cries out of sleep as if frightened. [Bell.]

Modalities

• Worse, downward motion, noise, smoking, warm weather, after menses.
• Better, pressure, evening, cold weather.

 Dose

- First to third trituration.

- In skin diseases continue its use for several weeks.

- Locally, in pruritus pudendi.

- A piece of borax, the size of a pea, dissolved in the mouth, acts magically in restoring the voice, in cases of sudden hoarseness brought on by cold, and frequently for an hour or so, it renders the voice silvery and clear.

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Understanding Taraxacum

Its common name is dugdhpheni, lutari, payaswani, dudhal, dudhali

The following shloka describes ayurvedic usage of this plant:

Dughdhpheni katustiktaashishira vishnashini Varnapsarini ruchya yuktya chav rasayani.

Dughdhpheni – common name of taraxacum

Katustiktaashishira- is katu and tikta in rasa and ushna in veerya

Vishnashini- detoxifies the body

Varnapsarini – heals the chronic ulcers

ruchya – improves appetite

yuktya chav rasayani- is rasayan means it promotes health of the healthy persons

It is useful for kapha and pitta disorders. It improves appetite, stimulates liver and flow of bile, is laxative and destroys worms.  It is useful in liver enlargement, jaundice, constipation. It purifies blood and removes swellings as it promotes flow of urine. It also relieves fever as it is antipyretic, promotes sweating and is a bitter tonic for the body.

The following symptoms in bold and underlined form from Allen’s Keynotes confirm its Ayurvedic usage in Homoeopathy:

• For gastric and bilious attacks, especially gastric headaches.
•  Mapped tongue (Lach., Mer., Nat. m.); covered with a white film with sensation of rawness. This film comes off in patches,  leaving dark red, tender,  very sensitive spots (Ran. s.).
• Jaundice with enlargement and induration of liver (mapped tongue).
• Debility, loss of appetite,  profuse night sweats,  especially when convalescing from bilious or typhoid fever.
• Restlessness of limbs in typhoid (Rhus, Zinc.).
• Relations:  Compare : Bry., Chel., Hydr., Nux, in gastric and bilious affections.
• Modalities: Aggravation. Almost all symptoms appear when sitting; lying down; resting.
• ·The symptoms of increased sweating should be taken with care as it promotes sweating.

The drug can be more extensively used in day to day practice. As it stimulates liver and relieves kapha and pitta disorders. It is useful in gall stones as well as urinary stones. There are very few medicines in homoeopathy that are useful for kapha and pitta disorders in combination and it is one of them. It can be used in sedentary life style generated complaints just like Nux vomica with very good results. It can be used in combination with several medicines as a support for liver as well as for detoxification of body. It can be taken with impunity just like antioxidants in allopathic medicine as it is a rasayana medicine.

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UNDERSTANDING CINA

Cina- Artemisia maritima (Worm seed). The common names are: Chohar, keetmari yawai. Kirmani ajwain, kirmala

The following shloka describes action of Cina in ayurveda along with its comparison with other deworming medicines:

Yavanika yawani syachchouharo jantunashna. Choharastadguna prokto visheshat kriminashana.

Yavanika is ajwain or Trachyspermum ammi. Yawani is Hyosyamus niger and chohar is cina

All three have properties of destroying worms/parasites/bacterias. Cina is especially adapted to worm infestation.

Cina has laghu, ruksha and teekshna gunas, tikta and katu rasa, katu vipaka, and ushna veerya

It relieves kapha and vata disorders. It is deepan, vatanuloman, yakridutejak and krimighan. It improves appetite, relieves indigestion and abdominal problems. It is especially useful for round worms and pin worms. It is expectorant and relieves dysponea. It also promotes urination and is used in dysuria. It is aphrodisiac and promotes menstruation and therefore used in diminished desire and scanty menses. It is anti-obesity and relieves obesity and being ushna in veerya it is good for fevers with chill and rigors.

The following symptoms;  especially the bold and underlined from Allen’s Materia Medica confirm its traditional use in worm infestation. The symptoms of canine hunger should be taken as opposite to its guna of impoving the appetite:

•  Adapted to children with dark hair, very cross, irritable, ill-humored, want to be carried, but carrying gives no relief; does not want to be touched; cannot bear you to come near it; averse to caresses; desires many things; but rejects everything offered (compare, Ant. t., Bry., Cham., Staph.).
• Constantly digging and boring at the nose; picks the nose all the time; itching of nose; rubs nose on pillow, or shoulder of nurse (Mar. v.).
• Children, suffering from worms; pitiful weeping when awake, starts and screams during sleep; grinding of teeth (Cic., Spig.); ascarides (Mar. v.).
• Face is pale; sickly white and bluish appearance around mouth; sickly with dark rings under the eyes; one cheek red, the other pale (Cham.).
• Canine hunger : hungry soon after a full meal; craving for sweets and different things; refuses mother’s milk.
• Urine : turbid when passed, turns milky and semi-solid after standing; white and turbid; involuntary.
• Cough : dry with sneezing; spasmodic, gagging in the morning; periodic, returning spring and fall.
• Child is afraid to speak or move for fear of bringing on a paroxysm of coughing (Bry.).
• In pertussis, after Drosera has relieved the severe symptoms.
• Has cured aphonia from exposure when Acon., Phos., and Spong. had failed.
• Is frequently to be thought of, in children, as an epidemic remedy, when adults require other drugs.

The medicine is very much underutilized in homoeopathy in gastric and respiratory problems. Some of the symptoms claimed to be keynotes have doubtful value in its selection and limit its use in those diseases for which it could be specific. Too much reliance on irritability, crossness, canine hunger etc. limits its use in worm infestations for which it is specific without these indications. It should be frequently utilized in respiratory problems, obesity, scanty menses as well as to increase the sexual desire along with similar acting remedies.

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Understanding  ALUMEN

Sphatika tu kashayoushna vatapitakaphavaranan. Nihanti shwitraveesarpan yonisankochkarini ( bhava prakasha)

Kangi kashaya katuka ch tikta khyata tathoushna vishadoshahantri.

Veesarpakandutihara ch keshya shwitrapaha ve varnaropani ch.

Netrarogaprashamni vishamjavaranashani. Ratimandirsankochkarini varjaharini.

Grahini lekhani snighdha rudhirstravrodhani. Mukhrogahara chav dantadardyakara mata.

Sphatika – the other name for alumen.

tu kashayoushna – is astringent and hot in nature

vatapitakaphavaranan Nihanti – relieves vata, pitta and kapha and heals ulcers

shwitraveesarpan- heals vitiligo and erysipelas

yonisankochkarini- causes contration of the uterus

Kangi kashaya katuka ch tikta khyata tathoushna vishadoshahantri.

Veesarpakandutihara ch keshya shwitrapaha ve varnaropani ch.

Netrarogaprashamni vishamjavaranashani. Ratimandirsankochkarini varjaharini.

Grahini lekhani snighdha rudhirstravrodhani. Mukhrogahara chav dantadardyakara mata. ( rasa tantra)

Kangi- the other name for alumen

kashaya katuka ch tikta- is astringent, spicy and bitter in taste

tathoushna – is ushna or hot in veerya

vishadoshahantri- detoxifies the body

Veesarpakandutihara- relieves erysipelas and itching

keshya shwitrapaha ve varnaropani ch- is good for hair, relieves vitiligo and heals the ulcers

Netrarogaprashamni- relieves eye disorders

Vishamjavaranashani- helps intermittent fever

Ratimandirsankochkarini – contracts the uterus

Grahini – helps in absorption

Lekhani- reduces weight

snighdha – is lubricant

rudhirstravrodhani – checks the bleeding

Mukhrogahara chav dantadardyakara mata- relieves mouth disorders and strengthens the teeth.

Alumen is used externally as well as internally. Exterally it is used in bleeding, ulcers, cuts, stings, measles, itching, eye disorders. Leucorrhoea, pyuria, otorrohea. Used as gargles in mouth and throat disorders.

Internally it is used in diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, worms, intermittent fever and toxic conditions especially lead poisoning. It is given in enema form in pin worms.

The uses of Alumen in Homoeopathy have been considered same to that of Alumina and most of the symptoms of alumen in Ayurvedic literature are found under Alumina

The following symptoms are taken from Boericke Materia medica:

The bold symptoms are similar to that of Ayurvedic use and can be used with more confidence. The italics and underlined symptoms are doubtful and should be used with care unless they have been  repeatedly found to be true!

•  The clinical application of this remedy points to its bowel symptoms, both in obstinate constipation and in haemorrhage from bowels in the course of typhoid -  one phase of the paralytic weakness of the muscles in all parts of the body.
•  Tendency to induration is also marked, a low form of tissue-making is favored-  this symptom is of doubtful use as the drug heals ulcers due to its tissue forming property
•  Hardening of tissues of tongue, rectum, uterus, etc.; ulcers with indurated base.
• Adapted to old people, especially bronchial catarrhs.
•  Sensation of dryness and constriction.
•  Mental paresis; dysphagia especially to liquids.
•  Tendency to induration, Scirrhus of the tongue.

Head

• - Burning pain as of weight on top of lead better by pressure of hand.
• - Vertigo, with weakness in pit of stomach.
• - Alopecia.

Throat

• - Throat relaxed
• - Mucous membrane red and swollen
• - Cough
• - Tickling in throat
• - Tendency to throat colds
• - Enlarged and indurated tonsils
• - Burning pain down the oesophagus
• - Complete aphonia
• - Every cold settles in throat
• - Constriction of oesophagus

Heart

• - Palpitation, from lying down on right side

Rectum

•  - Constipation of the most aggravated kind
• - No desire for stool for days
• - Violent ineffectual urging to stool
• - No ability to expel stool
• - Marble-like masses pass, but rectum still feels full
• - Itching after stool; Itching in anus
• - Long lasting pain and smarting in rectum after stool; also haemorrhoids
• - Haemorrhage from bowels

Female

• - Tendency to induration of neck of uterus and mammary glands. [Carb. an.; Con.]
• - Chronic yellow vaginal discharge
•  - Chronic gonorrhoea, yellow, with little lumps along urethra
•  - Aphthous patches in vagina. [Caul.]
• - Menses watery

Respiratory

•  - Haemoptysis, great weakness of chest; difficult to expel mucus
•  - Copious, ropy morning expectoration in old people
• - Asthma

Skin

• - Ulcers, with indurated base
• - To be thought of in indurated glands, epithelioma, etc.; veins become varicose and bleed
• - Indurations resulting from long-continued inflammatory irritations
• - Glands inflame and harden
• - Alopecia, Scrotal eczema and on back of penis

Extremities

• - Weakness of all muscles, especially arms and legs
• - Constricted feeling around limbs

Modalities

- Worse, cold except headache, which is relieved by cold.

The drug is underutilized in Homoeopathy, in its power to relieve cases of vitiligo, ulcers, hair problems, diarrhea, bleeding disorders, pyuria, otorrhoea, detoxification of body, eye disorders, intermittent fevers, mouth disorders and its power to strengthen the teeth.

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Understanding   ASAFOETIDA

The following shlokas describe uses of Asafoetida in Ayurveda:

Sahastra vedhi jatukam vahaleekam hingu ramtham. Hingushnam pachnam ruchyam teekshanam vatabalashrit. Shoolgulmodaraanahkrimighanam pitavardhanam. Stripushpjananam balayam murchaapasmarhrit param. ( Bhava prakash)

Hinguniryasshchedneeyadeepaneeyaanulimikvatakaphaprashamnannam. ( Charak sutra 25)

Hridayam hingu katushanam ch krimivatakaphapaham. Vivandhaanahshoolaghnam chakshushyam gulmnanashan. ( Ra Ni)

Sahastra vedhi- common name because it done thousand of functions

Jatukam- hingu ramtham-are other names of asafoetida

pachnam – helps in digestion

ruchyam -  It improves appetite

teekshanam-is irritating therefore aggravates pitta, promotes flow of urine, therefore used in vatic paralysis of bladder and pain in bladder.

vatabalashrit- relieves vata and kapha disorders

Shoolgulmodaraanahkrimighanam pitavardhanam- relieves colic, flatuelence, indigestion, and destroys worms

Stripushpjananam- stimulates ovulation. Used in dysmenorrhoea and frigidity and impotence. Given after delivery, it cleans the uterus.

Balayam- gives strength. Given to weak patient it improves appetite and digestion and general strength.

murchaapasmarhrit param- restores consciousness, relieves hysteria

Hinguniryasshchedneeyadeepaneeyaanulimikvatakaphaprashamnannam. ( Charak sutra 25)

Hinguniryasshchedneeya- means it forcibly brings out retained mucus secretions- used in lung inflammations, chronic cough, dyspnoea and whooping cough.

Deepaneeya- improves digestive fire, used in indigestion, colic etc.

Anulimik- promotes expulsion of flatus

Vatakaphaprashamnannam- relieves vata and kapha doshas

Hridayam hingu katushanam ch krimivatakaphapaham. Vivandhaanahshoolaghnam chakshushyam gulmnanashan. ( Ra Ni)

Hridayam – is good for heart. Used in vataja heart diseases like palpitation, pains etc.

katushanam – is katu and hot

krimivatakaphapaham- kills worms, relieves vata and kapha

Vivandhaanahshoolaghnam- relieves constipation, indigestion, colic

Chakshushyam- is good for eyes

Gulmnanashan- relieves ball like sensation in abdomen.

It relieves complicated fevers. Used in fever with rigors. If taken in advance,  It prevents the occurrence of intermittent fever. It is not good for patients suffering from liver, brain or pitta disorders.

In Homoeopathy, the drug is underutilized and often prescribed on indications without any success and which are contraindications according to Ayurvedic concept. Had it been prescribed on its ayurvedica uses , it could have evolved as one of the biggest polychrests in Homoeopathy. Its use in otorrhoea, eye complaints, chest complaints, heart diseases and digestive disorders is very effective, if the patient does not have pitta prakriti.  Offensiveness, burning, sensitivenss, aggravation from heat in any form contraindicate its use in any of the above or following conditions mentioned in Boericke’s Materia Medica:

•  The flatulence and spasmodic contraction of stomach and oesophagus with reverse peristalsis are the most marked symptoms.
•  In its selection, its relation to the hysterical and hypochondriacal patients, must be borne in mind.
• Besides these superficial symptoms, it has been found to affect favorably deep ulcerations, caries of bones, especially in the syphilitic organism; here the extreme sensitiveness and terrible throbbing, ( this symptom should be taken with due care as it is contrary to its action in ayurveda) nightly pains, guiding to its use.

Head

• - Irritable; complains of her troubles; sensitive
• - Boring above eyebrows
• - Pressive pain from within outward

Eyes

• - Orbital neuralgia; better, pressure and rest
• - Iritis and intraocular inflammations, with boring, throbbing pains at night
• - Stitches under left frontal eminences
• - Boring pains in and around eyes
• - Syphilitic iritis
• - Superficial corneal ulcer with digging pains; worse at night

Ears

• - Offensive otorrhoea, with boring pains in mastoid bone
• - Mastoid disease with  pain in temporal region with pushing out sensation
• - Offensive, purulent discharge

Nose

• - Syphilitic ozaena, with very offensive purulent discharge
• - Caries of nasal bones. [Aurum.]

Throat

• - Globus hystericus
• - Ball rises in throat
• - Sensation as if peristaltic motion were reversed, and oesophagus were driven from stomach to throat

Stomach

• - Great difficulty in bringing up wind
• - Flatulence and regurgitation of liquid
• - Hysterical flatulence
• - Great distention
• - Sensation of emptiness and weakness, with distention and beating in stomach and abdomen
• - Forcible eructation of gas
• - Pulsation in pit of stomach
• - Violent gastralgia; cutting and burning in stomach and region of diaphragm
• - Gurgling and rolling of wind, which escapes afterwards with loud and difficult eructation

Female

• - Mammae turgid with milk in the unimpregnated
• - Deficient milk, with oversensitiveness

Rectum

• - Distended, griping, with hunger
• - Obstinate constipation
• - Pain in perineum, as if something dull pressed out
• - Diarrhoea, extremely offensive, with meteorism, and regurgitation of food

Chest

• - Spasmodic tightness,  as if lungs could not be fully expanded
• - Palpitation more like a tremor

Bones

• - Darting pain and caries in bones
• - Periosteum painful, swollen, enlarged
• - Ulcers affecting bones; thin, ichorous pus

Skin

• - Itching, better scratching; ulcers painful on edges
• - Suppressed skin symptoms produce nervous disorders

Modalities

• - Worse, at night; from tough; left side, during rest, warm applications.
• - Better, open air; from motion, pressure.

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Understanding Cannabis

Cannabis is known exhilariant, deriliant and hypnotic in crude form. In medicinal doses it acts as an anodyne, anti-biotic, anti-spasmodic and sedative.

In herbal literature it is used as an appetizer and tonic useful in dyspepsia and dyspeptic diarrhoea. Its greatest influence is exerted on painful spasmodic affections such as painful affections of genito-urinary tract with tenesmus, stanguary or spasmodic stricture. As a sedative it is recommended in senile insomnia. Useful in headaches especially those occurring during menopause, or due to worry and fatigue. Useful in intestinal, biliary and renal colics, spasms of the bladder and chordee. Its action as a sedative is seen in reducing excess sexual desire.

Following are symptoms given in Boericke’s Materia Medica:

• Has a great soothing influence in many nervous disorders like epilepsy, mania, dementia, derilium tremens and irritable reflexes.
• Head- Migrane attack preceded by unusual excitement and loquacity
• Urinary- Urine loaded with slimy mucus. Must strain; dribbling; has to wait for some time before the urine flows. Stiches and burning in urethera. Inflamed sensation with soreness to touch (urethritis). Burning while micturating extending to bladder. Urine scalding with spasmodic closure of sphinter. Sexual over excitement.
• Male- Satyriasis. Prolonged thrill. Chordee.
• Female- Dysmenorrhoea with sexual desire (nymphomania).
• Sleep- Obstinate and intractable forms of insomnia.

Cannabis co-operates well with Gelsemium, Hyoscyamus, Bromides, Opium, and Passiflora.

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Understanding  Aurum Metallicum

To understand fully the therapeutic properties of Aurum Metallicum let us first consider briefly its use as a medicinal agent in medical history.

In Ayurveda, Gold has been used as an aphrodisiac (वाजीकरण) to get a healthy child. Gold is described as the vigor and virility of agni. If one consumes gold; his vigor and virility will be increased. In purana’s and in Ayurvedic texts gold is said to be the semen (शुक्र) of अग्नि. Ayurveda says kaya means Agni and general medicine (कायचिकित्सा) means अग्नि चिकित्सा. On the basis of सामान्य विशेष सिद्धान्त Gold has important role to play in treatment of many diseases- both as a preventive and a curative. According to charak-samhita:

सुवर्णं समलाः पञ्चलोहाः ससिकताः सुधाः ।

मनःशिलाले मणयः लवणं गैरिकाञ्जने ।।

भौममौधं—-                                          च.सू.1.70

पञ्चलोहाः ताम्ररजतत्ररुशीसखृष्णलोहाने ग्रहणं। समलाः शिलाजतुः ।चक्रपाणि

Gold, five Lohas (copper, silver, tin, lead and iron) along with their by-products (different types of bitumen) calcites along with silica, red arsenic, yellow arsenic, gems, salts, red chalk, collyrium these are in brief the metals and minerals used in medicine.

Ayurveda classifies objects (द्रव्य) into two types 1.चेतन (living thing) 2.अचेतन (non -living thing).Those with sense organs are identified as living things e.g. Animal and plant kingdom.  Those without sense organs are considered as non-living things. E.g. Chemicals, stones, metals, minerals etc., सेन्द्रियं चेतनं द्रव्यं निरीन्द्रियमचेतनम् । च.सू.1.41

Interestingly, to make these अचेतन द्रव्य to become one with the body Ayurveda describes processes like trituration (मर्दन), processes of heating or burning (पुटपाक), dipping in a variety of liquids are mentioned. These procedures were called as शोधन, मारण. जारण. द्रावण, अमृतीकरण etc.

According to the Bible, the Magi or the Three Wise Men brought Jesus gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. All of them have still have significance in modern medicine.

There are various theories about the meaning of these expensive and valued gifts. Whatever were the reasons for their choice- gold, myrrh and frankincense (boswellia) all have their significance in medicine – and two millennia after the original epiphany, new medical uses for them are still being discovered. In particular, all of the three have been used in the treatment of rheumatic and autoimmune diseases.

Today, Gold salts (such as auranofin, aurothioglucose and varius sodium salts of gold -are best known for their use in rheumatoid arthritis. They are sometimes also used to treat other autoimmune diseases like psoriatic arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis).

The mode of action of gold in this use is not fully understood, but is likely associated with nonspecific reduction of immune system response and inflammation, as with most other drugs used in the treatment of autoimmune disease.

The earliest records of the use of gold for medicinal and healing purposes come from Alexandria, Egypt. Over 5,000 years ago, the Egyptians ingested gold for mental, bodily and spiritual purification. The ancients believed that gold in the body worked by stimulating the life force and raising the level of vibration on all levels.

The Alchemists of Alexandria developed an “elixir” made of liquid gold. They believed that gold was a mystical metal that represented the perfection of matter, and that its presence in the body would enliven, rejuvenate, and cure a multitude of diseases as well as restore youth and perfect health.

As many as 4,500 years ago, the Egyptians used gold in dentistry. Remarkable examples of its early use have been found by modern archaeologists. Still in favour today as an ideal material for dental work, approximately 13 tons of gold are used each year for crowns, bridges, inlays and dentures. Gold is ideal for these purposes because it is non-toxic, can be shaped easily, and never wears, corrodes or tarnishes.

In medieval Europe, gold-coated pills and “gold waters” were extremely popular. Alchemists mixed powdered gold into drinks to “comfort sore limbs,” which is one of the earliest references to arthritis.

In the United States, as far back as 1885, gold had been known for its healing capabilities for the heart and improved blood circulation. And gold has been used to treat arthritis continuously since 1927.

“A gold cordial could be found in the new pharmacopoeias of the 17th century and was advocated by Nicholas Culpepper for the treatment of ailments caused by a decrease in the vital spirits, such as melancholy, fainting, fevers, and falling sickness [epilepsy]” (Fricker, 1996). This is notable because it includes a grouping of what today would be called neurological/psychiatric disorders (e.g., depression, epilepsy).

By the beginning of the 19th century, gold had become a recognized (although probably not very effective) treatment for syphilis, a disease causing dementia among other serious symptoms. In 1821 the Frenchman J. A. Chrestien published “Researches and observations on the effects of preparations of gold in the treatment of many diseases and notably in syphilitic maladies” (Niel & Chrestien, 1821). Chrestien was a notable physician of the time, with a degree from the University of Montpelier, and memberships in many other learned societies. His interest in gold came from the observation that it had milder side effects than mercury (the common treatment for syphilis at the time). He was also apparently the first to notice that in occasional cases treatment with gold produced an increase in vitality and intellectual faculties, and had a stimulating effect on the glands and sexual functioning. Chrestien and those who followed him used gold trichloride as their form of gold.

In 1879, James Compton Burnett published a lengthy treatise on the use of gold in medicine. Burnett was a medical doctor, a homoeopath, and a prolific author (27 books listed in the National Library of Medicine catalog). Burnett traced the modern use of gold back to Chrestien’s first book in 1811, but gave credit to earlier figures as well. He noted that the ingestion of gold is mentioned in the Bible (Exodus 32:20), and that the Chinese were using it in 2500 BC, according to Wiegleb’s History of Alchemy in 1777. He traced its use in a diversity of disorders, including neurological and glandular problems such as epilepsy, sterility, and diseases of the uterus, to the publication of De Auri Tinctura sive Auro Potabili Vero, etc. by Glauber in Amsterdam in 1651. He also noted that, “Hahnemann mentions nearly thirty authors (1698-1730) who praise Gold as a valuable remedy in various diseases such as melancholia.” (p. 91).

According to Burnett, Chrestien’s use of gold was at first opposed by the medical profession, which had abandoned the use of gold in medicine. However, after Chrestien’s publication, gold regained its popularity. Burnett cites Legrand’s (1828) account, the Medicinal Properties of Gold, in which he lists 80 medical men of the time, who became known as “auralists,” who were exploring the use of gold. Burnett says, “Gold is an excitant.The patients feel an indescribable sense of well-being, they feel themselves lighten (as they express it), so that we may say that Gold possesses hilariant properties. The intellectual faculties are more active. It has been known to produce frequent erotic salacity going on to painful priapism. M Legrand, however, states that he has not used it as an aphrodisiac, but it has been used as such with success” (p. 49). Burnett also says, “Some are of the opinion that Gold belongs to that class of noble metals, such as silver and copper, which exert a powerful influence on the nervous system. (p. 57).

By the end of the 19th century, and in the first half of the 20th century, gold is listed as a treatment for nervous disorders in sources ranging from medical texts to the first Merck manual.

In discussing the treatment of asthma, for example, Eichhorst (1886) in his Handbook of Practical Medicine says, “In nervous individuals, resort should be had to the nervines: bromide of potassium, valerian, arsenic, auronatrium chloratum [gold sodium chloride], zinc, copper, and silver preparations, etc.” (p. 236) Bromide of potassium and valerian are still used for treatment of nervous disorders, and arsenic came into use in the early 1900s as a treatment for syphilis, which has neurological manifestations.

Potter (1894), in his Materia Medica, based on the U.S. Pharmacopoeia of 1890, describes the effects of small doses of gold: “The Salts of Gold promote appetite and digestion, stimulate the cerebral functions, and produce a marked mental exhilaration, a sense of well-being. Continued, they induce aphrodisiac effects in both sexes, and in women an increase of the menstrual discharge. Amenorrhea and Impotence, of the functional kind, – may be cured by it.” He is also well aware of the toxic effects of too large a dose, resembling those of mercury, and including “nausea and vomiting, glandular irritation, violent gastroenteritis, mental disturbance, convulsions, priapism, trembling, paralysis.”

The 1899 Merck’s Manual lists gold under “aphrodisiacs” (p. 187). Gold bromide is an “anti-epileptic, anodyne, nervine,” used for, “epilepsy, migraine, etc.; said to act, in small doses, quickly and continuously, without bromism” (p. 38). Gold had a reputation as a “nervine,” a therapy for nervous disorders. A review of the historical literature shows gold in use during the 19th century for conditions including depression, epilepsy, migraine, and glandular problems including amenorrhea and impotence. There are also a few studies suggesting a role for gold as a naturally occurring trace element in the reproductive glands. There is a need for more clinical research into the neuropharmacology and neurochemistry of gold, and exploration of gold’s possible role as a trace element.

In ‘Pharmacy, Materia Medica and Therapeutics’(1907) Thos. S. Blair states that gold and its salts are of decided value. When we consider that gold is similar to mercury in its alterative effects and combines with this, nerve tonic and general restorative influences, its value can be well understood. He says that in ancient medical practice gold was used in scrofulous subjects and somewhat more recently in syphilitic diseases. Modern practioners have held it is of special value in syphilis in subjects of a scrofulous constitution. In his book, Thos. S. Blair also mentions certain gold preparations along with suitable potencies! He says- Aurum ars in 3X tituration is useful in syphilitic headaches, is said to increase appetite, and to benefit chlorosis. Aurum and sodium chloride is alterative and nervine of much value in nervous exhaustion, dipsomania, syphilis, and chronic diarrhoea. The homoeopaths call it Aurum muriaticum natronatum, and use it in 2X and 3X titurations in much the same indications, but also in ovarian and uterine lesions of chronic character. He also mentions that homoeopaths have gone into a deeper study of the metal than has the regular school and obtained highly satisfactory results with its practice.

Hare (1912) in his Text Book of Practical Therapeutics, notes “it [gold sodium chloride] is said to act as a powerful sexual stimulant and to be of service in impotence dependent upon inability to obtain an erection or when there is deficient glandular action” (p. 274). Page 900 in Hare lists a standard dose of “gold and sodium chloride” as 1/20 – 1/10 grain (3 – 6 mg), and “gold bromide” as 1/8-1/2 grain (8 – 30 mg).

Fomon (1920) in his book Medicine and the Allied Sciences, in the section on Materia Medica and Therapeutics: Agents Producing Changes, says gold (as chloride of gold sodium) “stimulates the nervous system,” “stimulates the sexual organs,” and is employed in therapeutics as an aphrodisiac, an alterative in chronic diseases, and cure for alcoholism and opium addiction.

In July of 1935, Clinical, Medicine & Surgery had an article entitled “Colloidal Gold in Inoperable Cancer” written by Edward H. Ochsner, M.D., B.S., F.A.C.S. which stated, “When the condition is hopeless, Colloidal Gold helps prolong life and makes life much more bearable, both to the patient and to those about them, because it shortens the period of terminal cachexia (general physical wasting and malnutrition usually associated with chronic disease) and greatly reduces pain and discomfort and the need of opiates (narcotics) in a majority of instances.”

R. Ghosh’s Materia Medica and Therapeutics (1939) mentions that gold in combination with arsenic has been used in tertiary syphilis, and with bromides in epilepsy. It also mentions extensive use of the metal and its salts in rheumatoid arthritis and favourable results in lupus erythematosus.

Even as late as 1942, Stedman’s Practical Medical Dictionary (Garber, 1942) lists gold bromide as employed in epilepsy, headache, and as a nerve sedative. Double chloride of gold and sodium is listed as an alterative (a medicine that produces a favourable change in the process of nutrition and repair, Dorland, 1908) and tonic. Finally, Stedman’s notes the Keeley cure or gold cure, “a secret method of treatment of alcoholism, said to be by the administration of strychnine and gold chloride.”

The most interesting use of gold in treatment is the gold cure of Leslie E. Keeley, M.D. (1832-1900). Keeley’s great discovery was that the chloride of gold and sodium (prepared by mixing gold chloride and sodium chloride) was an effective treatment for addictions, including morphine/opium and cocaine addiction as well as alcoholism. In the 19th century, a variety of medications were used in an effort to ease withdrawal symptoms and cure addictions. Most, such as atropine and strychnine, were so toxic that they were of little use. Even gold chloride was too caustic for internal consumption. Keeley found that he had to carefully monitor patients for toxic effects. Then, however, he discovered that mixing gold chloride with sodium chloride and a substance which he kept secret produced a cure for addiction that “accomplishes this quietly and mildly, without any shock or reactive effects” (Keeley, 1897, p. 82).

Keeley was well aware of the history of gold in medicine, citing numerous researchers who had worked with gold in the treatment of diseases including syphilis and tuberculosis, but noting the problems with gold toxicity (that his discovery had solved). Keeley had excellent powers of observation. For example, in the course of treating addictions, he noted: “In opium patients whose bodies are covered with nodulations, sores, pimples, blotches, tumors, and ulcers, resulting from the poison of the “drug,” remarkable effects have been produced by the use of gold. The sores rapidly heal up and pass away, even without the use of any liniment or local application whatever” (p. 84). Gold medications are now a recognized replacement for steroids in treating serious skin conditions (Thomas, 1987).

Following are the symptoms given in Boericke’s Materia Medica:

• Given full play, Aurum develops in the organism, by attacking the blood, glands, and bone, conditions bearing striking resemblance to mercurial and syphilitic infections; and it is just for such deteriorations of the bodily fluids and alterations in the tissues, that Aurum assumes great importance as a remedy.
• Like the victim of syphilis, mental states of great depression are produced by it.
•  Hopeless, despondent, and great desire to commit suicide.
•  Glands swollen in scrofulous subjects.
•  Frequently indicated in secondary syphilis and effects of mercury.
• When syphilis is implanted on the scrofulous constitution, we have one of the most intractable morbid conditions, and gold seems to be especially suited to the vile combination.
• Mind.–Feeling of self-condemnation and utter worthlessness. Profounddespondency, with increased blood pressure, with thorough disgust of life, and thoughts of suicide.
• Male.–Pain and swelling of testicles. Chronic induration of testicles. Violent erections. Atrophy of testicles in boys.
• Female.–Great sensitiveness of vagina. Uterus enlarged and prolapsed. Sterility; vaginismus.
• Heart– Palpitation. Pulse rapid, feeble, irregular. Hypertrophy. High Blood PressureValvular lesions of arterio-sclerotic nature (Aurum 30)
• Extremities.– Paralytic, tearing pains in joints.
• Relationship.–Compare: Aur ars (chronic aortitis; lupus, phthisis in syphilitic headaches; also in anæmia and chlorosis. It causes rapid increase of appetite).
  Aur brom (in headaches with neurasthenia, megrim, night terrors, valvular diseases).
• Aurum Mur Natronatum- Sodium Chloroaurate: This remedy has a most pronounced effect on the female organs, and most of its clinical application has been based thereon. Has more power over uterine tumors than any other remedy (Burnett).

We can see that Boericke along with being a physician, writer and researcher; was a great compiler of therapeutic literature of his time and has taken quite a few references from his seniors as well as contemporaries.

(This article was published in VITAL INFORMER, febuary 2013 issue)

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Understanding Arsenic

Arsenic is a versatile metal, forming various compounds, inorganic or organic, with a complex chemistry. It has been used as a medicinal agent, a pigment, a pesticide, and an agent of criminal intent. It is typically considered a heavy metal and shares many toxic characteristics with the other heavy Metals (e.g. – Lead, Mercury). Arsenic is primarily used in the production of glass and semiconductors.

Because of its significant medicinal properties, Arsenic has been used as a therapeutic agent and poison for more than 2,400 years. Arsenic is commonly known as Malla or sankhiya or gauripashana in Ayurveda.

The Sanskrit shloka depicting its use says:

‘Gauripashanaka shudho matrya prishilita, kaphavatamayaharo balyo vrishyo rasayana. Shwasam sheetjawaram pandum plehavridhim phirangakam. Shlipadam sandhivatam ch tatha kushthani nashyait. Amlam ch katukam teeksham varjayen malasevaka.’

Kaphavatamayaharo means it relieves kapha, vata and ama doshos

Balyo means it gives strength to the body

Vrishyo means it is vajikarak and improves the functioning of sexual organs

Rasayana means it is a rejuvenator to the body

Shwasam means it relieves dyspnoea

 Sheetjawaram means it is remedy for malarial fever

Pandum means it is remedy for anaemia

plehavridhim  means it relieves spenic enlargement

phirangakam means remedy for syphilis

Shlipadam means for elephantiasis

Sandhivatam- painful affections of joints and muscles

ch tatha kushthani nashyait  means relieves several skin disorders

Amlam ch katukam teeksham varjayen malasevaka means sour and spicy food should be avoided during use of Arsenic.

In simple words, it has Laghu, ruksha and teekshana gunas, katu rasa and vipaka and ushna veerya. It has kapha vata shamak properties. It is tonic to nerves, improves appetite, blood purifier, destroys many organisms in blood like malaria, syphilis etc, reduces swelling, relieves cough and dyspnoea, provides tone to sexual organs, relieves various skin disorders and improves nutrition to the skin by increasing subcutaneous tissue, relieves intermittent fever, reduces chills, is tonic and rejuvenator to the body.

It is used in trembling disorders, sandhivata and all vata disorders. Gastric disorders characterized by lack of fire element, vomiting, diarrhea, colic, splenic enlargement are treated by it. Arsenic is equally used by Ayurveda in Asthma, malaria, tuberculosis and skin diseases.

This is one drug which is quoted as classical example for demonstration of law of similars. It produces diarrhoea and vomiting in massive doses and relieves the same in potencies. As stated above the drug is blood purifier and therefore has strong antimicrobial properties. It is destructive to low forms of life and relieves only those cases of diarrhoea and vomiting due to bacterial or parasitical food poisoning otherwise it acts wonderfully in even single dose for constipation due to general weakness.

Hippocrates used the arsenic sulphides realgar and orpiment to treat ulcers, and Dioscorides used the latter as a depilatory. In the 15th century, William Withering, who discovered digitalis, was a strong proponent of arsenic-based therapies. He argued, “Poisons in small doses are the best medicines; and the best medicines in too large doses are poisonous”. In the 18th century, Thomas Fowler compounded a potassium bicarbonate-based solution of arsenic trioxide (As2O3) that would bear his name. Following its introduction, Fowler’s solution was used empirically to treat malaria, chorea, syphilis, haematological cancers etc. during the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries.

Pharmacology texts of the 1880s describe the use of arsenical pastes for cancers of the skin and breast, and arsenous acid was used to treat hypertension, bleeding gastric ulcers, heartburn, and chronic rheumatism.

In the 19th century, arsenic was the mainstay of the materia medica. Although pure metallic arsenic was without therapeutic indications, physicians of the time prescribed arsenides and arsenic salts as antiperiodics, antipyretics, antiseptics, antispasmodics, caustics, cholagogues, depilatory, hematinics, sedatives, and tonics. These preparations were applied as external pastes for ulcers and cancer or taken internally in liquid or solid form, inhaled as a vapour, injected hypodermically, administered intravenously, or even given as enemas for a variety of systemic ailments.

Early use of arsenic derivatives for infectious diseases was based on the work of Nobel laureate, physician, bacteriologist, and founder of chemotherapy Paul Ehrlich. During his time, 500 types of organic arsenic compounds were in clinical use. In 1910, Ehrlich introduced salvarsan, an organic arsenical that could cure syphilis and is still used today to treat trypanosomiasis.

Arsenic’s anti-leukemic activity was first reported in the late 1800s. In 1878, a report from Boston City Hospital described the effect of Fowler’s solution on the reduction of white blood cell counts in two normal people and one patient with “leucocythemia”. Subsequently, As2O3 was administered as a primary anti-leukemic agent until it was replaced by radiation therapy. However, the hematologic use of arsenic experienced resurgence in popularity in the 1930s when its efficacy was reported in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia. In one report from China, arsenic trioxide monotherapy produced complete clinical responses in 9 of 10 patients with relapsed APL. Treatment was not associated with bone marrow suppression and produced only limited side effects. The results of these observational studies have been confirmed in randomized clinical trials in the U.S. Consequently, arsenic trioxide (Trisenox™) was approved for the treatment of relapsed or refractory APL by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in September 2000. It is part of a list of drugs called anti-neoplastics, and it is believed to slow or stop cancerous cells from growing.

In the book Pharmacy, Materia Medica and Therapeutics (1907) Thos. S. Blair mentions-“ In small doses arsenic is regarded as vital stimulant, and is used in states of debility, exhaustion, and restlessness, and where burning pain and prostrating diarrhoea exist. Small doses are applicable in the degenerative diseases of aged persons, bronchitis with burning expectoration, irritative dyspepsia, cirrhosis of liver, some cases of chronic diarrhoea, and in skin rashes occasioned by indigestion.” He also mentions the use of Arsenic dioxide in the treatment of cancer, scrofula, and obstinate skin lesions.

R. Ghosh(1939) mentions the use of Arsenic in malaria, hodgkin’s disease and pernicious anemia. He also mentions the efficacy of arsenic in minute doses in irritative dyspepsia, vomiting of habitual drunkards, vomiting and diarrhoea excited by food and gastric neuralgia. About its usefulness in skin conditions, he says-“chronic skin conditions especially scaly and popular varieties are wonderfully benefited by arsenic. Psoriasis, lichen, chronic eczema, acne, pemphigus, etc. yield to it. It seems to act especially well in diseases affecting the epidermis rather than other portions of the skin.” “Arsenic has been used in the treatment of asthma and its prolonged administration checks asthmatic fits,”

Following are the symptoms given in Boericke’s Materia Medica:

• Anæmia and chlorosis
• Ailments from alcoholism
• Maintains the system under the stress of malignancy regardless of location
• Malarial cachexia
• Mouth–Unhealthy, easily-bleeding gums. Ulceration of mouth with dryness and burning heat. Epithelioma of lips.
• Stomach–Nausea, retching, vomiting, after eating or drinking. Anxiety in pit of stomach. Burning pain. Vomiting of blood, bile, green mucus, or brown-black mixed with blood. Stomach extremely irritable; seems raw, as if torn. Gastralgia from slightest food or drink. Malignant symptoms. Everything swallowed seems to lodge in the œsophagus, which seems as if closed and nothing would pass.
• Respiratory–Unable to lie down; fears suffocation. Air-passages constricted. Asthma worse midnight. Burning in chest. Suffocative catarrh. Cough worse after midnight; worse lying on back. Expectoration scanty, frothy. Darting pain through upper third of right lung. Wheezing respiration.
• Stool–Small, offensive, dark, with much prostration. Worse at night, and after eating and drinking; from chilling stomach, alcoholic abuse, spoiled meat.
• Skin–Itching, burning, swellings; œdema, eruption, papular, dry, rough, scaly; worse cold and scratching. Malignant pustules. Ulcers with offensive discharge. Psoriasis. Scirrhus. Icy coldness of body. Epithelioma of the skin. Gangrenousinflammations.
• Fever–High temperature. Periodicity marked with adynamia. Septic fevers.Intermittent. Paroxysms incomplete, with marked exhaustion. Hay-fever. Cold sweats. Typhoid, not too early; often after Rhus. Complete exhaustion.

It is up to the profession to see whether our use in Homoeopathy is just verifying the properties of Arsenic mentioned in Ayurveda though through different approach and whether our use based on similia is counter to such use. The classical symptoms of arsenic poisoning, burning thirst and restlessness are often ignored by classical homoeopaths who depict chronic arsenic case as thirst less and restlessness is superseded by Prostration and lack of strength or prostration which finds its support in balya property of Ayurveda.

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Understanding Arctic Lappa

The common name of this plant is burdock. In a sentence: It is a Chronic Skin Disease plant. It is excellent for any skin problem and its long term use clears conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and acne.

Burdock has been used worldwide to treat a variety skin disease such as abscesses, acne, carbuncles, psoriasis and eczema. The beneficial effects of this herb include- increasing circulation to the skin, helping to detoxify the epidermal tissues. Burdock Root contains polyacetylenes that gives the herb its antibacterial and antifungal properties. It is used as a mild laxative that aids in the elimination of uric acid or gout.  It is classified as an alterative, diuretic and diaphoretic. By promoting perspiration, Burdock eliminates toxins through the skin.  It also contains inulin, a carbohydrate that strengthens the liver. It is a popular detoxifying agent that produces a diuretic effect on the body which aids the filtering of impurities from the bloodstream. It clears congestion in respiratory, lymphatic, urinary and circulatory systems. Burdock releases water retention, stimulates digestion, aids kidney, liver and gallbladder function.

Burdock works on the skin on two levels. First, it has the ability to cleanse the body. It offers a stimulating effect on the excretory systems, helping them rid the body of toxins. Second, beyond its general health-stimulating abilities and like many of the members of the daisy family, chamomile, elecampane, and calendula included, burdock has the specific ability to speed the healing of the skin. Psoriasis, dandruff, wounds, ulcers, eczema, eruptions on the skin, boils, carbuncles, sties, sores, aphthous ulcerations, and chronic acne are all treated effectively with burdock. Whereas calendula is used externally to improve the skin’s appearance, burdock is taken internally.

The root of the burdock plant has been used in its native Africa and Europe, to improve immunity and overall health for at least 3,000 years. In the European capitals, burdock was always the plant of choice when it came to improving the skin. In the Appalachian woods of North America, burdock was, and still is, made into root tea to clear poor complexions. In the European medical tradition, it has also been a classic blood purifier for several hundred years.

Like the Europeans, the Chinese recommend its use for just about any kind of skin problem , including  induration and tumors of the breast, glands, intestines, knees, lips, tongue, liver, sinuses, stomach, or uterus; ulcerations, canker and other sores, leprosy, prurigo, psoriasis, abscesses, acne, corns, warts, and scaly skin. The Chinese felt that in addition to clearing up the skin, burdock would clear up problems with all the glands that lie under the skin. This is noteworthy because we know acne is caused by infected sebaceous glands. Chinese researchers have proven burdock to be anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, diuretic, antitumor, antifungal, estrogenic, hypoglycemic, and antibacterial.

“In case of chronic psoriasis, the traditional herbalist generally uses the Thomsonian approach to healing by stimulating the vital force (to assist nature in it’s healing of the body), supporting liver and GIT function and promoting vicarious elimination. Traditionally Galium aparine and Arctium lappa would have been used to ‘purify the blood’, Silybum marianum(carduus marinus) to support and strengthen the liver, Thymus vulgaris as an antiseptic skin wash, Capsicum frutescens as an infusion, wash or topical application. A poultice of Arctium lappa or Scrophularia nodosa would have been applied to the affected area”. (Ref–Treatment review of chronic psoriasis by Smiroldo, Tina L. / Australian Journal of Medical Herbalism)

In the book-Pharmacy, Materia Medica and Therapeutics(1907) by Thos. S. Blair, it has been described as an alterative to be used in skin diseases and valuable in irritation of urinary apparatus.

In the book- Herbalism, an illustrated guide(1998);author Non Shaw describes burdock as a blood cleanser, bitter tonic, antibiotic, lymphatic cleanser, diuretic and diaphoretic. He also says-“Burdock is traditionally combined with other herbs; with dandelion (Taraxacum) root for arthritis and skin diseases; with yellow dock (Rumex Crispus) root for psoriasis and other stubborn skin diseases; with Echinacea for boils and infected skin conditions.”

Burdock is also an active ingredient in the popular natural remedies for cancer, including Essiac and Hoxsey.

Following symptoms are given in Boericke’s Materia Medica:

• Very important in skin therapeutics.
• Eruptions on the head, face, and neck; pimples; acne.
• Styes and ulcerations on the edge of the eyelids.
• Crops of boils and styes (Anthracin).

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UNDERSTANDING MOSCHUS

The following shloka describes the use of Moschus in Ayurveda:

Kasturika katustikta ksharoushna shukrala guru. Kaphavtaishchchardishetdorgandhyashoshbrit.

Kasturika- is the common name of Moschus

Katustikta- is katu and tikta in rasa; is spicy and bitter in taste

Ksharoushna – is ushna veerya; has heat increasing property shukrala – promotes seminal fluid secretion

Guru- is heavy

Kaphavata- relieves vata and kapha disorders

Visha- toxins; it detoxifies body from poisons

Chardi-  stops vomiting

Sheet- relieves problems due to cold

Dorgandhya- removes offensiveness

Shoshhrit- relieves emaciation

It is used in weakness of mind, hysteria, mania, coma, paralysis and other vata disorders of nervous system,indigestion with colic. Weakness of heart, cough, whooping cough, dyspnoea, as aphrodisiac, high fevers, it protects the heart and mind.

The following are symptoms taken from Boericke Materia Medica:

(The symptoms in italics should be used with care as they do not confirm the traditional Ayurvedic use of drug and those in italics and underlined are also opposite to its traditional use. The use of this drug on such symptoms should be done with utmost care as they could lead to either no result or sometimes aggravation.  The symptoms in bold are in accordance to its Ayurvedic use and have been also verified and deserve more value in its selection. There are no remarks about other symptoms given in common. There are many more traditional uses that are not covered by symptoms given in Boericke Materia Medica).

• A remedy for hysteria and nervous paroxysms, fainting fits and convulsions, catalepsy,etc.
• The characteristic condition being aggravation by cold; there is great sensitiveness to air.
• Much nervous trembling and frequent fainting.
•  Great flatulence.
•  Diseases do not follow a normal course.
• Coldness.
•  Tension in muscles, skin and mind.

MIND

•  Uncontrollable laughter.
•  Scolding.
•  Anxiety with palpitation; starting as if frightened.
•  Sexual hypochondriasis.

HEAD

•  Compressive pain over root of nose.
• Pressure on top of head.
•  Vertigo on least motion; sensation as if falling from a great height.
•  Scalp sensitive.
•  Sounds in ears as from the report of cannon.

 STOMACH

•  Desire for black coffee, stimulants.
•  Aversion to food.
•  Everything tastes flat.
•  With stomach symptoms, anxiety in chest.
•  Distended.
•  Faints when eating.
•  Abdomen greatly distended.
• Spasmodic, nervous hiccough. [Hydrocy. ac.; Sulph. ac.; Ignat; Cajap.]

MALE

•  Violent desire; involuntary emissions.
• Impotence, associated with diabetes. [Coca.]
• Premature senility.
•  Nausea and vomiting after coition.

FEMALE

•  Menses too early, too profuse, with disposition to faint. [Nux m.; Veratr.]
•  Sexual desire, with intolerable titillation in parts.
• Drawing and pushing in the direction of the genitals; sensation as if menses appear.

URINE

• Profuse urination.
• Diabetes.

RESPIRATORY

• Tightness of chest, is obliged to take a deeper breath.
•  Sudden constriction of larynx and trachea.
• Difficult respiration; chest oppressed; hysterical spasm of chest; asthma. Spasm of glottis.
• Impending paralysis of lungs. Asthma, with intense anxiety, fear, and smothering sensation.
• Cough ceases, mucus cannot be expectorated.
• Globus hystericus.

HEART

•   Hysterical palpitation.
•   Trembling around heart.
•   Weak pulse and fainting.

 MODALITIES

- Better, in open air, rubbing.

- Worse, cold. The open air is felt very, very cold.

           The drug is under-utilized in its property of protecting heart and mind in high fevers and  in detoxifying the body as is being done in Ayurveda.

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Understanding Arsenic Sulph Flavum

Arsenic sulph flavum is known as harital or takal in Ayurveda. Its uses are described as:

Haritalam katusnighdham kashayoushnam haredvisham

Kandukushthasyarogastrakaphapitakchvranan

Haritalam – Arsenic sulph flavum

katusnighdham – is katu in rasa and snighdha

kashayoushnam – hot in nature and astringent taste

haredvisham- antidote to toxins

Kandukushtha- relieves itching and skin disorders

Syarogastrakaphapitakchvrana – relieves kapha disorders and increases pitta disorders and is good for ulcers

It is used in kapha and vata disorders. Locally, it is for nerve ulcers, fistula, and swellings and for removing hair from the body.

In specific terms it is used for weakness of nerves, vata disorders, indigestion, colic, splenic enlargement, gout, syphilis, blood disorders, and cough, dyspnoea, oligomenorrhoea, kushtha and skin disorders. Chronic and intermittent fever .It gives strength to the body and is used in weakness and emaciation. It acts like a rasayana i.e. as rejuvenator for the body.

It is also recommended as one of the best remedies in gout or vatarakta, coldness of organs, complicated fevers of kapha and vata origin, epilepsy, fistula etc.

In vatarakta or gout where the patient suffers from throbbing vessels, pain in bones, swelling, cracked skin, contraction of muscles with deformities, stiffness, swelling with numbness and black discolouration and the complaints are aggravated by cold and exposure to cold air. There is loss of sensibility, itching, there is more swelling and less pain along with coldness of part. The drug is specific.

It also relieves other disorders associated with gout such as loss of sleep, appetite, dyspnoea, loss of consciousness, dimness of vision, thirst, fever, vertigo, weakness and appearance of pustular eruptions on the skin.

It is equally effective in several skin diseases under kushtha roga in Ayurveda such as eczema, ring shaped lesions just like sulphur as it also contains sulphur and purified the blood due to kapha and vata disorders.

Similarly it is effective in syphilis in primary as well as secondary and tertiary syphilis but more so in secondary syphilis with skin manifestations.

Evaluation of Symptoms of Arsenic Sulph flavum as mentioned in Boericke’s Materia Medica in correlation with Ayurvedic concept:

In Homoeopathy, The drug is under-utilized and often prescribed  as a favourite medicine in several cases of vitiligo. To be effective, the person should not be suffering from pitta disorders otherwise it might aggrave the case.

The symptoms – needle pricks from within outwards in chest; also on forehead right side. Sticking behind ears is related to pitta disorders which it aggravates. Therefore these are not reliable indications as per concepts of Ayurveda.

Use of ASF in difficult respiration is justified and all skin disorders where fire element is not disturbed are amenable to the action ASF.  Therefore skin chafed about genitals, leucoderma and squamous syphilides can be good indications provided the patient is not having vitiated pitta.

Sciatica and pain around knee are also reliable if of vata or kapha origin where in the complaints are aggravated in the morning and by warmth.

The drug should not be prescribed to patient suffering from acidity, bleeding piles, hot patient, hypertension, excessive sweating etc. Otherwise it is a rasayana medicine and can be prescribed to maintain the health of healthy person.

The drug needs to be more fully utilized by using in several conditions as mentioned in Ayurveda. Since it is a rasayana medicine, it should be frequently used in cases of weakness and emaciation to improve the appetite and nutrition as it stimulates the gastric fire and also purifies the blood. It also gives strength to the nerves.

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Understanding Artemisia vulgaris

Common names: damnak, tapoghan, gandhotkat, brahmjat, ushpchamar, dona.

The uses of Artemesia Vulgaris as described in Ayurveda  are:

Damnastuvarstikto hridyo vrishya sugandhkah. Grahivishkushthastrakledkandutridoshjit. ( bhav pra)

Damanah syadrase tikto vishaghno bhutdoshnut. Tridoshamno hriday kandukushthapahsmritah.

Damnastuvarstikto- is astringent and tikta

hridyo vrishya sugandhkah- is good for heart and genital organs

 Grahivishkushthastrakledkandutridoshjit- promotes absorption, destroys visha, kushtah, kandu and relieves the three doshas

Externally it is used as pain and swelling reliever. Its oil kills the insects and is also used as insect repellant.

Internally it is useful in all three doshas disorders.

Mind: is useful in vata disorders

Digestive system: It is deepan, pachan, anuloman, pitasarak and krimighan. It is used in indigestion, constipation, colic, liver disorders and pitta excess and worm infestation.

Heart: it stimulates heart and is used in weakness of heart, swelling and blood disorders.

Respiratory system: It destroys cough and is used in dyspnoea nd cough.

Urinary system: it increases the flow of urine and is used in dysuria.

Genitourinary system: It stimulates causes contraction of uterus. Used in scanty and painful menses. Also given for frigidity.

Skin:It relieves kushtha and itching.

Fever: Used in fever. It relieves ama , stimulates excretion of urine, sweat, and stool. Relieves pain and promotes sleep.

Used in anaemia with iron

It protects against fatigue, sunstroke. Is good for tired feet. Hastens labour. Useful in palsy and epilepsy.

From Boericke’s Materia Medica:

The traditional uses have been totally ignored in Homoeopathic Materia Medica and its use has been limited to epilepsy. Its use in epilepsy therefore could be due to its power to relieve tridoshas otherwise it has no traditional use in that condition.

The underlined and italic symptoms should be used with care as they are exactly opposite to its traditional use in opposite conditions and bold should be used with confidence as they are in line with traditional use.

Artemisia vulgaris (mugwort)

* Has some reputation as a remedy for epileptic conditions, and convulsive diseases of childhood and girls at puberty.

* Locally and internally is injurious to eyes.

* Petit mal.

* Epilepsy without aura; after fright and other violent emotions and after masturbation.

* Several convulsions close together.

* Somnambulism.

* Gets up at night and works, remembers nothing in the morning. [Kali phos.]

 Head

- Drawn back by spasmodic twitchings.

- Mouth drawn to left.

- Congestion of brain.

 Eyes

- Colored light produces dizziness.

- Pain and blurring of vision; better; rubbing; worse, using eyes.

 Female

 - Profuse menses.

 - Violent uterine contractions.

- Spasms during menses.

 Fever

- Profuse sweat, smelling like garlic.

Thus we see that Boericke’s Materia Medica fails to deliver justice to the use of this remedy in several conditions for which it is used in herbal medicine and Ayurveda. This is one example where the concept of proving in partially proved drugs like Artemesia Vulgaris limits its polychrest uses. Otherwise this drug should have been used more frequently in day to day homoeopathic practice in conditions like fever, itching, menstrual problems, leg pains etc.

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Reference Books:

1. Specific Medication and Specific Medicines- Scudder, 1870
2. A  compend of Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Prescription Writing- Potter, 1902
3. Materia Medica by John William Fyfe- Fyfe’s, 1903
4. A Handy Reference Book- Joseph S. Niederkorn, 1905
5. Pharmacy, Materia Medica & Therapuetics- Thos. S. Blair, 1907
6. Materia Medica and Clinical Therapeutics- Paterson, 1907
7. Definite Medication- Jones, 1911
8. American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy- Finley Ellingwood, SWSBM, 1919
9. New Manual of Homoeopathic Materia Medica & Repertory- William Boericke, 9^th edition,1927
10. Prescriber and Clinical Repertory of Medicinal Herbs- Lt Col. F. Harper Shove, Health Science Press, 1938
11. Pharmacology, Materia Medica and Therapeutics- Birendra Nath Ghosh, Hilton & Co, 1939
12. Herbalism An Illustrated Guide- Non Shaw, Element Books, 1998
13. Herbal Repertory in Clinical Practice- Micheal Moore, 3^rd edition, 1991
14. WHO Monographs of Selected Medicinal Plants

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CLINICAL TIPS

1. Calendula 30 along with Symphytum 30 have proved to be very efficatious in cases of cracked heels with prompt results.
2. Antim crud improves the nutrition of epidermis; therefore highly useful in cases of corns.
3. Withania, Cimicifuga and Piper Mythesticum have proved to be excellent for Fibromyalgia Syndrome.
4. Several cases of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome have yielded to Agnus 30, Sabal 30 and colocynth 30 in repeated doses taken over a period of time.
5. Zincum met 30 is tried and tested medicine for preventing recurrent diarrhoea especially in children.
6. Trillium along with Belladona has good success in relieving the polyuria of Diabetes Insupidus.
7. Kali Iod 30, Lyc 30, Silicea 30 have been curative in several cases of Molluscum Contagiosum.
8. Kali Iod 30 and Sabadilla 30 worked in hundreds of Allergic Rhinitis cases successfully.
9. Borax, Merc Sol and Myrrha have together cured several long standing cases of recurrent Apthous Stomatitis.
10. Curcuma Longa is highly efficacious in clearing blemishes and improving complextion.