Taraxacum

Taraxacum Dens-leonis, Desf. (Leontodon Taraxacum, Linn.)

Natural order, Composite.

Common name, Dandelion ; (G.) Lowenzahn.

Preparation, Tincture of the whole plant just before the perfection of the flower.

Authorities. (1 to 5 from Hahnemann.) 1, Franz ; 2, Gutmann ; 3, Summer ; 4, Langhammer; 5, Rasazemsky; 6, George Smyth, M.D., Lancet, 1845 (2), p. 506, a lady, believing herself troubled with a liver complaint, took a dessertspoonful of the extract twice a day for rather more than a week.

Mind

Talkativeness and incessant prattling

Religious, pious mood, happy, contented with himself and his condition

Very much inclined to laugh

Without occupation he is quite gloomy; does not know what to do, and cannot make up his mind to do anything

Ill-humored, in the morning, and disinclined to any occupation or to talking (after twenty-five hours)

Irresolution aud dread of work, though it progresses well as soon as he undertakes it

Head

Vertigo. Vertigo, with insecure step, as if he would fall forward, when walking in the open air (after ten hours)

Vertigo, as if intoxicated, when walking in the open air ; the head fell now to the left, now to the right side (after two hours and a half)

Great dizziness and dulness in the head ; he seemed to reel, as if dizzy, when walking in the open air

General Head. Heaviness of the head, with heat and redness of the face

In the head, a sensation composed of pressure and itching

A sensation in the head as if the brain were constricted by a soft pressure from all sides

Pressive headache, from within outward (after two hours and a half)

Burning pressive headache, extending upward

Forehead. At one time contraction and whirling, like vertigo, in the forehead, above the nose; at another time sensation as if the brain were distended here and there, painless

Drawing-pressive pain on the frontal bone, while standing

Pressive pain in the forepart of the head, extending outward towards the forehead

Pressive stupefying pain in the forehead, as after intoxication (after one hour)

Constant pressive pain in the forehead (after four hours)

Pressive stupefying pain in the whole forehead, while sitting, so that while reading he lost his senses and did Dot know where he was, associated with nausea; only relieved in the open air (after one hour and three-quarters)

Pressive crawling pain in the forehead, extending from the middle of it, as if from something alive, frequently, when walking in the open air (after four hours)

Severe frontal headache

Dull sticking pressure in the forehead (after half an hour)

Tearing stitches in the left side of the forehead, in quick succession

Sharp stitches, externally, in the left side of the forehead, not relieved by pressure (after thirteen hours)

Temples. Pressive pain in the right temple (after thirty-five hours)

Drawing pain in the left temple, while sitting, ceasing while walking and standing (after five hours)

A constant violent stitch in the left temporal region, while walking in the open air, which was relieved while standing (after thirty-eight hours)

Needlelike stitches in the left temple, while sitting, which cease while standing (after one hour and a half)

Drawing pressive headache in the temples

Parietal, A constant sticking pain in the left side of the head, lasting six hours

Occiput. Heaviness in the occiput, which always disappears on stooping, and returns on rising and holding the head erect, when it is worse

Pressure and heaviness in the occiput, after lying down (after nine hours and a half)

* Tearing pain in the occiput, while walking, which disappears on standing still

Sticking tearing in the occiput behind the right ear

External Head. The anterior portion of the scalp is tense, as if drawn tightly over the vertex

Tearing, externally, in the occiput, while walking

Eyes p. 510

A kind of ophthalmia ; the eyes cannot endure the light and constantly water, with pressure in the right upper lid, as from something which he ineffectually attempted to wipe away

Sharp sticking pain in the right eye

Lids. Eyes agglutinated, in the morning on waking, for several days

Hard mucus in the eyes, more in the morning than during the day

Sharp pressure, as from a grain of sand, in the right inner canthus, with a feeling as if the lids were swollen

Fine sticking-burning in both eyelids (after half an hour)

Hall. Violent burning in the right eyeball, towards the inner canthus

Burning sticking in the left eyeball, towards the external canthxis (after half an hour)

Burning in the left eyeball (after eleven hours and a half)

Sticking-burning pain in the left eyeball (after twenty hours)

Pupil. Pupils dilated (after twentysix hours)

Pupils contracted (after four hours)

Ears p. 510

Tearing in the outer meatus auditorium, and sharp pressure behind the ramus of the lower jaw

Drawing pain in the outer ear (after five hours)

Pressure inward, within the left ear

Itching-burning sticking in the right ear

Sticking, from within outward, in the right ear, which always extended again inward

Stitches behind the ear, with tearing pain down the side of the neck

(Difficulty of hearing, as from stoppage of the ears, in the evening ; he hears indistinctly)

Chirping, like grasshoppers, in the left ear (after thirty-three hours)

Nose p. 510

Frequent sneezing, while walking in the open air (after four, and twenty-eight hours)

Nosebleed, from the left nostril, twice at noon, before dinner (after thirty hours)

Face p. 510

Sharp pressure in the right cheek (after half an hour)

A pressive stitch in the cheek

Cracking in the middle of the upper lip (after six hours)

Mouth p. 510

TeetJt. Blood flowed from the hollow teeth of the right side (and had a sour taste)

Aching pain, like blows, in two incisors, more in the crowns

A feeling as if the teeth were on edge, as from acid fruit, while chewing food (after thirty-seven hours)/.

Drawing pain in the right hollow teeth, which extends into the cheeks and as far as the brow

Tongue. Tongue thickly coated on the back part with a yellowishbrown fur

Tongue coated white (after two hours and three-quarters)

* Tongue covered with white coating, which gradually peels off in spots (after eleven hours and a half)

* Tongue covered with a white film, with a sensation of rawness in it ; afterwards this film comes off in pieces, leaving dark red, tender, and very sensitive spots (after thirty-four hours)

Tongue brown and very dry, in the morning on waking

Burning stitches in the left side of the tongue (after nine hours)

3Loutll. *Suppurating pimple in the right corner of the mouth (after forty-nine hours)

Saliva. Collection of sour-tasting water in the mouth

* Accumulation of saliva in the month, and a feeling as if the larynx -were compressed (after thirty-one hours)

Taste. *A bitter taste rises from the pharynx into the mouth

* Bitter taste in the mouth, before eating, but food has a natural taste

Smoking tobacco is not relished; it causes burning in the throat, almost like heartburn, and takes away the breath ; on drinking it disappears

Meat, but especially gravy from roast beef, has a very sour taste when it comes in contact with the tip of the tongue

Butter has a disagreeable taste on the tip of the tongue, a salty sour; tastes as usual on the palate

The mucus hawked up tastes very sour and sets the teeth on edge (after three and four hours)

Throat p. 511

Dryness of the throat, in which there was a circumscribed ring of inflammation surrounding the isthmus faucium

Dryness and stitches in the throat

Tickling irritation to hacking cough, in the region of the pit of the throat; he always had a few minutes warning of the paroxysm, but was never able to suppress it (after forty hours)

Dry sensation in the fauces, with bitter mucus, which made the voice husky

Sharp pressure on the anterior wall of the pharynx and larynx, when not swallowing, which provokes cough, but disappears on swallowing

Swallowing difficult; a kind of pressure, as from internal swelling, in the throat

Acute pain in the region below the parotid gland, and in the cervical muscles, and extending from the sternum to the mastoid process, on moving the jaw and neck

Stomach p. 511

Bitter eructations and hiccough

Empty eructations, especially after drinking, for several days (after half an hour)

Some nausea (after three days)

Nausea, associated with anxiety, while sitting, disappearing while standing (after two hours and a half)

Qualmishness and nausea, in the pharynx (after two hours and three-quarters)

* Nausea, as from overloading with fat food, he thought he ivould vomit, with pressive stupefying pain in the forehead, only relieved in the open air (after one hour and three-quarters)

Rumbling in the umbilical region, towards the left side

Tension in the pit of the stomach and pressure in the ensiform cartilage, while stooping

Abdomen p. 511

Boring pain, extending from within outward, in the region of the navel, extending towards the right side

Pressive pain in the left side of the abdomen

Constant pressive stitches in the left side of the abdomen (after twenty-four, and thirty hours)

Violent stitch in the side of the abdomen, lasting a minute

Tense pressive stitches in the right side of the abdomen

Painless movements and rumbling in the abdomen

Griping in the abdomen (after one hour and a quarter)

Colic ; griping in the abdomen, followed by emission of flatus (after three, and sixteen hours)

Tensive pain in the region of the diaphragm, during violent inspiration (after eleven hours)

Stitches in the right side of the diaphragm, when lying upon that side

Itching-sticking pain in the right abdominal muscles

Single, violent, sharp stitches, partly in the left upper abdomen, partly in the left or right side of the abdomen, partly also in the lower abdomen (after fourteen, and thirty-one hours)

A sudden persistent motion in the lower abdomen, as if bubbles formed and burst (after five hours and a half)

[HO.] Painless bubbling in the muscles of the left lower abdomen

Burning stitches in the left lower abdomen, extending towards the genitals (after twenty-five hours)

Painful sensation, as if sprained, in the left groin, when walking, somewhat relieved when standing and on pressure (after six hours)

Stool p. 512

Stool earlier than usual and pasty; the desire, however, continues without another evacuation

* Stool difficult, not hard, evacuated with much pressure, the second time (after eight hours and a half) ; a third stool less hard (after sixteen hours)

Bowels confined (after three days)

Urinary Organs p. 512

Frequent desire to urinate, with discharge of much urine (after three hours); frequent desire, with scanty discharge (after twenty-five hours),4.f

Pressure to urinate, without pain (after one hour)

Urine high-colored, and considerably diminished in quantity

Sexual Organs p. 512

Long-continued involuntary erections (after nine days)

A persistent boring pain in the glans penis

Tickling on the prepuce provokes rubbing (after seven hours and a half)

A fine stitch in the left testicle

Burning sticking in the right testicle

Emission, every other night

Chest p. 512

Stitches, extending inward into the chest, during inspiration, while standing

Burning pressure in the sternum, worse during expiration than inspiration (after half an hour)

Violent stitches in the sternum (after six hours)

Twitching in the right costal muscles (after fourteen hours)

Pressure from within against the ribs in the right side of the chest, extending from the hepatic region into the chest, over a surface larger than the hand, during expiration, while standing

A pressive stitch in the right chest, which disappeared on violent inspiration and expiration, but on pressing upon the part it returned more violent and extended over a larger space ; was continuous as a sticking pain (after two hours )

Constant sticking in the right side of the chest, while walking

A stitch in the right side of the chest (after four hours)

Stitch in the right side of the chest, just beneath the axilla (after one hour and a half)

Violent stitch in the region of the sixth rib

Twitching in the left costal muscles

Pressure in the left side beneath the axilla

Pressure beneath the left ribs

Stitch in the left side of the chest, extending towards the back

Dull stitches in the left chest (after one hour)

Three violent stitches, one on every inspiration, beneath the last left ribs, extending towards the back

Violent sticking on the last ribs of the left side

Boring-twisting pain in the right breast, more violent and persistent while walking (after three hours)

j- It may be seen, from this symptom, the first part of which represents the primary action, the second the secondary or persistent reaction of the organism, how perverted is the customary practice which attempts to cure with Taraxacum chronic swelling associated with diminished secretion of urine. If its nature is at first to increase the quantity of urine, its persistent reaction is to diminish it all the more. On the contrary, it is of use, homceopathically, in forms of diuresis (diabetes) when the other symptoms correspond to Taraxacum, when the disease is not of miasmatic origin, as often happens.

Hahnemann.

Heart and Pulse p. 513

An uneasy sensation of sinking in the prsecordia (after three days)

Pulse considerably accelerated, full but soft

Neck and Back p. 513

Twitching iii the lower portion of the side of the neck (after fifteen hours)

Pressive jerkings in the cervical muscles behind the left ear (after three hours and a half)

Aching sticking in the nape of the neck

Sticking, as with a somewhat blunt needle, nthe left side of the nape of the neck, disappearing on sitting down (after one hour and a half)

Sharp boring stitches, from within outward, in the left side of the neck, lasting several minutes

Pressing-sticking pain in the whole of the spine, towards the right side, especially violent in the small of the back, with difficult breathing, while lying

Tensive stitch in the back, toward the right side

A boring-sticking drawing in the scapular extremity of the right clavicle

A constant dull stitch, from within outward, in the right scapula (after twenty-one hours)

Pressure in the small of the back

Pressure in the small of the back, while standing

Pressure from within outward, in the left lumbar region

Painless creeping in the small of the back

Upper Extremities p. 513

All the limbs move easily, but it seems to him as though the motor power were restrained

Superior Extremities p. 513

Pressive pain on the inner side of the left arm

Sharp stitch on the outer side of the left arm

Shoulder. Bumbling and gurgling in the right shoulderblade

Pulsative throbbing on the left shoulder, for a minute

Painless bubbling on the left shoulder, with chilliness all over

Twitching on the top of the left shoulder

Arm. Twitching in the muscles of the left upper arm, at the outer portion (after four hours)

Twitching in the upper arm

Pressive pain in the muscles of the left upper arm (after thirty hours)

Pain, like electric shocks, on the outer side of the left upper arm

On the posterior portion of the upper arm a series of acute, partly needle-like stitches, which disappear on rubbing

Intermitting stitches, on the outer side, between the elbow and the middle of the right upper arm, during rest

Sticking pain on the inner side of the left upper arm

Pulsating intermittent throbbing, within the upper arm

Elbow. Stitches in the right elbow

Forearm. Twitching of the muscles of the left forearm (after ten hours)

Drawing pains in the forearms, frequently recurring

Pressive pain on the inner side of the right forearm

Burning in the right forearm

Sharp stitches in the right forearm, which disappear on touch (after thirteen hours)

Fine stitches in the left forearm, during rest and motion (after thirteen hours)

Wrist. Tearing drawing in the left wrist, extending to the three last fingers

Ei itgers. Pressive pain in the three last fingers of the right han d

Sticking pain in the left fourth finger

Burning pain in the left third and fourth fingers

Inferior Extremities p. 513

Hiiyh. Twitching of the upper muscles of the thigh (after two hours)

Twitching in the lower portion of the left gluteal muscles

Pressure on the inner side of the right thigh, while sitting and standing, not while walking (after two hours)

Boring stitches on the inner side of the thigh, while sitting

Pinching stitch on the forepart of the thigh, very high up, as if beaten, more on touch than when walking

Sticking pain in the whole left thigh (after nine hours and a half, and ten hours and a half)

Knee. Sharp pressure on the outer side of the knee, on bending the leg

Tearing in the hollow of the knee, on the outer tendon, while sitting

Drawing-sticking pain on the outer side of the right knee, during rest and motion (after three hours)

Stick-

Stool p. 513

33 ing pain, extending over the whole knee-joint

Constant burning pain in the forepart of the right knee

Burning pain in the left patella

Leg. Weakness of the legs, especially on ascending steps

The right leg is weaker than the left, while walking, and yet it seems as though the muscles were more tense

Drawing pain in the legs, while sitting and walking

Jerking pain hi the right calf, which suddenly disappears on touching it (after one hour)

Pressing pain in the left calf (after threequarters of an hour)

Tearing pain on the outer margin of the left leg, while standing (after two hours)

Gnawing corroding pain in the right leg (while standing), (after one hour and a half)

Burning pain in the lower portion of the right leg

Burning pain on the outer side of the right leg

Burning on the forepart of the tibia

A drawing, violent, fine sticking, from below upward, in the right leg, while standing, which disappears while sitting (after thirty hours)

Dull throbbing stitches in the right calf, just beneath the hollows of the knees

Persistent burning stitches in the calves (while sitting)

Stitches in the right calf

Needle-like stitches, extending upward on the outer side of the left leg, while standing, which disappear while sitting (after thirty-one hours)

Ankle. Tearing drawing in the left ankle

Stitch in the right inner malleolus, while sitting (after thirty-two hours)

Foot. A drawing pain on the back of the right foot, while standing, which disappears while sit I ing (after one hour)

Pressing-drawing pain on the back of the left foot, while standing (after three-quarters of an hour)

Pressure upon the buck of the right foot, while sitting (after twenty-two hours)

A stitch on the back of the left foot, extending towards the great toe (after thirty-seven hours)

Burning drawing on the back of the left foot (after thirty-seven hours)

Stitches, extending from the back of the foot into the sole (Rafter one hour and a half)

Boring pain in the right sole

Burning boring in the left sole, extending towards the little toe

Burning-pressing pain in the right sole, towards the toes, while sitting

Burning pain on the sole of the right foot, towards the outer side

Stinging pain, partly violent, partly fine, in the right sole, extending from within outward, while sitting (after ten, and twenty-one hours)

Itching stitches in the right sole (after thirty:two hours)

Toes. A constant pulling from the little toe up the tibia, while sitting

Attacks of burning in the toes, especially on the back of the right great toe

Burning sticking in the right great toe, when walking (after nine hours)

Tearing stitches in the toes

Stitches in the right great toe, towards the second toe

Generalities p. 514

After three days she began to feel rather uncomfortable and restless in herself; a sort of fidgetiness, as she expressed it, and general uneasiness, for which she could not account, as she had often been much worse indisposed without experiencing such miserable feelings

An inner feeling, as though he were very sick ; all the limbs are painful when touched, or when in an uncomfortable position

Feeling of weakness over the whole body ; loss of strength, so that he constantly wished to lie or sit, when he was in a condition of semi-consciousness, as on falling asleep

Nearly all the symptoms appear only while sitting, they almost all disappear while walking

Skill p. 514

Objective. After eight days, on waking in the morning, she discovered the upper part of her body covered with a rash, to which her attention was first directed in consequence of its incessant tingling and itching ; the itching, in short, was so urgent, that at first she could not possibly refrain From scratching, which afforded much satisfaction and relief for the time; but, as the relief proved only temporary whilst the operation seemed greatly to increase rather than diminish the irritation, by producing a greater abundance of the eruption and increased redness of the skin, she was, therefore, afraid to indulge in it. When I saw her there was no eruption on the face, but it was slightly swollen, and exhibited merely patches of efflorescence or redness, w hout any thickening or elevation of the cuticle. On the forearm and hands the eruption, when examined, appeared to be of a mixed character, lichen and urticaria combined ; the lichenose or papular eruption (the papula about the size of a pin's head, and of a purple or dark-red color) was dispersed over the whole of the arms, hack, and front, but thicker about the wrists and bindings of the elbows than anywhere else, in which place it was also clustered together in patches upon an inflamed base. The heads of numerous papules appeared to have been broken off, and afterwards covered with a brownish incrustation, as if blood had first exuded and then become hardened ; but this no doubt was occasioned partly by friction of the dress, and partly by the scratching to which these parts were, in the first instance, subjected, for the purpose of allaying the distressing tingling and itching, from which there is scarcely any respite in such cases. The urticaria occupied principally the front of the anus ; the wheals or elevations were not very numerous or prominent, unless friction was had recourse to, by which they could be produced almost to any extent ; they were stated to come out and go in again, two or three times in the course of the day, and to be always very large and abundant in the morning; the chest and around the waist were also said to be thickly covered, and the redness intense

A pimple, on the right side of the scalp, above the temple, painful on touch, as though the place were suppurating (after fifteen hours)

A pimple in the middle of the hair of the left eyebrow, with pressing pain when touched (after twenty-seven hours)

A suppurating pimple, on the upper part of the left cheek, with red areola, with gnawing pain on touch (after twenty-four hours)

Suppurating pimple on the right wing of the nose (after eight hours)

Papular eruptions on the hands, especially on the sides of the fingers, also on the back of the hand, with some itching

Some vesicles on the back of the foot which itch

Subjective. Sudden itching below the chin (after one hour)

Tickling itching on the perineum, between the anus and genitals, which compels scratching (after fourteen hours)

Voluptuous itching on the perineum, which obliges scratching, followed by biting pain, lasting several hours (after thirty-two hours)

Itching on the left gluteal muscles

Corrosive itching on the left thigh, obliging scratching (after seven hours and a half)

Violent itching on the left calf, in the evening, on lying down, obliging scratching, but continuing to itch after scratching; afterwards the spot becomes red and moist (after seventeen hours)

Itching sticking in the inner malleolus

Itching on the back of the right foot, which disappears on scratching (after one hour and three-quarters)

Violent itching on both fourth toes (after twenty-five hours)

Sleep p. 515

Sleepiness. Frequent yawning while sitting, as though he had not slept enough (after five hours and a half)

Overpowering sleepiness, after dinner ; on waking he was obliged to urinate, with some burning, only before and after micturition

Sleepiness (while reading), (during the day) ; his eyes closed, so that he really must lie down ; but on moving about the sleepiness disappeared (after five hours)

While listening to scientific conversation he fell asleep in spite of every effort, and immediately had most vivid dreams

Sleeplessness. Nights restless (after three days)

Frequent waking from sleep, as though he had slept enough

Frequent waking at night and tossing about the bed, could rest nowhere

Dreams. Vivid unremembered dreams

Voluptuous dreams

Dream of quarrels, at night

Anxious, vivid, unremembered dreams

Fever p. 516

Chilliness Great chilliness, after eating, especially after drinking

Chilliness, for some hours, with constant pressing headache

Chilliness over the whole body (after twenty-six hours)

Violent shaking over the whole body, like a febrile paroxysm, worse on walking in the open air, without thirst and without subsequent heat (after two hours and a half')

The tips of the fingers are icy cold (after six hours)

Heat. Much febrile action

Sensation of heat, and heat in the face, with redness (after one hour and a half)

Heat in the face, hands, and rest of the body, without thirst (after six hours and a half)

Sudden warmth in the face and rest of the body, without thirst, while walking in the open air (after thirty-seven hours)

Sweat. Immediately on falling asleep he began to perspire all over, so that he was frequently awakened thereby, when he always had heat over the whole body, much more distinct glowing heat in the cheeks; became quite wet from the perspiration, but was vigorous in the morning

On falling asleep in the evening, in bed, immediately perspiration all over, which continued through the whole night; in the morning he was active

Slight perspiration over the whole body (after twenty-two hours)

Slight perspiration over the whole body, on waking from sleep, causing a biting all over the skin, which provokes scratching (after twenty-three hours)

Much perspiration between the toes, especially of the right foot

Conditions p. 516

Aggravation.

(Morning), On awaking, eyes agglutinated.

(After drinking), Empty eructations.

(After eating), Chilliness.

(Expiration), Pressure on sternum ; pressure from within against ribs.

(Holding head erect), Heaviness in occiput.

(Inspiration), Stitches in chest; stitch beneath left ribs.

( While lying), Sticking pain in spine.

(Rubbing), Stitch in upper arm.

( While sitting), Pressive pain in forehead ; pain in left temple; stitches in left temple ; stitches on inner side of thigh; tearing in hollow of knee; pain in right sole.

(Stooping), Pressure in pit of stomach.

( While standing), Pain in frontal bone ; pressure in small of back ; pain in left leg ; sticking in right leg ; stitches on outer side of left leg; pain on back of foot; pulling, from little toe up tibia.

(Walking), Pain in occiput ; tearing in occiput ; pain in left groin ; sticking in right side of chest; pain in right breast; stitches in thigh; sticking in right great toe. (Walking in open air), Vertigo; crawling in forehead ; stitch in left temporal region ; sneezing ; shaking over whole body.

Amelioration p. 516

(Standing), Stitch in left temporal region.

(Stooping), Heaviness in occiput.

( While walking), Nearly all symptoms.