Actæa Racemosa or Cimicifuga
Dewey, Essentials of Homœopathic Materia Medica, 1894, p. 48
Questions
What is the origin of this drtig and how do we prepare our tincture?
This is the Black Cohosh, indigenous to the United States, and we prepare a tincture from the fresh root.
What is its general action?
Cimicifuga produces many cerebral, spinal and pelvic symptoms, and acts more prominently on females. Many of its symptoms point to Hysteria and Rheumatism, and its general character is manifested by agitation, nervousness, sleeplessness and pain. Give the Headache of Cimicifuga. There is a sensation as if the top of the head would fly off, neuralgic pains over the scalp, and there is an aching at the base of the skull as if a bolt were driven from the base to the top of the head. There is also a sensation of weaves of pain going over the head, often associated with intense aching in the eyeballs.
What are its mental symptoms ?
Mental depression; Delirium tremens; visions of rats, mice, etc. A sensation as if there were a pall or gloom, or a horrible sadness settling over her — a feeling as if she was going crazy.
What is the principal sphere of action of Actea and what are the characteristic symptoms here?
The female sexual organs, and especially in the pregnant state. The symptoms are pain going across the abdomen from hip to hip, seeming to double the patient up. Spasmodic after-pains, and a predisposition to abortion, with nervousness, weeping mood. Ovarian neviralgia, with other reflex left-sided pains. Distinguish between Cimicifuga and its twin sister, Caulophyllum, or the blue cohosh in uterine symptoms. Both have the rheumatic diathesis, both have the hysterical spasms, both have the trembling; the keynote of Cazdophyllum, however, is rheumatism of the small joints, with uterine complaints, while the rheumatism of Cimicifuga is in the fleshy part or belly of the muscles.
How do the rheumatic symptoms of Actea racemosa differ from another member of the same family, Actea spicata?
Actea spicata acts on the smaller joints of the hands and feet, especially the wrist joint, while in Actea rac. the bellies of the muscles are affected.