Asarum Europaeum

(The tincture may be extracted from the dry root by means of alcohol, or else by mixing the juice of the plant with alcohol.)

Asarum no more than Ipecacuanha (which, beside vomiting, produces a number of symptoms in the animal economy), can be used as a mere emetic. For many other substances, when taken in excess, produce vomiting, or in other words, are violently expelled again by nature, such as Arsenic, the sulphate of Zinc, the acetate of Copper, Veratrum album, etc. Do these substances, all of which excite vomiting when taken in excess, only exist for the purpose of being used as emetics ? "What a short-sighted and superficial notion this would be ! I raise this complaint not only against Cost and Willemet, -but against all our so-called observers, who are in fact no observers at all. Mutato nomine de te fabula narrators. All they pretend to have seen of the effects of medicinal substances, are evacuations by the skin, bladder, rectum, etc. ; they derive their crude notions of the remedial virtues of a drug from their equally crude conceptions of the nature of disease, which they consider something material, to be swept out of true system by material agents.

The kind Preserver of life has created Asarum for a much more beneficent end. To cure a vomiting, which is accompanied by symptoms similar to those of Asarum, this is the first noble use which we ought to make of that root, precisely the contrary of the murderous vomitings, to excite which it has been used heretofore.

The homoeopathic physician who does exactly the contrary of what allopathic physicians do, knows how to employ such powerful gifts of God, as medicinal substances are, for the benefit of his sick brethren ; he never abuses them for the purpose of subverting the human organism even animals should be spared the cruelties which pass current under the elegant name of horse-cures.

From Noack and Trinks : Asarum is especially suitable to chilly individuals [and to literary men), also in cases of great irritability of the nervous system, and after operations upon the eye, when the patient suffers with darting pains (and lienteria ?) — Helminthiasis, especially when ascarides are present. — Intermittent fever, accompanied with partial chilliness, and partial heat of single parts, with external heat and internal chilliness, or with alternate heat and chills. — Megrim. — Periodical headache. — Ophthalmia. — Amblyopia. — Amaurosis. — Otitis. — Hjfcxl-hearing. — Gastric and bilious conditions. — Excessive vomiting. — Colic and vomiting. — Lienteria (?)

Hahnemann has observed the following symptoms of this drug.

Stool whitish-gray and ash-colored, covered with bloodstreaked mucus. (Drawing in the urethra.) (Violent sneezing.) Short breath, (at night.) — 5. (Angry and vehement previous to the cough.) A quantity of mucus is hawked up and coughed up. (Sibilant, wheezing breathing in the beginning of the cough.) Drawing in the fingers, in the evening when lying in bed. Drawing in the knee. — 10. Drawing in the tendons the bends of the knees, in the evening when lying in the bed. (Gurgling, bubbling in the bend of the knee.) Drawing in the toes, in the evening when lying in bed. (Uneasy sleep every other night ; he is unable to fall asleep.) Orgasm of the circulatory system, in the evening when in bed, which prevented him from falling asleep, for two hours. — 15. Sweat, in the evening when in bed, immediately after lying down. Melancholy ill humor.

Head p. 86

Vertigo as from being slightly intoxicated, when rising from one's seat and walking about, (in ten minutes.) He does not perceive the objects which surround him. Condition of the mind as if one were just falling asleep ; gradual vanishing of ideas. His thoughts are so overstrained that they vanish from his perception.

5. He feels quite stupid in his head, and is not disposed to do any thing. Inability to do any kind of work whatsoever ; he does every thing in an awkward manner ; his mental faculties fail him, (previous to every vomiting, after the vomiting he feels somewhat relieved ;) in general, his mental faculties are deficient during the whole time of proving. Sensation of vertigo as though he stood upon unsafe ground, (in the evening, a. 4 d.) Obtusion, sort of stupid condition of the whole head, with tension in the region of the ears. Early in the morning, when rising, dizziness and drowsiness of the head, with headache in the left forehead, (a. 22 h.)

10. When he attempts to perform some intellectual labor, to reflect for instance, then his thoughts immediately vanish, and he has to cease thinking. As often as he attempts to reflect, the pains in the head, and the nausea with inclination to vomit, increase perceptibly ; he has to abandon his ideas, which cannot be of much use to him, since he is quite stupid. Aching pain in the forehead, coi^eying a dreary feeling to the mind, as if one had been waked from sleep too early. Dull headache, (a. -J- h.) Headache, and obtuse feeling in the left temple, afterwards in the region below the parietal bones, and lastly the occiput.

15. Obtusion of the head, less perceptible when walking than when sitting ; with pressure in the eyes as with a dull point from within outwards, especially below the right eyelid, (a. j- h.) Painful tightness and obtuse condition of the head. Weight and obtusion of the head, with pressure on the sagittal suture, as if he were intoxicated, (a. 3 h.) Weight of the head, as if some vacillating body were in it, which presses in the direction the head is turned, forwards or backwards, etc. Pressure in the brain, mostly forwards, (a. ^ h.)

20. Pressure in the left side of the occiput, which moves to the side of the head. (a. 3 minutes.) Pressure in both sides of the head from within outwards. Intense compressive headache in the left temple and behind the ears, more violent when walking or shaking the head, less so when sitting, (a. 12 h.) Pressure over ihe greater portion of the brain from without inwards, (a. 2 f h.) Pressure in the brain at one place of the forepart of the head from above downwards, as if by a stone, (afh.)

25. Violent pressure in the forehead, pressing downwards upon the eyes, which then begin to run. (a. 2 | h.) Pressure in alternate places of the brain, mingled with various sensations. Sensation of a more or less violent pressure in the forehead, from above downwards. Aching in the temples, especially the left. Sharp aching above the root of the nose.

30. Tearing ache in the left temple. Violent, drawing pressure in the brain below the forehead, (increased when retching.) Drawing headache, as if it would extend into the temples, (at noon ;) the pain seems to decrease in the open air, and when lying down. (Stupefying) drawing in alternate places of the brain, in the ear and nape of the neck. Tearing headache in the forehead, for some seconds, after stooping and raising the head again.

35. Tearing, pulsative pain in the forehead. Throbbing pain in the forehead, early in the morning, when rising, (a. 24 h.) Stooping excites a throbbing pain in the forehead. He feels the pulsations of the arteries in the occiput, afterwards in the whole of his body. Tension of the whole scalp, which makes the hair feel painful.

40. Itching below the left temple, commencing with fine stinging. Cold feeling at a small place of the left side of the head, a couple of inches above the ear.

Eyes p. 87

Tingling behind the upper lid, especially of the left eye. Slight swelling of the upper left eyelid ; reading fatigues the eye. Twitching of the lower right eyelid.

45. Sensation of twitching in the left upper eyelid from within outwards, in paroxysms ; it occurs only when holding the eyelid still ; as soon as he raises the lid, for the purpose of looking at something, the twitching disappears, (a. 9 h.) Cold feeling in the external canthus of the right eye, as if caused by a cold breath. When using the eyes in reading, each experiences a sensation as of being pressed asunder. Pressure in the left eye. Tearing pain in the interior of the left eye, coming and going like the pulse, (a. 1 £ h.

50. Feeling of dryness and a drawing in the eyes. * Dry burning in the eyelids and the inner canthi, especially in the left eye. Painful feeling of dryness in the interior of the left eye. Warm feeling and slight pressure in the eyes ; they have lost a good deal of their lustre, and look fainter. Obscuration of vision, (a. -J- h.)

Ears p. 87

55. The whole of the external right ear is hot to the touch ; this symptom frequently returns during the whole period of proving. Warm feeling in the region of the orifice of the external meatus auditorius of the right side, with sensation as if a thin pellicle were stretched across it. (a. £ h.) Dull roaring in the left car, resembling the distant roaring of the wind ; shrill singing (tingling) in the right ear. Straining sensation in both the external and internal ear. Pressure behind and below the left ear.

60. When bending the head towards the left side, he feels a pain as if a bundle of muscular fibres had been displaced in consequence of some violent exertion ; the pain extends over the left temple and behind the ear towards the left shoulder, increasing and decreasing synchronously with the pulse. Continued pain owing to pressive tension in the region of the orifice of the meatus audit oris. Sensation in the left ear both on the outer and inner side, as if the cartilages of the ear approached towards each other. Diminished hearing of the left ear, as if it were closed with the hand ; one feels as if the walls of the meatus were nearer one another, or as if the ears were stopped up with cotton. He imagines a pellicle is stretched across the right meatus auditorius, (immediately.)

65. Sensation as of the outer meatus auditorius being narrower than usual. Both of his ears feel stopped up in front. He hears worse with the right than with the left ear. (a. 1 h.) He imagines a pellicle is stretched across the orifice of the meatus auditorius. with a sensation as if it were being compressed, (a -J- h.) Sensation as if a pellicle were stretched across the orifice of the right meatus auditorius externus, tensive pressure in the same, uninterruptedly for seven days ; more violent during cold weather.

70. The sensation of tension and pressure on the right meatus auditorius almost always remains the same, and afterwards extends to the left lower jaw, accompanied, when violent, with an increased secretion of saliva from the right salivary glands, the saliva imparting a cold feeling, (a. £ h.)

Face p. 88

Burning, stinging pain of the left cheek. Warm feeling in the left cheek, (a. 4 h.) Warm feeling in the cheeks. (a. 10 h.) When washing the face with cold water, the vertigo, headache, burning in the upper part of the tongue and in the mouth, contraction of the left cervical muscles, and the faintness in the knees disappeared, but all those symptoms returned when wiping the parts with a towel.

75. Fine stinging of the right cheek. Contractive pain of the left cheek, accompanied by soft pushes as with a pointed instrument, and drawing pains in the third molar tooth.

Nose p. 88

Discharge of bloody mucus from the nose. '

Mouth and teeth p. 88

Dryness of the inner side of the lower lip. Cold feeling in the upper and anterior teeth, as if touched by a cool breath.

80. Sensation in the left row of teeth, as if they were hollow. Cutting cramp-pain in the articulation of the lower jaw. Accumulation of a quantity of cool saliva in the mouth. Frequent contractive sensation in the interior of the mouth, producing an accumulation of watery saliva. The saliva in the mouth appears to be quite tenacious, (a. 24 h.)

85. The saliva in the mouth was burning hot when discharging it. (a. £ h.) Tongue coated white, (a. 26 h.) Smarting sensation on the tongue and the gums. Burning sensation transversely across the middle of the tongue, afterwards burning and dryness in the whole mouth, (a. 20 minutes.) Mucus in the mouth, with a sweetish and insipid taste.

Taste and appetite p. 89

Taste in the mouth as if the stomach had been spoiled. Smoking tobacco gives him no pleasure. When smoking, tobacco tastes bitter. Bread tastes bitter. Bread, when eaten without butter, tastes bitter, (in the evening.)

Throat p. 89

95. Dryness of the throat, with stinging. Raw throat. Tough mucus in the throat, which he is unable to hawk up, for eight days. Difficult deglutition as if the cervical glands were swollen.

Gastric symptoms p. 89

Hiccough, (a. 1-^h.)

100. Hunger early in the morning. Frequent eructations. Frequent, empty eructations. Rising as of air from the stomach when walking in the open air ; after issuing from the mouth he had to yawn several times, after which he was troubled for a whole hour by eructations and abundant emission of flatulence. Imperfect eructations reaching only the upper part of the chest.

105. Nausea, inducing shaking. Nausea, (one hour.) General uneasy feeling and nausea. Nausea and loathing, with shuddering, (immediately.) Continued nausea and inclination to vomit, in the fauces.

110. Nausea and inclination to vomit, with pressure in the forehead, and a quantity of water accumulating in the mouth. Empty retching, water collecting in his mouth, (a. *, 1 -J h.) The retching increases in violence, in proportion as it becomes more frequent; the eyes become tilled with water. During the retching, all the symptoms increase, the stupid feeling in the head decreases. Vomiting, (one hour after the first attack of retching) with great exertions of the stomach, in five or six paroxysms, every paroxysm being accompanied with a sensation as if the head, in the region of the ears, would burst ; only a small quantity of greenish, sourish juice is thrown up from the stomach, (a. 1 £ h.)

115. Vomiting, with great anguish. Vomiting, diarrhoea, death. Vomiting, with great exertions and violent pressure on the stomach ; the effort at vomiting takes away his breath, and almost suffocates him ; nevertheless, nothing but a quantity of sourish water is thrown up. (a. 2 -J- h.) Vomiting, with exertion of the stomach and violent compression in the epigastrium, a similar sensation being in the head. (a. 2 \ h.) Nausea in the stomach, with disinclination to attend to business, laziness, and a sensation as if he were without a head.

120. (Vomiting is followed by a diminution of the pains in the head.)

Stomach p. 90

Fulness in the stomach, with hunger. Pinching in the stomach, (a. 1 \ h.) Slight pinching in the stomach or close above it. Pressure in the stomach as with a dull point,

125. Troublesome pressure on the pit of the stomach, which makes him unable to decide whether he is hungry or no, the whole day. Hard pressure on the region and pit of the stomach, two days in succession. Pressure on the region of the stomach, during an inspiration.

Abdomen p. 90

Constrictive sensation in the region of the diaphragm. Occasional sharp cutting in different parts of the epigastric region, abating after the emission of flatulence.

130. * Cutting in the epigastric region, (a. 2 h.) Excessive colic and vomiting. Fulness in the abdomen, with appetite and hunger. Qualmishness in the abdomen, with repeated' attacks of oppressive headache along the coronal suture, (a. 8 h.) Painless and silent movement of flatulence in the abdomen.

135. Breaking, in the abdomen, of the flatus which were not emitted. Pressure in the abdomen. Sensation of pressure and painful bearing down on the left side of the abdomen, felt during motion. Single painful sensations in the left side of the abdomen, in an oblique direction below the umbilicus. Cutting in the abdomen, and sharp stitches in the rectum from above downwards previous to stool, (early in the morning.)

Stool p. 90

140. One hour and a half after having been to stool, he has another pressing desire for stool, with cutting in the abdomen and rectum before and during stool, which is softer than the former. Stool, consisting of hard, small pieces. The usual morning-stool delayed for a couple of hours ; it was scanty, yellow, (mucous,) and came out in one string. Diarrhoea. Diarrhoea, the stools resembling resin, as it were, and consisting of tough mucus ; for six days he passes shaggy masses of mucus with ascarides.

Urinary organs p. 90

145. Pressure upon the bladder during and after the emission of urine. Constant desire to urinate. Raging, intense pain in the left groin, darting through

I the urethra into the glans and cv sing a sore, smarting, contractive, violent pain in the same, for a long time.

Genital organs p. 91

Miscarriage, abortion.

Cold, catarrh p. 91

(Dry coryza ; the left nostrils are stopped up.)

150. Tingling in the nose, as if caused by the copper pole of the galvanic battery, causing a sneezing after many unsuccessful attempts, and a discharge of a clear fluid. Sensation as of the breath and the saliva being hot, without, however, the mouth feeling dry. Several attacks of cough, brought on by mucus in the chest, which rises into the throat and causes difficult breathing, and lastly, cough with expectoration. Inspiration irritates the throat and excites a cough.

Chest p. 91

Short breathing ; the throat feels constricted, and he is attacked with a short and hacking cough.

155. Dull stitch, arresting the breathing, deep, apparently in the left lung, at every inspiration, (a. 15 h.) Stitches in the throat, with constriction of the same, on account of which the breathing is short and jerking ; the constriction was relieved for a short while by the hacking cough. Dull stitch on the left side of the pit of the stomach, (a. 9 h.) Stitches in the right lobe of the lungs, during an inspiration, (a. 12 h.) Frequent, dull stitches in both lungs, during an inspiration, for eight days.

160. Stitches in the chest when taking an inspiration, (a. 24 h.) Dull stitches in both lungs when taking a rather deep inspiration. Feeling of pressure in the whole chest. Sharp pressure in the region of the last ribs, as with the back of a knife. Strong pressing in the right side of the chest, at regular intervals, (a. 1 £ h.)

165. Visible twitchings and jactitations of the muscles in the region of the clavicle. Painful stretchings in the left side. (a. f h. Constrictive sensation in the left lobe of the lungs, as if a wire or string were twisted round, cutting it through. Pain round about both lungs, as if they were being constricted with a sharp wire. Burning sensation in the right half of the chest, more towards the outer than the inner side.

Back p. 91

170. Burning pain, with stitches, in the small of the back, while sitting. Pain across the spinal column, from one brim of the pelvis to the other, as if the flesh were torn and pulled towards the outer side, in tearing jerks, when walking. Paralytic pain in the back, as if it were bruised ; he feels it as long as he remains standing or sitting ; it disappears when lying down. Pain, as from bruises, in the back. Dull stitches below the scapulae.

175. Pain, as from a contusion or a bruise, along the inner border of the right scapula, especially when touching the scapula, or in moving it from without inwards, (a. 25 h.)

Neck p. 92

Pain in the left side of the nape of the neck, as if a bundle of muscular fibres had been displaced by violent exertions ; the pain afterwards extends over the head and the shoulders, (a. 6 h.) Paralytic pain in one of the muscles of the nape of the neck, as if the parts were bruised when moving them. Sensation in the muscles of the nape of the neck, as if a cravat were tied round too fast, and as if the parts were being pressed upon by a blunt edge. Feeling of weight about the neck, and sensation as if the muscles were being compressed by a cravat.

180. Spasmodic contraction of the left cervical muscles, accompanied by a visible flexion of the head towards the left side. Violently tearing stitches in both shoulders, both when in motion and at rest.

Superior extremities p. 92

Sudden dull pain in the axilla, apparently in the axillary glands. Pressure in the left axilla, as with a rough piece of wood. Itching, as if caused by a flea-bite, at a place below the right axilla, in front.

185. Pain as from a sprain in the shoulder, when moving the arm. Contractive, tensive pain of the deltoid muscle, when laying the hand upon the table, or when leaning it there. Paralytic weakness in the arm. He is unable to let his arm lie upon the table without feeling exhausted ; he feels no pain when the arm hangs down. Tearing ache in the left arm, in whatever position it be placed.

190. Drawing paralytic pain in the left wrist-joint. Sudden drawing and burning pain, extending from the wrist-joint through the thumb and the indexfinger, (a. 3 h.) Occasional darting and tearing pains in the upper and lower limbs.

Inferior extremities p. 92

Bruised feeling, and sometimes a passing painful tearing in the upper and lower limbs. Painful feeling in the hip.

195. Dull pressure in the right hip. Drawing and tensive pain in the head of the left femur and farther on in the bone, especially when walking. Drawing ache in the hips, (when walking.) Dull pain in the hip-joint, and in the middle of the thigh, when touching the parts, or when walking, or when moving about after having been seated. Sensation from the right hip-joint to the knee, as if the limb would go to sleep.

200. When treading, he feels a violent pain in the hip-joint, and in the middle of the thigh ; the foot feels paralyzed from it ; he cannot step on the foot well Sudden, grinding pain in the upper muscles of the left thigh. Lancinating tearing pain in the left thigh. Spasmodic contraction of the muscles of the right thigh, near the knee, abating when extending the limb. Violent, tearing lancinations in the knees, during motion and when at rest.

205. Lassitude of the lower limbs, when going up stairs, for many days. Feeling of lassitude in the lower limbs, as if he had not rested himself sufficiently by sleep. Feeling of lassitude in the knees, with visible staggering when walking without paying attention to himself, (a. 15 m.) Faintness and weariness of the lower limbs and knees, with sensation as if they were bruised, as is felt in the beginning of an intermittent fever. * Uneasiness in the left knee-joint, inducing one to move about, (a. £ h.)

210. Pressure above the bend of the right knee as of something hard or blunt. The left leg feels as if it had gone to sleep, and the foot is insensible as it is when very cold ; it looks dead. Visible twitchings and jactitations in the gastrocnemii muscles. Feeling as from bruises in the left tibia. Painful shooting stitches in the sole of the foot. (a. y h.)

215. The toes of both feet are painful as if they were frozen.

General symptoms p. 93

Excessive sensibility of all the nerves : when merely imagining (which he is constantly obliged to do) that some one might scratch even slightly on linen, or a similar substance, with the tips or the nails of the fingers, a most disagreeable sensation thrills through him, momentarily arresting all his thoughts and functions, (a 11 h.) Great lassitude after dinner. Great faintishness and continual yawning every afternoon. Laziness, slowness, and want of disposition to work.

220. General weary feeling, sometimes as if one were bruised all over. Lightness of all the limbs ; he is not aware of having a body. When walking in the open air the headache disappeared, together with the hot feeling in the cheek, the drowsiness and ill humor. He imagines he is hovering in the air, when walking, like a spirit.

Sleep p. 93

Frequent yawning.

225. Towards evening he becomes so faint and nauseated that he feels as if he would die as soon as he rises from his seat ; he is obliged to go to bed. Great drowsiness by day. (a. 12, 13, 14, d.) Drowsy, out of humor. During sleep, he feels such violent stitches in the dorsum of the left foot, that he dreamed he experienced a stitch while a blister of cantharides was applied to his foot ; he felt nothing when waking up. Nightly -vexing dreams about insults which he had received.

Fever p. 93

- -230. Shaking over the whole body, (immediately.) Slight shuddering over the body. (a. J-, 1£ h.) Shuddering (with disgust and nausea,) (immediately.) Slight chills in the back, (suddenly brought on by biting upon a hard crust.)

ASARUM EUROPIUM. Chilliness, and slight and repeated chills, without any thirst.

235. Uninterrupted chilliness, goose-skin ; hands and face are cold, blueness of the face. The hands are icy-cold, the arms and the rest of the body are warm, still they are covered with goose-skin, and he has violent chills. Shaking chills in the evening, with extreme faintishness, especially in the knees and the small of the back, without any thirst ; the hands are cold, the rest of the body is naturally warm, the forehead hot. Chills, with heat in the face. Chilliness the whole day ; when sitting or lying still, and keeping himself covered, he feels nothing except a soreness of the eyes, a pressure in the forehead, and on the pit of the stomach, and sometimes external heat ; but when taking ever so little exercise in the room, or when exposing himself to the open air without taking any exercise, he experiences an excessive chilliness, without almost any thirst ; when walking fast in the open, or entering a warm room after coming out of the open air, or when becoming heated by violent talking in the room, or after dinner, or when lying in a warm bed, he feels healthy, naturally warm, feels even a little hot, and has a desire for beer.

240. Chilliness when drinking. Cold feeling over the body, as if a cold wind blew upon him ; at the same time he was cold to the touch, with goose-skin, the warmth returning in a few hours, and being somewhat increased (in the afternoon,) with a slimy mouth, dryness in the throat and thirst ; afterwards another attack of coldness as before, and in the evening, an hour previous to going to sleep, an increase of warmth, continuing while in bed ; he is obliged to uncover his hands, with great dryness of the palate. Fever the whole day ; chilliness in the afternoon, abating neither during exercise in the open air, nor by external warmth ; hot feeling externally with internal chills and thirst, after dinner. Chilliness, when not being well covered, or when moving ; heat as soon as he covers himself, sometimes accompanied with chills. Chilliness after the hot feeling, the heat of the head and face remaining, he feels chilly at the slightest motion.

245. Heat of the forehead and the hairy scalp, the rest of the body being naturally warm, with slight chills and chilliness, no thirst, the pulse being strong and quick. Hot feeling and actual heat after the chills, especially in the face and the palm of the hand, the symptoms in the ear appearing again. Warm feeling, as if sweat would break out. (a. 4 h.) Unusual warmth of the body, the whole day. (a. 24 h.) Slight sweat only on the upper part of the body, and on the upper limbs.

250. Profuse night-sweat. Warm sweat, even when sitting still. He sweats easily ; even from a slight cause.

Moral symptoms p. 95

Weeping, sadness, and anxious feeling. Great cheerfulness, (a. 6, 12, h.) sometimes interrupted for a few moments by a melancholy and gloomy mood.

Notes p. 88

1 When blown into the nose.