Ruta Graveolens

(Express the juice from the whole plant and mix it with equal parts of alcohol.)

This powerful plant has been chiefly used by laymen as a domestic remedy.

' Curative effect. * Curative effect.

Rosenstein praises it in affections of the eyes induced hy too much reading. Swedjaur and Chomel join in that praise. Symptoms 38 and 39 show that the good effects of Ruta in those diseases depend upon its being homoeopathic to them.

A drop containing to-o-^ ,ro~ of a grain is, in many cases, more than sufficient for curative purposes.

Camphor antidotes the unpleasant effects of Ruta.

(The following symptoms are by Hahnemann.)

Dullness of the brain in the forehead, with a beating pain in the forehead, in the evening, before going to bed, and still worse in the morning when waking from too deep a sleep. (Tearing in the outer region of the right parietal bone, going off in the evening ; afterwards a tumor was discovered at the same ]>lace of the size of a walrmt, which is painful when touched as if there were subcutaneous ulceration, going off in a few days.) (First a violent pain, sticking and tearing, in the hairy scalp, after which a tumor forms in that place of the size of a dollar, and one finger high, which was first painful to the touch.) Sweat on the vertex (immediately).

5. Visible twitchings in the muscles of the eye brows, (a. 12 h.) (Flying pains before the eyes.)

(Bleeding from the nose.) (She blows blood from her nose the whole day.)

Bleeding of the gums when cleaning the teeth. — 10. Digging pain in the lower teeth.

Aching pain in the velum pendulum palate, more between than during the acts of deglutition, (a. 2 h.) (Pricking in the pit of the stomach.)

When she seated herself, she felt a sticking which came out of the abdomen. Discharge of blood at stool.

15. Fullness in the chest, with pressure, causing asthma and short breathing.

Numbers of fine, deep stitches, changing to a corrosive itching, with redness and heat of the skin of the arms. Hands and feet are debilitated : she was unable to hold any thing firmly in her hand, and when sleeping she did not stand firmly on her feet. Pain in the posterior spinous process of the os ilium, even when sitting, as if something would press out there ; the pain decreased, whenever the parts were pressed upon. Burning pain in the upper and inner side of the thigh, only when sitting, especially when waking in the recumbent posture, not when standing or walking. — 20. (Violent contractive and cramplike drawing pain from the middle of the thigh down to the hip-joint, and thence to the small of the back.) (Cold feeling in the inner side of the legs, from the bottom of the feet to the knee, without shuddering, as if the parts had gone to sleep.) (a. 24 h.) He feels crowded in every part of his body, oppressing the breathing. All her limbs feel heavy and debilitated ; she was averse to work,

(Cold sweat in the face, in the morning in bed, with redness of the cheek.)

25. Heat all over.

Dissatisfied with every thing around him, and especially with what he did himself.

Head p. 104

Sudden attack of vertigo when sitting ; every thing turns with her in a circle ; afterwards her cheeks glow. (a. 12 h.) Violent vertigo when walking in the open air ; he came near falling on the right side. (a. 26 h.) Violent vertigo, early in the morning when rising from bed ; he came near falling forward, (a. 24 h.) Slow train of ideas.

5. Frequent absence of thought: things which have become quite familiar to him are done by him quite mechanically at an improper period, (a. 48 h.) Gloominess of the head, a sort of inability to collect one's consciousness. Dullness of the head. Sensation in the head and body as if he had not slept enough. Heaviness in the head, mostly in the forehead, continuous, as if a weight were lying in the forehead, (a. 'f h.)

10. Headache after dinner, a sort of pressure on the whole brain, with great mobility of the nervous system, and restlessness in the whole body, which does not allow him to sit down. Painful pressure on the whole brain, in the morning after rising, (a. 24 h.) Obscuring pressure in the whole head. Stupefying headache with nausea, especially in the right side of the forehead, with a feeling of heat in the face. (a. 4^ h.) Painful pressure in the sinciput, at regular intervals like the heats in onusic.

15. Pressure in the forehead, over the root of the nose. (a. 2^ h.) Drawing headache in the right side of the forehead. Pecking headache, in one side of the occiput. Intermittent, boring stitches in the right side of the forehead (when sitting.) (a. 3f h.) Stitching awing pain extending from the frontal to the temporal bone.

20. Sticking drawing in the vertex, externally, (a. 24 h.) Tensive-drawing pain as after a blow or shock, in the sides of the head, externally. Itching of the hairy scalp, directly behind the left ear ; the place was painful to the touch ; it was a kind of itching, accompanied with soreness ; the itching disappeared by scratching, together with the soreness. Corrosive itching of the left side of the hairy scalp, obliging him to scratch and returning frequently, (a. 36 h.) Corrosive itching of the whole of the hairy scalp, especially of the left side and the occiput, abating after much scratching, but returning constantly, (a, 38 h.)

25. Two little ulcers on the hairy scalp, one on the left side and one towards the nape of the neck, occasioning a corrosive itching, which obliged hura to scratch all the time, and returned frequently, (a. 38 h.) Gnawing pain with pressure, on the forehead, (a. 12 h.) Dull tearing in the temporal bones, (a. 1 h.) Pain as of a fall, extending from the temporal hones to the occiput, in the pericranium. Burning compressive pain, on the head, externally, causing stupefaction, (a. 11 h.)

30. Heat in the head. Great heat in the head at eleven oclock in the evening, with feverish uneasiness of the whole body, and anxiety. Erysipelas on the forehead.'

Face and eyes p. 105

Itching of one side of the face. (a. 24 h.) Crampy tearing pain in region of the malar bone, with stupefying headache in both sides of the forehead, (a. 5 h.)

35. Sensation as if shadows were hovering before his eye. Sensation as if there were not sufficient light before his eyes. Contraction of the pupils, (a. 2.] h.) Sensation in the eyes as if he had exerted them too much by reading. Slight, aching pain in the right eye, with obscuration of vision, as after having observed too long a time an object incommoding the eyes.

40. Feeling of heat and sensation as of fire in the eyes, with soreness, when reading at candle-light. Burning under the left eye. (a. 3 h.) Itching of the inner canthi and the margins of the lower ej/lids, increasing to a smarting biting hy scratching ; at the same time the eye Jills with tears, (a. ^ h.) Pressure on the upper wall of the orbits, with tearing in the ball. Pressure on the inner surface of the left eye, with considerable lachrymation in the open air. (a. 48 h.)

45. Pressure on both eyeballs, accompanied with spasm of the lower eyelids, which draws them partly upwards and partly towards the inner canthus, the latter most, for some days. (a. 8 h.) Spasm of the lower eyelids, the tarsal cartilage moves to and fro ; when this abates, ivater runs out of both eyes for an hour and a half. Spasmodic movement to and fro of the orbicularis muscle. Involuntary staring at one and the same object, with contraction of the pupils, (a. ^ h.)

' From gathering the herb.

Ears p. 106

On shaking the head, he experiences a sensation in his ear as if something were rolling to and fro.

50. Se7isationin the ear as if a 'piece of blunt wood were moved over its walls, a sort of scraping with pressure, (a. 2 h.) Pain about the ears as if violent pressure were made upon them. Titillating, hot pressure in the ears, becoming worse by inserting the finger. Itching stitches in the right inner ear. (a. 3 h.) Contusive pain in the cartilages of the ears.

55. Pain as of a shock or fall below the mastoid process. Numb pain in the facial bones, as after a shock, descending as far as the teeth and jaws.' Sharp pressure in the root of the nose, (a. 36 h.) Pain in the upper part of the nose as if a plug were bored through it in a transverse direction, occasioning a scratching and a pressure ; this sensation does not pass off by blowing the nose or by inserting the finger into it. Slight sweat on the dorsum of the nose ; the nose and cheeks are warmer than usual, the face being but slightly red, without thirst.

60. Pinching in the left cheek, (a. 24 h.) Gnawingarthritic pain in both cheeks. Pimples on the upper and lower lips (from applying the vinegar of Ruta).

Teeth and mouth p. 106

The inner side of the right upper gums is sore and swollen, with stinging pains, which are most violent when touched, (a. 36 h.) The mouth feels sometimes dry and viscid.

65. Feeling of soreness and pressure in the region of the velum pendulum palate, when swallowing, but not otherwise.

Taste, appetite and gastric symptoms p. 106

Desire for cold water in the afternoon, (a. 33 h.) Unquenchable desire for cold water in the afternoon ; he drinks much and often without being incommoded by it. (a. 24 h.) Eructations (immediately). Empty risings.

70. Eructations tasting of the ingesta, after a meal. The aliments she eats have a taste as of wood ; they taste dry and flat. (2 d.) He has an appetite ; but as soon as he eats, he experiences a tensive oppression in the epigastrium and chest, as if he were replete with food, (a. 5 h.) She has an appetite as usual ; but as soon as she begins to eat, she feels an aversion against every thing. Frequent hiccough (while smoking the usual tobacco), (a. 4 h.)

75. Frequent hiccough with some nausea (while smoking the usual tobacco), (a. 34 h.) Inclination to vomit when stooping.

Stomach and abdomen p. 106

A sort of nausea in the pit of

' Ruta seems to occasion several pains in the bones and the periosteum. the stomach, with desire for stool, decreasing momentarily by emission of flatulence. Lancination in the mterior ot the pit of the stomach, (a. 24 h.) Gnawing oppression in the pit ol the stomach, night and morning, (a. 12 h.)-80. Oppression in the region of the liver, near the pit of the stomach, exciting an uneasiness. Burning gnawing in the stomach. Emptiness and gnawing in the stomach, as if he had not taken any lood for a long time. (a. 10 h.) Fine, painful beating, or a peeking sensation, under the left short ribs. Pain under the left short ribs, increasing when pressing upon the part, and arresting tue breathing, when waking in the night.-85. Corrosive burning in the left region of the abdomen. Coldness in the interior of the umbilical region, and sensation as if something became detached in that part. Severe stitches in the abdominal muscles, in the pit of the umbilicus, obliging him to draw in the abdomen (a. 1 h.) Lancination from below the umbilicus towards the mons veneris, during an expiration, arresting the breathing ; she does not feel any thing when pressing upon the parts hard. Aching -gnawing fain in the region of the liver.— JV Scratching and gnawing in the umbilical region, mixed with nausea, (a. 6 d.) Cutting-pinching, as of incarcerated flatulence, (a. 2^ h.) Pinching and aching pain in the abdomen, with a feeling of uncomfortableness as after a cold. (a. 48 h.) Tensive pressing in the whole of the abdomen from the umbilicus to the hypogastrium, at night, as if the menses would make their appearance ; the pain increases when pressing upon the part. Agreeable coolness in the abdomen and chest.

95. Heat in the abdomen and chest. Drawing pressure in the region of the kidneys along the loins, when sitting. Bruised pain in the loins, with oppressive tension in the opposite parts of the hypogastrium, only when sitting, but not when walking or standing. A digging-up, bruised sensation in the lumbar region directly over the small of the back, when sitting down after a long walk ; the pain continues for some time when walking, and then disappears gradually ; it returns when standing or sitting. Rumbling in the abdomen, (a. 1 h.)

100. Fetid flatulence, (a. 2^ h.) Easy emission of flatulence. Emission of flatulence as if stool would come on. (a. 39 h.) Lancinations in the rectum when sitting. Tearing in the rectum and in the urethra, between the acts of micturition, (a. 2 d.)

Stool p. 107

105. Scanty, hard stool, almost like sheep's dung. (a. 40 h.) Difficult expulsion of stool in the first twenty-four hours, as if occasioned by a want of peristaltic motion in the rectum ; the faeces being of a large size. Constant desire for stool, although the faeces are more loose than usual ; the tenesmus continues after the evacuation, (a. 24 h.) Two loose stools after a previous sensation of nausea in the rectum, the stools being expelled with great difficulty owing to a sort of rigidity and inactivity of the rectum, (a. 1^ h.) Retarded stool on the second day.

110. Frequent urging for stool, with protrusion of the rectum ; a considerable quantity of flatulence is emitted whenever the urging takes place ; the rectum protruded when stooping ever so little, and especially when cowering (a. 72 h.) ; the falling of the rectum continued the following days, and, although the rectum was easily pushed up again without any pain, it fell out again immediately for several days.

Urinary organs p. 108

Pressure in the region of the- neck of the bladder, as if the neck closed with pain, shortly after micturition, (a. 24 h.) The quantity of urine he emits is very inconsiderable ; but after micturition he feels a pressing in the bladder without any more urine being emitted (on the second and third day). Immediately after micturition she feels at every step as if the bladder were filled and were moved up and down ; not when sitting, (a. 48 h.) Considerable pressing in the bladder, as if it were too full ; the quantity of urine emitted is but small ; after micturition the urging continues as if more urine would come: which, however, is not the case (after a few hours for several days).

115. Excessive urging as if she could not retain the urine, although she emitted only a drop ; during and after micturition she feels a painful burning in the genital organs, and the urging continues for a long time ; she had quiet nights, the urging was felt only in the morning before day-break.

Genital organs p. 108

Increased sexual desire. Nocturnal emissions, without dreams.

Larynx and chest p. 108

Frequent sneezing. Pain in the region of the larynx, as of a bruise or contusion.

120. Agreeable coolness in the chest. Gnawing, corrosive drawing in the left chest. Gnaw)ing in the left chest. Gnawing pai?i in the right side of the chest, accompanied with a somewhat corrosive and burning sensation.

125. Strong compression of the lower part of the chest in the region of the last false ribs, at night; he dreams that some one is seizing him round the body violently, and that he wakes in consequence, (a. 24 h.) Pressure in the region of the sternum, which, to judge from the feeling, seems both internal and external. Hard pressure in the region of the sixth true rib, more violent during an expiration and contact, (a. 2 h.) Dull shock in the left side of the chest. Sharp stitches between the left nipple and axilla, more violent during an inspiration, (a. 30 h.)

130. Sticking pain in the interior of the left nipple, more violent during an inspiration, (a. 4 d) Stitches in the chest and arrest of breathing, which causes great anxiety ; when going up stairs. Stitches in the outer surface of the sternum during every movement (sec. day). Oppressive sticking in the sternum, when sitting, both during an inspiration and expiration, (a. 4 h.) Fine cutting, which extends from the throat into the chest, especially into the region of the clavicle and the axilla, where it stops ; the cutting is felt when Walking, and becomes worse as one walks faster, (a. 36 h.)

135. Tremulous bubbling in the region of the last true ribs of the right side. (a. -J- h.) Intermittent gnawing or pecking in the region of one of the costal cartilages, at night, over the xiphoid cartilage.

Back p. 109

Pain extending from the os coccygis to the os sacrum, as if caused by a fall or bruise. Hard pressure in the region of the left lower surface of the os sacrum. Pain in the lumbar vertebrae, as if bruised.

140. Painful darting in the dorsal spine, opposite the pit of the stomach ; this becomes worse by pressing upon the part with the hand, in which case a pain is felt under the last short ribs extending into the abdomen afterwards, and arresting the breathing. The dorsal spinels painful as if bruised, when sitting or walking; this pain arrests the breathing. Hard pressure on the left side close to the os innominatum, not far from the dorsal spine, (a. 2 h.) Intermittent painful beating in the back, directly over the left os innominatum, going off when pressing upon the parts, and reappearing after wards. Beating in the region of the posterior border of the left os innominatum (after a long walk, extending across the hip over the anterior surface of the thigh, down to the knee, and disappearing when pressing upon the OS imiominatum).

145. Intermittent beating in the anterior spinous process of the left os innominatum. Stitches in the dorsal spine when sitting, accompanied with sudden attacks of anxiety. Drawing-aching pain in the right side of the dorsal spine, opposite the liver ; the pain being especially painful during an inspiration, (a. 2 d.) Pain as of a fall in the dorsal vertebrae, in motion and rest. Drawing pain in the dorsal spine, as if bruised, frequently arresting the breathing.

150. Bruised pain in the left side of the back when sitting, disappearing again when standing or walking, (a. 10^ h.) Pain as if bruised in the dorsal spine, and paralytic weakness in the small of the back. Bruised pain along the dorsal spine when sitting, especially on the left side. (a. 7|- h.) Pressure in the interior region of the right scapulae, (a. 14 h.) Stinging itching between the scapiilse ; it did not go off by rubbing (immediately).

155. Drawing-sticking pain in the apex of the scapula, when moving it, obliging him to let the arm hang at once. Drawing pain in the scapula, arresting the breathing. Drawing in the nape of the neck.

Upper limbs p. 110

Intense pain, as if sprained, in the shoulder-joints ; these pains abate somewhat by raising the upper arm and by drawing it. but they return immediately by letting the arm hang down, or by laying it upon anything. Pain in the right axilla as of a burning-biting ulcer, (a. 48 h.)

160. Crampy drawing in the biceps muscle of the upper arm. Painful jerks in the upper arms, beginning in the centre ; when the pain reaches the elbow it is felt all along the arm as far as the tips of the fingers, the bones feeling too narrow ; accompanied with weariness and heaviness of the lower limbs. Coolness in the interior of the arms. Itching of the left upper arm\ inducing a desire to scratch, (a. 8 h.) Hard pressure in the right elbow-joint, more violent when stretching the arm. (a. 12 h.)

165. Pain in the left elbow-joint, as of a shock, with weakness in the arm. (a. 36 h.) Dull tearing in the long bones of the arm. (a. 1 h.) Dull tearing pain in the right elbow-joint, and the neighboring parts, extending to the lower extremity of the humerus ; when stretching the arm the pain is changed to a sort of painful pressure, (a. 36 h.) The ulna feels bruised. Crampy tearing in the left forearm, (a. 25 h.)

170. Paralytic pressure in the outer side of the right forearm, (a. 10 h.) Painful drawing with pressure, in the middle of the anterior surface of the right forearm, (a. 34 h.) Tearing, with pressure in the right wrist-joint, more violent when moving it with force, (a. 32 h.) Distention of the veins of the hand, after a meal. (a. 4 h.) Stinging titillation in the palm of the left hand. (a. 36 h.)

175. Erysipelas of the hands, from gathering the plant. Pain in the left wrist-joint, as if broken, even in rest. Pain in the hones of the wrist-joints^ and of the dorsa of the hands, as if bruised, in rest and motion. Crampy pain transversely across the right hand. (a. 7 h.) Painful drawing, with pressure, in the posterior joint of the two last fingers at night, (a. 42 h.)

180. Pains in the fingers, in rest, as if bruised or contused, (a. 6 h.) Tearing in the left middle finger, especially the middle-joint, and the middle phalanx, (a. ^ h.) Drawing, with pressure, in the middle joint of the three right middle fingers.

Lower limbs p. 110

Pain in the hones around the hips, as of a bruise or fall [during motion). He is imable to bend douhie ; all his joints are painful, and the haunch hones feel bruised. — (a. 10 h.)

185. When feeling the affected parts, especially the haunch hones and tihioi, they are painful as if bruised. (a. 29 h.) Burning, sharp pressure, in the upper bend of the right thigh, (a. 1 h.) Pain in the middle of the femora, as if bruised (in motion). The whole of the anterior surface of the thighs feels bruised and is painful to the touch, (a. 31 h.) When stretching the lower limbs ever so little, the thighs are painful in the middle, as if bruised.

190. The bruised pain in the thighs continues two days, so that he is scarcely able to walk. Pressure in the middle of the outer side of the right thigh. Bruised feeling in the posterior part of the thigh and above the knee (during motion). He is unable to walk directly after sitting and rising ; he tumbles back upon his chair ; the bones feel as if broken ; the thighs give way from weakness and pain. When walking he staggers from side to side.

195. When walking he staggers from side to side ; the feet do not support him ; the thighs feel debilitated, and are unable to hold out. Hard pressure in the upper inner surface of the left leg. Hard pressure in the middle of the outer side of the left leg. The knees give way when rising from a seat and commencing to walk. (a. 4 h.) Paralytic heaviness in the knees ; he is obliged to change the position of his feet ; he feels relieved after a walk. (a. 1 h.)

200. He finds it difficult to go either up stairs or down stairs ; Nis fences give way. Cramplike contraction of the bends of the knees when rising from a seat. Weariness in the -left knee after a walk ; the knees gave way. Tremulousness in the knees, with lassitude of the feel. Tremulous heaviness of the legs.

205. He is not allowed to tread firmly, lest tie hones in tie feet should acfie, accompanied witfi a feeling of fieat. Dull stitches darl slowly along the tibia, commencing in the dorsum of the foot. Beating and fiacfcing pain in tie anterior side of tie left tarsal-joint, as if tfiere were an ulcer. Burning and corrosive pain of tie hoties in tie feet, in rest. Burning sensation under the malleolus externus, when standing.

210. Sticking pain, with pressure, when sitting, first in the left then in the right heel. (a. 12 h.) Burning tearing in the left big toe, especially when making pressure from without, (a. G h.) Burning pains in the toes, as from a bruise or contusion, as if a foreign body had been thrust into the parts. Cramplike fine stinging in the little toe of the right foot, when sitting, which became more intense when moving the toes. (a. 33 h.) Painful drawing in the toes.

215. Painful pressure in the bottom of the left foot, Avhen sitting, (a. 36 h.) Hot, prickling titillation in the bottom of the foot.

General symptoms p. 112

Cramplike tearing, with pressure, now in the upper now in the lower limbs, in rest and motion. (a. y h.) When lying down, all the parts upon which he is lying are painful, as if bruised, even in bed. (a, 17 h.) Itching of the whole body, early in the morning when rising from bed, abating after scratching, (a. 24 h.)

220. He feels tired and lazy, only when sitting ; he does not feel so any longer after having walked a while. His lower limbs feel so restless and heavy that he cannot keep them still ; he turns constantly from side to side.

Weakness p. 112

Great debility. Great weariness and heaviness in the whole body after dinner; she was so sleepy that she had to close her eyes ; she felt better in the open air. He feels very tired after a short walk ; his limbs feel bruised ; his loins and the small of his back ache ; but he feels the pain only when he sits down ; he feels relieved when rising and walking about.

225. Tiredness in the limbs when sitting ; when keeping his hands upon his knees they felt so comfortable that he did not like to remove them from that position. Lassitude and heaviness in the whole body.

Sleep p. 112

Yawning and stretching of the hands. Imperfect yawning, several times ; the yawning was accomplished half only.

230. She fell into a deep and sound sleep as soon as she laid down in the evening. Excessive drowsiness after a meal ; he fell asleep when reading ; it was a sleep with half consciousness ; when touched ever so lightly he woke with a cry of terror. Restlessness in the night : she wakes frequently, experiencing a nausea, and a painful turning around the umbilicus ; a sensation as if the water would accumulate in her mouth ; sometimes rises up to the pit of the throat. He is excessively restless, tosses from side to side, wakes every hour, and has great difficulty in falling asleep again. Restless sleep, whh vexatious dreams.

235. j Frequent soaking in the night, as if the time for rising had come. Vivid confused dreams.

Fever p. 112

Shuddering of the whole body, even while near the warm stove ; hands and feet are cold to the touch, the face being warm interiorly and exteriorly, and the head feeling dull as in catarrhal fever, with violent thirst, which disappeared after drinking once. Chilliness and coldness of the whole body. A cold thrill on one side of the head and face.

240. Coldness descending along the vertebral column. Chilly shuddering, especially in the back and over the chest, at short intervals. Cold sensation in the back ascending and descending. Chilliness, or rather shaking chills, over the whole back, with goose-skin, accompanied with yawning and stretching. Internal chilliness ; she is unable to get warm (before the proving she had this sensation regularly previous to the appearance of the menses).

245. Heat in the face, interiorly and exteriorly with redness. Heat over the whole body in the afternoon' with febrile uneasiness and anxiety as if he should die arresting his breathing ; he is especially troubled with great heat in the face, without thirst, accompanied with white coating of the tongue and a feeling of rough dryness on the same. Great restlessness three evenings in succession, with headache and febrile heat. Increase of warmth in the feet. After walking in the open air, she perspired over the whole body. (a. 6 h.)

Moral symptoms p. 113

250. Frequent attacks of anxiety with apprehensions and desponding thoughts. Indifference! She is not disposed to do any thing ; she does not feel comfortable. He feels low-spirited in the afternoon and the whole of the evening ; he indulges melancholy, sad thoughts, and feels weary of life. Anxiety the whole day, as if he had done any thing evil ; when the door was opened he feared they came to take him to prison.

255. He is peevish and out of humor if things do not take place according to his wishes, (a. 24 h.) Irresolute, not disposed to do any thing. Inclines to be angry Inclines to contradict.

260. Out of humor and distrustful the* whole day ; he did not trust his best friend, and imagined he was deceived, (a. 40 h.) Good-humored (curative effect) When applied externally, it draws blisters and corrodes the skin.