Anacardium Occidentale
Hering, The Guiding Symptoms of our Materia Medica, 1879, Vol. I, p. 250
Cashew Nut. Anacardiacece
The common cashew-nut from the West Indies. It is easily distinguished from our Anacardium which comes from the East Indies, by its being kidney-shaped, while the Oriental nut, our well-proved medicine, is heart-shaped. It was never proved and is only known by the frequent cases of poisoning which occur from peeling or roasting the nut. The kernel is edible but it is advisable first to remove the germ between the halves.
The poisonous black juice contained between the outer and inner shell contains two peculiar principles, Anacardic acid and Cardol. Poisonings are frequently mistaken for Rhus-poisoning.
The effects on the skin are mentioned by C. Hg. in CI. Mullers Vierteljahrschrift in 1861, Val. 12, p. 276. No cures on record excepting from Begin in Hygea.
Mind
Loss of will ; cannot control the voluntary muscles. θ Paralysis with imbecility.
Did not know his surroundings. θ Paralysis with imbecility.
▌ Weak memory.
▌ Difficult thinking.
▌ Melancholy.
▌ Hypochondriasis.
Sensorium
Apathy or anaesthesia.
Inner Head
Tearing headache on left side.
Outer Head
' ' Head falls forward, difl&cult to keep it up. θ Paralysis and imbecility.
Nerves
: Scrofulous ophthalmia.
Nerves
Swelling of ears with burning and itching. See 8.
^ Face. I I Erysipelas over the whole face (from applying the juice to destroy marks).
Swelling of the face with itching and burning ; next night after handling the nuts.
Applied to the face to remove the cuticle and produce a fresher and more youthful appearance.
Face so much swollen that for a time not a feature was discernible (in a lady who was exposed to the fumes of the nut while roasting).
Lower Face p. 251
The juice corrodes the lips and mouth.
Tongue p. 251
Cannot speak, only mutters unintelligible sounds. θ Paralysis and imbecility.
Painfully swollen tongue from handling the nuts.
Inner Mouth p. 251
: Aphthae.
After Meals p. 251
Drinks run out of mouth, θ Paralysis with imbecility.
Stool p. 251
: Dysentery.
Urinary Organs p. 251
Increased urination.
Male Sexual Organs p. 251
Stimulates sexual desire.
Testicles swelled when touched with the hands after handling the nuts.
Female Sexual Organs p. 251
When during the menses the juice is applied, it causes erysipelas of the face.
\ Uterine complaints and dropsy.
Respiration p. 251
Respiration free, θ Paralysis and imbecility.
Heart. Pulse p. 251
Pulse slow, moderately full, 60. θ Paralysis with imbecility.
Upper Limbs p. 251
Large blisters filled with a yellow fluid are raised on the hands, followed by desquamation.
\ Warts.
Lower Limbs p. 251
• Corns.
Fever p. 251
Temperature of body cool, θ Paralysis.
Locality and Direction p. 251
Left : tearing headache.
Left to right : red itching spots. See 46.
Sensations p. 251
Tearing pain : in head.
Burning : and itching of ears and face.
Tissues p. 251
: Scirrhous swellings.
\ Hard excrescences.
: Proud flesh.
Skin p. 251
If the hands are not washed carefully after handling the nuts, they cause itching and painful burning swellings wherever they touch the skin.
• Corroding or dry tetters.
Red itching spots Uke nettle-rash similar to that of Rhus tox., spreading from left to right.
Used as a vesicant it causes : itching and burning ; then gradual reddening and swelling, followed by vesicles, which become pustular. These are large and flat at first and gradually become confluent and break. The epidermis peels off", but leaves surface swollen, hypergemic and suppurating for days.
The juice is used on corns, warts, ringworms and obstinate ulcers,
Stages of Life, Constitution p. 251
▌ A woman, set. 70, lost two grown up children who died in the insane asylum ; ulcers on the leg and attacks of vertigo so that she fell from the chair ; a year ago had what was called an apoplectic attack, θ Paralysis with imbecility.
A lady, swollen face, from exposure to the fumes when roasting the nuts. See 8.
Relations p. 252
Collateral relations : Anac. orr. ; Rhoes.
Similar to : Oanthar. ; Mezer. (as a vesicant) ; Crot. till. ; Rhus rad. ; Rhus tox.
Antidoted by : Rhus tox.
The tincture of Iodine was found useful as a local application to the parts affected.