Ailanthus glandulosa


Proving Symptoms of homeopathy medicine Ailanthus Glandulosa, described by Richard Hughes in his book, A Cyclopedia of Drug Pathogenesis, published in 1895….


Introduction

Ailanthus glandulosa, Desf. Tree of heaven. nat. Ord., Simarubaceae.

Provings

1a. Dr. GIRAUD took 2 spoonfuls of an infusion of the bark. After 1/4 hours nausea, with anxiety, worse than that caused by ipecacuanha; also sense of tightness in temples. Symptoms increased after 1/2 hours of vomiting (sour); pulse had now risen from 68 to 76, temp. from 37.2 to 37.3. After this peculiar sensation of emptiness in stomach; pulse, 1 hours after dose, 80 temp. 37.7. In 1/2 hours fall of temperature to 37, and of pulse to 64; sense of coldness over whole body. After a few hours colic followed by soft stool.

1b. In another occasion, after same, pulse being 78, there was no nausea, but after 3/4 hours pulse was 70, with a sensation of coldness; later pulse rose to 76 again. After 4 hours some colic and soft stool. (Allen’s Encyclopedia, x, 643; from thesis by Giraud, not accessible.)

2. Dr. ROBERT took same. Found it extremely bitter, causing nausea, sometimes vomiting. After 1 hours pulse fell 10 beats, remaining thus for 1/2 hours, after which it became somewhat more frequent than usual. (Ibid.)

3. Dr. HETTET reports as effect of eating fragment of bark, general malaise, sensation of feebleness, dimness of vision, vertigo, cold sweat, and nausea. (Ibid.)

4. P. -, a student of medicine, aged. 19, in good health. Took 1 dr of 1st cent. dil. every hours from 8 a.m., March 4th. 10.0 Lancinating pain through both temples, and fine pricking pains in temple. Burning in and darting pains through stomach. 12.0 Tired sensation of lower limbs, chills over whole body as from water, and sharp pains through both lungs. 1.0. After dinner, sinking feeling in stomach. 3.0 Severe constriction of throat. 8.0. Sharp pricking pain in stomach and temples. 5th. – 10 a.m. aching in left lung; discharge of bright red blood from nose, which was swollen. 11.0. Severe nausea, as from fat meat. 1.0. Sharp pains through both temples. 3.0. Lancinating pains through whole lower limbs. 6.0. throat feels very full. 6th, 7th, and 8th. No new symptoms. 9th. – 9 a.m. Bleeding from nose and sharp pains through both lungs; worse when taking long breath. 12.0 Mouth very sore, and feels raw and burning, as if from presenceness of stomach after dinner, lasting 1 1/2 hours 4. Sensation as from a blow in right ear. 6:30. Trembling of legs. 10th. – 8 a.m. Mouth sore and raw, and oozing and blood from denuded surface. Faint feeling, with nausea. Sharp pains in both lungs, and in stomach, as from pins. 12.0. ringing in right ear. 2.0. Bruised sensation on right forearm. 5.0. Mouth very sore and painful, discharge of blood from the swollen gums. 12th. – 8 a.m. Dryness of mouth, and bleeding from root and sides. Nausea in abdomen. 10.0 sharp pain through right temple, with nausea. 3.0 Pricking pain through left lung. Trembling of legs. ringing in ears like music. 15th. – 8 a.m. Mouth continues very sore, with discharge of blood and stringy saliva. Teeth feel as if he had taken acid in mouth. 10.0 Pains in lungs return, and trembling of legs and bruised sensation of r forearm. Constriction of throat, with sensation of foreign body there for about 10 m. after every dose of medicine. Took same doses up to 25th, with no new symptoms. (Publ. of Mass. Hom. Medorrhinum Soc., iv, 120.)

5. In proving the Ailanthus, I procured the flowers just before maturity, had them carefully dried and of these made a tincture of about 3j to the pint. I first took it myself, in drop-doses, 4 times a day, for 3 weeks, noticing only the distinct and decided symptoms, and was then compelled to take an antidote. I then gave it to 2 young men, one of bilious, the other of lymphatic temperament, neither of whom knew what they were taking, or what effects I was looking for. the principal symptoms corresponded perfectly, though one refused to take it after a few day’s indisposition. They each made only one trial, continuing it about 2 weeks. My last proving was with the 1st dil., and the effects were quite as well marked as those of the tincture. Each time I have been compelled to suspend the doses after the 3rd week, and twice to antidote its action by nux vomica as, by that time, the throat, lungs, eyes, and head (I mention them in their order of being affected) were suffering severely. I have only noted such symptoms as were common to each of the provers, and have excluded all which did not seem to be caused by the action of the drug. the symptoms which are most positive are printed in italics.

5a. General Symptoms. – Feeling of uneasiness, and aching restlessness in limbs; electrical thrill extending to ends of fingers; heaviness of extremities; peculiar feeling of emptiness in stomach; languor and lassitude on making exertion; tottering gait with inclination to stagger – requires extra effort to walk straight; incapability of standing long at a time.

5b. Head. – Vertigo, especially when stooping; headache; darting pain in back of head; beating in occipital arteries; feeling as if electrical currents were passing through left side of head; catarrhal obstruction as from cold in head; thick, heavy feeling, as in base and right side of the head; tender bruised feeling over parieto-frontal sutures; dizziness and confusion of head; inability to ride feet; staggering dizziness when rising or moving.

5c. Emotive Sphere. – Low spirited; continued sighing; restlessness; confusion of ideas; inability to concentrate mental effort; compelled to read a subject several times, to get a misty understanding of it; recklessness in regard to present or future events; stoical indifference to what happens.

5d. Sentient Sphere. – Loss of memory; mental alienation; [ This must have been something quite temporary and superficial.-EDS.] apoplectic fulness of head, rather serous than sanguineous;[ This must describe what the provers’ sensations suggested.-EDS.] electrical thrill, starting from brain and extending to extremities; tingling in fingers.

5e. Eyes. – Feel rough and irritated as from wind and dust; smarting and aching of the eyes as from application of powerful astringents; burning in the eyes; lachrymation in open air or by brilliant light; failing out of eyebrows.

5f. Nose. – Dryness and suppressed secretion; loss of smell; difficult breathing through nose; itching and uneasy feeling around nose.

5g. Face. – Complexion sallow, blue, and inactive; irregular spots of capillary congestion, as in face of drunkard after a debauch; dusky bilious complexion, dark blue circle around eyes.

5h. Throat. – Throat tender and sore on swallowing, or on admission of air; hawking of mucus from throat; thick, oedematous, and dry choky feeling of throat continuing in an acute form only in short time, and then becoming chronic; great accumulation of matter, part of which is easily expectorated, while a portion of it is detached, with much exertion, in small flakes; spreading ulcers, feeling as after application of nitrate of silver, constant hawking and efforts to raise hardened lumps of whitish matter; thickened swelled feeling of muscles of neck; tenderness and enlargement of parotid and thyroid glands; sensation as after an astringent to pharynx; croupy choking; raising of mucus and yellow matter from the throat.

5i. Chest. – Pain and contracted feeling, especially through the centre of the left lung; equable oppression as though chest was strapped; asthmatic oppression in larger bronchi; aching, pressed feeling of dorsal excessive soreness and tenderness of the lungs, compelling suspension of drug. On 2nd day after suspension, sneezing asthmatic respiration; cough, somewhat oppressed; expectoration muco- purulent, free in m., sticky and scanty during day; deep, exhausting cough with asthmatic expansion of the lungs; convulsive cough; cough deep, and painful; excessive tenderness all over the lungs; feeling as though air-cells were stuck together; inability to completely expand the lungs; can hear the cells open as the lungs expand. Crepitant rhonchus; tired feeling in lungs rendering it almost an exertion to breathe; stitching and aching in the chest; aching pain directly under clavicle, sometimes extending to sternum; burning pain under left shoulder; constant aching between shoulders; burning in right lung; aching in front of Left lung, extending to back; aching close on either side of the dorsal vertebrae; pain, as though from a small blade, 2 inches left of lower portion of sternum; shooting, aching pain in the shoulders and hips. [ Dr. Alley’s pulmonary symptoms might have been set down to an intercurrent chill, but they are confirmed by Dr. Minton’s experiments.-EDS.]

5j. Stomach. – No particular desire for food, but eats his usual quantity. Inactive condition of stomach as though its contractive power was impaired; appetite capricious; tongue thickly covered with whitish coat, brown in the centre; water tastes brackish and flat; no desire for drink except when eating.

5k. Abdomen. – Weak, burning, uneasy feeling in the bowels, as of approaching diarrhoea; bowels moved easier than natural 2 or 3 times a day. Tympanites; slight rumbling in the bowels; looseness of bowels, seeming most in the large intestines.

Richard Hughes
Dr. Richard Hughes (1836-1902) was born in London, England. He received the title of M.R.C.S. (Eng.), in 1857 and L.R.C.P. (Edin.) in 1860. The title of M.D. was conferred upon him by the American College a few years later.

Hughes was a great writer and a scholar. He actively cooperated with Dr. T.F. Allen to compile his 'Encyclopedia' and rendered immeasurable aid to Dr. Dudgeon in translating Hahnemann's 'Materia Medica Pura' into English. In 1889 he was appointed an Editor of the 'British Homoeopathic Journal' and continued in that capacity until his demise. In 1876, Dr. Hughes was appointed as the Permanent Secretary of the Organization of the International Congress of Homoeopathy Physicians in Philadelphia. He also presided over the International Congress in London.