Berberis


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


Introduction

Including B. aquifolium, the holly-heaved barberry, and B. vulgaris, l., the common barberry. Nat. Ord., Berberidaceae.

Provings

1. Dr WINTERBURN proved B. aquifolium, in 1879, on 2 male and 3 female students; in 1880 on 4 of the former and 2 of the latter. Five of these took twice a day 10 dr. of fluid extract for two weeks, and then 3j for a week. [ In original report of these provings Dr. Winterburn speaks of the doses as being “from ten drops to three ounces,” and of the experiments extending over “about three months (? weeks).” The statement above is from his later paper.-EDS.] The other took drug on different scales of increase, only one taking largest dose mentioned. The following summary is given of the results obtained: 1 a. Mental condition showed unhappiness and depression, sometimes coming on suddenly (without cause), and sometimes amounting to anguish; hysterical crying at frequent intervals; nervousness and restlessness; disinclination to move, or do anything; dull stupid feeling: drowsiness in daytime. The mental symptoms appeared usually on 2nd d., continued throughout proving, and for several d. subsequently; they affected all the provers.

1 b. Head. -Dizzy sensation worse when sleeping removing; pain on right side pressing like a weight; pain in right temple, running down into teeth. The pains were transitory and recurring, and disappeared in later part of proving. The dizzy sensation was part of the general biliousness caused by the drug. 1 c. Eyes. – Sensation as of a film, before them; they look hollow and weak, as if tired, feeling also burning and aching, as from strain – in one case sense of weakness lasting for several weeks after termination of proving. In three provers lower palpebral conjunctiva was very decidedly injected.

1 d. Nose. – Stuffy feeling, with discharge of greenish yellow mucus; pitching within nose, with desire to sneeze. 1 e. Face. – Blotches and pimples; yellow skin; flashes of heat in cheeks; pinched expression. 1 f. Mouth. – Bilious taste after eating; thickly coated tongue either yellow brown or pasty white; tongue feels as if, or actually is, blistered; soreness in lower teeth and in salivary glands; dry throat. The bilious coating of tongue dated from 2nd 3rd d, blistering from end of 2nd week; dry throat occurred during 3rd week. 1 g. Stomach. – Hunger, even soon after eating, without desire for food; sudden nausea after eating; burning in stomach and borborygmi, – these were noted from first; during second week there were cramps, and no appetite. 1 h. Abdomen. – Uneasy feeling, without desire for stool pain in hypogastrium,. No direct sensations were felt in liver, but biliousness was a marked feature in all provers, and two showed a peculiar waxy look like beginning of jaundice. Upon the spleen B. a. had very positive action, causing intense burning and a feeling as if it had been pounded. The burning was very marked in all provers, commencing about 7th or 8th d., and persisting until drug was discontinued, producing a soreness of which all complained bitterly. 1 i. Stool. – All had free, dark movements on beginning medicine, one had hot bilious diarrhoea. This was followed by light coloured varnished constipated stools. Subsequently stool became soft and natural in quantity and colour, but too large, and expelled with great difficulty.

1 j. Urinary organs. – It had a manifest effect on kidneys of all provers, increasing in some and decreasing in others amount of urine avoided. No change in appearance of urine was noticed, and no analyses were made.

1 k. Generative organs. – Drawing and pressure in testicles, slight burning in vagina, bearing down pains, and aching as if menses were about to come on.

1 l. Respiratory organs. – On either 3 rd or 4th d. each of the provers had what seemed like a “bilious cold,” throat choked with mucus, voice rough and somewhat hoarse, expectoration yellow and then greenish. Throat was not relaxed prover could sing in tune and without fatigue, but voice sounded muffled as if a damper had been closed on larynx. This condition developed by 4th week into a most interesting condition. The peculiar lack of timbre in the voice; the oppression and weakness of the upper part of the chest (as also burning heat in lower left lung); the dry, irritative cough; the scanty tenacious blood streaked expectoration; the pinched expression; the previous gustier disturbance and present languor and debility and accelerated pulse and heighten temperature gave a startlingly vivid picture of phthisis pulmonalis.

1 m. Extremities. – When limbs were perfectly still they were free from pain, though sometimes there was feeling of numbness and a sense as if there was not strength of will to lift the part. On movement there was cramp (in legs), trembling and uncertainty of motion and pain. The latter was sometimes severe, and resembled that following a heavy blow. One prover noticed for several weeks after discontinuing the medicine a peculiar prickling as from electricity on back of hand and outside of forearm lasting only momentarily but returning frequently and seemingly independent of occupation, position or time of day. Flashes of heat and burning of palms also were noted by one, and rheumatic tension and stiffness of legs by another. 1 n. Circulation. – Diurnal rise of temperature and pulse rate (15 – 20 beats) during 4th to 6th week of proving. 1 o. Weak and tired feeling, better for exercise. (N. Y. Medorrhinum Times, Oct., ‘1879, and North Amer. Journ. of Hom., May, 1884.)

2. (Report of one of female provers.) ” In June I began to ‘prove’ the medicine for you. I had recovered from the rheumatism, [ This was in r. knee, and occurred while B. a was being taken, but in conjunction with Verba rheuma, so that symptoms then recorded cannot be allowed here.-EDS.] and was in good health and spirits. The only bad symptom remaining from the slight illness I had had was highly coloured urine, with red sediment. The first d. I took 3vj one teaspoonful before breakfast, four teaspoonful one hour apart, after breakfast. The effect was four movements of the bowels during the m., faeces large, loose shining as if varnished, dark greenish brown in colour. I had considerable nausea after each dose, and burning in stomach; but after effects had passed away (shortly after last dose) felt and stronger and more energetic than usual. The next d. I doubled the dose, taking 3xij in the same space of time. It caused nausea even to vomiting and my bowels were constipated; no motion at all during d. I continued to take it, but only 3x a day, for several d. The bilious symptoms were from the first the marked ones; bitter taste in mouth, yellowish, pasty tongue, bilious breath, burning in stomach and region of spleen, the latter daily for several d. The 3rd or 4th d. I had what seemed like bilious cold, choked with mucus voice rough and slightly hoarse the secretion was yellow even greenish at one time. My throat was not relaxed, but voice seemed cut off, as if a damper was closed; I felt as if my lungs were weak. About the 3rd or 4th d. I had, just before rising a severe cramp in calf of left leg, and the following m. slight cramp in both legs and a momentary paralysis of right foot. A very great depression of spirits during the greater part of the time that I was taking the medicine in this large doses existed, but at the same time I felt a tonic effect from it. I had a great deal of transitory headache on right side of front of head, and sometimes the pains would pass down into right jaw; my tongue and gums were little sore several times, and at last I had slight soreness of the salivary glands on pressure. Urine diminished in quantity from 1st day, and soon became clear and of light sherry colour, without the least sediment. Had rheumatic pains at various times, but although the weather was favorable to another attack, I did not have it, the pains being wandering and passing away. I took no medicine at all for several d., during which time secretion in throat and chest symptoms improved; bowels continued constipated, but I felt well, and think I felt withdrawal of medicine less than I do now. Urine did not increase quantity and remained clear. Then I took 3iv a day in four ounces of water, a dose every fifteen minutes. Precisely the same symptoms were set up gradually with addition of eyes troubling me; sight was weak and eyes slightly bloodshot, with some congestion in under eyelid. I felt a stronger tonic effect from these smaller doses than I did while using it in the larger dose. I think the effects have lasted longer than them. I have taken none for 9 d., and feel the want of the tonic. I have suffered from depression of spirits, headache, various bilious symptoms, burning in spleen, variable appetite, at times very little, at others hungry, dyspepsia I am paler, with less colour by far in lips than while taking the B. During the time I was taking it in the largest doses, I looked for a day or two waxy, yellow-white – and I had blue rings under my eyes nearly all the time. I think my skin looked clearer and is softer and with fever blotches than before using it. About the 3rd or 4th d. after discontinuing it, I had a very severe pain in left side neuralgic quickly passing away. During its use I had one rheumatic pain of a different nature from the pains I have had hitherto; my right hand and wrist felt as if stunned by a blow or as if a heavy weight was on it. This lasted about half d. To day (20th) I have felt in better spirits, have had some slight rheumatic pains, no movement of bowels, good appetite, skin clear, slight headache this afternoon. (Ibid.)

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.