Hamamelis


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


Introduction

Hamamelis virginica, L. Witch hael. Nat. Ord., Hamamelidaceae.

Provings

I. a. Being perfect health, I took, May 24th, 1851, 10 dr. of tinct., between 9 and 10 a. m. I experienced nothing until evening, when I had return of symptoms with Which was troubled 15 years before, caused by running till I was exhausted, viz. laboured breathing, oppressive tightness of lower throat, inability to make full and deep inspiration; when attempting to assume recumbent posture I found it impossible to breathe in that position, experienced crowding fulness of blood in neck, and such sense of suffocation that I could not lie down, and was obliged to sleep that night in a rocking chair, with my neck perfectly free of any covering. All these symptoms passed off next morning. On June 1st I took a teaspoonful, and experienced return of same symptoms, only more aggravated, and continuing two days and night without being mitigated by antidotes, -camphor, hyoscyamus, etc., – which I took. At this time I found it very painful to ride or walk. On 12th took a tablespoonful with like effect; I was unable to breathe comfortably except sitting or standing erect, and even then to make deep full inspiration.

1 b. On August 20 took I dr. of 3rd dil. in evening, but though no more about it, being engaged with an obstetric case all night. Between 9 and 10 a. m., however, my nose began to bleed, and continued to do so for an hour, till I smelt of camphor and checked it. With the epistaxis was feeling of tightness at bridge of nose, and considerable crowding pressure between eyes, also benumbed sensation over whole frontal bone. This occurrence was quite unprecedented.

1 c. A young man to whom I age same dose 3 times a day had after 10 hours profuse epistaxis, whip I checked in like manner with camphor.

1 d. Mrs. W-, always regular, consulted me for some slight dyspeptic symptoms and I gave her 1 dr. of 3rd dil. 3 times a day. In 2 days she reported that (midway between two periods) she had been flowing considerably for 24 hours, and had lost over a quart of blood, bright and fresh, not coagulable, unlike her ordinary menstrual discharge, which was dark and generally coagulated. Hemorrhage ceased (medicine being suspended) in a few hour. In 4 days she came again, and I gave hours as before; She again commenced flowing 24 hours after taking it, and on leaving it off the haemorrhage again ceased.[*A leucorrhoea of years’ standing ceased when this patient began taking H., and did not return*]. A similar thing occurred in a young lady, who for imaginary ailments had same prescription. (Dr. H. C. PRESTON, Phil. Journ. of Hom., i, 460.)

2. a. Dr. BURT, September 16th, 1864, at 9 a. m., took 3ss of 10th dil., prepared with water. At 10 great fulness of forehead, with pressing distress at root of tongue; distension at umbilicus; dull aching pain in sacrum and hips, quite severe when walking. First and last sensations earliest perceived, and lasted all day, also great dryness and burning of palms. 17th. – Restless night, whole body feeling dry and hot; sexual dream with emission, followed by great weariness and severe dull pain in loins; finger stiff, with sharp sticking pains in 1st joint of right index; soft tool. At 7 a. m., 3j of same. Fulness of forehead, and severe sharp pains in temples all day., with pressing sensation in pharynx; back and legs ached severely all day; very gloomy and sad. 19th. – Feeling well, at 4 p. m. took 50 dr. From 5-9 slight frontal headache, with constant burning distress at lower part of epigastrium and umbilicus; desire for stool, but with greatest effort cannot accomplish it; during last hour drawing pain in testicles, rheumatic pains in legs, hands hot and dry. 20th. – Slept well; sexual dream, but no emission; right wrist and fingers stiff; dull pains in lumbar region. 6 p. m., took 3ss (aqueous dil.). At 9, slight headache, with severe distress at pylorus and umbilicus; dull aching in both testicles; dull pain in lumbar region. 21st. Slept well; dull headache; slight distress in bowels; dull lumbar pain; hands and fingers ache, and are quite stiff; stool of natural consistence, but covered with mucus. at 11 a. m., took 3ss. 8 p. m., felt all above symptoms, with full pressive distress in pharynx, and roughness of fauces; dull pains in right hypochondrium, and in feet and toes; very severe dull drawing pains in flexors of right arm 22nd. – slept well; sexual dream, with emission; stool at 6 a. m., covered with slimy mucus, with distress in bowels; very severe backache; hands hot and dry. At 10 took 3ss. All day had feeling as if something had lodged in fauces, causing constant inclination to swallow; dryness of fauces; slight pain in bowels; very severe backache; hands hot and dry; very gloomy; no disposition to move. 23rd. – Restless night; throat very dry all night, with feeling as if something large had lodged there; compelled to swallow every few m., which caused dull pains in tonsil; much pain on swallowing food this morning, and fauces are very much congested and tonsils slightly swollen; severe backache At 9 a. m. took 3ss. 9 p. m., tongue has two blisters on right side, very troublesome; throat has been very painful; sharp pains in stomach; drawing pains in groins, passing into testicles, also in hands, legs, and feet. Took another 3ss. 24th – Slept well; very languid; skin hot and dry; flat, rough taste; very troublesome blisters on both sides of tongue; severe congestion of fauces and tonsils; deglutition very painful; a number of times during day severe dull pains in testicles, with distress in bowels; hands hot; very gloomy. 25th. – Slept well; throat feeling better; natural stool, but with distress at umbilicus; all day frequent dull pains in testicles; frequent inclination to urinate; constant backache. 26th. – Tonsils and fauces still congested, but not painful; tongue well. Last night profuse cold perspiration all over scrotum, but there only. A number of rheumatic pains to-day in arms and legs.

2 b. On March 6th, 1865, I commenced a proving of the fluid ext., commencing with 10 dr. a day and increasing after 4 days to 50 dr., when I was compelled to stop the proving on account of the excruciating pains produced in the testicles. I awoke at 3 a. m. with these and could sleep no more; for 4 hours I never suffered more acutely, no position would relieve me; pain was of dull drawing character, and would ever and anon change suddenly to stomach and bowels, producing nausea and great faintness. The other symptoms of the earlier proving also recurred, but in greater severity. (Am. Hom. Obs., 1865.)

3. Dr. WALLACE MCGEORGE, aet.26, in good health, save for a cold in head, took, September, 30, 1867, I dr. of tinct. on retiring. No symptoms save such as the coryza might occasion. 3rd. – I dr. at midnight. Same result, with (5th-7th) weary aching in right lower extremity, where are varicose veins, these being larger and more sensitive; and occasional tendency to nausea and vomiting. 11th. – Another dr. 12th. – Slight headache (that of coryza had gone); qualmish feeling, tendency to vomit after every meal. 13th. – Headache over nose and eyes. (Trans of Amer. Inst. of Hom., 1874, p 253.)

4. a. Dr. ISZARD, in good health, took, November 1st, 1873, 5 dr. tinct. At 10 a. m. dull headache, pain in right lung. Took 5 dr. more at noon; felt dull and stupid. At 7, took 6 dr. Increasing headache; some burning in right ear; rawness in throat and fauces; no desire to study or read; sleep somewhat disturbed; increased urination, urine pale. 2nd-Took 5 dr. at noon; shooting pains running down right forearm along flexor muscles into palm; dull headache; dimness before eyes; could not sleep well; urination profuse, urine pale. 3rd. – 10 dr. at 9 a. m. Dullness in head; some pain in right lung; rawness in throat; did not sleep well at night 4th. – Tongue white in morning, with bad taste; still dull headache, and occasionally shooting pain along right upper jaw, extending to cheek; pain and full feeling at root of nose. 5th. – Could scarcely sleep at night, heard nearly every hour struck; some pain running down spermatic cords into testes; scrotum perspired freely during night 6th. – Sharp, lancinating pain along molar teeth, attending to malar bone and also temporal; stitching pain along left sciatic nerve; some pain in left knee; feeling as if vermin were crawling along edges of hair; about 4 p. m. pain along spine on level with stomach. 7th. – Again pain along right teeth; indisposition to work; 8th. – Itching in left ear and on covered parts of body; stitching pain in left hip and under left patella while walking; face feeling better; slept better. During next 2 days symptoms gradually wore off.

4 b. Gave son, aet.13,3 dr. of tinct at noon. It gave him a dull headache, lasting about 1 hour; rawness of fauces, – he declared he had a sore-throat, and wanted me to treat it. Next day throat was better, but he had severe pain in left great toe.

4 c. Gave daughter, aet. 11, 1 dr Immediately feeling of rawness in fauces; dull headache across frontal bone; could not read or study; had sudden pain in right great toe while running, which she never felt before. (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.