Helonias dioica


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


Introduction

Helonias dioica, Pursh (Veratrum luteu, L.) False unicorn, blazing star. Nat. Ord., Melanthaceae.

Provings

I. Dr. TULLY experimented with 10:30 min. of tinct. of root. Its effects were – vertigo; slight darting pains in head; sight affected, a sensation of much light, with indistinct vision; on much exertion or sudden and considerable motion of head complete blindness for a time; an indescribable sensation in hypogastrium; nausea, and commonly vomiting, without relief of symptoms; pulse weak and quite infrequent (even as low as 40); cold extremities. After vomiting sensations of alternate heat and cold, more particularly referred to hypogastrium. Once, 2 hours after dose, glow in hypogastrium, with occasional flushes of heat through whole system. All symptoms reach their height in 4-5 hours, and in 7-8 hours have completely disappeared. (Bost. Medorrhinum and Surg. Journ., 1832, p. 136; from Allen.)

2. Dr. BRANCH took 3j of saturated tinct. After 2 hours genial glow in stomach, with occasional flushes of heat; feeling as if pupils admitted too much light, though they did not appear to be dialed; on sudden turning of head became almost blind. After 2 1/2 hour became sick at stomach, and rejected dinner, which was in a state of fermentation; previously to this an indescribable distressing sensation in epigastrium; pulse weak, hardly perceptible, about 60; extremities cold; on walking out, before he had proceeded 200 yards he became blind, but on stopping for a short time sight gradually returned. After 4 1/2 hours symptoms were at their height, and pulse was only 40; after 67 hours all had pretty much disappeared. (Ibid.)

3. Dr. C. H. BURR proved solution of 30 gr. of Helonin in 3j of alcohol, diluted with 3ss of water. October 15th, 1862, he took 2 dr. at 10, 4 at 11, and 8 at noon. Soon after each, pain, tightness, and pressure at stomach, partially relieved by eructation. At 1 took 12 dr., 16 at 2, 50, at 8 and 10 p. m. Between last 2 doses slight pain was felt through temples, with fulness in head and vertex. 16th. – Took 40 dr. at 7 a. m., 50 at 9, 60 at 9, 60 at II and 12. Felt nothing but an unusual degree of languor, and weariness and weight in region of kidneys. Took 68 dr. at 2 and 60 at 3. Now made sol. of 20 gr. in 3j of water, and took 40 dr. at 4 and 50 at 7 p. m. Symptoms mentioned as occurring in head are more decided; fulness increases, and their is sense of pressure from within up to vertex, – latter feeling aggravated by looking steadily at any fixed point; a larger amount than usual of clear light-coloured urine has been voided during past 12 hours; pulse 84, full and a little irregular. Took 60 dr. at 9; no fresh symptoms. On 17th, took 3ss at 7 p. m. and on 18th same at 9 a. m. and 12 morning P. m. and evening unusual weariness, with feeling of weight in anal region; mind dull and inactive. 19th. – took 3ss at 8 a. m., 12 morning and 5 p. m. Pain in vertex, increasing by stooping, with vertigo; sharp spasmodic pain in back, running to crest of left ilium. Has awakened each morning since proving began at 5 (an unusual hour)

with tongue and fauces dry and bitter, disagreeable taste in mouth. 21st At noon, 3j; soon after, cramp-like pain in stomach. At 8 p. m., 3j; severe rheumatic pains in right hip-joint, worse during motion; pains in forehead, as if band about 1 in. wide were drawn from temple to temple; pain and lameness in whole back, dryness and bitter taste in mouth. There also came on dull gloomy, irritable mood; he could not endure least contradiction, or receive suggestions in regard to any subject; all conversation was unpleasant, and he desired only to be let alone and allowed to find fault with everything around him. 22nd. – Took 3j at 9 a. m. and 12 morning. Mental state just described became continuous, and lasted unchanged for several day. On 26th he had pain in lumbar region, about upper part of sacrum and pelvis, more constant and severe than previously; pain worse at night than in day (HALE, New Remedies, 2nd ed.)

4. a. Dr. S. A. JONES, March 24th, 1868, at 4 p. m. took 15 min. of tinct. in 3iv water. At 6:15, while at supper, nausea as though vomiting would ensue, and feeling in bowels as if diarrhoea would come on. All soon passed away. “Between 8 and 9, while reading, fulness and pressure form within outwards at vertex and occiput; at same time scalp seemed to burn. When I read earnestly, concentrating my attention, all these sensations vanished; but if I turned my attention from the book they were instantly perceived. I found that I could get rid of them or bring them on just as I liked. While undressing, I felt a sudden and momentary but very acute pang of pain in region of kidneys, as if I had been shot there. ” 25th. – At noon took 30 min. 2:30, dull heat, hardly a burning, in renal region; also pressure at vertex as if skull was too full; took 1 gr. of Helonin. 5, painful aching in right ankle-joint as if wedge was driven in.9, burning in lower abdomen as if whole were filled with quite warm water. 26th. -2 gr. at 11 a. m. At 420 p. m. fulness in forehead all through between temples. Took 4 gr. Same aching in ankle again, not interfering with locomotion. Two stools, to-day, very unusual. 27th. – Through forenoon, vague distress in stomach, slight dull headache in forehead, extending towards vertex. 3 took 12 gr. A little weakness in sacral, and burning in upper dorsal spine. 28th. A second stool again to-day, yellow and mush-like; before it feeling as in diarrhoea, after its light buying in anus. An easy mile’s walk made him feel very tired and weak; also aching pain in chest, as rom overwork, as if whole front of chest, and especially a strip some 4 in wide down sternum, had been compressed in a vice. After resting an hour very tired feeling in lower lumbar and sacral region. 10:30, 160 min. of tinct. When sitting reading at night great heat and burning in dorsal region, especially marked in space between lower half of scapulae. Pain in left side, as if spleen was distended, causing a dull ache; it did not last long. Still tired lumbo-sacral aching. Sensation as if kidneys were two bags of hot water (felt so distinctly that he could have outlined kidneys by it.) Warm numbness in legs, beginning at tendo Achillis, streaming upwards, most marked over gastrocnemius, and in knee. 29th. Yellow and mush-like stool; front of chest very sensitive to air; while walking, same tired aching as if chest had been compressed; on every movement flushes of heat pass over him (in a room). At noon 480 min. 1:45 p. m., burning in sacral region; 2:30, burning in stomach, burning and aching in spine (dorsal and lumbar), tasteless eructations; leaking after each act of micturition, which lasted a long time; legs at times feel almost as numb as after 10 min. of Fleming’s tinct. of aconite; numbness in feet goes off by motion, and is only felt while sitting still. Exceedingly restless, and want to be continually moving about, feel better when moving, or when doing something which absorbs attention. 30th. – Nothing but slight dull ache in sacral region. 11 a. m., 540 min. Only symptom was increase of this aching. 31st Back across lower lumbar region very tired and weak; p. m., also burning there, and great pressure on vertex. In evening spinal symptoms gone, but it seems as if kidneys themselves ached. Two small brown stools to-day, preceded by bellyache. April 1st. – Impressing headache on vertex returned p. m., and had colic-like pains in hypogastrium off and on all day; back lame and aching; unusual feeling of fatigue, without cause; this and all pains ceasing when he moves about, but returning on sitting still. Bowels full of flatus; many tasteless eructations, each causing feeling of nausea. 2nd. – Burning between scapulae, and tired aching in lumbo-sacral region. 6th. – Since 3rd, daily headache at 4-5 or 8-9 p. m., dull, temporo-frontal, with pressure over root of nose; feels feverish with it, but without heat of surface or acceleration of pulse; also very irritable. Aching in sacrum again to-day. During week from 12th-18th all aches and failings left him, and he felt unusually well.

4 b. Dr. Jones made above experiment with view of ascertaining effects (if any) upon urinary secretion. He was accustomed-owing, as he thinks, to tobacco-chewing-to pass urine of generally faintly alkaline, sometimes neutral reaction, and almost constantly deposition somewhat copiously the amorphous phosphate of lime. From March 28th to April 9th an acid reaction was frequently observed; and after the proving, the presence of the deposit became the exception instead of the rule of his life. He found the drug somewhat diuretic. It lowered the sp. gr. of the urine, and seemed to increase the elimination of urea; but Dr. Jones considers the large quantity of alcohol taken in the tinct. a disturbing factor in the results. (Amer. Observer, April, 1871, and January, 1873.).

Poisonings

When taken in doses of 5-15 gr., it acts as an emeto-cathartic, producing griping, burning sensation in epigastrium, and great activity of salivary glands. Indeed, I have known the most perfect salivation to follow the use of large doses of Helonin. In doses of 1-5 gr., it produces irritability of stomach, and slight purging with burning sensation in bowels, irritation of urethra, pain in kidneys, which is followed by albuminuria, indicating congestion, and large discharges of urine, with slightly increased sp. gr. (PAINE, Conc. Medorrhinum)

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.