Senecio


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


Introduction

Senecio aureus, L (S. gracilis is only a variety of this.) Life-root, golden ragwort, squaw-weed. Nat. Ord., Compositae.

Provings

I. Dr. SMALL proved tinct. of dried herb on a healthy young man of 22. He gave 40 dr. early in m. without effect. On repeating dose at noon chilliness came on, with heat, especially in forehead, also dryness of nostrils, dull stupefying headache, and inclination to sneeze. In evening perspiration on forehead and lubrication of nostrils; dryness of mouth and fauces; lips hot, breath feverish; tongue dry and slightly coated; uneasiness about stomach, nausea, loss of appetite; rumbling of wind in abdomen, and sensation as if bowels would move. Dose was repeated at bedtime, and followed by restlessness and wakefulness, with pain in back and loins. Copious diarrhea in m., attended with great debility and prostration, and severe pain in small of back; copious flow of urine tinged with blood; urging to urinate, with tenesmus of bladder. After fresh dose in m. face was pale and looked depressed; he breathed as if fatigued; there was inclination to lie down, great weariness and general malaise, disposition to perspire; he was easily chilled, and chilliness was followed by urging to micturate, urine, tinged with blood; also weariness of lower extremities and rheumatic pains in joints. (U. St. Medorrhinum and Surg. Journ., i, 151.)

2. Dr. SMALL himself, stout and robust, took 60 dr. m. and again p. m. without effect. After repeating dose on retiring, was restless up to midnight; head uncomfortably full; urinated several times during night; copious warm perspiration towards morning; dryness of mouth and throat. In m., urine was found void of sediment and inodorous. Dose repeated in m. Chilliness before noon, followed by fever and perspiration, with moderate thirst; nausea and weariness for several hours; slight urging to micturate, with uncomfortable heat in neck of bladder and slight pains in renal region. Passed urine frequently for next 24 hours (Ibid.)

3. a. Dr. W. G. JONES proved tinct. in 1865. Nov. 25th, took 10 dr. at bedtime, and same dose 4 times daily till evening of 30th, when he took a teaspoonful. Till then nothing had been noticed save once a smarting pain in left groin, and on 28th and 29th scantier urine than usual. On evening of 30th some colic and watery diarrhoea. Dec. Ist. – Took a teaspoonful in m. and at noon. Feverish p. m., and griping relieved by thin watery stool in evening and at n. 2nd. – No medicine. Colic and diarrhea still, with fever p. m. 4th. – Began medicine again at noon, taking 10 dr. before each meal and at n. Again colic and watery stool. 5th. – Same doses. Besides above symptoms sense of fullness in nostrils; sharp pain in diaphragm; much flatulence; sometimes elated, sometimes depressed. 6th. – Took 15 dr. doses in same way. Dull heavy pain in left spermatic cord, moving on to testicle. All yesterday’s symptoms, and at n. many vivid dreams and frequent waking. 7th. – Medicine as yesterday. Same symptoms, also tenderness in front of left ear; and p. m., sense as of ball in stomach rising up into throat. 8th. – Took 5 doses of 25 dr. each. Sharp lancinating pain in lumbar region; dizziness, coming on suddenly while walking, so that he nearly fell on his face, like a wave from occiput to sinciput; frequent yawning and shivering, a. m.; urine excessive, and so also secretion in nostrils and trachea, frequent hawking of white transparent mucus; darting lancinating pain in left face; nausea; frequent waking at n. and drowsiness all day; spirits variable as before. Prostate gland enlarged; feels hard and swollen to touch. For past few day has often felt very tired, too tired to move, for a few m. 9th. – Stool contained blood, and there was tenesmus with it. Teeth very tender. Took 100 dr. in 3 doses. 10th. – Teeth still tender Giddy attack as before. No medicine. 16th. – Teeth still tender; giddiness and nausea daily till to-day. Cuticle has been dry and nails brittle since commencement of proving.

3 b. Dec. 24th. – Took 10 dr. 3 times. Abundant secretion in nostrils and trachea; frequent hawking of white transparent mucus; great lassitude in evening 25th. – Same doses. Catarrh; flatulence with colic; chilly and sensitive to cold air. 26th. – Same doses and symptoms, with sadness most of day, great languor, giddiness, thirst and feverishness. 27th. – Took 10 dr. 4 times. Pain in forehead shooting from within outward; increased flow of urine; sadness; nervous trembling; stitches in hypochondria; restless sleep, with vivid dreams. 28th. – Same doses. Trembling; giddiness; catarrh and sensitiveness to cold as before; n. the same.

3 c. 30th. – Feeling well again, took a teaspoonful on retiring. 31st. – Many dreams, intellectually vivid. M., on rising, nausea and yawning; smarting about fossa navicularis before urinating. Took 3 teaspoonful doses to – day, before meals. Hoarseness; sense of fullness in nostrils; sensitiveness to cold; slight dizziness; sense of smell acute; lips and gums pale; pain, dull in left lumbar, sharp in epigastric region. About 4 p. m. sharp pain shooting down sciatic for a few m. Urine only 24 oz., and high-coloured. Jan. Ist.- Dreams indistinct. Nausea on rising; dizziness on going into open air. Took teaspoonful m. and e. Stool of hard lumps mixed with yellow mucus; urine 20 oz., high-coloured. Outward-pressing temporal headache. 2nd.-No medicine. Pain before m. stool, centering at umbilicus and radiating in all directions. About noon sharp shifting stitches in groins, lower jaw, shoulders, forearms and temples, lasting till dinner; also tightness in throat, which he tried to relieve by swallowing; occasional nausea and giddiness; yawning; sensitiveness to cold. About middle of afternoon return of flying stitches, with a quasi-globus hystericus. E., very meditative and somewhat gloomy; sharp pain in left eye from within outward, lachrymation on going into open air; general lassitude; thirst. Urine 20 oz., high, though he had drunk much water. 3rd. – Restless half – sleep, with constant excited dreaming. Colic in m. and evening, and occasional giddiness during d. The shifting shoots of pain were felt again. he had stools m. and evening, thinner than usual; urine 8 oz. only, high. Inability to fix mind on anything; sadness and despondency in evening 4th. – N. quieter. Symptoms as yesterday, with some nasal and tracheal catarrh, great languor, tired feeling in loins, thirst p. m. and evening; urine 12 oz., high, sp. gr. 1035. 5th. – Many dreams. M., eructations of sour gas. Took 10 dr. on rising. Still lumbar fatigue; frontal headache, pressing outwards. 6th.- many pleasant dreams. Sour eructations; sharp shooting, from within outwards, in eyes and forehead, also in left shoulder. Giddiness, with sensation as if brain was so strongly pressing forward that it was hard work to stand up. Urine 12 oz., high, 1030. 7th. – Symptoms as 2nd – 4th. Urine 10 oz., 1038. 8th. – Sharp cutting pains in various parts of head and face, and some of the old symptoms. He took no more medicine. By 11th urine had become of normal quantity, but sp. gr. continued high. Other symptoms gradually passed off, but he was occasionally reminded of them (especially the shooting pains, giddiness, lassitude, and sadness) up to 22nd. (HALE, New Remedies, 2nd ed.).

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.