Digestion.-Firstly, it is most valuable in the particular form of indigestion already described, the acid, flatulent indigestion brought on by too much starchy food, such as new bread, potatoes, vegetables and fruit, when the stomach and abdomen are distended with wind and yet the patient feels hungry, he takes food but immediately becomes satiated and can take no more, but in an hour or two may be just as hungry again. Lycopodium, with carbo. veg. and china, is one of the three drugs in greatest repute for flatulence. With lycopodium the flatulence is mainly in the intestines and colon, it presses up against the diaphragm, impeding breathing, and downwards on the bladder and groins, causing urging to urinate and protrusion as of a hernia, and further down it distends the rectum and presses on the anus. It tends to become incarcerated, when borborygmi and griping pains result, which are relieved by the passage of flatus through the anus. Lycopodium has been used for right-sided hernia and for chronic liver complaints of the atrophic variety.
It is a good remedy for chronic constipation and for the obstinate constipation of young children; the stools are dry and hard, there is difficulty in passing them on account of contraction of the sphincter and after stool there is a feeling of much remaining behind.
Urine.- It is also a principal remedy for what has been called the lithic acid diathesis, in which there are gouty or rheumatic pains in the limbs and the passage of uric acid gravel in the urine. In its course down the ureters and through the urethra acute pains may be set up with dysuria and possibly haematuria, and if the uric acid crystals are long retained in the bladder cystitis and calculus may result. The excretion of gravel in the urine often alternates with gouty and rheumatic pains in the head and limbs, or it may give relief to dyspeptic symptoms and colic.
Sexual.- Lycopodium has been of service in impotence, especially in elderly men who have married again but also in in younger men who have become impotent from self abuse or sexual excesses.
It will bring on the menses in undeveloped girls, and in women will regulate menstruation when too profuse and long lasting, if the general symptoms agree.
Throat.- It is useful for tonsilitis when the right tonsil is first affected and for diphtheria when the membrane is first seen on the right side of the throat and then travels to the left, or when it passes down from the posterior nares.
Respiration.- Lycopodium has been much used in the respiratory sphere; for chronic nasal catarrh with purulent discharge and crusts that stop up the nose at night and cause mouth breathing; for the dry, teasing cough sometimes present in emaciated boys worse in the morning; for dry cough day and night sympathetic with stomach and liver disorders: for chronic pneumonia and chronic bronchitis: to promote resolution in cases of acute pneumonia at the end of the stage of hepatization, when it seems doubtful whether the normal process of resolution is going to proceed or whether the normal process of resolution is going to proceed or whether the lung will break down.
When chronic pneumonia or pneumonic phthisis has occurred it is still a valuable medicine, as also it is in chronic bronchitis with copious muco-purulent or mucoserous expectoration, the cough sounds loose, and there is great dyspnoea which is relieved by expectoration. It will often clear up a condition of suspected phthisis in young men. In all these cases the presence of fan- like motion of the alae nasi will be a strong indication, though that is not necessary for the prescription of the drug. The right lung is more frequently affected in cases needing lycopodium, and the coincidence of liver symptoms is an additional indication.
Skin.-Lycopodium is useful in porrigo capitis, in chronic cases of urticaria, in boils which do not mature, and for bleeding, fistulous ulcers with elevated edges and surrounding inflammatory swelling. Good results in benefiting or controlling vascular tumours and naevi have been claimed from the use of this remedy.
In one direction, which the provings would not lead one to expect, the drug has proved curative in a few cases, viz., in aneurysm.
As mentioned above the general symptoms are the important guides for prescribing lycopodium, which is one of the most valuable in the homoeopathic materia media, and in suitable cases is antipsoric, antisycotic and antisyphilitic.
LEADING INDICATIONS.
(1) Flatulent distension of stomach and abdomen, with sensitiveness of overlying integuments; borborygmi, colic pains, relieved by passage of flatus downwards.
(2) Acid dyspepsia; hunger with quick repletion; distension, heartburn.
(3) Nightly polyuria.
(4) Uric-acid crystals, “red sand” in the urine.
(5) Fan-like movement of the alae nasi.
(6) Time and aggravation of symptoms 4 to 8 p.m., especially 5 p.m.
(7) Alternation of symptoms: catarrh and headache; sand in urine and rheumatic or gouty symptoms; hunger and satiety; relaxation and contraction of muscles.
(8) Sensitiveness to touch and pressure: head, abdomen, anus, ulcers, &c.
(9) Burning, as of hot coals, between the scapulae (phos.).
(10) Stiffness and muscular pains, better for continuous movement (rhus.).
(11) One foot warm (usually the right), the other cold (chel.).
(12) Great weakness and prostration (ars.).
(13) Exhaustion and sleepiness, worse after a meal.
(14) Emaciation, most marked in the upper portion of the body.
(15) General aggravation from cold food and drinks, amelioration from warm.
(16) Impotence.
(17) Left-sided hemiopia.
(18) Symptoms and pains come and go suddenly.
(19) Direction of pains and symptoms from right to left.
(20) People of feeble muscular development but keen intellect.
(21) People who are lean and predisposed to lung and hepatic affections.
(22) People who are lazy, apprehensive, fearful (of darkness, ghosts, death, and of crowds), miserly.
(23) Has been used in diphtheria and pneumonia, where the similarity of drug and disease features is very marked.
(24) Paralyses-diphtherial and other.
(25) For desire and aversions see p. 608.
AGGRAVATION:
From touch, clothing, morning on waking, afternoon, 4 to 8 p.m. after eating, wrapping up head, warm room, getting heated by exercise, warmth of bed (headache and irritation of skin), cold food and drink, wet, stormy weather, wind, rest, lying with head low, lying on right side, lying on painful side (sciatica), lamplight (eyes); eating cabbages, beans, peas, husks, rye bread, pastry, wine oysters or milk; from suppressed menstruation; rising from a seat (sacral and lumbar pain).
AMELIORATION:
From warm food and drink, lying down (headache, pain in epigastrium), motion, lying on back (cough), warmth of bed (toothache, rheumatism and most symptoms), sitting up (some headaches), loosening garments.
Edwin Awdas Neatby founded the Missionary School of Homeopathy and the London Homeopathic Hospital in 1903, and run by the British Homeopathic Association. He died in East Grinstead, Sussex, on the 1st December 1933. Edwin Awdas Neatby wrote The place of operation in the treatment of uterine fibroids, Modern developments in medicine, Pleural effusions in children, Manual of Homoeo Therapeutics,