Sambucus Nigra


Dr. S.R. Phatak describes the clinically confirmed symptoms of the homeopathic remedy Sambucus Nigra in his Concise Materia Medica, published in 1977….


Generalities

      It acts upon respiratory organs, kidneys and the skin. Profuse sweat or shortness of breath; accompany many symptoms. Oedematous swelling; in various parts of the body esp. legs, instep and feet. Snuffles in infants preventing breathing and nursing. General trembling with anxiety. Ill effects of fright; grief; anxiety; excessive sexual indulgence. Suited to persons previously robust and fleshy suddenly become emaciated.

Worse

      Dry cold air. Cold drinks, while heated. Head low. Eating fruits. Lying down. Rest.

Better

      Pressure over a sharp edge. Motion. Wrapping up. Sitting up in bed.

Mind

      Constant fretfulness. Easily frightened. Fright followed by suffocative attacks. Sees images when shutting eyes.

Eyes

      Half open in sleep. Photophobia.

Nose

      Dry coryza, with snuffles; in infants.

Face

      Pale, bluish, puffy worse coughing. Hot; with icy cold feet.

Mouth

      Half open, in sleep.

Urinary

      Acute nephritis. Dropsical symptoms with vomiting of bile, and distress in stomach after eating. Profuse urination with a sensation of heat in the body. Urine frequent and scanty.

Male

      Hydrocele, from injury.

Female

      Debilitating sweats, after child birth.

Respiratory

      SUDDEN SUFFOCATION; or strangling cough on falling to sleep; or waking him at midnight with violent sweat; worse fright. Whistling breathing spasms of glottis. Screeching voice. Croup. Spells of coughing; before fever.

Extremities

      Icy cold feet. Hands become blue. Dropsy of legs and feet.

Fever

      Dry burning heat during sleep, but copious sweating on awakening. Sweat with cough. Debilitating sweat; worse night.

Related

      Bell; Bromium

S.R. Phatak
A pioneer of Homoeopathy in Maharashtra, Dr Shankar Raghunath Phatak was born on 6th September, 1896. He did his MBBS from Grant Medical College, in 1924. Started his practice but somehow not satisfied with Allopathic Treatment.

He was convinced about Homoeopathy while going through Sir William Osler's writings on 'History of Medicine' so switched over to an entirely Homoeopathic Practice in 1932. He also started working on Homoeopathic literature along with his Practice.

He has contributed immensely to homoeopathic literature. He was an ardent follower of Dr Boger. His Repertory is based on Boger's ''A Synoptic key to Materia Medica'.