H. macrophylla. H. dioica. H. virginica. Witch-hazel. *N.O. Hamamelidaceae. (A shrub growing in all parts of U.S., in damp woods or along streams, flowers in autumn, flowers yellow, the seeds ripen the year following). Tincture of fresh bark of twigs and root. A resinoid, Hamamelin, is also prepared.
Clinical
Abortion, threatened. *Ankles, *weak. *Black-eye. *Bruises. *Burns. *Cancer. *Chilblains. *Consumption. *Enteric fever. *Gastric ulcer. *Hematemesis. *Hematuria. *Haemorrhages. *Hemorrhagic diathesis. Haemorrhoids.* Leucorrhoea. Melaen. *Menstruation, *disorders of, *vicarious. *Nipples, *sore. *Noises in the head. *Nose, *bleeding from. *Ovaries, *affections of. *Pelvic hematocele. *Phimosis. *Phlegmasia alba dolens. *Purpura. Rheumatism. Scapula, rheumatism of. *Scurvy. *Small- pox. *Testicles, *inflamed. *Ulcers. *Uterus, *affections of. *Vagina, *spasm of.* Varicocele. *Veins, varicose.* Wounds.
Characteristics
The deep red colour of the tincture of *Hamamelis may be taken as the signature of its therapeutic action. No remedy has a wider sphere of usefulness in cases of haemorrhage and disordered blood-vessels. It has also a decided relation to the effects of mechanical injuries including burns of the first degree, and as a local application it takes rank with *Arnica and *Calendula in the homoeopathic armamentarium. Hering, who learned its properties from Mr. Pond, of “Pond’s Extract” fame (Pond was a patient of Hering’s), made the first provings and introduced the remedy into homoeopathy. He defines its position as being between *Aconite and *Arnica “Pond’s Extract” is an aqueous distillate prepared from the leaves. A number of interesting superstitions are associated with the shrub, and shoots of it are used as “divining rods” for discovering water and metals. Hale has given a very full account of the remedy. Phlebitis, varicosis, haemorrhoids, venous haemorrhages _ these are the conditions likely to require *Hamam. The local application of *Hamam. to a sprained knee has been known to set up inflammation in the veins of the part. and the provers who had varicose veins experienced in them increased sensitiveness and unusual sensations, and a number were cured. In congestion, inflammation, and bleeding of haemorrhoidal vessels, *Hamamelis has a great range of action, and like that other great pile remedy *AEsculus hip., it has also a marked action in the throat. *Hamamelis is called for in cases of “varicose angina,” where the veins of the pharynx are large and blue. The haemorrhages in which *Hamamelis is indicated are mostly dark. They may occur from any orifice. Metrorrhagia, menorrhagia, vicarious menstruation and haemorrhages between the periods are met by it. In this connection a case recorded by Dr. Ward (Pacif. Coast F. of H., November. 1899) is noteworthy. He cured a case of intermenstrual *pain. Allen mentions in the provings an intermenstrual *flow, and Dr. Ward acutely observes that if his patient has had the flow, the soreness so distinctly felt might not have been realized. “Intense soreness” is one of the notes of *Hamamelis. The part from which the flow of blood proceeds feels sore and bruised. This distinguished it from *Chi. in passive haemorrhages. It is a leading indication for it in cases of orchitis and ovarian affections, and also in phlebitis and varicose veins. In piles there is much bleeding and marked soreness of the part, the back feels as if it would break *(AEs. h. has little or no bleeding). There is taste of blood in the mouth. The headache of *Hamamelis Is chiefly in the temples, throbbing, hammering, especially over left eye. Hughes gave *Ham to a young lady suffering from daily epistaxis and throbbing headache. The first dose was followed by a flushing of the face and most distressing throbbing-aching and sense of fullness in the head. The second dose brought back all the symptoms in the head, and feeling as if it would burst. Some days later the 3x was given. and again the dilatation of the cerebral vessels occurred, through the symptoms were not so severe. The haemorrhages of *Hamamelis causes great exhaustion (out of proportion to the amount of loss), but there is also a tired, aching, feeling in the back and lower limbs, independently of haemorrhages. Many rheumatic symptoms occur, and with them always the characteristic soreness. A woman thirty-five, to whom I gave *Hamamelis I for varicosis with great advantage, developed marked loss of appetite and these additional symptoms: “Pain all round lower abdomen, dreadful aching, rheumatic pain at top of left shoulder and under right shoulder-blade, also right side of chest under arm. Pains worse during the day and when at rest, entirely absent during the night. Stupid feeling in head.” This scapular pain bears on the experience of Dr. Koech. who cured with *Hamamelis many cases of scapular rheumatism. He regards it as a specific in affections of the last five cervical nerves. There is a good deal of thirst in the *Hamamelis pathogenesis, and Bree says (*H. O., xii. 6I) it will relieve the excessive thirst that most patients with heart troubles complain of. Motion and exertion in general worse. Worse In open air, in rainy weather. Takes cold easily from every exposure, but especially to warm. Moist air. Toothache worse in warm room worse From touch.
Relations
*Antidoted by: Arnica, Camph., Chi., Pulsatilla (toothache). *Complementary to: Ferrum in haemorrhages. *Compare: Arnica, Calendula (“is better than either in hastening the absorption of intraocular haemorrhage,” Hering), Chloral, Secal, (purpura), Fl- ac., Lachesis, Secal., Pulsatilla, Nux-v., AEsc, Nit ac. (in varicose veins and piles), Spo., Pulsatilla (orchitis. Hamamelis has more soreness), Act right (abdominal soreness after labour, Hamamelis Is an excellent external application), Bry (vicarious menstruation), Nit. ac (haemorrhage in typhoid, nitricum acidum light. Hamamelis dark), Belladonna, Euphorb., Rhus, Terebintha, (as an application in burns of first degree), Sanguisuga. (haemorrhages).
Causation
Injuries.
SYMPTOMS.
Mind
Forgetful. No desire to study or work. Depressed in mind, also after emissions, with regretful mind. Irritable.
Head
Vertigo when stooping. Swimming sensation on rising. Nausea and vertigo, with desire to lie down. Stupor, headache, crowding fullness in head and neck, also in forehead. Stupid feeling in head. Feeling as if a bolt were passed from temple to temple, and tightly secured. Fullness in forehead, with pressing in root of tongue. Bursting headache on awaking, insupportable on bending downward. Dullness and fullness in head all day. Headache after an emission. Hammering over left eye, as if he would go out of his mind.
Eyes
Eyes feel weak, but are less inflamed, painful weakness of the eyes. Feeling as if both eyes would be forced out of head, better by pressing them with the fingers, but worse a few moments afterwards. Sore pain in eyes, eyes painful under slight pressure. Swelling of eyeballs and lids, with blood. shot appearance of right eye. Eyes inflamed, vessels greatly injected, caused by a foreign substance as melted sugar, after operations, intense soreness.
Ears
Deafness in right ear, passes off by noon. Bleeding at right ear, also nose-bleed, which clears her head, relieving her. Buzzing, ringing in ears.
Nose
Over sensitive smell Bad smell from the nose. Sneezing spells, watery, excoriating, burning discharge. Nose feels stopped up. Epistaxis, flow passive, non-coagulable. Epistaxis with a feeling of tightness of the bridge of the nose, and crowding pressure in forehead between the eyes. The nose-bleed clears her head and affords great relief. Profuse epistaxis, flow venous idiopathic or vicarious.
Face
Burning in right cheek. Occasional shooting pains along right superior maxillary to malar bone. Muscles feel sore and stiff. Lips: dry, sore, cracked.
Teeth
Sharp, lancinating along the molar teeth, extending to the malar bone, also in temporal region. Teeth ache, can scarcely sleep, yet not decayed. Pains worse in warm room. Gums sore, painful, swollen, bleed easily, dark fluid. Passive venous haemorrhage after extraction of teeth.
Mouth
Metallic taste, tongue coated white. Scalding sensation on tongue. Blisters on sides of tongue, canker spots near the tip.
Throat
Severe stinging in uvula, as if it would break, when he coughs. Dryness of the lips and fauces, tonsils and fauces congested, veins enlarged, varicose, must drink large quantities of water to assist deglutition. Sore throat worse right side, right tonsil more swollen, reddened. Sore throat in those predisposed to fullness of the veins, worse in warm, moist air. Hawks considerably.
Appetite
No appetite for breakfast, considerable thirst, better by small quantities of water. Appetite good. Very thirsty, in afternoon and evening, throat dry. Averse to water, makes him sick to think of it. Pork nauseates.
Stomach
After eating, nausea, must keep quiet, eructations, hiccough. Eructations after a meal, taste of the food. Nausea, eructations and violent hiccough after pork, followed by burning in stomach and oesophagus, later cramp pains in stomach and chest. Nausea, vertigo, must lie still to prevent vomiting. Nausea, headache in frontal bone on awaking. Nausea and inclination to vomit after a meal. Hematemesis, blood black, sensation of trembling in stomach, or fullness and gurgling in abdomen, feverish by spells, weak, cold, quick pulse, profuse sweat. Heaviness at back of stomach, pain back of stomach, along the spinal column. Violent throbbing in stomach. Cramp in stomach after eating.
