Inula helenium. Elecampane. Scab wort. *N.O. Compositae. Tincture of fresh root dug in autumn of the second year. (The juice of the root was proved.).
Clinical
Backache. Cough. Cramp. Dysmenorrhoeic. Erysipelas. Leucorrhoea. Rectum, pain in. Sciatica. Toothache.
Characteristics
*Inula is a “perennial plant with a stem from three to four feet high, large saw-toothed leaves tapering to a stalk, and large heads of yellow flowers. The root has an aromatic camphor-like taste, due to the presence of a crystalline substance called *Helenin, allied in chemical constitution to *Kreosote. It also contains a quantity of starchy material, called *Inulin, which differs from ordinary starch in being coloured yellow by *Iodine. *Elecampane was formerly much used as an aromatic tonic, and as a stimulant of all the secreting organs, likewise in coughs, dyspepsia” etc. This quotation from the *Treasury of Botany well sums up the chemistry and ancient medical history of the plant as handed down from the time of Dioscorides. Ben Jonson refers to it in one of his poems. A popular tradition credits it with the cure of facial erysipelas, and certain symptoms of the face in the provings seem to confirm this. The homoeopathic knowledge of it is due to Fischer, who proved the root-juice. Clinical experience has confirmed and added to the symptom list. The old reputation of the remedy in coughs is confirmed: “Violent tickling in larynx, producing dry cough, worse lying down, worse at night, larynx painful,” also “dry cough, with constant tickling in throat-pit, difficult breathing and sensation as if hoarseness would occur.” A very pronounced effect was observed in the pelvic organs, pressing and dragging towards the rectum and genitals, headache and labor-like pains. *Inula is one of the remedies which has sensation as of something alive moving about internally, also twisting as of a ball in umbilical region, as if a substance would come out of rectum and genitals. Another peculiar sensation is: as though some one was poking him with a finger in various parts of the body, especially in diaphragm, so painful he awoke with clenched teeth. Sticking pains as with pins or a knife are numerous. The majority of the symptoms occurred on the right side. The symptoms are worse at night, worse lying down (except the uterine pain, which compels patient to remain lying), worse by motion, after eating.
Relations.
*Compare: Sepia (forcing in genitals and rectum, Crocus and Thuja (sensation of something alive), Terebe. (Urine smelling of violets), Ignatia (cough worse lying down and in evening), Sul. (Psora, worse at night in bed).
SYMPTOMS.
Mind
Excessive anxiety and trembling of the whole body, chattering of teeth from cold, during menstruation.
Head
Vertigo on stooping. Confusion of head with nausea in evening. Headache in right side, afterward in left. Tearing, throbbing forehead and vertex after eating. Sticking headache in right side. Jerking, tearing pain in occiput. Rush of blood to head with sleeplessness. Burning headache in left temple, in a spot as large as a silver dollar in evening.
Eyes
Twitching in upper lids. Burning in left eyeball. Swimming before eyes and pressure in temples and forehead.
Ears
Dull stitches in left ear, with transient sticking above right eyebrow in evening.
Nose
Stitches in right side of middle of nose. Sticking, crawling in root of nose, extending to eyebrows.
Face
Left side of face red and hot, a white spot near nose. Flushes of heat, left cheek glowing.
Teeth
Pain in decayed teeth, worse at night.
Mouth
Dryness of mouth with scraping and tickling in throat, swallowing difficult.
Throat
Pain in throat on swallowing, tickling causing cough.
Stomach
Nausea in morning coming from stomach. Twisting as of a ball in epigastric region, above umbilicus. Sticking pain in epigastric region.
Abdomen
Violent motion beneath right hypochondrium, as though something living were moving about, during menstruation. Sticking: as with two pins to right of umbilicus, as from a knife between umbilicus and right groin. Stitches in left side of abdomen towards left groin.
Stool
Pressing dragging towards rectum and genitals, as in labor, as if substance would come out, occurring repeatedly.
Urinary Organs
Urging to urinate ten times in one hour, urine passes by drops. Urine smells of violets.
Female Sexual Organs
Movings about in abdomen, as it appearance of menstruation, followed by yellowish leucorrhoea. Pain in uterus, with pain in small of back, very violent, with pressure as in labor, urging to stool, which she dreads, is obliged to remain lying. Dragging in genitals, with more violent backache than she had ever had before. Stitches in region of uterus and genitals. Menses too early and painful.
Respiratory Organs
Violent tickling in larynx, producing dry cough, worse lying down, worse at night, larynx painful. Cough with abundant thick expectoration, accompanied by weakness of digestive tract, general languor and debility and much leucorrhoea, skin has been the seat of psoric manifestations, engorged glands (chronic bronchitis). Difficult breathing with dry cough, constant tickling in throat-pit. Dry, tickling cough.
Chest
Stitches behind sternum and beneath left seventh and eighth ribs. Throbbing, jerking pain as from suppuration, in middle of chest.
Back and neck
Pain through back and chest, on inspiration. Transient pain in right scapula. Violent backache during menstruation.
Upper Limbs
Stitches and tearing pain in right shoulder and wrist. Tearing, cramp-like pain in tip of left shoulder, in scaleni muscles on left side of neck, as if pulled by pincers. Tearing, jerking in right arm. Upper arms as far as elbows fall asleep. Tearing in palm of left hand, unable to double fingers. Fine stitches in index finger. Tearing in right little finger, it seems dead.
Lower Limbs
Tensive drawing in hips extending to nates. Sticking in right hip extending to groin, in middle toes of right foot, in right heel. Stitches: in thighs, in left angle when walking, as if sprained, in right heel. Spasmodic sticking beneath bend of right knee, hot face and chilliness. Cramp in calves during sleep.
Skin
Itching: as from fleas, violent on legs during menses, with burning after scratching in bed.
Sleep
Sleep restless, starting and crying out. Dreams: lascivious, disgusting.
Fever
Coldness, shaking in bed, cold, blue hands and nails.
