Macro piper methysticum. AV. Kava-kava. Kawa. *N. O. Piperaceae. Tincture of fresh root.
Clinical
Albuminuria. Anus, prolapse of. Brachialgia. Brain-fag. Catalepsy. Cystitis. Dysuria. Eczema. Gonorrhea. Headache. Head, enlarged feeling. Ichthyosis. Leprosy. Neuralgia. Neurasthenia. Orchitis. Paraplegia. Prostatorrhoea. Rheumatism. Toothache. Urethritis. Uric acid, excess of.
Characteristics
*Piper methysticum (it is called *Macropiper *methysticum in most recent botanical works, but I retain the older name by which it is best known in homoeopathy) furnishes the root called Kava in Polynesia. The natives use it as a stimulant, either chewing the root or drinking a beverage made of it before undertaking any important business or religious rites. Excessive indulgence in it produces a skin disease like leprosy, called at Tahiti Arevareva. Lutz (quoted ***H.W., xxviii. 175) describes the disease as observed amongst natives of the Sandwich Islands:”The skin, particularly that of the extremities assures the appearance of well marked ichthyosis, associated with a certain degree of atrophy, such as is observed in senile skin. There is an absence of inflammatory symptoms.” The mental symptoms of the “Intoxicating Pepper” ( drunkenness) are the most interesting feature of the drug’s action. ***W. N. Griswold proved the third and second dilutions, and developed a large number of nervous, mental, and brain symptoms, among which are some which have proved to be keynotes. The drug causes a feeling of buoyancy, as if every nerve was strung up to the highest pitch, feels he can work without fatigue, quickly followed by a feeling of tired brain, and over-sensitiveness to all external impression. Mental tension, feeling as though the head were enlarged even to bursting. The mental symptoms, excitement or depression, and the headache, were better *by diversion of mind. This is one of the keynotes, and it has served to indicate *Piper m. in connection with other symptoms. Griswold cured a case having burning in chest, better by diverting mind (*Org., i. 229), and three cases having: “Agonizing pain, with tossing, twisting, and writhing, patient *driven irresistibly to change position, which generally gives little or no better.” This italicized passage is the second keynote of *Piper m. These cures were with the 1 x or O tinctures. Skinner gave fractional doses of O tincture in water to a highly excitable young girl who had severe toothache and earache, and had worn out her family by the incessant day and night attendance she required. The pains were dragging, heavy, worse at night in bed, and after or when eating, “forgets all about her pains if amused with anything, but directly she is tired of it she exclaims ‘Oh, my tooth or ear!” In addition she had “Agonizing pain with tossing, twisting, and writhing, irresistibly driven to change position.” The patient slept well that night the first time for a fortnight, and had no more pain. The remaining swelling was removed by *Pulsatilla 200. Skinner also reports this case: Miss ***R., 20, has toothache in a decayed molar, better if attention is diverted by anything is diverted by anything sufficiently exciting. When pain is at all violent she has no rest in any position, must keep continually changing it. Piper m. 500 (***F. C.) was given, and there was relief very soon after the first dose. A few doses completely removed the pain (*Org., i. 299). *Piper m. has much dizziness and vertigo, better on closing eyes. The forehead was full, “solid with pain,” this shifted to occiput and cervical spine, where it became a compression, extending as a constricting sensation to stomach and chest. The sensation of enlargement of head was marked and persistent. Farrington says convulsions simulating catalepsy are produced Cerna (quoted ***H. W., xxvi. 556) as a result of his investigations found Piper m. a general and local anaesthetic. It diminishes reflex action by its action on the cord, and kills by paralysing respiration. Cerna illustrated its relationship to *Cubeba by citing cases of gonorrhea, acute and chronic cystitis, gleet, prostatorrhea, vaginitis, cured with it. The provings give the indications. The symptoms were worse before meals (sour eructations), reading and thinking, urinating (burning in urethra), walking. Going down stairs causes symptoms to rush up. Better moving, diverting mind, open air, closing eyes (vertigo).
Relations
*Antidoted by: Pulsatilla and Rhus (partially). *Compare: Cubeba, Piper nig., Matico (botan.). Is better by diverting mind, Acid oxalicum Better by motion, Rhus. Feeling of buoyancy, Coffea (but with Coffea the reverse condition of brain-fag does not quickly follow). Neurasthenia, Pic-ac., Arg-n., Avena. Unbearable pains, Coffea, Aco., Chamomilla
SYMPTOMS.
Mind
Hilarious from 10 a.m. till 1 p.m. Lively after an emission. Lively and inclined to work, can dance with more ease than usual. Agreeable excitement and support against great fatigue. From increased doses intoxication of a sorrowful, silent, and sleepy character, different from that produced by alcohol. Faculties sharpened. (capable of working more without fatigue or brain- fag.) Lazy and drowsy. Deep torpor and irritation from least noise (intoxication from root grown in damp soils). Want of vigor, timid, apprehensive.
Head
From 5 to 9 p.m. very dizzy, swimming sensation and faintness. Intoxication, with fantastic ideas and desire to skip about, although he cannot for a moment hold himself on his legs. Vertigo in morning in bed, with frontal pressure. Brain tired, in morning on waking, better getting on feet. Tired feeling in brain at night. Fulness, sometimes in one part, sometimes in another, worse in forehead. Heaviness of head. Headache with pressure in upper part of orbits, with sleepiness. Shooting: intermittent after 3 p.m., in left supraorbital nerve, in left temple. Headache: in left supraorbital nerve, back of eyes, left brain from front to back, over eyes and deep-seated, at 9 a.m., worse 3 p.m., in afternoon and evening with drowsy and stupid feeling, above eyes at 5 p.m., at 7 p.m., in left side and deep in upper part of orbits, with pain on moving eyes, intermittent in right frontal eminence, better open air and motion, above right eye radiating over eyes, at 10 a.m., heavy in forehead and temples, worse thinking and reading. Frontal brain “solid with pain,” this ache during day generally moved to base of brain and along medulla., better by slight motion, worse by large, continued and active motion, slight mental effort, passing from topic to topic, for an instant better, sustained effort worse. Compressive pain and soreness back of head and cervical cord, disappear later leaving cerebellum sensitive, parts feel treble their normal size. Dullness in forehead, with fulness and pressure, and on raising head or moving it to either side vertigo, after the noon meal the pressure shifted to lateral and occipital regions, worse lying down, but not amounting to real pain, pressure, worse remaining in one position, better moving, apprehension of pain by rapid movement, but temporary relief from it.
Eyes
Conjunctivae red. Pain along right optic nerve when reading at 3 p.m. Pain deep in left eye as if ball would be pressed out, in the street at 5.30 p.m. Dizzy blindness when dressing, vertigo, better closing eyes, directing attention to head and exerting the will, at the same time vertigo, then rush of blood and fulness in forehead, then similar sensation in occipital and basilar regions.
Ears
Singular pressure in lobules of pinna of left ear.
Face
Pressure outward in face at 7 p.m.
Mouth
Tongue feels as if covered with velvet or fur at night. Burning on tongue. Burning in whole mouth followed by numbness. Dryness of mouth on waking from afternoon nap, with sweat (in a hot day). Salivation. Taste: nauseous, sweet, then piquant and sharp, pappy, everything tasteless, lost to food, but ravenous haste in eating. Taste and relish to food not as usual, at noon, but appetite usually good.
Teeth
Teeth deep yellow. Teeth sensitive to cold water, cold air, brushing, c.
Stomach
Sour eructations, worse an hour before meals and at night, at times rolling up and rumbling from stomach to mouth, but generally breaking at throat-pit, and in throat-pit sensation of something that cannot be swallowed, the latter temporarily better by eructations. Bloating at 11 p.m. Constriction extending from base of brain. Crampy pain, better pressure against edge of table. Warmth in stomach.
Appetite
Appetite: formidable at 8 p.m., slight, hungry at noon, but not able to eat much, able to eat but little supper.
Abdomen
Pain: every day about 9 a.m., in forenoon after first stool, with distressing full sensation > motion – pain in abdomen umbilicus in Right groin when walking then a large stool the part soft.
Stool and Rectum.
Diarrhoea threatened stool loose in morning more difficult in evening, soft, difficult. Constipation: stool hard, large, light- coloured. Stool large, soft. Urging: all day, every evening. Continuous desire, next day forced a large stool, which caused prolapsus ani. Burning in rectum.
