Podophyllum peltatum. May Apple. Mandrake (American). *N. O. Berberidaceae (by some placed in Ranunculaceae and closely related to both). Tincture of root gathered after fruit has ripened, of whole fresh plant, of ripe fruit. Solution of resinous extract, Podophyllin.
Clinical
Acidity. Amenorrhoea. *Anus, *prolapse of. Asthma, bronchial. *Bilious attack. Bronchitis. Cataract. Cholera infantum. Cornea, ulcer of. Dentition. *Diarrhoea, camp. *Duodenum, *catarrh of. Dysentery. Dysmenia. Dyspepsia, from calomel. Fevers. Flatulence. Gagging. Gall-stones. Gastric catarrh. Goitre. Haemorrhoids. Headache, sick, bilious. Heart, pains in. Hydrocephaloid. Intermittents. Jaundice. Leucoma. Liver, *affections of. Ophthalmia. Ovaries, pains in, numbness in, tumour of. Palpitation. Pneumonia. *Proctitis. Prostatitis. Pustules. Sciatica. Stomatitis. Strabismus. Taste, lost, perverted, illusions of. *Tenesmus. Tongue, burning in. Urticaria. Uterus, prolapse of. Whooping-cough. Worms.
Characteristics
*Podophyllum grows throughout the United States in damp, shady places in woods, has leaves five to nine-lobed, large white nodding flowers, yellowish fruits, egg-shaped, not unlike a small lemon, hence the plant is sometimes called Wild Lemon. It flowers in May and June, and the fruit ripens in October. Indian tribes use the root to expel worms, and drop the juice of the root into the ear to cure deafness. “All the tribes are fond of the fruit,” says Rafinesque, quoted by Hale, who gives a full account of the medicine. The botanic and eclectic practitioners adopted the remedy and used it as the “vegetable mercury.” The first homoeopathic proving was made by Williamson. An unintentional proving recorded by ***E. V. Rose (*H. W., xxv. 246) brings out the chief characteristics of *Podophyllum, and shows that its reputation as a “vegetable mercury” is not undeserved: Mr. J., 26, took at 11 a.m. gr. x of Podophyllum 1 x to “stir up his liver.” At 6 p.m. was taken with an indescribable sick feeling all over, and a persistent dry, rough feeling in pharynx and oesophagus, extending along right Eustachian tube, with dull, aching pain in right ear, feeling as though a ball or lump in upper oesophagus. At 8 p.m. dull and stupefying headache, chiefly frontal, worse lying down. Fulness in stomach, belching of gas, sour eructations, marked salivation and offensive odour from mouth. Sleep disturbed, full of confused dreams, rolled and tossed about, bed felt too hard, and a feeling as though head and shoulders were lying too low. At 3 a.m. call to stool, which was profuse, watery, dark green. Calls frequent. *Before stool: peculiar weak, dull, griping pain below umbilicus, fulness in rectum. *During stool: weak feeling in stomach. *After stool: tenesmus and faint feeling. These symptoms passed off in two or three days, the diarrhoea being followed by constipation, which was quickly removed by *Nux. These symptoms are nearly all proved characteristics of *Pod: The early morning worse, the *profuse stools, faint, gone sensation, fulness and tenesmus in rectum. *Podophyllum is an irritant wherever applied. Externally on the skin it produces a rawness like intertrigo. The dust of the powdered root getting into the eyes sets up intense inflammation, ulceration, and leucoma. These effects have proved leading indication for its internal use in eye affections. The fulness and tenderness of the rectum noted in Ross’s case went on to actual prolapse in the provings. I have many times cured with *Podophyllum 6 prolapsus ani in children. With *Podophyllum 1X Mr. Knox Shaw relieved “continual urging and straining” in a case of rectal cancer too far gone for operation. The genital organs were involved with the rectum in the tendency to prolapse. “Symptoms of prolapsus uteri with pain in sacrum, with muco-gelatinous stools”, “sensation at stool as if the genital organs would fall out” are keynotes of the provings which have led to many cures. Pains in the ovaries, especially the right, extending down the anterior and inner side of thighs. In the pregnant and puerperal state *Podophyllum Is frequently indicated: in the vomiting of pregnancy, swelling of labia, severe after-pains with strong bearing-down sensation, haemorrhoids and prolapsus recti after confinement. A peculiar symptom of pregnancy indicating *Podophyllum Is: “Can lie comfortably only on stomach (early months).” The irritation of *Podophyllum Is shown in the brain, but it is then generally reflected even from the abdominal viscera (cholera infantum) or the teeth (dentition). There is moaning and whining during sleep, the head is thrown back and rolls from side to side, the child grates its teeth. “Great desire to press gums or teeth together” is keynote. The salivation, foul breath, and moist, tooth-indented tongue of *Mercurius are reproduced in the *Podophyllum provings, and so also in the congested, sensitive liver, with excess or absence of bile. These, combined with the feverishness and proneness to sweat, make *Podophyllum one of the important antidotes to Mercurius Fevers of many kinds are met by *Podophyllum–remittent, chiefly bilious remittent, intermittent. Delirium is not rare, and is apt to be loquacious. Moaning and whining during sleep. Much drowsiness and desire to stretch. *Alternating conditions are noted: Diarrhoea alternating with constipation, headache alternating with diarrhoea, headache in winter, diarrhoea in summer, inflammation of scrotum *or of the eyes, not of both. Some *Concomitants are important: Pains in sacrum, in lumbar region with rectal and uterine symptoms, cramps in calves with stools. The stools may be painless, or may be
preceded, accompanied, and followed by colic, tenesmus and other symptoms. The concomitance of diarrhoea with other affections points to Podophyllum Loquacity during chill and heat is a keynote in fevers. Nash cured an obstinate case of intermittent through this symptom: Chills violent, followed by intense fever with great loquacity, when the fever was past patient fell asleep, and on waking remembered noting of his loquacious delirium. “Burning tongue” is another leading symptom. A case is related by ***W. A. Burr (*Critique, quoted *Hom. *News, xxviii. 87) of a young man who had for some weeks a burning sensation along left edge of tongue, occasionally shooting to tip, or through to opposite edge. He had been in poor health, “bilious,” for years. With catarrh of stomach, duodenum, and bile ducts extreme discomfort followed even the blandest foods. *Podophyllum 3x improved in two days, and the tongue was well in a week left ***L. M. Barnes (*Hom. *News, xxiv. 45) reports these cases: (1) A lady for four months after miscarriage had much ovarian pain, worse at night. She was sleepless, nervous, restless. Much bearing down in abdomen and back. She was a large, shout woman, with a pendulous abdomen. *Podophyllum cured after *Pulsatilla and *Actea right had only partially relieved. (2) A stout woman, 60, complained of burning, aching, cutting pain in rectum. Was obliged to be on her feet all day. Nervous, cross, irritable. *Podophyllum cured. *Podophyllum is *suited to bilious temperaments, especially after mercurialisation. *Peculiar sensations are: As if strabismus would occur. Pain in head as from ice on occipital protuberance. As if tongue, throat, and palate had been burned. As if a thousand live things moving about in abdomen, or of fish turning over. As if everything would drop through pelvis. As if heart ascending to throat. Ball in upper oesophagus. *Notable symptoms are: Thirst for large quantities of cold water. Intense desire to press the gums together. Viscid mucus in mouth, coating teeth. Diarrhoea while being bathed or washed, of dirty water soaking through napkin, with gagging. Patient is constantly shaking and rubbing region of liver with his hands. Great loquacity during chill and heat. *Podophyllum is predominantly right sided right throat, hypochondrium, ovary. Guernsey mentions that it is often called for in complaints of pregnant and parturient women, with sensation as if intestines were falling down. He mentions also “whooping-cough with costiveness and loss of appetite.” The symptoms are worse by touch (spot on right hypochondrium), better by pressure. Better Rubbing (inclination to rub liver region with hand). better Lying down, lying on abdomen, stretching in bed. Pain in left leg worse by straightening out the limb. Worse Motion, walking, ascending stairs, exertion. Worse Morning, especially early morning, 2 to 4 a.m. Some symptoms worse night. Worse Open air, while washing. External heat ameliorates pain in bowels. Heat of stove does not ameliorates chilliness, but wrapping warmly in bed does better. Hot weather, summer, worse diarrhoea. Worse After eating and drinking, after acid fruit and milk. Worse By swallowing. Worse Before, during, and after stool.
Relations
*Antidoted by: Lact-ac., Nux vomica, Coloc., Lept. *Antidote to: *Mercurius *Compatible: After Ipecac. and Nux in vomiting, after Calcarea and Sul. in liver diseases. *Incompatible: Salt, which increases its action. *Compare: Morning diarrhoea, Sul., Drosera, Bryonia, Natrum sulph., Rx. c. Hot, yellowish, green, offensive diarrhoea, Chamomilla (Chamomilla worse evening, Podophyllum Worse morning, in one gush). Cholera morbus, profuse stools, Verbascum (Verbascum has much pain, Podophyllum may have absence of pain). Diarrhoea worse after eating, headaches alternating with uterine and bowel affections, Alo. (Plumb. delirium alternating with colic). Prolapsus ani *before stool with weakness in abdomen (*Alo. after stool). Prolapsus uteri worse during tool, Stannum (With Podophyllum the stool is diarrhoeic and comes with a rush). Prolapsus recti et uteri, Nux vomica, Sepia Bearing down in hypogastric and anal regions, better lying down, Sepia Prolapsus of rectum, Belladonna, Aesculus H., nitricum acidum, Rut. (Especially in children, Chi., Chi. s., Podophyllum). Duodenal catarrh, Berberis, Chi., Hydras., Lycopodium, Mercurius, Ric. c. Diarrhoea immediately after eating, Alo., Arsenicum, Chi., Lycopodium, Staphysagria, Trombidium (*while eating, Ferrum). worse After eating or drinking, Digitalis, Trb. Headache from over- excitement, Epipheg. Blur before headache, Kali-bi., Ir. v. Wants to bite gums together, Phytolacca Tongue as if burnt, Sanguinaria Blue tongue, Gymn. As if something alive in abdomen, Croc. Regurgitation of food, Sul. Pain under right scapula, Chelidonium Diarrhoea, ovarian pain, ovarian tumour, dysmenia, Coloc.
