Hysterical palpitations or disturbed action, require the use of ambra, asafoetida, camphor, castoreum, crocus, ignatia, lilium, sumbul, scutellaria, and valeriana.
In actual cardiac syncope, the use of active stimulation is necessary. Brandy, or any alcoholic liquor may be used, or camphor, xanthoxylum and ammonia, aided by the mustard foot bath. The recumbent posture is absolutely necessary until the attack is over.
[For special or characteristic indications for the selection of remedies consult the symptomatology given in this work.]
RADICAL OR CURATIVE TREATMENT.
Plethora should be treated by means of appropriate diet namely: the abstinence from rich and stimulating food coffee, pastry, and the avoidance of a sedentary life. Small meals and a large amount of active exercise are the principal curative agents.
The administration of veratrum viride in doses of five drops of the first decimal dilution three times a day, will aid in effecting a removal of the plethoric condition. Equally efficacious is the bromide of ammonium in five or ten grain doses of the first decimal trituration, taken after each meal.
Anaemia should be met by such remedies as will increase the proportion of red globules in the blood, and the use of such articles of diet as will bring about the same result. Active exercise in the open air, and a residence in non-malarious localities, should be advised.
Ferrum, in some form, is here the principal remedy; but it must be borne in mind that iron is not the remedy in all cases of anaemia. It will not remove anaemia caused by distressing emotions, nor the anaemia growing out of some morbid dyscrasia. It is only useful in cases arising from some fault in assimilation or abnormal condition of the vegetative system. Various preparations of iron have been found useful. Ferrum met. in the lowest triturations is generally useful; but if this does not have the desired result, and iron seems to be strongly indicated, select the lactate of iron, muriated tincture of iron, phosphate of iron, iodide of iron, or the citrate of iron and strychnia.
The hypophosphites of lime, soda, or potassa, phosphoric, or hypophosphoric acid, act promptly if the anaemia arise from nervous prostration or prolonged nervous excitement.
China is indispensable if the anaemia is the result of haemorrhages, or loss of any of the vital secretions of the body. Helonias, hydrastis, phosphoric acid, and arsenicum are indicated in similar conditions.
Cuprum is, according to Grauvogl, superior to iron in many cases of anaemia.
Nux vomica, ignatia, and strychnia are indispensable in certain anaemic conditions, when the blood is impoverished from deficient vitality of the nervous centres.
When derangement of the nervous system causes functional heart- disorder, nux, ignatia, secale, phosphorus, cuprum, digitalis, phosphoric acid, and similarly acting medicines are to be used. The bromide of potassa and zinc will be found useful in many cases.
When the cardiac irritation is reflex, we must select:
For gastric disturbance – nux vomica, pulsatilla, ignatia, collinsonia, lycopodium, iris ver., hydrastis, etc.
Collinsonia is very highly recommended by many prominent physicians of the eclectic school of medicine, as an excellent remedy in purely functional disorder of the heart, when its action is persistently rapid, but weak, or when there is excessive action with deficient force. It has been given successfully in doses of 5 to 15 drops of the tincture several times a day. The pathological conditions to which it is homoeopathic cannot be clearly defined because the provings do not yet indicate its specific action on the heart. But from its known curative action in cough, haemoptysis, haemorrhoids, and constipation, we may consider its action on the heart as reflex. My experience confirms the recommendation of its use in some cases of functional disorder.
For uterine disturbance – cimicifuga, pulsatilla, platina, lilium, sepia, gelsemium, nux moschata, sanguinaria, etc.
The following is one of the many notable cases of functional disorder of the heart resulting from uterine disease, which have come under my observation:
CASE. – A lady, mother of two children, had suffered for several years from retroversion, abrasion of the os uteri, and a great variety of anomalous pelvic pains peculiar to such cases. About a year ago the uterus was replaced, and a ring pessary inserted, which kept the uterus in normal position, and soon after the leucorrhoea and uterine pains disappeared. But she soon began to complain of rapid and persisting beating of the heart – worse at the menstrual period – which increased to such a degree that I was consulted. Neither auscultation nor percussion revealed anything abnormal, except an increased clearness of the sounds of the heart. The force of the heart’s action was decidedly increased. The pulse was generally regular – 120 to 130 – but sometimes irregular and intermitting. The menses, heretofore normal in amount, became scanty, and a condition of prostration set in, accompanied by emaciation. All the cardiac remedies in our materia medica were consulted and tried, but without other than palliative benefit. (Nux moschata helped her most.) The bromide of potassa and hydrate of chloral gave no permanent relief. A few weeks ago she was attacked by the prevailing influenza, and came near having pneumonia, but it was arrested by the free use of veratrum vir. A severe cough, which called for Sanguinaria, led me to give that remedy. On the day after, she said, “Doctor, something has stopped my heart for the first time in a year.” To my surprise, I found it beating regularly, quietly, at 72 per minute. Did the sanguinaria cause this curative action? I do not know. Her menses came on the day I gave the sanguinaria, and more profuse than usual, and she now began to complain of her old uterine symptoms. On examination the
uterus was found retroverted – the ring pessary appearing too small to support it in proper position – and the presence of cervical inflammation was detected. A larger ring was introduced, lilium and sepia given, but the heart still beats normally. I think the irritation was transferred or reflected from the uterus to the heart and has now returned to the former organ. What part the sanguinaria played in this case I do not know, but imagine it may have assisted in the transferrence.
Among the palliative remedies in this cardiac disorder, the chloral hydrate bids fair to become useful. Physicians of other schools speak highly of it in such cases. Its well known power over nervous aberrations, whether local or reflex, appears to recommend it as a valuable agent. One of my patients, whose heart kept her awake, night after night, for months, got no sleep from any remedy until she took the chloral – 15 grains at bedtime. Under this remedy she improved decidedly in strength and appetite, and specific remedies appeared to have a better and more lasting effect in bringing about a cure.
Nux moschata has had a reputation for centuries in heart disorders of a nervous character. The symptoms given in Dr. Hering’s very complete pathogenesis, prove it to have a decided influence on that organ. Among the most prominent symptoms are quivering, trembling, fluttering, and violent palpitation, labored beating of the heart, – “a fearful embarrassment.” It is asserted to be curative in cases arising from fear, fright, grief, stoppage of urine, uterine troubles, menstrual difficulties. I do not hesitate to advise it in cardiac debility, with the symptoms above enumerated, especially in delicate, nervous women given to fainting, or sensitive to the slightest emotion, and when the cardiac irritation alternates with uterine or vesical disorder, or even gastric troubles. Give the 3rd or 6th trituration.
Prunus virginiana (wild cherry) has long held a high reputation in abnormal conditions of the heart characterised by irregular, intermitting, and feeble action. It will be found most useful when the disorder is purely functional, but it has been used with excellent results as a palliative in structural disease. The usual method of administration is in the form of cold infusion. One ounce of the inner bark (fresh, if procurable) in a quart of cold water. After standing six hours, it may be prescribed in wine-glassful doses every three or four hours, until there is a decided improvement. It is a safe and simple remedy, giving tone to the general system, and improving the condition of the circulation. It is a feeble analogue of digitalis.
Lycopus virginicus* *New Remedies, p.705. has some reputation for conditions similar to those for which prunus is recommended, but from the testimony adduced for it I think it resembles aconite rather than digitalis, and is better indicated where the pulse and heart’s action is rapid, but rather hard, with or without irregularity. From some of the symptoms of the proving, as well as the results of clinical experience, it promises to be useful in that disorder known as “exophthalmus,” – “Basedow’s Disease” – “Grave’s diseases,” etc. According to Flint, functional disorder may end in this condition. The lycopus may have the power of warding off such result. Prescribe it in lowest dilutions or mother tincture.
Hale wrote Lectures On Diseases Of The Heart, Materia medica and special therapeutics of the new remedies Volume 1, Materia Medica And Special Therapeutics Of The New Remedies Volume 2, Saw Palmetto: (Sabal Serrulata. Serenoa Serrulata), The Medical, Surgical, and Hygienic Treatment of Diseases of Women, New Remedies: Their Pathogenetic Effects and Therapeutic Application, Ilex Cassine : the aboriginal North American tea, Repertory to the New Remedies with Charles Porter Hart, The Characteristics of the New Remedies, Materia Medica and Special Therapeutics of the New Remedies, The Practice of Medicine, Homoeopathic Materia Medica of the New Remedies: Their Botanical Description etc.