No XII – Ipecac


Ipecacuanha affects the stomach and chest but acts less strongly on the intestines. Nausea, inflation, constrictive sensation, vomiting (scanty), without giving relief, and the matters vomited not qualitatively altered….


Belongs to that class of remedies which act chiefly on the nervous system. Its action is very moderate in degree; hence not very striking. Its exciting action is exerted chiefly on the thoracic plexus; it stands therefore in a kind of opposition to Nux vomica, which affects rather the subdiaphragmatic ganglia.

1. Nervous System. The brain and spinal system are scarcely affected; at most they are affected only by a reflex action. Still less is the sensorium acted upon. Little or no pain is induced; at most it is secondary. The symptoms of spasm are more numerous and better marked. Character. The symptoms reveal a distinctly intermittent character, in which they are rivalled only by Nux and Pulsatilla. The pains suddenly appear and suddenly disappear. They are aggravated at night (because the vegetative sphere is especially affected). For the same reasons, similar symptoms occur at the same time in various parts of the body. Gastric phenomena are always present; and organic sensation, i.e., consciousness of defined organic conditions, in a high degree; e.g., nausea, constant constriction of the chest premonitions of spasms, constrictive sensations in the salivary ducts, in the urinary and sexual organs.

2. Vascular System. Great analogy to Nux. Ipecacuanha has little effect on the great vessels and the heart (Nux affects the capillary system and the great vessels at the same time); it has more especial affinity to the capillary vascular system alone; hence external coldness, and internal heat, and vice versa, objective heat, but subjective coldness of the skin, and vice versa.

3. Vegetation. Ipecacuanha excites and alters the vegetation. The secretions are in general diminished in quantity; in quality they are scarcely altered. There seems to be no connection or mutual dependence between objective and subjective phenomena. Sweat, urine, saliva, are for the most part increased; other secretions, which require a greater elaboration, for example, those of mucous membranes, are diminished. Bile is generally increased. Haemorrhages are frequent (because of the action of Ipecacuanha on the capillary system), yet no profuse discharge of undecomposed blood, threatening the organism. Ipecacuanha affects the stomach and chest but acts less strongly on the intestines. Nausea, inflation, constrictive sensation, vomiting (scanty), without giving relief, and the matters vomited not qualitatively altered. Foul taste, scratched feeling in the throat, yet the tongue not foul, etc. The peristaltic action of the bowels is diminished; the antiperistaltic increased; constipation, also watery diarrhoea.

Lungs. More important action, constriction, dyspnoea, irritation inducing cough, increased sensibility, spasm, diminished secretion.

Application. To pale, blonde individuals, women and children. Disturbance of the vegetative nervous system, of the stomach and lungs at the same time.

Special. 1. Disorder of the stomach after an excess, if the disturbance continue some time (for the more transient disorders, Nux vomica, Pulsatilla, etc.). After typhus and intermittent fever, for the remaining stomach affections, chronic nausea, and vomiting. Indisposition after eating, yet without loss of appetite. In particular the gastric phenomena of pregnancy. All these ailments are generally conjoined with chest affections, anxiety, constriction, etc.

2. Acute affections. Variola, morbilli catarrh, in its last stages.

3. Intermittent fever. It ranks with Nux vomica Pulsatilla, and China, as one of the best remedies. The fever in which it is indicated is characterized by gastric phenomena of low intensity; the chill predominates, and the chest also, is affected; the patient feels as if a hoop were placed around the body.

4. Nervous fever in the beginning; cholera in the beginning; and in the sequelae of cholera.

5. Haemorrhage, from partial over-excitements, especially in incipient tuberculosis in young girls; also in haemorrhage from paralysis of the capillary vascular system, but never in haemorrhage arising from general crasis, or decomposition. Seldom in haemorrhage from the stomach and intestines; oftener in that from the lungs and nose.

6. After the violence of acute pulmonary affections has abated, when irritation remains. In chronic catarrh with physical symptoms of a very low grade; when the irritation inducing cough, and the dyspnoea are great at periodic intervals; hence, in all asthmatic cases. In all coughs with a tendency to vomiting, if not violent, even in a slight degree. Spasms during pregnancy. Abuse of China.

Carroll Dunham
Dr. Carroll Dunham M.D. (1828-1877)
Dr. Dunham graduated from Columbia University with Honours in 1847. In 1850 he received M.D. degree at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York. While in Dublin, he received a dissecting wound that nearly killed him, but with the aid of homoeopathy he cured himself with Lachesis. He visited various homoeopathic hospitals in Europe and then went to Munster where he stayed with Dr. Boenninghausen and studied the methods of that great master. His works include 'Lectures on Materia Medica' and 'Homoeopathy - Science of Therapeutics'.