ARNICA. Leopard’s Bane. Hahnemann’s “Mat. Medorrhinum Pur., Vol. I. Duration Action: from six to ten days.
COMPARE WITH.
Aconite, Am., Arsenicum, Belladonna, Bryonia, Cann., Caps., Chamomilla, China, Cicuta, Cina, Coloc., Euphr., Ferrum, Hepar, Ignatia, Ipec, Mercurius, Natr., Nux v., Pulsatilla, Rhus., Ruta, Sambucus, Sabin., Seneg., Staphysagria, Sulph-ac., Veratrum It is frequently indicated after: Aconite, Ipecac., Veratrum Is frequently suitable after: Aconite Ipecac., Rhus, Sulph-ac.
ANTIDOTES.
Camph., Ignat. It antidotes: Am., China, Cicuta, Ferrum, Ipecac., Sen. Wine increases the pains.
RATIONALE OF ITS ACTION.
Wood and Bache say that Leopard’s bane is a stimulant, directed with peculiar energy to the brain and whole nervous system, as manifested by the headache, spasmodic contractions of the limbs, and difficulty of respiration which result from its use. It acts also as an irritant to the stomach and bowels. Dierbach says that its effects are every characteristic, and that its action upon the skin is the most marked, the functions of which it can arouse from the most torpid taste; the outbreak of perspiration, which sometimes assumes a red color on the chest, is one of the most constant symptoms. Not unfrequently one notices a feeling of formication, and a prickling, piercing, spasmodic sensation, which has been compared to slight electric shocks; in large doses it sometimes produces a sensation of coldness over the whole surface of the body. The primae-viae are soon attacked by Arnica montana, and eructations, stomachache, retching, nausea, vomiting, colic, tenesmus, at times diarrhoea, but more frequently constipation, increased flow of urine, and a painful itching of the genitals, have often been noticed. Its influence upon the organs of the chest is marked by anxiety, oppression, palpitation of the heart, and dry irritative cough. It often excites headache, attended with dizziness; the smell of the flowers is apt to excite sneezing, whence the name of the plant, which is properly Ptarmica. It is generally believed to possess the power of absorbing blood which has exhaled from the blood-vessels (ecchymosis), and is then apt to cause pain in the injured part. The pains produced by Arnica are said to be far less severe if the patient moves about his room than when he lies in bed.
According to Vogt, it is an acrid, aethereal-oily, or exciting remedy, which, in small doses, acts specifically upon the vegetative side of the nervous system, and upon the motor functions; he would describe more exactly the sphere of its action by saying that it is at those points where the nerves and arteries lose themselves in the organic structures and where the veins and lymphatics arise, viz., in the capillary vascular system, especially that of the membraneous structures, viz., the external skin, the fibrous membranes, the tendency and sheaths of the muscles, the ligaments of the joints, the periosteum, serous and synovial membranes, the pleura, peritoneum,. In these parts, in virtue of its exciting or acrid powers, in combination with its aethereal-oily properties, it excites the actions of the nerves and vessels, hastens the natural metamorphoses of the tissues, or arouses them from torpor and inactivity, or retains them in a certain stage of organic vitality when they tend towards colliquation or putrescency Given in large doses, it either effect the stomach especially, and causes scraping in the throat, burning, extending down to the epigastrium, spasmodic painful contraction of the stomach, with flow of much saliva into the mouth, unpleasant sensation of nausea, cardialgia, eructations, retchings, vomiting, followed by colic or diarrhoea; or it any affect the whole organism, especially the brain and spinal marrow, and excite vertigo, stupefaction, confusion of the head, glimmering before the eyes, noises in the ears, anxiety, timidity, oppression at the praecordia, inability to stand up, followed by increased pulsation of the arteries, violent, congestions of blood towards the terminal branches of all the blood-vessels, especially to the head, chest, and abdomen, attended with palpitation of the heart, pulsations in the epigastrium, greater development of heat, and irritation of all the tissues, marked by formication, prickling, piercing, trembling, subsultus,.; finally, the secretions are stimulated, especially those of the skin, mucous membranes, and kidneys, which not unfrequently are attended with haemorrhages.
CLINICAL REMARKS.
HAHNEMANN.
“Arnica is a polychrest, or remedy applicable to a great variety of diseases; exhibits its specific efficacy in all cases of injury from falls, blows, and surgical operations; is in indispensable intermediate remedy in most inveterate chronic diseases, although each dose acts six only days; is useful in some forms of spurious pleurisy; but is always hurtful; in purely inflammatory, acute diseases characterized by external general heat, also in diarrhoea,”ED.
For a long time popular empiricism had availed itself of the properties of Arnica, when a Belgian physician, Fehrius or Fehr, drew the attention of this colleagues to this plant. The facts published by him tended to show that the Arnica, whether used internally or externally, was a specific remedy for sanguineous effusions, suggillations, ecchymosis, A large number of German, Swedish, and French practitioners confirmed Fehr’s observations, and its use soon became quite extensive. Accordingly to Murray, it was successfully used against the followed maladies; external lesions, such as are caused by a blow a fall, or contusion; a certain form of fall pleurisy, cachexia; oedema; atrophy; traumatic peripneumonia; suppression of the menses of lochia; uterine haemorrhage; calculous nephritis; gout; muscular contractions; gangrene; jaundice produced by contusions; paraplegia; hemiplegia; paralysis of the bladder; an amaurosis caused by a cerebral affection. Stoll used it which success in certain forms of dysentery, especially in epidemic dysentery, and also cured with it several cases of intermittent fever, a circumstance which induced him to term it the Quinine of the poor, a designation which, however, it does not seem to deserve. More recently it has been lauded as a remedy for spasms, convulsions, tetanus, convulsive cough, trembling, and even for the itch; but this last is not to be relied on. Murray states the accidents which it is capable of producing, in overdoses; to be; vomiting; anxiety, sweats, an aggravation of pain around injured parts, which, however, never lasted long, sensitiveness of the abdomen, weakness of the senses and nerves, tingling, lancing, and burning pains, or shocks resembling those produced by the electric fluid. Homoeopathically, the sphere of Arnica comprises, all traumatic lesions (contusions, cut or torn wounds), with their immediate consequences (internal or external haemorrhages, fractures, luxations, sprains, traumatic fever, syncope, tetanus, paralysis, pneumonia, hepatitis.) or their remote consequences (partial emaciation, neuralgia, intermittent fevers, with lively complexions, and disposed to cerebral congestions. It acts but feebly on persons who are partially debilitated, wit impoverished blood and soft flesh. It acts principally on the muscles and cellular tissue. The boil is the one of all cutaneous affections to which it is most adapted. Hence, again, it is more adapted to the treatment of phlegmonous erysipelas and deep burns than to that of simple erysipelas and superficial burns. From the fact that Arnica frequently cures acne and boils independent of any traumatic cause, it probably cures internal maladies which emanate from their retrocession. Much success has been obtained with the Arnica in the homoeopathic rheumatism, and of certain kinds of neuralgia characterized by the cutting, tearing, or wrenching character of the pains.
Arnica has been used in paralysis since the time of Junker, in 1736, and, although it was for a time supplanted by Nux and Strychnine, its use was revived by Schneider in 1821, who preferred the ethereal oil of Arnica in the paralysis which remained after apoplectic attacks, and by Graefe, who used the flowers against paralysis from injuries. Golis rendered famous by his successful use of Arnica in the later stages of dropsy of the brain. The celebrated Neumann has been the most decided good effects from the internal and external use of Arnica in acute hydrocephalus. Concussion of the brain is often accompanied bay congestion, depression of the cerebral action, stupor. All these symptoms are either prevented or relieved by speedily washing the parts which have received the shock with the tincture of Arnica, with should at the same time be given internally. A linen compress may be applied to the part, and moistened more or less frequently, according as the injury is more or less considerable. As soon as the above-named symptoms have disappeared, the use of Arnica must be stopped, the rest is to be left to nature. The smaller vessels of the brain when torn, have frequently been healed by Arnica. Secondary haemorrhage in the brain, congestion of blood, secondary suppuration and effusions of lymph have frequently been prevented by the proper and speedy application of the tincture of Arnica.
