INTRODUCTION
(Wild Yam).
COMPARE WITH
Aconite, Chamomilla, Ipecacuanha, Arsenicum, Colocynthis.
INFORMATION
We use a tincture of the root, and likewise the resinoid Dioscorein and its triturations.
This drug had been the most eminent eclectic physicians of the West, and by some of our Western homoeopaths, as their chief remedy for bilious colic, when it was more prominently introduced to the homoeopathic brotherhood in Professor Hale’s New Remedies. We have some excellent provings of this drug by Drs. Burt, Nichol, Summer and Michener, which account most fully and satisfactorily for the curative powers which this drug has evinced in bilious colic, in spasmodic colic, and in cardialgia. We learn from these provings that Dioscorea produces severe burning, spasmodic, griping, aching pains, either in the epigastric region or bowels; hence, being in homoeopathic rapport with similar pathological conditions, it will necessarily cure the latter. Of the cases in which we have been able to test its virtues, we will mention the following three, as illustrative of the range of symptoms where its good effects may be relied upon.
Case 1. – A young lady from the South, of 22 years, was subject to attacks of hard, choking pain in the pit of the stomach. There was no nausea, but the distress was agonizing, causing her to moan, shiver and tremble; the extremities were cold, the pulse weak and sinking. She had been suffering for a long time from such attacks, and had gone a good deal to obtain permanent relief from her distress, but so far to no purpose. An attack generally lasted a good while and left her very much prostrated. During one of her attacks she happened to be on a visit in our family, She took ten drops of Lodge’s tincture of Dioscorea, and had scarcely swallowed the dose when she was completely and permanently relieved of her suffering. In this young lady’s case the attacks had originally been brought on by the great mental and physical distress which the war had caused in her section of the country and in her family.
Case 2. – A gentleman of 45 years, of rather delicate constitution and a very active mind, had for a year past been subject to attacks of pain in the epigastric region and the upper half of the abdomen. They had originally been brought on by excessive mental labor, sitting up late at night, eating late suppers, walking and standing in very light boots on damp and cold ground. The attacks set in with creeping chills, a slightly accelerated but very feeble pulse, expression of distress and pallor of the countenance, severe crampy pains in the bowels as if the bowels were twisted together in a knot, or drawn together with an iron band; the spirits were depressed, whereas, in his natural mood, the patient had the reputation of being the most jovial man in town; the bowels were constipated, and the general prostration of the system was very great. The family, who had been employing an excellent allopathic physician as their family adviser, had managed to get along with hot fomentations to the bowels, mustard-draughts, opiates and the like; but, getting tired of this treatment, and the attacks getting worse from week to week and month to month, finally he determined to try homoeopathic treatment in the case. Fifteen to twenty drops of the tincture of Dioscorea were mixed in half a goblet of water, of which the patient took a dessertspoonful every ten minutes. In about half an hour relief commenced, and progressed so rapidly that the patient was able, on the morning after the attack, to be about his office and attend to his ordinary duties. Owing to his persistent irregularities in diet, and to his recklessness in exposing himself to all kinds of weather, attacks would come on occasionally, but the Dioscorea always proved a match for them. If I am not mistaken, he has not had any attack now for half a year, whereas, formerly, they used to come on as often as once a fortnight and even once a week, and would keep him prostrated for three, four and even more days.
Case 3 – The patient was a very stout woman of 40 years, married. For several years past she had been subject to the following paroxysms, which came on once a fortnight, or once every three or four weeks, but sometimes more frequently. She was suddenly taken with a horrid cramp-pain in the pit of the stomach, the lesser curvature felt as if it were violently drawn towards the spine; every few minutes she had to vomit up bile, blood and mucus; the effort to vomit seemed truly heart-rending; the pulse was slightly accelerated and very feeble. Hands and feet very cold. These attacks sometimEs lasted several days, and left the patient prostrated for days after. All treatment in her case proved unavailing. All that could be done for her was to palliate her sufferings with opiates. Thanks to the New Remedies, we became acquainted with Dioscorea-villosa, which proved the best and only friend that this woman ever had had in her distress. The drug at once arrested the vomiting, the crampy distress; she was able to lie on her back or side, and the day following the attacks she was able to leave her bed. When ever an attack she was able to leave her bed. Whenever an attack threatened to come on at any subsequent period, the Dioscorea very speedily put a stop to it. Over-work, such as washing and mopping the floor, or eating indigestible food, were the main causes that brought an attack on in her case.
Some of our physicians have used this drug with great advantage in cholera morbus and dysentery, when attended with severe spasmodic pains in the bowels.
