THE BULBOUS ROOTED BUTTERCUP-THE COMMON FIELD BUTTERCUP.
Introduction
(Ranunculus, a medicinal plant).
The following history of this plant, as given by Millspaugh, could, with a simple change of name, be applied to some varieties of animal life as found in his country. The buttercup “is an immigrant from Europe, now pretty thoroughly established along the Atlantic coast, in some places being an actual pest………. It has not extended far inward, but seems decidedly prone to do
so”
Ranunc,. bulb. was first proved by Franz, one of Hahnemann’s followers, who took part on the provings of thirsty of Hahnemann;s drugs.
Allen tells us that “the ‘butter cups’ seem to typify the acrid properties of the Ranunculaceae in general” (Aconite, Vim., Clem., Helleb., Pulsatilla, etc., belong to this order); “their pathogenesis are remarkably free from the mental symptoms found in most of their botanical allies.”.
Symptoms
We find as prominent symptoms of this remedy, violent neuralgic pains and vesicular eruptions which are very painful, for Ranunc. bulb. has a peculiarity powerful irritate action on the skin, whether applied locally or taken internally.
We find also a decided aggravation from cold-damp weather (9), from change of weather to dam(9) or from change of temperature to cold.
It is to be thought of for the bad effects of intoxicating drinks (5) and of delirium tremens (54), especially toward off a threatened attack.
Among the few mental symptoms of the remedy, and put down in ordinary type in the Handbook, we find, “fear in evening, she does not wish foreign along (80) she is afraid of ghosts”
There is a neuralgic headache, a pressing pain in forehead or vertex as if it would be forced outward, and worse in the evening. some speak of the pressure being one4 vertex (103) but it is not so stated in he pathogenesis The headache is worse from change of temperature, including entering a warm room (95) or from going from a warm room into the outside air, and is worse from or caused by change or weather to cold (93).
It is a remedy useful in hay-fever (88), with aggravation of all the symptoms towards evening. There is smarting and burning in the eyes and lids, stuffiness of the nose (39) and pressure at the root of the nose (39), but especially tingling and drawling in he posterior nares, causing the patient to blow the nose, to hawk and to swallow and endeavor in every way to scratch he affected pat (90).
There is spasmodic hiccough (116) in Ranunc. bulb, which many be due to or associated with an over-indulgence of alcoholic stimulants.
It is a remedy useful in inflammation of the diaphragm (56), with sharp shooting pains around the hypochondria and back. In pleurodynia and intercostal neuralgia it is frequently called for (120). There is aggravation from cold or wet changes in weather (9) and while there may (30) or may not be stitches in or about the chest on breathing, we always find great soreness to touch (30) as if the muscles or particular spots had been bruised or pounded. While both sides of he chest are affected about equally in the pathogenetic symptoms, we will find in practice that it is of especial value in intercostal rheumatism of the I. side. It is remedy to be thought of for people “who are subject to stitches in the chest with every change of weather” (Farrington) to cold or wet.
In pneumonia or pleurisy we would have the sharp, sticking pains, with the soreness, as form subcutaneous, or “pain along inner edge of l. scapular” (Hering) (163).
Ranunc. bulb. is one of our most valuable remedies for herpes zoster (114), especially of the forehead and along the supraorbital nerve, with intense ciliary pains, or along the intercostal nerves, at first with sore rheumatic, or neuralgic pains and later with severe burning, stinging, itching and aggravation at night and from changes in the temperature or weather to cold or damp. The vesicles would be filled with transparent bluish serum and the l. side of the body is more apt to be affected. is more apt to be affected.
I use Ranunc. bulb. 1st.
