RHODODENDRON Medicine


RHODODENDRON symptoms of the homeopathy remedy from Plain Talks on Materia Medica with Comparisons by W.I. Pierce. What RHODODENDRON can be used for? Indications and personality of RHODODENDRON…


      RUSSIAN YELLOW-FLOWERED RHODODENDRON-YELLOW ROSEBAY.

Introduction

      The Rhododendron of our materia Medica is a Siberian shrub, the Russian intoxicant and anti-rheumatic, the Yellow snowrose or rosebay. (The American Rosebay,.or Great laurel, the Rhododendron maximum, has not been proved).

Dunham tell us that : “Like most of our valuable remedies, ” therapeutic science, “the old grandmothers,” in domestic practice for centuries before it attracted the attention of scientific men.” In the case of this remedy the first uses were,”the Cossacks and Mongolians, who regarded it as a specific for rheumatism and gout.”

Rhododendron was first proved for our use in Germany by Dr. Seidel, and it soon obtained a place of its own in the treatment of rheumatic pains.

Symptoms

      In general, the action of Rhododendron is especially upon the fibrous and serous tissues.

The pains in the limbs and joints affect chiefly the forearm and had, including the fingers, and the leg and foot, they seem to have their set deep in, as if in the bone or periosteum; “they attack but a small extend o the limb at once ” (Dunham). These pains often intermit for indefinite periods of time, days more or less, ‘leaving spontaneously and re-appearing capriciously” ()Dunham), but with the general indication of increase or reappearance of he pains before a storm and during unsettled weather (9).

Some of the pathogenetic symptoms read: drawing as if in marrow, worse bad weather. Sensitiveness in windy and cold weather. Almost all symptoms reappear with rough weather” and we think of Rhododendron for a patient who is independent of the WEather Bureau, as his pains raise the first storm signal. the word storm, as her eased, includes cloudy, windy and cold weather, and especially thunder-storms (9) or electrical disturbances in the air. It is not necessary that the patient should be exposed to the elements in order to develop the indications for the remedy’ he may be in bed or in a warm roof,.but the mere fact of the approaching change in the weather is enough to aggravate his symptoms.

Hering mentions this symptom as calling for the remedy: “Nervous persons who dread a storm and are particularly afraid of thunder.’ While I am inclined to questions its value, I give its, as we can find frequent opportunities to test it.

The rheumatic pains are frequently associated with coldness of the extremities (163), and with the pains there is a general aggravation during rest, with relief formation (10( and from heat (10)

This differentiation we can keep in mind: Rhododendron and Rhus to., both have aggravation of their rheumatic pains during rest; i Rhododendron moving relieves at once, while in Rhus tox. the first movement aggravation the pain and relief only comes as he begins to limber up.

Rhododendron is useful in chronic rheumatism of all joints 161)., dunham calls our attention to its use in “chronic rheumatism which stimulates rheumatic gout, but is distinct from it” inasmuch as “the enlargements of the joints” calling for Rhododendron “are produced by fibrinous deposits and not by chalky excretions.” he also speaks of its value ‘in affections of the great toe joint, often mistaken for bunion, but which is really rheumatic.”

It is useful in rheumatic headache, with tearing pains as if in the bones of the dull, and involving the forehead and temples, the pains worse in the morning in bed and better after rising and moving about (93), worse from wine (98) and from wet (98) and cold weather and better from warm wraps or applications (92).

In the eye Rhododendron has been used with success in muscular asthenopia (72), and in threatening glaucoma, the pain worse on the approach of a stomach and better after the storm broke. It is also of value ancillary neuralgia (75), worse before a storm.

It has a facial neuralgia, with involvement of both dental nerves, the pains drawing, tearing and jerking, worse change of eating. Th toothache is usual neuralgia and jerking, worse change of eating. The toothache is usually neuralgic and caused by cold (187) and is better from heat (187) and while eating (187).

Thee is also a chronic pain in the l. side of the abdomen, under the short tins, that is better by eating (174).

The diarrhoea of Rhododendron, with stools of undigested food, (60), is worse from eating fruit (57) and foil cold, wet weather (58), and associated with general rheumatic pains.

It is a valuable remedy in epididymitis (188) and orchitis (188), with the testicle swollen (188) and indurated (188), with drawing up pains extending to the abdomen and pronounced sensation as if the testicles were being squeezed or crushed (188).

I use rhododendron 3rd.

Willard Ide Pierce
Willard Ide Pierce, author of Plain Talks on Materia Medica (1911) and Repertory of Cough, Better and Worse (1907). Dr. Willard Ide Pierce was a Director and Professor of Clinical Medicine at Kent's post-graduate school in Philadelphia.