YELLOW DOCK-CURLED DOCK.
Introduction
(Rumex-derivation unknown-thought by some to be derived from rumour,, I suck, in allusion to the Romans sucking the sour sorrel
to allay thirst. Crispus, curled)
This troublesome weed is one of the thirteen species of dock growing in this country. The root, which we use to prepare our tincture, has been used in medicine from ancient times and has enjoyed a reputation that has outlasted that of many more powerful drugs.
It was originally proved for our school or by Dr. H. A. Houghton for his graduating thesis from Hahnemann Medical College of philadelphia, in 1852 a much more accurate proving was made by Dr. B. F. Joslin, of new Yolk, and published in 1858.
Symptoms
RUMEX, says Hughes,”has some influence on the skin and mucous membrane…, but its main action is exerted upon the respiratory mucous membrane and especially on the larynx.” In several of th conditions calling for the remedy there is a pronounced sensitiveness to cold (5) or open air.
In gastric disorders, dyspepsia and gastralgia, there is a good deal of flatulence, which cannot be cotton rid of, and distress after eating (177)P. the pains in the stomach, which are especially of an aching character extend to the chest (180), even the moving of the hands, or the extension of talking will truly aggravate the pains(>) it is to be thought of also, when the gastric troubles are the results of excessive tea drinking. (7).
The diarrhoea of Rumex is worse in the early morning, hurrying the patient out of bed, and associated with a dry cough (61). In the chronic diarrhoea calling front he remedy (58) the movements are frequent between 5 and 9 a.M., and consist of brown water.,
The cough, which is the most frequently found condition for which we prescribe Rumex, is caused by tickling in the throat or supra-external fossa (44) as if from a feather (43); it is short, dry and more or less constant (44). The cough is especially worse at night on lying down, lasting for a couple of hours (10- 12 P.M.) There is relief in the warm air (40) and a very decided aggravation, at all hours, from cold air (40) during the day the patient will cover the mouth with the head and at night in bed he will bury the he’d in the covers so as to warm the air before breathing it. A deep inspiration (41) will bring on a paroxysmal cough.
The following description of the cough of this remedy, as given by Dunham, is referred to by Hughes and quoted by Hale: “Rumex diminishes the sections, and at the same time exalts, in a very marked manner, the sensibility of the mucous membrane of that larynx and trachea, exceeding in the extend of this exaltation and remedy known to us, The cough, therefore, is frequent and continuous, to an extent quite out or proportion to the degree of organic affection of the mucous membrane. It is dry occurs on along paroxysm, or under certain circumstance, is almost uninterrupted. it is induced or greatly aggravated by any irregularity or respiration, such as an inspiration a little deeper or more rapid than usual; by an inspiration of air a little colder than that previous inhaled; by irregularity or respiration and motion of the larynx an trachea, such as are involved in the act of speech and by external pressure upon the trachea, in the region of supra-sternal fossa (44).
The subjective symptoms are rawness and soreness point in the trachea extending short distance below the supra-sternal fossa, and laterally in to the bronchi, chiefly the let, and tickling in, the supra-sternal fossa, and behind the sternum, provoking cough.
The cough occurs chiefly, or is much worse, in the evening after retiring, a nd at the time the membrane of the trachea is particularly sensitive to cold air and to any irregularity in the flow of air over th surface so that the patient often covers the head with the bedclothes to avoid to the cold air of the patient, and effuses to speak, or even to listen to conversation, lest his attention should be with drawn from his respiratory acts which be performs with the most careful uniformity and deliberation, and all in the hope of preventing the distress in tickling and harassing cough which would ensue from neglect of these precautions.”
In asthma (19) there are found violent spasms of coughing, with sense of suffocation, and aggravation at 2 A.M. (21).
On the skin, under Rumex, there is irritability, greater than the amount of inflammation, with a good deal of itching but little or no appearance of an eruption until after irritating the skin by scratching. The itching is better from scratching and from heat, as from the warmth of the bed, and is worse from exposure of the skin to cold air, as when undressing (122) and on rising in the morning. It is useful in chronic urticaria (201) worse during cold weather.
I use Rumex 6th.
