Podophyllum Peltatum – Homeopathy Remedy


Homeopathy medicine Podophyllum Peltatum from Nash’s Testimony of the Clinic, comprising the characteristic symptoms of homeopathic remedies from his clinical experience, published in 1911….


Cases

CC Intermittent Fever. CC

(88) Case. – Intermittent fever. Miss B., when visited on the 28th of last June, had felt ill for several days, and complained then of wandering pains in the joints, worse from motion; the flesh sore to touch; pain in region of the spleen; eruption like nettlerash on the legs below the knees; she felt chilly this morning, and is now hot. She received China 900, one dose. When visited the next forenoon she said she had been attacked with perspiration at 1 A.M., which lasted until 7 A.M., when she had a decided chill followed with light heat, but with no sweat. This irregular and unusual order of symptoms did not suggest any remedy and it was concluded to give no medicine and await the progress of the case under the former and apparently well indicated remedy. In the afternoon I was called to see her again. At 11 A(>)M. she had a shaking chill with pains in the wrists, knees and ankles, followed with heat without pains, then sweat on the back, head, face and hollow of the elbows.

Here appeared to be a clear case, so far as know to the prescriber. The only remedy having all these concomitants of chill is Podophyllum. She received at 5 P. M. one dose of the 1,000 potency. The next morning at 9 o’clock she had a chill, with thirst for hot drink, but without the pains of the previous day. She got no more medicine and had no more chill, except once slightly=, three weeks later, just after sea bathing, and is in much improved health.

I have several times prescribed Podoph. in intermittent fever, guided by these concomitant, sometimes strengthened by loquacity in the early stages, and sleepiness with the sweat, and it has not yet failed to cure. (Rushmore.)

CC Intermittent Fever. CC

(89) Case. – Mr. Olmsted, aged 40, stout, rather bilious temperament, has been traveling in the west, much of the time in malarial districts. Came home and was attacked with intermittent fever. The chills occurred in the morning were very severe, continuing until 10 or 11 A.M., when he would go into the former stage, which was also very intense, and this would be followed with profuse sweat. He, after a few days, became loquaciously delirious during the chill and heat. He slept heavily during the perspiration. Added to all this was very pronounced jaundice. The loquacity was so great that I could not help thinking of Stramonium, and if it had been typhoid fever instead of intermittent fever would have given it. I went on the hunt for the remedy like a good little body (I was a beginner then) and found in “H. C. Allen,” on intermittent fever, that Podophyllum had this loquacious condition in black – faced type. I gave him the remedy, then, and he never had but one slight chill after. I gave it in the 12th potency. (Nash.)

CC Diarrhoea. CC

(90) Case. – April 23 (1884), about 9 A.M., diarrhoea set in. It had been threatening for an hour or two, and at last hurried me to stool Stomach had been disturbed through the night from the juice of canned plums. Stool dark brown mushy, copious, attended with much wind. One or two stools in the after part of the day. Took no medicine. In the following night about 3 A.M. driven out of bed suddenly. Stool watery, rather scanty, though gushing, as if abundant. Stools become frequent. Occasionally a slight pain in abdomen. Much rumbling and gurgling. No thirst, no nausea, As the trouble began with indigestion, and this was brought on by fruit, I acted on general principles, and took Pulsatilla 200, one dose of a few pellets, half a dozen small, pin – head pellets. Waited four hours. Symptoms grew worse suddenly. Acting still upon general principles, took Nux vomica 200, one dose. Repeated in three hours. Grew steadily worse.

Three to six stools every hour; dark green with yellow water somewhat mushy, tenesmus; tendency to prolapsus ani; pains more frequent, and threatening to become intense, and incisive and prolonged. Urine almost suppressed. Tongue moist, but beginning to put on a white coat and to be slimy. About noon of the 24th dissolved twelve small pellets of Podophyllum 200 in a glass of water. Of this solution took one teaspoonful. Within and hour symptoms became less urgent. By 6 P. M. they had nearly disappeared and this without repeating the dose.

Podophyllum was indicated by the watery mealy, dark green stool, by the prolapsus ani, by the morning aggravation, by the suppression of urine.

April 28th, a good stool. April 29th, 5 P. M., diarrhoea began as before; renewed at 8 P. M. Podophyllum 200, prepared as on the 24th. One teaspoonful sufficed. U. P. to this date, May 8th, no return of diarrhoea. (C. S. Jennings.)

CC Cholera Infantum. CC

(91) Case. – Master Bostwick, age 18 months. has been having diarrhea for several weeks. It was attributed to the hot weather and some teething trouble. Notwithstanding various domestic remedies the child grew worse until I was called. I prescribed without avail several remedies, until the case became very serious. Symptoms: Stool thin, copious at first, then admixed with mucus, yellow and very offensive; worse in the morning and forenoon. There was great prostration, and the surface and extremities together grew cold. Child perfectly unconscious, stupid, sleeping with half open eyes, rolling its head from side and moaning; constant gagging. Podophyllum 1,000 (B. T.), in solution, a teaspoonful after every passage. Prompt improvement and perfect recovery followed. (Nash.)

CC Cholera Infantum. CC

(92) Case. – A child, one year old but large for its age, with light complexion, black eyes and dark hair, had diarrhoea for two months. In the beginning of the sickness Chamomilla was given on account of the great restlessness, with temporary benefit. A little later Calcarea carb. was given on account of the leucophlegmatic temperament, large head, light colored stools and crossness, but with no permanent relief. Then the child was taken to “Thousand Isles” in hopes of benefit from the climatic change but the benefit was only temporary, and it was brought home as sick as every and weaker. At this time the following symptoms were elicited: Light – colored, offensive diarrhoea, containing undigested matter; stool more frequent in the morning and forenoon. Great restlessness and prostration, has not slept more than half an hour at a time at night for weeks. Grinding the teeth (the few that are cut) and gums almost continually. Not much swelling of the gums, but don’t want them touched. Appetite gone. Gave Podophyllum c. m. (Fincke) in solution, a teaspoonful after each evacuation. Only two doses were necessary, after each evacuation. Only two doses were necessary, after which the stools became natural restlessness ceased, cheeks (before pale and sunken) flushed, appetite restored, sleeps good at night. Cured. (Nash.)

How any man laying claim to common honesty can ignore or deny the evidence of the truth of homoeopathy after the innumerable cures, both acute and chronic, of diarrhoea, by such remedies as Podophyllum, Aloes, Croton tiglium, Natrum sulphuricum, etc., I cannot understand. It is pig headedness, and if you ever tried to drive a hog where he did not want to go, you will have learned the meaning of that term. Reasoning is wasted on such.

Characteristics

Resume.

1. Stools, watery, with meal – like sediment; yellow pasty; yellow, watery; greenish, watery; profuse, frequent, gushing painless (draining the patient dry every time), very offensive, like carrion; yellow, mucous stools.

2. Prolapsus ani with loose stools.

3. Restless sleep; stupor with half closed eyes; turning the head from side to side with moaning.

4. Vomiting followed by constant retching and gagging.

5. Violent cramps of feet, calves and thighs (with painless watery stools).

6. Pain in female organs, especially in right ovary, running down thigh of that side, also prolapsus uteri; (<) lifting or after parturition.

7. Modalities, (<) morning, in the night, during hot weather, during dentition.

E.B.Nash
Dr. E.B. Nash 1838- 1917, was considered one of our finest homeopaths and teachers. He was Prof. of Materia Medica at the N.Y. Homoeopathic Medical College and President of International Hahnemannian Assoc. His book Leaders in Homoeopathic Therapeutics is a classic. This article is from: :The Medical Advance - A monthly magazine of homoeopathic medicine - edited and published by H.C. Allen, M. D.