Synonym. Asarum European. Natural order. Aristolochiaceae. Common names. Hazel-wurz. Asarabacca. Habitat. A plant growing in shady elevated forests in Europe. Preparation. Tincture from the entire fresh plant. General Analysis The chief action of Asarum is upon the cerebro-spinal nervous system, causing an excessive nervous erethism, which is its most important characteristics. It also affects the mucous membranes of the alimentary tract. Characteristics Symptoms Mind Gradual vanishing of thought, as when falling asleep. Head Very sensitive, compressive headache, especially in left temple and behind the ears. Tension of scalp (Causticum), making hair feel painful. Eyes Painful dryness of the interior of the eyes. Swelling of upper lids with inability to endure much reading. Ears Pressure and tension in region of meatus auditorius. Face Warm feeling in cheeks. Mouth Disgusting taste in the mouth. Stomach Nausea and inclination to vomit. Frequent empty eructations. Want of appetite, even nauseated by food. Empty retching; during the retchings all the symptoms are aggravated, except the stupid feeling about the head, which decreases. Unquenchable longing for alcohol (Carbolicum acidum). Stool Before stool, cutting in the abdomen, and sharp stitches in the rectum, from above downward. Respiratory Organs Stitches i lungs during inspiration. Neck and Back Pain in left side of nape as if a bundle of muscular fibres had been displaced by violent exertion, afterwards extending over head and shoulders. Paralytic pain as if bruised in nape and back, when moving, standing or sitting, better when lying. Limbs Lightness of all the limbs (Mez.); when walking seems to be gliding through the air; dull pressure in the right hip. Generalities Excessive sensibility of all the nerves (Cinchona, Coffea c.); when merely thinking (and this he must con Is used chiefly in hysteria when the globus hystericus is well marked, difficult breathing, sensation as if peristaltic motions were reversed, etc., especially after the suppression of any habitual discharge. Also in hyper-sensitive conditions, hypochondria; asthma; pertussis; indigestion; cardialgia; diarrhoea; the symptoms agreeing. It has been found a valuable remedy in Mercurial and scrofulous affections of the bones and skin caries and ulcers; also for the latter when the result of destructive syphilitic processes. Orbital neuralgic, boring pains above the eyes. The same symptom may also indicate the drug in iritis, and in intra-ocular inflammations. Nervous diseases in general, resulting from the sudden checking of habitual discharges, such as ulcers, expectorations, diarrhoea, etc.
THERAPEUTICS.
Has only been used when the above peculiar nervous sensitiveness has been presents, particularly in gastric and bilious disorders; especially during pregnancy; anaemia; nervous, hacking cough; desire for alcoholic drinks.
ALLEN CORSON COWPERTHWAITE was born at Cape May, New Jersey, May 3, 1848, son of Joseph C. and Deborah (Godfrey) Cowperthwaite. He attended medical lectures at the University of Iowa in 1867-1868, and was graduated from the Hahnemann Medical College of Philadelphia in 1869. He practiced his profession first in Illinois, and then in Nebraska. In 1877 he became Dean and Professor of Materia Medica in the recently organized Homeopathic Department of the State University of Iowa, holding the position till 1892. In 1884 he accepted the chair of Materia Medica, Pharmacology, and Clinical Medicine in the Homeopathic Medical College of the University of Michigan. He removed to Chicago in 1892, and became Professor of Materia Medica and Therapeutics in the Chicago Homeopathic Medical College. From 1901 he also served as president of that College. He is the author of various works, notably "Insanity in its Medico-Legal Relations" (1876), "A Textbook of Materia Medica and Therapeutics" (1880), of "Gynecology" (1888), and of "The Practice of Medicine " (1901).