Natural order. Asclepiadaceae. Common names. Pleurisy Root. Butterfly Weed. Habitat. A plant found in dry fields in the United States and Canada. Preparation. Tincture from the fresh root. General Analysis Acts chiefly on the mucous surfaces, especially of the respiratory organs, and intestinal canal; also upon the serous tissues, especially the pleura and synovial membranes, and upon the muscles, especially of the chest. In all these tissues it produces irritation and inflammation of a sub-acute character. Characteristic Symptoms Head Confusion, dullness, and heaviness of the head; swimming of the head. Dull headache in the forehead and vertex, aggravated by motion, and relieved by lying down. Pain in forehead when coughing (Bryonia). Nose Fluent coryza, with much sneezing (Aconite). Blowing of blood from left nostril. Itching of the nose (Sulphur). Mouth Tongue covered with a tough yellow coating. Taste putrid (Arnica, Mercurius, Pulsatilla); of blood. Throat Slight constriction of throat and pricking in larynx. Stomach Nausea, and efforts to vomit. In stomach: neuralgic pains; pressive pain; weight (Arsenicum, Bryonia, Nux-v., Pulsatilla); burning (Arsenicum, Colchicum). Abdomen Rumbling in the bowels, with uneasiness, or sharp, cutting pains. Colic pains from flatulence (Aloe, Carb-v., Coloc., Lycopodium). Dull pain in bowels on pressure. Stool Emission of foetid flatulence (Arnica, Aloe, Bryonia, Carb-v., Graphites). Soft and foetid stool at 11 a.m., preceded by rumbling in the bowels. Stool, dysenteric; like white of egg; yellow; green; clammy; smelling like rotten eggs (Calcarea c., Chamomilla). Urinary Organs Dark red, saturated urine, readily decomposing. Respiratory Organs Dry cough, with constriction of throat; causing pain in forehead and abdomen; dry, hacking cough. Breathing painful, especially at base of left lung. Oppression and difficulty This drug has been successfully used in the following conditions when the indications were present: Congestive and nervous headaches, after suppressed perspiration followed by profuse flow of urine. Diarrhoea. Uraemia of pregnant women. Post-scarlatinal dropsy. Renal dropsy. Cardiac dropsy. Anasarca from sudden check of perspiration. Gonorrhoea and gleet. Rheumatism of large joints. Influenza. Bronchitis.
THERAPEUTICS.
This remedy has been used chiefly in pleurodynia, and other rheumatic troubles, including rheumatic fevers, rheumatic pericarditis and lumbago. It may also be useful in pleurisy, bronchitis, capillary bronchitis of children, influenza, carditis, catarrhal fever, catarrhal and bilious diarrhoeas and dyspepsia.