Synonym. Lycoperdon Bovista. Natural order. Fungi. Common name. Warted puff ball. Habitat. A fungus found on pasture grounds and dry meadows in Europe. Preparation. A tincture is made from the entire fungus.
GENERAL ANALYSIS.
Bovista affects the cerebro-spinal system, its most important local action being upon the skin and the female sexual organs. According to Allen its most marked action “seems to be upon the circulation predisposing to haemorrhages.” This is probably caused by relaxation of the capillary system.
CHARACTERISTIC SYMPTOMS.
Mind. Sensitive, takes offense at everything. Stammering when reading.
Head. Vertigo and feeling of stupidity in head on rising. Vertigo; falls over; momentarily unconscious in morning. Sensation as if head were much enlarged (Argentum nit., Cimic., Gloninum, Zing.); headache deep in. Violent itching of the scalp, especially when getting warm; Scratches on forehead until sore; not relieved by scratching.
Nose. Bleeding of the nose in the morning (Aconite, Belladonna, Hamamelis); drops of blood when sneezing or blowing the nose. Scabby nostrils.
Face. Very pale in morning after rising. Eruptions at corners of lips.
Mouth. Cutting pain in the tongue as with a knife. Scorbutic gums; bleed easily (Carb. an., Mercurius, Nit. ac). Violent drawing aching in carious teeth; less in the air and in warmth; worse in the evening. Increased flow of saliva.
Throat. Burning in the throat.
Stomach. Empty eructations. Nausea in morning, better after breakfast, with vomiting of water.
Stool. Stool, first hard and difficult; last, thin and watery.
Female Organs. Diarrhoea frequently before and during menstruation. Menses too early and too profuse (Arsenicum, Calcarea c., Nux v.). Flow most in morning; scanty during day and night, flowed for most part only at night (Magnesia carb.). Painful urging, toward genitals, and weight in small of back (Belladonna). During the intervals occasional flow of blood (Ammonium carb.). Leucorrhoea a few days before or a few days after the menses like the white of an egg (Ammonium mur., Borax, Calcarea phos., Mez.), when walking; yellowish, green, acrid.
Generalities. Palpitation of the heart. Great weakness of the joints. Weariness in hands and feet. Intolerance of tight clothing around the waist (Calcarea c.). Drops things from the hands, as from weakness; awkwardness. Unusually deep impression on finger from using blunt instruments (as scissors or knife). Itching of os coccygis; must scratch until the parts become raw and sore. Stitches in right external malleolus.
Sleep. Great drowsiness in the afternoon and early evening.
Fever. Chilliness all night. Intermittent fever, chill every day from 7 to 10 P.M.
Compare. Aloe, Carb. v., Calcarea c., Cicuta, Magnesia carb., Mercurius, Phosphorus, Rhus tox., Pulsatilla, Secale, Staphysagria, Sulphur, Veratrum alb., Ustilago.
Antidote. Camph.
THERAPEUTICS.
Bovista is used chiefly in uterine haemorrhage, menorrhagia and metrorrhagia and in leucorrhoea. In the former the chief characteristic is that the flow takes place mostly at night or early in the morning, a diarrhoea often precedes and accompanies the menses. The leucorrhoea may be either uterine or cervical, mostly the latter, being of an albuminous character, and acrid, and occurs just before or a few days after the menses. Epistaxis, especially mornings. The drug has been successfully used in urticaria, tetter and eczema, either dry and red, or moist forming thick crusts, burning and itching. Has been used to antidote the effect of charcoal fumes. Stammering.