Synonym. Matricaria Chamomilla. Natural order. Compositae. Common name. Chamomile. Habitat. An annual plant found in uncultivated fields in Europe, especially in sandy regions. PReparation. Tincture from the whole fresh plant when in flower.
GENERAL ANALYSIS
Acts primarily upon the nervous system, causing an intensely acute susceptibility to morbid impressions and in the motor sphere giving rise to general exhaustion and prostration. Through the nervous system it acts prominently upon the liver and upon the digestive and respiratory mucous membranes, producing irritation, and giving rise to congestion, catarrh, and other abnormal conditions to which these parts are especially liable. The leading feature of Chamomilla is its excessive sensitiveness to pain, accompanied usually by great peevishness and irritability.
CHARACTERISTIC SYMPTOMS
Mind Anxious; uneasy; fretting and moaning about trifles (Aconite, Abies can.). Uneasiness, anxiety, agonized tossing about. Irritable, impatient mood (Anacardium, Bryonia, Nux v., Hepar s.). Peevishness (Calcarea phos., Causticum, Borax); ill-humor (Bryonia). Whining restlessness; the child wants different things, and refuses or repels them when given (Bryonia, Cina.). Child cries; quite only when carried Omits words when writing or speaking (Lycopodium, Nux moschata). Pains intolerable; cannot be endured (Cinchona, Coffea).
Head Confusion; afternoon, with pressure over the eyes. Vertigo after eating (Nux v.), or on rising from bed (Aconite, Bryonia, phos.), with tendency to faint. PRessive headache is temples, as from pressure with fingers. Wandering, lancinating pains in temples and one- half of head. Transient attacks of throbbing in one-half of the brain. PRessure extending from vertex to forehead and temples; worse when thinking of it (Ignatia); from sudden stooping and from mental exertion.
Eyes Eye swollen in morning. Agglutinated with purulent mucus (Calcarea c., Lycopodium, Mercurius, Pulsatilla, Silicea, Sulphur). Violent pressure in orbital region; sensation in eyeball as it tightly compressed from all sides, with momentary obstruction of vision.
Ears Roaring in the ears as from rushing waters (Coccul., Gelsemium). Pressing earache; stitching, tearing pains (Mercurius, Pulsatilla).
Nose Extremely sensitive smell (Aconite, Agaricus, Aurum, Belladonna, Colchicum, Hepar s.). Irritation to sneeze, with crawling, dry heat; stoppage; sensation as if coryza would appear.
Face Redness of one cheek, the other pale (Aconite, Arnica). Burning in face. Stitches in the jaw, extending into the back teeth or inner ear.
Mouth Lips crack and peel. Toothache; drawing; stitching; from cold; after eating; in the room; getting warm in bed (Mercurius); after a warm drink (Pulsatilla). Teeth feel too long (Causticum, Lycopodium, Nitr. ac.); sensitive. Collection of metallic, sweetish saliva in the mouth (Phytolacca, phos., plumb., puls.). Taste bitter (Arsenicum, Bryonia, Coloc., Cinchona, Nux v., Pulsatilla, Sulphur); in morning like rancid fat (Causticum, Pulsatilla). Blisters on and beneath the tongue, with stinging pain. Tongue coated; yellow; dirty white; dry.
Throat Spasmodic constriction of the pharynx. Sore throat with swelling of parotid gland.
Stomach Eructations smelling of bad eggs (Agaricus, Ant. tart., Arnica, Psorinum., Sepia). Great thirst for cold water (Aconite, Arsenicum, Bryonia). Nausea; sour vomiting. PRessure in the stomach, as from a stone, after eating (Arsenicum, Bryonia, Pulsatilla). Pressive pain in stomach and beneath short ribs, which impedes breathing, especially after drinking coffee.
Abdomen Griping, tearing colic in region of navel and lower down on both sides, with pain in small of back, as if broken (Belladonna). Emission of flatus. Cutting, sticking colic; flatulence in hypochondria; abdomen distended like a drum (Carb v.., Cinchona), and sensitive to touch. Pain in belly from side to side just above the navel, corresponding to the transverse colon, commencing in the right and going over to the left.
Stool and Anus Blind haemorrhoids (Bromium, Nux v.). Stools white, slimy, with colic; painless, green watery (Sulphur); hot, smelling like rotten eggs (Ascl. t., Calcarea c.); green watery, corroding, with colic (Sulphur); thirst, bitter taste, and bitter eructations. Itching in the anus.
Urinary organs Burning in neck of bladder when urinating
Female Organs Drawing from sacral region forward griping and pinching in uterus, followed by discharge of large clots of blood. Profuse discharge of clotted blood, with severe labor-like pains in uterus; tearing pains in legs (Cimic., Pulsatilla). Dragging toward uterus like labor pains, with frequent urging to urinate. Leucorrhoea; acrid, watery; yellow, smarting. Nipples inflamed and very tender; infant’s breast tender to touch Mammae hard and tender to the touch (Bry, Coni). Distressing after-pains. Suppression of lochia, followed by diarrhoeic colic, and toothache.
Respiratory Organs Pressure in air-passages, with irritation to cough. Hoarseness on account of tough mucus in larynx, only loosened by violent hawking. Sensation of rawness and scraping in larynx (Nux v.)… Cough at night, from irritation toward the trachea. Paroxysms of coughing about midnight, with which something seems to rise to the throat, as if she would suffocate. Severe dry cough during sleep. Whistling, wheezing and rattling in trachea when breathing (Ant. tart.., Ipecac.). Constriction in upper part of chest; in larynx. Stitches in the chest (Bryonia, Canth, Kali carb.)..
Heart Palpitation of the heart.
Back Bruised sensation in the muscles of the loins and back (Arnica, Bryonia). Pains in the sacral region, especially at night Drawing pain in the back.
Limbs Pain in the periosteum, with paralytic weakness.. Joints sore as if bruised or tired out; cracking; no power in hands and feet.
Upper Limbs Arms go to sleep (Lycopodium), especially when taking hold of anything.
Lower Limbs Cramps in the calves (Calcarea c., Camph., Nux v, Silicea, Sulphur). Crawling and heaviness in the calves. Burning in soles (Calcarea c., Silicea); puts them out of bed (Sulphur).
Generalities Child makes itself stiff and bends backward; kicks when carried; screams immoderately, and throws everything off. Convulsions of children; legs moved up and down, grasping and reaching with the hands, mouth drawn from side to side, eyes staring. Twitching in the eyelids, eyeballs, lips and facial muscles. Attacks of faintness; sick and qualmish about the heart. Excessive sensitiveness to pain (Aurum, Cinchona, Coffea, Ignatia). Paralytic sensation always accompanied by tearing, drawing pain, and these pains rarely occur without the paralytic or numb sensation in the part. Stitches jumping from place to place, especially, in knees and ankles (Pulsatilla) disappearing on motion.
Sleep Sleepy, but cannot sleep (Belladonna, Lachesis, Opium). Restless sleep; moaning, starting up, crying, tossing about and talking.
Skin Oedematous, unhealthy, every injury suppurates (Borax, Graphites., Hepar s, Sulphur). Burning and smarting pain in the ulcer, at night, with crawling and painful oversensitiveness to touch. Red rash on cheeks Severe itching of the sweating parts.
Fever Coldness of the whole body, with burning, heat of face and eyes, and hot breath. Chill of posterior part, with heat of anterior part of body, or vice versa. Slight shiverings, alternating with heat, creep over the back and abdomen. Alternations of heat and cold in various parts (cal. c.). Heat in head and face (Aconite, Belladonna). Chilliness from exposure to air. Profuse sweat on covered parts (Belladonna). Perspiration on scalp and forehead.
Condition In children; light or brown hair, nervous, excitable temperaments; arthritic or rheumatic diathesis.
Compare Aconite, Agaricus, Arsenicum, Belladonna, Bryonia, Cinchona Cina., Coccul., Coffea, Coloc., Graphites, Hepar s., Hyoscyamus, Ignatia, Mag.carb., Mercurius, Natr.m., Nux v., Pulsatilla, Sulphur, Stramonium
Antidotes Aconite, Alumina, Borax, Camph., Coccul., Coffea, Coloc., Ignatia, Nux v., Pulsatilla
Chamomilla Antidotes. Coffea, Opium
THERAPEUTICS
In Chamomilla the emotional predominates, and this peculiarity often indicates the drug in a variety of disease not suggested by its general symptoms.. It is especially useful in women and children of a nervous, excitable temperament, and so effectually calms nervous excitement that it has been termed “the opium of homoeopathy.” The patient is peevish and irritable, and cries and whines continually if it cannot have its own way. If a child it must be petted and carried continually. The adult is very sensitive to pain, which seems unendurable, and she is all the time whining and complaining. These symptoms call for Chamomilla, no matter what is the nature of the ailment children during dentition, and with bowel troubles; earache, etc.; women who have hysteria, neuralgia, toothache, or gastric or hepatic derangements. Often indicated in persons who have been depending on Opium or the Bromides. Bad effects from anger or violent excitement. Chamomilla is a leading remedy for fevers arising from local irritation during dentition, or from indigestible substances in the stomach or intestines, form indigestible substances in the stomach or intestines, from worms, etc., or from liver disturbances; also diarrhoea or convulsions from the same causes, especially if the characteristic mental symptoms are present. An excellent remedy for the diarrhoea of nursing children, the stool being green and slimy; watery; often like chopped egg and spinach; undigested; smelling badly; colic; from taking cold or during dentition.. Gastralgia, pressure as from stone in stomach after eating. Dyspepsia. Sometimes useful in catarrhal troubles of children, either nasal, laryngeal or bronchial, Nervous cough. Chamomilla is an invaluable remedy in many disorders of the female sexual system, being especially useful is the lying-in room; menorrhagia; neuralgic or membranous dysmenorrhoea; Leucorrhoea; threatened miscarriage; severe after- pains; suppressed lochia, or dark or too profuse; puerperal convulsions; milk suppressed from anger; inflamed breasts, etc. Convulsions in children brought on by excitement or intestinal irritation. Sleeplessness in children or adults form nervous excitement. Also useful in muscular or articular rheumatism, with great nervous excitability; also with erratic pains; drive him out of bed and compel him to move about; wounds which suppurate (topically and internally).
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).