Synonym. – Crocus Sativus. Natural order. – Iridaceae. common name – Saffron. Habitat – A perennial plant, native of Greece and Asia Minor, but has become naturalized by cultivation in most temperate countries. Preparation – Tincture of the dried stigmas.
GENERAL ANALYSIS
Acts upon the cerebro-spinal system, producing in the brain irritation and congestion, and causing hysterical mania. It also produces great venous congestion of the womb, and passive uterine haemorrhage, the blood being dark, clotted and stringy, which is its chief peculiarity.
CHARACTERISTIC SYMPTOMS
Mind. Vacillating mood; angry and soon repents of it; depression and hilarity; ill-humor, then lively (Aconite, Ignatia, Nux moschata, Platina). Uneasy, anxious, sorrowful mood. Gay and pleasant mania; strong desire to sing, laugh immoderately, and jest (Hyoscyamus, Stramonium); wants to kiss everybody. Loss of ideas on attempting to write anything down.
Head Sudden broad thrust deep in the brain in right temples, or above left frontal eminence, causing him to start.
Eyes. Must wink and wipe the eyes frequently, as though a film of mucus were over them (Alumina, Pulsatilla). Pupils much dilated. Feeling as of biting smoke in the eyes. The light seems dimmer than usual, as if obscured by a veil (Baryta c., Causticum, Hyoscyamus, Petrol., Phosphorus, Pulsatilla). Feeling as though water were constantly coming into the eyes. Feeling in the eyes as after much weeping. Sore burning in eyes after reading; also dimness, must wink frequently (Euphr.). Inclined to press the lids tightly together from time to time (Euphr.). Twitching in the upper lid. Pain goes from the eyes to the top of the head.
Nose. Epistaxis of very tenacious, thick, black blood, with cold sweat on the forehead in large drops. Violent sneezing.
Throat Feeling as if the uvula were elongated, during and when not swallowing.
Stomach and Abdomen. Excessive thirst for cold drinks (Aconite, Bryonia). Eructations. Distension of the stomach and abdomen. Sensation as if something living were jumping about in pit of stomach and abdomen (Thuja), with nausea and shivering.
Anus. Sensitive, dull, long stitch near left side of anus, from time to time. Intolerable writhing in the anus. Crawling in the anus as from threadworms.
Male Organs. Excitement of sexual desire.
Female Organs. Sensation as if the menses would appear; with colic and pressing towards genitals (Cimic., Caulophyllum, Pulsatilla). Metrorrhagia of dark (Kali nit.), viscid, stringy blood in black clots (Ammonium carb., Cyclamen, Ignatia, Platina, Sabin.); from slightest motion.
Respiratory Organs. Very violent attack of exhausting, dry cough, better from laying hand on pit of stomach. Offensive, sickly odor of the breath (Caps., Sanguinaria). Dull stitches in the left chest. Heaviness of the chest; must frequently take a deep breath. Jumping as of something living in right lower part, beneath ribs.
Limbs. Pain on moving the upper arm, as if the head of the humerus were loose, and would be easily dislocated.
Generalities. Sensation as of something living jumping in various parts. Bleeding from different parts, blood black, viscid, clotted. excessive prostration and weariness in the evening, as from several physical exertion, accompanied by great sleepiness, with feeling as if the eyelids were swollen; literary occupation relieves. Jerking in the muscles; in single sets of muscles.
Sleep. Confused and frightful dreams.
Fever. Heat towards evening, worse in head, with redness of face and thirst, without dryness of mouth.
Aggravation. In morning; all symptoms better in the open air.
Compare Aconite, Belladonna, Calcarea c., Ignatia, Ipecac., Nux v., Opium, Platina, Pulsatilla, Rhus tox., Ruta, Sabina, Sepia, Sulphur, Zincum met.
Antidote. Aconite, Belladonna, Opium
THERAPEUTICS.
Has been proved of great value in the treatment of active haemorrhages, characterized by dark, viscid, stringy blood, in black clots, worse on slightest motion, especially metrorrhagia and epistaxis. Has also removed the tendency to miscarry. Chorea, with characteristic nosebleed or metrorrhagia. Hysteria, with sensation of something living jumping around in abdomen and other parts; convulsive twitchings; metrorrhagia. Useful in eye diseases where symptoms agree; spasmodic affections of eyelids, has to wink frequently; asthenopia; posterior sclero-choroiditis in near-sighted persons; ciliary neuralgia. A valuable clinical symptom is that the pain goes from the eyes to the top of the head.
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).