Natural order. Liliaceae. Common name. Tiger Lily. habitat. A plant, native of China and Japan; cultivated in gardens. Preparation. Tincture from the fresh plant.
GENERAL ANALYSIS. C:\ClassicMD\Matmed\Mmcowper.mat
profoundly upon the female generative organs, and upon the heart; in the former producing irritation, congestion and subacute inflammation, together with the various forms of uterine displacement. Through reflex action it depresses the action of the heart, and produces symptoms of cardiac irritability, palpitation, etc. The chief characteristic of Lilium is a bearing down sensation in the uterine region, as if everything would press out of the vagina.
CHARACTERISTIC SYMPTOMS.
Mind. Depression of Spirits; inclination to weep, timidity, apprehensiveness (Nux moschata, Pulsatilla, Phosphorus). Tormented about her salivation, with uterine complaints. Constant hurried feeling, as f imperative duties and utter inability to perform them; during sexual excitement. Disposed to curse, to strike, to think of obscene things; as these mental states came, uterine irritation abated.
Head. Headache, especially if depending on uterine, disorders (Caulophyllum, Cimic.). Dull pain in forehead over the eyes.
Eyes. Hypermetropia; presbyopia. Vision dim; and confused, with disposition to cover eyes and press upon them. Blurred vision with heat in eyes and lids.
Stomach. Nausea, with hawking of mucus. Loss of appetite (Alumina, Arsenicum, Calcarea c., Cinchona, Nux moschata). Craving for meat. Hollow, empty sensation in stomach and bowels (Ignatia, Hydras., Sepia).
Abdomen. Distension of the abdomen (Calcarea c., Cinchona, Lycopodium, Nux v.). Dragging down of whole abdominal contents, extending even to organs of chest; must support the abdomen (Belladonna, Platina, Sepia). Sensation as if diarrhoea would come on (Aloe); also passing off by urinating.
Stool and Anus. Pressure in rectum with almost constant desire to go to stool. Morning diarrhoea (Aloe, Rumex, Sulphur); stools loose, bilious (Podophyllum); dark, offensive, very urgent, can’t wait a moment; stool preceded by griping pains or great urging, with pressure in the rectum; followed by smarting, burning of the anus and rectum (Arsenicum, Cantharis). Constipation.
Urinary Organs. Frequent urination during the day, with smarting in the urethra (Cantharis, Can. Sat.). Continuous pressure in the bladder. Constant desire to urinate, with scanty discharge; burning and smarting in urethra after (Aconite, Cantharis).
Female Organs. Bearing down, with sensation of heavy weight and pressure in uterine region, as if the whole contents would press out through the vagina (Belladonna, Nux moschata, Platina, Sepia); relieved by pressure of the hand against the vulva. Sharp pains in the ovarian region (Belladonna, Cimic.). Pains in right ovary and back. Ovaries sore on pressure, worse right side. Gnawing and dragging in right ovary, worse from walking. Severe neuralgic pains in uterus; child not bear touch; not even weight of bed clothes or slightest jar; anteversion. Fundus of uterus low down, tilted against bladder, the os pressing upon rectum. Bearing down in uterus, with pains in left ovary and mamma. Voluptuous itching in vagina, with feeling of fullness of parts; stinging in left ovarian region. Sexual desire in creased; ending in orgasm. Leucorrhoea; bright- yellow, acrid excoriating (Alumina, Arsenicum, Kreosotum); leaving a brown state.
Chest and Heart. Dull, pressive pain in region of heart (Iodium, Cact.). Pain in heart worse when lying down as night. Constant feeling of a load or weight in left chest. Sharp and quick pain in left side of chest (Kreosotum), with fluttering of the heart (Spigelia). Heart feels as if squeezed in a vise (Arnica, Cact.); or alternately grasped and relaxed. Fluttering or palpitation of the heart (Natr. mur.).
Back. Dull pain in sacrum (AEsc.). Sensation of pulling upward from tip of coccyx.
Limbs. Cold, clammy; more when excited or nervous. Burning in palms and soles. Pain in right hip, extending down the thighs. Paralytic pricking in fingers and hands.
Generalities. Weak, trembling, nervous. Faintness, worse in a warm room or after being on the feet a long time. Worse walking, yet pains so much worse after ceasing to walk that he must walk again. Pains in small spots; shifting pains (Pulsatilla). Throbbing as if in all the blood vessels.
Aggravation. In evening; at night, from loss of self-control.
Amelioration. During the day; from fresh air; from keeping busy; in warm room.
Compare. Aloe, Apis, Belladonna, Cact, Cantharis, Cimic., Helonias, Ignatia, Nux. v., Platina, Podophyllum, Pulsatilla, Sepia, Spigelia, Sulphur
Antidotes. Helonias (anteversion), Nux v. (colic).
THERAPEUTICS.
The therapeutic, like the pathogenetic, range of Lilium centers in the female sexual system, from which source seems to arise all the disturbances for which it has proved curative. It is a valuable remedy in all forms of uterine displacement, especially versions, with pressure against the rectum and bladder (especially rectum), and consequent constipation and cystic irritation; the uterus is usually more or less congested and sensitive, and there are shooting pain, in which it differs from Sepia. which also has the heaviness and pressing down and relief from pressing against the vulva, so characteristic of Lilium. Often indicated and of great value in chronic metritis and subinvolution. Leucorrhoea. Ovaritis. Ovarian neuralgia. An important characteristic of Lilium is that the ovarian symptoms have usually associated with them reflex heart symptoms, pain, fluttering, palpitation, sensation as if alternately grasped and relaxed, etc. A valuable remedy in nervous affections of the heart dependent upon uterine or ovariax disease. Pruritus of the vagina and vulva. The mental symptoms of Lilium are also dependent on uterine disease; hysteria; melancholia; religious melancholia; mania; useful in certain from of asthenopia, especially for astigmatism. Disturbed vision from uterine or ovarian diseases.
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).