Synonyms. Pulsatilla Nigricans. Pulsatilla Pratensis. Natural order. Ranunculaceae. Common names. Wind Flower. Meadow Anemone. Pasque Flower. Habitat. A plant found on sunny, elevated places and pasture-grounds in sandy soil, and also in clear pine forests, in central and northern Europe. Preparation. tincture from the fresh plant.
GENERAL ANALYSIS.
Pulsatilla acts prominently upon all the mucous membranes of he body,. and upon the synovial membranes, with veins, the eyes, the ears and the generative organs of both sexes, more especially the female. In the mucous membranes a catarrhal process is established, the secretions are modified, sometimes retarded, more often increased, the functions of the organs they supply are disturbed, the nervous system become irritated and depressed, and as a result we obtain the numerous symptoms of deranged digestion, respiratory troubles,, genito-urinary disturbances, and catarrhal affections of the eye ear., which so fully characterize the action of this drug. On the degenerative system Pulsatilla exerts a married action outside of its catarrh sphere., due probably to its influence over the cerebro-spinal system. On the synovial membranes it produces arthritic or rheumatic inflammation, and in the veins varicose conditions.
CHARACTERISTIC SYMPTOMS.
Mild. Mild, gentle, timid, yielding disposition, with inclination to weep (Apis, Ignatia, Lilium tigrinum, Natr. mur., Nux moschata). Tremulous anxiety, as if death were near (Aconite, Arsenicum) Fears ghosts at night, or in the evening (Aconite, ars., Anxiety about the heat in the evening, even to suicide. Anxiety at night, as from heat. Peevish and capricious though not vexed. Irresolute. Hypochondriac moroseness; out of sorts with everything (Nux v.). Many wandering thoughts. Ill-humored, discontented, fretful (Bryonia, cham.).
Head. Confusion of head, with bruised pains or hollow feeling in head vertigo; as if intoxicated (Cinchona, coccul., Nux v., Rhus tox); on stooping (Belladonna); bitter while sitting; in morning on rising (Bry); must lie down again; with nausea and inclination to vomit. Heaviness on stooping, as if he could not arise it again. Dullness of the head, and bruised sensation in forehead (Cinchona, Pulsatilla, Sanguinaria). Headache on one side, as if the brain would burst (bry., Caps., Natr. mur.), and the eyes fall out. Headache from stooping. headache from overloaded stomach (bry., Caps., Natr. mur.), and the eyes fall out. Headache from stooping. Headache from overloaded stomach (bry., Ipecac., side as if a nail were driven in. Headache, with aching pain in the eyes, in the evening. Throbbing, pressive pain in forehead above the orbits, aggravated on raising the eyes. Stitching, tearing pain in the evening (Nux moschata) Biting itching of the scalp. Pressive and constrictive pain in temples. Constriction above eyes, worse on looking intently.
Eyes Dryness of the eyes and lids, with sensation as if darkened by mucus, which ought to be wiped away (Alumina, Croc., Euphrasia). Pressure, as from sand in the eyes, when reading (Arsenicum, Causticum, Ignatia, Natr. mur., Sulphur). Conjunctivitis, with profuse, thick, yellow, bland discharge. Burning and itching in the eyes, provokes rubbing and scratching. Inflammation of eyes and margins of eyelids, with lachrymation and nightly agglutination (Alumina, Aethusa, Calcarea c., Graphites, Lycopodium, Mercurius, Sulphur). Subject to styes, especially on upper lids (Graphites, Lycopodium). Itching, biting and burning in the lids and canthi, in the evening. Profuse lachrymation, in the wind or open air (Sulphur). Dimness of vision, like a fog or veil before the eyes (Causticum, Hyoscyamus, Laur., Mercurius, Phosphorus, Petrol., Ranunc., Sulphur). Dark before the eyes in the morning on rising (Dulcamara), and on going into a warm room.
Ears External ear and meatus red, swollen and hot (Aconite, Apis, Belladonna). Otalgia, with darting, tearing pains (Belladonna, Silicea), and pulsating at night (Mercurius). Itching deep in the ears. Violent pain in the ear, as from something forcing outward. Hardness of hearing, as if the ears were stopped. Sensation as if the ear were stopped, with roaring in it like a loud, distant noise. Humming, roaring, singing and ringing in the ears (Calcarea c., Graphites, Kali carb.). Cracking in ears on moving head or body. Bland, nearly inoffensive discharge of mucus and pus from the ears.
Nose Coryza, fluent or dry; frequent sneezing; loss of smell and taste (Ant. tart.); nostrils sore; wings raw (Lycopodium); later, yellow-green discharge (Graphites, Mercurius); worse indoors (Cepa, Nux- v.); chilliness; pale face; head confused; frontal headache (Aconite, Cepa, Sanguinaria). Stoppage of nose in evening; and in warm room in morning; yellow, opaque, offensive mucous discharge (Nitr. ac.). Bad smell, as of old catarrh in the nose (Sulphur). Epistaxis; with catarrh; with suppressed menses (Bryonia, Carls., Hamamelis, Sepia). Abscess at root of nose near inner canthus, as if a lachrymal fistula would form. Ulceration externally of wings of nose, and oozing of watery moisture. Pressure sensation at root of nose (Aconite, Kali bichromicum). Nasal bones pain as if they would be forced asunder.
Face Paleness of the face. Boring in left malar bone. Lower lip swollen and cracked in the middle, with tensive pain.
Mouth Sharp, shooting pains in teeth, or drawing, jerking, as if nerve were put on the stretch, and then let loose. Toothache worse; evening and night; in warmth of bed (Chamomilla); from taking anything warm in the mouth (Chamomilla); when eating; from picking teeth. Pain in the gums as if sore. Better in open air; from uncovering; when cold water taken into the mouth becomes warm. Tongue dry; covered with a tenacious mucus; as with a membrane; coated thick, white or yellow (Bryonia, Mercurius, Nux-v., Podophyllum). Sensation in middle, as if burned (Iris, Platina, Sanguinaria, Acid Sulphuricum, Veratrum vir.); insensible, even when moist; at night and in morning; painful blister on right side of tip. Very offensive odor from the mouth (Arnica, Aurum, Hepar s., Mercurius, Nux. v.) in morning; in evening after lying down; at night. Mouth and pharynx dry and covered with tasteless, insipid, tenacious mucus in morning. Accumulation of sweet saliva in the mouth (Chamomilla, Phosphorus); watery saliva, like waterbrash. Taste; of putrid meat, in morning, with inclination to vomit (Arnica, Mercurius); slimy; foul, clammy, insipid; bitter, especially after eating (Bryonia, Coloc., Nux v.); or smoking, though food has a natural taste; bad taste in the mouth in the morning. Food, especially bread, tastes bitter (Bryonia, Cinchona, Coloc., Nux-v., Sulphur), or taste of food diminished. Great dryness of the mouth in the morning, without thirst (Apis, Nux moschata).
Throat Rawness and scraping in the throat (Ammonium carb., Carb-v., Causticum, Phosphorus), with dryness of the mouth. Great dryness of the throat (Apis, Nux-m.), in the morning. Throat internally covered with a tenacious mucus, in morning. Pressure and tension in throat on swallowing. Constriction. Sensation of a worm creeping up into the throat.
Stomach Desires food, but does not know what kind. Aversion to fat food (Hepar s., Ptelea trifoliata), meat (Graphites, Ptelea trifoliata), bread (Natr. mur.), butter (Ptelea trifoliata), milk; to smoking (Ignatia). Thirst for beer (Coccul., Petrol.), or alcoholic drinks. Thirstlessness, with all complaints (Ant. tart., Apis). Eructations after eating, tasting and smelling of food (Antim crud., Calcarea c., Cinchona, Graphites, Phosphorus); bitter, bilious, rancid, sour (Bryonia, Nux-v., Phosphorus); tastes like putrid meat. Hiccough when smoking. Nausea; in epigastric region, worse from eating or drinking; waterbrash (Ledum, Nux-v.); disagreeable risings, especially after eating and drinking (Arsenicum). Morning nausea, especially during menses, from suppressed menses, or during pregnancy (Graphites, Kali carb., Nux-m., Sepia). Vomiting of bilious matter (Arsenicum, Bryonia, Nux-v., Podophyllum); of food eaten long before, or after each meal. Distension. Griping pains in pit of stomach and epigastrium. Stomach disordered from fat food (Cyclamen, Tarax.), pasty (Ipecac., Nux-v.), fruit or ice- cream. Pain in stomach an hour after eating (Nux-v.). Weight, as from a stone (Aconite, Aesculus, Arsenicum, Bryonia, Nux-v.), especially in morning on waking. Crampy pains in stomach, in morning, or after meals. Gnawing distress in stomach, as from hunger (Abies c.). Pressing, pinching, or choking pains in stomach after eating, impeding breathing. Sensation as of having taken too much food, which rises into the mouth, as if one would vomit. Scraping sensation i stomach (Nux-v.), and oesophagus, like a heartburn. Tension in region of stomach in forenoon, better from moving about. Perceptible pulsation in pit of stomach (Ant. tart., Asafoetida).
Abdomen Flatulent colic; loud rumbling and gurgling (Lycopodium); flatus moves about in abdomen (Aloe, Carb-v.), especially in evening; in bed. Incarcerated flatus, pressing here and there; not relieved by passing flatus (Cinchona); after midnight. Colic and griping, especially in upper abdomen. Fullness and distension of abdomen and stomach; painful sensitiveness. Pain, in evening after drinking; after drinking; after stool; on touch. Chilliness extending around from abdomen to lower part of back. Pressure in abdomen (Berberis), and small of back, as from a stone; limbs go to sleep while sitting; ineffectual desire to stool. Drawing, tearing or forcing-down pains in abdomen, like labor-pains. Cutting low down in abdomen, penetrating into pelvis (Chamomilla). Constriction as from a stone extending to the bladder.
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).