Synonyms – Smilax Medica. Smilax Officinalis. Natural order – Smilaceae. Common name – Wild Liquorice. Habitat – A plant indigenous to Mexico and as far south as the Northern part of South America. Preparation – Tincture of the dried root (Honduras variety). Triturations of the dried root-bark.
GENERAL ANALYSIS
Acts powerfully upon the blood, giving rise to herpes and other skin eruptions. It also acts prominently upon the urinary system, producing symptoms similar to those of gravel, in which affection it is an excellent remedy.
CHARACTERISTIC SYMPTOMS
Mind. Anxiety with the pains, also after seminal emissions. Cheerful.
Head Heaviness in the head. Pressing and stitching pains in left side of head. Shooting pains from left ear to root of nose; base of nose and eyes swollen. Neuralgic headache, right side, throbbing, stitching, starting from occiput. Throbbing pains in the head.
Eyes. Shooting pain in eyes. Red stripe from cornea to outer canthus. Cloudiness before the eyes, as from a fog (Causticum, Phosphorus, Ranunc., Sulphur).
Face Eruptions on the face; like milk crust (Viola tric.). Stiffness and tension in the muscles and articulations of the jaw.
Mouth. Bitter taste in the mouth, in the morning (Bryonia, Nux v., Pulsatilla).
Stomach Bitter eructations after eating.
Abdomen. Rumbling, with sensation of emptiness in the abdomen. Stitches in sides (left) of abdomen.
Stool Painful, difficult evacuations. Stools hard. Obstinate constipation.
Urinary Organs Frequent desire to urinate, with scanty discharge, accompanied by burning (Aconite, Cantharis). Frequent and profuse discharge of pale urine, day and night (Apis, Apocynum, Verbas.). Urine contains gravel or small calculi. Urine scanty and turbid, like clay- water as soon as passed. Severe pain at the conclusion of urination, the last urine containing blood.
Respiratory Organs. Spasmodic oppression of the chest.
Back. Pains from small of back down spermatic cords; worse at night and from motion; after emissions.
Upper Limbs. Stitches in the joints of the arms, hands and fingers. Deep rhagades on fingers, with burning pains. Finger tips feel as if ulcerated, or as from salt in a wound.
Lower Limbs. Weariness in the thighs. Stitches in the thighs, knees and legs.
Skin. Herpes on almost all parts of the body; especially on prepuce. Deep, burning, painful rhagades (Graphites). Itching sometimes over the whole body, especially in evening in bed and in morning when rising. Moist eruptions, with excoriating discharges. Dry, red pimples, only itching when exposed to the heat. Shriveled skin.
Fever. Frequent rigors, running from below upward. Heat in the evening in bed; with feeling of strength. Sweat on forehead; during the evening heat.
Conditions. Frequently useful after the abuse of Mercury.
Compare Ammonium carb., Belladonna, Chamomilla, Mercurius, Sepia, Sulphur
Antidote. Belladonna, Mercurius
THERAPEUTICS.
Sarsaparilla is used chiefly in cystitis with bloody urine, and other symptoms above mentioned. Gravel, especially in children. Discharge of gas in urine, showing fermentation in bladder. Herpes preputialis. Swelling of spermatic cords, pain from small of back down cords, after sexual excitement or nocturnal emission. Secondary syphilis. Herpes and other eruptions. Eruptions during hot weather, becoming ulcers. Rhagades. Bone pains, especially after Mercury, worse from dampness. Marasmus, with characteristic urine, emaciation, shriveled skin. Useful in syphilitic and Mercurial headaches, extending from occiput to eyes.