Synonyms. Taraxacum. Dens leonis. Taraxacum officinale. Natural order. Compositae. Common names. Dandelion. Puff Ball. Habitat. A perennial herb found growing in the greater portion of the Northern Hemisphere. Preparation. Tincture from the entire fresh plant.
GENERAL ANALYSIS.
Acts especially upon the mucous membranes of the digestive tract. and upon the liver.
CHARACTERISTIC SYMPTOMS.
Head. Drawing pain in left temple while sitting, ceasing when walking and standing. Needle-like stitches in left temple when sitting, ceasing when standing. Tearing pain in occiput. Pressure and heaviness in lower part of occiput, after lying down.
Eyes. Burning in left eyeball.
Ears. Drawing pain in external ear.
Face. Hot and red. Pustule in right corner of lips.
Mouth. Teeth set on edge as from acids. Tongue covered with a white coating, which peels off in patches, leaving with a white coating, which peels off in patches, leaving dark, red, tender, very sensitive spots. Accumulation of saliva in the mouth, with sensation as if the larynx were pressed shut. Bitter taste in the mouth after eating (Bryonia, Nux v.).
Stomach. Bitter eructations; hiccough. Nausea, as if from too fat food, with inclination to vomit (Pulsatilla).
Abdomen. Stitching pains in sides (left) to abdomen; in hypogastrium. Motions in the abdomen, as if bubbles were forming and bursting.
Stool. Difficult, but not hard stool.
Urinary Organs. Pressure to urinate without pain; frequent desire to urinate, and copious urine.
Respiratory Organs. Stitches in the chest (Bryonia). Twitching in right intercostal muscles.
Neck and Back. Twitching and dull sticking pain in left side of nape of neck; when standing; better when sitting. Tensive stitches towards right side of back; outward in right scapula. Vibration of right scapula, with quivering.
Upper Limbs. Twitching in muscles of left forearm. Finger tips icy-cold. Pressive pain in three least fingers of right hand.
Lower Limbs. Stitching pain in left thigh. Pressive pain in left calf. Jerking pain in calf, ceasing quickly when touched. Drawing pain in dorsum of right foot, when standing; stitches when sitting. Severe or fine stitching pains in right sole. Burning in the toes.
Sleep. Yawning and sleepiness during the day. Vivid, unremembered dreams.
Fever. Chilliness after eating or drinking (Caps.).
Aggravation. Almost all symptoms appear when sitting, or disappear when walking.
Compare. Bryonia, Caps., Chelidonium, Hydras., Nux v., Pulsatilla, Spigelia
THERAPEUTICS.
Taraxacum has been found useful in headaches; gastric affections; bilious attacks; enlargement and induration of the liver; jaundice, etc., usually with chilliness, soreness over the liver, bitter taste and “mapped” tongue. Bilious fever. Rheumatism. Neuralgia.
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).