TREATMENT. Senec., Chamomilla, Secale, Pulsatilla, Belladonna, Cimic., Hamamelis, Sub., Cocc., Gelsemium, Nux V., Coffea, Verbascum, Ignatia, Platina, etc.
Senecio. Functional Dysmenorrhoea, scanty discharge. It hive the most marked relief if administered for at lest ten days preceding the flow.
Chamomilla. Pains very severe, rambling those of labour; pressure from the small of the back forwards and downwards; colic, with sensitiveness to the touch; discharge of a dark colour and clotted; especially suited to highly-sensitive, nervous, and irritable patients troubled with biliousness.
Secale. Expulsive forcing-pins, followed by lumps of dark discharge; cutting pins in the bladder or bowel; pale face; cold sweat; flagging pulse; or the agonizing forcing-pins may occur without any discharge. We have met with great success from the administration of this remedy.
Pulsatilla. Scanty menses, the discharge being tended with cutting pains in the region of the womb, abdomen, back, and loins, with loss of appetite, chilliness, vertigo, etc., thee pains moving from one part to another. This remedy is specially suited to young women of light hair and complexion, and mild disposition.
Belladonna. Suspected inflammation or congestion of the womb, with severe pain, bearing-down, throbbing, etc., and especially in plethoric women. There is also great determination of blood to the head, confusion of sight, redness of the face, and thee discharge may be profuse. As rule, Aconite may be alternated with Belladonna
Cimicifuga. Nervous and rheumatic patients, with severe headache, aching of the limbs, dark and coagulated discharge, pain under the left breast, depression of spirits, etc. This drug or its concentrated preparation-Macrotin-is most useful in the intermenstrual periods.
Hamamelis. Dysmenorrhoea from ovarian irritation pain in the groins Leucorrhoea, irregular menses, extreme pain and soreness, smarting-pain on passing water, and frequent urging.
Sabina. Pain chiefly at the beginning of the period, ceasing after the discharge is established.
Calcarea C. Menses appearing at too short intervals.
Cocculus. Severe menstrual colic; spasms or cramps in the abdomen, with flatulence, nausea, dizziness, and faintness.
Gelsemium. Neuralgic and spasmodic Dysmenorrhoea. It is, however, palliative rather than curative.
Nux Vomica. Constipation and piled; frequent desire to urinate; pains in the back, as if it were dislocated; paroxysms of pressing and drawing pain; indigestion, etc. Nux V. is well suited to women of vigorous constitution, and irritable temperament.
Coffea. Exquisite sensitiveness to pain extreme nervous restlessness sleeplessness, etc.
Crocus. Dark., clotted discharge.
Administration. In acute cases, six or eight drops of tincture or twelve pilules, mixed in half at tumbler of filtered cold water, and a dessert-spoonful taken every two or three hours; as improvement takes place, or in chronic cases, a dose every six, eight, or twelve hours.
ACCESSORY MEASURE. Daily active exercise in the open air; the use of the cold-bath in the morning in the intervals of menstruation), or tepid in the evening, (during the period), followed by vigorous friction; regular and early hours; a plain regimen; and avoidance of wine, coffee, and green tea, and influences that disturb the mind and temper, are important auxiliaries in the treatment of Dysmenorrhoea. As palliatives, during the period, hot bottles, or flannels wrung out of hot water, and applied to the lower part of the abdomen, or the warm hipbath in which the patient may remain twenty or thirty minutes, generally give relief.
XIII. To Profuse, Frequent, or Long-lasting Menstruation- (Menorrhagia).
It is difficult to determine, except approximately, the quantity of discharge which should take place: it should, however, never be such as to cause debility. A deep-rooted and dangerous notion prevails, by which women suppose that, however great may be the discharge, if it occur regularly, it is in perfect accordance with the economy of nature. If a medical man directs a parent’s attention to the debility and ill-health following an habitually too-copious, flow, he frequently, receive the answer, “She is always so.” The fact of a girls being always so, furnishes the most urgent reason for adopting such measures as should prevent her ever being so.
The quantity of menstrual discharge varies according to constitution, temperament, habits of life, and climate. Robust and plethoric females, who eat largely and drink wine, may lose a comparatively large quantity of blood at each monthly period without inconvenience; whilst others of delicate and relaxed constitution would immediately experience serious consequences form profuse flow. It is when this otherwise healthy discharge becomes morbidly increased, recurs too often, or lasts too long, that selection of one or more of the following remedies is necessary: Secale, Sabi., Croc., Ipecac., Pulsatilla, Cimic., Calcarea, Phosphorus, China, Sulphur, Belladonna, Aconite, etc.
Secale. Severe expulsive pains accompanying the discharge, which is dark, offensive, and increased by movement and coughing; great weakness, pale face, coldness of the surface and extremities, and feeble pulse.
Sabina. Bright-red discharge, with irritation of the urinary organs, and dimness of sight.
Crocus. Dark-coloured, clotted, and very abundant discharge, recurring too early.
Ipecacuanha. Menorrhagia of bright red blood, amounting even to flooding, with nausea, and great pressure in the region of the womb.
Pulsatilla. Profuse discharge with shifting pains in back and abdomen, especially at the change of life, during pregnancy, or after parturition.
Calcarea. Profuse menstruation recurring too early, in scrofulous patients subject to itching and burning Leucorrhoea, and having a tendency to fatness. It is most useful during the inter-menstrual periods.
Cimicifuga. In rheumatic and neuralgic patients, with heavy pressing-down pains, aching of the limbs, depression of spirits, and nervousness. This remedy will be found of great service in many cases if taken twice a day during the intervals between the menses.
Phosphorus. As a constitutional remedy in patients disposed to Phthisis.
China. After a heavy discharge, for the resulting debility; and also when there is irregular Menorrhagia, the blood being dark and thick. flowing too long, with burning at the top of the head, debility, etc.
Sulphur. Profuse discharge of black, clotted or gluey blood, in patients of scrofulous constitution and unhealthy skin.
Belladonna and Aconitum are also sometimes useful; the latter any time, either at the commencement or during thee flow, alone or in turns with another remedy, when there is disturbance of the circulation, feverishness, palpitation, throbbing, etc.; and the former when three is congestive headache-thee face being much flushed, the temples throbbing, the mind confused, the eyes and ears sensitive to light and sound, etc.
Arnica. Excessive discharge produced by injury, over- exertion, or lifting too great a weight.
Administration. When the discharge is so profuse as to bee dangerous, thee dose should be repeated every fifteen or thirty minutes, for several times, or until the flooding cease. In less urgent case, very two, three, or four hours, as long as necessary. Regularly excessive Menstruation indicates some grave constitutional cachexia, and requires good professional treatment.
ACCESSORY TREATMENT. This consists in quietude, the patient sparing herself as much as possible a day or two before, and especially during thee discharge; only moderate exercise, little labour, and no lifting should be permitted; worm beverages, even of black tea, should be avoided, cold water being the most suitable drink; injections of cool or cold water up the bowel may be used with much benefit, especially if the patient be costive and troubled with piles; cool vaginal injections, with a females- syringe, will often relieve the congested state of the womb, without any risk of too abruptly suppressing the discharge. In more severe cases, cold wet (or hot) clots suddenly applied over the abdomen, so as to produce a shock, the horizontal posture, and light covering, are absolutely necessary; the hips should be as high or higher than the shoulders, so as to relieve the uterus of thee column of blood, and the patient be kept cool, quiet, and free from excitement. At the same time, general order and quietness should be maintained in her apartment.
PREVENTIVE MEASURES. See The Lady’s Manual.
XIV. Cessation of Menstruation. Change of Life. Critical Age.
The most common time for the cessation of the menses is between the fortieth and fiftieth years, generally about the forty-fifth year; but, like the first appearance, its termination is influenced by the varied temperament, constitution, and habits of the ladies themselves, or by variety of climate. There is generally a relation between thee periods of the first and last menstruations, the cessation occurring at a later period in proportion to the first appearance having been wanting in precociousness.
LICENTIATE OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS; MEMBER OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS; LICENTIATE IN MIDWIFERY, LONDON AND EDINBURGH, ETC. PHYSICIAN TO THE READING AND BERKSHIRE HOMOEOPATHIC DISPENSARY.
Author of "The Stepping Stone to Homeopathy and Health,"
"Manual of Homoeopathic Treatment". Editor of "The Homoeopathic World."