Pages from the Manual of Materia Medica, edited by Dr. N. C. Bose. Copyright to Messrs. M. Bhattacharyya & Co., 84, Clive Street, Calcutta.
(N. O. Ranunculaceae).
Synonyms : Meadow Anemone; Wind flower; Pasque flower.
Common name : Pulsatilla.
Habitat : Europe and Asia.
A tincture is made of the fresh plant.
It was first proved by HAHNEMANN, who advises its use in the 30th. potency.
General action :
Its field of usefulness covers a wide range and it is a remedy of frequent use. Its most extensive action is on mucus membranes, on eyes, ears, nose and respiratory tract, mouth and digestive tract, vagina and urinary apparatus. It affects the testicles and spermatic cord, the female sexual organs, the veins of the lower extremities and the joints. Its action on the disposition is very marked and important. Its fever is unpronounced, is symptomatic (catarrhal as a rule) and is not attended with thirst or nervous excitement.
Therapeutic uses:
Headache; Vertigo. Acne. Anaemia. Conjunctivitis; granular ophthalmia. Inflammation of lachrymal sac. Cataract. Stye. Earache. Otorrhoea. Hardness of hearing. Nasal catarrh. Illusions of smell. Epistaxis. Pain in chest. Pain in sides. Cough. Bronchitis. Dyspepsia. Distention. Diarrhoea. Diarrhoea of phthisis. Palpitation of heart. Disorders of pregnancy. Disorders of lactation. Malposition of foetus. False labor pains.
Disorders of menstruation. Leucorrhoea. Hysteria. Nymphomania. Phlegmasia alba dolens. Puerperal fever. Puerperal convulsions. Puerperal mania. Heartburn and sickness of pregnancy. Retained placenta. Congenital hydrocele. Haemorrhoids. Gonorrhoea in male and female. Gout. Synovitis. Rheumatism, gonorrhoeal. Inflammation of ovaries. Inflammation of prostate. Prostatorrhoea. Prolapsus of uterus; inflammation of uterus. Curvature of spine. Tape-worm. Taste depraved and lost. Tongue coated. Toothache. Varicose veins; inflammation of veins. Whitlow. Chaps. Chilblains. Moles. Mumps. Etc.
Generalities:
The Puls. patient generally lies upon back with hands above head when sleeping; or with hands crossed upon abdomen and feet drawn up; the most comfortable position is upon back and feet drawn up.
DISCOMFORT IN MORNING AFTER RISING, better MOVING ABOUT. Tension of face and fingers (worse taking hold of anything), as if the parts would swell. Inclination to stretch. Feeling of emptiness of head as after intoxication. Everything about the body seems too tight, she wishes to throw off her clothes (Lyc).
WEAKNESS; the longer he lies in morning the weaker he feels, and the more he wishes to lie, he desires to sleep again. Weakness from a short walk, and necessity to lie down; tremulous. Heaviness, with chilliness in arm and legs. THIRSTLESSNESS with nearly all complaints.
SYMPTOMS OCCUR MOSTLY IN EVENING, NEXT IN SUCCEEDING HOURS TILL MIDNIGHT (Cycl., Lyc. Euphras., Puls., Valer.); very well one hour, very miserable the next. SYMPTOMS EVER CHANGING; no two chills, no two stools, no two attacks alike; apparently contradictory (Ign.).
Its rheumatism is seldom highly inflammatory, “the joints may be swollen, with sharp stinging pains, these pains are usually erratic, they constantly change from place to place, mostly tearing; better from pressure and moving about slowly, from cold; worse warmth and in the evening. Useful for gouty symptoms caused by indigestion (Lyc.). Gonorrhoeal rheumatism (Thuja).
“Paralytic symptoms, especially with disordered menstruation, with numbness of the extremities.”.
“Occasionally indicated in chorea and in epilepsy. Neuralgia of various parts, pains wandering, with the characteristic aggravations and ameliorations.
“Chlorosis, with chilliness, burning heat at night without thirst, palpitation, longing for fresh air etc.” “Various forms of hysteria.” The characteristic Pulsatilla patient has light hair and blue eyes, and is of a timid or submissive and clinging temperament.
The pains of Puls. rapidly shift from one part to another (Kali bi., Lac. c.; Mang. a.); appear suddenly, gradually increase to climax, and then go off with a snap, (Pain comes suddenly, lasts indefinitely and ceases suddenly-Bell.; Mag.ph.).
Mind: “The drug is generally indicated for persons who have a mind, yielding disposition, inclined to weep or for those who are inclined to be very gloomy and too full care. This sad weeping mood is an almost constant accompaniment of every form of disease requiring Puls. Religious melancholia (Ign., Lyc.).”.
LONGS FOR FRESH AIR, though colic and nausea are worse in open air. HYPOCHONDRIAC; MOROSENESS. Indolence and constant desire to sit or lie.
Ill-humor; in morning when thinking of his business; all day, with discontentment. Weeping when interrupted in his business. Weeping at everything said to him, disgust with every- thing. Satisfied with nothing, yet not vexed, LACHRYMOSE; she cannot describe her symptoms without weeping. She is easily influenced by her surroundings and the people she happens to be with at the time; there is nothing positive or assertive about her, and the last person who sees, or advises with her, is the one whose opinion she accepts. Pulsatilla character is as changeable as the wind, and Farrington wittily says that this is in keeping with the plants name–Wind flower.
Laughter and tear are both very near the surface with Puls. patient, and are apt to succeed each other. She is very tender- hearted, her feelings are very easily hurt, but she is seldom sullen and never depressed or spiritless. She craves and needs sympathy in her troubles; wants company, dislikes to be alone.
Dread of ghosts on approach of evenings. Anxiety, as if in a hot atmosphere; tremulous, as if death were imminent. Many wandering thoughts. He cannot get rid of a thought that he has grasped. Omits letter when writing. Disinclination to mental labour. Mental labour affects him most of all.
“This drug is generally indicated for persons who have a mild, yielding disposition, inclined to weep, or for those who are inclined to be very gloomy and full of care. This sad weeping mood is an almost constant accompaniment of every form of disease requiring Puls. Religious melancholia.” Many of its symptoms compare with Ign. and Lyc.
Head :
Sticking. through brain from after dinner till bedtime, with shivering and attacks of faintness.
Aching, extending into eyes in evening, presses in right eye and tears come out of it, worse walking in open air. ACHING, AS FROM EATING TOO MUCH, OR AS FROM TOO MUCH FAT (Cycl.; Ferr.). Aching as in stopped catarrh; as if in hot wind. Tensive pain over brain. THROBBING PAIN, better PRESSURE.
“Headache, generally one-sided and usually involving the forepart of the head; supraorbital neuralgia of the right side (Cedron). Headaches, like all other symptoms, worse the evening, by mental effort or by warmth. Menstrual headache, worse in open air.”.
Bubbling in brain at night, he heard the beating of the pulse in it. Crackling in brain synchronous with pulse, on walking. DULLNESS, WITH BRUISED SENSATION IN FOREHEAD. Heaviness, on stooping, it seems as if he could not raise it again; on stooping, sensation as if he would fall forward.
VERTIGO; IN MORNING ON RISING, FORCING HIM TO LIE DOWN AGAIN (Bry.; Lyc.). Vertigo, when walking over a high bridge; when walking in open air, better sitting; on stooping, so that she could scarcely rise again, better SITTING; vertigo with some whirling even when lying; as if he would fall. on stooping, then inclination to VOMIT. On looking upward, feels as if he would fall or as if he were dancing. There is vertigo on rising from bed (Bry.; Carbo v.; Cocc.; Nat. m.; Nit. a.; Petrol.; Phos,) forcing one to lie down; and when stooping (Aur.; Bry.; Carbo v.; Graph; Sulph.), so that she could hardly rise again, but it is especially noticed on looking upward (Cupr.; Petrol.; Phos.) and worse while sitting or lying.
“Vertigo is a very frequent accompaniment of Puls. symptoms. It is especially noticed on looking up, worse while sitting and lying, usually associated with nausea and gastric disturbance or with suppressed menses.”.
In forehead, boring in right side. Tearing in left side of bone in evening. Pain ABOVE ORBITS, involving whole head. Tensive drawing, above orbits, worse raising eyes. Constriction above eyes, worse looking intently.
Pain, in left temple. Constriction in temples. Tearing pain in right side of head. Pain in one side as if brain would burst and eye fall out.
Sticking in occiput, worse lying, better rising. Pain in occiput, with frequent heat of body and constant sweat. Rhythmical throbbing pain. Drawing pain above nape in morning.
SCALP:
Swellings, with pain as from suppuration. Drawing pain on brushing hair. Biting itching.
Eyes:
Puffy, sensation as if squinting. Pain as from sand, when reading. BURNING AND ITCHING (Lyc.). Dryness; and in morning sensation of a foreign body.
LACHRYMATION :
in wind; in open air; in cold, open air; WITH DEEPLY SUNKEN EYES. Red (inflamed) spot on white, near cornea. “General tendency to styes.” STYE, WITH INFLAMMATION OF WHITE OF EYE, now in one, now in other canthus, with drawing tensive pains in eyes on moving facial muscles and with ulcerated nostrils.
Calcutta
Chief Editor, Homeopathic Herald