A STUDY OF HOMOEOPATHIC REMEDIES IN RELATION TO RHEUMATIC TROUBLES


We may have out own ideas as to the metabolism causing rheumatic disturbances; these should be considered in each individual case and treated with due regard to the dietetic and hygienic care, but after all is said and done, diet and the modification of metabolism will not cure rheumatic troubles, and it is only by careful work and after careful study of the Homoeopathic remedies that we get the brilliant results that are possible in this class of cases.


Rheumatic troubles are a large part of the work of the general practitioner. We may have out own ideas as to the metabolism causing rheumatic disturbances; these should be considered in each individual case and treated with due regard to the dietetic and hygienic care, but after all is said and done, diet and the modification of metabolism will not cure rheumatic troubles, and it is only by careful work and after careful study of the Homoeopathic remedies that we get the brilliant results that are possible in this class of cases. The is no place where the Homoeopathic remedy can do more to relieve human suffering and remove constitutional tendencies and susceptibilities than in this class of troubles.

In this group of paper save are giving a study of some of the remedies that may be of great assistance to ]us when applied individualistically according to the law of similar. The different sizes of type used in this group of studies indicates the relative value of the symptoms.

ACTEA SPICATA.

Actea spicata has an affinity for the small bones,especially of hands and feet. It resembles Caulophyllum very closely in at tacking the small joints, yet Caulophyllum almost always has accompanying its rheumatic conditions derangement of he female sexual system while Actea spicata has an affinity for men. It may be differentiated from Ledum by its hot swollen joints ad aggravations. There is chronic enlargement and stiffness in Actea spicata that has frequent exacerbations. In acute articular rheumatism, together with the fever, there is almost always the sour vomiting.

HEAD AND FACE; WARM SWEAT ESPECIALLY ON SIDE ON SIDE I WHICH HE LIES. RHEUMATIC PAIN IN FACE WITH PULLING TEARING FROM DECAYED TOOTH TO TEMPLES < BY SLIGHTEST TOUCH AND MOTION. Face sensitive.

NECK AND BACK:Throbbing pain in region of kidneys. Bruised pain in Sacrum
UPPER LIMBS;Fingers cold, numb discolored. PARALYTIC PAIN AND WEAKNESS OF HANDS. lAMENESS OF RIGHT ARM.RIGHT WRIST PAINS INTOLERABLY, IS SWOLLEN,MOTION IS IMPOSSIBLE; SLIGHTEST PRESSURE ON PALM OF HAND NEAR LITTLE FINGER CAUSES HIM TO CRY OUT. EXCRUCIATING PAIN IN WRISTS AND FINGER JOINTS, VERY TENDER TO TOUCH, < AT NIGHT.

LOWER LIMBS:Boring pains > from stitching. Thighs tremble when raised. Knees weary. Sensation of weakness after change of weather.JOINTS OF FEET SWELL AFTER WALKING.

LIMBS IN GENERAL;SWELLING OF JOINTS AFTER FATIGUE. RHEUMATIC PAINS OF SMALL JOINTS ESPECIALLY OF THE HANDS, WEAKNESS AND TINGLING OF LIMBS; Numbness of feet and hands.

JOINTS;SMALL JOINTS SWELL BRIGHT RED AND HOT.

CONCOMITANTS;Loss of consciousness. GIDDINESS WITH REELING IN AIR AS IF DRUNK. WARM SWEAT ON HEAD. ALL FOOD REPULSIVE. Very sort vomiting. TEARING PAIN IN EPIGASTRIC REGION WITH VOMITING. BRICK DUST IN URINE. HIGH FEVER. PULE 120. RHEUMATISM FROM SUPPRESSED SWEAT. PRESSURE IN REGION OF LIVER PAINFUL. BEATING THROBBING IN REGION OF LIVER.

AGGRAVATIONS;; TOUCHING OF PART.MOTION, ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. AFTER WALKING IN OPEN AIR.

AMELIORATIONS;Morning.

CAULOPHYLLUM THALICTROIDES.

Caulophyllum thalictroides is one of our most valuable remedies in rheumatism,affecting the small joints, especially of the wrist, ankles,fingers and toes. It is almost always associated with a deranged female sexual system, which differentiates it from Actea spicata which has an affinity for men. Caulophyllum is often of use in the rheumatisms of pregnancy.

NECK AND BACK: Severe drawing in sternocleidomastoid muscle. Rheumatic stiffness of nape of neck. Dull pain in lumbar region. Severe pain in back and loins.

SUPERIOR EXTREMITIES; SEVERE DRAWING IN WRISTS AND FINGERS. RHEUMATISM OF WRISTS AND FINGER JOINTS WITH SWELLING. CUTTING IN JOINTS WHEN CLOSING HANDS. Pains shift to nape of neck. FINGERS VERY STIFF. FLYING PAINS IN ARMS.

INFERIOR EXTREMITIES; DRAWING PAIN IN ALL THE JOINTS. Knees weak when walking. PAIN IN FEET AND TOES; SHARP PAIN IN KNEW JOINTS.

EXTREMITIES IN GENERAL; RHEUMATISM ESPECIALLY OF SMALL JOINTS, PAINS SHIFTING TO NAPE OF NECK WITH RIGIDITY AND OPPRESSION OF CHEST. DRAWING PAINS IN JOINTS OF ARMS AND LEGS., PAINS REMAIN ONLY A SHORT TIME IN ONE PLACE THEN SHIFT TO ANOTHER.

CONCOMITANTS; TREMULOUS WEAKNESS OVER WHOLE BODY. LEUCORRHOEA ACRID, WEAKENING,WITH GREAT HEAVINESS OF EYELIDS., HAS TO LIFT THEM WITH HAND. MENSES TOO SOON AND VERY PAINFUL. SPASMODIC DYSMENORRHOEA. SENSATION AS IF THE UTERUS WERE CONGESTED, WITH FULNESS AND TENSION.

COCCULUS INDICUS.

Pregnant women are frequently great sufferers from rheumatism. It is in this condition that we find Cocculus of great value. Hysterical symptoms frequently show themselves. When there is persistent numbness and “falling asleep” of the limbs with the peculiar paralytic weakness, vertigo and fainting spells, Cocculus should be seriously considered.

EYES;SCLERA OF LEFT EYE INFLAMED, A ROSE COLORED INFLAMED CIRCLE DEEPER IN COLOR NEXT THE CORNEA, LESS TOWARD CANTHUS; RHEUMATIC OPHTHALMIA. RHEUMATIC GLAUCOMA WITH VENOUS HYPEREMIA, DILATED PUPILS, INSENSIBILITY TO LIGHT,M HAZINESS OF LENS AND VITREOUS HUMOUR WITH SEVERE PAIN IN AND AROUND THE EYE.

HEART ;PALPITATION OF HEART. ANGUISH ABOUT THE HEART. ENDOCARDITIS occasionally looming up WITH GREAT ANXIETY AND WEAKNESS.

NECK AND BACK: Painful stiffness of neck on moving head.SENSATION OF CRACKING OR STIFFNESS OF VERTEBRAE. Stiffness and weakness of cervical muscles. WEAKNESS OF CERVICAL MUSCLES WITH HEAVINESS OF HEAD. STITCHES BETWEEN SCAPULA AND IN SMALL OF BACK. Pressure in scapula and nape for neck. TREMBLING IN BACK. PERISTALTIC PAIN IN SMALL OF BACK WITH DRAWING ACROSS HIP.SPASMODIC CONSTRICTION THROUGH WHOLE SPINE. Drawing, cutting, boring pain in back,. GREAT SENSITIVENESS OF BACK AND NECK AND SPINOUS PROGRESSES. Pain in lower part of spine. Constant pain in back shooting through body to both sides.

SUPERIOR EXTREMITIES; STITCHES IN SHOULDER JOINT AND MUSCLES OF UPPER ARM, DURING REST. Drawing born pains in shoulder joint and long bones of am after eating,. SENSATION OF IN WIRES PULLING AND DOWN ARM AS IF IN MOTION. STITCHES IN UPPER RIGHT ARM. SENSATION AS IF ARMS WERE ASLEEP ALTERNATES WITH SIMILAR SENSATION IN BACK. SENSATION AS IF ARMS WERE ASLEEP WITH LAMENESS and a crawling feeling. NUMBNESS AND A PARALYTIC PAIN IN ARMS.. Painful heaviness of arms. SWOLLEN SENSATION OF HANDS WITH FEELING AS IF FOREARM WERE ASLEEP. NUMBNESS OF HAND ALTERNATES FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER, PRINCIPALLY REMAINS IN RIGHT. HANDS TREMBLE WHILE RAISING THEM. Paralysis of extensors of hands and fingers, HANDS FEEL INSENSIBLE.

INFERIOR EXTREMITIES;PARALYSIS OF LOWER LIMBS. PARALYTIC WEAKNESS OF LOWER LIMBS,WITH NUMBNESS,STIFFNESS AND A BRUISED FEELING. PAIN IN THIGHS AS IF BEATEN. DISAGREEABLE PAIN IN KNEES, CANNOT GET INTO EASY POSITION, < BY MOTION. KNEES SINK DOWN FROM PARALYTIC WEAKNESS. Inflammatory swelling of knee joint with stinging pains CRACKING OF JOINTS WHEN MOVING. Acute articular rheumatism, pain jumping from joint to joint with redness,swelling and stiffness slightest touch or motion causes pain. SOLES OF FEET GO TO SLEEP ON SITTING.

EXTREMITIES IN GENERAL;TREMBLING IN ALL THE LIMBS. Drawing pain in bones WITH PARALYTIC WEAKNESS. BRUISED PAIN IN BONES. NUMBNESS AND PRICKING IN IN ARMS AND LEGS < ON RIGHT SIDE. LIMBS FALL ASLEEP AT REST. LIMBS PAINFUL AS IF BROKEN ON MOTION; IF BENT.PAINFUL STIFFNESS OF JOINTS.

JOINTS; Swollen red and stiff; puffy.

CONCOMITANTS:ABSENT-MINDEDNESS. ALTERNATING MOODS. ANXIOUS. INTELLECT BEFOGGED, QUARRELSOME DELIRIUM. STUPID. VERTIGO. SEASICKNESS. FAINTING SPELLS. NAUSEA AND VOMITING ON RIDING. GREAT DISTENSION OF ABDOMEN MEN WITH INCARCERATED FLATUS. ATTACKS OF PARALYTIC WEAKNESS.

AGGRAVATIONS; AFTER EATING; DRINKING; after sleeping. TALKING REST. RIDING, IN A CARRIAGE. MOTION.,COLD. PREGNANCY.

DERBY, CONN.

This primary principle is more fully expressed by the formula similia similibus curentur,and is the key stone to the arch of the new dispensation of medicine; it binds the rudimentary edifice together; without if all collaterals become useless without it we can have no permanent arch, to temple, no homoeopathy.

In proceeding with our symbol of search, let us carefully observe its construction. First, we require a foundation on the two sides; these are necessary before the key stone is needed. So with homoeopathy. Our arch is based, one side upon the phenomena presented by the sick man; the other upon drug provings; these, perfectly united by the law similia similibus curentur, form the entrance in to the temple.

Without these three features, squarely recognized as the basis, and observed as guides in practice,no man is prepared to set out in the new undertaking. these three features constitute a therapeutic trinity, one and in inseparable;each much must be maintained in its integrity or the whole scheme fails. He who fails in making an exhaustive analysis of the condition of his patient, is necessarily incompetent to select the appropriate remedial agent,and he who lacks in his knowledge of the pathogenesis of drugs is as important as one who has never heard of the new science of cure-A.R. MORGAN,M.D., 1866.

H.A. Roberts
Dr. H.A.Roberts (1868-1950) attended New York Homoeopathic Medical College and set up practrice in Brattleboro of Vermont (U.S.). He eventually moved to Connecticut where he practiced almost 50 years. Elected president of the Connecticut Homoeopathic Medical Society and subsequently President of The International Hahnemannian Association. His writings include Sensation As If and The Principles and Art of Cure by Homoeopathy.