To a large extent the remedies which come to mind as constitutional remedies of sufficient depth to influence these glandular conditions with their structural and nervous concomitants are our great polychrests, and many of these are from the same chemical base as the elements of the physical body Sulphur, Silica, Phosphorus, Kali, Natrum, the Carbons. Then we find such remedies as Lycopodium, Nitric acid, and the major nosodes, of great use in these conditions. It is impossible, as well as dangerous practice, to name leading remedies for any pathological condition, and still less for any functional disturbance; yet there are valuable remedies which have a wide range and frequent usage in our daily practice that are not so valuable in these conditions.
In running over suitable rubrics for glandular conditions we find Pulsatilla conspicuous by its absence in many rubrics, and when it occurs, it is in the lower ratings. On the other hand, we find Lycopodium as a leader. Lycopodium is one of the very few survivors from the first era of plant life, and it has changed very little in appearance. It has survived because of the basic qualities inherent in the development of all life, and probably, therefore, has a greater potential influence on organic symptoms.
There is hardly an organ or function that is not influenced by that greatest of all polychrests, Sulphur. Even Hering noted its influence on such glandular conditions as were then recognized. We have spoken of its value in developing backward children. It is classical for its use in deep-seated affections resulting from the suppression of superficial symptoms.
It has proved its usefulness in diabetes mellitus. We all know the classical indications for Sulphur; but in passing it briefly, we mention one function of Sulphur we may have occasion to invoke: that of stirring the organism to reaction when other seemingly indicated remedies fail to act, especially if there are recurrences of acute or subacute manifestations where the patient moves toward recovery only to slip back repeatedly.
Phosphorus resembles Sulphur in its fields of usefulness as in many of its symptoms, while being quite different in its classical constitution. Where Sulphur is indolent, Phosphorus is over excitable erotic in many manifestations and erratic in most symptoms related to the sexual functions. These manifestations range from insanity or lascivious ideas to vicarious menstruation, impotence and abnormal labor.
Phosphorus affects the development of the physical body in the child, his ability to concentrate his mental efforts, and the normal functioning of the adult, just as in Sulphur. Prostrated energies from loss of fluids and from emotional and physical strain are characteristic of Phosphorus, as against the general lack of energy of Sulphur.
Both Phosphorus and Phosphorus acid are to be considered in glycosuria, as well as other glandular difficulties.
Nitric acid has a powerful action on glandular dysfunctions, especially of syphilitic origin, although it is antipsoric and antisycotic as well. Sensitiveness is a keynote of this remedy of the head or of the affected parts, to touch jars, sudden motion or sudden change in tempo of motion; to cold, to changes in the weather; tendency to take cold.
There is great disturbance of the circulation; the fingers and toes appear livid, pale, cold or dead at times. The characteristic sensation as of a splinter in the affected parts, particularly in such tissues as the tonsils, is found also in Arg. nit. and Hepar. In Nitric acid the disturbance of the sexual organs and functions rivals Phosphorus, and sometimes there is almost as much lasciviousness. In general the sensitiveness and excitability is uppermost, but they tire quickly; old people calling for this remedy manifest excessive prostration.
“Vegetable Sulphur”, or Lycopodium, is one of the great trio of remedies (Sulphur, Calcarea and Lycopodium) about which, as Clarke says, “all the rest of the materia medica can be grouped”. Like the rest of the trio, it has swollen glands, and is one of the few specifically mentioned as having goitre. Acute glandular affections start on the right side and tend to move to the left. This is one of the few remedies mentioned in the materia medica as definitely tending to enlargement of bony tissue, whereas Phosphorus tends to thickening of bony tissue.
Characteristically, Lycopodium has a furrowed face and forehead; thin face and neck and perhaps upper chest, while he remains plump below, or progressive emaciation from above downward. Great weariness and lassitude, especially in the legs after slight exertion, and great want of bodily heat; deadness of the fingers and hands as in Nitric acid; he feels as if circulation were suspended. Mentally he is as fearful as Phosphorus and the Kalis, as sad as Nitric acid and the Natrums; the burning pains make us think of the burnings of Sulphur and Phosphorus. Probably Lycopodium is the most flatulent remedy we shall consider, unless it be Carbo veg., which has more heartburn.
The general state of gloominess and mental depression characterizes the Natrum group and is their great ear-mark in chronic states; they almost delight to make themselves and others miserable by looking on the dark side; strong aversion to consolation; sometimes alternate gaiety and gloom.
These salts are a startling exposition of the power of potentization, for in this form they have the most profound action on the mental state, on physical functions, on the chemistry of fluids and the pathology of the organs. There is sudden failing of strength, excessive draining of body fluids coming on suddenly, sudden depletion of the sexual organs because of excessive stimulation; rapid changes in the blood; sudden and profound emaciation, often following previous increase of flesh. Natrum mur. particularly emaciates about the neck, even when eating ravenously.
This group of remedies affects the thyroid gland markedly, and has the subjective sensation of compression, as if there were a lump or plug in the throat. Nat. ars. has the sensation as if the thyroid body were compressed between the thumb and finger. Nat. carb. has the hard swelling of the thyroid.
Clarke tells us, in his Dictionary, that Nat. carb. gives the type of the family group, ranking with the polychrests.
These remedies are exceedingly sensitive to cold; Nat. carb. is the chilliest; cannot stand cold air, drafts, cannot stand a change of clothing or a drink of cold water because of the chill; yet Nat. carb. is unable to stand the heat of the sun and succumbs easily to heat stroke. He has no physical stamina; he exhausts quickly from mental or bodily exertion, and suffers great debility. Like the family, he is profoundly exhausted after a short walk, and Nat. carb. particularly suffers from the effects of overstudy. The nervous system is weak yet is easily affected almost to hysteria, just as in the sexual sphere there is sterility because of over-activity of the organs.
Other out- standing manifestations of the exceedingly sensitive state of the nervous system is the extreme sensitivity to music and the aggravation therefrom, and the aggravation before and during electrical storms. Like all the Natrums, there is anaemia with an increase in the white cells and decrease of red cells; with this there is emaciation and bloating. Children find walking difficult because of even weaker ankles than in Sulphur; they are disinclined to study because it is so exhausting; nervous almost to hysteria; pale, weak, easily tired, easily chilled; they bore their fingers into ears and nose and it seems to relieve.
The adult Nat. carb. patient shows much the same picture, but if a man, he tends toward priapism; if a woman, there is a discharge of mucus and the semen after coition with consequent sterility; if she goes on to gestation, labor pains are weak and ineffectual and she begs for massage. The Nat. carb. patient is always spraining a wrist, an ankle, a knee, dislocating a joint or straining a muscle in the back.
Nat. hypochlorosum is distinguished from the others of the family group by its rapid emaciation with a sodden, water logged uterus which sags into the lower pelvis with the sensation as if it would fall out; with this there is almost a globus hystericus which seems to rise from the uterus into the upper chest. Faintness, weakness and weariness, so that she falls asleep whenever she sits down, with flabbiness and a diffused hydrogenoid condition with a tendency to leucocytosis mark this remedy.
It is difficult to confine oneself to a brief outline of Natrum mur. Clarke tells us that it corresponds to that type of constipation which is associated with anaemia, chilliness (especially down the back) and cold feet; or to indigestion in masturbators. The degree of melancholy keeps pace with the constipation, just as in Nat. sulph. the melancholy keeps step with the degree of indigestion.
Tears are a keynote of Nat. mur.: tears with the emotional depression, tears even with the laughter, for she laughs until she weeps at things not at all funny; tears with the coryza, and even with the whooping cough. The face is earthy, dirty and greasy. The strong desire for salt is even more marked in the nausea and vomiting of pregnancy. In adults suffering from glandular imbalance, with a history of malarial fever and the classic dosing of quinine, Nat. mur. may unlock the case and even carry it to cure.
