INFLUENZA



For the treatment of this universal malady, the homoeopathic armamentarium offers many remedies.

The sudden violent onset of influenza suggests Aconite, the leading expression of which is a feverish, nervous restlessness or mental distress, which characterizes its entire action. Inflammatory symptoms with hyperpyrexia, dry , skin,dry violent racking cough, and full bounding pulse call for this dynamic remedy.

Allium cepa acts especially on the mucous membrane of the conjunctiva and the respiratory tract, producing a highly irritated condition. The hacking cough is worse from inhaling cold air. There is violent catarrhal laryngitis; the hoarse cough seems to split the larynx. The secretions are profuse, that from the eyes being bland and non-excoriating, while that which flows from the nostrils is acrid and excoriating, while that which flows from the nostrils is acrid and excoriating, being the reverse of Euphrasia.

Ammonium carb. has as its keynote a stopping up of the nose, mostly at night. He breathes through the mouth; a smothering sensation awakens him at night. The dry cough from tickling in the throat as from dust, worse from three to four a.m. recalls the action of Kali carb. It has a tendency to produce gangrenous ulcerations of the tonsils, and to effect the right side chiefly.

Ammonium mur. has a watery acrid coryza, corroding the lip. Its most characteristic action is upon the mucous membranes, whose secretions are greatly increased. Usually there is profuse expectoration with much rattling of mucus in the chest. In all chest affections, a coldness between the shoulder blades is characteristic.

Antimonium tart. plays its greatest roles in the treatment of respiratory infections characterized by rattling of mucus in the chest, oppressed breathing, rapid pulse, nausea, vomiting and a state of drowsiness. The small amount expectorated, which brings relief, is far out of proportion to the abundance of material which rattles within the chest.

Arsenicum album produces profuse watery discharge, corroding the upper lip and nostrils, with lachrymation and excessive photophobia. The leading characteristics of this remedy are the intense restlessness and anxiety, the profound exhaustion, the frequent thirst for small amounts of cold water, the rapid emaciation, the relief from warmth and the aggravation of all complaints after mid-night.

Arsenicum iod. has irritating corrosive discharge with sneezing, puffiness of the lower lids and face, a short, dry cough and tightness felt in the chest. He is worse in the open air. In pulmonary disease, the indications are profound debility, night sweats, recurring fever, and emaciation progressing to cachexia.

The bruised sore feeling of Arnica gives it a prominent position in the sphere of influenzal remedies. The remedy acts chiefly on the blood, producing a tendency to haemorrhages, capillary stasis, and ecchymoses. It acts secondarily on the capillaries, stimulating their power of absorption, especially after having been weakened by external injuries. There is epistaxis with dark and fluid blood. The stitching pain in the left chest is worse from motion and better from external pressure. The profound weakness with a bruised, weary feeling makes him lie down, even though the bed feels so hard.

Arum triphyllum causes an excessive irritation of the nose, mouth and throat. The discharge is ichorous, and the surfaces raw, red, and sometimes bloody, with a sensation which causes the patient to bore with his fingers into the raw and sensitive surfaces.

Belladonna gives expression to its characteristic features in the flushed face, the throbbing arteries, the hard bounding pulse, and the wild delirium which always accompanies the action of this drug.

Baptisia, like Arnica, is indicated in states of profound toxemia, giving rise to prostration and paralysis, both motor and sensory. In whatever position he lies, the parts rested upon feel sore and bruised, as in Pyrogen as well as in Arnica. The restlessness just as in Arsenicum creates a desire to move constantly from place to place.

Bromine acts as a powerful irritant to the mucous membranes, especially of the respiratory tract, the larynx being chiefly involved. The profuse nasal discharge is watery and excoriating with alternating stopped nostrils. There is a sensation of constriction in the larynx with rattling of mucus in the throat, and hoarseness. The spasmodic constriction of the glottis is temporarily relieved by a drink of water. The suffocative attacks with a sensation as though breathing through a sponge, due to the constriction, is the most essential feature of the drug in disorders of the respiratory tract.

The characteristic action of Bryonia on the serous membranes, synovial membranes and the mucous membranes of the respiratory and alimentary tracts in expressed by stitching, tearing pains, and the aggravation of all symptoms by motion. Relief is obtained by absolute rest either mental or physical, and by lying on the painful side. The great thirst is satiated by large quantities at great intervals.

A sensation of rawness or soreness is characteristic of Causticum. The cough, which is > by a swallow of cold water, causes rawness or soreness in the chest. He is unable to expectorate, and swallows the sputum. The main sphere of action of action of this drug is paralysis of single parts, such as the vocal organs, tongue, eyelids, face, extremities or the bladder, the right side generally being involved, and also in laryngotracheal inflammations where aphonia is the chief indication.

Camphor presents the picture of profound prostration. The strange, characteristic feature is that he cannot endure to cover for even a moment of body that is icy cold to the touch.

The chief characteristic of Cinchona is an excessive sensitivity of the nervous system, all symptoms being < by the slightest touch, by motion, and by physical or mental effort. The ailments of China are brought on by loss of vital fluids such as haemorrhages, profuse sweat, lactation or diarrhoea. The pains are tearing or drawing in every joint with a soreness all over his body. He moves his limbs frequently since motion brings relief. The face is pale and hippocratic with eyes sunken deep in the orbits. Excessive haemorrhage causes tinnitus, faintness, loss of vision, general coldness and even convulsions. The pains are < by the slightest touch, but are > by hard pressure.

Eupatorium perfoliatum, like Arnica and Pyrogen, produces a bruised feeling as if broken all over the body. The aching and soreness of the eyeballs is < by turning the eyes, even a little. The catarrhal symptoms are over-shadowed by the severity of the pain in the extremities and back. There is an insatiable thirst before and during the chill and fever. The bone pains come before and during the chill which is followed by vomiting. Soreness of the eyeballs and prostration are common symptoms.

The leading expression of Gelsemium is a complete relaxation and prostration of the whole muscular system, hence the desire to be left alone. He dreads motion like Bryonia, but this is due to weakness and not pain. With this weakness there is trembling with lack of muscular co-ordination, heat in the head, with watery nasal discharge, sneezing, dull headache, with rawness and burning in the larynx. The thirstlessness with fever is a differentiating feature. Chills run up and down the spine in wave-like successions from sacrum to occiput.

Hepar sulph. is extremely sensitive to cold air and takes cold from the least exposure to fresh air, as does Tuberculinum. He must be wrapped up to the face even in hot weather, as in Psorinum. He cannot bear to be uncovered, being thus contrary to Nux, Camphor and Secale, which remedies do not tolerate covering the body. The cough is croupy and strangling, coming on when any portion of the body is uncovered, as in Rhus tox. The sensation of a splinter in the throat is characteristic. The skin is very sensitive to touch, so that even contact of the clothes with affected parts cannot be tolerated, as in Lachesis. Cinchona is also sensitive to slight touch, but hard pressure is tolerated.

Hydrastis canadensis is indicated in debilitated states, with viscid mucous discharges, as in Corallium rubrum. There is profuse discharge of thick yellow stringy mucus from the nasal passages, and hawking of yellow viscid mucus from the posterior nares and fauces.

Ipecac is indicated in all diseases with constant and continual nausea as a concomitant. There is profuse salivation and vomiting of white glairy mucus without relief. Haemorrhages are bright red from all the orifices of the body. The cough may be dry and constricted or there is rattling of mucus as in Antimonium tart., with threatening suffocation, the face turning pale or even cyanotic. The pains are as if the bones were all torn to pieces, being similar but not identical to Eupatorium where the pains are though the bones were broken.

The individuality of Kali bi. is expressed in the discharge of a tough, stringy mucus which adheres to the parts and can be drawn into long strings, as in Hydrastis. The pains are located in small areas as in Ignatia, shifting rapidly as in Kali sulph., Lac can. and Pulsatilla, appearing and disappearing suddenly as in Belladonna, Ignatia and Magnesia phos. The discharge of plugs are clinkers from the nose is highly characteristic. The cough as in Hepar is < when undressing (uncovering), is violent and rattling with gagging from viscid mucus in the throat.

Joseph L. Kaplowe