CAUSES – These are in part explained under “Varieties,” and are chiefly as follows:- A congested condition of the secretory vessels of the uterus, diseases of the ovaries, inveterate constipation, and a contracted canal of the neck of the womb. In obstinate constipation, the rectum may become so distended with impacted faecal matter, as by its pressure on the neck of the womb to render the escape of the menstrual fluid difficult and painful. Ovarian irritation, which is sometimes induced by undue sexual excitement, is not an infrequent cause. Persons of neuralgic, hysteric, or rheumatic tendency, generally suffer much pain at the menstrual period. Improper habits, the pressure of stays, and the dragging of skirts on the abdomen, are also causes of this disorder.
EPITOME OF MEDICINAL TREATMENT –
1. Inflammatory or Congestive Dysmenorrhoea – Aconite, Arnica, Arsenicum, Belladonna, Bryonia, Conium, Hepar S., Lycopodium, Merc-c., Merc-S., Pulsatilla, Sabina, Sepia
2. Neuralgic Dysmenorrhoea – Caulophyllum, Chamomilla, Cim., Coffeac., Gelsemium, Hamamelis, Secale, Xanth.
3. Spasmodic Dysmenorrhoea Arnica, Arsenicum, Chamomilla, Calcarea, Ignatia, Nux., Phosphorus, Vib.-Opium
4. Obstructive or Congenital Dysmenorrhoea – Borax, Calc-C., Conium, Hamamelis, Thuja.
LEADING INDICATIONS FOR SOME OF THE PRINCIPAL REMEDIES
Aconitum – In cases due to inflammation or congestion of the uterus or ovaries, especially it attended with febrile symptoms.
Arnica – Is applicable to all cases traceable to a fall or blow.
Arsenicum – Neuralgia, pain burning, restlessness, prostration, chronic inflammation of the uterus, corrosive, leucorrhoea. Is of more service in removing the causes of the pain than in palliating it.
Belladonna – Congestive enlargement of the uterus or ovaries, bearing down pains and heat in the vagina, especially in stout persons with turgid countenances.
Borax – Membranous Dysmenorrhoea, menses usually too early and variable in quantity.
Bryonia – In congestive and rheumatic cases, greatly aggravated by movement and relieved by the application of warmth.
Calcarea C. – Dysmenorrhoea occurring in delicate, scrofulous patients, the pain being of an aching, burning character, and accompanied with griping pain in the back and bowels. Menses appearing at too short intervals.
Caulophyllum – Dysmenorrhoea with a normal discharge. The testimony to the value of this remedy for Dysmenorrhoea is very strong; it may be given as a palliative during the menses, and as a curative agent during the intervals. In the former case, it should be administered every two or four hours, and in the latter, twice daily. The action of Caulophyllum has been compared to that of Secale, but with this difference, that it influences the neck as well as the body of the womb.
Chamomilla – Severe labour-like pains; pressure from the small or the back forwards and downwards; colic, with sensitiveness to the touch; dark clotted discharge; especially suited to nervous, irritable and bilious patients.
Cimicifuga. – Rheumatic or Neuralgic Dysmenorrhoea, with severe headache, aching of the limbs, dark and coagulated discharge, pain under the left breast, depression of spirits, etc. The drug or its concentrated preparation – Macrotin – is most useful in the inter-menstrual periods.
Cocculus – Severe menstrual colic, spasms or cramps in the abdomen, with flatulence, nausea, dizziness and faintness.
Coffea – Exquisite sensitiveness to pain, extreme nervous restlessness, sleeplessness, etc.
Collinsonia – Dysmenorrhoea with pelvic congestion – Constipation, Piles, etc. Membranous Dysmenorrhoea.
Gelsemium – This remedy is chiefly valuable for Spasmodic Dysmenorrhoea, as a palliative during the period, rather than as a curative agent.
Hamamelis – Ovarian Dysmenorrhoea, with a severe pain in the groins, profuse Leucorrhoea, irregular menses, extreme pain and soreness, smarting pain on passing water, and frequent urging.
Nux Vomica – Griping and digging pains, with discharge of clots, menses appearing too early, and scanty, burning heat in the vagina, constipation and irritation of the bladder; is specially called for in women with dark hair and lively or irritable disposition.
Pulsatilla – Scanty menses, the discharge being attended with cutting pains in the region of the womb, abdomen, back, and loins, with loss of appetite, chilliness, vertigo, etc., the pains moving from one part to another. This remedy is especially suited to young women of fair hair and complexion, mild disposition, and to uncomplicated cases.
Sabina – Violent pain extending from the back through to the pubis, stitches in the vagina, especially in plethoric women whose menses are habitually profuse.
Secale – Expulsive forcing pains, followed by dark discharge, often in small lumps, cutting pains in the bladder or bowel, pale face, cold sweat, flagging pulse etc. Sometimes the agonising forcing-pains occur without any discharge. We have met with striking results from the administration of this remedy in cases presenting the above symptoms.
Senecio – Functional Dysmenorrhoea, with scanty discharge. It gives the most marked relief if administered during the inter- menstrual period, for at least ten day preceding the catamenial discharge.
Viburnum Opulus – Spasmodic Dysmenorrhoea, thrice daily for a week previous to the expected period; every hour when the pain sets in; every quarter of an hour if it be very severe.
Xanthoxylum – Neuralgia Dysmenorrhoea, especially in females of spare habit, nervous temperament, and delicate organisation.
ADMINISTRATION – In acute cases, a dose, every one, two, or three hours; as improvement takes place, or in chronic cases, a dose every six, eight, or twelve hours.
ACCESSORY MEASURES – Attention must be directed to those general rules for the recovery of health which are prominently dwelt upon in this book, and form the basis of the correct treatment of disease of every nature. Daily active exercise in the open air; regular and early hours; pain, wholesome diet; abstinence from wine, coffee, and green tea; and the avoidance of influences that disturb the mind and temper, are important accessories in the treatment. During the intervals of menstruation, the morning cold bath should be used; or the lower parts of the back and abdomen may be sponged for three minutes with water at 100* and then for one minute with cold water, both morning and night; during the periods, the morning bath should be tepid; in any case vigorous friction should follow. In some cases of Dysmenorrhoea, with scanty and tardy discharge, Chapman’s spinal ice-bag has been found very useful; it should be used for half an hour once or twice a day. In the congestive form of Dysmenorrhoea the vaginal douche, recommended in the Section on “Leucorrhoea,” may be used once or twice a day in the inter-menstrual periods with great advantage. All legitimate sexual preceding the appearance of each menstrual period, and every unnatural habit that may have been insidiously acquired must be utterly abandoned. As palliatives during the period, hot bottles, or flannels wrung out of hot water, and applied to the lower part of the abdomen, or warm hip-baths, in which the patient may remain for twenty or thirty minutes, or an enema of as hot water as the patient can comfortably bear, generally give effectual relief to the distressing aching and weariness that at times accompany the monthly function. Rest, both just before and during the period, is also an important adjunct. Attention must be given to the dress. No proximate cause is so potent as the pressure of stays and skirt strings, and the dragging weight of skirts on the abdomen. By these means the uterus is displaced and the spine is weakened.
15. CESSATION OF THE MENSES – CHANGE OF LIFE – CRITICAL AGE – CLIMACTERIC PERIOD
The cessation of the menses commonly occurs in this country between the fortieth and fiftieth years, generally about the forty-fifth; but, like the first appearance, its termination varies in different women, and is in subordination to the temperament, constitution, climate and habits of the individual. There is usually some relation between the periods of the first and last menstruation, for the cessation occurs at a late period when the first appearance was delayed.
MENSTRUAL LIFE continues for about thirty years in the case of healthy women, varying as above. Thus if menstruation began at the age of fifteen, the critical period will arrive at about forty-five; or if at twelve, menstruation will cease at forty- two. In some families, however, the change comes as early as thirty-five or forty, and in others not until fifty or later.
SYMPTOMS – Whilst the change is in progress, there is commonly more or less functional disturbance of the general health, the nervous system especially manifesting various perturbations, such as vertigo; syncope; headache; flushes of heat; urinary difficulties; pains in the back, extending down the thighs with creeping sensations, heating in the lower part of the abdomen, occasional swelling of the extremities, itchings of the private parts, mental irritability, restlessness, culminating sometimes, especially in patients of a decided nervous temperament, in more profound nervous disorder. In these nervous symptoms there is commonly more or less periodicity; and when the “turn of life” is fully past in favorable cases these disorders subside or take on new forms.
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."