Synonym. Bryonia Alba. Natural order. Cucurbitaceae. Common name. White Bryony. Habitat. A high climbing perennial plant growing in hedges and along fences, especially in Germany and France. Preparation. Tincture from the fresh root.
GENERAL ANALYSIS.
Bryonia acts especially and powerfully upon the serous membranes and the viscera they contain, more particularly the pleurae and lungs; next the brain, and finally the liver. Then comes the action upon the synovial membranes and muscular fiber, and last upon the mucous membranes of the respiratory and alimentary tracts. The condition set up is not one of acute inflammation, but rather of subacute; more closely simulating that condition when infiltrations, exudations, or, effusions are about to occur, the symptoms indicating a condition intermediate between inflammation and nervous irritation. When, however, the synovial membranes and the muscular fibres are involved, the inflammation, while still being subacute its character, partakes more decidedly of a rheumatic or arthritic nature, and possibly this condition may be said to always characterize the bryonia inflammation, regardless of the tissues involved. The most characteristic expressions of Bryonia are its stitching, tearing pains, and the aggravation of all its symptoms by motion.
CHARACTERISTIC SYMPTOMS.
Mind. Very morose, ill-humored (Agaricus, Ailanth., Borax., Chamomilla, Nux v.); inclined to needless anxiety; fright, fear and vexation (Aconite). Exceedingly irritable, and inclined to be angry (Aurum, Cinchona, Chamomilla, Hepars., Kali carb., Nux v., Ignatia). Great anxiety; mental depression and apprehension about the future; fears she has not the wherewithal to live (Aurum, Arsenicum, Natr. mur., Nux moschata, Pulsatilla). Delirium about his business; worse at night. Weakness of mind so that his ideas disappear, as if he would faint.
Head. Confusion of the head. Confusion in the head and aching, as after a night’s dissipation; does not wish to rise (Nux v.), morning on awakening. Confusion in the head with drawing in the occiput, extending into the neck, before going to sleep. Sensation in bed as if she were sinking deep down. Vertigo, as though objects were reeling; as though brain were turning around; as if head were turning in a circle (Belladonna, Carls., Coni., Nux v.); causing him to reel backward; on rising from the chair (Sulphur), or bed (Phosphorus, rhus tox.); on sitting up in bed; on raising the head (Aconite, Cinchona).
Headache commences in the morning, not on waking, but when first opening the eyes. Great heaviness of the head, and pressure of the brain forward. Pressure on the head, as if the brain were too full and pressed outward (Aconite,Cinchona, Nat. mur., Mercurius). Headache as if everything would press out of the forehead (Aconite, Asafoetida); worse on stooping.
Pressive pain above the left eye, followed by dull pressive pain in occipital protuberances; thence spreading over the whole body; on quick motion and after eating pain so severe that it seemed a distinct pulsation within the head. Stitches through head on stepping hard, mostly from before backwards. Pressive pain in head on coughing. Slight drawing in the temporal bones from above downward toward zygoma. Throbbing headache on top of head (Natr. ars., Gloninum, Stramonium) morning when waking. Continued deep stitch in brain, left side, on coughing (Carb v.). Pressive pain in the occiput, drawing down into neck; relieved toward noon. Headache, as if head would split open (Ammonium carb., Caps., Cinchona, Mercurius, Natr. mur., Pulsatilla). Pain like a heaviness which pressed upon a sore spot, in morning when lying on back, extending to shoulders. Headache from ironing; from washing perspiring face in cold water.
Hair seems fatty in morning and hands become fatty while combing it. Scalp sensitive towards evening.
Eyes. Severe burning and lachrymation of right eye (Arsenicum). Swelling of right upper lid, with agglutination. Twitching drawing together in left upper lid, with heaviness. Every object appears covered with rainbow colors, followed by photophobia. Very sensitive pressive intermittent pains in left eyeball, especially violent on moving the ball (Physos., Spigelia), with feeling as if eye became smaller, and were retracted within the ears.
Ears. Roaring in the ears.
Nose. Swelling of the nose, with very sore pain when touched (Alumina, Mercurius). Profuse coryza. Nosebleed (Aconite, Belladonna), especially in morning when rising (Agaricus, Ambr., Calcarea c., Cinchona).
Face. Hot, red, soft puffiness of the face; red, round, hot spot on malar bone. Heat in face with redness and thirst. Pinching pressure in articular cavity of right jaw, more violent on motion. Twitching, externally in malar bone, extending to right temple, worse on touch. Painful pressure under right cheek, better on pressure. Lower lips cracked. Upper lip and nose swollen, red and hot (Belladonna, Mercurius).
Mouth. Great dryness of mouth, lips and tongue (Aconite, Arsenicum, Hyoscyamus, Kali nitr., nux m.); tip of tongue moist (Mercurius). Drawing, sticking toothache while eating, extending to muscles of neck; aggravated by warmth. Toothache relieved by cold water (Bism., Coffea, Clem.), aggravated by taking anything warm in the mouth (Calcarea c., Mercurius, Pulsatilla); aggravated by lying on painless side; goes away if one lies on painful side. Jerking toothache; when smoking (Ignatia). Gums pain as if sore and raw, with painful loose teeth. Aphthae on tip of tongue; sometimes bitter rises into mouth, without eructations, with nausea. Dryness in mouth, better for a moment from drinking, then worse, so that the tongue sticks to the palate. Tongue thickly coated white (Antim crud., Mercurius). Taste flat, insipid; sweetish (Mercurius); intensely bitter (Arsenicum, Coloc., Cinchona, Nux v., Pulsatilla, Sulphur); pasty. Taste for food lost, bitter when not eating. Frequent drinking of cold water relieves the bitter taste and the inclination to vomit. Soapy, frothy salivation.
Throat. Great dryness of throat (Baptisia, Belladonna). Stitches in throat when swallowing (Calcarea c., Belladonna). Back of the throat seems swollen (Cina). Tough mucus loosened by hawking.
Stomach. Too great appetite (Ferrum, Iodi., Lycopodium). Desires things immediately, which when offered are refused (Chamomilla, Rhododendron). Excessive thirst (Belladonna, Rhus tox.); desire for large quantities of water (Podo; reverse Arsenicum). Great thirst with longing for wine (Cinch); for coffee. Hiccough; after eating (Hyoscyamus, Ignatia). Bitter eructations after eating (Cinchona, Nux v.); also sourish. Nausea and vomiting from slightest motion; in the morning on waking. Vomiting of solid food but not of drinks. Cutting in pit of stomach. Pain in stomach while eating. Contractive pain in stomach, better from drawing legs up against the abdomen (Coloc). Stomach distended and sensitive to pressure (Arsenicum, Belladonna). Pressure in stomach after eating, as from a stone (Aconite, AEsc., Arsenicum, Nux v., Pulsatilla), makes him fretful. Epigastric region painful to touch and pressure (Arsenicum, Antim crud., Belladonna, Lycopodium), with anxiety; soreness in pit of stomach when coughing.
Abdomen. Tensive pains or transient stitches below false ribs, right side; especially sensitive on deep inspiration (Aconite, Chelidonium, Cinchona, Mercurius). Distension of abdomen and colic (Aloe, Coloc, Lycopodium); after eating; heaviness in abdomen. Passage of offensive flatus (Aloe). Pain in abdomen as if diarrhoea would ensue. Griping-pinching colic, painful cuttings, and digging pains relieved by diarrhoea (Coloc.). Abdomen very sensitive and sore (Apis,Belladonna). Twitching on left side, as if in muscles of abdominal walls, then sticking pain deep in left side of back.
Stool and Anus. Stools followed by a burnings in anus (Arsenicum, Cantharis, Sulphur). Burning in rectum with evacuation of stool and urine. Diarrhoea accompanied by confusion in head; also constipation with same, and rush of blood to head from great straining. Stools offensive, pasty or bilious and acrid; smelling like old cheese. Obstinate constipation, stools large, hard and dry (Calcarea c.), as if burnt (Sulphur), with great effort (AEsc.).
Urinary Organs. Urine dark (Arsenicum,Ant. tart.), almost brown (Causticum), like beer (Coloc.); scanty and dark (Aconite); red.
Female Organs. Stitching pain in ovaries on deep inspiration. Menses too early and too profuse (Arsenicum, Calcarea c. Nux v.). Suppressed, with bleeding of the nose (Carls., Hamamelis, Pulsatilla, Sepia). Breasts swollen, very tender, painful, red, worse on motion and deep inspiration. Flow of milk suppressed, or scanty secretion. Child does not like to take hold of the breast, but after mouth becomes moistened it nurses well.
Respiratory Organs. Tough mucus in trachea (Nux v.), loosened only after frequent hawking (Kali bichromicum). Coming into warm room from cold air excites a cough (Natr. carb., Veratrum alb.). Voice rough and hoarse (Carb v., Phosphorus, Spongia). Hacking dry cough from upper part of trachea. Sensation of a vapor on going from a warm room into open air, causing cough, with feeling as if he could not inspire air enough.
ALLEN CORSON COWPERTHWAITE was born at Cape May, New Jersey, May 3, 1848, son of Joseph C. and Deborah (Godfrey) Cowperthwaite. He attended medical lectures at the University of Iowa in 1867-1868, and was graduated from the Hahnemann Medical College of Philadelphia in 1869. He practiced his profession first in Illinois, and then in Nebraska. In 1877 he became Dean and Professor of Materia Medica in the recently organized Homeopathic Department of the State University of Iowa, holding the position till 1892. In 1884 he accepted the chair of Materia Medica, Pharmacology, and Clinical Medicine in the Homeopathic Medical College of the University of Michigan. He removed to Chicago in 1892, and became Professor of Materia Medica and Therapeutics in the Chicago Homeopathic Medical College. From 1901 he also served as president of that College. He is the author of various works, notably "Insanity in its Medico-Legal Relations" (1876), "A Textbook of Materia Medica and Therapeutics" (1880), of "Gynecology" (1888), and of "The Practice of Medicine " (1901).