Synonym – Hypericum Perforatum. Natural order – Hypericaceae. Common name. – St. John’s Wort. Habitat – A perennial plant abundant in Europe and America. Preparation – Tincture from the whole fresh plant.
GENERAL ANALYSIS
Through the cerebro-spinal nervous system Hypericum causes vascular erethism, cerebral and spinal hyperaemia, and produces an irritated and highly sensitive condition of those parts freely supplied with nerves. Hence its use in mechanical injuries of the spinal cord and the nerves at their peripheral extremities, especially when accompanied by excruciating pains.
CHARACTERISTIC SYMPTOMS
Mind. Weakness of memory. Great nervous depression following wounds.
Head Confusion, vertigo and heaviness. Tearing stitches in the brain. Throbbing in the vertex, and a feeling of heat in the head afternoons. Headache, extending into zygoma, or cheek. Headache, with sore eyes, after a fall.
Face Hot and bloated.
Mouth. Tongue coated white (Antim crud., Bryonia, Nux v.), or yellow, with great thirst.
Stomach Great thirst (Acon). Nausea and inclination to vomit (Ant. tart., Ipecac.).
Abdomen. Tympanitic distension of the abdomen.
Respiratory Organs. Frequent dry hacking cough; short barking cough. Tightness in the chest (Phosphorus).
Neck and Back. After a fall, slightest motion of arms or neck extorts cries. Consequence of spinal concussion. Violent pains and inability to walk or stoop, after a fall on the coccyx.
Limbs. Cannot walk from affection of the spine. Feeling of weakness and trembling of all the limbs. Numbness and crawling in the limbs, hands and feet. Hands and feet feel fuzzy, with crawling feeling in morning.
Compare Aconite, Arnica, Calendula, Ruta.
THERAPEUTICS.
Hypericum is a valuable remedy both locally and internally for the bad effects from falls, or blows upon the head, or concussion of the spine, even convulsions. After a fall, slightest motion of arms or neck extorts cries. Injuries to parts rich in sentient nerves, especially fingers, toes and matrices of nails. Lacerated wounds, when intolerable excruciating pain shows that the nerves are severely injured. A valuable remedy to relieve the pain following surgical operations, especially amputations. Punctured wounds. Crushed wounds. Gunshot wounds. Prevents lockjaw from wounds in soles of feet and in hands. Tetanus from same causes. Also a valuable remedy in spinal affections, whether from injury or other causes, with extreme sensitiveness of the cervical vertebra to touch; patient screams if approached; terrible pain. Has cured subacute and chronic neuritis. Spasmodic asthma with sensitiveness of spine. Rheumatism, especially of cervical muscles, great pain and sensitiveness of affected part. Bunions. Consequences of a shock or fright. The drug is generally indicated by the excessive pain and soreness in the affected part, attacks being usually brought on by change of weather.
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).