Materia Medica

SECALE COR : A NEW LOOK

secale image
Written by Kulwant Singh

Secale cornutum materia medica and complete drug picture of homeopathy remedy Secale cornutum. Learn all the signs and symptoms of homeopathic Secale cornutum by Kulwant Singh.

INTRODUCTION

COMMON NAME  :  ERGOT  OR  RYE ,  SPURRED  RYE

Ergot is a fungus, from family Clavicepitaceae, botanical name being Claviceps purpura. Secale Cor is made from the plant Rye infected by Claviceps. Rye is a grass that was first cultivated rather late in human history, perhaps as recently as 2000 to 3000 years ago. It is still grown extensively in northern Europe and Asia. It lacks the proteins that make wheat suitable for living, and rye bread is denser and usually darker than the wheat bread, hence called Black Bread.

Ergot appears as black grain size fungal structures. In late spring, these ergots germinate and form tiny spore producing mushroom like structures. Infectious spores are carried by wind currents to the host during the flowering stage. Infection of the cereal flowers may produce a secondary phase called Honeydew. Honeydew is a shiny sticky liquid that oozes from infected flowers and contains large numbers of ergot spores. The spores spread to adjacent flowers and heads by insects and rain splash particularly to the open flowers of rye. Ergot that germinates in June can infect early flowering weed grasses, which produce honeydew when cereals are flowering.

It gives out a sickening heavy smell. Its colour is externally purplish black. Internally it is pinkish white. It has a nauseous and slightly acrid taste.

After an overdose of ergot or medications derived from ergot or from eating flour milled from ergot infected rye, humans and livestock may develop Ergotism, a condition sometimes called as St. Anthony’s Fire. The symptoms include Convulsions, Miscarriages and Dry Gangrene and may be Death. It contains the crystalline alkaloid Ergotamine, Ergotinine and the amorphous alkaloid Ergotoxine.

Dr. Stearns of Waterford, New York introduced it in 1807 as a substance, which he had used for several years to expedite lingering labors when pains had subsided and were incomplete to expel the foetus. It is justly regarded as unfortunate if the labor does not come to an end soon after the administration of the Ergot, since if it be delayed there is reason to believe that the child will be poisoned by it.

“These poisonous effects are said to be due to the oil of the Ergot, which if given alone to a parturient woman, does not cause contraction of the uterus, but does poison the foetus. Whereas on the other hand the Ergot, deprived of its oil, acts on the uterus, but does not poison the foetus. This phenomenon has not been explained as yet….”(Dr. Carol Dunham)

Ergot is the common name given to the sclerotium formed by that fungus. The sclerotium is the fungal mass that replaces the seed of the plane, it may have somewhat the same general configuration as the seed but is a larger, dark colored and hard.

Ergot has had several uses in the field of medicine. There are reports as far back as 1582 of European and Chinese midwives using it to reduce hemorrhage following childbirth. It has also been used to induce abortions. Two of the alkaloids of ergot, ergotoxine and ergotamine have also been found to have medical uses. Ergotamine and to a lesser extent ergotoxine, were found to be remarkable in the treatment of migraine headaches. However both ergotamine and ergotoxine cause gangrene with chronic use. It must therefore be used only under strict medical supervision.

One of the most famous derivatives of ergot was lysergic acid. In 1938, two Swiss researchers, Hofmann and Stoll, derived d-lysergic acid diethymanide (LSD). It was thought to be relatively uninteresting until Hofmann accidentally ingested a small quantity of the drug. He was the first person to go on an “acid trip”. LSD is the most famous psychotomimetic drug and was used widely in North America and Europe through the 70’s. After ingesting LSD, the user will experience optical changes, inability to concentrate, phases of uncontrollable laughter, anxiousness and the quite typical experience of the subject standing outside of the body watching these events. Senses are also enhanced. The “trip” lasts for about 8 hours with a state of self-centeredness that lasts for an additional 5 hours. The first major outbreak of dancing mania was in Aix-la-chapelle in July of 1374. A group of people was seen to dance uncontrollably in the streets, foaming at the mouth and screaming of wild visions. They kept on dancing until they collapsed from exhaustion, but even then they flailed about in agony until forcefully restrained. The dancing caught on, and spread rapidly throughout France and the Low Countries. The dancing mania, especially as described in Aix-la-Chapelle, may have had a physical hypotheses, that the manic dancers (at least some of them) were victims of ergot poisoning, or ergotiism. Ergotism, which was known in the Middle Ages as “St. Anthony’s Fire”, is a toxic condition in humans and animals which inadvertently eat rye and other grasses parasitized by Claviceps purpurea (ergot).

Ergot has  been widely used for many centuries for a number of different purposes ranging from its medical uses to its recreational drug uses. It has also been the cause of great many epidemics across Europe from the early 10th to the late 19th century. Knowledge of this fungus has increased throughout the years, however further research into the alkaloid derivatives may still produce beneficial medical uses.

PHYSIOLOGICAL  ACTION

This is a medicine for which no human proving has been done due to its toxicity. The pathogenesis and symptomatology has been derived from its effect on human race accidentally, by its effect on cattle, lower animals and some proving on lower animals. There were so many epidemics of ergotism, due to which the symptoms have been recorded and have been confirmed in clinical practice. In almost every branch of medicine it has been used for contractions during birth, dilation of veins, decreasing blood pressure and treatment of migraines etc.

Since ancient times it was known to produce ergotism which then was divided into two main groups, i.e., Gangrenous ergotism and Convulsive ergotism and another being Hallucinogenic ergotism.( Dr. Peter J Burfening , Ph.D).

In gangrenous bodily extremities turn black, dry and become mummified, making it possible for infected limbs to spontaneously break off at the joints. In convulsive ergotism there were epileptic form seizures, violent retching, tongue biting or unusual breathing patterns. This resulted in permanent nerve damage, deformity and long recovery period. In hallucinogenic ergotism , there were vivid hallucinations, nervousness, jerky movements, persons used to perform strange dances with wild movements, hopping, leaping and screaming until exhausted which often lead to unconsciousness.

Dr. Willard Ide Pierce writes : “The chief interest in the action of ergot centers about its power to produce tonic contractions of involuntary muscle fiber; the arterioles are violently and persistently contracted, causing dry coldness of the surface and even gangrene of the lower extremities, and we have records of terrible epidemics of what are now believed to have been due to ergotism; that have devastated sections of Europe from the ninth to the last century (1089 – 1816). Depending on observations for years together the action of Secale Cor on different parts of the body can be described as follows:-

CEREBRO SPINAL NERVOUS SYSTEM:  Muscular Cramps, Epilepsy

It has a marked action on the brain and spinal cord. They are first stimulated for a short time which is soon followed by paralysis. This paralysis has often extended to the centres of respiration and cardiac contraction; and in chronic poisoning the filaments of sensory nerves are powerfully influenced. The first symptom of this makes its appearance in the form of an ant creeping over the skin. This formication continues during the whole course of sickness and it is the last symptom which disappears.

There is involuntary twitching in various group of muscles, e.g., in the tongue and extremities. They soon pass into continuous contractions, which specifically affect the flexors, so that the arm remains fixed in a bent position. When the contractions pass off, a state of exhaustion remains. But soon the painful convulsion returns and makes the patient moan and groan continuously. The contractions come in simultaneously in various group of muscles, like face, extremities, digestive tract , uro-genital system etc.

CIRCULATION AND VASCULAR SYSTEM: Arterial contraction , venous dilatation

Dr. P. Eberty had done a study of ergot on heart and cardiac system. He found that in a frog , the injection of ergotine caused a diastolic arrest of the heart and that the viscous was unable respond at all to stimuli. Although the heart is a profoundly affected in acute poisoning by ergot, yet death is probably not due to this cause, since Dr. Wright found that even though the heart after death was quiet, it commenced to beat as soon as the congestion was relieved by an incision, and continued to beat for a few minutes.

It has unquestionable effect on the pulse and reduces it. This has been confirmed by so many researchers. The amount of reduction varies from 10-35 beats per minutes.

The chief effect of ergot is upon arteries and veins. It contracts the arteries first and on the other hand there is a dilatation of veins. The result is diminished quantity of blood in arteries and corresponding increase in the contents of the veins. This was studied in frogs and rabbits by Dr. Wernich, Dr. Holmes and was micrometrically measured by Dr. Briesemann. Dr. Wernich sees in the dilatation of the veins the primary, in the contraction of the arteries and the action of the heart the secondary symptoms. The arteries therefore, collapse from want of sufficient quantity of blood, the action of the heart.

UTERUS: Viloent Uterine contraction, abortifacient, haemoorragic tendancy

It produces violent contractions of uterus causing abortions. Through the nerve centres of the brain and lumbar region of the spinal cord, ergot has a powerful and fixed action upon the pregnant uterus. It was proved by Dr. Schlesingher and Dr. Wernich, that, even in the impregnated uterus of animals, movement take place under the influence of ergotine. But those movements according to present experience, these are not as primary effect of the poison, but as secondary, and dependent on the arterial anemia produced by ergotine. It might always be assumed that the influence of ergot upon the movement of the uterus proceeds solely from an influence of the poison upon the nerve centers of these movements in the lumbar region of the cord and its higher situated parts, as well as in the brain. The experiments of Dr. Schlesinger and Oser have proved that the arterial anemia is to be regarded as the stimulating cause of the movements of the uterus, and secondly, that the uterine contractions are caused by excitement from the central organs. The abortions produced by ergot are thus accounted for by its increasing uterine contractions. The evidence of those who have used ergot for the induction of premature labor in women tallies very closely with that which is brought forward in regard to lower animals. Prof. Ramsbotham states that he has a great number of trials and found that expulsive action soon followed with very few exceptions.

INFLUENCE OF ERGOT ON FOETUS:

There are instances that ergot administered in tedious and difficult, slow labors has proved very destructive to the life of the child. Dr. Moore of New York says “It appears to be injurious to the child at all times; for, in every case in which I have seen it exhibited, the child has been stillborn.”

In fact if the cervix is not dilated and ergot is administered, due to contraction of uterus gives pressure on the child which may cause of the death. According to Dr. Meigs it should be employed at the moment of, or just before, the birth of the child, in order to secure a good contraction of the womb in women who are known to be subject to hemorrhage.

DIGESTIVE SYSTEM: Increased peristalsis, diarrhea, vomiting

Digestive System Diagram The most evident symptom in the early stage of the action of ergot is retching, vomiting, diarrhea and profuse salivary secretion which are consequences of the action of the poison on the sensory nerves of the mucous membrane of the alimentary canal, these are excitement, communicated to the motor and secretory regions.

In Dr. Wright’s experiments, the intestines were found in very active peristalsis at the post-mortem examination of the poisoned animals.

In rabbits it also produced very violent peristalsis. It produced involuntary stools, which may be its affect on the sphincter muscles of anus and bladder.

SKIN: (Gangrenous ergotism): Diaphoresis, Gangrene, Purpura, Coldness of Skin

skin picturesThe symptoms which characterize gangrenous ergotism as such often appear within from two to seven days. An erypsipelatous redness shows itself on some spots in the periphery, most frequently on the toes and feet, but also on the fingers and hand, more rarely on the ears and the nose; soon after the epidermis is raised like a bladder by serous exudation; the ichorous contents of this are soon discharged, and a gangrenous spot develops very rapidly at the affected spot. The part affected is very painful but later on it becomes quite insensible. The gangrene depends on the fact that the part affected is deprived of its blood supply, and its nutrition thereby arrested, consequently, it must pass into a state of decomposition. The only question is whether it is inflammation which leads to gangrene, or whether the process is of a non inflammatory character, resembling that which occurs when all the vessels going to a limb are ligatured. When we consider that the initial so called erysipelatous redness is simply dependent on the cyanosis, and that these spots are not, as in a case of inflammation hot and swollen, but on the contrary, they become very cold, and warmth can not be restored in them, and that the affected limb is not at all swollen, the hypothesis that such a gangrene is of an inflammatory character may be rejected as there is no fever also.

TEMPERATURE:

Lowers down the temperature, hence there is coldness of the skin. It may come down by 4-5 degrees. It is the result of its action on the heart and vascular system.

SYMPTOMATOLOGY

CONSTITUTION

MAKE UP
Þ    Thin, scrawny, feeble, cachectic and pale, sunken countenance
Þ    Very old looking, feeble persons
Þ    Lax muscular fibers, everything seems loose and open
Þ    Irritable, cross, mildest words offend her
Þ    Nervous temperament
Þ    HOT patient
Þ    The skin is cold, yet the patient doesn’t want covering
Þ    Hemorrhagic Diathesis

FEMALE SYMPTOMS

MENSES
Þ    Irregularly regular
Þ    Passive hemorrhage in feeble, cachectic women
Þ    Burning Pain in uterus
Þ    Copious flow of black, liquid blood, worse from movement
Þ    Hemorrhage with spasmodic contraction of uterus
Þ    Too frequent, too profuse with prolonged bearing down pain
Þ    Cold extremities
Þ    Worse just before the menses
Þ    Continuous oozing of watery blood until next period
LABOR
Þ    There is no expulsive pain
Þ    There is irregular pain, which is too weak, feeble and ceasing occasionally
Þ    Everything seems to be loose and open, but no action
Þ    There may be fainting attack during labor
Þ    Too long, too painful, severe contraction after labor
Þ    Dark offensive lochia
Þ    Retained placenta
Þ    Suppression of milk in lean and thin exhausted women. Breast do not fill properly
Þ    Puerperal fever, putrid discharges, suppressed urine
ABORTION
Þ    Threatened abortion at 3rd month
Þ    Associated with prolonged bearing down forcing pains
Þ    May be due to over lifting, straining and hard work
Þ    Strength of uterus is weakened by too early efforts
It is also useful in cases of Mole, Polypi and morbid growth in the uterus with prolonged forcing pains.

“It has been used successfully in chronic metritis, uterine fibroids, polypi and sub involution of the uterus.” (Dr. Hilderbrandt)

DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

STOMACH Þ    Unnatural ravenous appetite even with diarrhea
Þ    Craving for acids and lemonade
Þ    Unquenchable thirst for large quantities of cold water
Þ    Nausea
Þ    Vomiting of blood and coffee ground fluid
Þ    Aversion to food, drinks especially hot
Þ    Constant eructation with bad odor
ABDOMEN Þ    Cholera like symptoms due to summer weather, suppression of discharges
Þ    Profuse watery, fetid, brown exhausting, involuntary stools as if the anus was wide open
Þ    Cold skin, yet can not bear to be covered
Þ    Cramps, extensor type
Þ    Pale face, pinched, sunken Hippocratic look with blue rings around eyes
Þ    Diarrhea with coldness of parts with aggravation by covering
Þ    Profuse exhaustive diarrhea
Þ    Involuntary stools
Þ    Olive green, thin, putrid stools
Þ    < heat  > cold

SKIN

Þ    Shriveled, numb, mottled
Þ    Dusky, blue tinge
Þ    Sclerema
Þ    Gangrene, developing slowly
Þ    Burning sensation better by cold
Þ    Wants parts uncovered
Þ    Skin cold to touch yet < by covering
Þ    Great aversion to heat
Þ    Large ecchymosis and blood blisters
Þ    Skin hangs in folds as if very loose
Þ    Slight wounds continue to bleed, petechiae
Þ    Boils, small, painful with green contents
Þ    Formication under skin
Þ    Varicose ulcers

HAEMORRHAGE

Þ    Continuously oozing
Þ    Thin, watery, black
Þ    Fetid
Þ    Blood with a strong tendency to putrescence
Þ    Continuous bloody watery discharge between two periods so that it is practically speaking a continued flooding.
Þ    Great debility with hemorrhage
Þ    Trifling would causes persistent bleeding
Þ    Passive hemorrhage

MIND

Þ    Great anguish and fear of death
Þ    Fear with desire to jump into water
Þ    Loss of consciousness or consciousness seems to continue to the last breath and just before death, it seems as though the patient would improve.
Þ    Sad, irritable, nervous

NUMBNESS

Þ    Sensation of creeping or as if ants are crawling is very important
Þ    Feels better by rubbing
Þ    Numbness of limbs
Þ    Sensation of deadness in any part
Þ    Hemorrhage proceeded by numbness and tingling

MODALITY

AGGRAVATION

Þ    Heat, warmth, warm application
Þ    Covering
Þ    Just before menses
Þ    Touch

AMELIORATION

Þ    Open air
Þ    Cold, cold drinks, cold application
Þ    Uncovering
Þ    Rubbing
Þ    Wants to be fanned

 

A COMPARISION ON FEMALE SYMPTOMS:

SECALE COR

SEPIA

ACT. RAC.

SABINA

Menses

Copious Too late or too early Delayed, irregular Menorrhagia, too early
Long lasting Irregular Profuse too profuse
Suppressed Too long lasting

Type of Blood

Dark blood Too scanty Coagulated In paroxysms
Regular oozing until next period Too profuse

Irregular

Very offensive Protracted
More the flow, more the pain Partly liquid , partly clotted

Concomitants

Crampy pain Bearing down sensation Severe pain Labor like pain
Coldness of skin Pain from back to front Pain from hip to hip From sacrum to pubes
Internal heat Prolapse uterus With hysterical and chorea Music is intolerable
Yellow leucorrhoea before menses Rheumatic pains Rheumatism

Labor

Weak labor pain False labor pain
No expulsive action Electric like pain
Shivering in 1st stage

Abortion

3rd month 3rd month

Constitution

Thin , cachectic Weak, earthy, yellow spots on face Hysterical Tendency to abortion
Hemorrhagic diathesis ‘tell tale face’ Mental symptoms are important Hemorrhagic diathesis Chlorotic
HOT CHILLY CHILLY HOT

Modality

< just before menses, covering <morning, washing, laundry work, before thunderstorm < cold, during menses <motion, warmth
> open air, uncovering, cold application > exercise, pressure, warmth >warmth >cold applications

About the author

Kulwant Singh

Dr. Kulwant Singh is Dean-Faculty of Homoeopathy, Vinoba Bhave University. Principal- S H Medical college and Hospital, Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, India

1 Comment

  • Secale homeo potency,social message left by great Indian homeopath SR Phatak for whole world,smokers whose hand feet are cold rapid pulse,sleepless drug and liquor takers lethargic body.by the way tabacum in potency helps those with deathly nausea coldness in stomach and Secale has burning in stomach want lemonade.thin wrinkled skin blue lips dusky red cold nose rapid weak pulse females prone passive bleedings ,excesses of venery,go to a homeopath clear ergot like any poison from body.
    it is for homeopath how it cause tonic spasms and contract blood vessels via cerebro spinal system.any poison cause brain congestion see his head twists to and fro sadness gloom lethargy blue ring under eye blue lips cold limbs..but old era homeopaths go one step ahead suspicion jealousy etc is more deep poison more than ergot one falls in domain of snake remedies.

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