Duckweed, *N.O. Lemancee or Pistiacee. Tincture of the whole fresh plant.
Clinical
Asthma. Nose, affections of. Ozaena. Polypus. Rhinitis atrophica.
Characteristics
We owe this remedy, the common duckweed, with its brilliant green leaf and bladder-like float, to Dr. Cooper. Some tentative clinical experiments proved to him that *Lemna had a very definite affinity for the nose, acting beneficially in cases of nasal obstruction and catarrh with or without polypus. Foul smell from the nose and foul taste in the morning on waking are indications, also worse in damp weather, and especially in heavy rains. Burnett has recorded several cases of polypus in which immense relief was give by *Lemna by shrinkage of the swelling, but not actual cure. On this Cooper remarks: “In bad cases of nasal polypi the tendency is to the growths filling up the cavities formed by removal, and consequently, relief often appears temporary, when the case only requires repetition of the Unit Dose.” Asthma from nasal obstruction worse in wet weather has been cured by it. I removed with *Lemna 3 x four times a day a very chronic catarrh in a lady, and at the same time made her tolerant of the smell of strong-scented flowers, which she could not bear before. In a man I cured with *Lemna 3 x, given three times a day, an aggravated nasal catarrh. In the morning he filled two pocket-handkerchiefs with yellow defluxion before he could get his nose clear. Cooper gave in all cases single doses of the O tincture, allowing them to expend their action before repeating. In three of his cases diarrhoea was set up. Shearer (*Hom. *Eye, *Ear, and *Throat four., 1895) found *Lemna the best remedy in atrophic rhinitis, when crusts and muco-purulent discharge were very abundant. The Schema is made up of cured symptoms, and symptoms produced in patients.
Relations
*Compare: Cepa, Agraph. nut., Chlorum, etc., in nasal catarrh, Teucrium, Calcarea and Thuja in nasal polypus, Pso. (which it *follows well), Cadm-s., Aurum, Kali-bi., and Syphilinum in ozena, Anacardium in bad smell in nose. *Follows well: Calcarea, Mercurius, Pso.
Mind
Spirits braced up.
Head
Flitting pains about head and legs, with pains in eyes during heavy rain, drowsy by day, restless at night.
Ears
Improvement in hearing.
Nose
Foul smell in nose, or loss of smell. Smell of strong-scented flowers before intolerable can now be borne. Feeling of cold in nose better, sense of obstruction nearly gone. Nose blocked with polypi became almost cleared with *Lemna O after *Calcarea 200, followed by *Mercurius 3 (given for face ache), _ previously *Lemna O had been given without effect. Nasal polypi in man, 60, markedly worse in wet weather, after taking *Lemna 3 x gtt. v three times a day for a month said, ” That is the best tonic I have ever taken,” and he could breathe quite comfortably. Polypi which swell in wet weather. Nostrils plugged by swollen turbinates. Ozena since childhood in girl of sixteen, odour most offensive, bad taste, takes cold easily in night air or damp, bowels and catamenia irregular, greatly relieved by *Lemna. Post-nasal ulceration high up, dry feeling at top of throat with flatulence, much catarrhal pharyngitis, two weeks after dose of *Lemna O nose less blocked and better in every respect, colic and diarrhoea followed. Stuffiness of nose relieved, simultaneously an attack of diarrhoea. Turbinate bones swollen. Crusts form in right nostril, pain like a string extends from right nostril to right ear, which is deaf (greatly relieved). Excessive catarrh with frequent sneezing attacks. Profuse yellow defluxion. Atrophic rhinitis, crusts and muco-purulent discharge very abundant, with fetor.
Face
Pallid, dullish, sickly look changed to a healthy complexion.
Mouth
Foulness of mouth, putrid teeth.
Throat
Sensation of intense dryness in pharynx and larynx (if given too low in atrophic rhinitis). Dropping of foul secretion from posterior nares.
Abdomen
Twisting pains in bowels, followed by diarrhoea _ Rumbling and disturbance in bowels _ Diarrhoea with pains across bowels as from flatus worse after eating, with very putrid teeth.
Stool
Diarrhoea. Bowels acted freely with much heat in anus. Disposition to morning diarrhoea.
Respiratory Organs
Asthma, attacks coming on in rainy weather.
Generalities
Diminishes sensitiveness to wet weather.
Sleep
Snoring cured after an aggravation in the shape of diarrhoea.
