Rhus radicans, also called toxicodendron.
Introduction
Rhus is a native of North America, and is one of those most valuable medicines which we owe to the domestic practice of the North American Indians:–Baptisia, Gelsemium, caulophyllum, etc. It was proved and included in his Materia Medica Pura by Hahnemann as “a remarkable and valuable medicinal substance”. He notes “a great number of characteristic peculiarities in its action”, and says:
“To mention one only: we observe this curious action (which is found in very few other remedies, and in these never to such a great degree), viz. the severest symptoms and sufferings are excited when the body or the limb is at rest and kept as much as possible without movement.” And adds, “the opposite, an increase of the symptoms by movement, is much more rarely observed”.
Then he contrasts the action of Rhus with that of Bryonia. Here, “with almost identical symptoms”, there is “the striking amelioration by avoiding all movement” of Bryonia, “exactly the opposite of what Rhus does.”
Hahnemann calls them “these two antagonistic sister remedies” and tells of their inestimable value in the disastrous war pestilence of 1813, when these patients were “dying in thousands while the doctors carried on vain disputations as to the presumed internal nature of the disease.”* See Hahnemann’s account of this epidemic, HOMOEOPATHY, Vol. IV., p. 202. Hahnemann treated it symptomatically with Rhus alternated with Bryonia, as the symptoms changed and demanded the one or the other remedy. And he says that, of the 183 cases he treated in Leipsic, not one died, “which created a great sensation among the Russians then ruling in Dresden, but was consigned to oblivion by the medical authorities.” He says, “If ever there was a triumph for the only true, the homoeopathic treatment, this was one.”
Farrington says: “You must remember Rhus as complementary to Bryonia, a fact discovered by Hahnemann in his experience with an epidemic of war-typhus. The success he gained was acknowledged on all sides. Many lives have since been saved by the exhibition of these two remedies in alternation; i.e an alternation which consists in giving Bryonia when Bryonia symptoms are present, and Rhus tox. when the patient manifests symptoms, calling for the remedy. This is a legitimate alternation.”
Farrington tells us that Boenninghausen’s * Hahnemann’s friend and great disciple. son had typhoid, and was attended by his father. Among his symptoms was the Rhus restlessness, yet Rhus gave no relief. Looking up the Materia Medica Boenninghausen found that Taraxacum had this same restlessness of limbs with tearing pain, and in addition a symptom present in his son’s case, mapped tongue. He gave Taraxacum with prompt relief.
Farrington describes the use of Rhus in FEVERS.
“Rhus, when acute diseases take on a typhoid form–dysentery– scarlet fever–diphtheria–pneumonia.
He says, “Rhus is indicated in DYSENTERY, when there are tearing pains down the thighs during defecation. I once cured a case of small-pox which had degenerated into a haemorrhagic type, the pustules containing bloody pus, with Rhus; the indications for the remedy were, Stools of dark blood, with pains tearing down the thighs during stool.”
He describes Rhus, in TYPHOID “mild temperament, delirium mild: though may try to jump out of bed to escape. Restlessness: cannot lie still. Sometime the hallucination, fear he will be poisoned. Will not take the medicines, or food, as fears people desire to poison him (Hyoscyamus, Lachesis). Tongue dark-brown, dry, cracked: cracks may gape and bleed. Triangular red tip. Typhoid pneumonia, rusty sputum. Almost intolerable backache”.
Dunham says, “These remarks” (i.e. to above effect) “will suffice to give an idea of the application of Rhus in FEVERS. They have included no name except that of typhoid fever–but surely I need not at this hour remind you that, no matter how different may be the names that are applied to morbid conditions, if the conditions be similar the remedy may be the same. It often happens that in the course of the exanthematous fevers, measles and scarlatina, a similar train of symptoms to those already described makes its appearance and calls for Rhus. Especially is this the case with scarlatina, a disease in which the value of Rhus is not well understood by the profession.”
Farrington says, “In INTERMITTENT FEVER it is very important to note the point at which the chill starts.
“Rhus starts in one leg, usually in the thigh, or between the shoulders, or over one scapula.
“Eupatorium, sometimes Nat. mur., begins in small of back.
“In Gelsemium it runs up the spine.”
In regard to the extraordinary action of Rhus on the SKIN–even the exhalations of the plant will effect this in sensitives, Carroll Dunham says:
“Rhus produces a most remarkable imitation of vesicula erysipelas and is our most valued remedy here. But its grand role is in the treatment of the pustular form.”
And he quotes Trousseau, “no advocate or friend of Homoeopathy”, who “relates an interesting proving of Rhus” (which accords with its other provings).
” `Dr. Savini applied two drops of the juice of Rhus rad. to the first phalanx of his forefinger; he left it there only two minutes, and yet, at the end of an hour, it had produced two black spots. Twenty-five days afterwards the following symptoms suddenly manifested themselves: great heat, mouth and gullet; rapid swelling of left cheek, upper lips, and eyelids. The following night, swelling of forearm, which had acquired double its normal volume; the skin was rough, the itching intolerable, the heat very great, etc. `This singular action of Rhus’, says Trousseau, `induced the homoeopaths to use it in skin diseases; but already, before them, Dufresnoy, of Valenciennes, had published a pamphlet extolling the virtues of this plant against cutaneous diseases, and subsequently against paralysis’ and Trousseau says that he had often used Rhus radicans for paralysis of the lower extremities `succeeding on a concussion of the spinal marrow, or a lesion of that organ, which did not destroy its tissue. On this point we have collected facts enough to place beyond a doubt the therapeutic efficacy of Rhus radicans.'”
SKINS, then, and TRAUMATIC PARALYSIS without destruction of nervous tissue! We shall amplify, and detail some of its other uses.
Dunham points out that “in fevers, the special senses are dulled, but not perverted”.
Dunham also explains the apparently contradictory symptoms of Rhus, as hinted by Hahnemann.
“The great and characteristic peculiarity of Rhus is that, with few exceptions, they occur and are aggravated during repose, and are ameliorated by motion.
“Rhus has symptoms which resemble paralysis, also groups of symptoms resembling muscular and articular rheumatism. These latter come on with severity during repose and increase as long as the patient keeps quiet, till they compel him to move. Here the first movement is exceedingly painful: but by continuing to move the stiffness is relieved and pains decrease, and he feels much better. But, after a period of continuously moving and finding comfort therein, the paralytic symptoms interpose their exhausting protest, and he is compelled by lassitude and powerlessness to suspend his movements and come to repose.
This repose is at first grateful and relieves, not the aching pains, but the sense of prostration. Before long the pains come on again and the patient is forced to move again, as before. This will explain the seeming contradictions in the symptoms of Rhus.”
Kent says of Rhus, “He is never perfectly at ease, and never finds rest.”
In regard to the Rhus characteristic, worse first morning, then better, Guernsey says, “We are led to think of this remedy where we find an irresistible desire to move, or change the position every little while, followed by great relief for a short time, when they must again move, and again experience the same relief for a short time: After resting, when first moving a painful stiffness is felt which wears off from continued motion.”
He says “a nursing mother may have sore nipples, and when the child begins to nurse, the nipple hurts exceedingly, but on continued nursing it becomes much easier”.
And Kent has it, “Hoarseness on first beginning to sing which wears off on singing a few notes, or wears off after talking a little while.:
DILATATION OF HEART with distress; from over-exertion (Arnica). Uncomplicated hypertrophy of heart, i.e. not associated with valvular lesions from the effects of over-exertion–athletes and men who handle heavy tools. (Arnica) Palpitation of heart following over-exertion, with usually numbness of left arm and shoulder.
Farrington tells us that Rhus is the great remedy of over- exertion. haemorrhage: Rhus will be his remedy. If from violent exertion a patient is seized with paralysis, his trouble may yield to Rhus tox.” (Arnica, –but Arnica has not the strained feeling of Rhus. Hill-climbing, Arsenicum Rhus is almost the specific of STRAINS and SPRAINS.)
