Homeopathy Papers

Some Acts of the Materia Medica

Written by H.C. Morrow

(Read before I.H.A., Bureau of Clinical Medicine, June 7, 1940)

Sulphur, Hepar, Calcarea Sulph. and Sepia are the exceptions; few antipsorics bear repetition.

Sulphur, Calcarea, Syphilinum, Tuberculinum, Carbo vegetables are sure to cause reaction when well-chosen remedies fail to act. This is especially true of Sulphur in acute cases.

Moschus acts beneficially when the disorder does not follow its normal course but remains uncured or develops serious symptoms indicating nervous exhaustion.

Aurum, Asafoetida, Castoreum, at time may be given in cases of women who are nervous and do not react after illness.

Bovista, in urticaria or other eruptive diseases when Rhus toxicodendron fails to act though apparently indicated.

Mercurius: With this remedy water treatment should be carefully avoided in acute or chronic cases.

Lachesis is especially useful when paroxysms of fevers return after taking acids.

Colchicum hastens relapse of gout if abused.

Phosphorus, Iodine, Mercurius generally act better in warm dry rather than cold wet weather.

Arum triphyllum should not be given low or repeated often as deleterious effects frequently follow.

Kali carbonicum will bring on menses when Natrum muriaticum, although indicated fails.

Atropa belladonna suits persons with well-developed, acute brains and well-trained nervous systems.

Pulsatilla: the principal time for symptoms to appear is in the evening and until midnight.

Ailanthus odorata affects women and children more than men, and old people least of all.

Agaricus phalloides : poison symptoms of this drug do not develop until eight or ten hours after taking. No similarity to Colchicum.

Causticum has a primary action apparently later than any other antipsoric.

Lachesis: care with administration is required in acute diseases because administration is almost always followed by an aggravation.

Salamander, when Crot., Lachesis and other remedies do not act, frequently brings the desired effect.

Ambra grisea often takes the place of Carbo vegelabilis and Petroleum, especially when one or the other of these seems indicated but does not act.

Syphilinum, when Lycopodium seems indicated by 4 p.m. aggravation but does not act, when often clear up a case.

Ptelea may cause all symptoms to disappear suddenly after eating sour things.

Calcarea fluorica or Fluroic acid follows when Silica fails to keep up improvement in ulceration or disintegration of bone.

Bryonia alba: If it be the right remedy in fever it will act in 12 hours, in which case it will produce a free perspiration. Care must be exercised, as it may be injurious during pregnancy.

Nux vomica: Care in administration; abortion is opt to follow.

Carbo vegetabilis, Lycopodium, Natrum muriaticum and Silica in low potencies are inactive and perhaps inert.

Belladonna may be indicated in hydrocephaloid children until they get something to eat—then indications change.

Iodum should not be given in the laying-in period, except in the high potencies.

Phosphoric acid is useful in pneumonia when the disease does not take the normal course owing to the prostration of the patient from loss of vital fluids, distressing emotions or other major factors.

Acidum aceticum is one of the most dangerous remedies for a pulmonary tuberculosis patient; it predisposes to haemoptysis. (Ferrum nit.)

Hydrastis Canadensis may be used to fatten a patient who has been cured with Tuberculinum.

Lachesis repeats its primary action every fourteen days.

Physostigma, Tabacum, and Conium maculatum may be used to intensify action of Gelsemium.

Bryonia alba acts well in jaundice if the case has been spoiled by calomel (HgCL).

Nux vomica intensifies the action of Sepia.

Arsenicum album in typhoid fever does irreparable injury if not unmistakably indicated.

Mercurius is so rarely indicated in typhoid fever that some careful prescribers say “never”

Phosphorus, Silica and Sulphur are unsafe to give in any stage of phthisis without meticulous investigation.

Aconitum napellus: The action here may be suspended by vegetable acid or wine.

Cinchona and Pulsatilla will not act satisfactorily if the patient may be permitted to drink tea.

Kali bichromicum, according to Farrington, acts better in low than high potencies.

Arum triphyllum: As soon as the child gets better in scarlatina there is a frequent discharge of pale urine. Now stop the remedy, or any other.

Calcarea in persons of advanced age can scarcely be repeated. In children several successive doses may be given with impunity.

Calcarea: Nausea consequent on its use is counteracted by smelling sweet spirits of nitre. This acts even better than camphor.

Conium maculatum: This remedy, in order to act beneficially, has frequently to be preceded by some other drug and it must be used in the smallest of material doses.

Capsicum: When medicines fail to act though well indicated in flabby, lazy individuals use Capsicum.

Calcarea: Think of it for frequent use following Sulphur, especially when the pupils of the eyes are prone to dilate easily.

Calcarea generally acts well after Nitric acid, when the action of this drug, although apparently homoeopathically indicated, has been rather unfavorable. On the other hand, Nitric acid relieves the unpleasant symptoms of the homoeopathically chosen Calcarea and imparts to its action a beneficent character.

Nitric acid acts powerfully on mucous membranes and has a particular affinity for outlets of mucous membranes join.

Graphites is especially useful after Lycopodium.

Lycopodium acts with especial benefit after the action of Calcarea shall have passed over.

Iodum is especially useful after Mercurius.

Graphites can seldom be repeated with advantage even after the use of intermediate remedies.

Cinchona increases the anguish of Digitalis even to a death struggle.

Nitri spiritus dulcis increases the action of Digitalis.

Laurocerasus is indicated when deficient nervous reaction is present and a well-chosen remedy does not act.

Lycopodium. The action of Lycopodium is facilitated by Carbo vegetabilis in the sixth or eight day.

Zincum metallicum acts better if given at night. Nux vomica may have this same characteristic. It is not constant..

Magnesia phosphorica at times acts better if given in hot water.

Teucrium marum verum is suitable when too much medicine has produced an over sensitive condition and remedies fail to act.

Mercurius protoiodatus has its action retarded by care and anxiety.

Acidum muriaticum is of great assistance in muscular weakness following the excessive use of opium or soothing syrups. (Compare Gelsemium)

Nux vomica is especially useful when the patient has been drugged.

Carbo vegetabilis, Laurocerasus, Aloes socotrina, Opium show a want of susceptibility to drugs and a deficiency of vital reaction.

Phosphorus is useful after onion syrup has been abused.

Psorinum has lack of reaction after severe diseases.

Mezereum may be frequently indicated during the months of January and February (in Canada)

Glonoin: It is stated that if administered just previous to the period he menses will fail to appear.

Zincum valerianicum is to be thought of in nervous affections when apparently well-chosen remedies fail to act.

Sulphur: Cases spoiled by the use of Aconitum napellus can often be adjusted by giving it.

Kali carbonicum: Acidum nitricum is especially active when it follows this drug.

Hydrastis Canadensis is frequently indicated when the patient has taken potassium chlorate for sore throat.

Bovista: Smoke from Bovista acts more decidedly on bees than any other substance of which we know.

Coffea cruda, Nux vomica, Pulsatilla, Asarum, Chamomilla, China, Ignatia, Teucrium marum verum, Valerian, Zincum valerianicum, may be used at times to correct over-sensitivity of life force, hyperaesthesia and /or irritability.

Mercury: Hepar sulph alternately with Acidum nitricum may be given for over-excitement from abuse of this drug.

Colchicum if given in massive doses for rheumatism, is said to frequently produce Bright’s disease.

Chamomilla (low) to quiet the storm, which is set up by being deprived of morphia.

Ferrum met: Its action in syphilis is to intensify it.

Phosphorus: Curative effects most marked on the third day after its administration. Look for thirty-six hour aggravation after giving it in chronic diseases.

Rhus will not cure sciatica when the bowels are constipated.

Belladonna is said not to affect idiots to any appreciable extent.

Lac caninum: When Belladonna and Lachesis fail in croup or diphtheria then turns to the polychrest.

Phosphorus antidotes the nausea and vomiting following the administration of chloroform.

Borax: The symptoms that disappeared after taking it returned after taking vinegar.

Ambra grisea given in the evening is opt to cause an aggravation.

Opium: The narcotic effect is much diminished by great pain or grief.

Lachesis— if sudden fright interrupts the good effect of other medicine.

Tarentula: All the symptoms aggravated by seeing others in trouble.

Arnica acts injuriously after the bite of a dog or other rabid or angry animal.

Kreosote in burning pains stands next to Arsenicum and frequently cures after failure of the latter.

Tuberculinum: In tuberculous patients after well-chosen remedies fail to act.

Calcarea — eaisly relapses—does not continue to convalesce.

Lycopodium: An occasional dose sometimes aids Berberis in curing.

Lachesis: In malignant pustules its administration should be accompanied by that of brandy.

Apis is characterized by slowness of action; sometimes have to wait three or four days before any effects from its administration is noticed. The favorable effect of the remedy is first shown by increased flow of urine.

Calcarea: When the remedy does not act put it in the child’s bottle.

Squilla, Colchicum and Sanguinaria act better when prepared with Acetic acid than alcohol.

Phosphorus acts better when the patient the patient has been previously mesmerized.

Lycopodium acts better when preceded by some other antipsoric.

Belladonna: the unpleasant effects are much intensified if vinegar is taken after it.

Camphor acts palliatively by producing the symptoms. Better while thinking of pain.

Chelidonium: Acids, wine and coffee restrict its action.

Aconite must be given preceding Dolichos pruriens in cases of dentition to prevent convulsions.

Fluoric acid acts beneficially when ulcers become worse from too large or too frequently repeated doses of Silica.

Ignatia acts better if given in the morning.

Apis acts unfavorably if given in low potencies to women who are disposed to miscarry.

Lac caninum acts better in single doses, if repeated should be given at exact intervals.

Kali carbonicum is a very dangerous remedy in old gouty cases but Kali iod. Is often beneficial.

Arsenic is a dangerous remedy in irritable heat; a dangerous remedy in dysentery if not the exact similimum.

Syphilitics: Do not forget it in old syphilitics and their children.

Iodine must not be exposed to the direct rays of the sun as it is decomposed by its chemical effects and become inactive, especially in low potencies.

Bromium (low): If preparation is not fresh it will not act satisfactorily.

Camphor should never be kept in the same case with other remedies as it antidotes their active properties.

Lachesis, if left alone, will very often be followed by Sulphur symptoms.

Apis is antidoted by Plantago and Lachesis and is complementary to Natrum mur.

Arsenicum: 1-2 a.m. and 1-2 p.m.

Kali c: 2-4 a.m.

Calcarea, Thuja: 3 a.m.

Sulphur: 3-5 a.m.

Nux vom: 4-5 a.m.

Arnica Hep, Nux.v: 6 a.m.

Bov, Bry, Eupat, Podophyllum: 7 a.m.

Eupat., Podophyllum,: 7-9 a.m.(fevers)

Natrum m., Stann.: 9-10-11 a.m.

Chinas, Natrum.m.:10-11 a.m.

Cact., Baptisia, Nat.m Nux vomica, Sulphur: 11 a.m.

Sulph.:weak, faint, 11 a.m.

Lachesis: 12 noon regularly.

Angust., Ant. T., Apis, Ced.: 3 p.m.

Belladonna: 3-4 p.m.

Ced.: Migraine every other day 11 a.m.; epilepsy starts with slow convulsions with menses; abortion occurs at same period each time.

Aranea toothache, neuralgia, fever and chill at the same hour.

Apis, Lycopodium, Pulsatilla: 4 p.m.

Kali c, Puls, Rhus, Thuj,: 5 p.m.

Hep, Rhus, Silicea: 6 p.m.

Lyc, Rhus.: 7 p.m.

Am.m. Lac vac. Defl., Sulph: every seven days.

Ars, Carb.v, Lach, Psor, Rhus rad, Sulph, Tuberc.: return same day, week, month, year.

Rhus rad.: yearly recurrence at same hour of day.

MONTREAL, P.Q., CANADA.

DISCUSSION

Dr. Hubbard: I want to add a word of clarification of Dr. Quackenbush’s remarks on his pessimism when he gets a four-day reaction from phosphorus. Kent said that if we get our aggravation after an amelioration, it is a bad sign.
I think that is what the doctor probably had in mind, and I agree that amelioration first and then aggravation means you are going to have a tough time curing that patient, but in my experience at least, phosphorus patients who have four or five-day aggravation are not necessarily hard to cure. It seems to be natural with that remedy to have that delayed aggravation. I think we should have that distinct in our minds.

I was amazed to hear him say that Kali-bi.would not do good work in potency. I have used it in 10 M. with beautiful results. I would be interested to hear the rest of you say whether it should be confined to 30 or below. I would like to hear the doctor say what he means by Lachesis repeating its primary action every fourteen days. Does he mean the remedy goes in the cycle and you have aggravation every fourteen days? Certainly he does not mean that we should repeat it every fourteen days. I was not clear as to what he meant on the fourteen-days rhythm of Lachesis.

Dr. Quackenbush: On the question of the aggravation of Phosphorus, from my limited experience, I still have to reiterate, and to quite definitely, that in the latitude where I come from if we get an aggravation from Phosphorus later than, we shall say, thirty-six or forty-eight hours, that case is difficult and that case generally requires another remedy after Phosphorus in order to clear it up. In regard to Kali.bi, I do not mean to say that the high potencies are not effective. What I did mean to infer there is just this, that at certain times when some cases fail to respond to Kali bichromicum in high potencies it will give results in the lower. That is not a rule. It is probably the exception, as the doctor has inferred. In regard to the repetition each fourteen-days of Lachesis, you will find that one or two, or possibly three, ways. Let us take a characteristic. Lachesis case and leave it alone, and if you follow that case through—it has to be a chronic case naturally—for fourteen days and see it again you will again see the indication for Lachesis stricking out. Or again, if you give Lachesis and give it in the wrong potency—and Lachesis is one of the remedies that can very easily be given in the wrong potency—you will find perhaps not the whole series of symptoms indicated, but you will find sufficient Lachesis cropping out on the fourteenth day so that any one can recognize it. Again it is possible that you apparently have given Lachesis in the right potency and the diseased condition seems to subside, but in about two weeks, look out. You will need a higher potency of Lachesis or another intercurrent in order to take care of the disease.

Dr. Grimmer: I think I can help the doctor out on that fourteen-day aggravation. That especially is true of periodic headaches that come every fourteen days. In that event, if your Lachesis remedy has a strong indication for Lachesis , if you have it alone your headaches will not come back the next fourteen days.

Courtesy— The Homeopathic Recorder, October, 1940

Sulphur, Hepar, Calcarea Sulph. and Sepia are the exceptions; few antipsorics bear repetition.

About the author

H.C. Morrow

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