Hamamelis Virginica
Hamamelis · Clarke - Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica · John Henry Clarke · 14,038 chars · source ↗
General
Hamamelis.
H. macrophylla. H. dioica. H. virginica. Witch-hazel. N. O. Hamamelidaceae. (A shrub growing in all parts of U.S., in damp woods or along streams; flowers in autumn, flowers yellow, the seeds ripen the year following). Tincture of fresh bark of twigs and root. A resinoid, Hamamelin, is also prepared.
Clinical
Abortion, threatened. Ankles, weak. Black-eye. Bruises.
Burns. Cancer. Chilblains. Consumption.
Enteric fever. Gastric ulcer. Haematemesis. Haematuria.
Haemorrhages. Haemorrhagic diathesis. Haemorrhoids. Leucorrhoea.
Melaena. Menstruation, disorders of; vicarious. Nipples, sore. Noises in the head.
Nose, bleeding from. Ovaries, affections of. Pelvic haematocele. Phimosis.
Phlegmasia alba dolens. Purpura. Rheumatism. Scapula, rheumatism of.
Scurvy. Small-pox. Testicles, inflamed. Ulcers.
Uterus, affections of. Vagina, spasm of. Varicocele. Veins, varicose.
Wounds.
Characteristics
The deep red colour of the tincture of Hamamelis may be taken as the signature of its therapeutic action. No remedy has a wider sphere of usefulness in cases of haemorrhage and disordered blood-vessels. It has also a decided relation to the effects of mechanical injuries including burns of the first degree, and as a local application it takes rank with Arnica and Calendula in the homoeopathic amamentarium. Hering, who learned its properties from Mr.
Pond, of "Pond's Extract" fame (Pond was a patient of Hering's), made the first provings and introduced the remedy into homoeopathy. He defines its position as being between Acon. and Arn. "Pond's Extract" is an aqueous distillate prepared from the leaves. A number of interesting superstitions are associated with the shrub; and shoots of it are used as "divining rods" for discovering water and metals.
Hale has given a very full account of the remedy. Phlebitis; varicosis; haemorrhoids; venous haemorrhages—these are the conditions likely to require Hamam. The local application of Hamam. to a sprained knee has been known to set up inflammation in the veins of the part, and the provers who had varicose veins experienced in them increased sensitiveness and unusual sensations, and a number were cured. In congestion, inflammation, and bleeding of haemorrhoidal vessels, Ham. has a great range of action; and like that other great pile remedy, Aesculus h., it has also a marked action in the throat.
Ham. is called for in cases of "varicose angina," where the veins of the pharynx are large and blue. The haemorrhages in which Ham. is indicated are mostly dark. They may occur from any orifice. Metrorrhagia, menorrhagia, vicarious menstruation and haemorrhages between the periods are met by it.
In this connection a case recorded by Dr. Ward (Pacif. Coast J. of H., November, 1899) is noteworthy. He cured a case of intermenstrual pain.
Allen mentions in the provings an intermenstrual flow, and Dr. Ward acutely observes that if his patient has had the flow, the soreness so distinctly felt might not have been realised. "Intense soreness" is one of the notes of Hamamelis. The part from which the flow of blood proceeds feels sore and bruised.
This distinguishes it from Chi. in passive haemorrhages. It is a leading indication for it in cases of orchitis and ovarian affections; and also in phlebitis and varicose veins. In piles there is much bleeding and marked soreness of the part; the back feels as if it would break (Aesc. h. has little or no bleeding). There is taste of blood in the mouth.
The headache of Ham. is chiefly in the temples, throbbing, hammering; especially over left eye. Hughes gave Ham. Ø to a young lady suffering from daily epistaxis and throbbing headache. The first dose was followed by a flushing of the face and most distressing throbbing-aching and sense of fulness in the head. The second dose brought back all the symptoms in the head, and a feeling as if it would burst.
Some days later the 3x was given, and again the dilatation of the cerebral vessels occurred, though the symptoms were not so severe. The haemorrhage of Ham. causes great exhaustion (out of proportion to the amount of loss), but there is also a tired, aching feeling in the back and lower limbs, independently of haemorrhages. Many rheumatic symptoms occur, and with them always the characteristic soreness. A woman, thirty-five, to whom I gave Ham. 1 for varicosis with great advantage, developed marked loss of appetite and these additional symptoms: "Pain all round lower abdomen, dreadful aching, rheumatic pain at top of left shoulder and under right shoulder-blade, also right side of chest under arm.
Pains < during the day and when at rest, entirely absent during the night. Stupid feeling in head." This scapular pain bears on the experience of Dr. Koech, who cured with Ham. many cases of scapular rheumatism. He regards it as a specific in affections of the last five cervical nerves.
There is a good deal of thirst in the Ham. pathogenesis, and Bree says (H. P., xii. 61) it will relieve the excessive thirst that most patients with heart troubles complain of. Motion and exertion in general <. < In open air; in rainy weather.
Takes cold easily from every exposure, but especially to warm, moist air. Toothache < in warm room. < From touch.
Relations
Antidoted by: Arn., Camph., Chi., Puls. (toothache). Complementary to: Ferrum in haemorrhages. Compare: Arn., Calend.
("is better than either in hastening the absorption of intra-ocular haemorrhage," Hering); Chloral, Secal. (purpura); Fl. ac., Lach., Secal., Puls., Nux, Aesc., Nit. ac.
(in varicose veins and piles); Spo., Puls. (orchitis—Ham. has more soreness); Act. r.
(abdominal soreness after labour; Ham. is an excellent external application); Bry. (vicarious menstruation);
Nit. ac. (haemorrhage in typhoid; Nit. ac. light, Ham. dark); Bell., Euphorb., Rhus, Tereb.
(as an application in burns of first degree); Sanguisuga (haemorrhages).
Causation
Injuries.
Mind
Forgetful
No desire to study or work
Depressed in mind; also after emissions, with regretful mind
Irritable.
Head
Vertigo when stooping
Swimming sensation on rising
Nausea and vertigo, with desire to lie down
Stupor; headache; crowding fulness in head and neck, also in forehead
Stupid feeling in head
Feeling as if a bolt were passed from temple to temple, and tightly secured
Fulness in forehead, with pressing in root of tongue
Bursting headache on awaking, insupportable on bending downward
Dulness and fulness in head all day
Headache after an emission
Hammering over l. eye, as if he would go out of his mind.
Eyes
Eyes feel weak, but are less inflamed; painful weakness of the eyes
Feeling as if both eyes would be forced out of head, > by pressing them with the fingers, but < a few moments afterwards
Sore pain in eyes; eyes painful under slight pressure
Swelling of eyeballs and lids, with bloodshot appearance of r. eye
Eyes inflamed; vessels greatly injected; caused by a foreign substance, as melted sugar; after operations; intense soreness.
Ears
Deafness in r. ear, passes off by noon
Bleeding at r. ear, also nose-bleed, which clears her head, relieving her
Buzzing, ringing in ears.
Nose
Over-sensitive smell
Bad smell from the nose
Sneezing spells, watery, excoriating, burning discharge
Nose feels stopped up
Epistaxis, flow passive, non-coagulable
Epistaxis, with a feeling of tightness of the bridge of the nose, and crowding pressure in forehead between the eyes
The nose-bleed clears her head and affords great relief
Profuse epistaxis; flow venous; idiopathic or vicarious.
Face
Burning in r. cheek
Occasional shooting pains along r. superior maxillary to malar bone
Muscles feel sore and stiff
Lips: dry; sore; cracked.
Teeth
Sharp, lancinating along the molar teeth, extending to the malar bone; also in temporal region
Teeth ache, can scarcely sleep, yet not decayed
Pains < in warm room
Gums sore, painful, swollen; bleed easily; dark fluid
Passive venous haemorrhage after extraction of teeth.
Mouth
Metallic taste; tongue coated white
Scalding sensation on tongue
Blisters on sides of tongue; canker spots near the tip.
Throat
Severe stinging in uvula, as if it would break, when he coughs
Dryness of the lips and fauces; tonsils and fauces congested, veins enlarged, varicose; must drink large quantities of water to assist deglutition
Sore throat < r. side, r. tonsil more swollen; reddened
Sore throat in those predisposed to fulness of the veins, < in warm, moist air
Hawks considerably.
Appetite
No appetite for breakfast; considerable thirst, > by small quantities of water
Appetite good
Very thirsty; in afternoon and evening; throat dry
Averse to water, makes him sick to think of it
Pork nauseates.
Stomach
After eating: nausea, must keep quiet; eructations; hiccough
Eructations after a meal, taste of the food
Nausea, eructations and violent hiccough after pork, followed by burning in stomach and oesophagus; later, cramp pains in stomach and chest
Nausea, vertigo, must lie still to prevent vomiting
Nausea, headache in frontal bone on awaking
Nausea and inclination to vomit after a meal
Haematemesis, blood black; sensation of trembling in stomach, or fulness and gurgling in abdomen; feverish by spells; weak, cold, quick pulse, profuse sweat
Heaviness at back of stomach; pain back of stomach, along the spinal column
Violent throbbing in stomach
Cramp in stomach after eating.
Abdomen
Cramps in stomach and transverse colon two hours after a hearty dinner
Flatulence
Burning in the epigastrium and umbilicus
Pain all round lower abdomen.
Stool And Anus
Stools: costive; hard, coated with mucus
Dysentery when the amount of blood is unusually large; dark, small clots, or patches through the mucus
Large quantities of a tar-like blood (typhoid)
Piles: bleeding profusely; with burning soreness, fulness and weight; back as if it would break; urging to stool
Itching at the anus.
Urinary Organs
Increased desire to urinate
Urine clear copious
Scanty high-coloured urine
Haematuria; passive congestion of the kidneys; dull pain in renal region
Irritation of the urethra, followed by a discharge and ardor urinae.
Male Sexual Organs
Emissions at night, without being aware of it; headache, depression of mind
Erections; great desire for an embrace
Severe neuralgic pains in testicles suddenly shifting to bowels, causing nausea and faintness
Pain running down the spermatic cords into the testes
Profuse cold sweat on scrotum; capillary stasis
Orchitis, intense soreness and swelling
Varicocele.
Female Sexual Organs
Dysmenorrhoea, with severe pains through the lumbar and hypogastric region and down the legs; fulness of the brain and bowels, with severe pain through the whole head, causing stupor, deep sleep; varicose veins
Active uterine haemorrhage blood bright red
Metrorrhagia, passive flow, venous blood; anaemia
Amenorrhoea, vicarious bleeding from nose or stomach; costive; varices on legs
Leucorrhoea, great tenderness of vagina; flow bloody
Vaginismus, intense soreness; prurigo of vulva
Ovaritis after a blow; diffused agonised soreness over the whole abdomen; menses irregular;
< at time of menses; retention of urine
Phlegmasia alba dolens
Sore nipples.
Respiratory Organs
Hoarse on arising; awoke hoarse
When lying, felt a smothering sensation
Tickling cough, taste of blood on awaking
Dry cough, severe stinging in the uvula, as if it would break
Expectoration thick, yellowish or greenish grey, tasting putrid.
Chest
Haemoptysis, tickling cough, with taste of blood, or of sulphur; dull frontal headache; tightness of the chest; cannot lie down, because of difficult breathing from congestion; fulness in the head; mind calm
Stitches in lower part of lungs
Sensation of constriction across chest < by a long or deep breath
Dull aching pain constantly in muscles of l. chest, < using arms, afternoon and evening.
Heart And Pulse
Palpitation.—Pricking pain in region of heart and superficial veins of both arms.
Neck And Back
Sore pain down the cervical vertebrae
Dull pain, constantly under angle of l. scapula.—(Rheumatism of scapula.)
Tearing pains across small of back. with fulness of joints of legs
Small of back feels as if it would break.
Limbs
Tired feeling in arms and legs
Great lassitude and weariness of the limbs and elsewhere
Rheumatism, with great soreness of the muscles.
Upper Limbs
Bruised feeling in upper arms and shoulder, < from motion
Dreadful aching rheumatic pain at top of l. shoulder, and under r. scapula and r. side of chest under arms;
< during day and at rest; entirely absent during night
Stiffness in arms and shoulders
Tenderness of r. biceps, < by pressure
Stiffness of elbow-joint
Rheumatic pain, constant aching in l. arm
Lancinating in l. wrist-joint
Violent pain in back of r. hand to shoulder-joint
Hands chapped
Thumb nail becomes sore, pus discharges after a slight knock.
Lower Limbs
Sore pain in r. femur, muscles of thighs sore, as if bruised
Soreness in femoral vessels to middle of thigh
Weakness of knees, afternoon
Forcing feeling in the varices; veins sensitive, dilated.
Generalities
Takes cold easily from every exposure; but esp. to warm, moist air; subject to varicose veins.—Venous constitutions.—Prickling stinging: in veins, muscles, skin.—Phlebitis; prickling pains.
Skin And Tissues
Chilblains always bluish
Varicose veins and ulcers, with stinging or pricking
Bruised soreness
Purpura.
Sleep
Restlessness at night
Uneasy, restless morning sleep
Emissions of semen during sleep.
Fever
Chilly on going to bed; dreaded an attack of fever
Cold creeps in the open air, chills run up the legs, head stopped up, dull pain over orbit
Chilliness over back and hips, extending down the extremities
Fever at night; hands hot, burning in the eyelids on closing them
Sweats freely at night, after lying down
Pulse accelerated; full.