Hyoscyamus Niger
Hyoscyamus · Clarke - Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica · John Henry Clarke · 22,777 chars · source ↗
General
Hyoscyamus.
Hyoscamus niger. Henbane. N. O. Solanaceae. Tincture of fresh plant.
Clinical
Amaurosis. Angina pectoris. Bladder, paralysis of. Bronchitis.
Chorea. Coma vigil. Cough. Delirium tremens.
Diarrhoea. Dysmenorrhoea. Enteric fever. Epilepsy.
Epistaxis. Erotomania. Eyes, affections of. Haemoptysis.
Haemorrhages. Hiccough. Hydrophobia. Hypochondriasis.
Lochia, suppressed. Mania. Meningitis. Mind, affections of.
Neuralgia. Night-blindness. Nymphomania. Paralysis.
Paralysis agitans. Parotitis. Pneumonia. Puerperal mania.
Rage. Sleep, disordered. Stammering. Tetanus.
Toothache. Urine, retention of. Vision, disorders of.
Characteristics
Hyoscyamus ("Hog-bean") is nearly allied to Belladonna botanically, and in pathogenetic action the two drugs are much alike in their main features. But when examined closely, their differences are sufficiently well marked to render their distinction easy. Though sometimes growing near rivers, Bell. flourishes best in a chalky soil. Hyo. is found growing on old rubbish heaps, near ruins, on roadsides, and sometimes by the seashore.
The flower of Bell. is of a dull, purplish brown; of Hyo. a dirty yellow, with claret-coloured streaks. Bell. is a smooth plant, whilst Hyo. is densely covered with thickly woven hairs, and by a sticky, heavy-smelling exudation. A case of poisoning by Hyoscyamus seeds, put into soup instead of celery seeds, communicated to the Times (May 14, 1892), by Mr. F.
Mackarness, one of the sufferers, gives a good general idea of the drug's action. "About ten minutes after taking the soup I began to feel quite dizzy, and could hardly swallow the food I was eating, which tasted as if it was nothing but dust and ashes. At the same time my wife became so faint that she asked me to help her up to her room at once. This I did with some difficulty, having to hold on to the bannister with one hand while I supported her with the other.
At the same time, also, our sight became blurred, our mouths and throats parched, and we began to feel cold. I tried in vain to get warm by sitting over the drawing-room fire, but only felt intensely drowsy. . . . When Dr. Martin arrived I had great difficulty not only in getting up to receive him, but in making him understand what had happened, so indistinct was my articulation.
However, from the dilatation of our eyes, the parched condition of our tongues, and the state of our pulse (my wife's having gone up to 140), he, of course, saw that we had been badly poisoned, and prescribed drastic remedies which saved us probably from very serious consequences; for even the next day our sight was still defective, and my wife's hands were slightly paralysed." Dr. W. S. Mills communicated to N.
A. J. H., November, 1899, an experience of his own. A patient had objected to the taste of water in which Hyo. Ø had been mixed, so Dr.
Mills took a teaspoonful just to taste it. "A few moments later I found that it produced a queer feeling throughout the body. I felt as though without weight, as though I walked through and on air. My head felt light.
I had an insane desire to laugh and shout. It was only by the utmost use of my will-power that I could keep myself from doing something ridiculous. Even when I forced myself to think of my position of responsibility as medical attendant on this very sick man, and the absolute necessity of keeping my wits about me, it was hard for me to restrain my hilarity. I can liken the condition only to one of mild hilarious intoxication—a "funny drunk." I knew I was silly, but I could not help it.
To keep myself from losing my dignity before the nurses and the family, I locked myself in the bathroom for a few minutes and made faces at myself in the mirror." The condition passed off in half an hour. These two experiences, brief as they were, cover a large share of the ground occupied by Hyo. The delirium of Hyo. is more of the low, muttering type, whilst that of Bell. tends to be violent and furious. Hyo. also has fits of ungovernable rage, but the violence is not so sustained as that of Bell.
The face of Bell. is red, of Hyo. pale or bluish. Hyo. corresponds to a greater variety of cases of melancholia than Bell., and here one great characteristic is "suspicion," so frequently met with in cases of insanity or of those on the borderland. A patient of mine, a clever lawyer, suffering from nervous breakdown, had had to abandon his business entirely some time before he came under my care. He had improved considerably, when I heard from his wife in the country that he had had a kind of a fit, and became cold and senseless, his face working much.
After that he fell asleep, and had another attack an hour and a half later. After this he was suspicious, and said that his wife was poisoning him. I sent a single dose of Hyo. 1m, to be given in food or in drink without his knowing. It was repeated once a week.
He began to improve forthwith, and in a few months was perfectly restored to health; though some other medicines were given later on. In this case there was an additional indication for Hyo. in the working of the muscles of the face. Twitching is one of the grand characteristics of Hyo. "Every muscle in the body twitches, from the eyes to the toes," clonic spasms: twitching of groups of muscles; spasms in general; with unconsciousness.
Another feature of the Hyo. insanity is uncovering. This is not because the patient feels too warm (for Hyo., like the other Solanids, is a chilly remedy), but because they will not remain covered: nymphomania; lascivious mania; lies naked in bed and chatters. There are violent outbreaks in the delirium of Hyo., but they cannot be kept up (as are those of Bell.), on account of the weakness. Hyo. corresponds to the typhoid state: tongue dry and unwieldy, sensorium so clouded that if the patient be aroused to answer he falls back into a stupor again.
The sight is disordered; sees things too large or too near and grasps at them; picks the bed-clothes and mutters. Twitchings, subsultus tendinum, and picking at the bed-clothes. Teeth covered with sordes. Involuntary passage of urine and faeces.
When influenza takes the typhoid form it often finds its remedy in Hyo, (I rapidly cured a boy in whom influenza attacked the meninges of the brain with pains in the head, especially forehead, piercing to the brain.) Parotitis with metastasis to brain. Hyo. is suited to many pulmonary conditions. The characteristic cough is < on lying down, almost completely removed by sitting up, < at night, < after eating, drinking or talking. Cough from elongated uvula.
The drowsiness of Hyo. has another side in restlessness. The patient lies awake for hours; children twitch in sleep, cry out, tremble, and awake frightened. Hyo. is one of our best remedies in toothache, having well-defined symptoms. It is also an ancient domestic remedy for toothache, the application being peculiar.
A penny is made hot in the fire, and when taken out a pinch of Henbane seeds is dropped on it and fumes come away. A wineglass is inverted over it, and this is soon filled with the fumes, and applied to the mouth, when the fumes are inhaled. The popular idea is that the fumes expel the "worms" of toothache, but, as Lauder Brunton has shown (H. W., xxv. 286), the supposed "worms" are the embryos of the seeds forcibly expelled on the rupture of the seed coats by the heat.
Hyo. 30 is one of the most useful remedies in restlessness and sleeplessness. Hyo. is suited to nervous, irritable, excitable, sanguine people; to light-haired people. The symptoms of Hyo. are < by touch; the abdomen is sore to touch; < evening and night < lying, down;
< from cold and cold air. > From sitting up; motion; walking; warmth. < From mental affections; jealousy unhappy love; approaching menstruation; commencing menstruation; during menstruation.
Relations
Antidoted by: Vinegar, Citric acid, Bell., Chi., Stram. It antidotes: Ether, Bell., Stram., Merc. Is followed well by: Bell., Puls., Stram., Ver., Phos. Follows well: Bell., Nux, Op., Rhus.
Compare: Suppression of lochia, Nux, Secal., Con., Col., Pul.; loquacity, Stram., Lach., Op., Cup., Ver.; gossiping, babbling, Ver. (religious subjects, Ver.); difficult swallowing of liquids, Hydrob., Bell., Caus., Con., Ign., Lach., Lyc., Pho. Convulsions from fright or worms, Cin. Every muscle of the body twitching, Nux (but Nux retains consciousness, Hyo. has unconsciousness); cough < lying down, Dros.;
(> lying down, Mang., Fer.); cough < at night, after eating, drinking, talking, singing, Dros., Phos.; haemoptysis of drunkards, Nux, Op.; meningitis, Bell. (Bell. has < from shaking head; from sitting with head bent forward; Hyo. has > from both); tickling cough > in warm air, Rumex; convulsions, spasms, twitchings, Cic. v.; chorea, Stram., Ver., Agar; jealousy, Apis, Ign.; waves through head, Act. r.; mania, Stram. (Stram. has desire for light and company, Hyo. aversion to both;
Stram. uncovers whole body, Hyo. especially the genitals; sexual mania, Grat., Calc. ph.; Stram. sees objects—mice, dogs, &c.—rise from every corner and come towards him); sees ghosts and demons, Plat., Kali bro.; fears being poisoned, Glo., Rhus, Kali bro., Bapt.; hiccough, Ign. (Ign. after emotions, Hyo. after abdominal operations); spasms, twitchings, Ign., Tarent.; levitation, Phos. ac., Sticta pul., Hyp.; fits of ungovernable rage, Staph. Teste puts Hyo. in the Mur. ac. group with Viol. od.
He also puts it in the Bell. group.
Causation
Jealousy. Lochia, suppressed. Milk, suppressed.
Mind
Melancholy
Melancholy from unfortunate love, with rage or inclination to laugh at everything
Anthropophobia
Suspicious
Anguish and fear
Fright followed by convulsions and starts from sleep
Desire to run away from the house at night
Fear of being betrayed or poisoned
Disposition to make a jest of everything
Loquacity
Talks more than usual, more animatedly and hurriedly
Jealousy; with rage and delirium
Unfortunate love with jealousy, with rage and incoherent speech
Peevish and quarrelsome humour
Rage, with desire to strike and to kill
Stupor, with plaintive cries, esp. on the slightest touch, and complete apathy
Loss of memory
Delirium without consciousness; does not know anybody, and has no wants (except thirst)
Loss of consciousness, with eyes closed, and raving about business
Delirium tremens, with clonic spasms; unconsciousness and aversion to light and company
Delirium, sometimes with trembling, and fits of epileptic convulsions
Delirium, sees ghosts, demons, &c
Wandering thoughts
Perversion of every action
Mania, with loss of consciousness; or with buffoonery and ridiculous gestures
Lascivious mania, and occasional mutterings; uncovers his whole body.
Head
Confusion and heaviness of the head
Vertigo, as from intoxication, or with obscuration of the sight
Attacks of cerebral congestion, with loss of consciousness and snoring (with delirium; answering all questions properly; pupils dilated)
Headache, as from concussion of the brain
Congestion of blood to the head; red, sparkling eyes; face purple-red;
< in the evening
Pressive and numbing pain in the forehead, esp. after a meal
Headache as if brain shattered and shaken, when walking
Pressive, stupefying headache, esp. in forehead, occurring in alternation with needle-like stitches, particularly on l. side
Forehead feels as if screwed inward
Sticking in head over r. eye, when coughing
Violent throbbing headache, waking him at night; with throbbing carotids
Headache in base of brain
Brain feels as if loose
Constrictive obstruction in the forehead
Sensation of fluctuation, or of commotion in the brain, esp. on walking
Heat, and tingling in the head
Inflammation of the brain, with unconsciousness; heat and tingling in the head; violent pulsation in the head, like waves; the head shakes;
< from becoming cold and after eating, > by bending the head forward (stooping) and from heat
Hydrocephalus, with stupor; the head is shaken to and fro; sensation of swashing in the head
Heat of the head, with general coldness of the body, without thirst
Liability to catch cold in the head, principally from dry, cold air
Headache, alternately with pain in the nape of the neck
Waving or shaking of the head from one side to the other; with loss of consciousness and red sparkling eyes.
Eyes
Eyes downcast and dull
Eyes red, fixed, convulsed, and prominent
Spasmodic movement of the eyes
Redness of the sclerotica
Swelling of the eyelids
Strabismus
Staring, distorted eyes
Contortion of the eyes
Quivering in the eye
Spasmodic closing of the eyelids
Inability to open the eyelids
Pupils dilated
Dimness of sight
Myopia, or presbyopia
Errors of vision
Diplopia
Objects seem to be much larger than they are in reality, or else of a red colour
Objects have coloured borders, chiefly yellow
Nocturnal blindness
Weakness of sight, as from incipient amaurosis.
Ears
Buzzing in the ears.—Hardness of hearing, as if stunned.
Nose
Epistaxis
Cramp-like pressure at the root of the nose and the zygomata
Dryness of nose
Nostrils sooty
Loss of smell.
Face
Face: cold, pale bluish, or puffed and blood-red
Face flushed, excited; bloated; dark-red
Twitching of muscles of face
Distorted, bluish face, with mouth wide open
Cramp-like pressure on the cheek-bone
Dryness of the lips
Cramps in the jaw
Lock-jaw
Heat and redness of the face.
Teeth
Pulsative and tearing pains in teeth, from cheek to forehead, esp. after a chill in the cold air, or in the morning, and often with congestion of the head, heat and redness of the face, swelling of the gums, and spasms in the throat
Toothache driving to despair; in sensitive, nervous, excitable persons; causing spasmodic jerks of fingers, hands, arms, and face muscles
Teeth feel too long
Toothache < from cold air, morning
Dentition
Pulsating toothache, as from inflammation of the periosteum
Painful drawing in a single tooth, here and there, as if a tooth were becoming pithy
Toothache during sweat
Tearing in the gums, with buzzing and sensation as if the teeth were loose
Clenching of the teeth
Grating teeth
Teeth covered with mucus.
Mouth
Dryness in the mouth
Salivation of a salt taste
Sanguineous saliva
Foam at the mouth
Fetid exhalations from the mouth, perceptible to the patient
Heat and numbness of the tongue, as if it had been burned
Tongue dry, and loaded with a brownish coating Redness of the tongue
Utters inarticulate sounds
Paralysis of the tongue
Loss of speech.
Throat
Dryness and burning heat of the throat
Stinging dryness of fauces
Constriction in the throat, and inability to swallow liquids
Elongation of the uvula.
Appetite
Loss of taste
Bulimy, with violent thirst, with inability to swallow
Thirst with drinking but little at a time
Dread of drinking
Hiccough, esp. after a meal (with spasms and rumbling in the abdomen)
After a meal, headache, intoxication, great anguish, and sadness
After drinking, convulsions.
Stomach
Nausea, on pressing the epigastrium
Bitter eructations
Retching and vomiting, with cutting pains which extort cries
Vomiting and retching after coughing
Aqueous vomiting, with vertigo
Vomiting of mucus (sanguineous) and of blood, of a deep red, sometimes with convulsions, choking, pains in the pit of stomach, great exhaustion, and coldness in the limbs
Vomiting of aliments, immediately after a meal, and sometimes with violent pain at the pit of the stomach
Cramps (colic) in the stomach in periodical attacks, and > by vomiting
Painful sensitiveness of the epigastrium to the touch
Inflammation of the stomach, with burning pain.
Abdomen
Dull pains in the hepatic region
Abdomen tight, inflated, painful when touched
Cramp-like pains in the abdomen, and cuttings, sometimes accompanied by vomitings, pains in the head, and cries
Shootings in the umbilical region, on walking and breathing
Pain, as from excoriation in the abdominal muscles, on coughing
Spasms and rumbling in the abdomen, with hiccough.
Stool And Anus
Constipation
Frequent want to evacuate, with scanty and unfrequent relief
Watery diarrhoea
Painless diarrhoea
Mucous diarrhoea
Diarrhoea of lying-in women
The stool is small in size
Involuntary evacuations, from paralysis of the sphincter ani
Haemorrhoids; profusely bleeding.
Urinary Organs
Retention of urine, with pressure in the bladder
Retention of urine in child-bed
Frequent want to make water, with scanty emission
Urine copious and clear, like water
Involuntary emission of urine, as from paralysis of the bladder.
Male Sexual Organs
Increase of sexual desire, lascivious; exposes his person.—Impotence.
Female Sexual Organs
Lascivious, uncovers sexual parts
Lascivious furor, without modesty
Excited sexual desire without excited fancy
Catamenia more abundant
Suppression of the catamenia
Suppressed lochia
Spasms of pregnant women, esp. during parturition
Puerperal fever
Metrorrhagia, of a bright-coloured blood
Metrorrhagia, the blood pale, with convulsions
During the catamenia, delirium, flux of urine, sweat and convulsive trembling
Before the catamenia, hysterical cramps and fits of laughter
During the menses, convulsive trembling of the hands and feet; severe headache; profuse perspiration.
Respiratory Organs
Catarrh, with accumulation of mucus in the larynx and in the trachea, rendering the speech and the voice indistinct
Constant cough when lying down, which ceases on rising up
Fits of coughing, as in the whooping-cough
Cramp-like cough at night, esp. when lying down, sometimes with redness of the face, and vomiting of mucus
The cough is < at night (after midnight), when at rest, during sleep, in the cold air, from eating and drinking
Dry, shaking, sobbing cough, with pain, as of excoriation, in the abdominal muscles
Dry, spasmodic cough at night (in old persons) from continuous tickling in the throat (as if the palate or uvula were too long)
Greenish expectoration with the cough
Cough, with expectoration of blood, and convulsions
Violent spasmodic cough; short consecutive coughs, caused by a tickling sensation in the throat, as if some mucus were lodged in it; during the day, expectoration of saltish-tasting mucus, or of bright-red blood, mixed with clots
Haemoptysis, blood bright-red with spasms
Haemoptysis of drunkards.
Chest
Slow, rattling breathing
Oppression, and embarrassed and rattling respiration
Pressure on r. side of chest, with great anxiety and shortness of breath, on going up stairs
Spasms in the chest, with shortness of breath, which forces the patient to bend forward
Shootings in the sides of the chest.—(Inflammation of the lungs.)
Heart
Pressure, tightness, and anxiety in precordial region
Oppression of heart with transient stitches
Tearing, sticking in heart
Violent stitch in precordial region
Soreness in spots to l. of nipple alternating with stitches
Soreness, tightness of heart region
Heart's action violent; tremulous; irregular
Palpitation, unable to move body without greatest anxiety; apprehension of suffocation, or swooning; unquenchable thirst in morning; frequent copious discharge of limpid urine
Pulse: full, hard, strong; rapid, intermitting; slow, small; scarcely perceptible.
Neck And Back
Tettery spots on the nape of the neck
Pains in the back, and esp. in the lumbar region, with swelling of the feet
Lancinations in the loins, and shoulder-blades.
Upper Limbs
Trembling of the arms and of the hands, esp. in evening, after movement
Painful numbness and stiffness of hands
Swelling of hands
Fists clenched, with retraction of the thumbs (in convulsive fits)
Carphologia (picking of the bed cover or of the face)
Fingers look and feel too thick
Hands slightly paralysed.
Lower Limbs
Painful cramps in the (anterior part of the) thighs, and calves of the legs, which contract the legs
Gangrenous spots and vesicles on the legs
Stiffness and lassitude in the joint of the knee
Coldness and swelling of the feet
Contraction of the toes when walking and ascending.
Generalities
Incisive tearing, and dull pulling in the limbs and joints Limbs, cold, trembling and numbed Convulsive movements and shaking of some of the limbs, or of the whole body, sometimes on making the slightest effort to swallow liquid Spasms and convulsions (with watery diarrhoea)
Jerking of the feet and of the hands Epileptic fits, sometimes with bluish colour and puffing of the face, involuntary emission of urine, foaming at the mouth, drawing back of the thumbs, sensation of hunger and of gnawing at the pit of the stomach, eyes prominent, cries, grinding of the teeth, &c Epileptic convulsions, alternately with attacks of cerebral congestion (apoplectic fit) Convulsions resembling St.
Vitus' dance Convulsions with cries, great anguish, oppression of the chest and loss of consciousness After the epileptic convulsions, profound sleep, with snoring Uncommon sinking of strength
Fainting fits (repeated attacks) Great weakness and debility Sensation of levitation; as if walking on and through air Paralysis
Jerking of the tendons (subsultus) The majority of, and the principal symptoms, manifest themselves after eating or drinking, as well as in the evening.
Skin
Skin dry and rough
Hot, dry, brittle skin
Miliary eruption
Eruption of dry pimples, like confluent small-pox
Brownish (or gangrenous) spots on the body, from time to time (as in typhus)
Frequent, large furunculi
Spots and gangrenous vesicles on different parts
Rash from the abuse of Belladonna
Bleeding of ulcers.
Sleep
Somnolency, like coma vigil
Retarded sleep, or sleeplessness caused by excessive nervous excitement, or by great anguish, sometimes with convulsions and starts
Nightly sleeplessness
Child sobs and cries in sleep without waking
Profound, comatose sleep, with convulsions and involuntary movements of the limbs, esp. the hands
When sleeping, carphologia; or smiling countenance; or starts with fright.
Fever
Shuddering from head to foot
Burning heat of the body, and esp. of the head
Fever, with fits of epilepsy, great weakness, flames before the eyes, and congestion in the head, quartan or quotidian type
Pulse quick (full hard), with swelling of the veins (arteries)
Universal coldness over the whole body, with heat of face, ascending from the feet
Nightly coldness, extending over the back from the small of the back
Heat in the evening, with thirst (congestion of blood to the head), and putrid taste
Debilitating perspiration during sleep
Cold, sour-smelling perspiration
Perspiration, principally on the legs.