Hypericum Perforatum

Hypericum.

Hypericum perforatum, H. perfoliatum. St. John's Wort. N. O. Hypericaceae. Tincture of whole fresh plant.

After-pains. Asthma. Bites. Brachial neuralgia. Breast, affections of. Brain, concussion of. Bruises. Bunions. Compound fractures. Corns. Coxalgia. Diarrhoea. Gunshot wounds. Haemorrhoids.

The leaves of various species of Hypericum are sprinkled with pellucid dots and black glands which contain an essential oil. These, which are most conspicuous in H. perforatum, have evidently given the signature which has led to the chief use of the plant in medicine, namely, as a remedy for wounds or perforations of the integuments. The leaves, moreover, are lance-shaped. The leaves of H. androsaenum, commonly called Tutsan (toute saine), were applied to fresh wounds from olden time.

The word Hypericum means "sub-heather" (ύπό and έρείκη), indicating its manifest relation to the heaths, which at once leads us to think of Ledum. The proving of Hyp. by Müller and others is very complete and brings out the relation of the drug to wounds and their consequences and also its applicability in maladies of other kinds. Crawling sensations in hands and feet; they felt fuzzy; sticking in them as from needles. Tearing, rheumatic, shaking pains; paralytic weakness.

One of the provers had on waking at 4 a.m. a feeling as though she were suspended and not lying in bed, at another time as though she were lying very heavy in bed. The former condition has led to cures in effects of accidents attended with the sensation "as if being lifted high into the air; and great anxiety lest she should fall from this height." The particular kinds of wounds for which Hyp. has been found of signal service are wounds of parts rich in nerves, brain, spine (spinal irritation from falls), coccyx, finger-ends; wounds from stepping on nails, or any punctured wounds.

The characteristic of the Hyp. wounds is that they are very sensitive to touch (Led. punctures are not particularly sensitive). W. J. Guernsey (H.

R., x. 475) relates the following case: A boy, nine, was bitten by a pet rat on the first finger of left hand. Nothing particular was observed at the time, but some time after, he became ill, and when Dr. Guernsey was called his state was alarming. The boy could talk with great difficulty; teeth firmly locked; conscious; neck so stiff the head could scarcely be moved.

There was more tenderness about the wound than the appearance would indicate. Hence Hyp. was preferred to Led. It was given (8 p.m.) in the 500th, dissolved in water, at first every fifteen minutes; later every two hours. At 3 a.m. there was improvement, he fell asleep, and the next morning was practically convalescent.

Hyp. is called for in nervous depression following wounds; effects of shock, fright and mesmerism. Ulceration and sloughing of wounds. Hard, dry, yellow crusts form on healing wound. Bunions and corns when the pain is excruciating.

Not only is the pain sense exalted, there is exaltation of the senses of hearing and smell. Violent labour-pains and after-pains. Tympanitic distension of abdomen, cutting pains. Gilchrist says Hyp. 3x, given at intervals of twenty minutes for twelve hours or longer, seems to control perfectly the pain following laparotomy.

But it must not be thought that Hyp. has no sphere outside wounds and their effects. Like Arnica it has many uses in the respiratory sphere. It has cured asthma < in foggy weather; the attacks were > by copious expectoration. Whooping-cough < 6 to 10 p.m.

Tightness of chest; stinging < on moving. Summer diarrhoea with eruption. Palpitation and local congestions, with or without haemorrhage and nervous depression, following wounds. Roehrig (H.

R., xii. 40) considers Hyperic. externally and internally the nearest thing to a specific in bleeding piles. He gives it to pneumonia patients who have piles; it cures the pneumonia and prevents the arrest of the flux, always a dangerous symptom in these cases. Ussher (H. W., xxvii. 500) confirms this;

"pain, bleeding and tenderness" are his indications. "It seems to suit the plethoric, with great soreness." He uses the 1x. Toothache > lying on affected side and keeping quiet. Hyp. is sensitive to cold: < in cold air; in damp; in fog.

The hacking cough is < from heat as well as by cold air. All symptoms < by least exposure. < From touch.

Antidoted by: Ars. (weakness or sickness on moving); Cham. (pains in face). It antidotes: Effects of mesmerism (Sulph.). Compare: Aco., Cham., Coff. (exalted sensitiveness); Arn., Calend., Led., Ruta, Con., Bellis, Staph., Al. cep. (wounds); Hydrob., Lach. (bites); Nux (tetanus); Gels., Lathyrus; spastic paralysis.

Fright. Bites. Wounds. Shock.

Sensation as of a worm moving in throat.—Hot risings in oesophagus after a fright, or with anxious feelings.

Sticking in the stomach; in r. hypochondrium.—Tympanitic distension of abdomen; relieved by a stool.—(Effects of laparotomy).

Consequences of shock or fright Prevents lockjaw from wounds in soles, in fingers, and in palms of the hands Convulsions from blows or concussions After a fall, slightest motion of arms or neck extorts cries

Flesh sore, feels bruised all over Injuries to parts rich in sentient nerves, esp. fingers, toes, and matrices of nails Mechanical injuries, wounds by nails or splinters in the feet, needles under the nails, squeezing, hammering; of the toes and fingers, esp. the tips of the fingers; when the nerves have been lacerated, wounded, torn, with excruciating pains Lacerations, when intolerable, excruciating pain shows nerves are severely involved

Next to the nervous tissues, the joints are affected Sensation as of being lifted up high into air.

Smarting eruption, like nettle-rash, on the hands.—Painful scars in tissues rich in nerves.