Mercurialis Perennis
Clarke - Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica · John Henry Clarke · 8,578 chars · source ↗
General
Mercurialis Perennis.
Mercurialis perennis. Dog's Mercury. N. O. Euphorbiaceae. Tincture of whole fresh plant in flower.
Clinical
Amblyopia. Breasts, swelling of; pain in. Conjunctivitis. Dysmenorrhoea. Epiphora. Flatulence. Menses, late. Pannus. Ptosis. Rheumatic affections. Spleen, affections of. Tongue, paralysis of. Trachoma. Vertigo.
Characteristics
Dog's Mercury is a common plant with poisonous properties, on account of which it is avoided by cattle. It was proved by Hesse. Like other Euphorbians, it has exceedingly acrid properties, and many of its symptoms resemble closely those of the more corrosive salts of Mercury: prevalence of burning symptoms; irritation of eyes and nose; tenesmus after stool, &c. "Compared with other Euphorbians," says Cooper, "it dries up the mucous surfaces, causing burning locally and a general drowsiness, whilst most Euphorbians set up violent irritation and diarrhoea from the first.
Moreover, its action is not expended on the skin so soon as that of the others." Among the most characteristic symptoms is "vertigo by going downstairs." The dryness of the mouth and throat is more remarkable than in any other remedy, even sugar refuses to melt in the mouth. Eating < the dryness. The breath from the mouth is hot and dries the lips. There is also hot breath in the nose, but cold breath in the nose is more characteristic.
"Tension" is a leading note of the remedy running through the symptoms ("pain as of a hand tied tightly across the forehead" is a characteristic of David Wilson's); also dragging and especially dragging down; in small of back with rectal pains; in groins and thigh as if a hernia might appear. A very remarkable action is that on the female generative organs, and puts Merls. in the front rank of remedies for amenorrhoea, scanty and delayed menses, and dysmenorrhoea, accompanied with orgasm, pains, and swelling of breasts.
Among the peculiar sensations are: Heaviness in head as if pressed on pillow with a weight. Numbness of head and dulness of mind. Conscious of having a nose; also I have noted (but am unable to trace the authority), "she feels as if she has two noses." Head confused as if inflated. As if intoxicated.
Rolling, throbbing, trembling, and orgasm in all the veins. The liver and spleen are influenced; "warmth in spleen" is one symptom. Tension in rectum and back.
Touch <. Headache < indoors, > by cold. Sunlight < eyes. Open air = blinking.
Relations
Antidoted by: Aco., Bell. Compare: Euphorb., Croton, Acalypha, &c. In < descending stairs, Borax. Straining after stool, Merc. Dragging pains, Lil. t. Numbness of head, Graph. (feels like wood). Also: Asaf., Caust., K. bi., Kre., Lach., Led., Mag. m., Nat. m., Nit. ac., Nux, Nux m., Rhod., Sul., Thuj.
Causation
Blow on head.
Mind
Excited mood; like intoxication
Morose, quarrelsome
Fretful, ill-humoured
Difficulty in collecting his senses
Coma.
Head
Giddiness on descending stairs
Whirling vertigo
Head confused as if inflated
Scalp feels tense and numb, is moved with difficulty
Tension and heaviness of head with sensation of heat
Tension in head, esp. forehead and above eyes; on stooping changing to a pressing-out pain
Burning on vertex
Shooting in l. forehead and temple, < coming indoors
Aching in forehead > by cold and pressure
Numbness of occiput and vertex; after a blow on head.
Eyes
Eyelids feel heavy and dry, it is difficult to move them
Pain; burning; forcing-out sensation in eyes
Weakness of upper lids
Trembling and twitching of upper lids (esp. l.)
Blinking of eyes
Dilated pupils with great sensitiveness of eyes to light
Asthenopia; as of a cloud, veil, or cobweb before sight
Watery eyes.
Nose
The breath from nose is cold
Crawling and burning of nose
Breath hot in nose; sensation of heat rising from stomach into nose
Conscious of having a nose, nostrils feel sore.—(Feels as if she had two noses.)
Face
Feeling of coldness in face
Feeling of tension in face and head
Great redness of cheeks
Lips dry and parched, with increased thirst.
Mouth
Dryness of mouth, it is difficult to move tongue and impedes chewing
Burning in mouth and tongue
Tongue feels heavy and dry, numb, insensible, with loss of taste
Burning blisters on tongue, inside of lips and cheeks; they form very painful spreading ulcers
Tongue painful if it touches palate as if there were blisters on it.
Throat
Burning dryness in throat.—Ulcers on palate, tonsils, and back of pharynx.
Appetite
Increased thirst with dry lips and mouth
Great dryness in mouth while eating
After eating: biting burning on tongue; nausea; vomiting.
Stomach
Chilly feeling or burning in stomach
Belching >
Vomits food as soon as eaten
Tumour inside pit of stomach size of hen's egg, < pressure; cannot bear clothing.
Abdomen
Abdominal pulsation
Violent twinging in l. hypochondrium
Pressure in liver region extending to spleen
In spleen: warmth; gnawing; pressure < lying down
Sticking in liver
Gnawing from pit of stomach to gall-bladder
Rumbling; movings and workings in abdomen; emission of much flatus.
Stool And Anus
Dragging pressing in rectum (and burning and smarting in anus) with pressure and tension in small of back
Dragging; burning; crawling; itching in anus
Diarrhoea with constant colic
Thin stools
Profuse soft stool followed by some straining.
Urinary Organs
Burning; prickly burning in urethra
Crawling in urethra and prepuce, with crawling in anus and tearing and dragging in small of back
Frequent urging; with burning; micturition somewhat increased.
Male Sexual Organs
Dragging in inguinal region, at times sticking pain, < walking, at times extending down into spermatic cord, sometimes one, sometimes both.
Female Sexual Organs
Menses: shorter, with abdominal cramp; too late.—Menses profuse, violent orgasm of blood, great anxiety so that she nearly fainted, oppressed breathing, heat over whole body, esp. head and face, anxious sweat; limbs heavy, trembling; next day great swelling and painfulness of breasts; on third day headache, faint-like weakness, compelled to lie down; menses only appeared that night, were scanty, and only lasted three days instead of seven (from gr. vi. of extract of root).
Respiratory Organs
Breath hot, almost burning, lips almost made sore by it.—Breathing: stertorous; difficult, esp. r. side.
Chest
Pressure and painfulness on chest; in forepart; and in stomach with dyspnoea.—Sticking in l.; throbbing in r.
Chest
Orgasm with dysmenorrhoea.
Heart
Orgasm in heart region
Constriction
Whirling, rushing, throbbing in heart, stomach, and upper abdomen; then rolling, throbbing with trembling and orgasm in all the veins, without heat; abdominal aorta felt distinctly beating while sitting; dulness and stupefaction of head as if blood mounted violently upward; pulse accelerated and full
Palpitation with oppression, as if chest would be constricted, after stooping.
Back
Aching in nape
Flushes of heat in back
Drawing tearing along r. scapula, extending into upper arm
Tensive dragging and dragging tearing in small of back (with anal symptoms).
Limbs
Tearings; stitches; burning, smarting, tearing in limbs, almost in the skin, esp. of hands and feet
Tired and weary
Weakness of arms and legs as if she would fall to l. without vertigo.—(Headache.)
Upper Limbs
Jerking, sticking, drawing tearings throughout upper limbs
Stitches in finger-tips
Veins of hands distended.
Lower Limbs
Dragging in l. thigh as if hernia would occur
Tearing from side of l. palm down front of thigh
Jerking tearing in l. patella
Painful ache in knees
Pressive tearing pain in tibiae
Sticking tearing in toes and tips of toes.
Generalities
Feeling of emptiness and weariness in whole body.—Persistent pains in muscles on motion.
Skin
Pimples on chin; with biting itching.—Burning; itching; tearing on skin.
Sleep
Frequent yawning and weariness
Dizzy sleepiness
Sleep unrefreshing, full of dreams
Dreams of animals.
Fever
Cold over the whole body, with hot flush in face; must be warmly covered, then sleeps and perspires
Cold over whole body, emanating from r. side, particularly from r. arm, shuddering, great debility, sleepiness
Gooseflesh on the cold r. arm, extending over whole body; after midnight an offensive perspiration on both sides, particularly on arms
On going to bed in evening chill, during night and towards morning heat with intense thirst; perspiration in morning.