Sambucus Nigra

Sambucus Nigra.

Sambucus nigra (Linn.). Elder. N. O. Caprifoliaceae. Tincture of fresh leaves and flowers.

Angina pectoris. Asthma. Chest, oppression of. Coryza, dry. Cough. Croup. Emaciation. Headaches, catarrhal. Hoarseness. Hydrocele. Ileus. Laryngismus. Perspirations. Phthisis. Scurf. "Snuffles." Starting. Whooping-cough.

The leaves of Samb. n. have an unpleasant odour when bruised, which is supposed to be offensive to most insects, and a decoction of them is sometimes used by gardeners to keep off caterpillars from delicate plants. By village herbalists the inner bark as well as the leaves are employed for making an ointment, and the flowers serve for fomentations, or are made into a medicinal tea; while the berries are the principal ingredient in Elderberry wine (Treas. of Bot.). If sheep that have the rot can get at the bark and young leaves they will soon cure themselves (Green).

Millspaugh says of Samb. canad. that a decoction or ointment of the flowers and leaves was used as an application to large wounds "to prevent deleterious consequences from flies." He also says that the bark contains Viburnic acid, which is identical with Valerianic acid. This no doubt accounts for the odour, and suggests a relationship in action between Sambucus, Valerian, and the Viburnums. "Spasm" will be found common to all. In Samb. the spasm affects mainly the respiratory system—larynx, chest, and nasal passages.

Samb. n. was proved by Hahnemann, and appears in M. M. P. One of the chief notes of the remedy is oedema: dropsical swellings in various parts of the body, especially legs, instep, and feet.

This oedema, when it affects the nose, may give rise to obstruction, as in the "snuffles" of infants with dry coryza, preventing breathing and nursing. When it occurs lower down in the tract it causes dyspnoea: the child awakens suddenly nearly suffocated, face livid, blue, sits up in bed; turns blue, gasps for breath, which it finally gets; attack passes off but is again repeated; child inspires but cannot expire; sleeps into the attack. The breathing is rattling. Croup, whooping-cough, asthma, may all manifest this group of symptoms.

Nash once relieved with the 200th a very bad case of asthma, having attacks of suffocation of the above kind. The patient was an old lady. The relief was accompanied by a profuse flow of urine, which carried off a large amount of dropsical effusion in her legs and abdomen It was mentioned above that the croupy attack "passes off but is again repeated." This tendency of attacks to recur is another note of the remedy.

Another grand characteristic is: Profuse sweat during waking hours; dry heat when asleep. This feature marks Samb. as the remedy in some phthisical cases and many febrile conditions. Other fever peculiarities are: Deep, dry cough precedes the fever paroxysm; fever without thirst; dreads uncovering. The Sensations of Samb. are: As if head were filled with water.

Skull as if stretched. As if suffocating. The symptoms are > by pressure and being tightly bound. Leaning against a hard edge = painful pressure in abdomen with nausea.

Contusions = dark red swelling. Rest <. < Lying down; in bed; on left side. Head low <; must sit up to regain breath.

Motion < generally. Motion of head = tension and dizziness. Sleep <. < About midnight; after midnight; 2 to 3 a.m.

(roused with sense of stoppage of air tubes). < Uncovering. < Dry, cold air. < Cold drink while overheated.

< From fright or mental emotion. Fright = suffocative attack. Samb. is suited to diseases of scrofulous children which affect the air passages especially; to persons previously robust and fleshy suddenly become emaciated. Effects of mental emotion, anxiety, grief, excessive sexual indulgence.

(Samb. c. may be regarded as practically identical with Samb. n.) Antidoted by: Ars., Camph. Antidote to: Ars. (relieves ailments from abuse of Arsen.). Compatible: Bell., Con., Nux, Pho., Rhus, Sep.

Follows well: Op. (effects of fright). Compare: In Millar's asthma, Ar. dracont. Dyspnoea; inspires, cannot expire, Chlorum, Meph.

Sleeps into the attack, Lach. Peculiarities of sweating, Chi. and Con. (sweats as soon as he closes his eyes to sleep—opp. of Samb.), Thuj. (sweats on uncovered parts), Puls.

(one-sided sweats). Dreads uncovering, Nux (must be covered in every stage). Fat people emaciate suddenly, Iod., Tub. Effects of excessive sexual indulgence, Pho. ac., K. ph.

Tenacious mucus in larynx, K. bi. Sleepy but cannot sleep, Bell. Effects of cold drink when over-heated, Bels. (Bels. = acne;

Samb. = phthisis). Effects of dry cold, Aco. Snuffles, Am. c., Nux. Plants containing Valerianic or Viburnic acid, Valer., Vib. o., Vib. t.

Fright. Grief. Anxiety. Injury (hydrocele). Excessive sexual indulgence.

Pupils at first contracted, then greatly dilated.

Sharp stitches in (r.) inner ear with cramp pain in it.—Itching creeping in ears and in throat.

Odontalgia with tearing and lancinations in all the teeth, and with a sensation as if cheeks were swollen.

Dryness of the mouth and throat, with thirstlessness.

Itching tingling in throat.

Thirst without relishing the drinks.

Swelling of scrotum.

Catamenia too profuse, like metrorrhagia.

Hands and feet bloated and blue.

We are often led to this remedy when we find a great deal of perspiration, occurring with any other trouble, which may last all the time, or it may come and go in paroxysms; it is sometimes found in phthisis; perspiration with disinclination to undress or be uncovered; heat with inclination to be covered (H. N. G.) Asthma with suffocative attacks of breathing; patient may be well enough while awake, but sleeps into the trouble; loud respiration with no mucous rattle

Babies with snuffles; can't breathe well through nose Asthma Millari (H. N. G.)

Symptoms < uncovering; while lying down; while resting.—> From moving; on rising; while walking; from wrapping up warmly General ebullition of blood in evening after lying down, with sensation of trembling Sudden drawing over whole surface of body, frequently recurring when seated The majority of the symptoms manifest themselves during repose and are dispersed by movement

Dropsical swelling of whole body Great emaciation.