Scrophularia Nodosa
Scrophularia · Clarke - Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica · John Henry Clarke · 8,757 chars · source ↗
General
Scrophularia.
Scrophularia nodosa (and S. Marilandica, the American variety introduced from Europe and Asia). Fig-wort. N. O. Scrophulariaceae. Tincture of whole fresh plant.
Clinical
Appendicitis. Breast, tumours of. Colic. Deafness. Dyspepsia. Enuresis. Eyes, scrofulous affections of. Glands, enlarged. Liver, pains in. Palms, cramp in. Pemphigus. Rheumatism. Sigmoid flexure, pain in. Sleepiness. Stiff-neck. Ureter, pain in.
Characteristics
The plants of the genus Scrophularia "have generally an unpleasant smell. The generic name is derived from the property which the roots were supposed to have of curing scrofula. A decoction of one of the common British species, S. nodosa, is sometimes used by farmers to cure the scab in swine" (Treas. of Bot.). Scrph. was proved by Franz, and later in America by W.
H. Blakeley, who took from 10 to 60 drops of the tincture several times a day. Pareira gives the analysis of the drug, which shows it to be very complex. It contains much oxalate and carbonate of lime, as well as Magnesia and Silica.
The most remarkable of Franz's symptoms were: Excessive drowsiness; in forenoon, in afternoon, and before and after eating; vertigo when in upright position; accumulation of sweetish water in several parts of the tongue; sensation of a soft body in the gullet; constriction of chest; oppression of chest with trembling as after much weeping. Most of these symptoms were confirmed by Blakeley. The chief clinical authority for Scrph is Cooper, who has used it on some old indications.
Gerarde mentions "hard kernels" and painful and swollen piles as indicating it. Cooper gave it to a patient who had been poisoned by an Indian arrow-poison which produced inflammation and suppuration of the glands; Scrph. relieved a most painful condition of the rectum and purulent discharge that had kept up years afterwards. Cooper has reduced strumous glands with it; and cured deafness in a "bullnecked" patient; and also cured a case of sycosis menti, using Scrph. externally as well as giving it internally.
"Nodosities in the breast" is another indication of Cooper's. It has produced, according to Cooper, a sickly, giddy feeling, with a sense of weakness and sinking at pit of chest, too weak to speak; along with pain from forehead to back of head. The provings brought out several symptoms in the lower abdomen. Cooper has seen Scrph. in the form of a poultice relieve peritonitis affecting the lower abdomen.
Colic from slight vexation occurred in Franz's proving. Blakeley had pain in sigmoid flexure. Both had pains in the liver. The symptoms are: < In morning; by study; in cold air; breathing cold air; deep breathing; lying on right side; by rest; after food; by pressure.
> In warm room.
Relations
Antidoted by:—Bry. (chest symptoms). Followed well by: Dig. (in enlarged glands.—R. T. C.). Compare: Botan., Dig., Euphr., Grat. Pains in joints < by rest, > in warm room, Rhus. Sleepiness, Nux m., Op., Lup.
Causation
Vexation.
Mind
Despondency, much troubled about the past, and very apprehensive about the future; passed off in a few days, leaving intellect clear.—Miserable and sluggish feeling in mind when moving about.
Head
Vertigo: in top of head when standing; even with severe aching in supra-orbital region
Dizziness, fulness, and pressure in vertex
Heaviness and distress in head, as after eating too much
On rising the second morning an indescribable pain and fulness in whole head, followed by epistaxis, esp. occiput and vertex, causing congestion of conjunctiva with puffiness
Darting pain at exit of r. facial nerve from hylo-mastoid foramen, darting to r. eye
Headache above eyebrows while walking
Severe headache through temples, appearing every morning, extending to vertex and occiput
Severe lancinating pain in vertex, forehead, and temples; dull and throbbing, returning periodically;
< resting;
< in open air;
< leaning forward;
< by study.
Eyes
Severe cutting pains in eyes, unable to move them, passed off with profuse sweat
Pulsating stitches in r. eyebrow
Soreness of eyeballs
Black spots or film before eyes
On closing eyes visions of objects.—(Scrofulous photophobia; rivals Con. in this
Blepharospasm
Scrofulous keratitis
Tinea ciliaris with minute pustulation
R.
T.
C.)
Ears
Ringing in ears and sudden loss of hearing.—(Deafness in bull-necked boys
Deafness before and after menses, improving during the flow
Eczema behind r. ear and round navel
R.
T.
C.)
Nose
Dry coryza with sternutation.
Face
Pleasant warmth in cheeks.—(Recurrent periostitis of lower jaw in a syphilitic
R.
T.
C.)
Mouth
Teeth feel as if loose, pain in carious teeth, < upper jaw
Gums bleed very freely
First great increase of saliva, then mouth dry
Accumulation of sweetish water in several parts of tongue
Qualmish, sticking taste just above pit of throat, frequently lasting an hour, with sensation as if a soft substance (a plug of mucus) were lodged there
Bitter taste in mouth.
Throat
Thick, tenacious, offensive mucus in throat, in forenoon
Rancid taste in throat, with great weakness and stiffness in hollows of knees
Irritation of oesophagus.
Stomach
Appetite greatly increased at first; later nausea with weakness and oppression at epigastrium.—Feeling as if he had missed his regular meal.—(Dyspepsia removed by the proving.)
Abdomen
Pain in r. hypochondrium, < deep inspiration or lying r. side
Cutting in liver on pressure
Twisting-pinching pain in umbilicus (l. side)
Colic just below navel and some griping in the side in afternoon
Griping below navel, 7 a.m.
(after a slight vexation)
Pain in sigmoid flexure
Dull, heavy, periodic pain < when abdomen compressed, legs extended.—(Appendicitis as a local remedy
R.
T.
C.)
Stool And Anus
Several stools daily with tenesmus
Protruding piles which bleed and pain (R.
T.
C.).
Urinary Organs
Pinching and tearing as if in ureter, extending from anterior superior spine of ilium down to pubis
Increased secretion of urine with burning in urethra
Frequent scanty emission of urine in afternoon
Enuresis somni (R.
T.
C.).
Female Sexual Organs
Recurring metritis with painful piles: irritation, soreness and burning in vagina and anus went away, as well as headache, that prevented her standing up (from local application
R.
T.
C.).
Respiratory Organs
On turning on either side, violent dyspnoea < on r. than l., with cutting in liver on pressure.
Chest
Oppression of chest with tremulous movement as from much weeping
Pain in whole r. lung, on taking a deep inspiration, which = cough without expectoration
Cutting in upper l. lung, < breathing cold air
Constricted feeling in chest, which = uneasiness
Cramp-like pain transversely across lower chest, as after much weeping
Pain about bifurcation of trachea
Stitches in r. chest, about 6th rib, with shivering
Violent pinching stitches near r. last true ribs, while walking, during rest, seeming to be in liver.
Heart
Anguish in praecordia, < after food
Indescribable sensation in heart, with severe audible palpitation
Pulse full, regular.
Neck And Back
Stiff neck with pain and contraction of r. sterno-mastoid muscle.—Pain in whole spinal column, with slight opisthotonos.
Limbs
Drawing rheumatic pain in all flexors of arms and legs.—Tingling in extremities as from a blow on a nerve.
Upper Limbs
Deep-seated cutting pain in all muscles of arms
Tingling or buzzing in arms and hands
Sticking and drawing in r. palm, from joints of fingers to middle of hand as far as carpal bones (muscular cramp of palms).
Generalities
Weakness; languor; wants to lie down.—Cutting pains in articulations, like those of Rhus, but more intense and longer-lasting, < by rest and in open air, > in warm room; darting from knee to ankle-joints, which feel stiff.—Threatened abscesses that show no sign of disappearing.—R. T. C.)
Skin
Sallow skin
Burning of surface when rubbed
Prickling itching all over, < back of hand, inside wrists and between fingers
Falling off of hair stopped by lotion of Scroph.
(R.
T.
C.)
Pemphigus gangrenosus and its allies
Irritating vesicles on inside of lip, loaded with spindle-celled epithelium (goes from local application
R.
T.
C.).
Sleep
Strong disposition to sleep: in morning with weariness and fulness in whole body; irresistible before and after a meal, with prolonged afternoon sleep.
Fever
Chilliness: on moving about in cool air; after rising in morning, for several hours, passing off with profuse sweat, which was followed by stupor and absence of all the symptoms.—Whole body after first day feels very dry and hot, with burning sensation, followed by profuse sweat.