Caulophyllum Thalictroides

CAULOPHYLLUM THALICTROIDES.

Is another very valuable "woman remedy," because of its specific action upon the uterus. It deserves a thorough reproving. I cannot better show its virtues than by reporting a case.

A married lady, aged 40, with wry neck of long standing, was seven months' pregnant. She was attacked with severe pains and swelling of all the finger joints. The only way she could get relief from the intense pain so that she could rest or sleep at all was by enveloping her fingers in mustard. I prescribed Caulophyllum 3d, which relieved the finger pains, but brought on such severe labor pains that I was obliged to discontinue it for fear of premature labor. Then the bearing-down pains ceased, and the finger pains returned and continued in full force until she was delivered of her child, when they also ceased for two or three days. Then the lochia, instead of decreasing, gradually or normally, increased until it amounted to a metrorrhagia. The flow was of a passive nature, dark and liquid. There was great sense of weakness and internal trembling (not visible externally) and now, to crown her suffering, the terrible finger pains returned again. I was afraid of the Caulophyllum, although it seemed indicated, because it brought on the bearing-down pains when I gave it before. But after giving Arnica, Sabina, Secale and Sulphur without the least improvement, I concluded to try Caulophyllum high. I did so in the 200th potency and cured the whole case promptly and permanently. Now this was a perfect Caulophyllum case, and if I had given it properly in the first place I have no doubt I would have saved that woman all unnecessary suffering.

I have given this remedy in long continued passive haemorrhage from the uterus after miscarriage when I had the characteristic weakness and sense of internal trembling present. It has often regulated irregular spasmodic labor pains, and has also often relieved pains of the same character in dysmenorrhoea. I repeat, this remedy deserves a careful reproving.

ACTAeA RACEMOSA.

Nervous symptoms, twitchings, spasms, convulsions, neuralgias; chills without shaking < at menstrual period. Muscular rheumatism; stiff neck, drawing head back; can't turn the head; rheumatism of the belly of muscles, by preference.

Headaches pressing outward; or upward, as if top of head would fly off, or into eyes (ciliary neuralgia), or down nape into spine.

Gloomy, sad, sleepless; thinks she will go insane.

Menorrhagia; pains run through hips into thighs, passing down.

Climacteric; infra-mammary pains left side, persistent.

< menstrual period and during climacteric.

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Actaea racemosa is another remedy which exerts a strong influence upon the female organism. The nervous system manifests its action in a multitude of symptoms, many of them being what is known as hysterical in character. There are twitchings, spasms, convulsions, neuralgias and mental symptoms in abundance. She shivers (nervous chill without coldness), faints, talks incessantly, frequently changing subjects; is grieved and troubled, with sighing, or is very gloomy with sleeplessness; thinks she is going insane, etc.

In the head there are severe pains, pressing outward, as if the top of the head would fly off, or running into the eyes, which ache fearfully or the pains settle in the occiput and shoot down the neck. There are very few, if any, remedies that have worse ciliary neuralgia than Actaea racemosa.

In the female sexual organs it cures "pains in the uterine region, darting from side to side." The menstrual function is performed irregularly. Sometimes the flow is scanty, but more generally profuse, and we have the mental and nervous symptoms above enumerated in abundance, with these irregularities. It is one of our best remedies in menorrhagia, when there is "severe pain in the back, down the thighs and through the hips, with heavy pressing down," as I have often proven. It is also excellent in infra-mammary pains in the left side during the climacteric, as I have also proven.

Also in backache and spinal irritation sympathetic with uterine troubles. It cures sharp lancinating pains in various parts, either nervous or muscular, if they are connected with uterine disturbances. In rheumatism the affection attacks the belly of the muscle by preference. Actaea is a many-sided remedy and adapted to nervous troubles of many forms.