Medicago Sativa, California Clover or Lucerne

From its action on the sympathetic, Alfalfa favorably influences nutrition, evidenced in “toning up” the appetite and digestion resulting in greatly improved mental and physical vigor, with gain in weight. Disorders characterized by malnutrition are mainly within its therapeutic range, for example, neurasthenia, splanchnic blues, nervousness, insomnia, nervous indigestion, etc. Acts as a fat producer, corrects tissue waste. Deficient lactation. Increases quality and quantity of milk in nursing mothers. Its pronounced urinary action suggests it clinically in diabetes insipidus and phosphaturia; and it is claimed to allay vesical irritability of prostatic hypertrophy. The rheumatic diathesis seems especially amenable to its action.

Mind.–It induces mental exhilaration of buoyancy, i.e, a general feeling of well being; clear and bright, so that all blues are dissipated. Dull, drowsy, stupid (Gels); gloomy and irritable, worse during evening.

Head.–Dull, heavy feeling in occiput, in and above the eyes, worse toward evening. Pain in left side of head. Violent headache.

Ears.–Stuffed feeling in eustachian tubes (Kali mur) at night; patulous in morning.

Stomach.–Increased thirst. Appetite impaired, but chiefly increased even to bulimia. He must eat frequently, so that he cannot wait for regular meals; hungry in forenoon (Sul). Much nibbling of food and craving for sweets.

Abdomen.–Flatulence with distention. Shifting, flatulent pain along colon several hours after meals. Frequent, loose, yellow, painful stools, with burning of flatulence. Chronic appendicitis.

Urine.–Kidneys inactive; frequent urging to urinate. Polyuria (Phos ac). Increased elimination of urea, indican and phosphates.

Sleep.–Slept better than usual, especially in early morning; it induces quiet, reposeful and refreshing sleep.

Relationship.–Compare: Avena sat; Dipodium punct; Gels; Hydr; Kali phos; Phos ac; Zinc.

Dose.–The best results are elicited with material doses (5-10) drops of tincture, several times daily. Continue its use until tonic effects ensue.

Stargrass

An anæmic, relaxed condition, especially of the female organism, is portrayed by this remedy. The patient is tired all the time, and suffers from prolapsus, leucorrhœa, rectal distress, etc. Marked anæmia. Chlorotic girls and pregnant women.

Mind.–Power and energy weakened. Confused feelings. Cannot concentrate mind. Fainting, with vertigo.

Mouth.–Much frothy saliva.

Stomach.–Disgust for food. Least food causes distress. Fainting spells, with vertigo. Vomiting during pregnancy. Nervous dyspepsia. Flatulent colic.

Rectum.–Loads up with feces-paretic condition. Stool large, hard, difficult, great pain.

Female.–Premature and profuse menses, with labor-like pains (Bell; Cham; Kali c; Plat). Retarded and scanty flow (Senecio). Uterus seems heavy. Prolapse, with pain in right inguinal region. Leucorrhœa due to weakness and anæmia. Habitual tendency to abortion. Muscular pains during pregnancy.

Relationship.–Compare: Helonias; Hydrastis; Tanacet; China.

Dose.–Tincture to third potency.

Chinese Sumach

This remedy shows by its peculiar skin symptoms its pronounced power of disorganizing the blood, causing conditions we meet with in low fevers, low types of eruptive diseases, diphtheria, follicular tonsillitis, Streptococcus infection, Hæmorrhagic diathesis, etc. The skin appears livid or purplish; face dark as mahogany, hot; sordes; throat swollen, purple, livid; semi-conscious, delirious; weak pulse, general torpor and prostration. Symptoms remarkably alike to malignant scarlatina. Diarrhœa, dysentery and great weakness are very marked. Adynamia characterizes all its conditions. Lividity, stupor and malignancy. Mucous membranes hæmorrhagic and ulcerative (Lach. Ars).

Head.–General stupor, with sighing. Confused mind, mental depression. Headache, frontal, with drowsiness. Passive congestion headaches. Suffused, dilated eyes; photophobia. Face dusky. Thin, copious, ichorous, bloody nasal discharge.

Throat.–Inflamed, œdematous, dusky red. Much swelling, internal and external. Dry, rough, scraping, choking feeling. Neck tender and swollen. Hoarse, croupy voice. Tongue dry and brown. Teeth covered with sordes. Pain in swallowing extends to the ears.

Respiratory.–Hurried breathing; irregular. Dry, hacking cough. Lungs sore and tired.

Sleep.–Drowsy, restless. Heavy, disturbed, unrefreshing.

Skin.–Miliary, livid rash, returns annually. Large blisters filled with dark serum. Irregular, patchy, livid eruption, disappearing on pressure. Cold. Raynaud’s disease.

Relationship.–Antidotes: Rhus; Nux.

Compare: Ammon carb; Bapt; Arn; Mur ac; Lach; Rhus.

Dose.–First to sixth potency.

The Chaste Tree

The most effective point of attack of Agnus upon the organism is the sexual organism. It lowers sexual vitality, with corresponding mental depression and loss of nervous energy. It shows this distinctive influence in both sexes, but is more pronounced in men. Premature old age from abuse of sexual power. History of repeated gonorrhœa. A prominent remedy for sprains and strains. Gnawing itching in all parts, especially eyes. Tachycardia caused by tobacco in neurotic young men.

Mind.–Sexual melancholy. Fear of death. Sadness with impression of speedy death. Absentminded, forgetful, lack of courage. Illusion of smell-herrings, musk. Nervous depression and mental forebodings.

Eyes.–Pupils dilated (Bell). Itching about eyes; photophobia.

Nose.–Odor of herring or musk. Aching in dorsum better pressure.

Abdomen.–Spleen swollen, sore. Stools soft, recede, difficult. Deep fissures in anus. Nausea with sensation as if intestines were pressed downwards; wants to support bowels.

Male.–Yellow discharge from urethra. No erections. Impotence. Parts cold, relaxed. Desire gone (Selen; Con; Sabal). Scanty emission without ejaculation. Loss of prostatic fluid on straining. Gleety discharge. Testicles, cold, swollen, hard, and painful.

Female.–Scanty menses. Abhorrence of sexual intercourse. Relaxation of genitals, with leucorrhœa. Agalactia; with sadness. Sterility. Leucorrhœa staining yellow; transparent. Hysterical palpitation with nose bleed.

Relationship.–Compare: Selenium; Phosph ac; Camphor; Lycop.

Dose.–First to sixth potency.