Gratiola Officinalis - General symptoms - Clarke

GENERAL

General

Gratiola officinalis. Hedge Hyssop. "The Ruta Graveolens ^{Herb of Grace}." N. O. Scrophulariaceae (grows in moist places). Tincture of fresh plant before flowering.

and should be carefully studied with these.

A large proportion of the effects of Gratiola are expended on the gastro-intestinal tract.

Symptoms of a fully developed, rapid attack of Asiatic cholera are produced.

On the other hand, the mind is strongly affected.

Peevishness, ill-humour; irresolute; hysterical; cerebral affections without fever.

It is useful in mental troubles from overweening pride.

Teste considers Gratiola the Chamomilla ^Chamom. of chronic diseases.

There is agg. during and after eating vertigo during and after a meal.

Hunger after a meal with feeling of emptiness.

The diarrhoea is yellowish, gushing, watery, as though rushing from a hydrant.

There is also vomiting of yellowish fluid.

Summer diarrhoea from excessive drinking of water whether cold or hot.

Soreness, burning or irritation of anus follows the stools.

Two excellent cures with Gratiola have been recorded by C. W. Sonnenschmidt (H. R., xi. 547). ($51$) Mrs.

C., 53, attacked in June with diarrhoea; yellow, watery, frothy stools gushing out with force.

Severe cutting pains in abdomen; rumbling of flatulence.

Occasional nausea and vomiting. Colocynthis ^Coloc. and Ipecacuanha ^Ipec. failed to relieve; then on close inquiry it was elicited that "a cold feeling in the abdomen" had been a feature throughout.

Grat. off. 3, cured promptly. (2) A three-weeks' old infant was attacked with diarrhoea and colic.

There were two or three passages in quick succession, and then an interval of an hour or two.

Passages green or yellow, watery, frothy, expelled suddenly; nausea, vomiting, severe pain before stools, relieved after, for a short time. Chamomilla ^Cham., Colocynthis ^Coloc., Veratrum Album ^Verat. failed and Grat. rapidly cured.

It also removed in this case "redness around anus, and on one side an abrasion of half an inch in extent, which caused some oozing of blood." E. E. Case (Med. Adv., xxix. 343) cured a woman, aet. 50, of haemorrhoids with the following symptoms ($51$) Constipation, difficult stools. (2) External piles from any exertion and after stool. (3) Biting, stinging tension in tumours. (4) During stool, a sensation as if the rectal membrane was torn. (5) After stool, all the nerves of the pelvis seem in a high state of tension.

the flesh on the perineum feels as if torn from the bone.

Sleepless before midnight; peevish; melancholy.

He regards it as "the vegetable antacid." It is said to have formed the basis for a once famous nostrum for gout, "Eau Médicinale." Indications are Constant sinking but cannot eat; bitter taste.

The affection of the solar plexus is very marked; cramps beginning at pit of stomach, and pains radiating therefrom; anxiety; gnawing; empty feeling; rolling about in epigastric region.

Urine is diminished, reddish, turbid.

Buvier, says Teste, saw four cases of nymphomania in females to whom herb-doctors had given injections of a decoction of freshly gathered Gratiola.

Burnett considers it specific in female masturbation and nymphomania.

A number of pains are experienced in the coccyx.

Chilly; shuddering on entering a warm room.

Heat ascending to face, with redness and increased external warmth.

Constant vaporous exhalation from body.

Sensations as if brain contracted; as if head grew smaller; as if brain would fall forward; as if sand in eyes; as if throat contracted; as if a stone rolling from side to side in stomach.

The left side is more affected than the right.

The head and eye symptoms are of the first importance.

Rush of blood to head with vanishing of sight I consider a keynote.

With Grat. 30. I cured this symptom in a patient "Sometimes everything seems to assume a yellowish tint, and occasionally, when I have been taking notes, a rush of blood to my head seems to shut the book from my sight and for the moment I have been unable to follow the speaker by writing although I could by thought." Motion agg.

rest amel. amel.

In open air; agg. in warm room (some headaches, and vertigo have the opposite modality).

Coffee = neuralgia.

Clinical

Cholera. Coccygodynia. Constipation. Cramps. Diarrhoea. Dropsy. Eyes, affections of. Gastralgia. Gout. Haemorrhoids. Headache. Hydrocephalus. Hypochondriasis. Hysteria. Mania. Masturbation. Mesenteric glands, affections of. Neuralgia. Nymphomania. Tetanus. Vision, disordered.

Characteristics

Gratiola is one of the most important members of the great Scrophularian group

Digitalis Purpurea ^Digit., Euphras., Tabacum ^Tabac., Scroph.