Helonias Dioica - General symptoms

GENERAL

General

Chamaelirium luteum, Gray (Helonias dioicia, Pursh; H. lutea, Ait.; C. Carolinianum, Willd; Veratrum Album ^Veratrum luteum, Linn.; Ophiostachys Virginica, Delile).

Natural order, Liliaceae. Common names, Unicorn plant, Devil's Bit, Blazing Star.

Preparation, Tincture of the root.

Previous to taking the remedy I never felt better, more cheerful, or in better spirits.

soon after taking there was an entire change in the surrounding circumstances.

I very soon became irritable, gloomy, and dull.

could not endure the least contradiction or receive any suggestions in regard to any subject.

all conversation was unpleasant, and what I most desired was to be left alone, reserving to myself the privilege of finding fault with everything around me.

I consider that this moral condition was not accidental, but purely a pathological state, produced and kept up by the action of the medicine (seventh evening).

previous to this evening this state assumed an intermittent form, but after this date it was unchanged for several days, and was one of the most constant and marked effects,.

While reading, a feeling of fulness, pressure from within outwards, in vertex and occiput.

at the same time the scalp seemed to burn.

when I read earnestly, concentrating my attention, all these sensations vanished.

but if I turned my attention from the book to my hand they were instantly perceived.

I found that I could get rid of them or bring them on just as I liked (after four hours, first day),.

Headache comes on every day at 4 or 5 P.M., if not then, surely between 8 and 9 P.M.

it is a dull aching in temples and forehead.

pressure over the root of the nose.

and when it is on, feel as if I had caught cold.

am feverish without feeling hot to others or having an increase of pulse.

at this time am also very irritable (from the eleventh to fourteenth day),.

Frequently while walking (and only then), a sudden pang deep in the right groin.

it would smite me suddenly as an electric shock, make me limp for a few steps, and soon pass away.

pressure with the tips of the fingers in the groin seemed to relieve it.

at least I was instinctively led into this manipulation, and relief seemed to come from it (seventh week),.

A peculiar stool. sensation as if each lump of faeces had the shape of a large minnie bullet, which passed from the anus the big end first.

the anus seemed to be much distended for an instant, and then out flew a fecal mass just as a pumpkin-seed shoots from the fingers.

the stool consisted of four lumps which made their exit separately, but as fast as they could follow each other, for it seemed as if each single one had to "work its passage" by forcing upon the anus.

in the evening (fourth day),.

I think it must be allowed that Helonias is somewhat diuretic.

a daily average of 46.347 ounces is certainly a plus for one of my stature and weight. I do drink water freely, but I "chew tobacco," and my spittoon will testify that the salivary glands do extra duty. I think the primary action of Helonias is to reduce the renal excretion. When Helonias Dioica is in full action, the kidneys have an even burning feel, and they ache.

evidence, I take it, of renous congestion, retarded blood flow, hence the urinary plus,.

On March 28th, 29th, and 30th (fifth, sixth, and seventh days of the proving), 1380 minims in all were taken. A glance at Table II will show the effect upon the renal excretion. It decreases from 57 1/2 ounces to 24 ounces 3 drachms. Three days' time are required with the doses taken, then the drug is suspended, and in the next three days the quantity of urine increases from 24 ounces 3 drachms to 73 ounces.

a plus of nearly 50 ounces. On the following day, it falls from 73 ounces to 47 1/2. Such variations are beyond even the maximum of physiological oscillation. On the 26th, I dined at 12, emptied the bladder at 1 P.M., and again at 2. The rate of excretion was 2 1/4 ounces in an hour. On the 29th, I repeated this process, and found the rate to be 7 1/4 ounces in an hour. On the latter date, at 12 M., I had taken 480 minims of the tincture. Possibly this phenomenon of renal stimulation may be ascribed to the alcohol. However, as the tincture was diluted with thrice its quantity of water, it is a probable that the stimulation is due to the Helonias. According to Böcker and Hammond, alcohol lessens the water of the urine, and this must be borne in mind in estimating the downward slope of the quantity line for the 29th, 30th, and 31st. The decrease begins on the 29th, and reaches the minimum on the 31st, the whole quantity eliminated being 128 1/8 ounces. The increase began on April 1st, and reached the maximum on April 3d, the whole quantity 163 1/4 ounces. The "reaction" is plus. These quantities added, give 48.55 ounces as the daily mean, another plus. As a like quantity of water was drank daily, and as no change in the temperature of the weather occurred to explain this plus by skin action, I am disposed to ascribe it to the drug. If we assume 45 ounces as my daily rate of excretion, which is certainly liberal, we shall find that nine of the nineteen days give a quantity below this, while the remaining ten are above it. The nine minimum days give, as a total, 350 7/8 ounces, which is 38 3/10 ounces per diem. The ten maximum days give 551 3/8 ounces, 55 13/100 ounces daily. If we take enough from the maximum, ten days' quantity, to bring the minimum, nine days quantity, up to the mean of 45 ounces per diem, we still have a plus of 46 3/8 ounces. That Helonias is a diuretic in the same sense as Apocynum Cannabinum ^Apocynum cannabinum, I am not prepared to affirm.

that it is a renal stimulant, I think may be safely assumed. Let not the term stimulant mislead. The Helonias renal stimulation is a condition of debility, renous paresis, the result of previous arterial tonic contraction,.

Helonias lowers the specific gravity. A mean of 1.01571 for nineteen consecutive days is not normal. Suppose that, on account of the experimenter's sedentary habits, we assume 1.018 as the normal specific gravity of his urine, we then find that under the Helonias action it is for fourteen days of the nineteen below this, and that for seven of these fourteen days it is at 1.014 for two, 1.013 for three, and 1.012 for two. A glance at Table II will show that the depression of specific gravity is not directly dependent upon the quantity of urine excreted. On different days we have 73.572 and 47.7 ounces, each of 1.013 specific gravity.

46, 43.4, and 24.3 ounces of 1.020.

42.3, 39.4, 37.2 and 36.5 ounces of 1.017. The consideration of this leads us to the urea. As the daily average, according to Table II, exceeds the "physiological amount" by nearly 50 grains per diem, one would say that the primary action of Helonias is to increase the elimination of urea. A glance at Table II will show that on only seven of the nineteen days did the urea fall below the daily rate of 345.94 grains, and the greatest minus will be found to coincide with the days in which a great amount of alcohol was taken. In three days, 28th, 29th, 30th (of March), 1380 minims of tincture were drank, and in the urine of the 29th, 30th, and 31st, the effects of the alcohol is shown in a minus of 130.58 grains of urea. On twelve of the nineteen days there is a plus of urea, which extends from 9.76 to 215.26 grains daily. So far, then, as these data go, we must believe that Helonias primarily increases the elimination of urea,.

Unduly exhausted females

Uterine reflexes

Heavy, sore, aching-burning; kidneys; in muscles; in back

Deep gloom

Melancholy

Irritable; wants to be let alone

Heat or upward pressure in vertex

Aphthae

Dull ache and heat in region of kidneys

Excessive urine

Nephritis of pregnancy

Sugar and albumen in urine

Heavy, sore, tender, ulcerated or prolapsed womb

Dark, foul blood from uterus; haemorrhage from atony

Foul, lumpy or curdled leucorrhoea Inflamed, itching, aphthous vulva

Heavy dragging in pelvis

Squeezing in chest

Swelled, painful mammae

Tender nipples

Aching between scapulae

Sore pain in outer side of thighs

Anaemia

Hot, when tired

Helonias dioica, Pursh; H. lutea, Ait.; Chamoelirium luteum, Gray; C. Carolinianum, Willd.; Veratrum Album ^Veratrum luteum, Linn.; Ophiostachys virginica, Delile. False Unicorn, Devil's Bit, Blazing Star. N. O. Melanthaceae. Tincture of the root. Triturations of the resinoid Helonin.

Helonias, like Aletris Farinosa ^Aletris, to which it is a botanical ally, and with which it has been often confounded (both have been called "Unicorn plant," or "Unicorn root," "Aletris Farinosa ^{Star Grass}," and "Blazing Grass," or "Blazing Star"), is a uterine remedy of great power. It has an extensive range of action, as its provings show, but the organ predominantly affected is the uterus. It has been called with justice a "uterine tonic," and one of the keynote indications for its use is a "consciousness of the womb," and relaxation of uterine ligaments, misplacements, and prolapse have been removed by Helon. Marvin A. Custis (Am. H., xi. 594) reports a case in point "Mrs. L.

, 28, has two children, both living. Has prolapse of uterus, ulceration of cervix, dark, offensive leucorrhoea. Her system is worn out and her expression one of great distress. Is irritable, finds fault with every one, and cannot bear contradiction. Restless, wants to move around, as she feels better when mind and body are employed." There was severe backache and a sore and heavy feeling in the womb.

in fact, as she said, she was always "conscious of her womb." Helon. 30 every three hours for two days, and then every night, was prescribed, with a warm water injection night and morning. At the end of three weeks the leucorrhoea had almost ceased, the womb was in the first position, and she "forgets that she has such an organ." The mental symptoms of Helon. are very marked, and the extreme depression, gloom, and irritability of this case are characteristic of the remedy. One of the provers had a preliminary feeling of wellness before being plunged into a mental hell. It is specially suited to nervously run-down females, easily fatigued by any work, who complain of a tired backache, a tired feeling extending into the limbs. Some of this passes off after commencing to work. This looks rather like the Rhus Tox ^Rhus "agg. on commencing to work, amel. after working a little;" but it is not the same, for in the case of Rhus the relief comes from a limbering up of stiff joints. The backache is in the lumbar region, just over the kidneys, or else in the sacrum. The kidneys themselves, especially the right, are the seat of pain, and then the urine is generally scanty. S. A. Jones found Helonin turned an alkaline urine acid.

increased the amount of urea.

increased the amount of urine secreted. He considers this to be the result of a condition of debility, venous paresis, the result of previous arterial tonic contraction. Helon. produces irritation in mucous membranes.

sore mouth. irritable stomach.

burning and scalding when urinating.

but the most intense effect is produced in the vaginal mucous membrane. L. L. Danforth treated Mrs. W., who had intense pruritus, vulvar and vaginal, for several weeks "She could tear the flesh out" it was so intense. There was vulvo-vaginitis, the labia and adjoining skin being red and swollen, and covered with thin, white, curdy deposits. Further examination showed, pouring from a congested cervix, a thin albuminous leucorrhoea, evidently the cause of the pruritus. It coagulated on the vagina, forming small curds covering the mucous membrane of vagina and vulva. Helon. Ø on tablets speedily relieved. The relation of the remedy to the climacteric period is indicated in the provings by alternate sensations of heat and cold. "A sensation as if a cool wind streamed up the back of the legs along the gastrocnemii muscles to the popliteal space" was noticed by one prover who had before had a burning, or warm numbness, in the legs, most marked in the knees, "seeming to begin at the tendo Achillis of each leg, and very marked over the region of each gastrocnemius." "Every movement of the arms occasioned a chill, which seemed to radiate from the solar plexus all over the body." Burning sensations are common. A patient to whom I gave it in the 6th had "burning-sinking at the epigastrium" half an hour after each dose. Motion agg. almost all symptoms, but amel. numbness of the feet, and the profound debility. amel. By mental diversion. The chest is sensitive to the air.

toothache is agg. in a warm room.

and warm, moist air agg. toothache. Touch agg. cannot bear the least pressure of the dress (on breasts, nipples, kidneys, &c.).

Blazing Star. Dr. C. B. Parr. Melanthaceae.

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Anaemic women, with prolapsus; worn out with hard work, mental or physical.

Heaviness in pelvic region, languor, pain or burning in back, with continual consciousness of a womb, sore and tender.

Better when mind is off herself.

I have found Helonias Dioica of use in a generally debilitated condition of women, with many and various complaints or symptoms in the region of the uterus, for instance Prolapsus from atony, enervated by indolence and luxury.

worn out with hard work, mental or physical; muscles burn and ache.

There is almost always associated with it a more or less anaemic condition. This. anaemia may seem to be consequent upon too profuse menstruation or flooding, or it may exist entirely independent of any such cause. In these cases I have often found albumen present in the urine, sometimes in large quantities especially in pregnant women, and seen rapid improvement and disappearance of the albumen under the action of Helonias Dioica.

The fact that these anaemic and debilitated states are found, both under profuse and scanty discharges of the uterine organs, seems to indicate that the local symptoms are secondary, or a consequence of general debility and impoverished blood. Again, the fact that Helonias cures both conditions equally well seems to corroborate it.

What are the symptoms? The leading symptoms are anaemia, great general weakness and languor, and great lowness of spirits or profound melancholy. This condition of mind is temporarily relieved by diversion. She is always better if she can get her mind off herself; dragging weakness in sacral region.

Dose

Tincture, to sixth attenuation.

Region

FEMALE ORGANS

Kidneys

Mind

Muscles