Podophyllum Peltatum - General symptoms

GENERAL

General

Extensive superficial ulceration of each cornea, attended by general conjunctival congestion.

the ulceration was central and large in extent.

in the right eye its base was densely white, and looked exactly as if lead had been used (after ten days). No symptoms of irritation appeared while he was at work or during that evening, but on waking next morning, his eyes were inflamed,.

About 4 A.M. had an evacuation, which consisted of yellow, undigested faeces, mixed with mucus, and was of an offensive odor.

about 10 A.M., had another evacuation, which was accompanied with violent tenesmus, lasting some time after the evacuation.

the stool was of a burning, acrid character, excoriated the anus, and caused much bearing down during and after the stool (first day).

about 2.30 A.M., had an evacuation from the bowels (second night),.

Is especially adapted to persons of bilious temperament. It affects chiefly the Duodenum, small intestines, liver, and Rectum. The Podophyllum Peltatum disease is a gastro-enteritis with colicky pain and bilious vomiting. Stool is watery with jelly-like mucus, painless, Profuse. Gushing and offensive. Many troubles during pregnancy; pendulous abdomen after confinement; prolapsus uteri; painless cholera morbus. Torpidity of the liver; portal engorgement with a tendency to hemorrhoids, hypo-gastric pain, fullness of superficial veins, jaundice.

Biliousness

Whining

Rolls head

Eyes half open

Bad breath

Burning rough or flabby, indented tongue

Bites gums together; grinds teeth

Bitter taste

As of a lump in oesophagus

Craves acids which worse

Vomits hot froth

Constant gagging Sore, painful liver Weak, empty sinking or sick feeling in abdomen Rubs abdomen for better

GURGLING THROUGH BOWELS, THEN PROFUSE, PUTRID STOOLS GUSH OUT PAINLESSLY

Summer diarrhoea

White stools; like dirty water; foaming; with meal-like sediment; runs right through diaper; then weakness

Cholera morbus

Diarrhoea, alternating with other symptoms, head, etc

Pale, hard, chalky stools

Rectum; raw, sore; weak; prolapsed, before stool

Moist, foul piles

Numb ache in ovaries; radiating to r

crural nerve, etc

; worse stretching legs

Ischias antica

Generative organs threaten to prolapse, during stool

Rectum, prolapsed after confinement

Burning in small of back

Jaundice, worse face and eyes

Moaning and whining during sleep

Loquacity during the fever (Pyro)

Sleepy after the paroxysm (malaria)

Podophyllum peltatum. May Apple. Mandragora Officinarium ^Mandrake (American). N. O. Berberidaceae (by some placed in the Ranunculaceae and closely related to both). Tincture of root gathered after fruit has ripened; of whole fresh plant; of ripe fruit. Solution of resinous extract, Podophyllin.

Acidity. Amenorrhoea. Anus, Prolapse of. Asthma, bronchial. Bilious attack. Bronchitis. Cataract. Cholera infantum. Cornea, ulcer of. Dentition. Diarrhoea.

camp. Duodenum, catarrh of. Dysentery. Dysmenia. Dyspepsia.

from Mercurius Dulcis ^calomel. Fevers. Flatulence. Gagging. Gall-stones. Gastric catarrh. Goître. Haemorrhoids. Headache, sick.

bilious. Heart, pains in. Hydrocephaloid. Intermittents. Jaundice. Leucoma. Liver, affections of. Ophthalmia. Ovaries, pains in.

numbness in. tumour of. Palpitation. Pneumonia. Proctitis. Prostatitis. Pustules. Sciatica. Stomatitis. Strabismus. Taste, lost, perverted.

illusions of. Tenesmus. Tongue, burning in. Urticaria. Uterus, prolapse of. Whooping-cough. Worms.

Pod. grows throughout the United States in damp, shady places in woods, has leaves five to nine-lobed, large white nodding flowers, yellowish fruits, egg-shaped, not unlike a small lemon, hence the plant is sometimes called Wild Lemon.

It flowers in May and June, and the fruit ripens in October.

Indian tribes use the root to expel worms, and drop the juice of the root into the ear to cure deafness. "All the tribes are fond of the fruit," says Rafinesque, quoted by Hale, who gives a full account of the medicine.

The botanic and eclectic practitioners adopted the remedy and used it as the "vegetable Merc Viv ^mercury." The first homoeopathic proving was made by Williamson.

An unintentional proving recorded by E. V. Rose (H. W., xxv. 246) brings out the chief characteristics of Pod., and shows that its reputation as a "vegetable Merc Viv ^mercury is not undeserved Mr.

J., 26, took at 11 a.m. gr. x of Pod. 1x to "stir up his liver." At 6 p.m. was taken with an indescribable sick feeling all over, and a persistent dry, rough feeling in pharynx and oesophagus, extending along right Eustachian tube, with dull, aching pain in right ear; feeling as though a ball or lump in upper oesophagus.

At 8 p.m. dull and stupefying headache, chiefly frontal, agg. lying down.

Fulness in stomach, belching of gas, sour eructations; marked salivation and offensive odour from mouth.

Sleep disturbed, full of confused dreams; rolled and tossed about, bed felt too hard; and a feeling as though head and shoulders were lying too low.

At 3 a.m. call to stool, which was profuse, watery, dark green.

Calls frequent. Before stool peculiar weak, dull, griping pain below umbilicus; fulness in rectum.

During stool weak feeling in stomach.

After stool tenesmus and faint feeling.

These symptoms passed off in two or three days, the diarrhoea being followed by constipation, which was quickly removed by Nux Vomica ^Nux.

These symptoms are nearly all proved characteristics of Pod.

The early morning agg.; the profuse stools, faint, gone sensation; fulness and tenesmus in rectum.

Pod. is an irritant wherever applied.

Externally on the skin it produces a rawness like intertrigo.

The dust of the powdered root getting into the eyes sets up intense inflammation, ulceration, and leucoma.

These effects have proved leading indications for its internal use in eye affections.

The fulness and tenderness of the rectum noted in Ross's case went on to actual prolapse in the provings.

I have many times cured with Pod. 6 prolapsus ani in children.

The genital organs were involved with the rectum in the tendency to prolapse. "Symptoms of prolapsus uteri with pain in sacrum; with muco-gelatinous stools"; "sensation at stool as if the genital organs would fall out" are keynotes of the provings which have led to many cures.

Pains in the ovaries, especially the right, extending down the anterior and inner side of thighs.

In the pregnant and puerperal state Pod. is frequently indicated in the vomiting of pregnancy; swelling of labia; severe after-pains with strong bearing-down sensation; haemorrhoids and prolapsus recti after confinement.

A peculiar symptom of pregnancy indicating Pod. is "Can lie comfortably only on stomach (early months)." The irritation of Pod. is shown in the brain, but it is then generally reflected even from the abdominal viscera (cholera infantum) or the teeth (dentition).

There is moaning and whining during sleep; the head is thrown back and rolls from side to side; the child grates its teeth. "Great desire to press gums or teeth together" is a keynote.

The salivation, foul breath, and moist, tooth-indented tongue of Merc Viv ^Merc. are reproduced in the Pod. provings, and so also is the congested, sensitive liver, with excess or absence of bile.

These, combined with the feverishness and proneness to sweat, make Pod. one of the important antidotes to Merc Viv ^Merc.

Fevers of many kinds are met by Pod.

remittent, chiefly bilious remittent, intermittent. Delirium is not rare, and is apt to be loquacious. Moaning and whining during sleep. Much drowsiness and desire to stretch. Alternating conditions are noted Diarrhoea alternating with constipation.

headache alternating with diarrhoea.

headache in winter, diarrhoea in summer.

inflammation of scrotum or of the eyes.

not of both. Some Concomitants are important Pains in sacrum, in lumbar region with rectal and uterine symptoms.

cramps in calves with stools. The stools may be painless, or may be preceded, accompanied, and followed by colic, tenesmus and other symptoms. The concomitance of diarrhoea with other affections points to Pod. Loquacity during chill and heat is a keynote in fevers. Nash cured an obstinate case of intermittent through this symptom Chills violent, followed by intense fever with great loquacity.

when the fever was past patient fell asleep, and on waking remembered nothing of his loquacious delirium. "Burning tongue" is another leading symptom. A case is related by W. A. Burr (Critique, quoted Hom. News, xxviii. 87) of a young man who had for some weeks a burning sensation along left edge of tongue, occasionally shooting to tip, or through to opposite edge. He had been in poor health, "bilious," for years. With catarrh of stomach, duodenum, and bile ducts extreme discomfort followed even the blandest foods. Pod. 3x improved in two days, and the tongue was well in a week. L. M. Barnes (Hom. News, xxix. 45) reports these cases ($51$) A lady for four months after miscarriage had much ovarian pain, agg. at night. She was sleepless, nervous, restless. Much bearing down in abdomen and back. She was a large, stout woman, with a pendulous abdomen. Pod. cured after Pulsatilla ^Puls. and Act. r. had only partially relieved. (2) A stout woman, 60, complained of burning, aching, cutting pain in rectum. Was obliged to be on her feet all day. Nervous, cross, irritable. Pod. cured. Pod. is suited to bilious temperaments, especially after mercurialisation. Peculiar sensations are As if strabismus would occur. Pain in head as from ice on occipital protuberance. As if tongue, throat, and palate had been burned. As if a thousand live things moving about in abdomen, or of fish turning over. As if everything would drop through pelvis. As if heart ascending to throat. Ball in upper oesophagus. Notable symptoms are Thirst for large quantities of cold water. Intense desire to press the gums together. Viscid mucus in mouth, coating teeth. Diarrhoea whilst being bathed or washed.

of dirty water soaking through napkin.

with gagging. Patient is constantly shaking and rubbing region of liver with his hands. Great loquacity during chill and heat. Pod. is predominantly right sided.

right throat. hypochondrium.

ovary. Guernsey mentions that it is often called for in complaints of pregnant and parturient women, with sensation as if intestines were falling down. He mentions also "whooping-cough with costiveness and loss of appetite." The symptoms are agg. by touch (spot on right hypochondrium).

amel. by pressure. amel. Rubbing (inclination to rub liver region with hand). amel. Lying down.

lying on abdomen. stretching in bed. Pain in left leg agg. by straightening out the limb. agg. Motion.

walking. ascending stairs.

exertion. agg. Morning, especially early morning, 2 to 4 a.m. Some symptoms agg. night. agg. Open air.

while washing. External heat amel. pain in bowels. Heat of stove does not amel. chilliness, but wrapping warmly in bed does amel. Hot weather, summer, agg. diarrhoea. agg. After eating and drinking.

after acid fruit and milk. agg. By swallowing. agg. Before, during, and after stool.

Stools thin, watery, green.

green. muco-gelatinous with pain in sacrum.

4 a.m., yellow, undigested faeces, mixed with mucus, offensive.

with violent tenesmus.

burning, acrid, causing much bearing down during and after stool.

with gagging and excessive thirst in children.

gushing, watery, profuse, green, with sudden urging, often painless.

offensive, agg. in hot weather.

pasty. yellow, watery, with meal-like sediment.

smelling like carrion.

mucous and blood-streaked.

black, only in morning.

tar-like. changing colour.

May Apple; Mandragora Officinarium ^Mandrake. Jeanes. Berberideae.

* * *

Stool frequent, painless, watery, fetid discharges, gushing out.

yellow-colored, with meal-like sediment.

green sour, with flatulence.

morning, during dentition.

greenish-yellow, slimy bloody, gelatinous, mixed with feces.

tenesmus and prolapsus ani.

with severe straining, much flatulence emitted.

mucus with spots and streaks of blood.

black, only in morning.

chalk-like, fecal, undigested.

muco-gelatinous stools preceded by griping and colic.

stools coated with shreds of yellow mucus.

Diarrhoea; stools profuse (drain the patient dry), offensive, worse morning and during dentition.

Persistent gagging, without vomiting; rolling the head and moaning with half-closed eyes.

Great loquacity during the fever stage, especially with jaundiced skin.

Prolapsus of uteri; prolapse of rectum.

There are many remedies that are powerful cathartics, and this is one of them. A superficial understanding of our law of cure would lead a novice to conclude that all one would have to do for a case of diarrhoea would be to prescribe Podophyllum. Of course failure would often be the result. The simple fact of diarrhoea is only a factor in the case, where the selection of a remedy for its cure is concerned; for each cathartic has not only a diarrhoea, but a peculiar kind of diarrhoea which no other remedy has. The diarrhoea of Podophyllum is characterized by.

1st. The profuseness of the stool. 2d. The offensiveness of the stool. 3d. The aggravations in the morning, hot weather, and during dentition. Then again the concomitants are very peculiar. There is often present prolapsus ani, sleep with eyes half closed and rolling the head from side to side and moaning; frequent gagging or empty retching. These symptoms present have often led to the administration of this great remedy with very gratifying results. In regard to the profuse stools, they are so much so that they seem to drain the patient dry at every one. They may be yellow or greenish watery, and when watery, always profuse. Then again they may be pappy and profuse (Gambogia), or mucous and scanty, but always with Podophyllum very offensive. I have cured these cases in all stages. In the first onset of the disease, as well as in the very far advanced and apparently hopeless cases of cholera infantum, the 1000th potency (B. & T.) has done the best for me. Notwithstanding the fact that Podophyllum Peltatum is one of quite a list set down for liver troubles, both with looseness of the bowels and constipation, I have not found it very efficacious in the latter. I can readily see how it might be, however, in liver troubles with constipation which had followed a preceding diarrhoea, just as Opium might cure the sleeplessness that followed preceding stupor, and Coffea Tosta ^Coffea sleepiness which followed preceding excitement. All drugs have their double action, or what is called primary and secondary action. But the surest and most lasting curative action of any drug is that in which the condition to be cured simulates the primary action of the drug. For, as I have held elsewhere, I think that what is called secondary action is really not the legitimate action of the drug, but the aroused powers of the organism against the drug. So the alternate diarrhoea and constipation in disease is a fight, for instance, between the disease (diarrhoea) and the natural powers resisting it. It is of considerable importance then to be able to recognize in such a case whether it is the diarrhoea or constipation that is the disease, against which the alternate condition is the effort of the vital force to establish health. Yet such an understanding is not always absolutely imperative, for in either case there are generally enough concomitant symptoms to decide the choice of the remedy. Indeed, the choice must always rest upon either the peculiar and characteristic symptoms appearing in the case or the totality of them. None but the true homoeopathist learns to appreciate this. Here is where what is called pathological prescribing often fails, for the choice of the remedy may depend upon symptoms entirely outside of the symptoms which go to make up the pathology of the case, at least so far as we as yet understand pathology.

Podophyllum has a great desire to press the gums together during dentition. When this symptom is prominent, the choice will have to be made between Podophyllum Peltatum and Phytolacca Decandra ^Phytolacca, both being great remedies for cholera infantum. In the nausea of Podophyllum vomiting is not so prominent as with Ipecacuanha ^Ipecac, but the gagging without vomiting is very marked, as it is also under Secale Cornutum ^{Secale cornutum}. Rumbling in the abdomen, especially in the ascending colon, is strong indication for Podophyllum Peltatum even in chronic bowel troubles. Prolapsus ani is also a prominent symptom of Podophyllum Peltatum, so also is prolapsus of the uterus, especially after straining, over-lifting or parturition. Here the choice will often be between Podophyllum, Rhus Tox ^Rhus tox. and Nux Vomica ^{Nux vomica}.

Podophyllum seems also to have a strong affinity for the ovaries, and some remarkable cures have been made on the symptom, -"Pain in right ovary, running down thigh of that side." (Lilium tig.) Sometimes there is also numbness attending. Ovarian tumors have disappeared under the action of Podophyllum Peltatum, when this symptom was present. I once made a brilliant cure of an obstinate case of intermittent fever with Podophyllum Peltatum. The chills were very violent and were followed by intense fever with great loquacity. There was also great jaundice present. When the fever was past the patient fell asleep, and on awakening did not remember what he had said in his loquacious delirium. The range of Podophyllum Peltatum does not seem very wide, but within its range its action is surprisingly prompt and radical.

Dose

Tincture to sixth potency. The 200th and 1000th seem to do good work in cholera infantum, when indicated.

Region

Liver Duodenum Intestines

RECTUM

Right side Ovary

Scapula

Throat