Gnaphalium.
Gnaphalium polycephalum. Sweet-scented Everlasting Flower. N. O.
Compositć. Tincture of fresh plant.Clinical.─
Anterior crural neuralgia. Cholera.
Diarrhśa. Dysmenorrhśa. Gout. Lumbago. Prostate gland, irritation of. Rheumatism. Sciatica.
Characteristics.─
Gnaphal.
has been used mainly in affections of the sciatic nerve. But it has also an action on the
abdominal organs, causing vomiting, colic, and diarrhśa, thus comparing with Colocynth. in both spheres. The special indication for its use in
sciatica and lumbago is: Numbness alternating with the pain. The diarrhśa is watery and
offensive; occurs in the morning and is repeated during the day. There is rumbling in the
bowels, colicky pains, and the patient is cross and irritable, urine is scanty, appetite and
taste are lost. There is also sexual excitement in mate provers, pain and irritation in the
prostate gland. Dr. W. McGeorge (Hahn. Month., Oct.,
1885, p. 606) tells us that among the negroes Gnaph. has
a reputation for colds, fevers, and night-sweats. The last was caused in one of the provers.
It cured one case of “chills”; and the periodicity appears in the intermittent
neuralgia of the upper jaws. A very important observation made by McGeorge is on the value
of Gnaph. in dysmenorrhśa. “Weight and fulness in
the pelvis” are the only symptoms noted in the proving bearing directly on the malady.
“Dysmenorrhśa when the menses are scanty and very painful the first day” is the
clinical indication. McGeorge cured a very aggravated case of sciatica (left) in a man,
resulting from a strain. The leg was cramped and drawn up; <
in cold and damp weather. I have cured a number of cases in which there was alternation of
numbness with the pain. Dr. George Shelton has recorded (N. A. J. H.,
Feb., 1888, p. 100) two cases. (1) A clergyman, 27, had
sharp cutting pains, starting from inner side right thigh, just below Poupart’s ligament,
extending down course of anterior crural nerve to a point about its lower third. The pains
were paroxysmal, came on when walking, occasionally when lying down; had had one or two
attacks in the pulpit. In several instances the pain had extended down the right cord into
the testicle and caused him to draw up the leg, flexing the thigh on the abdomen. (This
condition was also present in Dr. McGeorge’s case, and may possibly be a keynote.) A few
doses of Gnaph. 1 cured him completely. (2) The second case occurred in a widow, 68, who had had severe
pains in outer side of right thigh for six years, during part of which time she had been
confined to bed. The pains were paroxysmal, cutting, tearing, extending down the course of
the sciatic nerve. Attacks < at night, and more
frequent, causing her to roll about the bed and cry out with the pain. All the resources of
allopathy had been in vain. Rhus t., Coloc., Sulph.,
gave no help. Bell. relieved slightly. Gnaph. 1 wrought gradual improvement, and in eight weeks the cure
was complete. My cases were cured with Gnaph. 30. One
was in a very gouty man, the alternation of numbness with pain being present. Sciatic pain
is < on lying down; by motion; by stepping; > when sitting in a chair; >
drawing up the limb. Headache > by washing in cold
water. Fur on tongue removed by thorough washing with cold water.
Relations.─
Compare:
Coloc., Ipec., Merc., Puls., Lyc., Caulo., Xanthox.
SYMPTOMS.
1. Mind.─
Very irritable for two or three days,
after the diarrhśa (in three cases).
2. Head.─
Giddy, esp. after rising from recumbent
position.─Fulness about temples.─Dull, continuous
pain in back of head, with shooting pain in eyeballs.─Full headache 3 to
4 p.m., or on waking, > by washing in cold water or
bathing head with bay-rum.
6. Face.─
Dull, heavy, bloated appearance.─Neuralgic
pain of an intermittent form in both upper maxillary bones.
8. Mouth.─
Flat, sweetish, sickening taste.─Tongue
covered with long white fur, > by thorough washing
with cold water.─Mouth feels parched and tastes badly.
11, 12. Stomach and Abdomen.─
Flatus, windy
eructations, nausea and hiccough.─Colicky pains in various parts, cćcum
sensitive.─Borborygmus with emission of much flatus.
13. Stool and Anus.─
Rumbling in bowels with stool
before breakfast.─Looseness of bowels with passage of pale-coloured
fćces.─Diarrhśic discharge in morning and during day; with irritable
temper; pains in bowels in children.─Dark-coloured, liquid, offensive
stool in morning, afterwards pain in bowels all day.─Vomiting and
purging, like cholera morbus, in the night and all next day.
14. Urinary Organs.─
Pains in kidneys with
frequent slight pain in prostate gland.─Sensation of pain and fulness in
bladder, even when just emptied.
15. Male Sexual Organs.─
Increased sexual passion.─Irritation
of prostate gland.
16. Female Sexual Organs.─
Dysmenorrhśa, menses
scanty and very painful first day.─Sensation of weight in pelvis.─Sensation
of fulness in pelvis.
20. Neck and Back.─
Numbness of lower part of back
with lumbago.─Sensation of weight in pelvis.
22. Upper Limbs.─
Feeling of weakness, as if
incapable of raising the slightest weight.─Rheumatic pains in elbows and
shoulders.
23. Lower Limbs.─
Pains dull or darting or cutting
from r. hip-joint posteriorly downward to foot; <
lying down, from motion, by stepping, > sitting in a
chair.─Intense pain along sciatic nerve.─Numbness
occasionally taking the place of sciatic pains, making exercise very fatiguing.─Cramps
in calves; in feet, at night in bed.─Gouty pains in big toes.
27. Fever.─
Night-sweats.
® 2000
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