Convallaria – A neglected heart remedy. By Charles C. Boericke, M. D.

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Convallaria – A
neglected heart remedy.

By Charles C. Boericke, M. D.

Presented by Sylvain Cazalet

Convallaria
Majalis, L.

CONVALLARIA MAJALIS is
the ordinary lily-of-the-valley belonging to the species Maiblume. It
grows everywhere in the woods. Its blossoms are bell-shaped with four or
six divisions and a corresponding calyx. They are small plants with
broad roots and stem leaves. It is a span high and the two leaves
are-broad and streakless. The fragrant flowers appear in May, the red
berries in September. The root is fibrous and creeping, spreads rapidly
and when powdered excites sneezing. An extract of the root is purgative.
The plant name is very old. It occurs in the Bible. Great joy comes
to those who wear it. In the flower language it means, “you are
modest ; renewed luck.” In the middle ages this spring flower
was used as a remedy and highly treasured as a panacea.

Dr W. Boericke

It was claimed that the
Mayflower would strengthen the brain, nerves and nervous tissue, hence
it was used for all diseases of the head, as vertigo, epilepsy, sleeping
sickness, melancholia, strokes, etc. It was used in the form of an
extract or tincture. These cephalic properties were later forgotten and
towards the end of the eighteenth century it was used only for the
composition of sneezing powders. However, it remained popular in Russia
and was commonly used as a diuretic. In 1880, Convallaria was first
brought to the notice of the orthodox medical profession as a remedy for
cardiac valve affections by Trotsky. Two facts predominated from the
results of the physiological experimentations in Russia and later
corroborated in Paris, viz., the regularization and augmentation in
energy of the cardiac contractions, and second, diuresis.

Convallaria is one of
the newer Homœopathic remedies, not being mentioned in our literature
previous to 1883, and for that reason is not to be found in Allen’s
“Encyclopedia” or Hering’s “Guiding Symptoms.” This
may be one of the reasons why it is not more often used. Even the
Allopaths value it more highly than many of us do, as I shall attempt to
show a little later.

But I can assure you
that Convallaria is a very potent remedy an heart conditions when
certain indications are present, and finds its place as the much needed
remedy for cardiac support when there seems little else to offer except
digitalis and yet digitalis is plainly not indicated.

It is not my purpose
now to go into the indications for digitalis and yet I cannot refrain
from remarking the digitalis is used far too often when it is not
indicated.

Dr T. F. Allen

Certainly a pulse
regular in force, rate and rhythm does not indicate digitalis and yet
how of ten in cases of early myocarditis with dyspnœa on exertion and
slight œdema of the extremities do we see digitalis prescribed for such
cases despite the regular pulse. How much tetter we would do by the
patient if we noted their symptoms carefully and gave them Cactus, Cratægus,
Adonis, Iberis or Convallaria as the symptoms seemed to indicate.

Now first let us see
what the orthodox school has to say about Convallaria. Dr. W. Lenneker
in an article appearing in the Therapeutic Gazette of Detroit says that
he has teen using the fluid extract of Convallaria extensively in all
kinds of heart affections excepting fatty degeneration of the heart, and
sums up his experience by staling that “Convallaria in itself is
one of the best tonics for the stomach ; it gives tone to the
stomach and increases the appetite, and what is more, it exerts a tonic
effect upon the intestinal mucosa, increasing the action of the bowels
in a great many people.”

Shoemaker (Materia Medica and Therapeutics) says,
“In small doses this drug (Convallaria) strengthens the heart’s
action. In larger quantities it restrains excessive cardiac activity. It
has been found of service in mitral insufficiency. It quickly relieves
the dyspnœa and palpitation and after having been given for two or
three days may be discontinued for a week or more without recurrence of
symptoms.

“Convallaria
seldom disagrees with the stomach and no cumulative action has been
observed. As a rule the appetite and digestion seem to improve under its
use and regular action of the bowels is promoted.

“Germain-See
mentions its use in the following pathological conditions. He highly
recommends it in simple cardiac arrhythmias ; in palpitation
resulting from a state of exhaustion of the vagus nerve (the most
frequent cause of palpitation) ; in mitral stenosis, especially
when accompanied by failure of compensation on the part of the left
auricle, the cardiac force augments, visibly under Convallaria as the
syhygmograph testifies. In mitral insufficiency where there is pulmonary
congestion and in dilation of the heart without fatty degeneration
Convallaria is indicated. In all cardiac affections indifferently from
the moment that cardiac inflammations appear Convallaria has an action
efficient, prompt, and certain”.

Ellingwood in his Materia Medica (eclectic) even enlarges on
the above indications for Convallaria.

It is evident from
numerous clinical works that Convallaria is an excellent substitute for
digitalis in those conditions where digitalis is not specifically
indicated and yet empirically prescribed. Convallaria is better
tolerated, does not accumulate in the system, does not increase the
blood-pressure (although I realize that this is a mooted question in
pharmacology), and finally if its effect is slow, it is less fleeting.
This latter point I have personally demonstrated to my satisfaction.
Once a patient is under the influence of Convallaria he may be kept
comfortable for months at a time.

S. Solis-Cohen in his
latest book on Pharmacotherapeutics
estates that “Convallaria is recommended in place of digitalis,
which as regards its action on the heart and blood vessels it closely
resembles, when for any reason it is deemed advisable to suspend the
administration of the latter for a period and yet not leave the heart
without any support”.

Now as regards our Homœopathic
indications for Convallaria :

Dyspnœa with inability
to lie down is the leading indication for the selection of the remedy.
Around this symptom most of the other revolve. Dyspnœa caused by
walking or ascending stairs or a hill even when there is no organic
lesion or but slight involvement.

Convallaria is a
valuable remedy for weak heart with more or less irregularity and with
or without valvular lesions.

It is always to be
thought of in dyspnœa with pulmonary stasis, hyperstatic congestion and
cyanosis. It is useful for dilation of the heart due to emphysema. It is
also indicated in dropsical conditions with scanty urine and
constipation.

The patient needing
Convallaria will often complain of a feeling as if the heart beat
throughout the chest. Also a sensation as if the heart ceased beating
and then started again suddenly. The tongue is usually broad and thick
with a dirty coating. There is a coppery metallic taste. The abdomen is
sensitive. Clothes feel tight. Bladder feels full. In females soreness
in the uterine region with sympathetic palpitation of the heart.
Generalized aching in back, wrists, hands, ankles and toes. The
modalities are better in the open air and worse in a warm room.

I use Convallaria in
the tincture -usually 20 drops in one-half glass of water and one
teaspoonful every two hours. In old chronic I prescribe five drops of
the tincture three times daily.

Chas. C. Boericke, M. D.,

Berkeley.

Source :

Pacific Coast Journal of Homœopathy,
July 1935.

Copyright © Sylvain
Cazalet 2001

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