Collinsonia Canadensis.
Horsebalm. Richweed. Stone-root. N. O. Labiatć. Tincture of fresh root.
Trituration.Clinical.─
Constipation. Diarrhśa. Dropsy
(cardiac). Dysentery. Dysmenorrhśa. Dyspepsia. Hćmorrhages. Hćmorrhoids.
Heart, affections of. Irritation. Labour. Pregnancy, affections of.
Proctitis. Pruritus vulvć. Rheumatism.
Characteristics.─
Collinsonia
is native to North America. It has a very tough, hard, knotted root. It has been proved
twice, first by Burt and later by Dowla. The former took the tincture, the latter the
powder. Both experienced headache, the former in connection with abdominal and rectal
disturbance, the latter with flushing, sensation of heat, numbness, feeling of enlargement.
The legs felt light, as if he could run like a deer. Nux vomica
relieved the sensations, the symptoms passing off from above downwards. In Dr. Burt’s case
the symptoms generally passed from above downwards. As a domestic remedy, and among the
eclectics, it is known as a remedy for chronic catarrhal conditions, especially of stomach,
bowels, and bladder; also of nose, pharynx, and larynx, and in tubular and capillary
bronchitis. It is, according to Hammond, “a stimulant, a most valuable tonic, a
positive diuretic and mild laxative.” Hammond also commends it in the palpitation of
the menopause. F. S. Smith mentions that it has a domestic reputation in rheumatism. He
records a case (subacute) in a woodsman of 30. It began in foot and ankle, and travelled
over nearly every joint in the body. A few drops of Collins. Ř was mixed in a tumbler of
water, and a teaspoonful given every two hours. Rapid cure resulted. He utters a caution
against using low potencies where there is organic heart affections. It is useful in heart
affections alternating with suppressed hćmorrhoidal bleeding; sensitiveness about the
heart, fulness, oppressed breathing, faintness. Dewey mentions that it cured a case in which
there was severe constrictive pain about the heart in a man who habitually passed blood by
stool, the heart symptoms coming on when the bleeding ceased, and disappearing when it was
re-established. Collins. cured both. It has cured
inveterate cases of dyspepsia with weight in epigastrium and piles.Neuralgia and rheumatic pains were experienced by the provers in many
parts: upper jaw, arms, hands, knees, joints. The greatest number of Dr. Burt’s symptoms
were experienced in the bowels and rectum: Pains in umbilicus and hypogastrium, constipation
with hard light stools, great straining, faintness; stools of mucus and blood. These
symptoms suggested the use of the remedy in cases of piles, where it has proved most
efficacious. Piles during the catamenia. Prolapse of the rectum with piles. The heart was
markedly affected: irritation of cardiac nerves; palpitation, faintness, oppression. Nash
has cured cases of the most obstinate constipation with Collins.
In one there was severe colic, which had recurred for several years, the concomitant
symptoms being great flatulence and hćmorrhoidal troubles. He differentiates between Ćsc. h. and Collins. (both
of which have sensation as if rectum was full of sticks) thus: Ćsc.
has sense of fulness in rectum, which Collins. has not. Ćsc. piles
do not bleed as a rule; those of Collins. bleed
persistently, Ćsc. has pain, soreness, and aching in
the back [and, I may add, < by walking.─J.
H. C.]. Collins. has more persistently constipation,
with colic on account of it. Ćsc. may have constipation
or may not. Collins. has shown marked power of
disturbing the circulation and causing hćmorrhages, and also of disturbing cutaneous
sensation. The symptoms are < evening and night, and > in morning. < By
slightest emotion or excitement.
Relations.─
Antidoted by:
Nux. Compare: Lycopus (botanical; heart); Ćsc. h.,
Ham., Alo., Nux, Sul. and Ign. in piles; Carb. v., Graph., Ign., Lach., Pul. and Sul. in
piles during menses; Pod. (prolapse of rectum); Op., Coloc., Arn., Diosc., Hydrast.; in
functional paralysis from fatigue in mental emotions, Stan., Coccul., Ign., Pho., Nat. m.
SYMPTOMS.
1. Mind.─
Gloomy.
2. Head.─
Dull, frontal headache with constipation
or piles; or from checked hćmorrhoidal discharge.
6. Face.─
Flushing with heat of face and lips
numb; pricking as if with needles.
8. Mouth.─
Whitish coating of tongue, with loss of
appetite.─Tongue coated yellow along centre or base, with bitter taste.
11, 12. Stomach and Abdomen.─
Nausea, with
cramp-like pains in stomach; with cutting pains in hypogastrium; with constipation during
pregnancy.─Vomiting with pains and heat in stomach.─Weight
in epigastrium.─Sharp cutting in stomach every few minutes while
sitting.─Heavy dragging ache in pelvis.─Colic with
flatulence and nausea.
13. Stool and Anus.─
Pure mucous stools, or mucous
stools mixed with dark substances; before stool, severe pain in lower abdomen; during stool,
tenesmus; after stool, little pain; vomiting.─Dysenteric stools.─Hćmorrhoidal
dysentery with tenesmus.─Obstinate constipation with hćmorrhoids;
stools very sluggish and hard, accompanied by pain and flatulence.─Hard,
lumpy, knotty stools.─Light dry balls.─Bowels more
apt to act in evening than in morning.─Bowels not moved for days,
constant pressure in rectum with a heavy dragging ache in pelvis.─Piles
with constipation, or even with diarrhśa, bleeding or blind and protruding.─Feeling
of sticks, or gravel, or sand in rectum; evening and night; >
in morning.─Flowing piles, hćmorrhage incessant though not profuse,
with alternate constipation and diarrhśa.─Itching or burning in anus
with swelling.
15. Male Sexual Organs.─
Varicocele with extreme
constipation.─Spermatorrhśa kept up by piles and constipation.
16. Female Sexual Organs.─
Uterine diseases
depending on diseases of rectum and bowels.─Dysmenorrhśa with hćmorrhoids.─Pruritus
vulvć with hćmorrhoids; during pregnancy.─Diarrhśa after confinement.
17. Respiratory Organs.─
Hćmorrhage from lungs
with short, hacking cough, dark, tough, coagula enveloped in viscid mucus; uneasiness in
chest, but no pain; with rectal symptoms.─Pains in chest alternating
with piles.
19. Heart.─
Cardiac hyperćsthesia.─Periodical
attacks of faintness and oppression, < slightest
motion.─Palpitation in pile subjects; piles return as heart is relieved.
21. Limbs.─
Tearing pain in arms, hands, and legs;
frontal headache.─Tearing in both knees, passing down inside of legs to
feet while sitting; dull frontal headache.
24. Generalities.─
Sensation as if face and limbs
were enlarged, with warmth, numbness and pinching as from innumerable needles lower
extremities seemed not to belong to him.® 2000
Article