Inula.
Inula helenium. Elecampane. Scabwort. N. O. Compositæ. Tincture of fresh
root dug in autumn of the second year. (The juice of the root was proved.)Clinical.─
Backache. Cough. Cramp. Dysmenorrhœa.
Erysipelas. Leucorrhœa. Rectum, pain in. Sciatica. Toothache.
Characteristics.─
Inula
is a “perennial plant with a stem from three to four feet high; large saw-toothed
leaves tapering to a stalk; and large heads of yellow flowers. The root has an aromatic
camphor-like taste, due to the presence of a crystalline substance called Helenin, allied in chemical constitution to Kreosote. It also contains a quantity of starchy material, called
Inulin, which differs from ordinary starch in being
coloured yellow by Iodine. Elecampane
was formerly much used as an aromatic tonic, and as a stimulant of all the secreting organs,
likewise in coughs, dyspepsia,” &c. This quotation from the Treasury of Botany well sums up the chemistry and ancient medical
history of the plant as handed down from the time of Dioscorides. Ben Jonson refers to it in
one of his poems. A popular tradition credits it with the cure of facial erysipelas, and
certain symptoms of the face in the provings seem to confirm this. The homœopathic
knowledge of it is due to. Fischer, who proved the root-juice. Clinical experience has
confirmed and added to the symptom list. The old reputation of the remedy in coughs is
confirmed: “Violent tickling in larynx, producing dry cough, <
lying-down, < at night; larynx painful,” also
“dry cough, with constant tickling in throat-pit, difficult breathing and sensation as
if hoarseness would occur.” A very pronounced effect was observed in the pelvic organs;
pressing and dragging towards the rectum and genitals, headache and labour-like pains. Inula is one of the remedies which has sensation as of something
alive moving about internally; also twisting as of a ball in umbilical region; as if a
substance would come out of rectum and genitals. Another peculiar sensation is: as though
some one was poking him with a finger in various parts of the body, especially in diaphragm,
so painful he awoke with clenched teeth. Sticking pains as with pins or a knife are
numerous. The majority of the symptoms occurred on the right side. The symptoms are < at night; < lying
down (except the uterine pain, which compels patient to remain lying); < by motion; after eating.
Relations.─
Compare:
Sep. (forcing in genitals and rectum), Crocus and Thuja (sensation of something alive);
Tereb. (urine smelling of violets); Ign. (cough <
lying down and in evening); Sul. (psora; < at night
in bed).
SYMPTOMS.
1. Mind.─
Excessive anxiety and trembling of the
whole body, chattering of teeth from cold, during menstruation.
2. Head.─
Vertigo on stooping.─Confusion
of head with nausea, in evening.─Headache in r. side, afterward in l.─Tearing,
throbbing in forehead and vertex after eating.─Sticking headache in r.
side.─Jerking, tearing pain in occiput.─Rush of
blood to head with sleeplessness.─Burning headache in l. temple, in a
spot as large as a silver dollar, in evening.
3. Eyes.─
Twitching in upper lids.─Burning
in l. eyeball.─Swimming before eyes and pressure in temples and
forehead.
4. Ears.─
Dull stitches in l. ear, with transient
sticking above r. eyebrow in evening.
5. Nose.─
Stitches in r. side of middle of nose.─Sticking,
crawling in root of nose, extending to eyebrows.
6. Face.─
Left side of face red and hot, a white
spot near nose.─Flushes of heat; l. cheek glowing.
7. Teeth.─
Pain in decayed teeth, < at night.
8. Mouth.─
Dryness of mouth with scraping and
tickling in throat, swallowing difficult.
9. Throat.─
Pain in throat on swallowing; tickling
causing cough.
11. Stomach.─
Nausea in morning coming from
stomach.─Twisting as of a ball in epigastric region, above umbilicus.─Sticking
pain in epigastric region.
12. Abdomen.─
Violent motion beneath r.
hypochondrium, as though something living were moving about, during menstruation.─Sticking:
as with two pins to r. of umbilicus; as from a knife between umbilicus and r. groin.─Stitches
in l. side of abdomen towards l. groin.
13. Stool and Rectum.─
Pressing dragging towards
rectum and genitals, as in labour; as if substance would come out, occurring repeatedly.
14. Urinary Organs.─
Urging to urinate ten times
in one hour; urine passes by drops.─Urine smells of violets.
16. Female Sexual Organs.─
Movings about in
abdomen, as at appearance of menstruation, followed by yellowish leucorrhœa.─Pain
in uterus, with pain in small of back, very violent, with pressure as in labour; urging to
stool, which she dreads; is obliged to remain lying.─Dragging in
genitals, with more violent backache than she had ever had before.─Stitches
in region of uterus and genitals.─Menses too early and painful.
17. Respiratory Organs.─
Violent tickling in
larynx, producing dry cough, < lying down; < at night; larynx painful.─Cough with
abundant thick expectoration; accompanied by weakness of digestive tract, general languor
and debility and much leucorrhœa; skin has been the seat of psoric manifestations; engorged
glands (chronic bronchitis).─Difficult breathing with dry cough,
constant tickling in throat-pit.─Dry, tickling cough.
18. Chest.─
Stitches behind sternum and beneath l.
seventh and eighth ribs.─Throbbing, jerking pain as from suppuration, in
middle of chest.
20. Back.─
Pain through back and chest, on
inspiration.─Transient pain in r. scapula.─Violent
backache during menstruation.
22. Upper Limbs.─
Stitches and tearing pain in r.
shoulder and wrist.─Tearing, cramp-like pain in tip of l. shoulder; in
scaleni muscles on l. side of neck, as if pulled by pincers.─Tearing,
jerking in r. arm.─Upper arms as far as elbows fall asleep.─Tearing
in palm of l. hand, unable to double fingers.─Fine stitches in index
finger.─Tearing in r. little finger, it seems dead.
23. Lower Limbs.─
Tensive drawing in hips
extending to nates.─Sticking in r. hip extending to groin; in middle
toes of r. foot in r. heel.─Stitches: in thighs; in l. ankle, when
walking; as if sprained in r. heel.─Spasmodic sticking beneath bend of
r. knee, hot face and chilliness.─Cramp in calves during sleep.
25. Skin.─
Itching: as from fleas; violent on legs
during menses, with burning after scratching, in bed.
26. Sleep.─
Sleep restless, starting and crying
out.─Dreams: lascivious; disgusting.
27. Fever.─
Coldness, shaking in bed, cold, blue
hands and nails.® 2000
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