Ocimum Canum.
Ocimum canum. O. incanescens (Mart.). O. fluminense (Wells) Alfavaca
(Portuguese). N. O. Labiatć. Tincture of fresh leaves.Clinical.─
Albuminuria. Breasts, painful. Bubo. Calculus, renal, passage of. Diarrhśa. Gravel. Kidneys, diseases
of. Renal colic. Urine, abnormal. Vagina, prolapse of.
Characteristics.─
Ocim.
can. is one of the remedies we owe to Mure, who tells us that it is used in
Brazil “as a specific for diseases of the kidneys, bladder, and urethra.” He gives
a short list of nineteen symptoms (apparently partly clinical and partly pathogenetic) which
stamp him as a true observer. His indications have been confirmed many times. “Renal
colic, with violent vomiting every fifteen minutes; one wrings one’s hands and moans and
cries all the time. Red urine with brick-dust sediment after the attack.” The urine may
be “saffron colour” or “thick, purulent, with an intolerable smell of
musk.” In two cases published by myself (J. B. H. S.,
January, 1896; H. W., xxxi. 178) the following symptoms
were removed: (1) Man, 27, every three or four weeks,
seized with violent pains of a dull leaden character in right side of abdomen; commencing in
morning, lasting twelve to fifteen hours. For four hours from commencement of attack the
pain steadily increased, culminating in vomiting, first of sour fluid, then slime, lastly of
a fluid like coffee. After the vomiting some relief of pain. Urine contained no sediment.
The attacks had lasted seven years. At first they began in the evening. There was a history
of epilepsy in the family, and as a child the patient had had three fits. Ocim. can. 200, one dose, was given, and there were no more
attacks for about two years. On their recurrence Ocim. can.
failed to control them; but Diosc. Ř (given by a doctor
in U.S.A.) succeeded. (2) Lady, 24, severe pain right
flank shooting round to back. Frequent micturition; urine sometimes depositing clots. Tereb. 3 gave some relief, but it was not permanent. Ocim. can. 200, a few globules in water, a teaspoonful every two
days, rapidly relieved the symptoms and cleared up that part of the case, and there has been
no return to the present date. P. C. Majumdar (Ind. H. R.,
vi. 11) relates (1) the case of a medical man, 45.
Majumdar was sent for at 4 a.m. one morning, and found the patient in great agony; pain in
upper part of region of right kidney, extending downwards and forwards to pubes. Constant
vomiting, bilious, acid, tossing about without any relief. After Calc.
c. 30, Lyc., Sep., Sarsa., and Berb. had been given in vain, Ocim. can.
3x gave immediate relief, and no other remedy was required. (2)
Man, 50, excruciating pain in left kidney, for which he had received Opium under allopathic treatment without relief. Majumdar saw the
patient on the sixth day of the attack The suffering was extreme, vomiting of bile, constant
nausea, bowels constipated. Ocim. can. 3x, one drop
every three hours, speedily gave relief, and two days later two small uric acid calculi were
passed. No recurrence (Ibid., ix. 126). Majumdar adds
that Ocim. can. is the sacred Toolsi
of India, and that the Kabirajes use it in diseases of the liver and bilious remittent
fevers. All the members of the Ocimum genus are
aromatic. The Sweet or Common Basil. O. basilicum, is
one of the best known. The vaginal prolapse, excessive sensitiveness of the breasts and pain
on nursing, are important symptoms. Concomitant symptoms
are: Vomiting; cries; tossing about and wringing hands.
Relations.─
Followed well
by: Diosc. Compare: Labiatć. In renal colic,
Dios., Calc., Berb., Lyc., Coloc. In painful breasts, Borax (empty feeling; Ocim. can.
compressive), Crotal., Phelland. Prolapsed vagina, Staph.
SYMPTOMS.
12. Abdomen.─
Swelling of the inguinal glands.
13. Stool.─
Diarrhśa, several attacks a day.
14. Urinary Organs.─
Turbid urine, depositing a
white and albuminous sediment.─Urine of a saffron colour.─Red
(bloody) urine with brickdust sediment after the attack.─Thick, purulent
urine, with an intolerable smell of musk.─Burning during micturition.─Crampy
pain in the kidneys.─Renal colic (r. and also l.) with violent vomiting
every fifteen minutes; she twists about, wrings her hands, screams and groans.
15. Male Sexual Organs.─
Heat, swelling, and
excessive sensibility of the l. testicle.
16. Female Sexual Organs.─
Lancinations in the
labia majora.─Swelling of the whole vulva.─Falling
of the vagina, so as to issue even from the vulva.─Itching at the
breasts.─Engorgement of the mammary glands.─The tips
of the breasts are very painful; the least contact extorts a cry.─Compressive
pain in the breast, as is the case with wet-nurses.
23. Lower Limbs.─
Numbness of r. thigh for two
days.
24. Generalities.─
It is employed in bath for
rheumatism.
25. Skin.─
Acts as an irritant.
26. Sleep.─
Dreams about being poisoned.─Dreams
about her parents, friends, children.
27. Fever.─
Is sudorific.─Used
in bilious remittent fevers.® 2000
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