A Text-Book of
Materia Medica.
(Characteristic,
Analytical, and Comparative.)
By Pr.
Allen Corson Cowperthwaite, M. D., PH. D., LL. D.
HYPERICUM.
(Hypericum Perforatum.)
Natural order.- Hypericaceae.
Common name.- St. John’s Wort.
General Analysis.-
Through the cerebro-spinal nervous system
Hypericum causes vascular erethism, cerebral and spinal
hyperaemia, and produces an irritated and highly sensitive condition
of those parts freely supplied with nerves.Hence its use in mechanical injuries of the spinal cord and the
nerves at their peripheral extremities, especially when accompanied by
excruciating pains.Characteristic symptoms.
Mind.- (Hypericum)
Weakness of memory.
Great nervous depression following wounds.
Head.- (Hypericum)
Confusion, vertigo, and heaviness.
Tearing stitches in the brain.
Throbbing in the vertex and a feeling of heat in the head,
afternoons.Headache, extending into zygoma or cheek.
Headache, with sore eyes, after a fall.
Mouth.- (Hypericum)
Tongue coated white (Ant. crud., Bry., Nux v.) or yellow, with
great thirst.Great dryness of the mouth.
Face.- (Hypericum)
Hot and bloated.
Stomach.- (Hypericum)
Great thirst. (Acon.)
Nausea and inclination to vomit. (Ipec., Ant. crud.)
Abdomen. – (Hypericum)
Tympanitic distention of the abdomen.
Respiratory Organs.- (Hypericum)
Frequent dry hacking cough ; short, barking cough.
Tightness in the chest. (Phos.)
Neck and Back.- (Hypericum)
After a fall, slightest motion of arms or neck extorts cries.
Consequence of spinal concussion.
Violent pains and inability to walk or stoop, after a fall on the
coccyx.Limbs.- (Hypericum)
Cannot walk, from affliction of the spine.
Feeling of weakness and trembling of all the limbs.
Numbness and crawling in the limbs, hands, and feet.
Hands and feet feel fuzzy.
Generalities.- (Hypericum)
Consequences of shock or fright.
Prevents lockjaw from wounds in soles and hands.
Convulsions from blows or concussions.
After a fall, slightest motion of arms or neck extorts cries.
Cervical vertebrae very sensitive to touch.
Injuries to parts rich in sentient nerves, especially fingers,
toes, and matrices of nails.Lacerations, when intolerable excruciating pain shows nerves are
severely involved.Next to the nervous tissues, the joints are affected.
Therapeutic Range.- (Hypericum)
Bad effects from falls, or blows upon the head, or concussion of
the spine ; injuries ; lacerations ; punctured wounds ; crushed wounds
; prevents lockjaw ; convulsions ; neuralgia ; rheumatism ; spine
affections ; bunions.Compare.- (Hypericum)
Acon., Arn., Calend., Ruta.