Nux Vomica

Where are studies in the action of this polychrest found ?

In Hahnemann's Materia Medica Pura, Hartmann's Practical Observations , and Hughes' Pharmacodynamics .

How is Nux vomica obtained ?

Our tincture is made from the finely pulverized seed of the Strychnos Nux vomica , a large tree found in the East Indies, in the same manner as Colocynthis and Cinchona are prepared.

What are the alkaloids of Nux vomica, and what is a peculiarity of Strychnia ?

Strychnia and Brucia are the two principal ones. Strychnia is so intensely bitter that 1 part in 600,000 can be detected by the taste.

What is the general action of Strychnia ?

The motor centres of the spinal cord are powerfully irritated, and hence their reflex excitability is enormously increased ; the medulla is also stimulated and the respiratory centre is increased in activity, causing increased frequency and depth of movements of the chest ; peristalsis is increased.

It produces a condition very much like tetanus.

Mention three grand general characteristics of Nux vomica.

1. Thin, spare, irascible patients of a nervo-bilious temperament, with great sensitiveness to external impressions.

2. Ailments brought on by the use of drastic medicines, purgatives, sedentary habits, rich food, etc.

3. Tired, worn-out feeling in the morning on waking.

In what class of patients is Nux most applicable ?

In cross, overworked, fidgety business men of sedentary habits ; they cannot bear to be opposed ; are irritable and irascible, easily put out ; quick to act, those of a fitful temper and where there is a great disinclination to mental work.

What is the headache of Nux ?

Dull confused feeling, in the morning on waking, in the frontal and supra-orbital regions, and nearly always associated with qualmishness and nausea ; also a bilious occipital headache. Headaches of high livers ; in those who use alcohol to excess, often associated with constipation and haemorrhoids.

How does Pulsatilla compare ?

Pulsatilla , is better in the open air. Nux better in a warm room.

When is Nux vomica indicated in cold in the head.

In the first stage, when brought on by damp, cold weather, sitting on damp steps, etc., associated with sneezing and stuffed-up feeling in the nose. The nose is dry, very little discharge ; the eyes water ; there is scraping in the throat, and there is dullness and oppression in the frontal region ; the symptoms are worse in a warm room and better in the open air.

How does Mercurius compare ?

It is similar in the rawness and soreness in the nose, ant it is worse in damp weather.

Compare also Arsenicum.

The coryza is relieved by warmth and aggravated by cold, which is the opposite of Nux , and the discharge is very thin and burning.

What is characteristic of the face of Nux ?

It is a sallow face ; or the false plethora produces red cheeks on a yellow background.

What throat affections correspond to Nux ?

Those of smokers, drinkers and preachers ; there is a follicular rawness and scraping from overuse of the voice.

What is the taste of Nux ?

Sour, herby, metallic or bitter.

What are the gastric symptoms of Nux ?

Impaired appetite or abnormal hunger preceding an attack of dyspepsia, eructations which are painful, bitter or sour, a great deal of nausea, and the patient will often say : "If could only vomit I would feel a great deal better". The stomach is sensitive to pressure ; the pains come on about half an hour after eating ; they start in the epigastrium and radiate in various directions.

Name some drugs that have pains coming on immediately after eating.

Lycopodium, Abies nigra and Nux moschata .

What drug has the symptom that three or four hours after eating the patient vomits ?

Kreosote .

What are some of the causes of gastric troubles indicating Nux ?

Over-indulgence in spirituous liquors, overwork, sedentary habits, high living.

What symptoms has Kali bichromicum that somewhat resemble Nux ?

Dyspeptic troubles occurring in beer drinkers.

What are the liver symptoms of Nux ?

Sticking pains and soreness in the liver, enlargement of the liver from alcoholic excesses, or troubles arising from drastic purgatives and allopathic dosing.

What are the symptoms of Nux in colic ?

Flatulent colic with desire to stool, and a sensation as if the intestines were squeezed between stones.

To what peculiar symptom does the constant pressure in the abdomen give rise ?

Sensation of weakness in the abdominal rings, as if a hernia would protrude.

Has Nux a characteristic diarrhoea ?

It has not ; Hahnemann said that copious diarrhoeic stools were never produced by Nux vomica .

Give the constipation of Nux.

It is due not alone to inactivity of the intestines, but to irregularity of the peristaltic action, and this gives rise to the characteristic symptom, constant ineffectual urging to stool , and when the stool does occur it is incomplete and unsatisfactory, as if a part remained behind.

How does Carbo vegetabilis compare ?

It has ineffectual urging, but it is due to wind.

What drugs have no urging to stool at all ?

Opium and Bryonia .

What are the haemorrhoidal symptoms of Nux ?

Itching haemorrhoids, which keep the patient awake, bleeding piles, with ineffectual urging to stool.

What are the urinary symptoms of Nux ?

Painful, ineffectual efforts to pass urine, with scanty discharge and burning ; strangury, dribbling of urine in old people from enlarged prostate.

Give indications for Nux in sexual excesses.

Frequent emissions towards night, backache and difficulty of walking. An irritable condition of the organs which do not seem to be under control of the mind.

What is the backache of Nux ?

In the lumbar region ; worse at night when lying in bed, cannot turn over without sitting up, lumbago.

What are the symptoms of Nux in the extremities ?

Legs give out, hands and feet go to sleep, numbness and formication in back and extremities. Rheumatism of large joints and large muscles, with aggravation towards morning.

Give the symptoms of Nux in intermittent fever.

Chill begins in the extremities, with blueness of nails ; preceded by gaping and yawning, and aching in the limbs, dull frontal headache, thirst with the chill, not before it as in China , and as chill passes off the patient vomits ; the fever is especially in the upper part of the body. Gastro-bilious symptoms predominate.

Give sleep symptoms of Nux.

Sleepy in the evening, falls asleep in his chair, and falls asleep immediately on going to bed ; wakes an hour or so before daybreak, dozes off and again awakes more tired than he was before going to bed, and with a headache.

How does Pulsatilla compare ?

The Pulsatilla patient is wide awake in the evening, but the sleep is sound and the patient awakes languid.