Dulcamara

Where are the original provings of Dulcamara found ?

In Hahnemann's Materia Medica Pura and the Chronic Diseases .

What is Dulcamara ?

It is the Bitter sweet, and indigenous shrub.

(Not the climbing Bitter sweet, which is Celastrus.)

What part is used in making the tincture and how is the same prepared ?

The fresh green branches, that are still pliant, and their leaves, gathered just as the plant is budding to blossom, is treated in the same manner as Hyoscyamus .

What is the general action of Dulcamara ?

It has a specific relation to the skin, glands and digestive organs ; also acts on mucous membranes and muscular tissue, producing catarrhal and rheumatic complaints.

What is the distinguishing aggravation ?

From cold, damp weather, and from sudden changes to cold, and affections so brought on or made worse.

Differentiate Dulcamara from Rhus tox.

Both have relief from motion, aggravation from rest, and from cold, wet applications. Dulcamara is irritable, Rhus anxious and depressed. In Dulcamara the swollen glands are painless, in Rhus painful. In Dulcamara the menses are late, scanty and too short. In Rhus too soon, profuse and long. Dulcamara worse before midnight, Rhus worse all night.

What is its effect on the nervous system ?

Paralysis from lying on the damp ground ; paralysis of the bladder or of any part of the body which is brought on or made worse by damp weather.

Give the cough of Dulcamara.

A spasmodic cough with a profuse secretion of mucus, easy to raise and generally tasteless. The coughing spells are long and damp weather aggravates. An excellent remedy in loose coughs.

What are the characteristics of the female organs ?

Suppressed menses from damp weather, and a rash on the skin just previous to menstruation.

What other effect has it on the skin ?

It produces an eruption of large wheals, and it is useful in such if brought on by digestive troubles with aggravation from cold air.

What is the diarrhoea ?

Yellow, watery diarrhoea in damp weather, or in summer, when the weather suddenly cools ; mucous, green or changeable stools of sour odor. Diarrhoea from repelled eruptions.