Homeopathy LibraryAilanthus Glandulosa
Hale - Materia Medica and Special Therapeutics of the New Remedies · Edwin Moses Hale · 24,561 chars
General
[Tree of Beaven.)
The Ailantus (not Allanfftws, as many of our prominent physicians and authors spell it) belongs to the natural System Xanthosylacte and to the Linnfean system, Monieica Polygamia.
DEHrvATiONe.— The word Ailantui waa given to this genus by Desfon- taine, who formed it from the Molucca name Ailanti. For a long time this tree waa considered as a species of Rhus, whence the Trench name, Verne; Augik or Angika it is said, signifles the Tree of Heaven ; hence the American name, and the German name oFGostterbaum, "Tree of the Gods."
DBScaiPTiON. — The Ailantus Glandulosa is a deciduous tree of the first rank, growing to the height of sixty feet and upwards. Its straight, erect, column-like trunk, from two to three feet in diameter, its gigantic boughs and shoots, clothed with large pendulous leaves, give it a noble appear- ance, and seem to justify the appellation — Tree of Heaven. The leaves are from one-and-a-half to sis feet in length, pinnated, with an odd one and having leaflets with coarse glandulous teeth near the base.
On the first approach of frost, the leaves begin to fall, without having previously shown much change of color, displaying 'a this respect, a strik- ing diflerence from the leaves of most species of Ithns, to which those of this tree bear a general resemblance.
The flowers, which appear in June and July, occur in rather large com- aact panicles, of a whitish-green color, and exhale a disagreeable odor.
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AILANTUS GLAHDULOBA. 29
The keys, or fruil, resemble those of the Asli, hut are much smaller and more numerous. In some years tlie tree is said to hear only male flowers; and. L'Heritie states that only twice in ten years it bore male and female blossoms at the same time, in France. In his time it had produced fruit in the Jarden d^ Plantes, at Paris, and in the botanic garden at Leyden ; but in both cases it was immature.
It has since, however, produced per- fect fruit, from which plants have been raised. It has also ripened seeds at White King's, near Reading, in England. At Pliiladelphia and New York, the seeds of the tree ripen fully in October, and plants are raised fi-om them in abundance.
The Ailantns is not now grown as extensively as formerly as an orna- mental tree in lie TTnited States. The odor of the flowers is extremely oSensive to most persons; tliis, together with a belief that the emanations of its flowers is injurious to health, has created a prejudice against it. In some places epidemics of cholera and other unusual disorders Iiavo occurred during its flowering. la Washington City and Philadelphia hundreds of fine trees have been cut down in deference to this prejudice.
I believe tliat Drs, Hering and Wells reported some cases of poisoning of children from exposure to the roiatile poison of its flowers. Hale.
Officimal Pbbpabatiobb.— Tincture ■with strong alcohol from the fresh well developed flowers, and of the fresh baric of the young shoots and roots, in equal parts. Tincture of dry bark of branches and roots and of the ripe seeds in equal parts, with dilute alcohol.
Abalooues. — j^ihusa, Agaricus, Arum, tri, ATseni^mn, Belladona, Bwp- tiHa, Hyoacymui, Lachesu, Phoaphorva, Ekus \tox. rad. and e^.] Stramo nium, Solarmm, Veratrura alb.
Mind
Continual sighing, with depression of spirits.
Stoical indifference to whatever happens.
Kestleasness, with great anxiety.
Inability to concentrate mental effort; compelled to read a subject several times to get even a misty understanding of it.
Confusion of intellect; fonnd it almost impossible to add col- umns of fignres correctly; had t-o go over it several times to get it right.
Loss of memory.
Mental alienation.
Head
Vertigo, especially when stooping. Dizziness and confusion of the head.
^ dizziness when rising x>r moving.
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80 ilLANTCB GLANDULOSA..
A eensation of giddiness with nausea and sickness at the
Stomach
Tottering gait, with an inclination to stagger, requires extra
effort to walk straight.
Giddiness, naosea, with retching and some vomiting.
Slight headache, accompanied with naneea and giddiness.
The figures on the ledger hegan to dance up and down the col- umns, my head grew dizzy.
Pain in the occiput, with dizziness and ringing pain in the
forehead. A fullness and somewhat of an intoxicated sensation in the
hrain.
A fallnes'- and burning on the brain.
Apoplectic fullness of the head.
Thick, heavy feeling in the head, figures and letters look
hlurred. Electrical thrill starting from the brain and extending to the
Extremities
Feeling as if an electrical current were passing through the
left side of the head.
Headache with confusion of intellect.
Dull heavy headache with heavy feeling in the sternal region,
and burning in the eyes. Heaviness of head with pain over the eyes; ameliorated by
Dull compressed feeling with confusion and pain in the fore- head.
Pain in center of the forehead, more to the left.
A peculiar, heavy dull pressing pain in the forehead, of no great severity, but which indisposes to or even incapaci- tates for intellectual labor. This is always relieved by Aloes, 200th.
Between one and two p. m., a heavy frontal headache with drowsiness; slept two hours.
Severe darting pain through the temples and back part of the head, with confusion of ideas.
Severe pain through the temples on waking.
Tender, bruised feeling over parieto-frontal sutures.
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AILANTTJS GLANDTJLOBA. 31
Pain in the occiput, with dizziness and ringing pain in the fore- head, and swelling in the left side of the face, below the
eye, and upon the eheeb. Severe pains in tlie head with chills followed by flushings of
heat. Tingling sensation of left arm and liand, with dnll headache,
no appetite, tongue coated, pasty taste (on waking in a. m.) Pain in back, head, neck, and numbness extending from under
the left scapula in a band down to the left hip.
Eyes
Eyes feel rough and irritated as from wind and dust.
Earning and smarting and aching as from powerful astringents.
Sneezed and experienced a sensation of cold about the eyes,
and a gnawing in the chest.
Light afiects the eyes; intolerance of light.
Figiires and letters loot blurred.
Lachrymation in the open air, or by brilliant light.
Pnrnlent discharge with agglutinated lids in the morning.
Conjunctivitis, with redness and inflammation extending
around the external canthus.
Falling out of the eyebrows.
" Chronic gonorrhceal ophthalmia.
"Eyes suffused and congested; startled look when roused;
pupils diiaied s,n A shiffgisk/ in scarlet fever. (Dr.Ckal-
Titers.)
Nose
Itching and uneasy feeling around the nose.
Soreness and pain on left side of the nose.
Catarrhal obstruction, as from cold in the head.
Loss of smell.
"^ Chronic catarrh, discharge thin, watery and excoriating. ° Copious thin ichorous discharge without fetor; discharge of
blood and pus.
In -scarlet fever, {Dr.
Chalmers.)
Face
Dusky bilious complexion. Complexion sallow -and inactive; dark blue circle around the
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83 AILANTUS OLANDULOSA.
Irregular spots of capillary congestion, as in the face of a drunliard after a debauch.
Hot, red face.
* Miliary rash more profuse on the face and forehead — espe- cially the forehead — ■ than upon the rest of the body.
Pain in the occiput with dizziness and ringing pain in the fore- head, and swelling in the left side of the face, soreness and pain on the left side of the nose, puffed erysipelatoua face, feels heavy and sleepy, nausea coming on at intervals
On the second evening tearing in the upper and lower teetli of the left side, also in the face and head, aggravated by lying down and forcing him to walk about.
External presBure relieves.
Improvement only toward morning.
Tongue.
Tongue coated, pasty taste, in morning.
Tongue thickly covered with a whftish coat, brown in center
" Tongue dry^ parched and cracked; moist, and covered with white fur, tip and edges livid.
Under the favorable action of AilantuB the clearing off of the coating revealed prom- inent papillfe.
In scarlet fever, {Dr.
Chalmers.)
Throat
Sensation as after applying an astringent to the pharynx.
Thick, oidematous, and dry choky feeling in the throat, con- tinuing in the acute form only a short time and then becoming chronic.
A fullness in the throat just above the sternum, and a desire to hawk up something.
Throat dry, rough and scrapy; more so in the morning.
Irritability of the throat and hawking up of mucus.
She hawks up greenish purnloid matter from the throat.
Constant hawking and efforts to raise lumps of whitish and yellow matter.
Great accumulation of matter, part of which is easily expec- torated, while a portion is with much exertion detached in small flakes,
Croupy choking.
Throat tender, sore on swallowing or on the admission of air.
"Wlien deglutition is painful the pain always extends to the ears.
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Redness of tie fhroat with or without pain during degluti- tion.
The fauces and tonsils are inflamed with spots of incipient ulceration.
Shedding ulcers, feeling as after the application of Nitrate of Silver.
Tenderness and enlargement of the parotid and thyroid glands.
Thickened and swollen feeling of the muscles of tJie neck.
"The throat is livid and swollen, the tonsils studded with nuinerous deep, angry-looking ulcerations, from which a scanty fcetid discharge exudes; the neck is very tender and swollen. ° The tonsils are prominent and studded witli ulcerated points.
In scarlet fever. {Dr.
Chalmers.)
Every morning nausea, and during the day a febrile heat.
With tliie nausea (but frequently without it,) a diarrhcea
set in, four or five stools daily, with pains in the abdomen
Sometimes vomiting with the diarrhcea. With the nausea an oppression and pain below the hypochon
dria; in some lite a stricture below the short ribs. Some
iind -this symptom very debilitating.
Excessive nausea, but no vomiting, dni'ing the headache.
In women nausea similar to that of pregnancy.
Nausea and sickness at the stomach, with sour ernctations;.
nausea and vomiting. Any food taken was speedily vomited.
Appetite
No feeling of hunger, but eats his usual quantity.
No appetite for dinner, everything tasting flat and insipid.
She conld take no food; the sight of it made her feel worse..
Appetite capricious; or complete loss of appetite.
Lobs of appetite, slight nausea, disgust at food.
During the chill there was great hunger, with a distressing,
sense of general emptiness.
Stomach
Peculiar feeling of emptiness in the stomach. Inactive condition of the stomach, as though its contractive'
power was impaired.
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-34 AILANl'tlS GLANDULOSA.
Water tastes bractisb and flat; no desire for drinks except when eating.
Took a teaspoont'ul of the tincture.
Tn half an hour began to feel queer and somewhat frightened — a Bensation of gid- diness, with nausea and sielsness at the stomach, eame over me; cold perspiration stood ont upon the skin; my fingers, in fact my whole body, began to tingle and prick; my limbs felt as if tliey were asleep; the figures on the ledger began to danoe up and down; my bead grew dizzy;
I staggered back and fell into my chair almost uncon- scious.
Drank half a tumbler of Bourbon; soon began to vomit and purge, and was very ill for two hours.
Two days after was as well as common, excepting some head- ache and a sort of niimbness of the left arm.
Abdomen and Stool.
Tympanitis.
Burning in the stomach and bowels.
Weak, burning, uneasy feebng in the bowels, as of approach- ing diarrh(Ea.
A feeling of "insecurity," as if he would be attacked with diarrhcea any minute.
Bowels moved easier than natural two or three times a day.
Looseness of the bowels appearing more in the large intestine.
Colicky and griping pains in the bowels, with rumbling.
Frequent watery dejections, which are expelled with great force.
Morning nausea with diarrbtea, which is sometimes attended with vomiting.
* Dysentery, frequent painful stools, little fteeal matter, much bloody mucus, with very little fever. [Ilerinff.)
" Dysentery; a specific remedy among the Chinese — tested
with good results by Dr. Eoberts, a navy surgeon.
Genitals.
A. sore apjieared on the prepuce of the prover which had the exact appearance of an incipient chancre; it dried up and disappeared in a few days after ceasing Ailantns. [This Bore and the rash ai-e similar to those which characterize primary syphilis.]
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AILANTUS OLANDULOSA. 35
Cough
Cough somewliat oppressed ; expectoration miico-pni'ulent, fi'ee in the morning, sticky and BCanty during tlie day.
Deep, painful, exliausting cough, with asthmatic expansion of the lungs.
Violent fits of eonghing before retiring and on rising; she coughs continually until expectoration becomes free, after- wards is comfortable during the day.
" Dry, constant cough, with oppression, burning, and pains in chest.
(^Dr.
Alley.)
" "Whooping cough.
(Dr.
Alley.)
" Dry, hacking cough — almost constant^attended with tender- ness and soreness of the chest (occurring in measles), (Dr. J'^reUgh.')
"Catarrhal cough, attended with dry coryza and heat of the throat and chest, (Dr. Freligh.) Chest,
Asthmatic oppression in the larger bronchi.
On the second day after suspending the drug, wheezing, asth- matic respiration.
Feeling as though the air-cells were stuck together; inability to completely expand the lungs; can hear the air-cells open (?) as the lungs expand.
Tired teeling in the lungs, rendering, it almost an exertion to breathe.
Excessive soreness and tenderness of the lungs, compelling a suspension of the drug.
Soreness of the intsmal chest, with pain and aching of the lungs.
Soreness and pain of the lungs increased; severe pains in the head, with cliills followed by flushes of heat.
Pain and contracted feeling, especially through the centi'e of the left lung, sternal edge.
Aching in the anterior portion of the left lung, extending to tlie posterior.
Pain, as from a small blade, two inches at the left of the lower portion of the sternum.
Heated, burning feeling, as from breathing hot steam or air.
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39 AILANTlje
BnrTiing in the right lung, and under the left shoulder. Aching pain directly under the clavicle, sometimes extending
to the sternum.
Buok. Soreness in the glands of the neck, with pain under tlie left
shoulder blade. Intolerable pain in the back of the neck, upper part of the
back, and in the right hip joint. Pain in the head, neck, back, and numbness under left scapula,
extending as a band down to left hip.
Constant aching between the shoulders.
Aching, pressed feeling of the dorsal vertebra.
Shooting, aching pains in the shoulders and hips.
Constant sliarp pain through the small of the back and hips.
Superior Extremities. Pain in right scapula, deep inside; it prevents motion of the
arm — a similar pain in the right foot prevents walking. Numbness of the left arm, and a sensation as though the
Tingling sensation of left arm, band and fingers on waking in
the morning. The numbness of left arm and hand, with pain in the shoulder,
back, and hips, lasted four or five days after ceasing to
take the drug. Electrical thrill, extending to the ends of the fingers.
Inferior Extremities.
Limbs felt as though they were asleep.
Numbness of the left leg, with tingling, pricking pain in tht
foot and toes.
Feeling of uneasiness and aching restlessness in the limbs.
Heaviness of the extremities.
Severe pain in left foot, a kind of tension in walking.
Sleep
Sleep disturbed and unrefreshing.
Heavy sleep during the night.
Great sleepiness in the morning or forenoon; sleepiness the
whole day; but this is not r^
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A1LAUTU8 GLANDtTLOSA. 37
AStei drinking a glass of wine great sleepiness, with fullness of the head.
Tever.
Dry, hot skin, especially in the morning, lasting until the middle of the day, [This symptom -will coexist with Ailantus pulmonary affections.
(*S.
A.
Jones.)
Cold perspiration stood out npon the skin, [This will occur in conjunction with choJeraie symptoms rather than as an integer of the Ailantus febrile role. {Ih.)
Felt slightly ill on rising in the morning; could take no food; sight of it made her feel woree; was suddenly seized witli vomiting; severe headache, dizziness, hot, red face; ina- bility to ait up; rapid, small pulse; drowsy, at the same time very restless; great anxiety. In two hours drowsi- ness had become insensibility, with constant muttering delirium; did not recognize the members of her family. She was now covered, in patches, with an eruption of miliary rash, all of a dark, almost of a livid, color.
The patches between the points of the eruption were of a dingy, dull opaque appearance. The eruption was more profuse on the forehead and face than elsewhere, and especially on the forehead. The pulse was now small, and so rapid as hardly to be counted ; the surface had become cold and dry; the livid color of the skin when pressed out returned very slowly; the whole was a most complete picture of torpor.
The chill was always preceded by a miliary eruption — most copiously developed on the forehead and face.
During the chill there was great hunger, with a distressing sense of general emptiness.
Any food taken was speedily vomited.
Intolerable pain was felt in the back of the neck, the upper part of the back, and the right hip-joint.
During the hot stage there was urgent thirst, with delirium, and a strong desire for brandy.
• Pulse weak, sometimes barely perceptible, very frequent and irregular.
In scarlet fever. {^Dr.
Chalmers.)
' Eruption, dark colored in many instances, and in some
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38 AILANTCra qlakdulosa.
almost of a violet hue, scanty, patchy, evanescent, and often long delayed. In scarlet fever. {_Ih: Chahne^-s.)
° Large maculge and bull fe, filled with a claret-colored serum In scarlet fever. {Dr. ChalmerB.)
" Peteehise.
In scarlet fever. {Dr.
Okalmers.)
'' The eruption is slow ti> make its appearance, and never takes on the genuine scarlet color; it remains li/uid. {Th-)
Ailaiithus produces an eruption which has an exact resem- blance to ordinaiy measles; but is attended by no catar- rhal symptoms or other concomitants of that exanthem. {PP. Wdls.)
Qcnerallties.
Languor and lassitude on making exertions.
Incapability of standing long at a time.
Tottering gait, with an inclination to stagger; requires extra effort to walk straight.
Ali asthmatics who are exposed to the odor feel worse dni'ing the blossoming period, {Tiering.)
The odor affects women and children more than men, and old people least of all, {/5.)
If odor gives any indication, Ailantiis should prove a good remedy in malignant puerperal fevei', {/5.)
Affects the organism in the following order: throat, lungs, eyes, head. {Dr. Alley.) [In one prover this order of evolution is exactly reversed..]
After discontinuing the drug the head, throat and chest symp- toms lasted for about twenty-four hours, and then gradu- ally died away.
Tiie numbness of {left) arm and leg, with pain in shoulder, back and hips, continued four or five days.
Two days after taking a teaspoonful of the mother tincture, as well as ever, witli the exception of some headache, anJ a sort of numbness of the left arm.
The neuralgic pains (facial) force him to walk about.
AggroAMtitm. Evening; at night. [In the nervous sphere.] L.
While lying down, L. [Neuralgic pains.]
Morning. During the day, [Ohylo-poietie sphere.] {Ileritty )
Ai/ieUoraUon. Towards morning, L, [Kervous sphere.]
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ALETEIS FAEINOSA. OV
By waiting about. L. [Nervous sphere.]
By pressure. L. [Nervous sphere.]
Side of Bod/y. Left.
Sphere of action.
Most marted on tlie sympathetic syeteni.
Evidently on the par vagum.
On the right half of the posterior column of the medulla spinalis.
On the fifth nerve (tlirough its connexion with the Pneumagastric?)
Antidotes
Moes.
Nux vomica.
Ehus tox.
Ars. iod.
ALBTE.IS FARINOSA.
{Star Orase, or False Unicorn..)
BOTAKiCAi.
Descbiption
Soot, perennial, small, black outside, brown inside, brancheil, crooked.
Soot leaves, ft'om sis t() twelve, spreading on tlie ground like a star, but all unequal in size, sessile, lanceolate, entire, very smooth, tLin and translucent, with many longitudinal veins, very sharp at tlie end.
Tiiey are of a pale green or glaucous, and bleach m winter, or by drying.
Tlie longest are four inciies.
Stem, from one to two feet high, very simple and upright, scapiform or nearly naked, with remote scales, whitish and pressed, sometimes clianging into narrow, sharp-pointed leaves.
Wlotnera white, forming a loug, slender, scattered spike.
Each flower has a minute bract and very short pedicel ; shape oblong, spreading into six acute segments like a star, at the top ; the outside has a mealy, rugose appearance.
Six short stamina are inserted near the mouth ; ajitli- era heait shaped.
Oerm, one central, (not inferior) pyramidal.
Style, one geparable into three.
Capsules triajigular, clothed by tlie calyx, triangular, three valved at the t«p, three celled and with many central minute seeds.
The genus Aletris takes its name from a Greek word, which signifies "a slave who grinds corn.'' The name ia applied in allusion to the apparent mealiness dusted over tlie blossoms.
This genus includes two species — the A. farinosa, and A. aurea.
The A. farinosa is the one used in medicine.
The name " star-grass " is also applied to several other plants, namely, the Helonias dioica, the Hypoxia, and others.
The Aletris far. ia designated by many common names, as Blazing-star, Aloe-root, Bettie-grass, Unicorn-root, Ague-root, Ague-grass, Star-root, DevUs-bit, etc.
But all these names are also applied to the Heloniaa dioica, (Ohamajlirium luteum.
Gray.) and other plants, so that there is no reliance to be placed upon the collections of uneducated plant-gatherers, or the preparations of the drnggiats.
For homceopathic uses, the plants or roots should be examined by a scientiQc botanist before they are used in our pharmacies.
IIiSTOKY. — This species has a wide range, being found from New England to Georgia, and west to Kentucky and Missouri, The Aletris
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iO AT.TTPR.TS FAEINOSA.
auiea Is limited to a range from New Jersey lo the Carolinas.
The A. farinosa is abundant at the South, and always confined to dry and pooi soil, in sunny glades and fields.
It is unknown to the rich limestone soil, and alluTial regions.
In the West it is confined to the hilly glades, open prairies, and borders of the knob-liills.
It is estival, blossoming in June and July.
Tlie root is the part employed ; and being small, does not afiord much hopes to become an article of trade.
Bafinesque says tlio root contains an intensely bitter emulsive resin, soluble in alcohol, somewhat Similar to Aloes, but less cathartic.
This bitter principle is also partly soluble in water.
The tincture is rendered milky by water, Aletrin is prepared from the root, and is supposed to contain its active medicinal principles, but it is not a reliable preparation.
Officinai, Pbbpakatiojsb
Tincture is made from the fresh root by maceration with pure alcohol.
Triturations from the dried root.
Sphere of Actiom.— On the digestive organs, muscular system, liga^ mentous tissues, and uterua.
Amaloodes, — China, Ohelone, Gentiwna, Selaniaa, Pcpulvs, Hydrastis, Vibunimm, Fffmtm,.
Sensorium, Vertigo, with vomiting, purging, sleepiness, and even stupe- faction.
Gastric. Excessive nausea and giddiness, followed by vomiting and
purging. Great inerei^e of appetite. ° Obstinate vomiting during pregnancy.
* Obstinate indigestion, with much debility; nausea, disgust lor
food; least food caused distress in the stomach; very con- stipated; frequent attacks of fainting, with vertigo; sleepy all the time, with emaciation. {Hale.)
" Flatulent colic, in weak, emaciated persons. Female Generative Organs.
Colic in the Iiypogaetrinm.
" It is the China of the uterine organs."
* Premature and profuse menses, with labor-like pains. ° Pressure and pain in the region of the utenis. Heaviness in uterine region.
° Habitual tendency to abortion in feeble persons of lax fibre and anaemic condition,
" Threatened abortion, even after hemorrhage has appeared.
° Prolapsus uteri from muscular atony.
" Anomalous myalgic pains, simulating " false pains," occur- ring during pregnancy.
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ALHUS KDBEA.
Generalities
"Debility, general or local, from protracted illnesB; loss of
fluids, defective nutrition and imperfect assimilation.