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Hamamelis Virginica
HAMAMELIS
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Origin Plant · Hamamelidaceae · Simple
Habitat A shrub growing in all parts of U.S., in damp woods or along streams; flowers in autumn, flowers yellow, the seeds ripen the year following
ClarkePreparation Tincture of fresh bark of twigs and root.
Sources 12 entries across 11 books: Clarke, Hering, Allen, Nash, T. F. Allen …

Dose
—
No dose stated in the library’s books

Reason for useClarke

The deep red colour of the tincture of Hamamelis may be taken as the signature of its therapeutic action. No remedy has a wider sphere of usefulness in cases of haemorrhage and disordered blood-vessels. It has also a decided relation to the effects of mechanical injuries including burns of the first degree, and as a local application it takes rank with Arnica and Calendula in the homoeopathic amamentarium. Hering, who learned its properties from Mr. Pond, of "Pond's Extract" fame (Pond was a patient of Hering's), made the first provings and introduced the remedy into homoeopathy. He defines its position as being between Acon. and Arn. "Pond's Extract" is an aqueous distillate prepared from the leaves. A number of interesting superstitions are associated with the shrub; and shoots of it are used as "divining rods" for discovering water and metals. Hale has given a very full account of the remedy. Phlebitis; varicosis; haemorrhoids; venous haemorrhages—these are the conditions likely to require Hamam. The local application of Hamam. to a sprained knee has been known to set up inflammation in the veins of the part, and the provers who had varicose veins experienced in them increased sensitiveness and unusual sensations, and a number were cured. In congestion, inflammation, and bleeding of haemorrhoidal vessels, Ham. has a great range of action; and like that other great pile remedy, Aesculus h., it has also a marked action in the throat. Ham. is called for in cases of "varicose angina," where the veins of the pharynx are large and blue. The haemorrhages in which Ham. is indicated are mostly dark. They may occur from any orifice. Metrorrhagia, menorrhagia, vicarious menstruation and haemorrhages between the periods are met by it. In this connection a case recorded by Dr. Ward (Pacif. Coast J. of H., November, 1899) is noteworthy. He cured a case of intermenstrual pain. Allen mentions in the provings an intermenstrual flow, and Dr. Ward acutely observes that if his patient has had the flow, the soreness so distinctly felt might not have been realised. "Intense soreness" is one of the notes of Hamamelis. The part from which the flow of blood proceeds feels sore and bruised. This distinguishes it from Chi. in passive haemorrhages. It is a leading indication for it in cases of orchitis and ovarian affections; and also in phlebitis and varicose veins. In piles there is much bleeding and marked soreness of the part; the back feels as if it would break (Aesc. h. has little or no bleeding). There is taste of blood in the mouth. The headache of Ham. is chiefly in the temples, throbbing, hammering; especially over left eye. Hughes gave Ham. Ø to a young lady suffering from daily epistaxis and throbbing headache. The first dose was followed by a flushing of the face and most distressing throbbing-aching and sense of fulness in the head. The second dose brought back all the symptoms in the head, and a feeling as if it would burst. Some days later the 3x was given, and again the dilatation of the cerebral vessels occurred, though the symptoms were not so severe. The haemorrhage of Ham. causes great exhaustion (out of proportion to the amount of loss), but there is also a tired, aching feeling in the back and lower limbs, independently of haemorrhages. Many rheumatic symptoms occur, and with them always the characteristic soreness. A woman, thirty-five, to whom I gave Ham. 1 for varicosis with great advantage, developed marked loss of appetite and these additional symptoms: "Pain all round lower abdomen, dreadful aching, rheumatic pain at top of left shoulder and under right shoulder-blade, also right side of chest under arm. Pains < during the day and when at rest, entirely absent during the night. Stupid feeling in head." This scapular pain bears on the experience of Dr. Koech, who cured with Ham. many cases of scapular rheumatism. He regards it as a specific in affections of the last five cervical nerves. There is a good deal of thirst in the Ham. pathogenesis, and Bree says (H. P., xii. 61) it will relieve the excessive thirst that most patients with heart troubles complain of. Motion and exertion in general <. < In open air; in rainy weather. Takes cold easily from every exposure, but especially to warm, moist air. Toothache < in warm room. < From touch.


By regionClarke
Mind Forgetful.—No desire to study or work.—Depressed in mind; also after emissions, with regretful mind.—Irritable.
Head Vertigo when stooping.—Swimming sensation on rising.—Nausea and vertigo, with desire to lie down.—Stupor; headache; crowding fulness in head and neck, also in forehead.—Stupid feeling in head.—Feeling as if a bolt were passed from temple to temple, and tightly secured.—Fulness in forehead, with pressing in root of tongue.—Bursting headache on awaking, insupportable on bending downward.—Dulness and fulness in head all day.—Headache after an emission.—Hammering over l. eye, as if he would go out of his mind.
Eyes Eyes feel weak, but are less inflamed; painful weakness of the eyes.—Feeling as if both eyes would be forced out of head, > by pressing them with the fingers, but < a few moments afterwards.—Sore pain in eyes; eyes painful under slight pressure.—Swelling of eyeballs and lids, with bloodshot appearance of r. eye.—Eyes inflamed; vessels greatly injected; caused by a foreign substance, as melted sugar; after operations; intense soreness.
Stomach After eating: nausea, must keep quiet; eructations; hiccough.—Eructations after a meal, taste of the food.—Nausea, eructations and violent hiccough after pork, followed by burning in stomach and oesophagus; later, cramp pains in stomach and chest.—Nausea, vertigo, must lie still to prevent vomiting.—Nausea, headache in frontal bone on awaking.—Nausea and inclination to vomit after a meal.—Haematemesis, blood black; sensation of trembling in stomach, or fulness and gurgling in abdomen; feverish by spells; weak, cold, quick pulse, profuse sweat.—Heaviness at back of stomach; pain back of stomach, along the spinal column.—Violent throbbing in stomach.—Cramp in stomach after eating.
Female Sexual Organs Dysmenorrhoea, with severe pains through the lumbar and hypogastric region and down the legs; fulness of the brain and bowels, with severe pain through the whole head, causing stupor, deep sleep; varicose veins.—Active uterine haemorrhage blood bright red.—Metrorrhagia, passive flow, venous blood; anaemia.—Amenorrhoea, vicarious bleeding from nose or stomach; costive; varices on legs.—Leucorrhoea, great tenderness of vagina; flow bloody.—Vaginismus, intense soreness; prurigo of vulva.—Ovaritis after a blow; diffused agonised soreness over the whole abdomen; menses irregular; < at time of menses; retention of urine.—Phlegmasia alba dolens.—Sore nipples.
Respiratory Organs Hoarse on arising; awoke hoarse.—When lying, felt a smothering sensation.—Tickling cough, taste of blood on awaking.—Dry cough, severe stinging in the uvula, as if it would break.—Expectoration thick, yellowish or greenish grey, tasting putrid.
Neck And Back Sore pain down the cervical vertebrae.—Dull pain, constantly under angle of l. scapula.—(Rheumatism of scapula.).—Tearing pains across small of back. with fulness of joints of legs.—Small of back feels as if it would break.
Limbs Tired feeling in arms and legs.—Great lassitude and weariness of the limbs and elsewhere.—Rheumatism, with great soreness of the muscles.
Sleep Restlessness at night.—Uneasy, restless morning sleep.—Emissions of semen during sleep.
Fever Chilly on going to bed; dreaded an attack of fever.—Cold creeps in the open air, chills run up the legs, head stopped up, dull pain over orbit.—Chilliness over back and hips, extending down the extremities.—Fever at night; hands hot, burning in the eyelids on closing them.—Sweats freely at night, after lying down.—Pulse accelerated; full.

Books*
Antidoted by Arnica Montana, Camphora, Cinchona Officinalis +1
Complementary Ferrum, Ferrum Metallicum
Follows well —
Compare Arnica Montana, Calendula Officinalis, Chloralum Hydratum +25

* Number of books that state the relation, where more than one. Historical text from the classical materia medica (1828–1950). Not medical advice, and not a claim that any remedy works.
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