Rhus Toxicodendron

General

RHUS TOXICODENDRON. [Rhus tox.] Poison Sumac. Hahnemann. Anacardiaceae.

Mind

► Stupefaction, with tingling in head and pains in limbs, better in motion. ► Absence of mind ; forgetful ; difficult comprehension ; cannot remember the most recent events. ► Incoherent talking ; answers hastily or reluctantly, thought seems difficult ; answers correctly but slowly ; cannot hold mind on one subject long enough to answer. ► Low, mild delirium, he is roaming over fields, or hard at work. ► Low-spirited, with prostration ; inclination to weep, especially in the evening with desire for solitude. ► Fears he will be poisoned. ► Anxiety, timidity ; worse at twilight ; restless change of place ; wants to go from bed to bed. ► Satiety of life, with fear of death. ► Thoughts of suicide ; wants to drown himself.

Sensorium

► Giddy, as if intoxicated, when rising from bed ; with chilliness and pressure behind eyes. ► Vertigo in the aged, worse when rising from lying, and from turning or stooping.

Inner Head

► Burning in forehead when walking. ► Feeling as of a strapped board across the forehead. ► Stupefying headache, with buzzing ; worse when sitting or lying ; in the cold, in the morning, from beer ; better from warmth and motion. ► Headache, must lie down ; returns from the least chagrin. ► Rush of blood to head, with humming, formication and throbbing ; face glistening and red ; restless, moving about. ► Brain feels loose, when stepping or shaking the head. ► Stitches extending two ears, root of nose and malar bones, with toothache. ► Aching in occipital protuberance. (See end of 48.). ► Meningitis in exanthematous fevers, or after getting wet ; tingling limbs ; high fever ; restlessness.

Outer Head

► Erysipelas of scalp, left to right, forming vesicles. ► Eruption suppurating, moist, forming thick crusts, offensive, itching ; worse at night ; hair is eaten off ; extends to shoulders. ► Scalp sensitive, worse on side not lain on, when growing warm in bed, from touch and combing the hair back.

Eyes

► Great photophobia, profuse acrid lachrymation in morning and in open air ; the cheek under the eye is dotted with red pimples ; lids spasmodically closed. ► Iritis : in rheumatic or gouty subjects ; suppurative or where the ciliary body and choroid are involved, especially if of traumatic origin. ► Pustules and superficial ulcers on cornea, with great photophobia conjunctiva quite red, even to chemosis. ► Sac-like swelling of conjunctiva, with yellow, purulent discharge. ► Eyes red and agglutinated in morning. ► Lids much swollen and inflamed. ► Eyelids oedematous or erysipelatous, with scattered watery vesicles ; meibomian glands enlarged, cilia fall out. ► Ptosis, also, paralysis of any of the muscles of eyeball, from getting wet ; in rheumatic patients.

Ears

► Hardness of hearing, especially of the human voice. ► Otalgia, with pulsation in ear at night. ► Bloody pus from the ears. ► Parotitis, left side ; especially suppurating, during scarlatina.

Nose

► Loss of smell. ► Epistaxis of coagulated blood, worse at night and when stooping, at stool, or from exertion ; also in typhus, with some relief. ► Spasmodic sneezing. ► Discharge from the nose ; of thick, yellow mucus ; of green, offensive pus ; of yellow ichor, with swollen cervical glands. ► Fever-blisters and crusts under nose. ► Top of nose red and sensitive ; nose sore internally. ► Puffiness of nose.

Face

► Fiery red ; pale, sunken, nose pointed, blue around the eyes. ► Erysipelas from left to right ; face dark red, covered with yellow vesicles ; burning, itching and tingling with the stinging. ► Burning, drawing, tearing in face ; teeth feel too long ; restlessness. ► Milk crust. ► Acne rosacea. ► Impetigo on face and forehead.

Lower Face

► Stiffness of jaws, cracking in articulation of jaw when moving it ; jaw easily dislocated. ► Corners of mouth ulcerated, fever-blisters around mouth ; exanthema on chin.

Teeth

► Painful, with stinging at root of nose, extending to malar bones. ► Teeth feel too long and too lose, feel as if sleep. ► Jumping shooting, as if teeth were being torn out ; or slow pricking, throbbing or tearing, extending into jaws and temples ; face sore ; worse at night, from cold, from vexation, better from external heat ; crusty caries.

Tongue, Etc

► Taste : putrid mornings and after eating ; metallic ; food, especially bread, tastes bitter. ► Tongue : dry, red, cracked ; has a triangular red tip ; white, often on one side ; yellowish ; covered with brown mucus ; takes imprint of teeth.

Mouth

► Mouth dry, with much thirst. ► Saliva bloody ; runs out of mouth during sleep. ► Putrid breath. ► Much tough mucus in mouth and throat.

Throat

► Sore, feels stiff, after straining the throat. ► Tonsil (right) covered with yellow membrane. ► Sticking or stinging pain in tonsils, worse when beginning to swallow. ► Feeling of swelling, with bruised pain ; erysipelatous inflammation ; parotids swollen ; cellulitis of the neck ; drowsiness. ► Difficult swallowing of solids, as from contraction. ► Oesophagitis, especially after corrosive substances.

Desires And Aversions

► Hunger, without appetite. ► No appetite, or wants only dainties. ► Desire for oysters ; sweets ; beer. ► Aversion to spirituous liquors ; to meat. ► Unquenchable thirst, wants cold drinks ; worse at night, from dryness of mouth.

Eating And Drinking

► After eating : 11, 16, 17, 19, 26, 37. Drinking : 40 ; ice water : 16, 17 ; beer : 3, 29, 37 ; coffee : 29 ; alcohol : 29.

Nausea And Vomiting

► Eructations : with nausea ; with tingling in stomach, worse when rising from lying. ► Nausea : after ice water, or after eating, with sudden vomiting ; with inordinate appetite and inclination to vomit ; worse at night and after eating.

Stomach

► Stinging or pulsation in pit of stomach. ► Fulness or heaviness, as from a stone in stomach ; after eating. ► Pain in stomach and nausea, after ice water. ► Pressure in pit of stomach, as if swollen, or as if drawn together.

Abdomen

► Soreness, as if beaten, in hypochondria and still more in abdomen ; worse on the side lain on, when turning and when beginning to move. ► Abdomen bloated, especially after eating. ► Enteritis or peritonitis, with typhoid symptoms. ► Colic, he must walk bent ; worse at night ; also after getting wet. ► Typhlitis. ► Sensation as if something was torn off in abdomen. ► Visible contractions of abdomen above navel.

Stool, Etc

► Stools : watery, mucous and bloody, with nausea, tearing down the thighs, and much tenesmus ; frothy ; white ; painless and undigested ; like the washing of meat ; yellowish-brown, bloody, cadaverous-smelling and involuntary at night (typhoid). ► Nightly diarrhoea, with violent pain in abdomen, relieved after stool or while lying prone. ► Hemorrhoids : sore, blind ; protruding after stool, with pressing in rectum, as if everything would come out. ► Fissure of anus, with periodical, profuse, bleeding piles.

Urine

► Tearing in region of kidneys, oedema ; after exposure to wet. ► Urine : hot, white, muddy ; pale, with white sediment ; dark, becoming turbid. ► Tenesmus vesicae, discharges a few drops of blood-red urine. ► Retention of urine ; backache, restless, cannot keep quiet. ► Urine passed in a divided stream. ► Frequent urging day and night, with increased secretion. ► Urine diminished, though he drinks much. ► Urine voided slowly, spine affected ; from getting wet. ► Urine involuntary at night and while at rest.

Male Sexual Organs

► Erections at night ; or with desire to urinate. ► Swelling of glands and prepuce, dark, red, erysipelatous. ► Scrotum becomes thick and hard, with intolerable itching. ► Oedema of scrotum. ► Humid eruption on genitals and between scrotum and thighs.

Female Sexual Organs

► Menses too early, profuse and protracted ; flow light-colored, acrid, causing biting pain in vulva. ► Amenorrhoea : from getting wet ; with milk in breasts. ► Metrorrhagia ; blood clotted, with labor-like pains. ► Bearing down, when standing or walking, back aches, better lying on something hard ; prolapsus from overexertion or straining. ► Soreness in vagina hindering an embrace. ► External genitals inflamed, erysipelatous.

Pregnancy

► During pregnancy ; discharges of blood ; pelvic articulations stiff when beginning to move. ► Abortion impending from straining or overexertion. ► Lochia vitiated and offensive, lasting too long or often returning. ► Milk leg ; also metritis, after delivery ; with typhoid symptoms. ► Mammae : swell from catching cold, streaks of inflammation ; galactorrhoea ; milk vanishes, with general heat ; milk cakes ; discharges clots of milk and pus.

Larynx

► Hoarse from overstraining the voice. ► Hoarseness and roughness in larynx, with roughness and soreness in chest. ► Hot air arises from trachea. ► Cold sensation in larynx, when breathing.

Breathing

► Oppression : as if the breath was stopped at tip of stomach ; worse after a meal ; anxious, as if not able to draw long breath.

Cough

► Influenza ; air-passages seem stuffed up ; dry, hard, tickling cough ; worse each evening until 12 P.M. ; stiffness in back and limbs. ► Cough : dry, teasing ; caused by tickling in bronchia ; uncovering, even a hand ; with tearing pain in the chest, stitches, profuse sweat and pain in stomach ; worse evening and before 12 P.M. ; or in morning, soon after awaking ; from talking, lying, or sitting still. ► Sputa ; acrid pus ; greyish-green cold mucus, or putrid smell ; pale, clotted or brown blood.

Lungs

► Stitches in chest, worse when at rest, and while sneezing and breathing ; also when sitting crooked. ► Tingling in chest, with tension in intercostal muscles ; worse at rest. ► Pneumonia : with typhoid symptoms, often from re-absorption of pus ; also with tearing cough and restlessness, because quiet makes pain and dyspnoea worse. ► Haemoptysis : from overexertion, blowing wind-instruments ; blood bright ; pain in lower part of chest ; renewed from least mental excitement.

Heart And Pulse

► Uncomplicated hypertrophy, from violent exercise. ► Organic diseases of heart, with sticking pains and soreness ; numbness and lameness of left arm. ► Chest and heart feel weak after a walk ; trembling sensation of the heart. ► Palpitation violent when sitting still. ► Pulse : accelerated, weak, faint and soft ; trembling or imperceptible ; sometimes quicker than the heart's beat ; irregular ; affected by beer, coffee or alcohol.

Neck And Back

► Stiff neck, with painful tension when moving. ► Pains in shoulders and back, with stiffness as from a sprain. ► Curvature of the dorsal vertebrae. ► Spinal membranes inflamed, even myelitis ; from getting wet or sleeping on damp ground. ► Pains in small of back, better lying upon something hard. ► Lumbago.

Upper Limbs

► Tearing and burning in shoulder, arm lame, worse in cold, wet weather, in bed at night and at rest. ► Axillary glands suppurating. ► Hot swelling of hands in evening. ► Rhagades on back of hand. ► Warts on hands. ► Swelling of the fingers. ► Hand-nails.

Lower Limbs

► Coxalgia ; involuntary limping ; pains felt mostly in knee and worse from overexertion ; pain worse at night. ► Spasmodic twitching in limbs when stepping out. ► Sciatica, right side, dull, aching pain, worse at night, in cold or damp weather ; relieved by rubbing, heat and when warmed by exercise ; numbness and formications. ► Paroxysmal pains in legs from getting wet, especially when warm and sweatly. ► Cramps in legs and feet, must walk about. ► Ulcers : on legs, discharging profusely ; on dropsical legs, discharging serum. ► Swollen about ankles after too long sitting ; feet swelling in evening. ► Intolerable itching of legs and feet at night ; old rash.

Limbs In General

► Swelling and stiffness of joints from sprains, over lifting, or overstretching. ► Phlegmonous erysipelas of limbs. ► Rheumatoid pains in limbs ; also with numbness and tingling ; joints weak or stiff, or red shining swelling of joints, stitches when touched ; worse on beginning to move ; after 12 P.M., and in wet, damp weather or places ; better from continued motion. ► Tearing pains in limbs, during rest.

Position, Etc

► Motion : 1, 3, 9, 19, 24, 31, 33, 36, 40. Must change place : 1, 3, 21, 36. Must turn over : 37. Turning : 2, 19. Stooping : 2, 7. Rising : 2, 16. Walking : 3, 23, 29. Stepping : 33. Must walk : 33. Must walk bent : 19. Exertion : 7, 33. Shaking head : 3.

Rest

21, 28, 34, 36. Lying : 3, 20, 23, 27, 31. Must lie down : 3. Sitting : 3, 27, 28, 29, 33. Standing : 23.

Nerves

► Paralysis : after unwonted exertion ; after parturition ; rheumatic, from getting wet or lying on damp ground ; from sexual excesses ; after ague or typhoid ; parts painless ; or painfully stiff and lame, with tearing, tingling and numbness. ► Hemiplegia, right-sided ; sensation as if "gone to sleep". ► Great debility, soreness and stiffness, worse on beginning to move ; better from continuing motion, but soon fatigued, requiring rest again. ► Restlessness, must change position.

Sleep

► Spasmodic yawning, yet hot sleepy, with stitching and pain as from dislocation of jaw. ► Great sleepiness and lassitude after eating. ► Heavy sleep, as from stupor. ► Sleeplessness : from pain, more before 12 P.M., must turn often to find any ease. ► When intoxicated by beer, sleeps with mouth open and head thrown back. ► Dreams of great exertion ; as rowing, swimming, etc.

Time

► Morning : 3, 5, 11, 27. 10 A.M. : 40. Evening : 1, 27, 32, 33, 40. 7 P.M. : 40. Night : 4, 6, 7, 10, 14, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 32, 33, 34. Before 12 P.M. : 27, 37. Day : 21.

Temperature And Weather

► Warmth : 3 ; of bed : 4. Heat : 10, 33. Cold : 3, 10. Uncovering : 27. Cold, open air : 5, 46. Cold, wet weather : 32, 33, 34. Getting wet or damp in cold places : 3, 5, 19, 21, 23, 31, 33, 36, 46.

Chill, Fever And Sweat

► Constant chilliness, as if cold water was poured over him, or as if the blood was running cold through the veins, 7 P.M., feels cold when he moves. ► Before the chill : dry cough ; yawning ; stretching ; maxillary joint feels sprained. ► Chills over the back, worse evenings ; chill increased by drinking. ► Chill, with pains in limbs, restlessness ; pale face, or alternating pale and red face. ► Heat after chill, with sweat which relieves. ► General heat, as from hot water or hot blood running through veins. ► General warmth with slight chills during motion ; face livid. ► During fever, nettle-rash ; thirst, drinking little and often. ► Drowsy, weary, with yawning, 1 A.M., excessive heat without thirst. ► Evening fever, with diarrhoea. ► Sweat with pains ; often with violent trembling. ► Sweat : even during heat ; except on face ; with violent itching of the eruption ; sour ; musty, putrid ; with thirst or thirstlessness.

Sides

► Right : 5, 13, 33, 36, 40. Left : 6, 29. Left to right : 4, 8.

Tissues

► Acts on fibrous tissue. ► Cellulitis. ► Diseases of joints, stiffness ; or when there are stitches in surrounding tendons, with tingling and burning. ► Dropsy, with turbid urine. ► Glands : swollen and hot, painful ; indurated ; suppurating. ► Pain as if the flesh was torn loose from the bones ; or as if the bones were being scraped. ► Inflammation and swelling of long bones.

Contact, Injuries, Etc

► Touch : 4, 34. Rubbing : 33. Straining : 23, 24, 25, 28, 34, 36.

Skin

► Intolerable itching of skin ; red, measly rash all lover. ► Itching all over, worse on hairy parts ; after scratching, burning. ► Urticaria : from getting wet ; during rheumatism ; with chills and fever ; worse in cold air. ► Eruption : herpetic ; with incessant itching, burning and tingling ; alternates with pains in chest and dysenteric stools. ► Eczema : surface raw, excoriated ; thick crusts, oozing and offensive. ► Vesicles upon a red patch or with a spreading, red, erysipelatous base ; internal pruritus followed by pains in the thighs after scratching. ► Pustulous eruption. ► Pemphigus, each bulla with a red areola. ► Erysipelas. ► Erysipelatous inflammations. ► Zona. ► Hardness of the skin, with thickening. ► Carbuncles, bluish, gangrenous. ► Variola, eruption sinks and turns livid ; typhoid symptoms. ► Scarlatina miliaria ; rash dark, fever high ; drowsiness and restlessness. ► Chilblains.

Relationship

► Complementary to Bryon. ► Antidotes to Rhus tox. : Bellad., Bryon., Camphor., Coffea, Crot tig., Sulphur. ► Rhus antidotes : Bryon., Ranunc., Rhodod, Tart. emet. ► After Rhus are frequently indicated : Arsen., Bryon., Calc. ostr., Conium, Nux vom., Phosph. ac., Pulsat., Sulphur. ► Rhus tox. ; is frequently indicated after : Arnic., Bryon., Calc. ostr., Calc. Phosph., Chamom., Laches., Phosph. ac., Sulphur. ► Incompatible with Apis. ► Rhus venenata is preferable in erythema nodosum ; and Rhus radicans in occipital headache ; muscles sore ; better moving and from warmth ; caused by draught, dampness or by internal causes, as in typhoid.