Hidden Gems of Materia Medica: Exploring Rare and Small Remedies

Abstract 

Homeopathy as a system of medicine primarily deals with the concept of totality but with the emerging problems of lifestyle & health issues we come to a conclusion that there is a need of some medicines that give good result in acute complaints when there is lack of symptoms, in chronic cases that are one sided these medicines play a vital role in curing it. Rare Medicines that are generally used are given in the form of lower potencies that is trituration or mother tincture. Today’s extensive use of homoeopathy in daily life marks the quick effect of these rare or small remedies and their recurrent use in clinical practice helps in exploring the hidden qualities of the medicine.

Keyword 

Homeopathy, Remedies, Rare Medicines.

Introduction

In homoeopathic Materia medica there are various medicines that are prescribed but mostly these medicines are polychrest drugs which are selected on symptom similarity of the case. But looking over the rarely used small remedies and their efficacy over the diseased conditions we can surely say that they act as hidden gems of Materia medica.

Rare medicines also known as lesser-known, uncommon, or infrequently prescribed remedies are remedies that are not commonly used in daily practice, but can be very powerful and effective when the patient’s symptoms match them accurately.

In conditions where there are one sided disease or paucity of symptoms in chronic cases to make totality, in acute cases when prescription can be made on two or three most valuable symptoms use of these rare remedies should be done frequently thus when the well selected remedy fails, we can use them from Materia medica.

When a medicine is considered as rare – 

1. It is infrequently prescribed
2. It has limited proving or clinical cases
3. Its indications are very specific or peculiar
4. It is derived from uncommon sources (plants, animals, minerals, imponderables)

Usefulness or benefits of exploring rare remedies – 

1. Small remedies have specific action on the specific complaints of a patient.
2. When there is paucity of symptoms rare remedies give good results.
3. In cases of disorders or where patients couldn’t describe his complaints.
4. When patient is not available or on a telephonic consultation and treatment is given.
5. Chronic cases when the disease is irreversible palliative treatment can be given through rare remedies.
6. In cases where quick response is needed.

Access to these rare remedies can be made from the work of E.A. Farrington, J.C. Burnett, W.E. Boricke, J.H. Clarke & C.M. Boger who had a clinically oriented prescription.

In the books based on clinical materia medica discussion is emphasized on therapeutic aspect with other symptoms.

By this method of prescription, the symptoms are classified as basic and diagnostic. The application of this principle operates at two levels: –

1.  The medicines which are not overtly indicated for a particular diagnostic condition are tentatively ruled out from consideration in prescription.
2. The diagnostic criteria are reckoned as bench marks. The symptoms which can be equated with the result of a pathogenetic process, represents the effects of the pathogenesis.

The symptoms which are actively attributable to the pathogenesis, i.e., those relating to the aetiology, sustenance or modification of the disease phenomenon in the patient, assume a greater significance.

What is the need of pathogenetic power of rare medicine?

1. Dr. Hahnemann explained that physician must have knowledge of pathogenetic power of medicines, to achieve the cure from diseases. 
2. In Aphorism 105 Dr. Hahnemann told that, to acquiring a knowledge of the instruments intended for the cure of the natural disease, investigating the pathogenetic power of the medicines, in order, when called on to cure, to be able to select from among them one. 
3. In Aphorism 106 the whole pathogenetic effect of the several medicines must be know. 

Reference of use of rare medicine – 

        Adrenalinum –

• Acute congestion of lungs, Asthma, Grave’s and Addison’s diseases, arterio-sclerosis, chronic aortitis, angina pectoris, hæmophilia chlorosis, hay fever, serum rashes, acute urticaria, etc. 
• Dr. P. Jousset reports success in treating, homoeopathically, cases of angina and of aortitis, sub-acute and chronic. 

          Ambrosia Artemisiaefolia – 

• Hay-fever, lachrymation and intolerable itching of the eye-lids. 
• Watery coryza; sneezing; watery discharge. 
• Nosebleed. Stuffed up feeling of nose and head. 
• Irritation of trachea and bronchial tubes, with asthmatic attacks. Wheezy cough.
• Smart and burn. Lachrymation.

          Anthracokali –

• Skin affections, scabies, prurigo, chronic herpes, cracks and ulcerations. 
• Papular-like eruption with a vesicular tendency, especially on scrotum, also on hands, tibia, shoulders and dorsum of feet. 
• Intense thirst. Chronic rheumatism. 
• Bilious attacks, vomiting of bile, tympanic distention of abdomen.

          Artemisia Vulgaris- 

• Has some reputation as a remedy for epileptic conditions, and convulsive diseases of childhood and girls at puberty. Locally and internally is injurious to eyes. 
• Petit mal. Epilepsy without aura; after fright and other violent emotions and after masturbation. Several convulsions close together. 
• Somnambulism. 
• Gets up at night and works, remembers nothing in the morning.
• Drawn back by spasmodic twitching. Mouth drawn to left. Congestion of brain. Coloured light produces dizziness. Pain and blurring of vision; better; rubbing; worse, using eyes.
• Profuse menses. Violent uterine contractions. Spasms during menses.
• Profuse sweat, smelling like garlic.

          Alteria Frinosa –

• Marked anæmia. Chlorotic girls and pregnant women.
• Premature and profuse menses, with labor-like pains. 
• Retarded and scanty flow. 
• Uterus seems heavy, Uterine prolapse
• Habitual tendency to abortion. 
• Muscular pains during pregnancy.

          Botulinum– 

• Food poisoning from canned spinach produced a clinical picture suggested in a bulbar paresis.
• Eye symptoms, ptosis, double vision, blurred vision.
• Difficulty in swallowing and breathing, choking sensation; weakness and uncertainty in walking, “blind staggers”, dizziness, thickening of speech. Cramping pain in stomach.
• Mask-like expression of face, due to weakness of facial muscles. Severe constipation

Colostrum – 

• Diarrhoea in infants.
• The whole-body smells sour. 
• Colic

 Daphne Indica –

• Acts on lower tissues, muscles, bones and skin. Sudden, lightning jerks in different parts of the body. Craving for tobacco. Burning in stomach. Parts of the body feel separated. Fetid breath, urine, sweat.
• Feels as if skull would burst; as if head were separated from body. Heat in head, especially in vertex. Tongue coated on one side only. Foul-smelling, ptyalism hot.
• Thick, turbid, yellowish, like rotten eggs.
• Right toe swollen, painful. Pain shoots upward into abdomen and heart. Rheumatic pains in thighs and knees. Cold feeling on buttocks. Shooting pains, shift rapidly worse, cold air.
• Entire inability to sleep; sometimes caused by aching in bones. Dreams, with nightmare. Dreams of cats, black cats. Starting on falling to sleep with chilliness and clamminess.

             Dolichos Pruriens- 

• A right-sided medicine, with pronounced liver and skin symptoms. A general intense itching without eruption. Exalted nervous sensibility. Senile pruritus. 
• Pain in throat, worse swallowing, below right angle of jaw, as if splinter were imbedded vertically. Pain in gums prevents sleep.
• Colic from getting feet wet. Constipation, with intense itching; bloated abdomen. White stools. Swelling of liver. Haemorrhoid, with burning sensation.
• Intense itching, with no swelling or rash; worse across shoulders, also about elbows and knees and hairy parts. Jaundice. Yellow in spots; itching excessively at night. Herpes zoster.

           Eupatorium Purpureum –

• Albuminuria, diabetes, strangury, irritable bladder, enlarged prostate are a special field for this remedy. 
• Excellent in renal dropsy. Chills and pains run upwards. Impotency and sterility. Homesickness.
• Left-sided headache with vertigo. Pain from left shoulder to occiput. Sick headache beginning in morning, worse afternoon and evening, worse in cold air.
• Deep, dull pain in kidneys. Burning in bladder and urethra on urinating. Insufficient flow; milky. Strangury. Haematuria. Constant desire; bladder feels dull. Dysuria. Vesical irritability in women. Diabetes insipidus.
• Weight and heaviness in loins and back.
• Pain around left ovary. Threatened abortion. External genitals feel as though wet.
• No thirst during chill, but much frontal ache. Chill commences in back. Violent shaking, with comparatively little coldness. Bone-pains.

          Erigeron Canadense –

• Persistent hæmorrhage from the bladder. 
• Hæmorrhage from the uterus, with painful micturition. Profuse bright-red blood. Pain in left ovary and hip. 
• Chronic gonorrhœa, with burning micturition; continual dribbling. 
• Dysentery, with soreness and burning in bladder. Tympanites.
• Metrorrhagia, with violent irritation of rectum and bladder, and prolapsus uteri. Bright-red flow. 
• Menorrhagia; profuse leucorrhœa; bloody lochia returns after least motion, comes in gushes; between periods, leucorrhœa with urinary irritation; pregnant women with “weak uterus;” a bloody discharge on slight exertion. 
• Bleeding hæmorrhoids; nosebleed instead of menses (Bry).

Fel Tauri

• Increases the duodenal secretion, emulsifies fats and increases the peristaltic action of the intestines. Liquefies bile and acts as a purgative and chologogue. 
• Disordered digestion, diarrhea, and pain in nape of neck are among its chief symptoms. 
• Obstruction of gall ducts. Biliary calculi. Jaundice.
• Eructation, gurgling in stomach and epigastric region. 
• Violent peristaltic movements. 
• Tendency to sleep after eating.

          Filix Mas

• A remedy for worm symptoms, especially with constipation. 
• Tapeworm. Soporific conditions. 
• Blindness, monocular amblyopia.
• Abdomen Bloated. –Gnawing-pain; worse eating sweets. Diarrhaea and vomiting. Worm colic, with itching of nose, pale face, blue rings around eyes. Painless hiccough.

Gentiana lutea

• Stomach symptoms marked. Acts as a tonic, increasing appetite.
• Vertigo, worse, rising or motion; better open air. Frontal headache, better eating and open air. Brain feels loose, head tender. Aching in eyes.
• Throat Dry. Thick saliva.
• Acid risings, ravenous hunger, nausea, weight and aching in stomach. Inflation and tension of stomach and abdomen. Colic, umbilical region sensitive to touch. Flatulence.

Hecla Lava

• Marked action upon the jaws. Of great use in exostosis, gum abscess, difficult teething. Nodosities, caries of bone, etc. Osteitis, periostitis, osteosarcoma; rachitis. Tumours in general. Bone necrosis. Necrosis and sinus after mastoid operation.
• Ulceration of nasal bones. Facial neuralgia from carious teeth and after extraction. Toothache, with swelling about jaws. Abscess of gums. Enlargement of maxillary bone. Cervical glands enlarged and indurated.

Helonias Dioica

• Sensation of weakness, dragging and weight in the sacrum and pelvis, with great languor and prostration, are excellent indications for this remedy. There is a sensitiveness expressed as a consciousness of a womb. Tired, backachy females. The weakness shows itself also in a tendency to prolapse and other malposition of the womb. 
• The menses are often suppressed and the kidneys congested. It seems as if the monthly congestion, instead of venting itself as it should through the uterine vessels, had extended to the kidneys. 
• With it all, there is a profound melancholia. Patient must be doing something to engage the mind. Remember it, for women with prolapsus from atony, enervated by indolence and luxury (better when attention is engaged-hence when the doctor comes), or for those worn out with hard work; tired, strained muscles burn and ache; sleepless. 
• Diabetes mellitus, and insipidus. Constant aching and tenderness over kidneys.

Insulinum

• Besides the use of Insulin in the treatment of diabetes, restoring the lost ability to oxidize carbohydrate and again storing glycogen in the liver, some use of it homoeopathically has been made by Dr. Wm. F. Baker, showing its applicability in acne, carbuncles, erythema with itching eczema. 
• In the gouty, transitory glycosuria when skin manifestations are persistent give three times daily after eating. Given a persistent case of skin irritation, boils or varicose ulceration with polyuria, it is indicated.

Ictodes Foetida (Pothos foetidus)

• For asthmatic complaints; worse from inhaling any dust. Hysteria. Erratic spasmodic pains. “Will-o’-the-wisp” like character of its subjective symptoms and its physometric property are special features (Samuel Jones). Inflation and tension in the abdomen. Millar’s asthma.
• Absent-minded, irritable. Headache in single spots, with violent pulsation of temporal arteries. Outward drawing from glabella. Better in open air (Puls). Red swelling across the bridge of the nose.
• Spasmodic croup. Troublesome respiration, with sudden feeling of anguish and sweat.
• Sneezing, with pain in throat. Pain in chest, with difficult breathing. Tongue feels numb. Asthma; relieved by stool.

Lac Defloratum –

• Car sickness
• Sick Headaches, intense throbbing with nausea, vomiting, blindness & obstinate constipation.
• Constipation, stool hard, large, after great straining.
• Painful, lacerating anus.

Lecithinum –

• Lecithin is important in the vital processes of plant and animal organisms. Lecithin has a favorable influence upon the nutritive condition and especially upon the blood hence its use in anćmia and convalescence, neurasthenia and insomnia. Increasing the number of red corpuscles and amount of hemoglobin. Excellent galactagog, renders milk more nourishing and increases quantity.
• Causes an immediate decrease in the excretion of the phosphates. Mental exhaustion and impotency. Tuberculosis, causing marked improvement in nutrition and general improvement. Tired, weak, short breath, loss of flesh; symptoms of general break-down. Sexually weak.
• Loss of appetite, thirsty, craves wine and coffee; bloated, sore pain in stomach rising toward throat.
• Scanty, with phosphates, sugar or albumen.
• Male power lost or enfeebled. Anaphrodisia and ovarian insufficiency.
• Soreness, aching, lack of energy. Tired and weak.

Lyssinum

(Hydrophobinum)

• Affects principally the nervous system; aching in bones. Complaints from abnormal sexual desire. Convulsions brought on by dazzling light or sight of running water.
• Lyssophobia; fear of becoming mad. Emotion and bad news aggravate; also, thinking of fluids. Hypersensitiveness of all senses. 
• Constant spitting; saliva tough, viscid. Sore throat; constant desire to swallow, which is difficult; gagging when swallowing water. Froths at mouth.
• Lascivious; priapism, with frequent emissions. No emission during coition. Atrophy of testicles. Complaints from abnormal sexual desire.
• Uterine sensitiveness; conscious of womb. Feels prolapsed. Vagina sensitive, rendering coition painful. Uterine displacements.
• Voice altered in tone. Breathing held for a time. Spasmodic contraction of respiratory muscles.
• Desire for stool on hearing or seeing running water. Profuse, watery stools, with pain in bowels; worse, evening. Constant desire to urinate on seeing running water.

Malandrinum

• A very effectual protection against smallpox. Ill effects of vaccination. 
• Efficacious in clearing of the remnants of cancerous deposits.
• Scab on upper lip, with stinging pain when torn off. Aching in forehead. Dry, scaly; itching; rhagades of hands and feet in cold weather and from washing. Toes feel scalded and itch terribly. Bone-like protuberances.

Mentha Piperita

• Stimulates the cold-perceiving nerves, so just after taking it, a current of air at the ordinary temperature seems cold. 
• Marked action on respiratory organs and skin. Useful in gastrodynia, flatulent cold.
• Voice husky. Tip of nose to touch. Throat dry and sore, as if pin crosswise in it. 
• Dry cough, worse from air into larynx, tobacco smoke, fog, talking; with irritation in suprasternal fossa. Trachea painful to touch.

Myristica Sebifera

• A remedy of great antiseptic powers. 
• Inflammation of skin, cellular tissue and periosteum. Traumatic infections. Parotitis. Fistulas. Carbuncles. Specific action in panaritium. Pain in the finger nails with swelling of the phalanges. Hands are stiff, as if from squeezing something a long time. Coppery taste and burning in throat. Tongue white and cracked. Phlegmonous inflammations. Hastens suppuration and shortens its duration. Often does away with use of the knife. Inflammation of middle ear, suppurative stage. Fistula in ano. Acts more powerfully often than Heper or Silica.

Oleum Jecoris Aselli – 

• Hoarseness. 
• Sharp stitching pains. 
• Burning spots. Dry, hacking, tickling cough, especially at night. 
• Whooping-cough in miserable, scrofulous children. 
• Soreness through chest. 
• Haemoptysis 
• Palpitation, accompanies other symptoms. 
• Children who cannot take milk.

Oleum Santali – 

• The action in the urinary and sexual spheres is most utilizable, especially in gonorrhśa. 
• It is also a stimulating, disinfectant expectorant. 
• Two or three drops on sugar will frequently relieve the hacking cough, when but little sputum is expectorated.

          Opuntia Ficus – 

• Diarrhœa, with nausea. 
• Feels as if bowels were settled down in lower abdomen. 
• Sick feeling in lower third of abdomen. 
• Enteroptosis with loose and frequent evacuations.

          Pix liquida

• A great cough medicine. Bronchial irritation after influenza. Scaly eruptions. Much itching. Constant vomiting of blackish fluid, with pain in stomach. Alopecia.
• Pain at a spot about the third left costal cartilage where it joins the rib. Rales through the lungs, and muco-purulent sputum; offensive odor and taste. Chronic bronchitis.
• Cracked; itches intolerably; bleeds on scratching. Eruptions on back of hands.

          Quebracho (Aspidosperma)

• The digitalis of the lungs. 
• Removes temporary obstruction to the oxidation of the blood by stimulating respiratory centers, increasing oxidation and excretion of carbonic acid. 
• Pulmonary stenosis. Thrombosis of pulmonary artery. 
• An effective remedy in many cases of asthma. It stimulates the respiratory centers and increases the oxygen in the blood. “Want of breath” during exertion is the guiding symptom. Cardiac asthma.

          Quercus Glandibus

• Used first by Rademacher for chronic spleen affections; spleen-dropsy. 
• Antidotes effects of Alcohol. 
• Vertigo; deafness, with noises in head.
• Takes away craving for alcoholics; give dose as below for several months. 
• Dropsy and liver affections. Useful in gout, old malarial cases with flatulence.

Skookum chuck aqua – 

• Has strong affinity for skin and mucous membranes-An anti-psoric medicine.
• Otitis media. Profuse, ichorous, cadaverously smelling discharge. Lithemia. Catarrh. Urticaria. Skin affections. Eczema. Dry skin. Hay-fever. Profuse coryza and constant sneezing.

Urea pura – 

Tuberculosis. Lumps. Enlarged glands. Renal dropsy, with symptoms of general intoxication. Gouty eczema. Albuminuria, diabetes; urćmia. Urine thin and of low specific gravity. A hydrogogue diuretic in the treatment of dropsies. 10 grains every 6 hours.

          Uva ursi – 

• Urinary symptoms most important. Cystitis, with bloody urine. Uterine hæmorrhage. Chronic vesical irritation, with pain, tenesmus, and catarrhal discharges. Burning after the discharge of slimy urine. Pyelitis. Calculous inflammation. Dyspnœa, nausea, vomiting, pulse small and irregular. Cyanosis. Urticaria without itching.
• Frequent urging, with severe spasms of bladder; burning and tearing pain. Urine contains blood, pus, and much tenacious mucus, with clots in large masses. Involuntary; green urine. Painful dysuria.

Vaccininum – 

• Vaccine poison is capable of setting up a morbid state of extreme chronicity, named by Burnett Vaccinosis, symptoms like those of Hahnemann’s Sycosis. Neuralgias, inveterate skin eruptions, chilliness, indigestion with great flatulent distension (Clark). Whooping-cough.
• Irritable, impatient ill-humored, nervous.
• Frontal headache. Forehead and eyes feel as if split. Inflamed and red lids.
• Hot and dry. Pimples and blotches. Eruption like variola.

          X-ray – 

• Repeated exposure to Roentgen (X-ray) has produced skin lesions often followed by cancer. Distressing pain. Sexual glands are particularly affected. Atrophy of ovaries and testicles. Sterility. Changes take place in the blood lymphatics and bone marrow. Anæmia and leukæmia. Corresponds to stubbornness as in burns, they refuse to heal. Psoriasis.
• Has the property of stimulating cellular metabolism. Arouses the reactive vitality, mentally and physically. Brings to the surface suppressed symptoms, especially sycotic and those due to mixed infections. Its homeopathic action is thus centrifugal, towards the periphery.
• Sticking pains in different parts of head and face. Dull pain in right upper jaw. Stiff neck. Sudden cricks in neck, pains more severe behind ears. Pain in muscles of neck when lifting head from pillow. Fullness in ears, ringing in head.
• Tongue dry, rough, sore. Throat painful on swallowing. Nausea.
• Lewd dreams. Sexual desire lost. Re-establishes suppressed gonorrhœa.
• Rheumatic pains. General tired and sick feeling. Palms rough and scaly.
• Dry, itching eczema. Erythema around roots of nails. Skin dry, wrinkled. Painful cracks. Warty growths. Nails thicken. Psoriasis.

          Yohimbinum – 

• Excites sexual organs and acts on central nervous system and respiratory center. 
• An aphrodisiac, used in physiological doses, but contraindicated in all acute and chronic inflammations of abdominal organs. 
• Homeopathically, should be of service in congestive conditions of the sexual organs. Causes hyperćmia of the milk glands and stimulates the function of lactation. Menorrhagia.

Co- Author

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