HOMŒOPATHIC MATERIA MEDICA
by William BOERICKE, M.D.
Presented by Médi-T

 

  
PHYSOSTIGMA VENENOSUM
Calabar Bean

This remedy and its active principle, Eserine, form a valuable addition to Materia Medica. Stimulates heart, raises blood pressure, and increases peristalsis. Causes contraction of the pupil and of the ciliary muscles. Induces a condition of short-sightedness. Spinal irritation, loss of motility, prostration, with very sensitive vertebræ Fibrillary tremors. Rigidity of muscles; paralysis. Depresses the motor and reflex activity of the cord and causes loss of sensibility to pain, muscular weakness, followed by complete paralysis, although muscular contractility is not impaired. Paralysis and tremors, chorea. Meningeal irritation, with rigidity of muscles. Tetanus and trismus. Polymyelitis anterior. Eserine is used locally to produce contraction of pupil.

Head.--Constant pain on top; vertigo, with constrictive feeling of head. Pain over orbits; cannot bear to raise eyelids. Cerebro-spinal meningitis; general tetanic rigidity. Spastic conditions of the face-muscles.

Eyes.--Night-blindness (Opposite: Bothrops); photophobia; contraction of pupils; twitching of ocular muscles. Lagophthalmus. Muscæ volitantes; flashes of light; partial blindness. Glaucoma; paresis of accommodation; astigmatism. Profuse lachrymation. Spasm of ciliary muscles, with irritability after using eyes. Increasing myopia. Post-diphtheritic paralysis of eye and accommodation muscles.

Nose.--Fluent coryza; burning and tingling of nostrils; nose stuffed and hot. Fever-blisters around nostrils.

Mouth.--Tongue feels sore on tip. Feeling as if a ball came up throat.

Throat.--Strong heart-pulsation felt in throat.

Stomach.--Great pain immediately after eating. Sensitive to pressure in epigastric region. Pain extends into chest and down arms. Gastralgia; chronic constipation.

Female.--Irregular menstruation, with palpitation. Congestion of eyes. Rigid muscles.

Heart.--Feeble pulse; palpitation; spasmodic action, with feeling pulsation through the whole body. Beats of heart distinctly perceptible in chest and head. Fluttering of heart felt in throat. Fatty degeneration (Cup ac).

Extremities.--Pain in right popliteal space. Burning and tingling in spine. Hands and feet numb. Sudden jerking of limbs on going to sleep. Tetanic convulsions. Locomotor ataxia. Numbness in paralyzed parts, crampy pains in limbs.

Relationship.--Compare: Eserine-the alkaloid of Physostigma--(slows action of heart and increases arterial tension; in ciliary spasm and spasmodic astigmatism due to irregular action of ciliary muscles; blepharo-spasms; pupils contracted. Twitching of lids, soreness of eyeballs, blurring of vision after using eyes, pains around eyes and head). Used locally to contract the pupil. Eserine contracts the pupils dilated by Atropin, but not those dilated by Gelsemium. Internally 6x.

Eserin Salicylate (post-operative intestinal paralysis; meteorism. Hypodermically 1/60-1/40 gr).

Compare also: Muscarin; Conium; Curare; Gels; Thebainum (tetanus); Piperazinum--(Uric acid conditions. Pruritus. Gout and urinary calculi. Constant backache. Skin dry, urine scanty. Rheumatic urthritis. Give one grain daily in carbonated water. First and second decimal trituration three times a day).

Antidote: Atropia. In full medicinal doses will relieve most of the effects of physostigmine.

Dose.--Third potency. The neutral sulphate of Eserine is instilled into the eye, from one-half to four grains to one ounce distilled water, to induce contraction of pupil, in mydriasis, injuries to the eye, iritis, corneal ulcers, etc.

 

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