Nux vomica [Nux-v]
is a remedy influencing both in glandular secretion and muscular tone of the digestive organs. Among causes of dyspepsia are mental overwork, sedentary occupations, high living and dissipation, and these are all keynote symptoms of Nux vomica. This drug will be thought of when the patient is “cranky” and irascible, when he is drowsy and stupid in the evening, feels miserable in the morning and has a dull frontal headache.
This headache is a constant element in Nux disease. With Nux the food and drink taste normal, and the gastric and abdominal disturbances do not commence immediately after eating as under Lycopodium and Nux moschata, but come on half an hour or so after meals, especially the dinner. There is often nausea, empty retching, scanty, sour or bilious vomiting, water brash, sour, bitter, metallic or putrid taste, and there is vertigo. All these symptoms are aggravated in the morning, and there is also an after dinner aggravation. Headache usually attends the gastric disturbances of Nux. In the flatulent and pituitous dyspepsia of drunkards Nux usually precedes Carbo vegetabilis and Sulphur. Kali bichromicum is more often indicated in the dyspepsia of beer drinkers. It is well indicated in dyspepsia when there is a feeling as if digestion had stopped after a meal eaten with relish and the food lies like a load; the distress comes sooner than the with Nux vomica.
The appetite is impaired, the patient does not want even his accustomed stimuli, or there may be an abnormal hunger, and this abnormal hunger usually precedes an attack of dyspepsia, which attack may sometimes be avoided by attention to diet as soon as this symptom of abnormal hunger appears, which it usually does some twenty-four to thirty-six hours previous. This is a symptom of a misused stomach. The eructations of Nux are painful, bitter or sour. The nausea is especially after a meal. The stomach is sensitive to pressure and to tight clothing, and the patient will say:”If I could only vomit I would feel much better.” In the distress after eating we must compare Nux with Abies nigra, which has a pain coming on immediately after eating , and with Kreosote, which has the symptom that three or four hours after eating the patient vomits. Nux has also gastric irritability with pains radiating in various directions from the epigastrium which are worse in the morning. Bismuth has burning and lancinating pains of a purely nervous character,a pure gastralgia, with spasmodic vomiting. Nux has an abnormal thirst, and there is distention even after a light meal and a very characteristic sensation of a lump or a load in the stomach. This oppresses the brain and soon develops flatulence. Mercurius has a deathly faintness at the pit of the stomach. Calcarea carbonica has a tenderness at the pit of the stomach. Lycopodium has a pain in the pit of the stomach when the hypochondria are pressed and a pain in the hyponchondria when the pit of the stomach is pressed; there is fullness even after a light meal, but Lycopodium does not have the intestinal irritability of Nux. Sepia, Sulphur and Natrum carbonicum have an all gone sensation at the pit of the stomach worse at 11 A.M. The pains of Arsenicum are burning and the dyspepsia of Pulsatilla is especially after rich and fat food. Waterbrash is more characteristic of Nux, while heartburn is more characteristic of Pulsatilla. Atonic dyspepsia with a putrid taste in the mouth in the morning compelling the patient to rinse out the mouth, with a desire for beer and bitters, and an aversion to coffee will strongly indicate Nux, and when Nux fails to act perhaps the best remedy is Carbo vegetabilis. The tongue of Nux is coated, white usually, and this coating is more on the posterior part; the front half of the tongue may be clean. Dr. Dyce Brown finds that when the gastric symptoms are prominent the lower dilutions act better, but if constipation be present the higher ones are to be preferred. It acts better when given in the evening.
Pulsatilla. [Puls]
No remedy in the old school corresponds to Pulsatilla. Dryness of the mouth, putrid taste in the morning on awakening and a sensation as if food had lodged under the sternum are characteristics of this remedy. The tongue is coated with thick, rough, white fur, there is acidity and heart burn, food tastes bitter, sour or putrid, there is waterbrash and eructations tasting of food and absence of thirst only a desire to moisten the mouth. There is often a constant taste of food in the mouth as if it had in the stomach a long time after eating it.
A bad taste is a special indication for Pulsatilla. There is craving for lemonade and aversion to fats which aggravate. About one or, more often, two hours after eating there is a feeling of fullness and weight in the epigastrium which is relieved for a short time by eating, being here similar to Anacardium. The characteristic of the flatulence of Pulsatilla is that it moves about and often cause painful sensations about the chest,and which are relieved by eructations or the passage of flatus. Pulsatilla, as remarked by Hahnemann, is especially useful for the dyspepsias arising from fatty foods, pork, pastry or mixed diets, being here like Ipecac, or from chilling the stomach with ice cream or ice water, being here like Arsenic and Carbo vegetabilis.The circulation is disturbed and the patient is always chilly and, strange to say, worse from heat. After meals there is violent palpitation; the action of the heart is apt to be irregular and it is difficult to convince such patients sometimes that they have not heart disease. Remember its power of acting on mucous membranes and increasing the quantity of mucous formed by them. This mucus in the stomach easily undergoes decomposition and acts as a frequent upon the food; hence nausea, acidity, foul eructations, and the pain arises from the irritating nature of the contents of the stomach rather than from mere bulk and weight which produces the Nux pain. Nearly always in dyspeptic troubles calling for Pulsatilla there will be headache which are supraorbital and worse in the evening and from warmth. The patient is mentally active and this keeps him awake for hours after retiring; the sleep is dreamy and the patient awakes tired and listless. To distinguish between Nux and Pulsatilla is rather easy; firstly, the mental condition are not at all similar; the patient in Pulsatilla with digestive troubles in despondent, apprehensive, and lachrymose. Nux is despondent, but at the same time irascible and domineering. Pulsatilla is worse in the evening. Nux is worse in the morning and after dinner. Pulsatilla has more heartburn and Nux more waterbrash. From other drugs Pulsatilla is easily distinguished . The clean tongue and intense nausea of Ipecac will separate that remedy. Antimonium crudum is especially indicated in those who have overloaded the stomach and have eructations tasting of food, vomiting,and especially a tongue thickly coated white, which should distinguish. It pictures atonic gastric catarrh, vomiting predominates, after pickles, sour things etc. It has nausea of a loathing variety, food is repugnant, depressed vitality is always prominent.
Kali carbonicum. [Kali-c]
Kali carbonicum is indicated where the system is broken down by loss of fluids or protracted illness, as in China or Carbo vegetabilis. Dyspepsia of the aged or weak, anaemic and easily exhausted patients with tired feelings and backache is met by Kali carbonicum. Before eating there is a faint sinking feeling in the epigastrium out of proportion to the feeling of vacuity caused by hunger, with sour eructations, heartburn and a peculiar weak nervous sensation. The patient is sleepy while eating. After meals there is an undue flatulent distention of the abdomen. Everything which he eats seems to turn into gas, which is the same as under Argentum nitricum and Iodine. The belching is putrid and is similar to Carbo vegetabilis, in that relieves; there may also be intense pains in the spine. All the stomach symptoms of Kali carbonicum are aggravated by soup or by coffee. There is a desire for sugar and sweets.
Sulphur. [Sulph]
Sulphur is a wonderful remedy in dyspepsia, but its value is seldom appreciated. It has bitter or sour taste and putrid eructations, sour vomiting, congested liver, and like Nux, constipation. It is useful in the flatulent dyspepsia of those who drink heavily,and it has a feeling of satiety after eating a small quantity of food, being in the former symptom like Carbo vegetabilis and in the latter like Carbo vegetabilis, Lycopodium and Sepia. It is aggravated from starchy food like both Natrum carbonicum and Natrum sulphuricum. There is a ravenous desire for sweets which make him sick; only one other remedy has this, and that is Argentum nitricum, which has a diarrhea caused by it, while under Sulphur sweets cause a sour stomach and heartburn. The Sulphur patient also craves alcohol, and milk, contrary to custom,increases the acidity of the stomach and causes vomiting; he also has aversion to meat. There is canine hunger; the patient can hardly wait for meals and is forced to get up at night to eat, which is like Phosphorus, and when he eats he feels puffed up; or else there is loss of appetite. If we have the general characteristics of Sulphur present, the hot flashes, the hot head and cold feet, the early morning diarrhea, the “cat nap” like sleep, the aversion to washing etc., the choice will be easy. ” Drinks much, eats little,” is a good Sulphur indication. Robinia causes excessive acidity, one of our best remedies in hyperchlorhydria. Vomiting sour. Starch digestion is impeded. It has burning in epigastrium. When stomach is empty frontal headache, frequent acid eructations. Colic sometimes sufficient to cause the patient to double up. Capsicum is very useful in gastric hyperchlorhydria, chronic pyrosis. Dr. Cartier praises this remedy highly in hyperacidity, he prefers the 3 and dilutions.
Phosphorus. [Phos]
Phosphorus corresponds to rumination and regurgitation. Craving for cold food and cold drinks is characteristic of Phosphorus, and they relieve momentarily, but are vomited as soon as they become warm in the stomach; spitting up of blood without nausea is also common. The gone, weak feeling in the stomach at 11 A.M., which we find under Sepia, Sulphur and Natrum carbonicum, is also present under Phosphorus, and here it also extends to the bowels. There are sour eructations, and as a concomitant we have sometimes the characteristic burning of this remedy, between the scapulae. The tongue has projecting papillae, a verified symptom, and is white more along the middle, as in Bryonia. As in Sulphur, the patient hungry at night and lies awake until he gets something to eat. It is a useful remedy in the vomiting of chronic dyspepsia; the patient vomits as soon as the food strikes the stomach. Bismuth also has the symptom that the patient vomits as soon as the food strikes the stomach; with this remedy, too, there is much pain and burning. Phosphorus has a special relation to destructive and disintegration processes,and hence is one of the remedies for cancers, indurations, erosions, etc.; a burning, gnawing, circumscribed pain is characteristic. Rapid loss of flesh and anaemia are also symptoms. The 3d potency has seemed to act well. Geranium maculatum in tincture is an excellent remedy to control haemorrhage from the stomach.
Argentum nitricum. [Arg-n]
Argentum nitricum must be remembered in stomach affections. (1) Its flatulence; it has lots of it, hence violent belching and great relief therefrom. The patient for a long time may not be able to belch, but when he does succeed in so doing the flatus comes in enormous volume. (2) Pain. It is a gnawing, ulcerative pain referred to the pit of the stomach. From this spot pains radiate in every direction. The least plain food makes the pain worse. Gastralgia, especially in delicate and nervous women; it may be indicated when caused by an emotion, loss of sleep or menstrual trouble. Feeling of a lump in the stomach. Intense spasms of the muscles of the chest. Vomiting of glairy mucus, which can be drawn into strings. Longing for sugar and aggravation from sweets producing diarrhea, etc., Gastric ulcer, the characteristic gnawing pain circumscribed to a small spot, worse from pressure and eating, with vomiting of mucus, blood, etc., indicate it. The sixth centesimal potency is recommended by Jousset. It certainly acts better in the higher potencies. Dioscorea, besides its influence in colic, may be called for in stomach troubles; it is useful in the pyrosis of pregnant women. Ignatia corresponds to sour stomach, nausea and vomiting. Hunger and vomiting may exist at the same time. It is the remedy in the irritable stomachs of hysteria. It is the principal remedy in gastralgia coming on at night or after eating, worse from motion or pressure, excessive flatulence, especially in hysterical subjects. In fact, hysterical symptoms distinguish Ignatia from Nux vomica. Iris versicolor. Here there should be liver involvement, bilious headaches, vomiting of bile, jaundice.
Natrum carbonicum. [Nat-c]
Natrum carbonicum stands between Nux and Sepia; it has the hypochondriasis of Nux, as well as the morning nausea and empty retching; and it has the aversion to household affairs and the sour eructations and the foetid flatulence of Sepia, weak digestion, acid dyspepsia. It has a weak, hungry feeling in the epigastrium at 11 A.M., the same as Sepia, Phosphorus and Sulphur. The Natrum carbonicum patient is especially low-spirited and hypochondriacal after a meal, and the patient is worse after vegetable and starchy foods. There is distention of the abdomen with hardness and fullness as in all the alkalis. Dyspepsia from eating soda biscuits.
Graphites. [Graph]
This remedy has tympanitic destination of the stomach and bowels, the patient being obliged to loosen the clothing as in Lycopodium, carbo vegetabilis, Nux and China. There are burning cramps in the epigastrium and putrid eructations as in Carbo vegetabilis. It has aversion to meat, chilliness, mental symptoms and chlorosis similar to Pulsatilla. It has gastralgia, which is burning, crampy, colicky pain, and is relieved by eating as in Anacardium, Petroleum and Chelidonium. Sweets nauseate and disgust, hot drinks disagree, and there is a rush of blood to the head after eating. The Graphites patient is inclined to obesity and flabbiness, always chilly, and eruptions on the skin characteristic of the drug may be present. There is a disagreeable taste in the morning, as though he had eaten eggs. The aversion to meat is found in all chlorotic remedies, such as Ferrum and China. The flatus of Graphites is rancid or putrid, which will distinguish it from Lycopodium. Graphites is a remedy which stands not be neglected in stomach disorders. Dr. Jousset, the celebrated French homoeopathist, recommends the alternation of Nux and Graphites in most cases of dyspepsia; he gives Nux 12 hours before meals and Graphites 12 hours after meals; and claims that this is all-sufficient in most cases of dyspepsia; this is continued for a period of eight days and resumed after an interval of rest; but this routine method of prescribing cannot be recommended.
#Arsenicum. [Ars]
A grand medicine is gastric disorders, suiting especially” irritative ” dyspepsias and acute inflammation. It corresponds to the stomach irritation, the pains,the sickness , inability to digest food and the want of appetite so often met with in persons of a weekly state. Here, then, will be abdominal pain and diarrhea. The pains are of a burning character, active and sore, patient prostrated. Bryonia has pains soon after food; it seems to lie like a stone in the stomach, but the pains are sharp and cutting and extend to shoulders and back; the complexion is yellow, mouth rather dry and a bitter taste is present; constipation and frontal headaches are accompaniments; gastro-hepatic symptoms and the rheumatic diathesis will decide. The pain of Arsenicum is immediately after taking food, and the irritation is shown throughout the intestinal tract; the tongue is clean, red and looks irritated, pointed. Arsenicum is the remedy for so-called ptomaine poisoning from tainted foods. Hydrastis causes a decided amount of catarrh of the stomach with mucus, sour risings and loss of appetite; the tongue is clean at sides and tip, with a yellow coating down the center. This is considered by Dr. Dyce Brown as an almost certain indication for the remedy. The liver is involved.
1. Lassitude, malaise, depression of spirits.2. The special tongue symptom.3. The gastric uneasiness; a dull epigastric aching.4. Loss of appetite.5. The involvement of the liver. 6. Constipation.
These will clearly indicate Hydrastis, and it is a wonderful remedy in gastric complaints. Arnica. Atony of stomach, painful contractions, fullness after eating.
Anacardium. [Anac]
With this remedy there is a sinking feeling which comes on about two hours after eating, and a dull pain in the stomach extending to the spine, and there are often tasteless or occasional sour eructations. The great characteristic of the remedy is the great relief after eating, the symptoms returning, however, and increasing in intensity until the patient is forced to eat again for relief. Such patients become true “lunch fiends.” There are three other drugs that have prominent relief from eating. They are Petroleum, Chelidonium and Graphites. Petroleum has among its prominent symptoms ravenous hunger and gastralgia relieved by eating, and it is especially called for in long-lingering gastric troubles with a great deal of nausea. Dyspepsia accompanied with diarrhea will sometimes indicate Petroleum. Chelidonium is indicated by its prominent liver symptoms. Anacardium has violent gastralgia, especially at night, and a great urging to stool as in Nux, but, unlike Nux, on going to stool the desire passes away; then, too, here we have the characteristic symptom of a plug in the rectum, which Nux does not have. The gastralgia of Anacardium is relieved by eating, that of Argentum nitricum is worse from eating. Mentally Anacardium has a great deal of hypochondriasis, confusion of mind and loss of memory. The patient is hungry most of the time, and although eating relieves it is only a temporary relief, for really after eating he is worse. Another distinguishing feature between Nux and Anacardium, is the paretic state of the rectum in Anacardium, which Nux lacks. Anacardium also has some flatulence, and the symptom that the patient has to pound his back to start the gas is sometimes met with.#Sepia. [Sep]
Sepia is more often found useful in women, but the symptoms agreeing it may, of course, be used in men. It is a remedy which has the vehemence and irascibility of Nux and the tearful despondency of Pulsatilla, and also the aversion to household affairs more marked than in Natrum muriaticum. Then, too, there are hot flashes as in Sulphur, with hot hands and cold feet, but in Sepia the face is apt to have the characteristic yellow saddle across the nose. There is a white-coated tongue and a sour or putrid taste in the mouth. The most characteristic symptom, however , is a feeling of goneness in the pit of the stomach, which is not relieved by eating. This is similar only to Carbo animals, for in Anacardium, Natrum carbonicum, Phosphoricum and Sulphur this gone sensation is always better after meals. There is nausea at the smell or sight of the food, and Colchicum has nausea at the thought of the food; even mention food and he vomits. The abdomen of Sepia is flatulent and the liver is sore and has sharp pains in it; but here again Sepia is different from all others, for it is relieved by lying on the right side. The urine of Sepia may help to decide between it and Lycopodium and Kali carbonicum, in that while it always deposits a lithic acid sediment it adheres tenaciously to the side and bottom of the vessel and is offensive. The Sepia patient is worse in the forenoon and evening, and there is great longing for acids and pickles. It may be useful in dyspepsias from the overuse of tobacco.
