Berberis Aquifolium

NAT. ORD., Berberidaceae



COMMON NAMES, Oregon grape. Mountain grape.



PREPARATION.--The fresh root and stem is pounded to a pulp and macerated

in two parts by weight of alcohol.



(This unintentional proving was published in August,

1896, under the signature J. d. W. C. The paper referred

to by J. d. W. C. was a clipping from the Eclectic

Medical J urnal.)



In the Homoeopathic Recorder for March, 1896, p. 133, there appears

an interesting article on the virtues of the plant named above--it

starts out with: "From the fact that it will make a 'new' man of an old

one in a short time it is an excellent remedy."



As I am now over sixty years old, it seemed high time to cast about for

something possessing the virtue specified, viz., making "a 'new' man out

of an old one"--and to my knowledge, as I have never had five days'

illness confining me to bed, or even to my room, during the said sixty

years, I considered myself an easy subject for the contemplated

rejuvenation; besides all this, I am what some would call a

homoeopathic "crank;" and believed, and yet believe, if there be

anything that can effect such a transformation it is to be found only

within the lines of Homoeopathy, I immediately ordered quantum suf. of

the article in question from the celebrated firm of Boericke & Tafel,

and started out on the trip to the "Fountain of Youth" in full

confidence that something would come of it.



The first day I took two doses mother tincture 10-15 drops each; no

special effect noticed--no youthfulness either! Second day, ditto; third

day, one dose in morning; after bank hours went to friend's sanctum and

engaged in a game of chess, and while so engaged felt a growing sense of

nausea and thick-headedness--so much so, that I was obliged to excuse

myself and hurry to my own quarters. Berberis, however, did not once

occur to me--I had scarce reached my room when the sense of nausea

(seven minutes' lively walk, since it became really oppressive) had

full sway, and having eaten nothing whatever since the previous

evening (as I do not eat unless I am hungry) the straining was rather

severe, but exactly similar to some previous attacks of

"biliousness"--in feeling, and color and taste of discharges--and still

Berberis did not occur to me; as soon as the strain was over I was

seized with a remarkable and peculiar headache; a thing of which I have

no recollection whatever to have previously experienced in any

shape--the sensation was that of a strong, well-defined, compressive

band of iron (or some unyielding substance), about two inches wide,

passing entirely round the head, just above the ears--it kept on

growing tighter and tighter; I jumped from the reclined position on a

couch, wet a folded towel in cold water, and passed it round my head so

as to cover the "band;" but it gave little relief; about 10 o'clock I

began to think over what I might have eaten to disagree with me so, and

at last Berberis came plump into sight; I at once prepared a cup of

strong, strong coffee (Hahnemann's antidote, and for which I had to send

to a neighbor), believing it would antidote the Berberis (or rather

hoping it might), and about 12 o'clock there was a slight diminution of

pressure; then more coffee, black and strong, two or three mouthfuls,

and again laid down; by morning the serious phase of the headache had

disappeared, but I was exceedingly tremulous in nerves and unsteady in

gait up to noon, when I ventured on some oatmeal and syrup--habitually,

I do not eat meat, or drink tea or coffee, nor spirituous liquors, nor

use tobacco, and have not for over thirty years.



Finally, I "made a good recovery," and now whenever I have a sensation

of biliousness I touch my tongue to my finger after touching the cork of

the mother tincture bottle of Berberis aqui.; with laid finger--and

have no trouble compared to what I have usually had--I believe I may

say, I am subject to bilousness by heredity, but it has removed much

thereof, and this remedy, I think, is good enough for the remainder.