Wyethia Helenioides
NAT. ORD., Compositae.
COMMON NAME, Californian compass plant.
PREPARATION.--One part of the fresh root is macerated in two parts by
weight of alcohol.
(The following, by Dr. J. M. Selfridge, Oakland, Cal.,
was published in Pacific Coast Journal of
Homoeopathy, April, 1899:)
There is probably no State in the Union where there is a great
r number
of valuable remedies to be found than in the State of California. These
remedies are waiting to be proved by those of us who have sufficient
enthusiasm and who are willing to take the trouble and make what
sacrifice is necessary to accomplish so desirable a result. I know it
has been said that we have too many remedies which have not been
properly proven. While this is doubtless true, it is equally true that
many of the new remedies which have been introduced within the memory of
some of us are absolutely indispensable in the treatment of certain
forms of disease.
There is another reason why these California remedies should become a
part of our armamentarium. It is claimed by Teste and others that where
certain forms of disease prevail there, or in that vicinity, the
curative remedy may be found.
Again, it has been said that there is a remedy somewhere in nature for
every ill to which flesh is heir.
Whether this be true or not, we know there are certain diseases, which,
so far as we are aware, are incurable, for the simple reason that we
know of no remedy that will control the abnormal conditions. This being
true, the incentive ought to be sufficiently great to urge us forward in
the line of knowing more than we now know of the wealth of those
remedies that lie at our very doors. All we know of these drugs, so
far, are mere hints which have been given us by the older inhabitants of
the Coast.
Thus, the Eriodictyon Californicum or "Yerba Santa," has been
suggested for the cure of "poison oak" and for certain bronchial
affections. A partial proving of it was made some years ago under the
supervision of the late Dr. Pease, which can be found in "Allen's
Encyclopaedia," Vol. iv., page 218.
The Micromeria Douglassi, or "Yerba Bueno," is another plant which
should be proved. Many years ago a friend of mine was suffering with a
series of boils, when an old "Spanish woman" directed him to make a tea
of this plant. This he did, and cured his boils; but, as the tea had an
agreeable taste, he continued to drink it, believing, as some do, "that
if little was good, more was better," until finally he became so weak he
could not continue his work.
It was one of these hints that induced me some years ago to make a
proving of Wyethia Helenioides, or "poison weed." Like many other
provings, it was only partial. A schema of it was published in "Allen's
Encyclopaedia," Vol. x., page 168.
Two years ago an attempt was made to secure additional symptoms, which
are given below in the language of the provers, who at that time were
members of the "Organon and Materia Medica Club of the Bay Cities."
At the time of the proving, the potency and the drug were unknown to the
provers.
I. "June 9th, 1896, began taking----, of which I took a drop in a
teaspoonful of water before each meal. First dose 7:35 (did this for
four days); 7:45, feels in nose as if about to sneeze; 7:50, sitting
quietly, a momentary pain on inside of right foot from instep to the
sole; 8:35, stretching and yawning, itching on the left side of the
chin; 4:10 P.M., dry sensation in throat, although mucus is abundant;
5:30 P.M., sensation of dryness and tickling on the edges of eyelids,
such as I felt when a sty was about to appear; sensation of dryness in
throat; 5:35 P.M., a small itching spot on right side of neck; 8 P.M.,
dryness in throat with abundant mucus.
"June 7th.--7:30 A.M., throat sore; 8:35, tingling in right foot when
standing; 11, while in church, sensations of formications in eyelids
with lachrymations; 11:25, pain in the right testicle; 3 P.M.,
despondent; P.M., pain on top of right shoulder midway between neck and
point of shoulder; motion does not affect it.
"June 8th.--Before breakfast, lips feel dry, back of throat (posterior
wall of pharynx) sore, increased flow of tasteless saliva; 10:30, pain
in left ear, itching in left external canthus; 1:30 P.M., mouth full of
sweetish saliva; at lunch bit tongue severely; 9:30 P.M., mouth feels
dry and as if scalded, with desire to drink frequently in order to
moisten it.
"June 9th.--Scalded mouth continues.
"June 12th.--6 A.M., lips feel scalded and swollen.
"June 17th.--Itching in rectum.
"July 4th.--10 A.M., headache in left anterior part of brain, as if
radiated from left inner canthus; 12:30, headache in left occipital
protuberance.
"For several nights waken frequently and too early in the morning,
without any disagreeable consequences.
"July 7th.--A sore hang-nail on third finger of right hand.
(Signed) "A. MCNEIL."
Dr. McNeil took the first decimal dilution. (S.)
II. "June 5th.--Began at 1 P.M., taking a drop before each meal.
"June 6th.--Depressed all forenoon, languid feeling of mind and body;
despondent almost to desperation; irritable, cross, easily angered about
trifles; melancholy about the future, with no reason for it; seemed that
I was forsaken by all my friends and was on the verge of insanity;
bodily uneasiness, unfitting me for any work; felt that I could 'fall
all down in a heap;' muscles seemed to refuse to respond to the will.
"June 7th.--Entire incapacity for mental work; could not follow a line
of thought twenty seconds; forehead cold to touch, with heavy feeling
over the eyes as though the skin and flesh of forehead would come down
over the eyes; intense drowsiness all day, worse after meals;
irresistible sleepiness after lunch; accustomed cup of coffee was not
relished.
"June 8th.--Dreams were vivid and real; was discovered talking in my
sleep; the thoughts and work of previous day were on my mind on waking
as though I had not gone to sleep.
"June 9th and 10th.--Aversion to company, did not wish to see anyone,
not even intimate friends; great aversion to my work; had to punish
myself to even visit a patient; quarrelsome, impatient, irritable.
"M. F. UNDERWOOD."
Dr. Underwood took the fifteenth decimal dilution. (S.)
III. "June 8th, 1896, commenced taking remedy given by Dr. Selfridge,
one drop three times a day before meals.
"June 13th.--After a restless night, awakened at 7:30 A.M. with severe,
sharp pain in the right tonsil; throat felt swollen and sore; tonsil red
and inflamed; glands on right side of neck swollen and sore to touch.
"At 9:30, neuralgic pains commenced in left arm and hand, then in back,
limbs and all over the body; skin felt sore to touch; was quite ill all
day, with no appetite whatever.
"At 7:30 P.M. commenced to feel chilly; upon the slightest movement
chills would creep up the back, with increase of pain; grew colder and
colder; was very ill, and went to bed. At 9:30 fever commenced with
desire for food; head very hot; cheeks very red and burning; temperature
102 deg., but still very chilly. Passed a very restless night, with chill,
fever and sweat all at the same time, with constant twinges of pain all
over the body, particularly in back and limbs; could not bear the
slightest touch.
"June 14th.--Temperature 101-1/2 deg. at 8 A.M. Right tonsil and glands of
neck still very sore, in fact, worse; pains over body less, though back
quite sore and lame; felt very weak and unable to remain out of bed.
"Still continued the remedy. All symptoms gradually improved, and was
entirely well in a few days.
"June 20th.--Stopped taking the remedy on advice of Dr. Selfridge.
"June 21st.--Very depressed, both mentally and physically; menses
commenced at 2:30 P.M., with slight uterine pain. Retired at 10 o'clock,
when the pain became intense and burning. Suffered all night, the pain
being constant, though increasing in paroxysms with sensation as if the
uterus expanded in order to keep all the pain within its walls. Could
distinctly outline the contour of the uterus. Never had such a pain
before.
"June 22nd.--Pain much better, but still a paroxysm every little while.
Felt very weak all day and mentally depressed.
"When menses ceased, observed no further symptoms.
"July 4th.--Commenced the remedy again.
"July 18th.--At 11 A.M. commenced to feel chilly, with aching pains all
over the body, which gradually grew worse until 12 o'clock, when a most
severe chill took place; shook all over; aching over body and headache
intense. Took no more of the remedy; went to bed, and as I was growing
worse, was given Aconite at 1 o'clock. There was great thirst for ice
water during the entire chill, which lasted until 2:30 P.M., when fever
came on; temperature, 101 deg.; no thirst. In about fifteen minutes
commenced to sweat. Temperature at 4 o'clock 100 deg.; still sweating. At 10
P.M. menses commenced; no uterine pain, but still aching all over body
which continued all night, preventing sleep; pains worse in limbs and
back; at times jerking in character, making me start with every twinge;
profuse sweating all night.
"July 19th.--Very weak; aching still continued, but less; cords of neck,
right side, quite painful. Passed a restless night, still sweating
profusely.
"July 20th.--Much better, but still very weak; some aching and sweating;
did not go to sleep until 3 A.M.; was nervous and restless.
"July 21st.--Much improved in every way, and was all right in a day or
two. Did not take any more of the remedy.
"July 26th.--At 1:30 P.M. commenced to feel chilly, with intense
headache and aching all over the body. The chilliness rapidly increased
until at 2 o'clock had a worse chill than ever, which lasted until 4
o'clock, when fever came on, temperature soon reaching 103 deg.; sweating
commenced almost simultaneously with the fever; headache was the most
prominent symptom, which was terrific; intense, congestive headache;
eyes extremely sensitive; bones of the face sensitive to touch; could
not move the head a hair's breadth without intense agony; thought I
should go mad from the intensity of the pain. This lasted until 10:30,
when there was a sensation of faintness, due evidently to lack of food,
and which passed away after eating some cream toast; the headache then
also began to grow less, and I passed a fairly good night.
"July 27th.--Was much better, but was too nervous to remain in bed; felt
very weak all day; retired early, but did not sleep a moment all night
long.
"July 28th.--Arose at 6 A.M.; was weak and dizzy all day; had to lie
down every little while. Slept well this night.
"Have been fairly well ever since. (August 7, 1896.)
"ELEANOR F. MARTIN."
Dr. Martin took the thirtieth decimal dilution. (S.)