Erigeron canadense

Volume I — Special Symptomatology

{Flea Bane)

Botanical Description. — Stem erect, wand-like, five inches to five feet high, branching, hairy and furrowed. Leaves very narrow, with rough edges; those from the root cut-lobed. Flowers white, very numerous, small, of mean appearance, irregularly racemous upon the branches, and constituting a large oblong panicle. The disk of the flowers yellow. This is an annual plant, common all over the world, seldom seen in woods or on mountains, but grows in fields, commons, dry meadows and glades in great profusion, and is deemed by farmers one of the most troublesome weeds. It flowers in June to October. [This genus comprises eight species, three of which are considered to possess similar medicinal qualities, namely: E. canadense, E. philadelphicum, E. annuum. It is quite probable that the plant as found in the shops, and most of the oil in market, is prepared from the three, and perhaps other kinds, mixed indiscriminately. The E. canadense is the largest species, but has fewer rays (forty

to fifty), and are white. The two other species are from two to four feet high, rays 100 to 200, and reddish-purple or flesh colored. The E. annuum is a biennial, and the E. philadelphicum a perennial herb.]

Medical History. — The plant has been used since anterior to the settlement of this country. It is still called by its aboriginal name of " Cocosh." The Indians used it as a vulnerary, much as Arnica is used in homoeopathic practice. It has a host of common names. Fleabane is the true English name. Colt's-tail, Mare's-tail, Daisy, Frost-weed, Field-weed, Skevish, etc., are names in common use with the country people, and apply to all the species of the plant. These plants have a peculiar smell, most unfolded by rubbing them, and is not disagreeable. Their taste is astringent, acrimonious, and bitter. The two species having the strongest taste and odor are the E. philadelphicum and E. annuum.

On analysis they are found to contain Tannin, Extractive, Gallic-acid, Amarin, and an Essential Oil. The oil is very peculiar, as fluid as water, of a pale yellow color, a peculiar smell, somewhat like lemon, but stronger, and a very acrid taste. Medical authors do not agree as to which plant shall be decreed officinal. Rafinesque mentions the E. philadelphicum, and botanic writers follow him. Wood and Stille name the E. canadense. Homoeopathists settled upon the latter more by accident, perhaps, as that species was first mentioned.

Officinal Preparations. — Tincture of the plant; triturations or dilu tions from the oil.

Analogues. — Cantharis, Cubebs, Copaiva, Balsamum Peruvianum, Erechthites, Terebinthina, Sabina.

Mental Sphere.

Lowness of spirits, with a feeling of great languor.

Head.

Dull frontal headache on awaking in the morning. Dull headache, with ringing in the right ear. Headache, with pain in forehead and right eye; with pain in the large joints.

Eyes.

Smarting of the eyes all day.

Redness, swelling, inflammation, with profuse muco-purulent

discharges from the eyes. ° Ecchymoses upon the eyeballs or around the eye, from a blow.

Nose.

Increased secretion of mucus in the nostrils all the forenoon. ° Epistaxis of bright red blood.

Mouth.

° Bleeding from the gums; profuse bleeding from the cavity of a tooth.

Throat.

Dryness of the pharynx; roughness, with a sensation as if something had lodged in the upper part of the oesophagus. Sore throat all night, with frequent inclination to swallow. ° Inflammation and ulceration of the throat. ° Tonsillitis (applied externally) or used as a gargle.

Stomach. Nausea, with frequent eructations.

Sharp cutting pains in the region of the stomach every few minutes.

Violent retching and vomiting, with burning sensation of long

duration in the stomach. ° Haematemesis, from ulceration, and rupture of blood-vessels

Abdomen.

Rheumatic (?) pains in the abdomen. Sharp pains in the umbilicus. Frequent, dull pains in the bowels.

Sudden, severe pains in the hypogastrium, followed by mushy

stool. 0 Flatulent colic.

° Tympanitis in typhoid fever or dysentery.

Stool.

Hard, lumpy stool; mushy stools.

Sudden pains in the hypogastrium, followed by papescent

stools.

Natural stool, followed by severe neuralgic pain in the anus, with tenesmus.

Catharsis, with burning sensation throughout the alimentary canal.

Thin papescent stool, with burning in the bowels and rectum. Undigested stools.

Inflammation of the mucous coats of the colon and rectum. ° Diarrhoea and dysentery, bloody and mucus. ° Scybala, with dysentery.

0 Hemorrhage from the bowels or from haemorrhoids.

Liver.

Dull pains in both hypochondrise. Aching distress in the hypochondrias.

Urinary Organs.

Sharp, stinging pains in the region of the left kidney. Pain in right lumbar region, passing down to the right testicle. Urine dark color, afterwards pale, double quantity. Inclination to urinate about every hour, with aching distress in bladder.

0 Dysuria in teething children; frequent desire and crying when urinating; urine very profuse and of very strong odor; the external parts much inflamed and swollen. {Dr. Ring.)

0 Vesical irritation from catarrh of the bladder.

Complete suppression of the urine, with pain in the region

of the kidneys (primary). Urging to urinate, with emissions of only a few burning drops

at a time (primary). Copious discharges of pale urine (secondary).

Generative Organs. Female. — 0 Uterine hemorrhage, with violent irritation of the

rectum and bladder. {Hale.) 0 Hemorrhage from the uterus and bladder. 0 Abortion, with profuse hemorrhage, diarrhoea and dysuria. Premature and profuse menses, {primary.) Scanty menses, {secondary.) ° Post-partem hemorrhage. 0 Dysmenorrhea, with menorrhagia. 0 Profuse lochial discharges. 0 Menorrhagia, with spasmodic pains. 0 Chronic uterine leucorrhoea. Male. — 0 Gonorrhoea and gleet.

Bronchia, Lungs, etc. Chronic bronchial affections.

0 Incipient stages of phthisis, with bloody expectoration.

Back.

Severe, drawing pains in the right lumbar region. Dull, aching distress in the whole dorsal region.

Superior Extremities. Rheumatic pains in the right thumb all the evening. Great aching distress in the elbows and wrists during rainy weather.

Lower Extremities.

Severe, drawing pains in the left ankle joint, aggravated by

walking. Dull pains in the knees.

Generalities.

Symptoms all aggravated during rainy weather.

The lower dorsal region is the location of greatest suffering.

Skin.

Slightly elevated, sharply defined vesicles on the skin.

Volume II — Special Therapeutics

Many of the recommendations for the use of Erecthites will apply equally well to Erigeron. For some reason the latter appears to be more popular with the profession. If both were thoroughly proven we should doubtless get characteristic symptoms; but at present we can substitute the one for the other, especially in haemorrhages, without much fear of failure.

We have more decided renal symptoms from Erigeron, and in some cases of nephritis, and in some cases of Bright’s disease I have used it with decided advantage.

Dr. Ring once published his successful use of it in dysuria in children. “ They have frequent desire, and cry when urinating ; the urine is profuse, and of a very strong odor ; the external parts are inflamed and swollen.” He used a low attenuation.

I have found it excellent in vesical catarrh, with unusual pain and irritation.

In uterine haemorrhage it is inferior to no remedy. Eclectic physicians consider it the specific in the worst cases, in doses of ten drops of the oil, repeated every twenty or thirty minutes.

It is not necessary to use such large doses; 10 drops of the lx is quite sufficient. I prefer the lx trituration of the oil, or even the 3X, if there is much arterial excitement. It resembles Ferrum in its applicability to active haemorrhage.

Of course you will not expect to avert permanently any haemorrhage from the uterus with this or any remedy, if any foreign substance, like a retained placenta, a polypus, or other matters remain. It may check the bleeding for the time, but the substance must be removed before the patient is safe.

We find some rheumatic symptoms in the provings, but if it is homoeopathic to any kind of rheumatism , it is that which arises from some affection of the urinary organs, or gonorrhoea.

It has been very highly praised in gonorrhoea and gleet ; very many prefer it to any other remedy in that affection. It is said to cure cases which have resisted Cubebs, Copaiva, and other routine medicines.

In tympanites occurring during typhoid fever, enteritis or peritonitis, I consider the Erigeron, next to Turpentine, the most reliable remedy we possess. I do not know which to give the preference. I can not imagine why both are ignored in our works on practice.

They recommend China, Phosphorus, Rhus, and other drugs, which may answer in mild cases, but are useless when the intestines become paralyzed by distension. Nor do I depend upon the internal administration alone, but habitually use them in enema, throwing up half a drachm or a drachm, beaten up with yolk of egg, and mixed with a pint or more of milk. The most enormous and dangerous tympanites will disappear after a few such enemas.

Both Erecthites and Erigeron are analogous to Arnica and Sulphuric acid in the treatment of contusions and suggillations. Country people use the bruised plant as we use Arnica. A dilute tincture, used in the same proportions as we prescribe Arnica, is an excellent topical application in bruises.