by Henry N. Guernsey — Key-Notes to the Materia Medica
Affections of the thighs. Heavy, dragging, pains in and about the left ear; dragging, drawing pain in the muscles. Great aversion to motion; small pulse.
Worse.--In the open air.
Better.--In the room.
Remedies following:--Calc. carb., Mercur.
Access 21 classic materia medica books, 7 classical repertories, AI semantic search, and basic case management — free.
Guajacum officinale appears in 12 of the 21 classic books on Similia. Each was written to do a different job — here is what each adds on this remedy, with the opening of its entry.
“Resin of Lignum Vitæ (GUAIACUM) Chief action on fibrous tissue, and is especially adapted to the arthritic diathesis, rheumatism, and tonsillitis. Secondary syphilis. Very valuable in acute rheumatism. Free foul secretions. Unclean odor from whole body . Promotes suppuration of abscesses. Sensitiveness and aggravation…”
“Secretions: Glands. TONSILS. Ovaries. Skin. Fibrous tissue: Ligaments. Joints. Chest. HEAT. Touch. Motion. Exertion. Rapid growth. Mercury. Cold (locally). Apples. Rigid , painfully swelled joints. Arthritic symptoms. FREE, FOUL SECRETIONS, expectoration, sweats, etc. Impending suppuration, quinsy, old bronchitis…”
“Gum guaiacum. Guaiacum officinale. The gum-resin of Lignum sanctum or Lignum vitæ, a large tree growing in W. Indies. N. O. Zygophyllaceæ. Tincture of the gum-resin. Abscess / Amenorrhœa / Aneurism / Bones, affections of / Bronchitis / Caries / Cholera infantum / Constipation / Contraction / Cough / Diarrhœa /…”
“JUIAC. The sap which flows from the West Indian tree Guajacum officinale, which when inspissated is called Gummi Guajaci, consists in great part of a peculiar kind of resin. For homœopathic use this is triturated dry with sugar of milk for three hours to the one millionth attenuation, and then dissolved and raised to…”
“(The alcoholic solution of the inspissated juice of the West Indian tree Guaiacum officinale, which consists chiefly of resin.) From vol. iv, 2nd edit., 1825. The homeopathic physician will find even in these few symptoms a sufficient guide to enable him to make a sure curative employment of this vegetable substance…”
“Gum Resin of Lignum Vitæ. Zygophilleæ. A large tree growing in the West Indies. The tincture is prepared from the resin. Introduced by Hahnemann (Chr. Krankheiten) and proved by himself, Hartmann, Langhammer, Teuthorn, etc. CLINICAL AUTHORITIES. Neuralgia , Rück. Kl. Erf., vol. 5, p. 88 ; Sharp, Rück. Kl. Erf., vol…”
“GUAIACUM. Guaiacum officinale, L. Lignum vitæ. Nat. Ord., Zygophyllacea. I. Provings.--1. HAHNEMANN, Mat. Med. Pura , vol. iv oforiginal, vol. i of translation. Contains 29 symptoms from self, 113 from 3 fellow-observers, and 3 from authors . 2. IBID., Chronic Diseases, part iii of original, vol. of translation…”
“This is a very deep acting remedy, even deep enough to cure the symptoms of and turn into order a constitution that is rheumatic, gouty, and has inherited phthisis. Rheumatism: These patients are subject to diarrhoea; the tendons are too short, or they have abscesses, catarrhal troubles, bronchitis. Drawing, tension…”
“Forgetfulness, especially of names. Thoughtless staring during the morning. Violent sharp stitches in the brain. Rheumatic pains in one side of the head, extending to the face. External headache, with the sensation as if the blood-vessels were overfilled. Pulsative throbbing in the outer parts of the head, with…”
“Common name: lignum vitae. Gouty nodosities (Am-M., Caust., Benz-Ac., Lyc., Sars.) (D.). The affected parts are very sensitive to contact (Arn., Kali-C., Lach.). Rheumatic affections, with contraction of the flexors and stiffness of the joints (Am-M., Caust., Cimex, Nat-M.) (A.). JOINTS BECOME DISTORTED BY CONCRETIONS…”
“Cough with expectoration of fœtid pus.”
Kent's Repertory lists Guajacum officinale in 844 rubrics. These are the ones where it carries the highest grade — the symptoms Kent treated as most characteristic. Most of them sit in EXTREMITIES (218), GENERALITIES (118), HEAD (95), BACK (46), MIND (44).
