by Henry N. Guernsey — Key-Notes to the Materia Medica
We think of this remedy where the neck is drawn over to one side from diphtheria; sore throat; rheumatism in the neck, etc. Torticollis.
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Lachnanthes tinctoria appears in 8 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.
“Lachnanthes tinctoria, Ell. Natural order , Hæmodoraceæ. Common name , Red-root. Preparation , Tincture of the whole plant. Authorities. Lively, singing, and whistling (first day), 1. Towards evening he is in good spirits (third day), 1. Low-spirited (after three-quarters of an hour, third day), 1. Ill-humored and…”
“Spirit-weed (LACHNANTHES) Head, chest and circulation are affected. Bridge of nose as if pinched. A remedy for torticollis, rheumatic symptoms about neck. Tuberculosis -light-complexioned people. Early stages, and established chest cases, with much coldness. Produces a desire to talk-a flow of language and the courage…”
“tinctoria. Red Root. N. O. Hæmodoraceæ. Tincture of whole plant. Cough / Diphtheria / Headache / Heart, heat in; pains in / Phthisis / Pneumonia, typhoid / Sore throat / Stiff-neck / Wry-neck Lachnan. is a herb, growing in sandy swamps near the coast. The root is red and fibrous; leaves sword-shaped; stem hairy…”
“(Spirit-weed.) Botanical, Description. — Perianth woolly outside; six-parted down to> the adherent ovary. Stamens three, opposite the three larger or inner divisions; filaments long, exserted; anthers linear, fixed by the middle. Sty<,e thread-like, exserted, declined; pod globular; seeds few on each fleshy placenta…”
“Red Root. Hæmodoraceæ. An herb growing in sandy swamps near the coast ; the root red, fibrous ; the leaves sword-shaped ; the stem hairy ; flowers yellow, woolly. The first specimen was sent in 1852 by Dr. Byron, from Monticello, Florida, to Hering, under whose direction it was proved by Raue, Lippe and Fincke. See…”
“Restlessness, tosses about (during perspiration). Great loquacity; afterwards, stupid and irritable. Ill-humored and sleepy. Great hilarity (evening). Delirium, with circumscribed red cheeks (1 to 2 A.M.). Giddiness in the head, with sensation of heat in the chest and around the heart, and perspiration. Giddiness…”
“Stiffness of neck, head drawn to one side; torticollis.”
Kent's Repertory lists Lachnanthes tinctoria in 349 rubrics. These are the ones where it carries the highest grade — the symptoms Kent treated as most characteristic. Most of them sit in HEAD (61), EXTREMITIES (55), EYE (23), MIND (21), EAR (20).
