by Henry N. Guernsey — Key-Notes to the Materia Medica
Where there is a great burning in the chest, either before or after coughing; profuse secretion of mucus. Dryness of inner parts which are usually moist; dry skin. General affections in the windpipe; left side of the chest particularly; right eye; lower eyelids.
Worse.--From looking fixedly at an object a long time.
Remedies following:--Calc. carb., Lycop., Phosphor., Sulphur.
Antidotes:--Bryon. Sometimes, Arnic., Bellad., Camphor.
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Senega 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.
“Polygala senega, L. Natural order , Polygalaceæ. Common name , Seneca snake-root. Preparation , Tincture of the root. Authorities. (Nos. 1 to 8 , from Thomas Massie, "An Experimental Inquiry into the Properties of the Polygala Senega," Inaug. Thesis, University of Pennsylvania, 1803). 9 to 34 , from Seidel's…”
“Snakewort Catarrhal symptoms, especially of the respiratory tract, and distinct eye symptoms of a paralytic type, are most characteristic. Circumscribed spots in chest left after inflammations. Suddenly remembers unimportant regions which he saw long ago. Inclined to quarrel. Dullness, with pressure and weakness of…”
“ALBUMINOUS, glairy discharges (Comp. Gelatinous) CHEST, internal COUGH, painful FLATULENCE, Left LYING, on side, Agg. RATTLING READING, Agg., eyestrain, Agg.”
“MUCOUS and serous membranes: CHEST. Eyes. Nose. Bladder. Muscles. Left side. Air: Open. Wind. Inhaling cold. Rest. Pressure. Touch. Looking fixedly. Motion; in open air. Bending head back. Sub-acute, catarrhal or paretic states; of old people or fat, chubby children. Lax tissues. Profuse, albuminous secretions…”
“Polygala senega. Seneca Snake-root. N. O. Polygalaceæ. Tincture of powdered dried root. Amblyopia / Ascites / Asthma / Bladder, irritable / catarrh of / Blepharitis ciliaris / Bronchitis / Constipation / Cornea, opacity of / Cough / Enuresis / Facial paralysis / Hay-fever / Hydrothorax / Hypopion / Influenza / Iritis…”
“Seneca Snake Root. Polygalaceæ. This plant grows wild in all parts of the United States. The alcoholic tincture is prepared from the powdered, dried root. For general effects obtained from experiments with the powdered root and tincture see Allen's Encyclopædia, including Seidel's and Lembke's collections, vol. 8, p…”
“SENEGA. Polygala SStga, L. Snakewort. Nat. Ord., Poljgalacea. 1. Pravings. — I. Dr. Massie took 10 gr. of gum dissolved in water. In 5 m. sensation in oesophagus as if membrane had been abraded, lasted i h. Pulse, 84 before experiment, at 15 m. was 78, 20 m. 73, 30 m. 70, 35 m. 68, thence gradually rising to 76. He…”
“Senega is an old lung tonic, and I suspect it has been an ingredient in most of the lung medicines for the last one hundred years. It has been only partially proved, and needs further proving to bring out its particulars. When a medicine has been fully proved , it can be said of it that its symptoms are so well known…”
“Great bodily and mental debility, with stretching of the limbs and accompanied with heaviness and dullness of the head. Great weakness, which seems to come from and of the chest. Diseases of the mucous membranes. Many symptoms, especially those of the chest, are aggravated during rest and are relieved by walking in…”
“Great anxiety, with rapid breathing. Melancholy mood, with great irritability of temper. Hilarity, with great irritability, changing to anger and wrath. Dulness and stupefaction of the head, with pressure in the eyes, and obscuration of sight. The headache always extends to the eyes, is aggravated in the warm room…”
“Common name: snake root. Especially valuable with old people, but works well with others (N.). Great bodily and mental debility, with stretching of the limbs and accompanied with heaviness and dullness of the head (Rhus-T.). Great weakness, which seems to come from and of the chest. Many symptoms, especially those of…”
Kent's Repertory lists Senega in 1,204 rubrics. These are the ones where it carries the highest grade — the symptoms Kent treated as most characteristic. Most of them sit in CHEST (193), GENERALITIES (155), HEAD (91), EYE (85), COUGH (77).
