Ammoniacum

Gum Ammoniac. Umbelliferæ.

A Persian gum obtained from Dorema ammoniacum, an umbelliferous plant. A drug famous since ancient times. Proved and introduced by I. G. Jahnel in 1837, proved again by J. B. Buchner in 1840, and by several others in 1847.

MIND [1]

Anxiety, with congestion of lungs.

Low-spirited ; sluggish ; drowsy.

Indisposed to mental work.

Intellectual labor prevented by headache.

SENSORIUM [2]

Aching in forehead with confusion of whole head, and such drowsiness that any effort or labor was impossible.

Forehead confused, with weakness of sight and heaviness in loins.

Confusion of head and sleepiness, with a sensation as if bruised in limbs, and pains in course of crural nerve.

INNER HEAD [3]

Pains throughout whole forehead ; increasing all day till evening, preventing intellectual labor.

Severe headache continuing during night, preventing sleep.

Aching in forehead, with confusion of whole head, and such drowsiness that any effort or labor was utterly impossible.

Pressive pains in whole forehead, and over eyes.

Transient, stitching pains in left temporal region.

Tearings in left side of head.

Pressive pain in whole head, especially in supraorbital region and occiput.

Stitching pains through head.

Heaviness of the head.

OUTER HEAD [4]

Itching, mostly on border of hair in nape of neck.

Pimples on border of scalp.

Frequently returning knifelike stitches in middle of hairy scalp.

Stitching in occiput, on edge of hair ; under hair pustules formed.

Numbness in occiput.

SIGHT AND EYES [5]

Stars and fiery points floating before his eyes.

Beams of light and sparks proceeding from eyes.

Candlelight surrounded by brilliant colored rings.

Glaring as from melted metal before eyes ; sparks and streaks < in evening.

Sees things through a thick mist or a cloud of dust.

Dim sight after a blow on head.

Eyes fatigued from reading ; they become injected and throb.

Dimness and obstruction of sight in evening, amounting almost to blindness.

He sees before him smoke, which, taking flight of small birds, forms a large circle and is most distinct at twenty paces, on a white ground. Generally smaller circles are present ; in which case the smoke seems only an appendage to these circles. The appearance and motion of these circles depend upon the unsteadiness of the look and correspond to an appearance of congestion at internal corners of eye. The margins of the circles are always grey, and become black on sudden motion. On first looking at an object, circles appear above lens, but on looking steadily they sink to middle and remain floating there. They are clearer in clear weather and dimmer in dark weather. Sometimes he also sees a black spot which becomes larger as night advances. θ Amblyopia, after a blow.

Daylight hurts his eyes.

Aching in upper part of eye.

HEARING AND EARS [6]

Buzzing, roaring in ears, with hardness of hearing.

Pain in ears, with toothache.

Large secretion of earwax.

SMELL AND NOSE [7]

Mucous discharge from nose with frequent sneezing and mucous expectoration. θ Coryza.

Dry nose on waking.

Constant motion of alæ nasi. θ Congestion of lungs.

UPPER FACE [8]

Pale face, feels sick ; frequent change of color.

Drawing in right malar bone towards temple.

Dark face, anxious, parched look. θ Congestion of lungs.

LOWER FACE [9]

Darting from region of lower jaw to interior of mouth.

TEETH AND GUMS [10]

Toothache, pain extending into ear.

TASTE, SPEECH, TONGUE [11]

Insipid taste.

INNER MOUTH [12]

Darting from region of lower jaw into mouth.

PALATE AND THROAT [13]

Bitterish unpleasant taste in throat.

After swallowing, a sensation in throat as from a dry cough.

Sensation of sharpness and burning in throat and œsophagus.

Dryness of throat, most troublesome in morning, always increases by inhaling fresh air.

APPETITE, THIRST. DESIRES, AVERSIONS [14]

Want of appetite.

EATING AND DRINKING [15]

Belching after eating.

HICCOUGH, BELCHING, NAUSEA AND VOMITING [16]

Disgust, with inclination to vomit.

(OBS :) Vomiting and purging.

SCROBICULUM AND STOMACH [17]

Aching in pit of stomach.

HYPOCHONDRIA [18]

Induration of liver.

(OBS :) Infarcts of liver, spleen and pancreas.

ABDOMEN AND LOINS [19]

Slight pains in belly with borborygmi.

Chilliness and wandering pain in abdomen, followed by an abundant mucous stool.

Dull, shooting, jerking pain in region of cecum ; < when turning on to right side.

Pressure and heaviness in pubic region.

STOOLS AND RECTUM [20]

Constipation.

Abundant mucous stool, after chilliness and wandering pain in abdomen.

Stools sometimes fluid.

Fetid flatulence with papescent stool.

Chronic diarrhœa, with cutting pains, weakness, discharges bilious or mucous.

Summer complaint of children.

URINARY ORGANS [21]

After a few days many torulæ were formed in urine.

Lactate of urea much increased.

Burning in urethra.

Dribbling after urination.

MALE SEXUAL ORGANS [22]

Heaviness and aching in pubic region.

Itching in pubic region.

Shooting and drawing in right spermatic cord and penis.

Indurated testicles.

(OBS :) Hydrocele.

FEMALE SEXUAL ORGANS [23]

Menotasia, dysmenorrhœa from obstructions in portal system.

(OBS :) Irregular menstruation, amenorrhœa from chlorosis.

VOICE AND LARYNX. TRACHEA AND BRONCHIA [25]

Rough throat.

Tickling without cough.

(OBS :) Chronic bronchitis.

RESPIRATION [26]

Short, loud, accelerated breathing, with anxiety.

Oppression and stitches in left chest, when inspiring.

Difficult breathing. θ Congestion of lungs.

Oppression of chest relieved by raising tough phlegm.

(OBS :) Spasmodic asthma.

COUGH [27]

Mucous expectoration.

(OBS :) Asthenic pulmonary complaints.

Promotes power of ejecting sputa if sick have not the strength.

Mucus tough, profuse and hard.

(OBS :) Chronic pulmonary and bronchial catarrh, with nauseous thick fluid, puslike sputa.

(OBS :) Large accumulation of purulent or viscid matter, with feeble or difficult expectoration.

Aged people suffer in cold weather from bronchial affections, with accumulation of mucus and much difficulty in raising it.

INNER CHEST AND LUNGS [28]

Pressure in chest.

Dull and numb feeling in posterior part of right chest, followed by pressure deep in.

Lungs congested ; dulness on both sides ; great difficulty in breathing and anxiety, constant motion of alæ nasi ; face dark with anxious and parched look ; no expectoration ; with this an attack of asthma. θ Suppressed eczema following vaccination.

HEART, PULSE AND CIRCULATION [29]

Heart-beat stronger, but not more rapid ; extends into pit of stomach ; < in evening when lying down and when lying on back or l. side.

At night, when lying down, heart and arteries throb ; eyes weary after reading ; cannot get to sleep.

Pulse small, corded, quick and hard.

Pulse quickened, frequent and hard.

Pulse tense.

NECK AND BACK [31]

Weight and pressure in lumbar vertebræ, with stitches in loins during inhalation, and rheumatic pain in left pelvis.

UPPER LIMBS [32]

Lancination in shoulder joints.

Left arm weak.

Rheumatic pain, as if bruised, most in elbow joint and l. wrist, with tearing in right hand.

Pain in left shoulder joint and arm.

Panaritium.

LOWER LIMBS [33]

Stitches in right hip when sitting.

Stitches over hip when walking, he limps.

Cannot walk from pain in right hip joint.

Darting pain in left thigh along crural nerve.

Violent pain over knee when walking.

Knee swollen in evening, while sitting, with pinching in bend of joint.

Stitches in right knee, in tibia and tarsal joint.

Gouty pain in left big toe.

Itching on soles of feet.

Tingling in right foot.

Pinching, tearing, drawing, burning in left foot.

Swelling of toes.

LIMBS IN GENERAL [34]

Tearing pain in wrist and ankles, followed by swollen toes and fingers.

Tired feeling and heaviness in limbs, even after slightest exertion.

REST. POSITION. MOTION [35]

Lying down on back or on left side ; heart symptoms worse.

Turning on right side : increases pain in cecum.

Sitting : stitches in right hip ; knee swollen, pricking in bend of joint.

Walking ; stitches over hip ; pain over knee.

Cannot walk : from pain in right hip joint.

After slightest exertion : tiredness and heaviness of limbs.

NERVES [36]

Uneasiness ; weariness.

(OBS :) Hysteria with weakness.

SLEEP [37]

Drowsiness all day, sleep full of dreams.

Drowsiness with headache, making labor impossible.

Gaping because stomach is empty, brings tears in eyes.

On awaking : nose, mouth and throat very dry.

On getting up in morning : lazy, drowsy and depressed in spirits.

TIME [38]

Night : headache continues ; heart and arteries throb.

Morning : dryness of throat < ; lazy, drowsy and depressed on rising.

All day till evening : pain throughout whole forehead.

All day : drowsy.

Evening : glaring before eyes ; sparks and streaks before eyes < ; dimness of vision ; heart symptoms < ; knee swollen.

As night advances : sees a black spot. θ Amblyopia.

TEMPERATURE AND WEATHER [39]

Fresh air : inhaling it makes dryness of throat worse.

Cold weather : increase of bronchial troubles.

In clear weather, objects look clearer ; in dull weather, dimmer. θ Amblyopia.

FEVER [40]

Chilliness followed by slight fever and headache.

A running chill from feet up over back.

Disposition to sweat.

ATTACKS, PERIODICITY [41]

Right : drawing in malar bone ; dull and numb, posterior part of chest ; tearing in hand ; stitches in hip ; stitches in knee ; tingling in foot.

Left : transient stitches in temple ; tearing in side of head ; stitches in chest ; rheumatic pains in pelvis ; arm weak ; rheumatic pains in wrist, arm and shoulder joint ; darting pain in thigh ; gouty pain in big toe ; pinching, tearing, drawing and burning in foot.

Below upward : running chill from feet up back.

SENSATIONS [43]

Stitches : in left temporal region ; through head ; in hairy scalp ; in occiput on edge of hair ; in left chest when inspiring ; in loins during inhalation ; in shoulder joints ; in right hip when sitting ; over hip when walking ; in right knee, tibia and tarsal joint ; as from dry cough in throat after swallowing.

Lancination : in shoulder joints.

Darting : from region of lower jaw into mouth ; in left thigh along crural nerve.

Shooting : in right spermatic cord and penis.

Tearing : in left side of head ; in right hand ; in wrist and ankles ; in left foot.

Cutting pain : with diarrhœa.

Sharpness and burning : in throat and œsophagus.

Drawing : in right malar bone towards temple ; in spermatic cord and penis ; in left foot.

Burning : in urethra.

Aching : in forehead ; in upper part of eye ; in pit of stomach ; in pubic region.

Bruised feeling : in limbs ; in upper limbs.

Pinching : in bend of joint ; in left foot.

Heaviness : of head ; in loins with headache ; in pubic region ; in lumbar vertebræ ; in limbs.

Itching : on border of hair in nape of neck ; in pubic region ; on soles of feet.

Tingling : in right foot.

Numbness : in occiput ; in posterior part of right chest.

Dryness : of nose ; in throat.

Chilliness : in abdomen with wandering pain.

Pain : in forehead ; in course of crural nerves ; in ears ; in left shoulder joint and arm ; over knee.

Stinging, tearing, pricking pain, here and there, mostly in lower limbs.

Tired feeling and heaviness : in limbs after slight exertion.

Dull shooting jerking pain : in region of cecum.

Toothache extending into ears.

Pressure : in chest ; in pubic region ; in lumbar vertebræ.

Rheumatic pain : in left pelvis ; in elbow joint and left wrist.

Gouty pain : in left big toe.

Pressive pains : in forehead ; in whole head.

TISSUES [44]

(OBS :) Hemorrhages.

(OBS :) Causes abundant serous discharges.

(OBS :) Dropsical complaints.

(OBS :) Gout not developing in usual form of attacks, but disturbing general health.

(OBS :) Scrofulous tumors or enlarged joints.

TOUCH. PASSIVE MOTION. INJURIES [45]

Blows with a stick over the head, followed by dim sight. θ Amblyopia.

SKIN [46]

Red rash over whole body.

After itching, little blisters like rash in typhus, but containing a yellow fluid ; afternoon, violent fever with swelling of face, more like a red rash.

Suppression of eczema following vaccination. θ Congestion of lungs.

STAGE OF LIFE, CONSTITUTION [47]

Constitution. Man, æt. 26, fair haired, robust frame. θ Amblyopia.

Aged people suffering during cold weather. See bronchial affections .

RELATIONS [48]

Similar to its relatives : the umbelliferæ, especially Conium (glands, eyes, etc.) ; Opoponax ; Asaf . (asthma) ; Cicut . (eruption in whiskers) ; Galban. ; Sagap. ; Sumbul (heart-throb too strong). Also : Acon . (heart) ; Ambra (asthma) ; Arnic . (traumatic amblyopia) ; Arsen . (heart ; asthma) ; Aurum (congestion to eyes ; heart ; indurated testicle, etc.) ; Bellad . (eyes ; heart ; Ammoniac in asthenopia, stands between Bellad. and Ruta.) ; Chelid . (strong, but not quickened heart-throb) ; Cotyl . (strong heart-throb) ; Fagopyr . (strong throb of heart and arteries) ; Iber . (strong heart-beat) ; Lycop. ; Myrrh. ; Natr. mur . (asthenopia, eruption at nape, etc.) ; Nitr. ac . ( See 27 ) ; Oliban. ; Phosphor . (strong heart-throb ; eyes ; asthma) ; Pulsat . (styes ; heart < when lying on l. side) ; Sulphur (congestive palpitation and throbbing all over at night, etc.) ; Seneg . (asthma from mucus ; heart-beat too strong, etc.).

Antidoted by : Arnic . and Bryon .