Hypericum Perforatum appears in 11 of the 13 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.
- Allen TF — The raw proving record — symptoms as the provers reported them, unedited.
“Hypericum perforatum, Linn. Natural order , Hypericaceæ. Common names , St. John's Wort; (G.), Johannis-kraut, Hartheu; (F.), Mille-pertuis. Preparation , Tincture of the whole plant. Authorities. Emotional. Mental excitement, as after drinking tea, 5. She talks widely in the night, after 4 A.M., while asleep, with…”
- Boericke — The quick clinical read — keynotes, modalities and the conditions it is actually prescribed in.
“St. John's-wort (HYPERICUM) The great remedy for injuries to nerves, especially of fingers, toes and nails. Crushed fingers, especially tips. Excessive painfulness is a guiding symptom to its use. Prevents lockjaw. Punctured wounds. Relieves pain after operations. Quite supersedes the use of Morphia after operations…”
- Boger (GA) — Which general headings this remedy belongs under — the analytical scaffolding.
“CHANGE OF TEMPERATURE, weather, seasons, oncoming storms, etc. Agg. DAMPNESS, getting wet, wet weather, bathing, working in water, damp rooms, etc., Agg. FLOATING, flying, etc., as if (Comp. Vertigo.) INJURIES, wounds, bruises, shock, etc. (Comp. Sprainded) NERVE PAIN SORENESS, bruised, smarting, etc. (Comp. Rawness.)…”
- Boger (Syn) — Generals and modalities in a short analytical portrait rather than a symptom list.
“SPINAL NERVES: COCCYX. Inter - scapular. Meninges. Vertex. INJURY: Jar. Concussion. Penetrating. Shock. Bruises. Exertion. Touch. Change of weather. Fogs. Cold. Damp. Motion. Lying on face. Bending back. LACERATED, injured or inflamed nerves; mashed fingers, etc. Injury to or reflected from brain or cord. Very…”
- Clarke — The widest entry — sources, provings, clinical uses, relationships and antidotes in one place.
“perforatum, H. perfoliatum. St. John's Wort. N. O. Hypericaceæ. Tincture of whole fresh plant. After-pains / Asthma / Bites / Brachial neuralgia / Breast, affections of / Brain, concussion of / Bruises / Bunions / Compound fractures / Corns / Coxalgia / Diarrhœa / Gunshot wounds / Hæmorrhoids / Headache / Hydrophobia…”
- Hering — Graded symptoms, each weighted by how often provers and practice confirmed it.
“Hypericaceæ. St. John's Wort. Provings by Mueller, Thorer, Stokes, Bruckner and Schelling. See Allen's Encyclopædia, vol. 5, p. 53 . CLINICAL AUTHORITIES. Affection of mind , Müller, Analyt. Therap., vol. 1, p. 134 ; Headache , C. Hering, Analyt. Therap., vol. 1, p. 332 ; Bone pains in head , Lyford, Organon, vol. 3…”
- Kent — The mental and general picture — who the patient is, before what the remedy cures.
“One who makes a study of the proving of Hypericum will be reminded of a class of injuries involving sentient nerves and it is not surprising that this remedy has come into use for the results of such injuries. Injuries: The surgery of Homeopathy largely involves the use of Arnica, Rhus tox., Ledum, Staphysagria…”
- Lippe (MM) — The strict Hahnemannian reading — the symptom picture without clinical interpretation.
“Great heaviness in the head. Pulsation, heat and burning in the vertex (afternoon). Sensation in the forehead as; if touched by an icy cold hand. Sensation as if the head became elongate. Stitches in the right eye. Shooting through the ear. The face feels hot, bloated. Tension in the cheek. Dryness of the lips and…”
- Lippe (Red) — Keynotes with the most-trusted ones marked as red-line symptoms.
“Common name: st. john's wort. It is the Arnica of the nerves (D.). Consequence of spinal concussions (Arn.) (N.). Injuries of the nerves in general (D.). INJURIES FROM TREADING ON NAILS, NEEDLES, PINS, SPLINTERS, OR FROM RAT-BITES; PREVENTS LOCK-JAW (A.). Bad effects from falls or blows upon the head, or concussion of…”
- Nash — The comparisons — the remedy set beside the ones it is most often confused with.
“Is the remedy “par excellence” for wounded or injured nerves; from simple punctures from nails, splinters, pins, rat bites, etc., to severe concussions of the spine and brain, and especially to parts rich in sentient nerves. It is to this kind of injuries what Arnica, Hamamelis, Ruta, etc., are to bruises, and…”
