by Timothy F. Allen — The Encyclopedia of Pure Materia Medica
Acalypha Indica, Linn.
Nat. order , Euphorbiaceæ.
Preparation , Tincture from the plant.
Authority.
Dr. Tonnère, of Calcutta. (See Am. Hom. Rev., vol. 2, and A. H. Z., 61, 104, and 77, 31.)
Access 13 classic materia medica books, 7 classical repertories, AI semantic search, and basic case management — free.
Acalypha Indica appears in 4 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.
“Indian Nettle A drug having a marked action on the alimentary canal and respiratory organs. It is indicated in incipient phthisis, with hard, racking cough, bloody expectoration, arterial hæmorrhage, but no febrile disturbance. Very weak in the morning, gains strength during day. Progressive emaciation. All…”
“Cupameni. Indian acalypha. (East Indies.) N. O. Euphorbiaceæ. Tincture of fresh plant. Cough / Diarrhœa / Flatulence / Hæmoptysis The chief employment of this Euphorbian has been in violent dry cough followed by bloody expectoration. Expectoration of pure blood in the morning, and dark clotted blood in the evening…”
“Acalypha Indica Linn. Euphorbiaceæ. A weed common in the East Indies, like nettle. Proved and applied by Tonnere, of Calcutta, and Payne, of Bath. Holcombe's cure. Gloomy and despairing, but very unwilling to die. θ Hæmoptysis. Leucorrhœa, sometimes thick, sometimes watery. θ Consumptive patient. Cough, with bloody…”
Kent's Repertory lists Acalypha Indica in 10 rubrics. These are the ones where it carries the highest grade — the symptoms Kent treated as most characteristic. Most of them sit in EXPECTORATION (5), CHEST (2), COUGH (1), MIND (1), STOMACH (1).
