Helleborus Niger

(HELLEBORUS)

Produces a condition of sensorial depression . Sees, hears, tastes imperfectly, and general muscular weakness , which may go on to complete paralysis, accompanied by dropsical effusions. Hence, a remedy in low states of vitality and serious disease. Characteristic aggravation from 4 to 8 pm ( Lycop ). Sinking sensation . State of effusion in hydrocephalus. Mania of a melancholy type.

Mind

Slow in answering. Thoughtless; staring. Involuntary sighing . Complete unconsciousness . Picks lips and clothes .

Head

Forehead wrinkled in folds. Cold sweat. Stupefying headache. Rolls head day and night; moaning, sudden screams. Bores head into pillow ; beats it with hands. Dull pain in occiput, with sensation of water swashing inside. Headache culminates in vomiting.

Eyes

Eyeballs turn upwards; squinting, vacant look. Pupils dilated. Eyes wide open, sunken. Night-blindness.

Nose

Dirty, dry nostrils. Rubs nose. Smell diminished. Nose pointed.

Face

Pale, sunken. Cold sweat. Wrinkled. Neuralgia on left side; parts so tender he cannot chew.

Mouth

Horrible smell from mouth . Lips dry and cracked. Tongue red and dry. Falling of lower jaw . Meaningless picking of lips. Grinding of teeth. Chewing motion . Greedily swallows cold water, though unconscious. Child nurses greedily, with disgust for food. Ptyalism, with sore corners of mouth.

Abdomen

Gurgling, as if bowels were full of water. Swollen, painful to touch.

Stool

Jelly-like, white mucus; involuntary.

Urine

Suppressed; scanty, dark; coffee-grounds sediment. Frequent urging. Child cannot urinate. Bladder overdistended.

Respiratory

Frequent sighing. Respiration irregular. Chest constricted; gasps for breath. Hydrothorax ( Merc sulph ).

Extremities

Automatic motion of one arm and leg . Limbs heavy and painful. Stretching of limbs. Thumb drawn into palm ( Cupr ). Vesicular eruption between fingers and toes.

Sleep

Sudden screams in sleep. Soporous sleep. Cri encephalique . Cannot be fully aroused.

Skin

Pale, dropsical , itching. Livid spots on skin. Sudden, watery, swelling of skin. Falling off of hair and nails. Angio-neurotic œdema.

Modalities

Worse , from evening until morning, from uncovering.

Relationship

( Hellebor fætidus , or, Polymnia -Bear's foot--Acts especially on spleen ( Ceanothus ); also rectum and sciatic nerve. Splenic pains extend to scapula, neck and head, worse left side and evening; chronic ague cake; hypertrophied uterus; glandular enlargements; hair and nails falling off; skin peeling). Hellebor orientalis (salivation).

Antidote: Camphor; Cinch .

Compare: Threatening effusion; Tuberc; Apis; Zinc; Opium; Cinch; Cicuta; Iodoform .

Dose

Tincture, to third potency.