Rhus glabra

Smooth Sumach

by William Boericke — Pocket Manual of Homoeopathic Materia Medica & Repertory

Historical reference for practitioners and students. The statements below reflect the named author’s homeopathic teaching and do not establish treatment effectiveness. This text is not medical advice and must not replace appropriate diagnosis or care.

Epistaxis and occipital headache. Fetid flatus . Ulceration of mouth. Dreams of flying through the air ( Sticta ). Profuse perspiration arising from debility ( China ). It is claimed that this remedy will so disinfect the bowels that the flatus and stools will be free from odor. It acts well in putrescent conditions with tendency to ulceration.

Mouth

Scurvy; nursing sore mouth ( Veronica ). Aphthous stomatitis.

Relationship

Said to be antidotal to the action of Mercury, and has been employed in the treatment of secondary syphilis after mercurialization.

Dose

Tincture. Usually locally to soft, spongy gums, aphthæ, pharyngitis, etc. Internally, first potency.

Rhus glabra across the other classic books

Rhus glabra appears in 5 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.

Allen TF — A compiled symptom record drawing on proving reports and other named observations.
“Rhus glabra, Linn. Natural order , Anacardiaceæ. Common names , Smooth Sumach. Preparation , Tincture of the bark. Authority. Dr. A. V. Marshall, Hale's New Remedies, 2d ed., p. 872, took 30 drops of tincture once and 60 drops twice, first day; 90 drops once and 120 drops twice, second day; 120 drops twice, third day…”
Clarke — The widest entry — sources, provings, clinical uses, relationships and antidotes in one place.
“R. carolinensis. R. elegans. R. virginica. Common Smooth Sumach. Pennsylvania Sumach. Upland Sumach. (Rocky or barren soils in North America.) N. O. Anacardiaceæ. Tincture of fresh bark; of root; of berries. Debility / Diarrhœa / Dreams, annoying / Dysentery / Epistaxis / Hæmorrhage / Head-ache / Mouth, ulcers in Rhus…”
Hale — The introduction story — early pathogenetic and clinical evidence for medicines new to Hale's generation.
“(Common Sumach.) Botanical Description. — Rhus glabrum (or smooth sumach), is a shrub from six to fifteen feet high, consisting of many straggling, glabrous branches, covered with a pale, gray bark, having often a reddish tint. The leaves are alternate, odd-pinnate, and consisting of from six to fifteen leaflets…”
Hughes & Dake — The source evidence — provings and poisonings retained with their experimental context.
“BhUB glabra, smooth sumach. I. Provings. — i. Dr. A. V. Marshall proved a tinct, of the bark —I lb. to Oj. July 14th, 1865, took 30 dr. at 6 a.m., and 60 dr. at 9 and 12. Dull aching in forehead and vertex was felt shortly after each dose, and after last two pain about navel ; p.m., diarrhoea, increasing in frequency…”

Rhus glabra in Kent's Repertory

Kent's Repertory lists Rhus glabra in 2 rubrics. These are the ones where it carries the highest grade — the symptoms Kent treated as most characteristic.

HEAD - PAIN, - exertion - amel.
GENERALITIES - WEAKNESS,enervation - evening

Search all 7 classical repertories

More remedies in this book

Previous remedy: Rhus-a Next remedy: Rhus-t

Rham-cal Rheum Rhod-f Rhodi Rhus-v Ric Rob Ros-d

Explore the full Similia platform

Access 21 classic materia medica books, 7 classical repertories, AI semantic search, and basic case management — free.

View Pricing