by C.M. Boger — General Analysis
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Sarsaparilla 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.
“Wild Liquorice. (Smilaceae) For dark-haired persons, lithic or sycotic diathesis. Great emaciation: skin becomes shriveled or lies in folds (Abrot., Iod., Nat. m., Sanic.). Headache and periosteal pains generally from mercury, syphilis or suppressed gonorrhoea. In children; face like old people; enlarged abdomen; dry…”
“Smilax officinalis, H. B. K. (probably), (the brown Sarsaparilla from Jamaica, St. Domingo, etc.). Natural order , Smilaceæ. Preparation , Triturations of the dried root. Authorities. (Nos. 1 to 7 , from Hahnemann, Chr. Krn.). [Dr. C. Wesselhœft's translation, as found in Hering's Materia Medica, is adopted, with…”
“Smilax (SARSAPARILLA) Renal colic; marasmus and periosteal pains due to venereal disease. Eruptions following hot weather and vaccinations; boils, and eczema. Urinary symptoms well marked. Despondent, sensitive, easily offended, ill humored and taciturn. Pains cause depression . Shooting pain from above right temporal…”
“Genito-urinary organs. Skin. Right side; lower. At close of micturition. Spring. Cold wet. Mercury. Night. Suppressed gonorrhœa. Yawning. Uncovering neck or chest. Standing. Thin frail, shrivelled and old looking. Marasmus. Tendency to gravel and itching eruptions. Parts feel screwed together. Nightly bone pains…”
“Wild Liquorice. The rhizome of several species of Smilax. (The Officinal Sarsæ radix is imported from Jamaica.) N. O. Smilaceæ (by some classed as a sub-order of the Liliaceæ). Triturations and tincture of the dried rhizome. Asthma / Bladder, affections of / Bones, affections of / Breast, scirrhus of / Bright's…”
“Wild Liquorice. Smilaceæ. Proved by Hahnemann, Hermann, Teuthorn, Brunner, Nenning, Schreter, Chronische Krankheiten ; Hancock, Krahmer, Pehrson, Hering's Monograph ; Berridge, N. Am. J. of Hom., 1872 ; Am. Obs., 1875 ; The Organon, vol. 1, p. 107. CLINICAL AUTHORITIES. Melancholia , Neidhard, Raue's Rec., 1870, p…”
“Generalities : Sarsaparilla is suitable in low forms of chronic disease, especially in complex states resulting from mixed miasms; especially in cases of sycosis and syphilis; cases made complex by Mercury , sycosis syphilis, and psora. Weakness stamps itself on the whole economy, as in Merc., Lach . and other…”
“Changeable disposition. Morose, with inclination to work. The mental depression is caused by the pains. Giddiness; when looking long at an object; or with nausea and sour vomiting. Headache, with nausea and sour vomiting. Stinging or pressing stinging or pulsating headache. Sound in the head as if a bell were…”
“Common name: sarsaparilla. Useful in periosteal pain due to syphilis (Asaf., Aur., Mezer.) (Bl.). Headache and periosteal pains from mercury, syphilis, or suppressed gonorrhœa (A.). Dry, itch-like eruptions, prone to appear in the spring; become crusty (A.). Herpetic eruptions on all parts of the body (A.). Eruptions…”
“White sand in urine; also slimy or flaky urine. Much pain at the conclusion of passing urine; almost unbearable. Marasmus; neck emaciates and skin lies in folds. Sarsaparilla is another remedy which has excruciating neuralgia of the kidneys. Renal colic and passage of gravel and formation of vesicle calculi. Dr…”
Kent's Repertory lists Sarsaparilla in 2,039 rubrics. These are the ones where it carries the highest grade — the symptoms Kent treated as most characteristic. Most of them sit in EXTREMITIES (369), GENERALITIES (190), HEAD (176), SKIN (138), ABDOMEN (100).
