Apocynum Cannabinum appears in 9 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 HC — The keynotes that separate this remedy from its nearest neighbours.
“Indian Hemp. (Apocynaceae) Excretions diminished, especially urine and sweat. Dropsy of serous membranes; acute, inflammatory. Dropsy: with thirst (Acet. ac.), water disagrees or is vomited (Ars.); most cases uncomplicated with organic diseases; after typhus, typhoid, scarlatina, cirrhosis; after abuse of quinine…”
- Allen TF — The raw proving record — symptoms as the provers reported them, unedited.
“A. cannabinum, L. Nat order , Apocynaceæ. Common name , Indian hemp. Authorities. [No. 1 , Black; 2 , Peters; 3 , Marcy; 4 , Knapp (took infusion of the powdered root in warm water (15 grains to cupful), two tablespoonfuls every fifteen minutes). Bewildered, 4. Unusual heaviness of the head, with aching pains in the…”
- Boericke — The quick clinical read — keynotes, modalities and the conditions it is actually prescribed in.
“Indian Hemp Increases secretions of mucous and serous membranes and acts on cellular tissue, producing œdema and dropsy and on skin causing diaphoresis. Acute hydrocephalus. A diminished frequency of the pulse is a prime indication. This is one of our most efficient remedies, in dropsies , ascites, anasarca and…”
- Clarke — The widest entry — sources, provings, clinical uses, relationships and antidotes in one place.
“Indian (American) Hemp. N. O. Apocynaceæ. Provings were made with fresh plant-tinctures, or fresh or powdered root-tinctures or infusions. Watery infusions (with just enough spirit to keep them from fermenting) are said to be more efficacious than tinctures. The whole fresh plant, root included, should be used for…”
- Hering — Graded symptoms, each weighted by how often provers and practice confirmed it.
“Indian Hemp. Apocynaceæ. In the summer of 1833, during a walk in the suburbs of New York, attention was called to this plant as being one of the most promising, by Dr. John F. Gray. In Allentown it was proved, especially by Dr. Freitag ; in 1856 another attempt by John C. Peters, with large doses of the tincture…”
- Kent — The mental and general picture — who the patient is, before what the remedy cures.
“This remedy comes in as a good one to contrast with Apis. You will find it analogous in its symptoms and much like the complaints cured by Apis. You will be astonished in going over the dropsical condition, the rheumatic condition, the tumefaction of the cellular tissues, the dropsy of the sacs, the scanty urine…”
- Lippe (Red) — Keynotes with the most-trusted ones marked as red-line symptoms.
“Common name: indian hemp. Low spirited (Aur., Ign., Puls., Sep.) (Br.). Excretions diminished, especially urine and sweat (Apis, Sep., Sulph.) (A.). All kinds of dropsies, with a sinking feeling at the pit of the stomach (Hl.). GENERAL ŒDEMA (Apis, Ars., Dig., Merc., Phos., Sep., Sulph.) (Bt.). Ascites, with bruised…”
- Nash — The comparisons — the remedy set beside the ones it is most often confused with.
“Great thirst, but water disagrees, causing pain, or is immediately thrown off; sinking feeling at pit of stomach. (Dropsy.)”
