Formica rufa

by C.M. Boger — A Synoptic Key of the Materia Medica

Historical reference for practitioners and students.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.

REGION

Joints.
Spine.
Liver.
Kidneys.
Right side.

WORSE

Cold; wet.
Motion.
Before snow-storms.

BETTER

Pressure.
Sudden

rheumatic or gouty pains. Takes cold easily. Tuberculosis. Hyper-plasia. .................... Light, foaming stools. Hydrops ovarii. Nervous asthma. Hives, in flat plaques. Profuse sweat, without relief.

Related: Rhus-t. Urt-u.

Formica rufa across the other classic books

Formica rufa appears in 7 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.
“Formica rufa, Linn. Class , Hymenoptera. Common name (Fr.), Fourmi fauve des bois. Preparation , Tincture of live ants. Authorities.”
Boericke — The quick clinical read — keynotes, modalities and the conditions it is actually prescribed in.
“Crushed Live Ants (MYRMEXINE) An arthritic medicine. Gout and articular rheumatism; pains worse, motion; better, pressure. Right side most affected. Chronic gout and stiffness in joints. Acute outbursts of gouty poisons, especially when assuming the neuralgic forms. Tuberculosis, carcinoma, and lupus; chronic…”
Boger (GA) — Which general headings this remedy belongs under — the analytical scaffolding.
“SNOW AIR, Agg.”
Clarke — The widest entry — sources, provings, clinical uses, relationships and antidotes in one place.
“rufa. The Ant. N. O. Hymenoptera. Tincture from crushed live ants. Contains formic acid (HCO, OH). Apoplexy / Brain, affections of / Bruises / Chorea / Cough / Diarrhœa / Dislocations / Dropsies / Eyes, affections of / Facial paralysis / Foot-sweat, checked, consequence of / Gout / Hair, falling out / Headaches /…”
Hale — The introduction story — early pathogenetic and clinical evidence for medicines new to Hale's generation.
“(Formic Acid — The Poison of Ants.) Pharmacology. — Dr. Constantine Herring, in N. A. J. of H., Vol. XX, pp. 12, says: "The name Formica was used by Linnaeus as a generic name for a large number of species, all of which appear to common people to be ants." Later entomologists had to separate the species and arrange…”
Hering — Graded symptoms, each weighted by how often provers and practice confirmed it.
“The Ant. Hymenoptera. "The name Formica was used by Linnæus as a generic name for a large number of species, all of which appear to common people to be ants. Later entomologists had to separate the species and arrange them under different names, as different genera. The genus to which the old name, Formica, was left…”

Formica rufa in Kent's Repertory

Kent's Repertory lists Formica rufa in 451 rubrics. These are the ones where it carries the highest grade — the symptoms Kent treated as most characteristic. Most of them sit in EXTREMITIES (103), HEAD (45), GENERALITIES (31), STOMACH (26), ABDOMEN (24).

EXTREMITIES - PAIN - rheumatic - perspiration,with
PERSPIRATION - SYMPTOMS agg. while sweating
EYE - INFLAMMATION - arthritic (gouty and rheumatic)
GENERALITIES - PERSPIRATION - gives no relief
EXTREMITIES - PAIN - Joints - rheumatic
EXTREMITIES - PAIN - rheumatic
EAR - COLDNESS - behind right ear
EYE - PAIN - morning - working amel.
HEAD - BUBBLING sensation in - Forehead,bubble bursting in,as if
HEAD - COLDNESS,chilliness,etc. - Occiput - right side
EAR - PAIN - stitching in - waking,on
BACK - PAIN - Lumbar region - ilium - attachment of muscles
HEAD - PAIN, - Sides, - dinner,after
EYE - PAIN - aching - morning
MIND - FORGETFUL - evening,in
ABDOMEN - PAIN - Liver - jarring agg.
EYE - PAIN - morning - waking
MALE GENITALIA - ERECTIONS, - incomplete - coition,during
EYE - PAIN - cold water amel.
MALE GENITALIA - SEMINAL discharge - incomplete

Search all 7 classical repertories

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