or Perforatum
by Henry N. Guernsey — Key-Notes to 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Historical reference for practitioners and students.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.
Bad results from treading on nails, from rat bites, or any punctured wounds; very sore and sensitive to the touch.
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Hypericum perforatum appears in 13 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.
“St. Johns Wort (Hypericaceae) Mechanical injuries of spinal cord; bad effects of spinal concussion; pains, after a fall on coccyx. Punctured, incised or lacerated wounds; sore, painful (Led. - contused wounds, Arn., Ham.), especially if of long duration. Injuries: from treading on nails, needles, pins, splinters…”
“Hypericum perforatum, Linn. Natural order , Hypericaceæ. Common names , St. John's Wort; (G.), Johannis-kraut, Hartheu; (F.), Mille-pertuis. Preparation , Tincture of the whole plant. Authorities. Emotional. Mental excitement, as after drinking tea, 5. She talks widely in the night, after 4 A.M., while asleep, with…”
“St. John's-wort (HYPERICUM) The great remedy for injuries to nerves, especially of fingers, toes and nails. Crushed fingers, especially tips. Excessive painfulness is a guiding symptom to its use. Prevents lockjaw. Punctured wounds. Relieves pain after operations. Quite supersedes the use of Morphia after operations…”
“CHANGE OF TEMPERATURE, weather, seasons, oncoming storms, etc. Agg. DAMPNESS, getting wet, wet weather, bathing, working in water, damp rooms, etc., Agg. FLOATING, flying, etc., as if (Comp. Vertigo.) INJURIES, wounds, bruises, shock, etc. (Comp. Sprainded) NERVE PAIN SORENESS, bruised, smarting, etc. (Comp. Rawness.)…”
“SPINAL NERVES: COCCYX. Inter - scapular. Meninges. Vertex. INJURY: Jar. Concussion. Penetrating. Shock. Bruises. Exertion. Touch. Change of weather. Fogs. Cold. Damp. Motion. Lying on face. Bending back. LACERATED, injured or inflamed nerves; mashed fingers, etc. Injury to or reflected from brain or cord. Very…”
“perforatum, H. perfoliatum. St. John's Wort. N. O. Hypericaceæ. Tincture of whole fresh plant. After-pains / Asthma / Bites / Brachial neuralgia / Breast, affections of / Brain, concussion of / Bruises / Bunions / Compound fractures / Corns / Coxalgia / Diarrhœa / Gunshot wounds / Hæmorrhoids / Headache / Hydrophobia…”
“Hypericaceæ. St. John's Wort. Provings by Mueller, Thorer, Stokes, Bruckner and Schelling. See Allen's Encyclopædia, vol. 5, p. 53 . CLINICAL AUTHORITIES. Affection of mind , Müller, Analyt. Therap., vol. 1, p. 134 ; Headache , C. Hering, Analyt. Therap., vol. 1, p. 332 ; Bone pains in head , Lyford, Organon, vol. 3…”
“HYPERICUM . Hypericum perforatum, L. St. John's wort. Nat. Ord., Hypericacea. I. Provings.-1 . KAROLINE M-, sæt. 23, unmarried, phlegmatic temperament, healthy, took, 7 a.m., 4dr. tinct. 1st d., 8 a.m., great thirst, dry mouth, some stitches in r. temple. 8.30 a.m., throat swells for h.; feeling of fatigue; several…”
“One who makes a study of the proving of Hypericum will be reminded of a class of injuries involving sentient nerves and it is not surprising that this remedy has come into use for the results of such injuries. Injuries: The surgery of Homeopathy largely involves the use of Arnica, Rhus tox., Ledum, Staphysagria…”
“Great heaviness in the head. Pulsation, heat and burning in the vertex (afternoon). Sensation in the forehead as; if touched by an icy cold hand. Sensation as if the head became elongate. Stitches in the right eye. Shooting through the ear. The face feels hot, bloated. Tension in the cheek. Dryness of the lips and…”
“Common name: st. john's wort. It is the Arnica of the nerves (D.). Consequence of spinal concussions (Arn.) (N.). Injuries of the nerves in general (D.). INJURIES FROM TREADING ON NAILS, NEEDLES, PINS, SPLINTERS, OR FROM RAT-BITES; PREVENTS LOCK-JAW (A.). Bad effects from falls or blows upon the head, or concussion of…”
“Is the remedy “par excellence” for wounded or injured nerves; from simple punctures from nails, splinters, pins, rat bites, etc., to severe concussions of the spine and brain, and especially to parts rich in sentient nerves. It is to this kind of injuries what Arnica, Hamamelis, Ruta, etc., are to bruises, and…”
Kent's Repertory lists Hypericum perforatum in 800 rubrics. These are the ones where it carries the highest grade — the symptoms Kent treated as most characteristic. Most of them sit in EXTREMITIES (189), HEAD (121), STOMACH (60), BACK (54), MIND (49).
