Helonias Dioica
By Constantine Hering — The Guiding Symptoms of our Materia Medica
Blazing Star ; Starwort ; Unicorn Plant. Melanthaceæ.
A plant indigenous to the United States and Canada ; grows in low grounds and shady hilly places ; flowers in June. The fresh, bulbous root is gathered for the tincture before flowering.
Introduced by C. B. Parr.
Provings by Tully, Branch, Burr, Clark, Paine, Hale and Jones. See Allen's Encyclopædia, vol. 4, p. 565 .
CLINICAL AUTHORITIES.
- Melancholia , Dunham, N. A. J. H., vol. 23, p. 499 ; Affections of stomach , Coe, Close, N. A. J. H., vol. 23, p. 493 ; Gastric Disturbances , Coe, N. A. J. H., vol. 23, p. 499 ; Pain in kidneys , Rogers, Farrington, N. A. J. H., vol. 23, p. 497 ; Bright's disease , Jones, Am. Hom. Obs., vol. 10, p. 53 ; Diabetes , Œhme, Raue's Rec., 1874, p. 211 ; Raue's Path., p. 648 ; Diabetes mellitus , Schweikert, Raue's Rec., 1875, p. 166 ; Albuminuria , Farrington, Raue's Rec., 1874, p. 216 ; Am. Journ. of Hom. Mat. Med., vol. 6, p. 332 ; Disease of kidneys (2 cases), Rogers, N. A. J. H., vol. 15, p. 319 ; Profuse urination , Martin, Trans. Hom. Med. Soc. Pa., 1881, p. 265 ; Urinary difficulties , Rogers, Howard, N. A. J. H., vol. 23, p. 495 ; Uterine displacements , Foster, N. A. J. H., vol. 23, p. 498 ; Uterine displacements with leucorrhœa , Navarro, Times Retros., vol. 3, p. 26 ; Uterine hemorrhage , Hale, N. A. J. H., vol. 23, p. 497 ; Menorrhagia , Burr, Eggert, N. A. J. H., vol. 23, p. 497 ; Amenorrhœa , Coe, Farrington, N. A. J. H., vol. 23, p. 497 ; Leucorrhœa , Cushing, Lilienthal, N. A. J. H., vol. 23, p. 498 ; Climacteric affection , Jones, N. A. J. H., vol. 23, p. 498 ; Threatened abortion , Frost, Raue's Rec., 1875, p. 183 ; Pains in back , Jones, N. A. J. H., vol. 23, p. 498 : Post-diphtheritic debility , Ockford, Raue's Rec., 1875, p. 10 ; Chlorosis , Hughes, Pharmacodynamics, p. 398.
MIND [1]
Great weakness of memory.
Dull, inactive and gloomy.
Restless, wants to be continually moving about.
Desire to be let alone ; conversation is unpleasant.
Irritable ; cannot endure the least contradiction or receive suggestions in relation to any subject.
Fault finding.
Always better when doing something, when the mind is engaged.
Profound melancholy ; deep, undefined depression of mind.
SENSORIUM [2]
Dizziness ; fretful ; everything turns in a circle : anemia.
Pain in head is < by stooping, and attended by increased vertigo.
INNER HEAD [3]
Fulness and pressure in forehead or vertex ; < or renewed when thinking thereof.
Pain in forehead as if a band about an inch wide were drawn across it from temple to temple.
Pressing pain in one or both temples (in a small spot) ; "a burning sensation" in top and front of head, > by motion and mental exertion, < when either is desisted from.
Pressure from within upwards to vertex, < by looking steadily at any fixed point.
Pain in occiput, with pulsative pain in vertex, vertigo, < stooping.
Uterine and hysterical headache.
UPPER FACE [8]
Expression of suffering.
Pale, earthy face.
Face swollen.
TASTE, SPEECH, TONGUE [11]
Bitter, disagreeable taste, every morning, 5 A. M., on awaking ; lips, tongue and fauces dry.
Tongue white. θ Diabetes.
Tongue red at tip and borders, white in centre.
INNER MOUTH [12]
Salivation of pregnant women and teething children.
Mouth gets sore ; stomatitis materna.
APPETITE, THIRST. DESIRES, AVERSIONS [14]
Loss of appetite, eructations, fulness, cramp, and painful congestion of stomach.
Appetite poor, food tasteless ; "bilious ;" sleepy during day.
HICCOUGH, BELCHING, NAUSEA AND VOMITING [16]
Empty eructations.
Tasteless eructations and flatulence, causing nausea.
Nausea at supper.
Vomiting of food. θ Dropsy.
Obstinate vomiting in Bright's disease.
SCROBICULUM AND STOMACH [17]
Constricting, pressing pain in stomach.
Cramp-like pain in stomach.
Burning in stomach ; burning and aching in spine ; eructations.
Irritable stomach, with general dropsy.
Idiopathic diseases of stomach, or sympathetic gastric disorders which accompany uterine and renal diseases ; loss of appetite, eructations, fulness, cramp and painful congestion, with depression of spirits.
HYPOCHONDRIA [18]
Pain in left side, as if in spleen, which feels as if distended, causing a dull ache.
ABDOMEN AND LOINS [19]
Motion and rumbling in abdomen, as if diarrhœa would come on ; cramps in stomach.
Colic-like pains in hypogastric region, off and on all day.
Burning in lower third of abdomen.
STOOLS AND RECTUM [20]
Stool : loose ; yellow in morning, lumps of feces in evening.
URINARY ORGANS [21]
Burning sensation at kidneys ; can trace their outlines by burning ; at 2.30 P. M., dull heat and pressure in vertex, as if skull were too full.
Weariness, languor, weight in region of kidneys ; mind dull, inactive ; afternoon and evening.
Pain in kidneys with albuminous urine.
Congestion of kidneys with albuminuria from amenorrhœa.
Right kidney sensitive.
Burning scalding when urinating ; desire frequent and urging.
Strangury.
Involuntary discharge of urine after bladder seemed to be emptied.
Urine : profuse, clear, light colored ; albuminous ; diabetic.
Great emaciation and debility ; can walk but a few steps at a time ; complete loss of appetite ; pale, chlorotic skin ; tongue red at tip and edges, white in centre ; headache in occiput in morning ; immediate vomiting of animal food unless some acid was taken with it ; constant aching and extreme tenderness in region of kidneys, especially the right ; aching in region of bladder ; intense cutting, tearing pain in urethra when urinating ; very frequent desire to urinate ; urine limpid when first voided, but depositing after a time, a lead-colored, flocky sediment, adhering to vessel ; the amount of urine reached nearly three quarts a day.
Restlessness, constant "fidgety" desire to be doing something, low spirits, burning aching in lumbar spine, frequent profuse urination, urine pale yellow, sp. gr. 1, 013, reaction faintly acid ; must get up several times at night to urinate ; debility, easily fatigued, palpitation from going up stairs ; feels her weakness less when she is at work ; in evening, sensation as if cold wind was blowing up limbs from heel to popliteal space ; appetite poor ; bowels relaxed ; sleep difficult and unrefreshing. θ Ante-desquamative stage of Bright's disease.
Pain in region of kidneys ; painful stiffness of back ; burning, scalding pain when urinating ; frequent and urgent desire to urinate, with emission of large quantities of red urine ; complete impotence.
Scanty menstruation, heaviness, languor, drowsiness, albuminous urine. θ Albuminuria.
Chronic albuminuria.
First stage of diabetes insipidus and nervosus of women, with congestion of lower third of medulla spinalis.
Dull, gloomy and irritable ; melancholy ; complete impotence ; pain and lame feeling in back ; numbness in feet, going off by motion. θ Diabetes.
Lips stick together ; thirst ; restlessness ; emaciation ; urine profuse, clear ; linen coming in contact with urine becomes stiff ; large quantities of sugar in urine.
Saccharine diabetes.
MALE SEXUAL ORGANS [22]
Sexual desire and power increased.
Unusually strong and frequent erections at night.
Impotence, complete or partial.
FEMALE SEXUAL ORGANS [23]
Loss of sexual desire with or without sterility.
Profound melancholy, deep, undefined depression, with a sensation of soreness and weight in womb ; a "consciousness" of a womb.
Ovarian pains ; soreness and heaviness in hypogastrium.
Dragging weakness in sacral region, with prolapsus ; also at climaxis, with marked debility ; profound mental gloom.
Uterine displacement in weak patient ; dyspeptic, lethargic, or indisposed to move about ; aches and feels tired all the time ; uterus sensitive ; feels uterus move when she moves, it is so sore and tender ; miscarries easily ; depressed spirits.
Prolapsus, uteri and ulceration of cervix, discharge constant, dark, badly smelling ; flooding on lifting a weight, and on least exertion ; face sallow, having an expression of suffering ; great vaginal irritation ; pain in small of back.
Uterus low down, fundus tilted forwards ; finger passes with difficulty between os and rectum.
Prolapsus uteri, leucorrhœa ; os protrudes externally.
Prolapsus uteri dependent upon want of tonicity.
Feeble women, with prolapsus or other displacements ; aqueous, abundant leucorrhœa.
Prolapsus uteri with tendency to miscarriage.
Pain in lower part of back, through to uterus, piercing, drawing.
Great uterine hemorrhage all through proving ; pain in back, through to uterus.
Profuse flooding, with serous leucorrhœa, much uterine and ovarian pain ; climaxis.
Excessive uterine hemorrhage.
Menorrhagia from active congestion.
Menorrhagia from ulcerated os or cervix, blood dark and bad smelling, and continuing a long while ; very profuse flow at every period, so that her strength is exhausted, and she suffers from debility ; flow increased by least exertion ; complexion pale, sallow, earthy-looking.
Menstrual flow too profuse ; from atony of uterus ; passive flow ; < from slightest motion ; dark colored, coagulated, of bad odor ; face pale ; face earthy color ; feeble from loss of blood.
Menses too frequent and profuse in women who are feeble from loss of blood ; flow passive, dark, coagulated, offensive.
Frequent and profuse menstruation when patients lose more blood than is made in inter-menstrual period, with pain in back, and frequent palpitation of heart.
Atonic and passive menorrhagia.
Dysmenorrhœa occurring in delicate women, of lax fibre, or who are chlorotic ; sharp cutting and drawing pains during period, passing from back through uterus ; swelling of mamma, with considerable tenderness of mamma and nipples ; painful soreness over the ovaries.
During menses, weakness, weariness, lassitude.
Scanty menstrual flow, with heaviness, languor, drowsiness and albuminous urine.
General weariness and languor ; gloominess and dulness of mind ; amenorrhœa from general atony and torpid condition of whole body.
Amenia, arising from or accompanied by disordered digestive apparatus and anemia.
Atrophic ovarian amenorrhœa, with anemia, considerable impairment of digestion and assimilation, sterility, extinguished sexual impulses, little or no pain in uterus or its appendages, except some congestion at menstrual period, with heaviness, fulness and pressure in hypogastrium.
Pain in back, with irritation of vagina.
Aphthous vaginitis, and erythema of external genitals.
Intense pruritus of vulva and vagina, with curdy secretion from vulva.
Labia and pudendum hot, red, swollen, burning and itching terribly ; epidermis falls off in thin, transparent exfoliations ; mucous surface of labia red, swollen, covered with a curdy deposit, like aphthæ.
Leucorrhœa, with pain in lower part of back ; soreness and tenderness of breasts and nipples, particularly at catamenial period.
Leucorrhœa, with atony and anemia.
Leucorrhœa in old people, atrophied, cancer cachexia.
Breasts swollen, nipples painful and tender, cannot bear least pressure of dress.
PREGNANCY. PARTURITION. LACTATION [24]
Threatened abortion, from atonic conditions ; especially in habitual abortion ; slightest overexertion or irritating emotion tends to cause loss of fetus.
Had been flowing for several days ; severe bearing down pains preventing sleep, great pain in small of back ; walking about excites pains. θ Threatened abortion.
Useful for many of the consequences of miscarriage.
Intense pain in stomach, with burning pains ; vomiting and salivation during pregnancy.
Subacute gastritis and vomiting in pregnancy.
Albuminuria during pregnancy ; great weakness, drowsiness.
Chronic parenchymatous nephritis in connection with pregnancy and symptoms of approaching convulsions.
Pruritus vulva during pregnancy.
Nipples sensitive, painful, breasts swollen ; cannot bear pressure of ordinary dress.
HEART, PULSE AND CIRCULATION [29]
Palpitation.
OUTER CHEST [30]
Chest sensitive to air.
Aching as if front of chest had been compressed in a vice.
NECK AND BACK [31]
Burning and heat in dorsal region, mostly between lower half of scapulæ, while sitting reading, at night.
Pains in back, with lameness, stiffness, and weight.
Pains in back, more troublesome during night.
Feeling of weight and uneasiness in region of kidneys.
Pain in lower part of back, through to uterus ; piercing, drawing.
Sharp, spasmodic pain in back running to crest of left ilium.
Pain about upper part of sacrum and pelvis ; more severe at night.
Back aches across lumbar region ; feels tired and weak ; burning and tired aching in lumbar and sacral region on sitting down.
Pains in sacro-lumbar region, with lameness, stiffness.
Dragging, aching pains in sacral region attending prolapsus uteri.
Aching pain in sacrum, also down into each buttock.
LOWER LIMBS [33]
Severe pains in right hip-joint, < during motion.
Numbness in feet, going off by motion, only felt when sitting still.
REST. POSITION. MOTION [35]
Stooping : < pain in head ; pain in occiput <.
Sitting down : tired aching in sacral and lumbar region.
Motion : burning sensation in top of head > ; numbness in feet > ; feels uterus move ; menstrual flow < ; pain in hip-joint < ; profound debility > ; of arms causes chills.
Wants to be continually moving about.
Least exertion : causes loss of fetus.
Going up stairs : palpitation.
Can walk but a few steps at a time.
Walking : excites pain during pregnancy.
NERVES [36]
Tired, weary, drowsy.
General feeling of malaise.
Languor, unusually tired, yet knows no reason.
Great weariness, with copious acid urination.
Sense of profound debility is lost upon exercising.
Profound debility, as after severe acute diseases.
Debility after diphtheria.
SLEEP [37]
Drowsy, heavy, sleepy during day.
TIME [38]
Morning : yellow stools ; headache in occiput.
During day : sleepy ; colic-like pain in hypogastric region.
Afternoon : weariness, languor, weight in region of kidneys ; mind dull, inactive.
At 2.30 P. M. : dull heat and pressure in vertex.
Evening : weariness, languor ; mind inactive ; sensation as if cold wind was blowing up her limbs.
Night : must get up several times to urinate ; frequent erections ; burning and heat in dorsal region ; pain in back < ; in upper part of sacrum and pelvis <.
TEMPERATURE AND WEATHER [39]
Air : chest sensitive to.
Warm room : < toothache.
Warm moist air : < sore throat.
From being in hot sun : eyes inflamed and burning.
FEVER [40]
Chill, seemingly radiating from solar plexus all over body ; caused by motion of arms.
Flushes of heat pass over him on every movement while in a room.
ATTACKS, PERIODICITY [41]
Every morning, 5 A. M. : bitter taste.
LOCALITY AND DIRECTION [42]
Right : severe pains in hip-joint.
Left : pain in side ; sharp, spasmodic pain in back running to crest of ilium.
From within upwards : pressure into vertex.
SENSATIONS [43]
As if band about an inch wide were drawn across from temple to temple ; spleen as if distended ; as if diarrhœa would come on ; as if skull was too full ; as if cold wind was blowing up limbs from heel to popliteal space ; as if front of chest had been compressed in a vice.
Pain : in head ; in occiput ; in left side ; in kidneys ; in back ; in ovaries ; in small of back ; in lower part of back ; about upper part of sacrum and pelvis.
Intense pain : in stomach.
Severe pains : in right hip-joint.
Piercing, tearing pain : in back.
Intense cutting, tearing pain : in urethra when urinating.
Sharp cutting and drawing pains ; during menstrual period.
Sharp spasmodic pain : in back, running to crest of left ilium.
Colic-like pain : in hypogastric region.
Cramp : of stomach.
Bearing down pains : in abdomen.
Burning, scalding : when urinating.
Painful soreness : over ovaries.
Pressing pain : in one or both temples ; in stomach.
Pulsative pain : in vertex.
Painful congestion : of stomach.
Constricting pain : in stomach.
Soreness : in womb ; in hypogastrium ; over ovaries.
Irritation : of vagina.
Burning : in top and front of head ; in kidneys, can trace their outlines by burning ; in dorsal region ; in stomach ; in spine ; in lower third of abdomen ; labia and pudendum.
Burning aching : in lumbar spine.
Aching : in spine ; in kidneys ; in region of bladder ; in chest ; in sacrum also down into each buttock.
Dull ache : in spleen.
Painful stiffness : of back.
Pressure : in hypogastrium.
Dragging weakness : in sacral region.
Lameness : of back.
Fulness : in forehead ; in vertex ; of stomach ; in hypogastrium.
Numbness : in feet.
Pressure : in forehead ; in vertex.
Heaviness : in hypogastrium.
Weight : in region of kidneys ; in womb.
Terrible itching : in labia and pudendum.
TISSUES [44]
Chlorosis.
Anemia, atony, from prolonged hemorrhage.
Dropsy from albuminuria, general debility, uterine atony or after uterine hemorrhage.
Rheumatism.
TOUCH. PASSIVE MOTION. INJURIES [45]
Cannot bear least pressure of dress.
Extreme tenderness : of kidneys ; mamma and nipples.
Sensitiveness : of uterus.
Consciousness of a womb : feels it move when she moves.
SKIN [46]
Paleness and icteric color of skin.
Jaundice.
STAGE OF LIFE, CONSTITUTION [47]
Women : with prolapsus from atony, enervated by indolence and luxury, > when attention is engaged, hence when doctor comes ; worn out with hard work, do not care for sleep, so tired, and strained muscles burn and ache so.
Climaxis.
Girl, æt. 15 ; albuminuria.
Young woman, after getting feel wet ; threatened abortion.
Man, previously in good health, ill six weeks ; disease of kidneys.
Man, æt. 50, troubled occasionally for several years ; affection of kidneys.
Woman, æt. 65 ; diabetes mellitus.
RELATIONS [48]
It antidotes : Kali brom . (mental depression) ; Lil. tig . (prolapsus uteri).
Compare : Aletris, Ferrum, Phos. ac., Senec., Stannum .