Cypripedium

Volume II — Special Therapeutics

There are eight species of Lady’s Slipper indigenous to this country. It has a singular-looking flower, resembling an Indian moccasin or a Chinese shoe, whence its name. It is also commonly called “Valerian” and “nerve root,” both of which names are given to the Scutellaria. The Cypripedium pubescens (large yellow) has been selected as the officinal species, but as the roots of all are collected and used I do not see how we can discriminate. They all contain in common a peculiar “nervine” property. Rafinesque considered this species to be the strongest, next the Oypripedium acaule, and last, the Cypripedium spectabile and candidum. King says the two latter possess more narcotic power than the others, especially when found in dark swamps.

The medicinal action of the various species differs in quantity rather than quality.

In domestic and eclectic practice this root is held in the highest esteem. I have been surprised, however, to find that our school have almost altogether neglected it in favor of Scutellaria, although the testimony is about equal relating to their power over the nervous system.

When an infusion in large quantities, or a strong extract is taken by a healthy person, it causes at first a feeling of exhilaration of the mental and nervous system. Afterwards comes a sense of calmness and quiet, followed, if larger doses are taken, by a sense of mental fatigue, an oppression and heaviness of mind, and a disposition to drowsiness.

It is resorted to by women whose nervous systems have been shattered by long and wearing illnesses and excessive green-tea and coffee drinking. It removes abnormal irritability, but if it is used to excess the secondary effect is to increase the very irritability and weakness which it palliated. This is the case, however, with all its analogues, namely, Teas, Coffees, Valerian, Scullcap, Paullinia, Coca, Chloral, and the Bromides. It is for conditions similar to their secondary effects that these medicines are usually prescribed.

The sphere of remedial action possessed by the Cypripedium is not wide. It acts upon the cerebro-spinal system, upon the gray nerve-tissue, and is useful for the effects of overmental exertion or reflex nervous excitement.

You will probably find it useful in hysteria, chorea, nervous headache , delirium tremens, hypochondriasis, neuralgia, and that peculiar condition for which there is no better name than “ fidgetiness.” For all these conditions, however, it never can rise above that of a palliative, unless the case be very recent. For serious cases some remedy whose action is deeper is usually required.

There are some affections, however, in which it appears to act more permanently.

It is invaluable in that well-known condition to which children are subject, when, from some gastric or intestinal irritation, the reflex excitability of the cerebro-spinal centres is aroused, the brain becomes irritated , and convulsions impend. Here it rivals the Bromides, Chloral, Scutellaria, and Cuprum acet., and is superior to the routine Belladonna, Ilyoscyamus, and Chamomilla. In such cases a few drops of the mother tincture, or lx, frequently repeated, is attended by the best results.

Sleeplessness, when depending on functional disorder of the brain and nervous system, or mental excitement, is often promptly removed by similar doses. This sleeplessness of Cypripedium is not an unpleasant condition ; there is a desire to talk, a crowding of pleasant ideas, with a restlessness of body, a twitching of the limbs, etc. It is more adapted to the delicate organizations of children and feeble women than to men.

I have found it useful in the mental depression and irritability consequent on venereal excesses or spermatorrhoea. It is equally useful when the mental despondency is the result of brooding over an imaginary spermatorrhoea, or the imagined ill effects of nocturnal emissions, a very common condition caused by the reading of those foolish books published by quacks and charlatans.

In typhomania, and the jactitations, tremors, restlessness, etc., of patients with low fever, its effects are very pleasant, and renders such patients quiet and comfortable, without interfering with the action of the proper specifics.

There is a condition of cerebral hypercesthesia, occurring in young children, which is often dangerous in its consequences. It results from teething or mental stimulation. It is too much the habit of doting parents to overstimulate the tender brains of infants by attempts at teaching them beyond their normal capacities. The children become morbidly excitable. They become precociously bright, sleep but little, are inclined to laugh and play at night, crave light and noise ; and parents, not knowing the danger impending, favor instead of suppressing this dangerous condition. I have often seen this functional irritability end in convulsions. It often leads to congestion, and fatal meningitis then closes the scene.

Now, Cypripedium will aid you in removing these premonitory

brain-symptoms, if you can oblige the attendants to place the child where it can have quiet sleep, and a dim light; but this remedy is of no value after the irritation has become fixed, for it is not homoeopathic to congestion or inflammation of the brain or spinal cord.

In relation to the dose and best preparation my advice is to use, for very young children, the lx or 2* aqueous dilutions, to avoid the alcoholic stimulation, or dried pellets of the alcoholic dilutions, or an infusion of ten grains of the root to four ounces of hot water. This preparation may be given in teaspoonful doses. For adults, tablespoonful doses of an infusion of one drachm of the root to §iv of hot water, or ten drops of the mother tincture.

It is said to have caused symptoms of the skin similar to Rhus poisoning. (See Vol. I.)