DRUG STUDIES FOR BEGINNERS

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The main indication for Dulcamara is not any particular local symptom, but the marked aggravation from cold and damp. In a case of nasal catarrh the patient exhibited a great number of symptoms, most of which were of little use as an indication of the remedy. But she stated that as soon as he got out of bed she began to sneeze evidently from the change of temperature.

DULCAMARA.

THE outstanding characteristic of the Dulcamara patient is his or her sensitiveness to damp cold. Cold wet weather will aggravate all the symptoms of such a patient. This drug acts strongly upon all the mucous membranes and upon the skin. Catarrh of any membrane if it is worse during cold damp weather may need Dulcamara. Mucous diarrhoea with alternate yellow and greenish stools worse during cold damp weather. Also change of temperature aggravates the Dulcamara patients. They are worse before storms, from getting their feet wet and chilled.

Mentally the Dulcamara patient is apt to be impatient, bad temper and restless. He may suffer from vertigo when he rises from bed in the morning. A feeling of pressure in different parts of the head particularly in the forehead is characteristic, so is a stupefying headache coming from the nape of the neck into the occiput.

Nose, throat, mouth, ears and eyes may need Dulcamara. Nose bleeding, dry stopped up nose and a feeling that the nose must be kept warm are typical symptoms. The mouth may be dry, or there may be an increased flow of saliva. The tongue may be swollen or even paralyzed. Clarke says: “Paralyses are numerous; paralysis of tongue; of lungs; of heart;” Sore throat with hawking up of thick mucous.

Pains in the stomach, and pinching shooting pains in the region of the umbilicus. The typical diarrhoea has been mentioned.

The urinary organs may be affected. Catarrh of the bladder brought on by a chill in cold damp weather, with turbid urine. The urine may burn and urination difficult.

In the respiratory organs you may find catarrh and hoarseness, with a cough which is something like whooping cough, worse on taking a deep inspiration.

The limbs suffer from various shooting and drawing pains. Boger describes the Dulcamara patient as ” stiff, numb, aching and sore”. So Dulcamara may be needed in rheumatic cases in a Dulcamara patient. Dulcamara is a valuable skin medicine. Nettlerash coming on in cold, damp weather. Crusty, scabby eruptions, especially on the head and face. Kent mentions Dulcamara as a remedy for ringworm. Dulcamara is one of the wart remedies. The warts are large fleshy and smooth.

The main indication for Dulcamara is not any particular local symptom, but the marked aggravation from cold and damp. In a case of nasal catarrh the patient exhibited a great number of symptoms, most of which were of little use as an indication of the remedy. But she stated that as soon as he got out of bed she began to sneeze evidently from the change of temperature. Also, whenever it was cold and rainy the catarrh was much worse. Dulcamara was given with excellent results on these two symptoms.

So if Dulcamara suggests itself as a possible remedy see that the patient is worse in cold, damp, or rainy weather; from changes of temperature; from being chilled in such conditions after being overheated. Most of the symptoms are worse from rest. Warmth ameliorates as a rule, but aggravates the cough and nettlerash. Most of the symptoms are worse at night.

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