BERBERIS VULGARIS

Study clinical applications, key symptoms, Worse/Better modalities, and homeopathic guidelines.

Remedy Origin / Source
Natural

Clinical Applications

Compare: Ipomea-Convolvulus Duratinus -Morning Glory. --(Pain in left lumbar muscles on stooping. Kidney disorders with pain in back. Much abdominal flatulence. Aching in top of right shoulder renal colic; aching in small of back and extremities), Aloe; Lycopod; Nux; Sarsap. Xanthorrhea arborea (severe pain in kidneys, cystitis and gravel. Pain from ureter to bladder and testicles; pain in small of back returns from least chill or damp). Xanthoriza apifolia -Shrub Yellow Root--contains Berberine. Dilatation of stomach and intestines, atony, enlarged spleen. Antidotes: Camphor; Bell.

Key Symptoms & Indications

  • Rapid change of symptoms-pains change in regard to place and character-thirst alternates with thirstlessness, hunger, and loss of appetite, etc. Acts forcibly on the venous system, producing pelvic engorgements and hæmorrhoids.

  • Hepatic, and rheumatic affections, particularly with urinary, hæmorrhoidal and menstrual complaints.

  • Old gouty constitutions. Pain in region of kidneys is most marked; hence its use in renal and vesical troubles, gall-stones, and vesical catarrh. It causes inflammation of kidneys with hæmaturia. Pains may be felt all over body, emanating from small of back. It has also marked action on the liver, promoting the flow of bile. Often called for in arthritic affections with urinary disturbances. Wandering, radiating pains. Acts well in fleshy persons, good livers, but with little endurance. Spinal irritation. All Berberis pains radiate, are not worse by pressure, but worse in various attitudes, especially standing and active exercise.

Physical Symptoms

Head

Listless, apathetic, indifferent. Puffy sensation, feeling as if becoming larger. Vertigo with attacks of fainting. Frontal headache. Chilliness in back and occiput. Tearing pain in auricle, and gouty concretions. Sensation of a tight cap pressing upon the whole scalp .

Nose

Dry; obstinate catarrh of left nostril. Crawling in nostrils.

Face

Pale, sickly. Sunken cheeks and eyes, with bluish circles.

Mouth

Sticky sensation. Diminished saliva. Sticky, frothy saliva, like cotton ( Nux mosch ). Tongue feels scalded, vesicles on tongue.

Stomach

Nausea before breakfast . Heartburn.

Abdomen

Stitches in region of gall-bladder; worse, pressure, extending to stomach. Catarrh of the gall-bladder with constipation and yellow complexion. Stitching pain in front of kidneys extending to liver, spleen, stomach, groins, Poupart's ligament. Sticking deep in ilium.

Stool

Constant urging to stool. Diarrhœa painless, clay-colored, burning, and smarting in anus and perineum. Tearing around anus. Fistula in ano .

Urinary

Burning pains. Sensation as if some urine remained after urinating. Urine with thick mucus and bright-red , mealy sediment. Bubbling, sore sensation in kidneys. Pain in bladder region. Pain in the thighs and loins on urinating . Frequent urination; urethra burns when not urinating.

Male

Neuralgia of spermatic cord and testicles. Smarting, burning, stitching in testicles, in prepuce and scrotum.

Female

Pinching constriction in mons veneris, vaginismus, contraction and tenderness of vagina. Burning and soreness in vagina. Desire diminished, cutting pain during coition. Menses scanty, gray mucus, with pain in kidneys and chilliness, pain down thighs. Leucorrhœa, grayish mucus, with painful urinary symptoms. Neuralgia of ovaries and vagina.

Respiratory

Hoarseness; polypus of larynx. Tearing stitches in chest and region of heart.

Back

Stitches in neck and back; worse, respiration. Sticking pain in region of kidneys radiating thence around abdomen, to hips and groins. Numb, bruised sensation. Stitches from kidneys into bladder. Tearing, sticking with stiffness, making rising difficult, involving hips, nates, limbs, with numbness. Lumbago ( Rhus; Tart em ). Metatarsus and metacarpus feel sprained. Post-operative pain in lumbar region; soreness with sharp pain following course of circumflex iliac nerve to bladder with frequent urination.

Extremities

Rheumatic paralytic pain in shoulders, arms, hands and fingers, legs and feet. Neuralgia under finger-nails , with swelling of finger-joints. Sensation of cold on outside of thighs. Heels pain, as if ulcerated. Stitching between metatarsal bones as from a nail when standing. Pain in balls of feet on stepping. Intense weariness and lameness of legs after walking a short distance.

Skin

Flat warts. Itching , burning and smarting; worse, scratching ; better, cold applications. Small pustules over whole body. Eczema of anus and hands . Circumscribed pigmentation following eczematous inflammation.

Fever

Cold sensation in various parts, as if spattered with cold water. Warmth in lower part of back, hips, and thighs.

Modalities (Better / Worse)

Worse (Aggravation)

, motion, standing . It brings on, or increases, urinary complaints

Better (Amelioration)

No specific amelioration factors listed.

Remedy Relationships

Antidotes

Bell., Camph.

Mentions in Classic Materia Medicas

Explore detailed descriptions for this remedy across famous historical textbooks:

BERBERIS VULGARIS

Barberry

Rapid change of symptoms-pains change in regard to place and character-thirst alternates with thirstlessness, hunger, and loss of appetite, etc. Acts forcibly on the venous system, producing pelvic engorgements and hæmorrhoids.

Hepatic, and rheumatic affections, particularly with urinary, hæmorrhoidal and menstrual complaints.

Old gouty constitutions. Pain in region of kidneys is most marked; hence its use in renal and vesical troubles, gall-stones, and vesical catarrh. It causes inflammation of kidneys with hæmaturia. Pains may be felt all over body, emanating from small of back. It has also marked action on the liver, promoting the flow of bile. Often called for in arthritic affections with urinary disturbances. Wandering, radiating pains. Acts well in fleshy persons, good livers, but with little endurance. Spinal irritation. All Berberis pains radiate, are not worse by pressure, but worse in various attitudes, especially standing and active exercise.

Head

Listless, apathetic, indifferent. Puffy sensation, feeling as if becoming larger. Vertigo with attacks of fainting. Frontal headache. Chilliness in back and occiput. Tearing pain in auricle, and gouty concretions. Sensation of a tight cap pressing upon the whole scalp.

Nose

Dry; obstinate catarrh of left nostril. Crawling in nostrils.

Face

Pale, sickly. Sunken cheeks and eyes, with bluish circles.

Mouth

Sticky sensation. Diminished saliva. Sticky, frothy saliva, like cotton (Nux mosch). Tongue feels scalded, vesicles on tongue.

Stomach

Nausea before breakfast. Heartburn.

Abdomen

Stitches in region of gall-bladder; worse, pressure, extending to stomach. Catarrh of the gall-bladder with constipation and yellow complexion. Stitching pain in front of kidneys extending to liver, spleen, stomach, groins, Poupart's ligament. Sticking deep in ilium.

Stool

Constant urging to stool. Diarrhœa painless, clay-colored, burning, and smarting in anus and perineum. Tearing around anus. Fistula in ano.

Urinary

Burning pains. Sensation as if some urine remained after urinating. Urine with thick mucus and bright-red, mealy sediment. Bubbling, sore sensation in kidneys. Pain in bladder region. Pain in the thighs and loins on urinating. Frequent urination; urethra burns when not urinating.

Male

Neuralgia of spermatic cord and testicles. Smarting, burning, stitching in testicles, in prepuce and scrotum.

Female

Pinching constriction in mons veneris, vaginismus, contraction and tenderness of vagina. Burning and soreness in vagina. Desire diminished, cutting pain during coition. Menses scanty, gray mucus, with pain in kidneys and chilliness, pain down thighs. Leucorrhœa, grayish mucus, with painful urinary symptoms. Neuralgia of ovaries and vagina.

Respiratory

Hoarseness; polypus of larynx. Tearing stitches in chest and region of heart.

Back

Stitches in neck and back; worse, respiration. Sticking pain in region of kidneys radiating thence around abdomen, to hips and groins. Numb, bruised sensation. Stitches from kidneys into bladder. Tearing, sticking with stiffness, making rising difficult, involving hips, nates, limbs, with numbness. Lumbago (Rhus; Tart em). Metatarsus and metacarpus feel sprained. Post-operative pain in lumbar region; soreness with sharp pain following course of circumflex iliac nerve to bladder with frequent urination.

Extremities

Rheumatic paralytic pain in shoulders, arms, hands and fingers, legs and feet. Neuralgia under finger-nails, with swelling of finger-joints. Sensation of cold on outside of thighs. Heels pain, as if ulcerated. Stitching between metatarsal bones as from a nail when standing. Pain in balls of feet on stepping. Intense weariness and lameness of legs after walking a short distance.

Skin

Flat warts. Itching, burning and smarting; worse, scratching; better, cold applications. Small pustules over whole body. Eczema of anus and hands. Circumscribed pigmentation following eczematous inflammation.

Fever

Cold sensation in various parts, as if spattered with cold water. Warmth in lower part of back, hips, and thighs.

Modalities

Worse, motion, standing. It brings on, or increases, urinary complaints.

Relationship

Compare: Ipomea-Convolvulus Duratinus-Morning Glory. --(Pain in left lumbar muscles on stooping. Kidney disorders with pain in back. Much abdominal flatulence. Aching in top of right shoulder renal colic; aching in small of back and extremities), Aloe; Lycopod; Nux; Sarsap. Xanthorrhea arborea (severe pain in kidneys, cystitis and gravel. Pain from ureter to bladder and testicles; pain in small of back returns from least chill or damp). Xanthoriza apifolia-Shrub Yellow Root--contains Berberine. Dilatation of stomach and intestines, atony, enlarged spleen.

Antidotes: Camphor; Bell.

Dose

Tincture, to sixth potency.

Berberis Vulgaris.

Barberry. (Britain.) N. O. Berberidaceæ. Tincture of the bark of the root.
Clinical

Biliary colic. Bilious attack. Bladder affections. Calculus. Duodenum, catarrh of. Dysmenorrhœa. Fevers. Fistula. Gall-stones. Gravel. Herpes. Irritation. Jaundice. Joint affections. Knee, pain in. Leucorrhœa. Liver disorder. Lumbago. Ophthalmia. Oxaluria. Renal colic. Polypus. Rheumatism. Sacrum, pain in. Side pain. Spermatic cords, neuralgia of. Spleen, affections of. Tumours. Urine, disorders of. Vaginismus.

Characteristics

The usual preparations of Berberis are made from the root bark. Berberis mahonia has a great local repute in the popular treatment of the low fever (typhoid) of the Rocky mountains, an infusion of the fresh plant being used. Chills and fever are among the prominent effects of Berb. vulg.: "Coldness of body with hot face, commencing 11 a.m.; burning heat in afternoon, < during night." Ague with enlargement of spleen, of spleen pains. Affections of liver and kidneys are strongly marked; but Berb. is a medicine of wide range. Movement < its complaints. Stitches are frequent, and a "bubbling sensation" or "bubbling stitches" are characteristic. A bubbling feeling as if water were coming up through the skin. Tearing, burning pains or bubbling sensation in joints. The mental condition is one of indifference, apathy. Melancholy, with inclination to weep. There is aversion to darkness, terrifying apparitions in the twilight. In the head there is vertigo and heaviness. Darting and shooting pains often changing their localities; < movement, > open air. Heat of head after dinner or in afternoon. Puffy feeling in head; as if it were becoming larger. Scalp tense. The face is pale, with dingy grey tinge, sunken cheeks, deep-set eyes, surrounded with bluish and blackish grey border. Mouth dry and sticky; painful white blisters on tip of tongue. The pit of the stomach is puffed up. Sticking pain in region of liver and gall-bladder shooting up to left shoulder, < by pressure. Gall-stone colic, followed by jaundice. Gnawing pain in right hypochondrium, shooting up to left scapula. Pains shoot down from tenth rib to navel. Burning in either inguinal region (especially right). Berberis produces both constipation (sheep-dung stools) and diarrhœa, and a number of symptoms about the anus. Hæmorrhoids, with itching or burning, particularly after stool, which frequently is hard and covered with blood. Fistula in ano with painful pressure in perinæum, extending deep into pelvis (left side). The urinary organs are markedly affected. The emission of urine is frequently accompanied by pains in thighs and loins. Lancinating, or tearing, bubbling pains in region of kidneys; < stooping and rising again, sitting or lying; > standing. Violent sticking pains in bladder, extending from kidneys into urethra, with urging to urinate. Many cases of (especially right) renal colic have been cured by it. Frequent urging to urinate. Urine dark yellow, red, becoming turbid, copious; mucous sediment, or transparent, jelly-like or reddish, bran-like sediment. Urine slimy when passed, depositing copious loamy yellowish sediment. Greenish urine depositing mucus. During urination burning in urethra, or bladder, pressure in bladder, cutting, burning, or stitches in urethra. Dragging or lancinating pains in spermatic cord, extending into testes. Cold feeling in prepuce, glans, testes, and scrotum. In the female a marked symptom is absence of pleasurable sensation during coition. Uterine symptoms and leucorrhœa associated with painful urinary symptoms. Dysmenorrhœa, pains radiating in all directions down thighs, &c. Vagina intensely painful; reddened. Violent pain in back, with menses which are too scanty. It is a leading remedy in lumbago; pains extend from back, round body, down leg; with red sediment in urine. Numbness, stiffness, and lameness in kidney region. Many old troubles in the back. Sufferings < by fatigue. Aching in small of back; < sitting; or lying; in the morning on awakening. Neuralgia under finger-nails. B. Simmons has verified a symptom of Berb. which may be regarded as characteristic. A gentleman of 52 complained of rheumatic pains in his legs and loss of walking power. After he had walked a short distance he was compelled to stop from a feeling of intense weariness, heaviness, lameness, and stiffness of the legs, which fell sore as if bruised. A single dose effected a complete cure, improvement commencing on the fourth day. Stuart Close (H. P. xix. 218) records the cure with Berb. 200 of a woman who had cutting, burning pains in the balls of the feet on stepping. On, standing with most of the weight on the heels she had no pain. On rising in morning sensation in soles as if stepping on needles. There is great weakness, like fainting, after a walk, with perspiration and heat on the upper part of the body; cold, pale, sunken face and oppression of breathing. Great relaxation, with disinclination to do anything. On the indication "tumours and sessile growths," Ozanam cured a case of polypus of vocal cords, red, with a sessile base. Thuja had failed. Berb. 200 was given at first with good effect, the attenuation being gradually reduced with increasingly good effect until the growth disappeared entirely under the 1x, Guernsey admirably sums up the remedy as follows: "Affects particularly the lumbar region; kidneys; uterus. The patient is sometimes unable to tell the exact locality, but the pain is somewhere in the back and shoots up the back; or into the spermatic cord, or testes, bladder, buttocks or legs. The pain may shoot up or down, or both ways. Pains may be felt all over the body, emanating from the back; the pains are of a sticking, pricking, lancinating, or jerking character, flying about now here and now there. There is often a bubbling sensation in the region of the kidneys; this sensation may occur elsewhere, but it is usually found here." Great sleepiness during day and after dinner. After riding much, great sense of weakness in kidney region. Suited to: Bilious diathesis. Cases where renal or vesical symptoms are prominent.

Relations

Compare: Alo., Ant. t., Arsen., Calc., Calc. ph. (fistula in ano; chest symptoms, especially after surgical operation); Canth., Carb. v., Cham., Chi., Lyc., Nat. m., Nit. ac., Nux v., Pul., Rheum. In burning and pricking pains in anus: Lyc., Thuj. In duodenal catarrh: Chi., Lyc., Hydrast., Pod., Ric. com., Merc. In aversion to darkness: Stram., Am. m., Calc., Carb. an., Stro., Val. In pains in feet on stepping: Cycl. Botanical relations: Podo., Caulo., Berb. aq. Antidoted by: Camph., Bell. Antidote to: Aco. An occasional dose of Lyc. helped action of Berb. Follows well: Bry., Kali bi., Rhus, Sul.

1. Mind

Careless, calm, apathetic humour.Ill-humour, disgust to life.Melancholy, inclination to weep, with dislike to conversation.Anxiety, great fear and disposition to take fright.In the twilight, all objects seem larger than they really are.Intellectual labours are performed with difficulty and prove fatiguing, esp. in the morning.

2. Head

Vertigo, with sensation as in fainting, and great weakness.Vertigo on stooping and on making use of the arms.Feeling of intoxication and giddiness.Confusion and heaviness of the head, often with pressure, dejection, ill-humour and shiverings, commencing in the morning, after waking.Head confused, as before a coryza.Sensation, as if the size of the head were increased.Sensation of swelling in the head.Aching, tensive pains in the forehead, in the temples, and in the eyes.Cephalalgia in the forehead and in the temples, as if from pressure from the inside outwards.Headache < by movement, > in open air.Acute, shooting pains in the forehead and in the temples.Darting and shooting pains in the head after changing the locality.Teguments of the head as if they were stretched and swollen.Head feels full and heavy, as if a cap were pulled hard down on head.Heat in the head after dinner (or in afternoon) and in the morning.Sweat after exertion, on stooping, and on standing for any time.Small red spots in the forehead and in the cheeks.Itching or gnawing shootings in the teguments of the head and of the face.Pustules in the teguments of the head and in the face.

3. Eyes

Eyes sunk, with a blue or dirty grey circle.Aching and sensation of burning in the eyes.Painful sensibility of the eyes on reading by candle-light.Sensation of stiffness, with pressure in the eyes.Shootings in the eyes, originating in other parts (for instance, the forehead), and extending towards the eyes, and thence to the forehead.Burning and dryness in the eyes, which are dull.Dryness of, or biting-burning, or itching sensation in the eyes.Itching in the canthi, eyebrows, and eyelids.Redness of the conjunctiva, with confused sight, as if there were a veil before the eyes, in the morning after rising.Ophthalmia, with the characteristic flying pains from the back; sensation as if sand were between lids and eyes.Bubbling in eyes.Indistinct sight, better near than at a distance.Sensibility of the eyes to the brightness of the sun.Sharp pains in the ball of the eye, and in the eyelids.Heaviness in the eyelids during motion.Burning or gnawing pains in the eyelids.Convulsive movement of the eyelids when reading by candle-light.

4. Ears

Itching, sometimes gnawing, sometimes burning, sometimes shooting, sometimes with small pustules in the exterior parts of the ears.Small tumour, size of hazel-nut, under and behind ear, apparently enlarged gland.Acute and shooting pains in the interior of the ear and in other parts.Stitches in the ear.Sensation of coldness in; bubbling in.

5. Nose

Dryness in the nose.Coryza, with secretion, at first of yellowish serum, afterwards of purulent, whitish, yellowish, or greenish mucus, esp. in the morning.Crawling or gnawing pains in the nostrils.

6. Face

Heat, and bluish colour of the interior of the lower lip.Dryness of the lips, and exfoliation of the epidermis, with a flat, brownish crust upon the edges.Sensation of burning on the exterior of the lips.Sensation of tingling on the lips.Small pustules in the lips.Acute aching or acute shooting pains in the cheek-bone and in the jaw.Great paleness of face, dirty grey complexion, with hollow cheeks and sunk eyes, surrounded by a bluish or dark grey circle.Aspect, one of great and prolonged dejection.Feeling as if cold drops spurted into face on going into open air.

7. Teeth

Acute drawing pains and shootings in the teeth, with a sensation as if the teeth were set on edge, or too long or too large; also with great sensibility of the teeth to the fresh air, esp. in the afternoon and at night.Ulcer in the gums.Small white painless nodes in the gums.Dirty red colour of the edges of the gums.Bleeding of the gums.

8. Mouth

Painful sensibility of the tongue to the touch and to motion.Stiffness and sensation of swelling at the end of the tongue.Painful, whitish vesicles at the end of the tongue.Sensation of dryness, clammy taste in the mouth, more disagreeable in the morning after rising, with harshness of the mucous membranes, and white tongue.Diminution of the secretion of saliva, or viscid, frothy saliva.

9. Throat

Inflammation of the tonsils and pharynx, with swelling and fiery redness, and a sensation as if a lump were lodged in the side of the throat; expectoration of a quantity of thick, yellow, jelly-like mucus.White, sticky tongue, viscid saliva resembling soap-suds.Tonsillitis, with sensation of something rough there; stiff-neck; feeling of a plug in the throat.

10. Appetite

Taste bitter.Acid, bitter taste, esp. after a meal.Thirst and dryness of the mouth.Burning and acrid taste in the mouth and in the throat, as if from pyrosis.Excessive appetite, almost like bulimy.Want of appetite, with bitter, bilious taste.Food appears insipid.

11. Stomach

Nausea before breakfast, better after.Nausea and inclination to vomit before dinner.Risings alternately with yawning.Bilious risings.Shiverings in the epigastrium.Aching, with shooting pains in the epigastrium.Burning, shooting pains in the stomach, sometimes extending to the pharynx.Sticking pain in gastric region; whirling pain in.

12. Abdomen

Cramp-like pains under the navel.Shooting, aching pains in the hepatic region, increased by pressure.Pressure in the region of the liver.Burning under the skin, in the l. side of the abdomen.Bubbling externally.Violent burning, under the skin; in l. side of abdomen.Drawing, acute, and shooting pains in the region of the l. hypochondrium.Sensation of tension in the groins, as if hernia were about to protrude, esp. when walking or standing.Aching pains in the region of the inguinal glands, which are painful on being touched, as if they were going to swell.Pain, with throbbing shootings in the groins, esp. when walking and standing, extending to the testes, the thighs, and the loins.Varicose veins in the groins.

13. Stool and Anus

Hard stools like sheep dung; or soft, easy stools, with burning in anus.

14. Urinary Organs

Bubbling sensation in region of kidneys.Lancinating or tearing pulsative pain in the region of the kidneys; worse when stooping and rising again, sitting or lying; better when standing.Violent sticking pains in the bladder, extending from the kidneys into the urethra, with urging to urinate.Frequently recurring, crampy, contractive pain, or aching pain, in the bladder, when the bladder is full or empty.Incisive pains in the urethra, even when not in the act of making water.Smarting pain in the urethra, with sensation of excoriation, even during the emission of semen in coition.Motion excites and aggravates the pains in the urethra.Burning pains in the urethra when making water, and afterwards, but esp. at other times.Stitches and burning in the urethra.Shooting pains in the urethra, extending to the bladder.Aching pains in the region of the bladder, even when it is empty, and after making water.Contractive, drawing, acute, incisive, and cramp-like pains in the bladder.Shooting, violent pains in the loins, extending to the bladder.Sensation of burning in the bladder.Pressure on making water.Urgent inclination to make water, esp. in the morning after rising.Increased secretion of urine, which is as clear as water.Urine pale yellowish, with slimy, gelatinous, mealy sediment, white, greyish white, or reddish.Urine thick, yellowish, like whey, or clay-coloured water.Urine of a deep yellow, with abundant sediment.Urine dark yellow, red, becoming turbid, copious; mucous sediment, or transparent, jelly-like reddish, bran-like sediment (which is easily crushed and dissolved between the fingers).Greenish urine, depositing mucus.Urine reddish, as if inflamed, with abundant sediment.Urine reddish, sanguineous, with slimy, mealy, and abundant sediment, of a bright red colour.The emission of urine is often accompanied by pains in the thighs and in the loins.

15. Male Sexual Organs

Burning, smarting pains in the glans.Sensation of cold in the glans and in the prepuce, sometimes with sensation of torpor.Cold feeling in the prepuce and scrotum.Sensation of weakness and insensibility in the external genital parts.The penis seems to be shrivelled and retracted.Burning pain in penis.Aching, drawing, contractive pains in the testes and in the spermatic cords, with contraction of the scrotum, which appears cold and shrivelled.Pains, as from excoriation in the scrotum.Movement excites or aggravates the majority of the symptoms in the genital parts.Smarting, burning, shooting, drawing, or squeezing pains in the spermatic cords, extending to the testes.Swelling of the spermatic cord, with pains verging towards the testes.Sensation of great weakness of the genital parts after coition.Diminution of sexual desire.Premature emission in coition.

16. Female Sexual Organs

Tardy enjoyment in women, during coition, and often accompanied with incisive or shooting pains.Sensation of burning and excoriation in the vagina, extending to the labia.Pale catamenia, composed of serous blood.Menses, consisting of grey mucus or brown blood.Suppressed menstruation.During the catamenia, pains in the genital parts and in the loins, or violent pains in the head, with sensation of fainting.Catamenia insufficient, with acute drawing pains in the whole body, painful inflation of the abdomen, pain in the loins, shootings in the chest, dejected aspect, with violent pains in the head; or with ill-humour, disgust of life, dejection, smarting pains in the vagina, sensation of burning and excoriation in the anus, and pains in the arms, as far as the shoulders and the nape of the neck.

17. Respiratory Organs

(Sessile polypus of vocal cord.).Hoarseness, with soreness or inflammation of the glands of the neck.

18. Chest

Sensation of excoriation in the chest.Oppression of the chest, esp. at night, with violent flowing of the coryza.Shooting pains in the centre of the chest, increased deep breathing, with dry, short cough.Painful shootings in the l. side of the chest.

19. Heart

Squeezing, with shootings, in the region of the heart.Palpitation of the heart.

20. Neck and Back

Drawing, acute rheumatic pains in the nape of the neck.Pustules in the nape of the neck, in groups, esp. near the scalp.Shooting pains between the shoulder-blades, increased by breathing.Acute drawing pains in the dorsal spine.Bubbling sensation in back.Stitches in the spine.Pustules in the back.Sensation of tension, of stiffness, and of torpor in the loins, as if they were swollen or benumbed.Aching, tensive, acute, drawing, or shooting pains in the loins.Sensation of tensive pressure in the loins, often with heaviness, heat, or torpor of these parts, esp. in the morning on waking, aggravated by sitting or lying, sometimes diminished by evacuations, or by the emission of wind.Pain in the small of the back; worse when sitting and lying, in the morning when awaking (during menstruation).

22. Upper Limbs

Sensation of lassitude, of paralysis, and of bruising in the arms, esp. during motion, provoked or aggravated by pressure.Acute pains in the arms.Pains in the shoulder, as of subcutaneous ulceration.Marbled spots on the arms, with burning itching.Cramp-like pains in the forearm.Tractive, acute pains in the forearm and in the bones, extending to the hand and the joints of the fingers, with heaviness and weakness of the arm.Burning or smarting pains in the forearm, aggravated by friction or scratching, and sometimes followed by a red spot.Small itching spots, like petechiæ, on the forearm and on the back of the hand near the wrist.Lymphatic swelling of the forearm, with spots like petechiæ and burning pains in the skin.Drawing, acute pains in the joints of the hand and of the fingers.Aching, digging, violent pains in the back of the hand, with sensation of heaviness.Urticarial spot on the back of the hand.Small warts in the fleshy part of the hand, under the thumb.Sensation in the extremity of the finger, as if caused by subcutaneous ulceration.Flat wart on the finger.Redness of the hands, with itching, as if from chilblains.Neuralgic pain under nails; tender to touch.

23. Lower Limbs

Sensation of weariness and pain, as of fatigue, in the legs, sometimes with heaviness, stiffness, and a sensation of paralysis, as after a very long walk, or as from dislocation in the parts affected, esp. in the soft parts, but also in the bones, and easily excited by movement.Great weakness of the legs while walking.Sensation in the legs as if they had wasted away.Tensive pains in the thighs, in the calves of the legs, and in the knees, as if tendons were too short.Drawing, tensive pains in the legs.Starting of the muscles of the legs.Sensation of cold on the outside of the thighs, as if from quicksilver circulating under the skin.Sensation of weariness, of bruising, and of paralysis in the knees while walking, and afterwards, as well as on rising after having been seated a long time.Lymphatic swelling of the tendo Achillis, with pains on lifting the foot, and a sensation as if the foot were bearing a heavy load.Swelling of the foot after movement, with sensation of burning, swelling of the heel, and cramp in the foot.Sensation of dislocation in the joints of the toes.Heels pain as if ulcerated on standing.Stitches between metatarsal bones, as from a nail when standing.Tearing in balls of feet, with pain when stepping on them.At every step stinging in the big toe.Burning pain in the soles of the feet, esp. in the evening.Drawing, acute, or burning pains in the toes.Pain of excoriation in the toes, with redness, as if from chilblains.

24. Generalities

Pulling, shooting, and gnawing pains, or pains as from fatigue in the limbs, aggravated or excited by movement.Muscular palpitations.Bubbling sensations and bubbling stitches.Paralytic weakness in some parts.Lymphatic swellings.Great lassitude, increased by walking, or by remaining long in a standing posture.Sinking, after the slightest effort.Weakness, which even induces trembling.Weakness, as from fainting, with vertigo, on walking or standing for some time.After a walk, a fainting fit, with ebullition of the blood, sweat and heat of the upper part of the body, paleness of face, hollow cheeks, and oppression of the chest before going to rest.Fainting, after having been in a carriage.Sessile growths.

25. Skin

Small pustules, red, burning, itching or shooting, and painful on being touched, upon the skin over the whole body: they change into brownish spots, like large freckles.Warts: small, flat.

26. Sleep

Sleepiness during the day, esp. in the morning and afternoon; after dinner.Unquiet sleep, disturbed by burning itching of the skn, or by anxious dreams.Sleep unrefreshing.Waking in the morning between two and four o'clock, without being able to go to sleep again, with tension and congestion in the head, and thirst.Sleep greatly prolonged, with pain, as of a bruise, and pressure on the loins, and on the thighs.Frequent waking, and fatigue, as from want of sleep.

27. Fever

Shiverings before dinner, and sometimes after, with feet icy cold, mouth dry and clammy, and pains in the l. side of the epigastrium.Shiverings in the morning in the back, in the arms and in the thighs, followed by burning heat, with giddiness and violent shooting pains in the head, and sore throat; on the third day, sweat, smelling like urine.Heat in the hands and head in the afternoon, continuing for several days.Disposition to sweat on the least exertion, esp. in the afternoon, with anxiety.Thirst, with the mouth dry, esp. in the afternoon.Pulse slow and weak, or full, hard and rapid.

Berberis vulgaris

Berberis vulgaris

Generalities

• It acts upon urinary organs, when there is tendency to the formation of calculi and lithaemia.

• It affects the liver markedly - promotes the flow of bile, therefore it is a useful remedy for fleshy persons with good liver, but with little endurance.

• Often useful in arthritic and hepatic affections with urinary, haemorrhoidal, or menstrual complaints.

• Venous stasis occurs in pelvic region, causing haemorrhoids.

• Patient is mentally and physically tired- not inclined to do anything.

• Prematurely old and worn out men and women.

• Pains rapidly change their locality and character.

• Symptoms rapidly alternate, thirst alternates with thirstlessness; hunger alternating with loss of appetite etc.

• Pains; are Radiating, from one point; shooting outward or all over; sticking; burning - smarting, soreness.

• Numbness; insensible to extreme heat and cold.

• Gurgling or bubbling sensations.

• Mucous membranes become dry - mouth, vagina etc.

• Discharges or skin is dirty gray.

• Cold feeling in the bones, eyes, ears etc.

• Chest affected after operations - piles, fistulae, etc.

• Sees things in twilight.

Worse

• Motion; jarring; stepping hard.

• Rising from sitting.

• Standing.

• Fatigue.

• Urinating.

• Twilight.

Mind

• Mental labour, requiring close thinking very difficult; the least interruption, breaks the chain of thought.

• Apathetic.

• Indifferent.

• Objects seem twice as large as natural.

• Sees terrifying apparitions in twilight; esp. children.

Head

• Sensation as if the head were becoming larger.

• Cold temples.

• Vertigo, with attacks of fainting.

• Sensation as of a tight cap on head.

Eyes

• Dry.

• As of a sand between the lids, and eyes.

• Eyes feel cold as from a cool wind, with lachrymation on closing the eyes.

• Quivering of the eyelids when reading.

• Eyes sunken; with dark-bluish circles around.

Ears

• Stopped up feeling with pressure.

• Nodes on auricle.

• Tumour behind the ear.

• Sensation of coldness or bubbling in.

Nose

• Dry.

• Crawling, itching in nostrils.

Face

• Dirty gray, sickly.

• Bilious.

• Suppurating acne.

• Sensation as if cold drops were spurted into the face when going into the open air.

Mouth

• Sticky.

• Viscid, foamy, cottony saliva.

• Tongue; feels scalded; painful pimple on tip.

• Gums dirty gray.

• Small white nodes in the gums.

• Teeth feel as if too long or too large.

• Taste bitter.

Throat

• Sensation of plug in the side of the throat with dryness.

Stomach

• Nausea; before breakfast; after dinner.

• Pains from stomach to back; or the reverse.

• Nausea before breakfast amel. after.

Abdomen

• Torn loose feeling in the epigastrium.

• Colic,pain from gall bladder to stomach agg. pressure.

• Biliary calculi.

• Stools; dirty gray, smarting tough; watery, with jaundice.

• Fistula in ano; with itching; with chest complaints.

• Colic, biliary or urinary arresting breathing.

Urinary

• Pain from kidney, extending along urethra, or to liver, stomach, spleen; arresting breathing.

- Renal colic.

• Burning, soreness, or bubbling in kidney region.

• Clear discharge from meatus before urinating.

• Urine; thick, turbid, yellow; red, mealy, sandy or slimy sediment.

• Sensation as if some urine remained after urination.

• Urethra burns when not urinating.

• Pains in thighs and hips, on urinating.

• Prostate gland enlarged, with pressure in perineum.

• Dysuria.

Male

• Neuralgia of testes and spermatic cord.

• Testicles drawn up.

• Pain change sides.

• Genitals cold and sweaty.

• Prepuce and glans cold and numb.

• Penis hard and contracted, bends upwards.

Female

• Menses; too slight; of watery blood or brown or gray mucus, replaces menses.

• Vagina sensitive; cutting pain during coition; vaginismus.

• Enjoyment absent during coition.

• Neuralgia of ovaries and vagina.

• Pain changes sides.

• Prostration after coition.

• Dysmenorrhoea, with blood looking like gray serum.

• Urinary symptoms, with menses and leucorrhoea.

Respiratory

• Hoarseness; polypus of larynx.

• Obstruction of breath when raising arms.

• Short dry cough, with stitches in chest.

Heart

• Stitches about the heart.

• Pulse becomes very slow.

Neck and back

• Stitches in neck and back agg. respiration.

• Backache, with severe prostration agg. sitting or lying.

• Sore spot under (R) scapula.

• Crushing, stitching, paralysing pain, in lumbar region.

• Pain from iliac crests down front of thighs; when urinating.

• Post-operative pain in lumbar region.

Extremities

• Neuralgia, under finger nails, with swelling of finger-joints.

• Outer side of the thighs cold, ulcerative pain in heels.

• Pain in balls of feet on stepping.

• Intense weariness and lameness of legs after walking a short distance.

• Stitches between metatarsal bones as from a nail agg. standing.

Skin

• Flat warts.

• Itching, burning and smarting agg. scratching amel. cold application.

• Eczema of anus and hands.

• Eruptions leave a brown stain.

Skin

• Flat warts.

• Itching, burning and smarting agg. scratching amel. cold application.

• Eczema of anus and hands.

• Eruptions leave a brown stain.

Fever

• Chilly.

• Sensation of coldness in various parts as if spattered with cold water.

• Lower parts of the back, hips, thighs, warm.

• Everything excites sweat.

Complementary

• Mag-m.

Related

• Benz-ac; Coc-c; Kali-bi; Lyc; Puls.

Bismuthum (old name; prefer bism-sn. or bism-o.)

Generalities

• Bism exerts its chief action on stomach and alimentary canal, causing catarrhal inflammation.

• Pains are tearing, pinching, burning, screwing.

• Sensation of heaviness in interval parts.

• Prostration.

• Affections, after abdominal operations.

Worse

• Eating; over eating.

Better

• Cold; drinks; applications.

• Bending backwards.

• Motion.

Mind

• Apathetic.

• Discontented; complains about his condition.

• Desire for company; children hold on to mother's hand.

• Anguish; never long in one place or position.

• Fickle minded.

Head

• Cutting or pressure above (rt.) orbit extending to occiput agg. eating amel. cold; alternating with gastric pain.

• Headaches return in winter.

Eyes

• Eyeballs ache.

• Thickened mucus in both canthi.

Nose

• Bleed, dark blood.

• Heaviness at the root of the nose.

Face

• Earthy; blue around the eyes.

• Pain in cheek bones amel. running about the holding cold water in mouth.

• Face pale and cold.

• Face pain alternating, with gastric pain.

Mouth

• Gums swollen.

• Toothache amel. cold water in the mouth agg. when it becomes warm.

• Taste; sweetish, sour or metallic.

• Black gangrenous looking wedges on dorsum and sides of tongue.

Throat

• Difficult swallowing of fluids, which return through nose.

Stomach

• Craves cold drinks, which is vomited at once, or in great quantities when stomach becomes full; at interval of days.

• Vomits fluids only.

• Burning, cramping, feeling of a load in stomach.

• Slow digestion, with foetid eructations.

• Bilious vomiting, after eating.

• Food presses like a load in one spot.

• Stomach pains amel. bending backwards.

• Cancer of stomach, vomiting of brownish water.

• Gastralgia, not associated with any catarrh or any symptoms of indigestion.

• Cold water amel.

• Atrophy of stomach.

• Stomach hangs down; hard lumps are felt below navel.

Abdomen

• Flatulence.

• Prostration; after stool.

• Painless diarrhoea, with thirst and frequent vomiting, and micturition.

• Painless discharge of blood from rectum.

• Cholera infantum, when the body remains warm.

Urinary

• Urine; frequent, copious; pale; suppression of.

Heart

• Violent beating of heart.

Extremities

• Dry palms and soles.

• Tearing under nails.

• Limbs cold.

• Blue colour of forearm and thigh.

Skin

• Ulcers; gangrenous black, bluish.

Sleep

• Restless on account of voluptuous dreams; with emissions or without.

Related

• Ars; Cadm.

Berberis Vulgaris.

Barberry (Berberidaceae)

The renal or vesical symptoms predominate. Pain in small of back; very sensitive to touch in renal region; < when sitting and lying, from jar, from fatigue. Burning and soreness in region of kidneys. Numbness, stiffness, lameness with painful pressure in renal and lumbar regions. Pale, earthy complexion, with sunken cheeks and hollow, blue-encircled eyes. Rheumatic and gouty complaints, with diseases of the urinary organs. Colic from gall-stones. Bilious colic, followed by jaundice; clay-colored stools; fistula in ano, with bilious symptoms and itching of the parts; short cough and chest complaints, especially after operations for fistulae (Cal. p., Sil.). Stitching, cutting pain from left kidney following course of ureter into bladder and urethra (Tab., - r. kidney, Lyc.). Renal colic. < left side (Tab. - either side), with urging and strangury. (Canth.). Rubbing sensation in kidneys (Med.). Urine: greenish, blood-red, with thick, slimy mucus; transparent, reddish or jelly-like sediment. Movement brings on or increases urinary complaints.

Relation

. - Similar: to, Canth., Lyc., Sars., Tab., in renal colic. Acts well after, Arn., Bry., Kali bi., Rhus, Sulph., in rheumatic affections.

Aggravations

. - Motion, walking or carriage riding; any sudden jarring movement.

Berberis Vulgaris.

Mind and Disposition.

Indifference, apathy.

Melancholy, inclination to weep.

Head.

Darting and shooting pains in the head, often changing their locality.

Heat in the head after dinner, or in the afternoon.

[5] Headache aggravated by movement, relieved in the open air.

Eyes.

Dryness of, or biting, -burning, or itching sensation in the eyes.

Itching in the canthi, eyebrows, and eyelids.

Ears.

Stitches in the ear.

Nose.

Dryness in the nose.

Face.

[10] Pale face, with a dingy-grayish tinge, sunken cheeks, and deep-seated eyes, surrounded with bluish and blackish-gray border.

Mouth.

The mouth feels dry and sticky.

Painful white blisters on the tip of the tongue.

Throat.

Inflammation of the tonsils and pharynx, with swelling and fiery redness, and a sensation as if a lump were lodged in the side of the throat ; expectoration of a quantity of thick, yellow, jelly-like mucus, -white, sticky tongue, viscid saliva resembling soap-suds.

Appetite and Taste.

Thirst and dryness of the mouth.

[15] Taste bitter.

Abdomen.

Pressure in the region of the liver.

Burning under the skin, in the left side of the abdomen.

Stool and Anus.

Hard, scanty stool, (like sheep's dung).

Watery evacuations.

[20] Burning, stinging pain in the anus, before, during, and after stool.

Haemorrhoidal tumors, with burning pain after stool.

Painful pressure in the perinaeum ; stitches in the perinaeum, extending deep into the (left side) pelvis (fistula in ano).

Urine.

Lancinating or tearing pulsative pains in the region of the kidneys ; worse when stooping and rising again, sitting or lying ; better when standing.

Violent sticking pains in the bladder, extending from the kidneys into the urethra, with urging to urinate.

[25] Frequently recurring, crampy, contractive pain, or aching pain, in the bladder, when the bladder is full or empty.

Stitches in the urethra, extending into the bladder.

Stitches and burning in the urethra.

Frequent urging to urinate.

Urine dark yellow, red, becoming turbid, copious ; mucous sediment, or transparent, jelly-like or reddish, bran-like sediment.

[30] Greenish urine, depositing mucus.

Blood-red urine, depositing a copious, slimy, bright-red, bran-like sediment.

During urination, burning in the urethra, with pressure on the bladder.

After urination, burning in the urethra, or bladder, pressure in the bladder, cutting, burning, and stitches in the urethra.

Movement brings on or increases the urinary difficulties.

[35] With the symptoms in the urinary organs, pain in the loins and hips.

Sexual Organs.

Men. Dragging or lancinating pains in the spermatic cord, extending into the testicles.

Cold feeling in the prepuce and scrotum.

Women. Catamenia too scanty, painful (pain in the small of the back).

Menses, consisting of gray mucus or brown blood.

[40] Suppressed menstruation.

Chest.

Stitches in the chest (left side).

Back.

Stitches in the spine.

Numbness in the small of the back.

Pain in the small of the back ; worse when sitting mind lying in the morning, when awaking (during menstruation).

Generalities.

[45] Great weakness, like fainting, after a walk, with perspiration and heat on the upper part of the body ; cold, pale, sunken face and oppression of breathing.

Sleep.

Great sleepiness daring the day and after dinner.

Sleep unrefreshing.

Fever.

Pulse slow and weak, or full, hard and rapid.

Chilliness, with hot face, followed by heat, with perspiration, or burning heat in the afternoon, increasing during the night.

[50] Perspires easily from the least exertion.

Conditions.

Rheumatic and gouty complaints, with diseases of the urinary organs.

Movement increases or causes the complaints.

BERBERIS VULGARIS

REGION:
Urinary
and digestive tract: KIDNEYS. Liver. Bladder.
Lumbar region (hips).
Joints.
Uterus.
Spermatic cord.

WORSE:
Motion: Jarring. Stepping hard.
Rising from sitting.
Fatigue.
Urinating.

Mentally and physically tired. Sees things in twilight. Many, rapidly changing or alternating symptoms; shooting outward, as in urethra, toes, etc., about or RADIATING from one point; lower spine, etc. Sticking. Soreness. Burning-smarting. Numbness; insensitive to extreme heat or cold. GURGLING or bubbling. Dry mucous membranes; mouth, vagina, etc. Dirty-gray face, gums, feces, etc. Lithæmia. Calculi. .................... As of a thight cap on head. Cold temples. Suppurating acne. Sticky mouth. Foamy, cottony saliva (Nux-m.). Painful pimple at tip of tongue. Pains from stomach to back or the reverse. Torn loose feeling in epigastrium. Biliary and urinary calculi. Colic, pains from gall-bladder to epigastrium; bilious; along ureter, arresting breathing; renal (r). Stools, pale, smarting, tough; watery, with jaundice. Fistula ani. Burning kidneys. Clear discharge from meatus, before urinating. Urine thick, turbid, yellow; red, mealy, sandy or slimy sediment. Dysuria. Genitals: cold, sweaty, pains change sides. Gray or brown mucus replaces menses. Backache with severe prostration. Sore spot under (r) scapula (Chel.). Crushing, stitching, paralysing lumbar pain. Numb lumbar region. Pain from iliac crests down front of thighs; when urinating. Lumbago. Itchy skin. Eruptions leave a brown stain. Chilly. Cold single parts. Everything excites sweating.

 

REMEDY RELATION

Complementary: Mag-m.
Related: Benz-ac. Coc-c. Kali-bi. Lyc. Pul.

BERBARIS VULGARIS

(Daru Haridra)

Plant Introduction:

It is a spiny, 3-6 ft. high, evergreen leaved and soft plant. Leaves are 1-3 inch long, mucronate; stalk is soft and twice the length of leaf. Small flowers: florescence in the spring and fructification in summer. There are many kinds of berbaris plans among which the plant of Nilgiri is
most effective. This drug grows mostly in the Himalayan regions, Bihar, and 4-10 thousand feet highlands of Nilgiri.

Name:

In Sanskrit-Darbi,
Bengali-Daru Haridra;
Hindi-Daru Haldi Urdu-Jarki haldi;
Telegu Mabipashuha; Marmanjil; 
English and Latin-Berbaris Aciatica or Vulgaris.
 
Family:  Berberideae.
 
Time of collection: When the plant gets dried-the stem, root and fruits are used.
 
Pharmacological use:
The bitter extract is expectorant; useful in pimples, leucorrhoea, gonorrhoea, dropsy; deseases of ear, erysipelas, skin diseases, scabies, eye diseases. Also very much effective in the treatment of sore, leucorrhoea, billious fever and jaundice.
 
Chemical Composition:
Berberine C20 H 19 NOs is one of the chief constituents alkaloid, Sulphate and hydrochloride etc.
 
Physio-Chemical action:
Berberine is not a very toxic alkaloid.
Berberine has stimulant action on the movements of the gastro-intestinal tract.
 
Therapeutic uses:
The Hindu and Mohammedan physicians used this in the treatment of leprosy. snake bite, jaundice, and vomiting of pregnancy and rheumatism. In malaria it has also been used. Dr. Sabastine (1926) used Berberine as a provocative agent for the diagnosis of latent malaria. In 1927 Dr. Percy Andre advocated the hydrochloride in cases of malarial Splenomegaly. In 1927 Chopra has used ber-berine sulphate in patient suffering from Malaria at the Carmichael Hospital, Calcutta.

Opininion of different Physicians (Symposium)

Chark-This medicine can be prescribed in pimples and skin diseases.
Shusruta-In gonorrhoeal diseases.
Bagabhatta-In the phlegm and catarrh.
Chakradutta-In diseases of mouth, leucorrhoea. catamenia, jaundice etc.
According to my opinion, this drug has a powerful action on gall stone and is capable of dissolving it. I have administered this drug in many patients and dissolved gall-stones. The medicine to be continued for a few days..
 
Dose; 25-30 minims with tepid water thrice daily. In some cases intake for 2-3 months may be necessary. I have also observed fruitful result in the cases of Jaundice and skin diseases.
 
This drug may freely be recommended for any kidney troubles. Also helpful in be-coli infections.

Symptoms

Head: Heaviness, giddiness of the head as if some one has put any substance on the patient's head.
Nose: Creeping sensation marked by accumulation of phlegm in the left nostril.
 
Face: Pale, lean and thin, dirty, bluish shade surrounding the eyes.
 
Mouth: Sticky and bitter taste.
 
Stomach: Vomit preceding breakfast; heart-burn; sour belchimg; stone; Gall stone; irritation of the gall-bladder; constipation; pain of the gall-bladder painful Ellyum, pain in the stomach, spleen, liver to lower abdomen; unbearable pain.
 
Stool: Frequent excremental pressure; loose and earthen coloures excreta, sour smell, mixed with bile. Tearing pain in the anus.
 
Urine: Burning sensation during urinal flow as if a part of urine still remains in the bladder frequent urine with albumen. Pain in the hip and abdomen during urinal flow; scanty discharge. Very effective in any kind of kidney disorder.
 
Male Gen Organ: Narrow emission of semenal fluid, burning sensation in the testes; stinging pain in the fore skin.
 
Female Rep. Organ: Burning pain in the vagina; want of sex desire; cutting pain during intercourse, smarting and contracting sensation of the vagina; itching sensation during leucorrheal discharge; pain of the ovaries; pain of the abdomen.
 
Back: Is very helpful in unbearable pain; stinging pain in the neck and back; sparking pain in the neck due to disorders of the urinal organs; difficulty in movement marked by pain; burning sensation of the eyes and face. Pain in the limbs; scanty flow of urine.
 
Skin: Eczema with or without exudation of tluid.
Fever: Fever with burning sensation of the eyes, face and limbs; thirst during fever which persists may be due to suffering from jaundice.

Therapeutic actions:

  1. The root is effective in eye diseases and prevents nausea.
  2. Useful in intermittent fever and acidity.
  3. The boils are suppreseed if applied with butter and camphor.
  4. Very helpful in the diseases of spleen and lever.

Berberis Vulgaris

(Barberry)

Pharmacy

berb. Berberis vulgaris. Barberry. N.O. Berberidaceae. Britain. Tincture of the bark of the root. Historical dose: Tincture and all potencies.

Clinical

  • Aphthae
  • Arthritis
  • Bilious attack
  • Bladder disorders
  • Chills
  • Colic
  • Co-ryza
  • Cystitis
  • Diarrhea
  • Duodenum catarrh
  • Dysmenorrhea
  • Dysuria
  • Eczema
  • Fevers
  • Fistula
  • Gallstone colic
  • Gallstones
  • Gravel
  • Heartburn
  • Hematuria
  • Hemorrhoids
  • Herpes
  • Itching
  • Jaundice
  • Joint disorders
  • Kidney colic
  • Kidney disorders
  • Kidney stones
  • Knee pain
  • Leucorrhea
  • Liver disorders
  • Lumbago
  • Menstrual complaints
  • Nausea
  • Nephritis
  • Neuralgias
  • Ophthalmia
  • Oxaluria
  • Polyps
  • Prostate enlarged
  • Rheumatism
  • Sacrum pain
  • Side pain
  • Spermatic cords neuralgia
  • Spleen disorders
  • Tonsillitis
  • Tumors
  • Urinary disorders
  • Vaginismus
  • Venous stasis
  • Vertigo

Herbal

The usual preparations of Berberis vulgaris are made from the root bark. Affections of the liver and kidneys are strongly marked, but Berb. is a medicine of wide range.

Homeopathic

Berb. is often useful in arthritic and hepatic disorders with urinary, hemorrhoidal, or menstrual complaints. Venous stasis occurs in the pelvic region, causing hemorrhoids. It acts upon the urinary organs when there is a tendency to the formation of kidney stones.

Berb. causes inflammation of the kidneys with hematuria. Marked pain in the region of the kidneys, hence its use in kidney and bladder troubles. Severe pains from kidney stones. Gallstones and bladder catarrh. Sharp or tearing, bubbling pains in the region of the kidneys, worse stooping and rising again, sitting or lying, better standing.

Violent sticking pains in the bladder, extending from kidneys into urethra with urging to urinate. The emission of urine is frequently accompanied by pains in thighs and loins. During urination, burning in urethra or bladder, pressure in bladder, cutting, burning, or stitches in urethra.

Dragging or sharp pains in spermatic cord, extending into testes.

Affects the liver markedly, promotes the flow of bile. Useful for fleshy persons with good livers, but with little endurance. Gallstone colic, followed by jaundice. Sticking pain in the region of liver and gallbladder shooting up to left shoulder, worse by pressure.

Pains rapidly change their locality and character. Pains are radiating from one point, shooting outward or all over, sticking, burning, smarting, soreness. Pains may be felt all over the body, emanating from the small of the back. Spinal irritation. Cold feeling in prepuce, glans, testes, and scrotum.

Movement aggravates complaints (Bry.). Sharp pains are frequent and a bubbling sensation. Bubbling and sharp pains are characteristic. A bubbling feeling as if water were coming up through the skin. Tearing, burning pains or bubbling sensation in joints.

Rapid changes of symptoms. Thirst alternates with thirstless, hunger, and loss of appetite. Chills and fever. Coldness of body with hot face, commencing 11 a.m., burning heat in the afternoon, worse during the night.

Mind

The mental condition of Berb. is one of indifference, apathy. Aversion to the darkness. Melancholy, inclination to weep. Fretful humor with weariness of life.

Patient is mentally and physically tired, not inclined to do anything. Mental work requiring close thinking is very difficult; the least interruption breaks the chain of thought. Vanishing of thoughts when interrupted. Objects seem twice as large as natural.

Apathetic. Indifference and pensiveness, with disinclination to speak. Anxiety before sleep in the evening. Anxiety while sitting, standing, or moving. Sees terrifying apparitions in twilight, especially children. Desires death during menses.

Abdomen

Burning in or under the skin of abdomen. Rumbling in bowels. Colic pains from gallbladder to abdomen, worse pressure. Torn loose feeling in the epigastrium. Sharp pains in front of kidneys extending to liver, spleen, stomach, groins. Cramplike contraction in splenic region. Sticking deep in ileum. Pressure and tension in groins, as if a hernia would develop. Sharp pain in the region of umbilicus. Severe pain in inguinal region. Varicose veins near right inguinal ring.

Back

Back as if beaten, disabled, or stiff. Bubbling sensation in back. Tearing, sticking with stiffness, which makes rising difficult. Numbness, bruised sensation. Lumbago (Ant-I., Rhus-t.). Post-operative pain in lumbar region. Soreness with sharp pains, with frequent urination. Stitches in the spine. Constant pulsating, sharp pains in sacrum. Sharp pains in neck and back, worse respiration. Pustules. Pimples on scapulae. Inflammation of the glands of the neck.

Bladder

Cystitis. Burning pains in bladder region. Dysuria, frequent urination. Urethra burns when not urinating. Pain in the thighs and loins on urinating. Cutting and burning in urethra during and after urinating. Sensation as if some urine remained after urinating. Crampy, contractive, or aching pains in bladder, when bladder is full or empty. Burning in urethra during menopause. Constant urging, with pain in neck of bladder, mostly burning and scanty discharge.

Breasts

Pressure in breasts, especially at nipple. Sensation as if breasts were swollen after menses. Pressure behind left nipple.

Chest

Oppression of the chest, especially at night, with violent flowing of the co-ryza. Painful shootings in the left side of the chest. Sensation of excoriation in the chest. Tearing, sharp pains in chest and region of heart. Stinging, pulsating, pressing, or tensive pains in muscles of chest. Pimples on chest and scapulae. Itching, smarting, and burning in axillae. Itching returns after scratching, with smarting stitches or burning.

Constitutions

Acts well in fleshy persons with good livers, but with little endurance. Prematurely old and worn out men and women. Old gouty constitutions. Suited to bilious diathesis. Cases where kidney or bladder symptoms are prominent.

Ears

Itching with small pustules on the outer parts of the ears. Heat alternating with coldness of external ear. Sensation of coldness or bubbling in ears. Stopped up feeling with pressure. Beating or fluttering noise in ear. Nodes on auricle. Throbbing and roaring. Acute and shooting pains in the interior of the ear and in other parts. Sharp pains in the ear. Small tumor, size of hazelnut, under and behind ear. Enlarged gland.

Eyes

Conjunctivitis within the lacrimal caruncle. Dryness of eyes with burning and redness of conjunctiva. Aching and sensation of burning in the eyes. Eyes sunken with dark bluish circles around. Burning and dryness in the eyes, which are dull. As if sand between the lids and eyes. Eyes feel cold as from a cool wind with lachrymation on closing the eyes. Shootings in the eyes. Itching in the canthi, eyebrows, and eyelids. Ophthalmia. Painful eyes on reading by candlelight. Sensitive to the sunlight. Shuns light.

Face

Face hot and red. Sunken cheeks and eyes with bluish circles. Dirty gray, pale, sickly. Bilious. Greenish face, with blue rings and pink eyes. Sensation as if cold drops were spurted into the face when going into the open air. Dryness of the lips. Sensation of tingling on the lips. Burning in lips. Suppurating acne.

Female

Menses consisting of gray mucus or brown blood. Menses with pain in kidneys and chilliness, pain down thighs. Scanty menses of black drops of filthy slime. Menses, watery blood or brown. Gray mucus replaces menses. Dysmenorrhea with blood looking like gray serum.

Dysmenorrhea, with pains radiating in every direction. Leucorrhea, grayish mucus with painful urinary symptoms. Acrid leucorrhea, very prostrating. Neuralgia of ovaries and vagina. Pain changes sides. Vagina sensitive. Vaginismus. Vulva itching and burning. Pinching constriction in mons veneris, contraction and tenderness of vagina. Burning and soreness in vagina. Urinary symptoms with menses and leucorrhea. Cutting pain during sex. Enjoyment absent during sex. Prostration after sex. Desire diminished. Suppressed sexual desire with long delayed orgasm.

Food

Appetite either increased or decreased. Excessive appetite, almost like bulimia. Very slow digestion. Acid, bitter taste, especially after a meal. Want of appetite, with bitter, bilious taste. Food appears insipid. Alcoholic drinks aggravate. Thirst and dryness of the mouth.

Head

Dullness of head, as from coryza. Confusion and heaviness of the head. Frontal headache. Cold sensation in right temple. Cold temples. Chilliness in back and occiput. Heat in head from exertion. Skin of head and face as if numb. Headache, worse by movement, better in open air. Headache with hepatic or rheumatic arthritic complaints. Headache with affections of urinary organs. Darting and shooting pains in the head after changing the locality. Sensation as if the head were becoming larger. Sensation of a tight cap pressing upon the whole scalp. Tearing pain in auricle and gouty concretions.

Pustules in the tissues of the head and in the face.

Heart

Squeezing with shooting pains in the region of the heart. Frequent palpitations. Sharp pains about the heart. Very painful contracting, shooting pain in the region of heart. Pulse becomes very slow. Pulse slow and weak. Pulse full, hard, and rapid.

Kidneys

Radiating, shooting pains from kidneys into bladder. Kidney colic from kidney stones. Pain from kidney, extending along ureter or to liver, stomach, spleen, arresting breathing. Bubbling sensation in region of kidneys. Kidney stones. Burning, soreness in kidney region. Stinging, burning, gnawing, on small spot near kidneys, worse hard pressure. Sensitiveness in region of kidneys so great that any jarring motion, riding in a wagon, jumping from it, was intolerable. Clear discharge from meatus before urinating. Urine with thick mucus, acid bright-red. Urine turbid, yellow. Urine red, mealy, sandy, or slimy sediment. Passes small calculi. Urine smells like coffee. Urine blood red.

Limbs

Bruised feeling in limbs. Rheumatic paralytic pain in shoulders, arms, hands, and fingers. Legs and feet. Swelling of joints. Neuralgia under fingernails with swelling of the finger joints. Sensation of cold on outside of thighs. Heels pain, as if ulcerated. Sharp pains between metatarsal bones as from a nail when standing. Pain in balls of feet on stepping. Intense weariness and lameness of legs after walking a short distance.

Liver

Liver troubles with sticking pains in region of gall bladder. Shooting, aching pains in the hepatic region, increased by pressure. Pressure in the liver. Gallstones. Sharp pain in region of gallbladder, worse pressure, extending to stomach. Gallstone attack with severe pains. Violent stabbing, in region of liver, taking breath, must bend over. Catarrh of the gallbladder with constipation and yellow complexion.

Lungs

Increased deep breathing, with dry cough. Shortness of breath when going up stairs. Obstruction of breath when raising arms. Gallbladder or kidney colic arresting breathing. Short, dry cough with sharp pains in chest. Expectoration of a quantity of thick, yellow, jelly-like mucus.

Male

Genitals cold and sweaty. Neuralgia of spermatic cord and testicles. Constricting pain in testicles. Testicles drawn up. Smarting, burning, stinging in testicles in prepuce and scrotum. Itching on scrotum. Pain changes sides. Prostate gland enlarged, with pressure in perineum. Prepuce and glans cold and numb. Penis hard and contracted, bends upwards. Suppressed sexual desire. Straining during and after ejaculation of semen.

Modalities

Better after urination. Better in open air. Worse from motion. Worse jarring. Worse stepping hard. Worse rising from sitting. Worse fatigue. Worse urinating. Worse twilight. Worse standing, it brings on, or increases urinary complaints. Worse deep pressure.

Mouth

Aphthae. Burning and acrid taste in the mouth. Bitter taste. Offensive metallic odor from mouth. Sticky, viscid, foamy saliva like cotton (Nux-m.). White, sticky tongue. Viscid saliva resembling soapsuds.

Diminished saliva. Ugly bluish-red spots in mouth. Gums dirty gray. Small white nodes in the gums. Teeth feel as if too long or too large.

Nose

Dryness in the nose. Crawling and itching in nostrils. Pricking pain in tip of nose. Coryza with the yellowish serum discharge, afterwards of purulent. Obstinate catarrh of left nostril. Catarrh whitish, yellowish, or greenish mucus, especially in the morning. Titillating irritation to sneeze. Drops of blood from left nostril.

Perspiration

Everything excites sweat.

Rectum

Constant urging to stool. Diarrhea painless, clay-colored. Burning and smarting in anus and perineum. Bearing down pain in anus and in sacrum. Changing stools. Scanty, thin-formed stool, hard or soft. Hard stools like sheep dung, with burning in the anus. Stools are dirty gray, smarting tough, watery with jaundice. Tearing pain around anus. Fistula in anus, itching with chest complaints. Copious hemorrhage from anus after increased exercise. Hemorrhoids. Herpes around anus.

Skin

Itching, burning, and smarting, worse scratching, better cold applications. Small pustules over the whole body. Eczema of anus and hands. Eruptions leave a brown stain. Circumscribed pigmentation following eczematous inflammation. Red marbled spots changing into brown spots. Boils, hastens suppuration and prevents return. Flat warts.

Sleep

Sleepiness during the day. Restless sleep, disturbed by burning itching of the skin or by anxious dreams. Frequent waking, and fatigue, as from want of sleep. Sleep greatly prolonged. Unrefreshing sleep. Difficult awaking in the morning, followed by headache, exhaustion, and want of recollection. Anxious dreams.

Stomach

Bitter eructations. Heartburn. Eructations, without bad taste or smell. Bilious risings. Frequent eructations alternating with yawning. Nausea before breakfast, better after. Pains from stomach to back, or the reverse. Shiverings in the epigastrium. Burning, shooting pains in the stomach. Sticking or whirling pain in gastric region.

Teeth

Teeth as if too long or too large. Pain as if gums were torn, or teeth pulled out. Scraping, gnawing pains. Tearing pain in left upper molar. Piercing pain in hollow tooth of lower jaw. Sharp pains. Gums dirty gray. Small white nodes in gums. Dingy red edges of gums. Gums bleed easily. Sore gums during dentition.

Temperature

Chilly. Cold sensation in various parts, as if spattered with cold water. Cold single parts. Chills as if in bones, with warmth of skin. Chills before dinner, with ice-cold feet. Chills in region of kidneys. Warmth in lower part of back, hips, and thighs. Heat in the hands and head in the afternoon, continuing for several days. Typhoid and putrid fevers.

Throat

Inflammation of the tonsils and pharynx, with swelling and fiery redness. Hoarseness with soreness. Sensation of plug in the side of the throat with dryness. Scratching and burning as from sand in throat. Tonsillitis. Pain in tonsils, when speaking or swallowing. Polyps of larynx.

Tongue

Tongue feels scalded. Vesicles on tongue. Painful pimple on tip. Tongue smarts when touched. Slimy furred tongue.

Vertigo

Vertigo, with sensation of fainting and great weakness.

Vision

Dim vision.all objects looking dark, as if lhrough a veil. or running together. Dim vision with itching around eyes and in face, preceded by incipient catarrh, succeeded by itching on legs.

Comments

There is great weakness like fainting after a walk, with perspiration and heat on the upper part of the body, cold, pale, sunken face, and oppression of breathing. Great retaliation with disinclination to do anything. Great sleepiness during the day and after dinner. Vertigo and heaviness.

Heat of head after dinner or in the afternoon. Puffy feeling in head, as if it were becoming larger. Scalp tense. The face is pale with a dingy gray tinge, sunken cheeks. Deep-set eyes, surrounded with bluish and black-gray border. Mouth dry and sticky, painful white blisters on the tip of the tongue.

Darting and shooting pains often changing their localities, worse movement, better open air. Changeable pains. Dry mucus membranes. Discharges or skin is dirty gray. Cold feeling in the bones, eyes, ears, etc. Numbness insensible to extreme heat and cold. Metatarsus and metacarpus feel sprained. Neuralgia under fingernails.

Lumbago, pains extend from back, around body, down leg, with red sediment in urine. Many old troubles in the back. Sufferings worse by fatigue. Aching in small of back, worse sitting or lying in the morning on awakening.

Chest affected after operations, hemorrhoids, fistula, etc. The pit of the stomach is puffed up. Gnawing pain in right hypochondrium, shooting up to left scapula. Pains shoot down from tenth rib to navel. Burning in either inguinal region (especially right). Constipation, stool like sheep-dung. Diarrhea. Hemorrhoids with itching or burning, particularly after stool, which is frequently hard and covered with blood. Anal fistula with painful pressure in perineum, extending deep into pelvis (left side).

Nephritis, acute kidney infections, kidney pain from passing a stone, kidney colic from polynephritis. Numbness, stiffness, and lameness in kidney region. Great sense of weakness in kidney region, after exertion. Kidneys are worse walking, especially down stairs, worse jar, bubbling sensation.

Bladder infections with achy kidneys, burning on urination, worse motion (Bry.). Cramping pain while urinating with urinary infection. Profuse amount of urine alternating with little urine.

Frequent urging to urinate. Urine is dark yellow and red, becoming turbid, copious, mucus sediment or transparent, jelly-like or reddish, bran-like sediment. Urine slimy when passed, depositing copious foamy yellowish sediment. Greenish urine depositing mucus.

A liver remedy and gallstone colic with the same pain as passing a stone from the gallbladder. Sharp pain that radiates.

Gallstone colic with jaundice. Absence of pleasurable sensation during sex, in women. Uterine symptoms and leucorrhea associated with painful urinary symptoms. Dysmenorrhea, pains radiating in all directions down thighs, etc. Vagina intensely painful, reddened. Violent pain in bed, with menses, which are too scanty.

Guernsey admirably summed up Berb. "Affects particularly the lumbar region, kidneys, uterus. The patient is sometimes unable to tell the exact locality, but the pain is somewhere in the back and shoots up the back or into the spermatic cord or testes, bladder, buttocks, or legs."
"The pain may shoot up or down or both ways. Pains may be felt all over the body, emanating from the back. The pains are of a sticking, pricking, sharp or jerking character, flying about now here and there. There is often a bubbling sensation in the region of the kidneys."

On the indication "tumors and sessile growths," Ozanam cured a case of polyps of the vocal cords, red with a sessile base. Thuja had failed. Berb. 200c was given at first with good effect, the potency being gradually reduced with increasingly good effect until the growth disappeared entirely under the Ix.

B. Simmons verified a symptom of Berb. A gentleman of 52 complained of rheumatic pains in his legs and loss of walking power. After he had walked a short distance, he was compelled to stop from a feeling of intense weariness, heaviness, lameness, and stiffness of the legs, which felt sore as if bruised. A single dose affected a complete cure, improvement commencing on the fourth day.

Stuart Close recorded the cure with Berb. 200c of a woman who had cutting, burning pains in the balls of the feet on stepping. On standing with most of the weight on the heels, she had no pain. On rising in the morning, there was a sensation in soles as if stepping on needles.

Relations

  • Antidotes: Camphor, Bell.
  • Antidoted by: Camph., Bell.
  • Antidote to: Aeon. Compare: (1) Ipomea, Aloe, Lye, Ox-ac., Nux-v., Sars, Xanthorrhea arborea, Xanthorhiza apifolia. (2) Aloc., Ant-t., Ars. (3) Calc-p.
  • Fistula in ano, chest symptoms, especially after surgical operation. (4) Canth., Carb-v., Cham., Chin., Lye., Nat-m., Nit-ac., Nux-v., Puls., Rheum. (5) In burning and pricking pains in anus: Lye., Thuj. (6) In duodenal catarrh: Chin., Lye., Hydr., Poto., Ric., Mere. (7) In aversion to darkness: Stram., Am-m., Calc., Carb-an., Stroph., Valer. (8) In pains in feet on stepping: Cycl. (9) Podo., Caul., Berb-a. Complementary: Mag-m. Follows well: Bry., Kali-bi., Rhus-t., Sulph.

References

Boericke, Clarke, Murphy.

Remedy Profile

  • Type Remedy
  • Common Name N/A
  • Origin Source Natural
Dosage & Potency

Tincture, to sixth potency.

Pharmacy Availability

This remedy is currently available in our online shop.

Rs. 340.00
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