EPIPHEGUS VIRGINIANA

HOMOPATHIC MATERIA MEDICA by William BOERICKE, M.D. Presented by Médi-T

Clinical Keynotes Head Modalities

Remedy Origin / Source

Natural

Clinical Applications

Compare: Iris, Melilot; Sanguinar. Fagus-Beech-nuts --(headache and salivation; swelling on mouth; dread of water).

Key Symptoms & Indications

A remedy for sick, neurasthenic, and nervous headaches, especially in women, brought on or made worse by exertion, shopping, etc. Tongue coated yellow; bitter taste. Drowsy after meals. Loose stools. Subinvolution, with painful menstruation and congestion.

Physical Symptoms

Head

Pressing pain in temples from without inwards , worse, left side . Viscid salivation , constant inclination to spit. Sick headache coming on when deviating from ordinary pursuits. Headaches from nerve tire caused by mental or physical exhaustion, preceded by hunger .

Modalities (Better / Worse)

Worse (Aggravation)

, from working in open air

Better (Amelioration)

, from sleep

Mentions in Classic Materia Medicas

Explore detailed descriptions for this remedy across famous historical textbooks:

EPIPHEGUS VIRGINIANA

Beechdrop (EPIPHEGUS - OROBANCHE)

A remedy for sick, neurasthenic, and nervous headaches, especially in women, brought on or made worse by exertion, shopping, etc. Tongue coated yellow; bitter taste. Drowsy after meals. Loose stools. Subinvolution, with painful menstruation and congestion.

Head

Pressing pain in temples from without inwards, worse, left side. Viscid salivation, constant inclination to spit. Sick headache coming on when deviating from ordinary pursuits. Headaches from nerve tire caused by mental or physical exhaustion, preceded by hunger.

Modalities

Worse, from working in open air. Better, from sleep.

Relationship

Compare: Iris, Melilot; Sanguinar. Fagus-Beech-nuts--(headache and salivation; swelling on mouth; dread of water).

Dose

First to thirtieth potency.

Epiphegus.

Epiphegus Virginiana. Beech Drops. Cancer-root. N. O. Orobanchaceæ. (A slender branching herb without leaves, of a dull purple or yellow-brown colour growing as a parasite on the roots of beech-trees.─H. R., iv. 10.) Tincture of whole fresh plant in full flower.

Clinical

Cancer. Diarrhœa. Gonorrhœa. Headache. Palpitation. Salivation.

Characteristics

The Orobanche family to which Epiphegus belongs is nearest to the Scrophulariaceæ in botanical features. In addition to the name of "cancer-root" it is also called "clap-root" and "flux-plant," showing the virtues with which it is popularly accredited. Its homœopathic use has been almost exclusively confined to the treatment of headaches of the neurasthenic type, brought on by any extra exertion, relieved by a good sleep. The pain is pressing from within outward. A very characteristic symptom is: "Constantly wants to spit, saliva viscid;" when this symptom occurs in connection with a headache Epiphegus will almost certainly cure. It is said to have entered into the composition of "Martin's Cancer powder," and has been used by eclectics as a local application in obstinate ulcers and aphthæ. Symptoms take the direction: Right to left; right upper, left lower. Right temple more affected than left. It has been used mostly in the 3x potency. It has been proved by Dr. Ralf Morden. Dr. S. A. Jones has been chiefly instrumental in defining its place in therapeutics. I have cured with it many cases of headache, some of them desperately severe. The conditions are: < from working in open air; from rising up in bed; > from a good sleep.

Relations

It is allied to the Scrophulariaceæ. Compare: Phos. in., > from sleep (Lach., Sulph., and Nat. mur. have the opposite─ < from sleep─in the most marked degree); Fagus.

Causation

Physical or nervous over-strain. Any unusual exertion or excitement, as going on a visit, or doing a day's shopping.

1. Mind

Makes wrong letters or words in writing.─Fears death from palpitation of heart.─Fears injury to her health from the drug.

2. Head

Pain in temples; mostly in r.; in forehead; pressing from without inward; piercing pains; fulness; pain coming on suddenly; scalp feels tight during headache.

3. Eyes

Smarting.─Could not read because the words seemed to be blurred.

8. Mouth

Saliva viscid.─Almost constant desire to spit.─Sticky viscid taste in mouth.─Bitter taste.

11. Stomach

Nausea.

13. Stool

Stool passed with difficulty though fæces soft.

19. Heart

Palpitation which makes her feel very weak.

22. Upper Limbs

Pain in l. shoulder.

23. Lower Limbs

Pain in l. knee.

24. Generalities

Languid feeling.

Epiphegus virginiana

Generalities

• The use of this remedy is exclusively confined to headaches of neurasthenic types, esp. in women, brought on or made worse by any unusual exertion, stooping, nervous strain etc.

• Pressive pain, as if finger tips were pressing into the temples inwards; or compressive pain going backwards agg. until 4 p.m. then amel.; with spitting of viscid saliva and nausea.

• Weekly sick headaches.

• Headaches preceded by hunger.

• Tartar on teeth.

• Neurasthenia.

• Confusion.

Worse

• Fatigue-nervous; of shopping.

• Eyestrain.

Better

• Sleep.

Related

• Ign; Iris.