Helonias,
like Aletris, to which it is a botanical ally, and with
which it has been often confounded (both have been called "Unicorn plant," or
"Unicorn root," "Star Grass," and "Blazing Grass," or
"Blazing Star"), is a uterine remedy of great power. It has an extensive range of
action, as its provings show, but the organ predominantly affected is the uterus. It has
been called with justice a "uterine tonic," and one of the keynote indications for
its use is a "consciousness of the womb," and relaxation of uterine ligaments,
misplacements, and prolapse have been removed by Helon.
Marvin A. Custis (Am. H., xi. 594) reports a case in
point: "Mrs. L.─, 28, has two children, both living. Has prolapse
of uterus, ulceration of cervix, dark, offensive leucorrhœa. Her system is worn out and her
expression one of great distress. Is irritable, finds fault with every one, and cannot bear
contradiction. Restless, wants to move around, as she feels better when mind and body are
employed." There was severe backache and a sore and heavy feeling in the womb; in fact,
as she said, she was always "conscious of her womb." Helon.
30 every three hours for two days, and then every night, was prescribed, with a warm water
injection night and morning. At the end of three weeks the leucorrhœa had almost ceased,
the womb was in the first position, and she "forgets that she has such an organ."
The mental symptoms of Helon. are very marked, and the
extreme depression, gloom, and irritability of this case are characteristic of the remedy.
One of the provers had a preliminary feeling of wellness
before being plunged into a mental hell. It is specially suited to nervously run-down
females, easily fatigued by any work, who complain of a tired backache, a tired feeling extending into the limbs. Some of this passes off
after commencing to work. This looks rather like the Rhus:
"< on commencing to work, > after working a little;" but it is not the same, for in
the case of Rhus the relief comes from a limbering up of
stiff joints. The backache is in the lumbar region, just
over the kidneys, or else in the sacrum. The kidneys themselves, especially the right, are
the seat of pain, and then the urine is generally scanty. S. A. Jones found Helonin turned an alkaline urine acid; increased the amount of
urea; increased the amount of urine secreted. He considers this to be the result of a
condition of debility, venous paresis, the result of
previous arterial tonic contraction. Helon. produces
irritation in mucous membranes; sore mouth; irritable stomach; burning and scalding when
urinating; but the most intense effect is produced in the vaginal mucous membrane. L. L.
Danforth treated Mrs. W., who had intense pruritus, vulvar and vaginal, for several weeks:
"She could tear the flesh out" it was so intense. There was vulvo-vaginitis, the
labia and adjoining skin being red and swollen, and covered with thin, white, curdy
deposits. Further examination showed, pouring from a congested cervix, a thin albuminous
leucorrhœa, evidently the cause of the pruritus. It coagulated on the vagina, forming small
curds covering the mucous membrane of vagina and vulva. Helon.
Ø on tablets speedily relieved. The relation of the remedy to the climacteric period is
indicated in the provings by alternate sensations of heat and cold. "A sensation as if
a cool wind streamed up the back of the legs along the gastrocnemii muscles to the popliteal
space" was noticed by one prover who had before had a burning, or warm numbness, in the
legs, most marked in the knees, "seeming to begin at the tendo Achillis of each leg,
and very marked over the region of each gastrocnemius." "Every movement of the
arms occasioned a chill, which seemed to radiate from the solar plexus all over the
body." Burning sensations are common. A patient to whom I gave it in the 6th had
"burning-sinking at the epigastrium" half an hour after each dose. Motion < almost all symptoms, but >
numbness of the feet, and the profound debility. > By
mental diversion. The chest is sensitive to the air; toothache is <
in a warm room; and warm, moist air < toothache.
Touch <: cannot bear the least pressure of the dress
(on breasts, nipples, kidneys, &c.)