Curative in disorders that exhibit interstitial inflammation and cellular proliferation in any part. Hypertrophy and induration of connective tissue. Has considerable reputation in leprosy and lupus, when there is no ulceration. The skin symptoms are very important. Of great use in ulceration of womb. Difficulty in maintaining the upright posture. Very copious perspiration. Pains of cervical cancer.
Remedy Origin / Source
Natural
Clinical Applications
Compare: Elæis -South American Palm--(scleroderma, elephantiasis, leprosy, skin thickened, itching and hardened. Anæsthesia). Hura; Trychnos Gaultheriana (bites of serpents, ulcers and cutaneous affections generally); Hoang-Nan. Chaulomoogra oil from seed of Taraktogenos; Hydrast; Arsenic; Aurum; Sepia .
Key Symptoms & Indications
-
Curative in disorders that exhibit interstitial inflammation and cellular proliferation in any part. Hypertrophy and induration of connective tissue. Has considerable reputation in leprosy and lupus, when there is no ulceration. The skin symptoms are very important. Of great use in ulceration of womb. Difficulty in maintaining the upright posture. Very copious perspiration. Pains of cervical cancer.
Physical Symptoms
Face
Pain in left cheek-bones and about orbits.
Female
Pruritus of vagina. Inflammation of neck of bladder. Heat within vagina . Granular ulceration of womb . Profuse leucorrha. Dull pain in ovarian region. Cervical redness.
Skin
Dry eruptions. Great thickening of epidermoid layer and exfoliation of scales . Psoriasis gyrate , on trunk and extremities, palms and soles. Pustules on chest. Circular spots, with scaly edges. Intolerable itching, especially of soles . Profuse sweat. Syphilitic affections. Acne . Leprosy. Elephantiasis ( Ars ). Lupus non-exedens.
Mentions in Classic Materia Medicas
Explore detailed descriptions for this remedy across famous historical textbooks:
HYDROCOTYLE ASIATICA
Face
Pain in left cheek-bones and about orbits.
Female
Pruritus of vagina. Inflammation of neck of bladder. Heat within vagina. Granular ulceration of womb. Profuse leucorrhœa. Dull pain in ovarian region. Cervical redness.
Skin
Dry eruptions. Great thickening of epidermoid layer and exfoliation of scales. Psoriasis gyrate, on trunk and extremities, palms and soles. Pustules on chest. Circular spots, with scaly edges. Intolerable itching, especially of soles. Profuse sweat. Syphilitic affections. Acne. Leprosy. Elephantiasis (Ars). Lupus non-exedens.
Relationship
Compare: Elæis-South American Palm--(scleroderma, elephantiasis, leprosy, skin thickened, itching and hardened. Anæsthesia). Hura; Trychnos Gaultheriana (bites of serpents, ulcers and cutaneous affections generally); Hoang-Nan. Chaulomoogra oil from seed of Taraktogenos; Hydrast; Arsenic; Aurum; Sepia.
Dose
First to sixth potency.
Hydrocotyle Asiatica.
Clinical
Acne rosacea. Constipation. Elephantiasis arabum. Favus. Gangrene after amputation. Gonorrhœa. Gout. Ichthyosis. Leprosy. Leucorrhœa. Liver, contraction of. Lupus. Neuralgia orbitalis. Skin, affections of. Syphilis. Uterus, follicular inflammation of. Vagina, pruritus of.
Characteristics
Hydrocot. has been long known as an Indian remedy. Boileau was the first to use it as a remedy in leprosy. It has been tested pathogenetically and clinically, and its place has been fairly well defined. The skin and the female generative organs are the chief seats of the drug's action; though the liver, the nerves, and the mucous membranes are also powerfully acted upon. A great variety of skin affections have been cured with it; acne, eczema, pemphigus, lupus, copper-coloured eruption; papular eruption on face; intolerable itching in various places. Auduit (H. R., ix. 434) cured this case: Girl, 20, weak and sickly-looking, since childhood troubled with glandular swellings, for eight years had lupus exedens of nose. (Her mother had coppery eruption on face.) On right of nose was a button the size of a sixpence covered with a thick crust covering yellow pus mixed with blood. Margins irregular and livid. Five other buttons size of lentils near root of nose both sides. Hydroc. was given in 6, 3, Ø, and 18th potencies in succession, with intermissions, and completely cured in five months. Other indications are: Stomatitis, aphthous and syphilitic. Irritation of the neck of the bladder; increased secretion of urine. Heat and itching in vagina. Weight in uterus. Granular ulceration. Hydrocotyle acts on the male sexual organs also, causing weight in the "male uterus," the prostate gland. Gouty and rheumatic disorders. Affections of the trigeminus nerve. Bruised feeling in all the muscles. A patient of mine who was taking Hydroc. for eczema with advantage complained of persistent dreaming all the time he was asleep; and an unpleasant mouth on waking in the morning.
Relations
Compare: Hydrast. (lupus); Fer. pic. (lupus); Hura (leprosy); Thlaspi b. p., Fraxinus (uterine affections); Mitchella, Eu. purp., Apis, Hydran. (irritation of neck of bladder).
1. Mind
Gloomy thoughts.─Misanthropy.─Inclination for solitude.─Indifference.─Gaiety (reaction).─Loquacity (reaction).
2. Head
Vertigo; with torpor.─Congestion of blood to the head; heaviness.─Painful drawing in almost all cranial nerves.─Neuralgic pain in external frontal nerve.─Intense pain with some swelling in posterior part of skull.─Occiput acutely sensitive, esp. to touch.─Constriction of back part of skull and integuments.
3. Eyes
Eyes look unsteady.─Injection of palpebral conjunctiva.─Pricking in eyes.─Vision dim; dazzling.
4. Ears
Pain in l. internal meatus auditorius.─Throbbing in r. ear; ringing in (l.), with stoppage.─Confused noise in l.; blowing sound.
5. Nose
Swelling of nose.─Tickling; < l. nostril.─Feeling as before bleeding.─Stoppage of nose.─Coryza; dry.─Bleeding.─(Lupus exedens of nose).
6. Face
Intoxicated expression.─Intermittent pain in l. cheek-bone.
8. Mouth
Whitish spots on l. upper and under sides of tongue.─Impediment in speech.─Redness of velum palati, with pain on swallowing, < by food.─Hyperæmia of buccal mucous membrane.─Saliva increased.─Taste insipid or bitter; unpleasant in morning.
9. Throat
Tonsils red.─Pricking in pharynx.─Disorder of constrictor muscles of pharynx.─Œsophagus dry and rough burning and pricking in œsophagus.
11. Stomach
Loathing of food.─Anorexia then strong appetite.─Aversion to tobacco smoking.─Eructations frequent; acid.─Nausea.─Swelling of stomach.─Contraction; cramp-like pain.─Sensation as if gases collected into a ball.─Anxiety in region of stomach.─Heat in stomach region spreading out like a bar.
12. Abdomen
Borborygmi in different parts.─Flatus.─Violent contractions of intestines.─Pain; every five minutes; < transverse colon.─Constriction.─Sensation as if all organs were in motion.─Pain in upper part of liver.─Obstruction in hepatic region.─Heat in hypogastrium.
13. Stool and Anus
Weight in rectum.─Burning in anus.─Itching in anus.─Ineffectual desire for stool.─Stools dry, dark.─Stools increased.─Stools easier.
14. Urinary Organs
Slight formication in kidney.─Irritation of neck of bladder.─Constriction of bladder.─Frequent desire to urinate.─Irritation of urethra.─Urine increased.─Urine becomes brown on cooling.─Urine turbid, without sediment.
15. Male Sexual Organs
Drawing in spermatic cords, < l.─Scrotum relaxed.─Impotence.─Indifference to intercourse.─Feeling of weight in prostate gland.
16. Female Sexual Organs
Vulva, vagina and cervix red.─Heat in bottom of vagina; pricking and itching at its orifice.─Leucorrhœa increased. Pain in ovarian region.─Weight in uterus.─Pain in whole uterus, esp. l. side.─Severe labour-like pain in uterus and appendages.
17, 18. Respiratory Organs and Chest
Pricking in vicinity of glottis.─Dryness of windpipe; of ventricles of larynx.─Voice weak.─Speaking soon fatigues.─Irritation of air-passages.─Difficult expectoration of bronchial mucus.─Breath short.─Oppression of chest, which suddenly ceases and then returns at longer or shorter intervals.
19. Heart and Pulse
Cardiac spasm.─Constriction of heart; with quiet and regular pulse, or with a few separate beats in certain arteries, or with hot flushes in different parts of the face.─Irregular beating of heart.─Pulse stronger and fuller.
20. Neck and Back
Renewal of old rheumatic pains in l. rhomboid, < pressure.─Bruised pain in loins.─Obstruction in region of kidneys, with heaviness.
21. Limbs
Contractions of forearms and legs.─Irresistible inclination to stretch.─Pain in all joints; < l.; pain in all muscles.─Sensation as if hot water ran through marrow of bones.
22. Upper Limbs
Weariness in all muscles of shoulders.─Crampy numbness of r. forearm, hand, and fingers.─Pain in finger-joints.
23. Lower Limbs
Gait unsteady.─Inability to stand.─Sharp pains in hips.─Weariness in muscles of thighs, with crampy movements in calves.
24. Generalities
Bruised feeling in all muscles; on waking.─Wandering pains in muscles of chest and legs.─Drawings in several muscles.─Malaise.─Weariness (with depression, heaviness, and dulness); dull feeling throughout the system generally; and unfitness for everything.
25. Skin
Spots almost circular, with raised scaly edges.─Yellowish spots on legs.─Erysipelatous redness.─Red points on eyelids, l. side of neck and both hands.─Red spots, covered with whitish scales, on l. side of neck.─Lilac-coloured spot, shaped like an ear, on sole; the skin over it is depressed, and walking is painful.─Erythema on face, neck, back, chest, arms, and thighs; with much itching; with copious sweat.─Miliary eruptions on neck, back, and chest.─Sudamina on abdomen.─Papules on face.─Pustules on chest.─Pricking on different parts.─Itching in several places; itching at tip of nose (in one who had chilblain there every year).
26. Sleep
Yawning and stretching.─Sleepiness; in the daytime.─Heavy, dreamless sleep.─Persistent dreaming all the time he was asleep; mouth in unpleasant state in morning.
27. Fever
Shivering in afternoon.─Cold hands and feet, with general condition resembling precursory stage of fever, without alteration of pulse.─Sensation of coldness in forearm, hand, l. foot, and leg; > by rubbing, but returning when the rubbing ceased.─Febrile movements.─Heat: of skin; in bones of leg; in l. tibia; in face in flushes; in different parts of face in flushes, esp. temporal regions.─Profuse sweat.
Hydrocotyle asiatica
Hydrocotyle asiatica
Generalities
• It is known as Indian Pennywort. (Karivna).
• It produces hypertrophy and induration of connective tissue.
• Excessive thickening, and marked exfoliation, of skin.
• It is supposed to influence Leprosy, Elephantiasis, Lupus; copper coloured eruptions in v arious places.
• Intolerable itching especially of soles, vagina.
• Can not stand straight.
HYDROCOTYLE ASIATICA
Plant introduction:
This is a small herbaceous plant with palmately nerved or dissected leaves and simple umbels of small flowers found throughout India from the Himalayas to Cape of Comerin at the attitudes upto 2000 ft above sea level. It is particularly grown in the damp places of west Bengal. The plant was know to the Sanskrit writers of very remote times. Its properties being similar to those of Herpestis Monniera (Brahmi). Both plants are regarded as a tonic, useful in the skin diseases, nervous system, blood and brain cells. Some parts of Indians are habituated in taking the leaves with milk for improving their memory and use as a body building tonic. The leaves are very effective in skin eruptions and syphilitic treatment. It can be administered for both internal or, external use. It has a special gravity on leprosy. Still the confirmatory aciions on curing leprosy are under research.
Name:
Sanskrit-Mandukparni, Manduki, Dibya, Mahaushadhi;
Bengali-Thankuni;
Arab-Artaniyak
Hindi, Jharniba;
Assam-Manimuni; Bombay-Karniga;
Gujarati-Bani;
Hindi - Brahmamanduki, Khulakhudi;
Tamil- Babassa, Vallari:
Urdu- Brahmi
Malayalam- Kutakun:
Telegu- Manduk:
English- Indian Pennywort;
Latin- Hydrocotyle Asiatica or centella asiatica.
Family: Umbelliferae (many say Apiaceae).
Medincal uses: The entire plant.
Physiological responses: Can be experinced throughout the body.
Therapeutic actions:
(The patient) is very much benefited for the purpose of building a healthy body; excellent results have been noted in the cases of leprosy.
Leaf of this plant is memory promoter; can be administered for internal or external use.
Chemical composition:
I found from the research report of Dymock (Pharma-cographia Indica) that an oily substance, resin, organic acid, tannin and traces of an alkaloid are present in the plant. Presence of a substance- Vallerine' (O. 8 to 1 percent) resin fat (8-9 percent), tannin, sugar (24.5 percent), gums, salts (11.5), albumanoid matter (12.5 percent) and Ash (2.4 per cent) are known to be attributes to a cause of activity of this drug, mentioned by Lepin.
In 1941, Bosc & Bose investigated the plant but could not find any substance of alkaloidal nature.
In 1937, Wali and Kathi investigated it and obtained (from the alcoholic extract) the following substances:
An essential oil, Oleic, linolic, linolenic, palmitic, stearic and lignoceric acids, sitosterol, tannin, glucose and large amount of resinous material.
In 1941, Botems isolated from the fresh leaves, a glucoside named 'Asiaticoside' consisting of colourless crystals, m. p. 230 c. in 0.7 to 1.2 gr. per kilogram, yield of the (fresh) leaves.
In 1947 Basu and Lamsal isolated from the plant
an alkaloid 'Hydrocotyline' C22 H32 О8 N., m. p. 210-212 C. From Ayurvedacharya Sri Shivakali Bhattacharyya's book the chemical composition is
- (a) acid V Centotic acid, Centellic acid
- (b) Alkaloids Viz. Hydrocotyline,
- (c) Sterols-viz. betasitosterol, gammasisterol
- (d) glycosides, viz. Asiaticoside
- (e) resinous substances
- (f) fat.
Vigorous reseach works are being carried on at the Tropical School of medicine and Indian Statical Institute of Calcutta under Mr. T. Chakaravorty and S. Desmukh (their articles were publishe in Science culture Page No. 573, Nov. 76 issue.)
Pharmacological action:
Hydrocotyle if properly prepared and administered, is a powerful stimulant to the circulatory system. Its action chiefly affecting the vessels of the skin and mucous membranes. In larger doses it is a stupefying narcotic and in some cases produces cephalagia or, virtigo with a tendency to coma. A note in the British Medical Journal (1948) states 'We have received through the courtesy of the French Embassy in London a copy of despatch from Madagaskar giving a preliminary account of the discovery of a new remedy which is reported to have given remarkable results in the treatment of advanced Lepromatous cases in Leprosy.'
In 1937, Drs. Boistean and Grimes extracted a new glycoside from an umbelliferous plant growing in Madagasker called 'H. Asiatica' which in doses, bearing a toxic level, gave encouraging results in Leprosy. In 1938, Botems working in the leprosy laboratory at Antananarivo, discovered a new glycosids which he called 'Asiaticoside' whoch was much less toxic but was slightly insoluble in alcohol and very soluble in Pyridine. By further research, Boitean succeeded in obtaining a solution for injection. Devanne and Razafimahery ascertained the chemical nature of 'Asiaticoside'. Boitean and Grimes are of the opinion that it acts as a solvent of the waxy coating of the bacillous leprosy which then becomes very fragile and may easily be destroyed by the tissues or by an adjurant drug.
The results now reported from clinical trials of the new glycoside including softening, breaking down of nodules followed by cicatrization, testify to its powerful action against leprosy bacillus. Healing of whitlows and perforating ulcers and gradual improvement of anaesthesia and muscular atrophy are also said to occur. Still more remarkable is the claim that eye lesions are rapidiy cured if treated before the posterior chamber is involved. It had not yet been proved possible to prepare large quantities of the new remedy for extensive trials but in view of the many disappointments during recent years but report of the triats carried out and their confirmation by other workers must be awaited. The most hopeful features of the present account for the work is the success in breaking down leprosy nodules and still more the clearing up of the hitherto intractable eye lesions. These results should be confirmed by workers in India from the glycoside isolated from the plant of Indian origin.
Yet, I have seen fruitful results by administering this drug in several skin diseases, specifically in dry eczema and leprosy. Prescribed this medicine for both internal and external use.
Symptomps
Mind: gloomy mind; preferes solitude; spiritlessness; loss of memory.
Head: Virtigo, smarting pain (or, tension) of the cerebral veins; sensitiveness and pain of the occiput.
Eyes: Dim-sightedness; stinging pain in the eyes.
Ears: Pain in the left ear; buzzing sound at the ears.
Mouth: White coating at the left part of tongue; enlargement of tonsil; painful swallowing; tastelessness; pain of the throat.
Heart: Palpitation; feeling of lightness.
Belly: Flatulence; pain of the lever; throbbing sensation in the abdomen.
Stool: Dry, hard stool in lums; loss of excremental pressure.
Urine: Turbid; abnormal urination.
Male gen organ: Slackness of the left testicle; pain in the sparmatic cord; impotency.
Female Rep. Organ: Uteric pain, particularly in the left side attended with itching and leucorrhoeal discharge.
Limbs: Pain at the joints which spreads out to other parts of the body. Painful limbs at awakening.
Skin: Dry and stained (like ring-worm); itching, dry eczema; cracked skin; allergy; leprosy; psorisis; dandruff; syphilitic eruptions; leucoderma etc.
Sleep: Dreaming in the sleep; insufficient and non-refreshing sleep.
Dose:
Alcoholic tincture 5-20 minims per dose daily T.D.S.
Some specific uses:
- Abnormal perspiration: Extract of the sqeezed leaves to be taken (1-2 teaspoonful) for 2-3 days.
- Poisonous gangrenes: Application of the decoction of Hydrocotyle leaves (or, leaves fried with ghee) to the affected part gives efficacious result within a very short time.
- Wound of the mouth: Gargling with the boiled extract of leaves is effective.
- Loss of memory: Active principle of bruished leaves to be administered (1-2 spoonful) with honey for some days.
- Irregular menstruation: Administration of active principle of expressed leaves for some days brings quick effect.
- Injury: Application of the expressed leaves has been proved to be successful in case of bruise.
Remedy Profile
- Type Remedy
- Common Name HOMOPATHIC MATERIA MEDICA by William BOERICKE, M.D. Presented by Médi-T
- Origin Source Natural
Dosage & Potency
First to sixth potency.
Book Your Consultation
Start your personalized journey towards natural, side-effect-free homeopathic healing today.
Book Appointment