Phyt.
dec. is a branching herbaceous plant, with a thick perennial root, sometimes
larger than a man's leg in diameter. The young shoots, though extremely acrid, are rendered
harmless by boiling, and are eaten like asparagus in the United States. The berries have a
popular repute as a remedy for cancer and rheumatism. The berries of P. octandra are used in Mexico and the West Indies as a soap.
According to Raffinesque, quoted by Hale (who introduced the remedy into homœopathy), the
ash of the plant (which has been used as an escharotic in cancers, ulcers, &c.) contains
45 per cent. of caustic potash; and the plant contains besides an acid, Phytolaccic acid, which is closely allied to Malic acid. The plant is common throughout North America, the
Azores, North Africa, and China. It grows in damp places. Some rather severe cases of
poisoning have been reported. Vomiting, diarrhœa, frontal headache, sore throat, are the
most common symptoms observed. One boy who drank two or three drachms of a tincture of the
root had none of these symptoms, but developed complete tetanus: Extremities stiff; hands
firmly shut; feet extended; toes flexed; lower lids drawn down; teeth clenched; lips everted
and firm, general opisthotonos. Respiration difficult, râles heard all over the room. For
an hour muscular rigidity increased generally, with convulsive action of muscles of face and
neck; chin drawn close on sternum. This condition would last five or ten minutes, to be
succeeded by perfect relaxation, and return in twenty minutes more with the same violence.
After cold-water affusion, cupping, and sinapisms, the boy slept about twenty-five minutes.
On awaking some twitchings, especially of lower limbs; pain in back of head and stomach.
Next day he was quite recovered. A boy, 8, who ate a quantity of berries, was found in great
agony, complaining that his stomach was "pinched together." He had nausea, violent
vomiting; throat sore and dry; fauces dark red, tonsils swollen. After vomiting ceased,
purging set in; stools dark brown and thin; severe pain in stomach on pressure, extorting
cries. Later he had burning griping in umbilical region; dim vision; tongue coated white;
spasmodic jerkings in arms and legs. In a woman, 45, who took Phyt.
as a "blood purifier," a general rash, in appearance not unlike the rash of
secondary syphilis, was set up. In a family of four poisoned by eating the root in mistake
with their food, these symptoms were observed: Dread of movement; seems stupid; falls asleep
after a paroxysm of cramping pain has ceased; pain in forehead <
after eating; vomiting of clotted blood and slime; copious discharge of blood and mucus
which looked like scrapings of intestines; involuntary stools from straining, which occurred
even in sleep. In the mother of the family, seven months pregnant, it very nearly produced
miscarriage; the uterus could be felt contracting under the hand; involuntary straining and
hæmorrhage from the vagina; intense griping pain in small of back and cramps in legs coming
and going suddenly, coldness and withered appearance of extremities, whole body cold. In all
the above cases the spasmodic action of the drug is evident in some form. From inhaling the
dust of the powdered dried root, or the odour given off on slicing the fresh root, intense
irritation of eyes, nose, and throat, and severe headache and diarrhœa have occurred. Given
to animals, Phyt. has caused convulsive symptoms,
vomiting, and vomiting of worms. Wild pigeons and other birds which eat the berries acquire
a highly red colour and lose their fat. This last observation has led to the use of a
tincture of Phyt. berries as an anti-fat, and many
successful results have been reported. This observation may be taken as the key to one of
the great spheres of the action of this remedy─the absorption of
tissues, especially new growths. There are few remedies which have a wider range in the cure
of tumours and indurations, particularly of the female breast. Hale tells us that among
dairymen in America the root is used to regulate any abnormality in the milk of cows─scanty;
thick; watery; curdy; containing blood or pus. But its chief repute is in caked udders. In
breast induration and abscesses of nursing women, and even in cancers (internally and
sometimes externally as well), its action has been well confirmed. But it must not be
supposed that this action is purely physiological, as is the absorption of fat in birds. A
patient of mine, about forty-five, took Phyt. 30 for
sore throat. After a few-doses she was compelled to desist because of its effects on her
breasts; both became full and uncomfortable, and in the left one appeared a large lump in
its upper segment, which lasted five days, and was only got rid of by dint of vigorous
rubbing with camphorated oil. A case of cancer of the rectum has been cured with Phytolaccin 3x. In the uterus and the prostate gland (the male
uterus) specific symptoms were evoked in the poisonings and provings. Muscles, joints,
bones, brain, and spinal cord, as well as the special senses, were all more or less
disordered. The intense action of the drug on the throat has led to its being used as a
routine remedy in diphtheria. It is not a specific; but it has some very characteristic
symptoms which will indicate it when present. Among these are: Great pain at root of tongue
when swallowing; pains shooting from throat into ears on swallowing; hot feeling as if a
red-hot ball in throat; burning < by hot drinks; dark
redness of fauces. Eclectics (H. R., xi. 429) give the
expressed juice of the berries in "spasmodic or membranous croup, or diphtheria."
There is one form of sore throat in which I have found it of the greatest service-the
so-called "diphtheritic sore throat." Dark red, swollen mucous membrane and
tonsils, pain on swallowing, eruption of herpetic, whitish, or grey spots on fauces,
swelling and tenderness of the glands externally at the angle of the jaw. With these
symptoms there are generally headache, backache, wandering rheumatic pains and fever. I have
cleared up numberless cases of this kind with Phyt. 30.
Not infrequently epidemic influenza has taken this form, and then Phyt.
has been my most successful remedy. (Nash has relieved chronic follicular pharyngitis in
public speakers when there has been much burning, as if
a hot substance in throat.) One of the provers had "swollen and tender gland right side
of neck"; and swollen and tender glands in many other localities have been remedied
with Phyt. The headaches of Phyt.
are chiefly frontal, pressive, involving eyes, <
right side. One headache is peculiar, being associated with increased
sense of hearing. The irritation of the mucous membrane of the throat extends to
nose, ears, and eyes, producing characteristic symptoms in each. The discharges are tough,
stringy, difficult to detach, and may take the form of clinkers. Offensiveness and acridity
are also common features. The nervous irritability of Phyt.
has led to its successful use in disorders of dentition, a keynote symptom being:
Irresistible inclination to bite the teeth or gums together. The pains of Phyt. come and go suddenly; move about, radiate from a centre, or
change place. Pain in sore nipples of nursing women radiate all over the body when the child
is put to the breast. When pain in intestines disappears pain in extremities comes on. Pain
leaves heart and appears in right arm (this association is unusual, and therefore
important). Pains in head and chest go from before backward. Pains run down spine from nape;
from sacrum down outer aspect of thighs to toes. The outer
aspects of the limbs are chiefly affected. The shreddy discharge of Phyt.
mark it as a remedy in certain forms of intestinal catarrh and dysmenorrhœa. It is hæmorrhagic
and hæmorrhoidal, acting strongly on rectum and anus, curing tenesmus, bloody discharges
and heat. One characteristic pain (noted in a case of constipation) is: Shooting pain from
anus to lower part of rectum, along perinæum to middle of penis. "Gurgling in the
prostate gland, repeatedly in the afternoon," was noted by one prover, and pains in
spermatic cords. Entire suspension of sexual appetite with relaxation of the genitals was
caused. Stiffness is a characteristic effect of Phyt., noted in the tetanus case, and in others in less degree.
Stiff neck, especially right side. The prostration is so rapid and profound that it has led
to the successful use of Phyt. in diphtheritic
paralysis. Faint and dizzy when standing. Soreness of all the muscles. Restlessness, but he
fears to move because motion < the pains. The
rheumatic swellings are hard, tender, and intensely hot. Phyt.
is suited to rheumatic or syphilitic subjects who are
sensitive to damp weather. Peculiar sensations are:
Brain as if bruised. Right side of head as if pressed firmly. As if sand in eyes. As if eyes
too large. As if lids granulated. As if tarsal edges raw. As if lids on fire. Nostril as if
tickled with a stiff feather. Nose and eyes as if a cold would come on. Tongue as if
scalded. As if a ball of red-hot iron in throat. As if lump in throat. As if apple core in
throat. Throat so full it felt choked. Pharynx feels like a cavern; chest as if it were a
big empty cask. Body as if bruised; pounded all over. As if joint were being chopped with an
axe. The right side is most affected, and many symptoms were experienced in the liver; there
were also some severe ones in the spleen. The liver-pains were <
lying on right (painful) side. The spleen pain was >
lying on left (painful) side. Nash has removed many breast tumours by giving a single dose
of Phyt. cm during the wane of the moon. The symptoms
are < by touch (liver, &c). There is great
general sensitiveness. Pressure < pain in joints and
ulcers. Pressure with hand > pain in breasts.
Pressure on trachea facilitates expectoration. Rubbing >
pain in hip. Riding < nose and breathing. < Stepping down high step. Rising from bed = faint feeling. Sitting up =
sick and giddy. Standing = faint and dizzy. Gaslight < eyes. Swallowing <.
After breakfast head and throat >, gastric symptoms <. Vomiting < headache,
> nausea. Hunger soon after eating. (This is like the
deadly sinking so often met with in the cancerous diathesis.) <
At menstrual periods. Must lie down. < Lying right
side. > Lying left side. >
Lying on stomach. < Standing and < motion. < Walking. < Raising arm. < Night.
< Morning; 3, 4, or 5 a.m.; on waking. < Damp weather; washing; hot drinks. <
Exposure to air; open air (but it > eyes). The
external use of Phyt. has been attended with good
results in cases of ulceration, and I have found a gargle of a few drops of the Ø to a
tumbler of water useful in many throat cases. A preparation of the leaves
has been used successfully by Hurndall (H. W., xxxi.
217) as an external application for carcinomatous growths in dogs; and an ointment prepared
with a strong tincture of the leaves as well as the juice of the leaves have been used for
malignant ulcers in human beings.
