Gnaphalium gnaph.

NERVES: SCIATIC. Crural. Abdominal.

Walking. Lying. Cold damp.

Flexing limbs. Sitting. Intense sciatic pains; alternating with or followed by numbness or formication. Offensive diarrhœa with colic, < morning.

Related: Colo.

Cud-weed-Old Balsa (GNAPHALIUM)

A remedy of unquestioned benefit in sciatica, when pain is associated with numbness of the part affected. Rheumatism and morning diarrhœa. Polyuria.

Intermittent pains of superior maxillary of both sides.

Borborygmus. Colic; pain in various parts of the abdomen. Irritated prostate. First stage of cholera infantum; vomiting and purging.

Weight and fullness in pelvis. Dysmenorrhœa, with scanty and painful menses.

Chronic backache in lumbar region; better resting on back. Lumbago with numbness in lower part of back and weight in pelvis.

Cramps in calves of legs and feet when in bed. Rheumatic pain in ankle joints and legs. Intense pain along the sciatic nerve; numbness alternates with pain. Frequent pains in calves and feet. Gouty pains in big toes. Better, drawing limbs up, flexing thigh on abdomen. Gouty concretions (Ammon benz). Anterior crural neuralgia (Staph). Pain in joints as if they lacked oil. Chronic muscular rheumatism of back and neck.

Compare: Xanthoxyl; Chamom; Pulsat.

Third to thirtieth potency.

Intense pain along the sciatic nerve, alternating with numbness.

Gnaphalium polycephalum. Sweet-scented Everlasting Flower. N. O. Compositæ. Tincture of fresh plant.

Anterior crural neuralgia. Cholera. Diarrhœa. Dysmenorrhœa. Gout. Lumbago. Prostate gland, irritation of. Rheumatism. Sciatica .

Gnaphal . has been used mainly in affections of the sciatic nerve. But it has also an action on the abdominal organs, causing vomiting, colic, and diarrhœa, thus comparing with Colocynth . in both spheres. The special indication for its use in sciatica and lumbago is: Numbness alternating with the pain. The diarrhœa is watery and offensive; occurs in the morning and is repeated during the day. There is rumbling in the bowels, colicky pains, and the patient is cross and irritable, urine is scanty, appetite and taste are lost. There is also sexual excitement in mate provers, pain and irritation in the prostate gland. Dr. W. McGeorge ( Hahn. Month ., Oct., 1885, p. 606) tells us that among the negroes Gnaph . has a reputation for colds, fevers, and night-sweats. The last was caused in one of the provers. It cured one case of "chills"; and the periodicity appears in the intermittent neuralgia of the upper jaws. A very important observation made by McGeorge is on the value of Gnaph . in dysmenorrhœa. "Weight and fulness in the pelvis" are the only symptoms noted in the proving bearing directly on the malady. "Dysmenorrhœa when the menses are scanty and very painful the first day" is the clinical indication. McGeorge cured a very aggravated case of sciatica (left) in a man, resulting from a strain. The leg was cramped and drawn up; < in cold and damp weather. I have cured a number of cases in which there was alternation of numbness with the pain. Dr. George Shelton has recorded ( N. A. J. H ., Feb., 1888, p. 100) two cases. ( 1 ) A clergyman, 27, had sharp cutting pains, starting from inner side right thigh, just below Poupart's ligament, extending down course of anterior crural nerve to a point about its lower third. The pains were paroxysmal, came on when walking, occasionally when lying down; had had one or two attacks in the pulpit. In several instances the pain had extended down the right cord into the testicle and caused him to draw up the leg, flexing the thigh on the abdomen. (This condition was also present in Dr. McGeorge's case, and may possibly be a keynote.) A few doses of Gnaph . 1 cured him completely. ( 2 ) The second case occurred in a widow, 68, who had had severe pains in outer side of right thigh for six years, during part of which time she had been confined to bed. The pains were paroxysmal, cutting, tearing, extending down the course of the sciatic nerve. Attacks < at night, and more frequent, causing her to roll about the bed and cry out with the pain. All the resources of allopathy had been in vain. Rhus t., Coloc., Sulph ., gave no help. Bell . relieved slightly. Gnaph . 1 wrought gradual improvement, and in eight weeks the cure was complete. My cases were cured with Gnaph . 30. One was in a very gouty man, the alternation of numbness with pain being present. Sciatic pain is < on lying down; by motion; by stepping; > when sitting in a chair; > drawing up the limb. Headache > by washing in cold water. Fur on tongue removed by thorough washing with cold water.

Compare: Coloc., Ipec., Merc., Puls., Lyc., Caulo., Xanthox.

Very irritable for two or three days, after the diarrhœa (in three cases).

Giddy, esp. after rising from recumbent position. — Fulness about temples. — Dull, continuous pain in back of head, with shooting pain in eyeballs. — Full headache 3 to 4 p.m., or on waking, > by washing in cold water or bathing head with bay-rum.

Dull, heavy, bloated appearance. — Neuralgic pain of an intermittent form in both upper maxillary bones.

Flat, sweetish, sickening taste. — Tongue covered with long white fur, > by thorough washing with cold water. — Mouth feels parched and tastes badly.

11, 12. Stomach and Abdomen. — Flatus, windy eructations, nausea and hiccough. — Colicky pains in various parts, cæcum sensitive. — Borborygmus with emission of much flatus.

Rumbling in bowels with stool before breakfast. — Looseness of bowels with passage of pale-coloured fæces. — Diarrhœic discharge in morning and during day; with irritable temper; pains in bowels in children. — Dark-coloured, liquid, offensive stool in morning, afterwards pain in bowels all day. — Vomiting and purging, like cholera morbus, in the night and all next day.

Pains in kidneys with frequent slight pain in prostate gland. — Sensation of pain and fulness in bladder, even when just emptied.

Increased sexual passion. — Irritation of prostate gland.

Dysmenorrhœa, menses scanty and very painful first day. — Sensation of weight in pelvis. — Sensation of fulness in pelvis.

Numbness of lower part of back with lumbago. — Sensation of weight in pelvis.

Feeling of weakness, as if incapable of raising the slightest weight. — Rheumatic pains in elbows and shoulders.

Pains dull or darting or cutting from r. hip-joint posteriorly downward to foot; < lying down, from motion, by stepping, > sitting in a chair. — Intense pain along sciatic nerve. — Numbness occasionally taking the place of sciatic pains, making exercise very fatiguing. — Cramps in calves; in feet, at night in bed. — Gouty pains in big toes.

Night-sweats.

BY
CONSTANTINE HERING, M. D.
Gnaph.
Common Life Everlasting. Compositæ.
A fragrant, bitterish,
aromatic annual, growing in fields and woods ; flowers in summer
and autumn.
Tincture from the fresh
plant, chopped and pounded to a pulp.
Provings by Banks,
Fuller and Woodbury. See Allen's Encyclopædia, vol. 4, p. 456 .
CLINICAL AUTHORITIES.
- Sciatica , Cate,
Raue's Rec., 1874, p. 261 ; Dudley, McCourt, Trans. Hom. Med. Soc.
Penna., 1882, p. 161.

Giddiness, especially after rising from recumbent
position.

Fulness about temples.
Dull, continuous pain in back of head, with shooting pain in
eyeballs.

Dull, heavy expression ; face appears bloated.
Neuralgic pain, of an intermittent form, of superior maxillary of
both sides.

Flat, sweetish, sickening taste in mouth.
Tongue covered with long, white fur.

Mouth feels parched and tastes badly.

Flatus of stomach, windy eructations, nausea and
hiccough.

Colic pains in various parts of
abdomen, which is sensitive to pressure, in cecum.
Borborygmus, with emission of much flatus.

Rumbling in bowels with stool before breakfast.
Looseness of bowels, with passage of pale-colored feces.
Diarrheic discharges in morning and during
day, with irritable temper ; pains in bowels in children.
Copious, watery stool at night, with much prostration,
nausea, pain and rumbling in bowels.
Dark-colored, liquid, offensive stool in morning, afterwards pain in
bowels all day.
Vomiting and purging, like cholera morbus,
in the night and all next day.
Constipation for three days after the diarrhœa.

Pain in kidneys, with frequent slight pain in prostrate
gland.
Sensation of fulness and tension in bladder, even when just emptied.

Increase of sexual passion, waking with an erection and
urgent desire for an embrace ; the desire was rather mechanical
than passional.
Irritation of prostate gland.

Pains in chest, darting from side to side.

Numbness of lower part of back, with lumbago.
Sensation of weight in pelvis.

Feeling of debility in arms, with rheumatic pains.

Pains dull or darting, or cutting from right hip-joint
posteriorly downward to foot ; < lying down, from motion,
stepping ; > sitting in chair.
Intense pain along sciatic nerve, following
its larger ramifications.
Sciatica.
Feeling of numbness occasionally taking place of sciatic pains,
making exercise very fatiguing.
Rheumatic pains in knee and ankle-joints.
Frequent cramps of calves of legs.
Cramps of feet in bed.
Gouty pains in big toes.

Lying down : pain from hip-joint to foot <.
Sitting in chair : pain from hip-joint to foot >.
After rising from recumbent position : giddiness.
Motion : pain from hip-joint to foot <.
Stepping : pain from hip-joint to foot <.
Exercise very fatiguing : from numbness in lower limbs.

Morning : diarrheic discharges ; dark-colored,
liquid, offensive stool.
During day : diarrheic discharges ; pain in bowels.
Night : copious, watery stool ; vomiting and purging.

Intermittent : neuralgic pains in face.
Three days : constipation.

Right : dull, or darting, or cutting pain from
hip-joint to foot.

Pain : in bowels ; in kidneys ; in
prostate gland ; in chest.
Intense pain : along sciatic nerve.
Cutting pain : from right hip-joint to foot.
Darting pains : from side to side in chest ; from right
hip-joint to foot.
Shooting pain : in eyeballs.
Neuralgic pain : of superior maxillary.
Gouty pains : in big toes.
Rheumatic pains : in limbs ; in knees and ankle-joints.
Colic pains : in various parts of abdomen.
Cramps : of calves of legs ; of feet.
Dull, continuous pain : in back of head, from right hip-joint
to foot.
Lumbago.
Irritation : of prostate gland.
Weight : in pelvis.
Fulness : about temples ; in bladder.
Tension : in bladder.
Debility : in arms.
Numbness : of lower part of back ; in limbs.

Pressure : abdomen sensitive.

Compare : Anis. stel.,
Chamom., Ipec., Mercur., Pulsat., Xanthox .

Intense pain along the sciatic nerve; feeling of numbness occasionally taking place of sciatica, and then exercise on foot is excessively fatiguing. (Confirmed in sciatica).
Gouty pains in the big toes.

Compare: Chamom., Coloc. When either the genito-crural, or the anterior crural nerve is affected, Xanthox. is usually the remedy.

A tincture is made of the entire fresh plant of Gnaphalium polycephalum, Michx.

Weak all the morning; in morning, and unrefreshed, after being awakened in the night; at night, perhaps from over-mental and physical effort during the day, with uneasiness; from diarrhœa.

Irritability after the diarrhœa. ▶ Headache from 3 to 4 P.M., with muddy feeling about head, not amel. smoking at 8 P.M., then night-sweat, headache, amel. bathing with bay rum. ▶ Morning on waking, fulness about temples like threatenings of nervous headache (which is periodic with him, usually after excessive smoking or mental effort or anxiety), amel. washing head with cold water. ▶ Pain in occiput. ▶ Vertigo, agg. rising from a recumbent position.

Pain about right eye in morning after rising. ▶ Intermittent shooting in eyeballs. ▶ Face bloated and expression heavy. ▶ Intermittent neuralgia in upper jaw.

Tongue covered with long white fur; furred and mouth dry at 7 A.M. ▶ Dryness at 2.30 A.M., and bad taste. ▶ "Furry" feeling in morning on waking, and bad taste, amel. washing with cold water. ▶ Taste flat, sweetish, sickening; T. as after chewing slippery-elm bark.

Appetite diminished. ▶ Almost aversion to food after diarrhœa. ▶ Attacks of hiccough. ▶ Nausea all night, with pain in abdomen. ▶ Vomiting, with purging. ▶ Flatus in stomach, with windy eructations and nausea. ▶ Borborygmi, with frequent emission of flatus; B., with griping during the day, in the evening diarrhœic stool, with uneasiness in bowels till sleep. ▶ Pain in abdomen in morning, also with flatulence; P. in various parts of abdomen, abdomen sensitive to pressure, agg. region of cæcum. ▶ Weight in pelvis.

Ineffectual attempt. ▶ Liquid, dark, offensive; L. and copious at night; three L., at night, with pain and nausea. ▶ Loose, pale. ▶ Diarrhœa, frequent; profuse D., with pain in abdomen all day; D. early in morning, again before noon, with pain and rumbling in abdomen, diminished urine, loss of appetite and taste. ▶ Early. ▶ Large, in afternoon after a good stool in morning. ▶ Constipation, preceded and followed by diarrhœa.

Bladder feels full and tense, even when just emptied. ▶ Urine copious, pale, inodorous, very free from sediment. ▶ Urine scanty. ▶ Frequent pain in region of prostate gland. ▶ Occasional stinging in glans. ▶ Erections morning; waking at night, with desire. ▶ Desire increased.

Dysmenorrhœa, scanty menstruation, chocolate brown, with distress in pelvic region. ▶ Acne of the face, nodes under the skin, face mottled and menstruation scanty. ▶ Erythema around anus and genitals.

Sciatica, intense pains extending to ramifications of the nerve, with feeling of numbness, the numbness sometimes alternating with the pains; these pains extend into the toes; Gnap. has cured rheumatoid pain confined to the toe.

Pain in chest darting from side to side. ▶ Pain in kidneys. ▶ Numbness of lower part of back and lumbago.

Weakness of arms. ▶ Rheumatic pains in elbows; in knees and ankles. ▶ Pain along the sciatic nerve and its larger ramifications. ▶ Numbness occasionally takes the place of the sciatica, and then walking is very fatiguing (Phyto.). ▶ Cramp in calves; in feet, agg. in bed. ▶ Gouty pains in great toes.

Pain along the sciatic nerve.
Numbness occasionally takes the place of the sciatica, and then walking is very fatiguing.

Clinical:
Sciatica; intense pains extending to ramifications of the nerve, with feeling of numbness, the numbness sometimes alternating with the pains; these pains extend into the toes; Gnap. has cured rheumatoid pains confined to the toes.