Gnaphalium. By Arthur Hill Grimmer, M. D.

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Gnaphalium.
By Arthur Hill Grimmer, M. D.
Presented by Sylvain Cazalet

(Read before the Bureau of Materia
Medica, I. H. A., July 6, 1950.)

Dr Arthur H.
Grimmer

Gnaphalium

is a remedy with but a fragmentary proving. Its sphere of action is wide
in painful states and its power effective. It stands high in the group
of remedies for pain, therefore it should be studied and compared with Coloc.,
its nearest analogue in periodical intermittent nerve pains nor in
gastrointestinal, pains and in diarrheic conditions.

Coloc

. is
relieved by pressure, Gnaphalium is
not Coloc. has at 4 P. M. < like Lyc.
and Hellebore, which has never been
observed with Gnaph. with exception
of the headaches which may occur at three or four P. M.

Cham

. must
be compared in painful states because of the marked irritability
occurring in both remedies. Both Cham.
and Gnaph. have numbness with the
pains ; Gnaph. more often half
numbness alternating with the pain.

Cham

. is
relieved by the walking or is compelled to walk with great irritability
and anger and with many pains, toothache especially, is < by applied heat.

Gnaph

. is
> sitting in a chair with painful leg drawn up and its headache is
> by cold bathing or applications.

In both these remedies
the nerve pains are < at night.

The mercuries,
especially Merc. cor. in dysenteric
conditions, should be studied and compared.

Mag. phos.

has
intermittent, severe, neuralgic pains which are > by heat and
pressure and rest.

Rhus tox.

must
be thought of in painful conditions where motion and heat relieve ;
it, too has numbness with the pain.

Clarke mentions other
remedies for comparative study : Ipec.,
Merc., Puls., Lyc., Caulophyllum and Xanthox. Another remedy
to think of for comparison is Nux. v.

Gnaphalium

‘s
most marked mental characteristic is irritability, especially that
coming on several days after a diarrhea and during the severe attacks of
neuralgic pain. Vertigo may be present while rising from the bed. There
is fullness about the temples, also a dull, continuous pain in the
occiput with shooting pains in the eye balls ; the headache comes
on or is worse at 3 to 4 P. M. or on walking ; it is relieved by
washing in cold water or bathing the head with bay rum.

The face presents a
dull, heavy, bloated appearance. Intermittent neuralgic pain in both
upper maxillary bones. There is a flat, sweetish, sickening taste and
the tongue is covered with long white fur which can be removed by
thorough washing with cold water. Mouth feels parched and tastes badly.
The stomach and abdomen are distended with much flatus and there is
nausea windy eructations and hiccough, colicky pains in various parts
with sensitive cæcum ; borborygmus with emission of much flatus.
Rumbling in bowels with stool before breakfast (Nat.
sul.). Looseness of bowels with passage of pale-colored
fæces.

Dr Arthur H.
Grimmer

Diarrhœal discharge in
the morning and during the day with irritable temper. Pain in bowels of
children ; dark colored liquid offensive stool in morning followed
by pain in bowels ail day. Vomiting and purging like cholera morbus in
the night and all next day.

Pain in the kidneys
with frequent slight pain in prostate gland ; sensation of pain and
fullness in bladder even when just emptied.

In the male, the
provings brought out an increased sexual passion with an irritation of
the prostate land.

In the female,
dysmenorrhœa, menses scant and very painful the first day, sensation of
weight in the pelvis, or of fullness in the pelvis. Numbness of lower
part of back with lumbago is a strong characteristic pains often
extending down over gluteal regions and along the course of the sciatic
nerve to the foot.

In the upper limbs
feeling of weakness as if unable to lift the slightest weight rheumatic
pains in the elbows and shoulders.

In the lower limbs the
pains are first dull then darting or cutting from the right hip joint
extending posteriorly downward to the foot. Worse lying down, from
motion, by stepping, relieved sitting in a chair with painful limb drawn
up. Intense pain along the sciatic nerve causing the patient to toss and
roll and cry out in great agony. Numbness at times alternates with, or
takes the place of the pain. Exercise is very fatiguing.

Cramps in calves or
feet, at night in bed.

Gouty pains in the
large toes.

Fever and night sweats.

A frequent
characteristic symptom is pain extending along cord to testicle.

This remedy has cured
severe sciatica after Rhus., Coloc. and
Sulphur failed.

It likewise has
affinity for the anterior crural nerve.

The nerve and rheumatic
symptoms are worse in cold, damp weather ; from exertion and
strain, at night and in the early morning ; better sitting in a
chair with painful limb drawn up.

The headaches are
relieved by cold bathing.

There are two reasons
for bringing this fragmentary sketch to your attention. First, because Gnaphalium
is one of the greatest medicines not only for the relief of pain but for
its cure as well. Second, it is a far deeper remedy than most homœopathic
physicians suspect it to be because it has cured very chronic and
obstinate cases of arthritis after the failure of some of our best
proven and successful polychrests.

Chicago, Illinois.

Source :

Homœopathic Recorder,
October, 1950.

Copyright © Sylvain
Cazalet 2001

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