Bleeding
from internal parts.
By Dr.
H. N. Guernsey, M. D.
Presented by Dr.
Sayeed Ahmad D. I. Hom. (London)Those remedies which are most highly characterized by
BLEEDING FROM INTERNAL PARTS
are : Acon., Arn., Bell., Calc-c., Carb. Veg., Canth., Cham.,
Chin., Croc., Ferrum, Hyos., Ipec., Kali-c., Lach., Merc., Nitr-ac.,
Nux-v., Phos., Plat., Puls., Sabina, Secale, Sepia, Sulphur.As we may at any time be suddenly called upon to
prescribe almost instantly for a dangerous hæmorrhage, I will give the
strongest points of each drug first that would facilitate our choice.
ACONITE.
When we find with the hæmorrhage an apparent mental
excitement, accompanied by a fear of death (perhaps the fear of bleeding
to death), we may find on investigation that the hæmorrhage was brought
on by a fright, by a fit of anger, or by anxiety ; the patient may
still be suffering from the exciting cause. The sufferer is usually
lying on the back, owing to an aggravation from lying on either
side ; worse on rising (becomes dizzy) ; blood coagulates
easily ; afraid to move about much, though feeling restless and
anxious ; thirsty, skin dry. Most generally found in dark-haired
subjects, plethoric and active.
ARNICA.
Here the bleeding has been excited from an
injury ; from concussion ; bodily fatigue ; physical
exertion. We often find a bruised or sore sensation in the parts from
which the blood exudes. Pulmonic or uterine hæmorrhages and epistaxis,
etc. are often attended with this sensation.Hot head and a cool body are very characteristic of
this remedy.Sometimes a fright and an injury may be nearly
coincident, and here great care must be observed to decide which was
really the exciting cause ; should fright have caused the bleeding,
Arnica will not be the remedy.The difference between Aconite and Arnica may be seen
at a glance.
BELLADONNA.
The blood coagulates almost as soon as discharged and
feels hot to the parts from which it escapes. If it be from the genital
organs, they are usually forcing or bearing down pains ; if from
the chest or head, there is congestion, throbbing of the carotids,
injected eyes, flushed face. The patient wishes to be covered ;
cool air is unpleasant ; cold shiverings frequently run through the
body ; photophobia ; drinks little often ; hot skin,
plethoric habit.Patient generally feels worse in the afternoon and
evening ; from draft of air ; from rising ; from
suppressed perspiration.Here, too, we see that Belladonna differs every
essentially from either of the preceding drugs.
CALC. CARB.
Here the most striking feature is the constitution of
the patient. This is leucophlegmatic ; light hair. A little
investigation may show that the menses are apt to be too profuse and too
often ; much perspiration about the head and shoulders ; limbs
are usually drawn up, and are cold and damp ; desire for loosened
garments ; amelioration from being rubbed ; desire for warmth
and covering ; a slight draft of cool air is chilling ; if the
bleeding be from the chest, it is usually from the left side. Calc.
Carb. cannot be mistaken for or confounded with either of the above
remedies.
CANTH.
A most striking symptom calling for the use of this
remedy is found in the urinary organs, and consists of a cutting and
burning pain during micturition ; the urine flows in drops, or in a
very scanty stream. Hæmaturia ; uterine hæmorrhage, blood usually
being very dark hæmorrhage from the lungs or nose.
CARB. VEG.
We are chiefly led to the use of this remedy in very
desperate cases, where there is almost an entire state of collapse weak
pulse ; anguish of heart ; skin cold and bluish ; patient
wants to be fanned very hard ; and often whispers at the
attendants, “Fan harder, fan me harder”.This desire to be “fanned hard” is found in
many different complaints, and may always be considered as indicative of
this drug. We may sometimes be called in very late to such cases, or we
may get them from the old practice.
CHAM.
The striking peculiarity here is mental irritability
of a spiteful nature ; the patient speaks quickly and sharply.
Blood dark and coagulated ; desire for air ; restless ;
distressed.Patient generally feels worse at night ; from
warmth from anger during eructations lying on painless side ;
during perspiration during sleep ; from coffee. Better while
fasting ; while lying on painful side.
CHINA
.
The first note of alarm here is faintness, with
ringing in the ears ; ringing in the ears is one of the most
characteristic symptoms in the pathogenesis of China and if we do not
give it soon, the pulse will become irregular, flickering, and
imperceptible ; skin cold and clammy ; fainting and
unconsciousness. Even at this stage China 2c in water, every two or
three minutes, will soon work a favourable change.Generally feels worse periodically ; in the
night ; after drinking ; while talking ; cannot talk,
wished others to explain ; after perspiration ; on touching
the parts softly.China cannot be confounded with Carb. Veg. as
firstly, in Carb. Veg. the patient wishes to be fanned hard, and if at
all in China, very softly. Secondly, in Carb. Veg., the skin is dry and
blue, while in China it is moist and clammy. Thirdly, in Carb. Veg. we
find no ringing in the ears, as we do in China.
CROC.
The striking feature of this hæmorrhage is its black
and stringy character, the blood forming long dark strings as it
flows ; often resembling long, black earthworms. We find this
feature, whether the hæmorrhage be from the uterus, lungs, or the nose.
When examined in a mass the strings may be somewhat matted together, but
the characteristic tendency is plainly observable. Sensation of a
bounding or rolling in the abdomen, as of something alive.Feels worse in the morning, when fasting ;
during pregnancy ; in a warm or closed room.Better in the open air ; after eating.
FERRUM.
We usually notice a very red face, with a full
pulse ; the hæmorrhage is partly of a fluid, and partly of a black
and clotted character ; The flow may be from the lungs, stomach,
nose, bowels or uterus. If from the uterus, there are very often
violent, labour-like pains in the back and abdomen ; great erethism
of the circulation ; flushes of heat.Feels worse at night, particularly after
midnight ; from change of position ; from fat food.The trouble may have been superinduced from poisoning
by Peruvian bark ; the patient is generally very weak though having
so red a face and so full a pulse.
HYOS.
The alarming points that appear are delirium ;
semi-consciousness ; a constant flow of blood ; jerking and
twitching of the muscles ; face bluish ; eyes congested. The
hæmorrhage may have been brought on by a fit of jealousy ; by
taking cold ; by unhappy love, or some other mental affection.Worse usually in the evening. Better from stooping or
leaning forward.Hyos. differs from all of its companion remedies by
the prompt appearance of delirium, by the semi-consciousness, by the
twitching and jerking of the muscles, and by the bluish face. The
alarming kind of hæmorrhage is usually uterine.
IPEC.
When we have an uninterrupted discharge of bright red
blood from the vagina, nose or lungs. The first symptom here is usually
a complaint of faintness and nausea ; also, there may be a sharp
cutting pain from the navel towards the uterus ; later we may find
cold skin, cold sweat, and species of suffocating spells.Hæmorrhages sometimes follow suppression of
eruptions ; abuses of Peruvian bark ; eating ;
coughing ; while vomiting ; occur periodically.It will be perceived that Ipec. has not the ringing
in the ears, nor has China the nausea. Ipec. would also be indicated in
a constant flow of bright red blood from the nose or lungs, with the
above gastric symptoms and faintness. Ipec. is more frequently indicated
than any other remedy.
KALI CARB.
We are most frequently led to think of this remedy
for hæmorrhages occurring some days or weeks after parturition ;
also for epistaxis and hæmoptysis after being overheated, and after a
vexation. The sometimes accompanying symptoms are agonizing pain in the
back, extending to the gluteal muscles, and down over the sacrum ;
stitching pains in the abdomen ; abdomen often tympanitic.Feels better from being covered up warmly ;
after eructations which occur quite frequently.One of the best remedies to prevent abortion
occurring about the second month, when characterized by stitching
pains ; pains in the back hindering walking, causing the patient to
feel like stopping to lie down anywhere, in the street, on the floor,
etc. ; later, these pains may extend over the sacrum to the gluteal
muscles.
LACHESIS.
For flooding occurring at the critical age,
particularly when characterized by chills at night and hot flushes by
day, or floodings at any time when thus characterized ; after
parturition, with pains in the right ovarian region always relieved by
flow of blood from the vagina ; in all typhus or typhoid
conditions, where there is a flow of dark blood from the nose, from the
lungs, or from the bowels with a sediment like charred straw. This
sediment may either have a crushed appearance, or may look like distinct
spears of charred straw – it really being decomposed blood.Diarrhœa following milk-leg are sometimes
accompanied with a hæmorrhage of this sort, and here Lach. will be the
curative agent.
LYCOPODIUM.
Hæmorrhages from the nose, lungs, or uterus when
there is a great deal of flatulence, borborygmus, and a sensation of
fullness upto the throat, after taking a small quantity of water or
nourishment ; frequent flushes of heat ; palpitation of the
heart ; cutting pains from right to left in the abdomen ; all
symptoms worse from four to eight in the evening. Desire for air ;
to have the windows open ; to be fanned. This remedy may often be
used in the worst cases of pulmonic hæmorrhage.
MERC.
This remedy is particularly applicable in
hæmorrhages occurring in elderly females some time after the critical
period has passed ; light hair ; scorbutic condition of the
system. Cold, damp thighs and legs at night ; perspiration sour and
mouldy, excepting of the feet which is scentless ; skin and muscles
lax ; thirst, even though the mouth be full of saliva ; mood
serious, sometimes amorous.Feels worse at night ; when blowing the nose.
With the above conditions epistaxis, hæmoptysis, hæmatemesis,
hæmorrhage from the bowels or uterus.
NITRIC. AC.
This remedy is in many respects similar to Merc. and
sometimes a very close comparison is requisite to discriminate between
the two.Contrary to Merc., Nitric. Ac. has dark hair ;
perspiration sour and urinous ; skin and muscle rigid ; no
thirst ; blood dark ; foot sweat fetid ; distrust. The
urine is stronger smelling, like horse urine.Bleeding from the arteries and capillaries ;
bleeding from the uterus with pain in the back, running down through the
hips into the legs with a sensation of pressure, as if the uterus itself
would escape from the vulva. In so comparing Merc. and Nitric Ac., we
find them different from each other, and from all the preceding
remedies.
NUX VOM.
It is a curious fact that in almost hæmorrhages
requiring Nux Vom., we find an irritable condition of the rectum, which
is a frequent and ineffectual desire for stool, with the sensation as if
portion of fæces were in the rectum, this latter sensation remaining
even after defecation ; usually in dark-haired subjects.Hæmorrhage may be excited by indulgence in rich
food ; from much coffee, intoxicating drinks ; constipation.Worse in cold air, between three and four a. m.
Better in a warm place ; lying on the side ; in loose
garments ; passing wind per anus.
PHOSPHORUS.
Particularly for tall, slim, dark-haired
subjects ; also in females who menstruate too often, too much, too
long.Sensation of emptiness in the abdomen ; slim,
dry stools, expelled with difficulty ; flushes of heat.Feels worse lying on the left side ; on the
back ; from warm food or drinks.Better lying on the right side ; from cold food
and drinks ; from being rubbed ; after sleep.Small wounds bleed persistently and profusely ;
bleeding erectile tumors.
PLAT.
Hæmorrhages, blood being partially fluid and
partially hard, black clots ; also coming out in quantities, and
having a dark, tarry appearance ; with sensation as if the body was
growing larger in every direction ; in dark-haired, spasmodic and
nervous subjects.
PULSATILLA.
Intermittent hæmorrhage, blood generally dark ;
in subjects of mild and tearful temperaments ; can lie best on
right side ; feels worse in a close, warm room ; desire for
open doors and windows ; no thirst ; scanty urine ; blood
flows and stops, again flows and stops.
SABINA.
Blood flows freely in fluid and in clots. When from
the uterus, there is very often a pain from the sacrum to the pubis or
vice versa ; for violent after-pains of the above nature, with the
above characteristic bleeding ; especially applicable to
miscarriages coming on about the third month ; blood pale from the
nose ; blood from the vagina pale, or red, dark, or missed with
light red ; much soreness in the hypogastric region.Feels worse in a close, warm room. Better in the open
air.We see that Puls. and Sabina agree in the aggravation
from warmth, but Sabina has that peculiar pain. Puls. has a different
disposition, and the character of hæmorrhage differs.
SECALE CORN.
The flow is passive and may be dark or red, mostly
red ; in subjects who are naturally feeble and cachetic ;
tingling in the limbs and prostration ; desire for air ;
aversion to being covered ; cool skin with no desire for covering.Better when lying with limbs extended. (In Calc.
Carb., the patient feels better with the limbs drawn up).
SEPIA.
With abdominal plethora or congestion ; pain in
the right groin ; sensation of weight in the anus ; painful
sensation of emptiness in the pit of the stomach.Feels better from drawing up the limbs.
Disposition to abort from the fifth to the seventh
month, especially when there is uterine congestion ; cold hands and
feet ; hot flashes ; particularly where she complains of
little, fine, darting pains up the neck of the uterus. The difference
must be remembered among Kali. Carb. which has abortion about the second
month of pregnancy, Sabina, with abortion about the third month and
Sepia, with abortion after the fifth month.
SULPHUR.
Sensation of heat in any part previous to as well as
during the hæmorrhage, particularly when from the lungs. This sensation
of heat may be in the inner part of the nose, uterus, rectum, etc.Worse when warm in bed ; when exposed to any
heat, as of fire, etc.In giving these remedies for bleeding from internal
parts, I think it proper to remark upon the so-called adjuvants which
some physicians resort to for the arrest of hæmorrhages.As we passed over a variety of hæmorrhages, and have
observed how each has its own peculiar character, each one differing
from all the others, it will be useful to inquire “why does the
patient bleed in this manner or that. Why these bleedings occur each of
its own peculiar type, from the nose, from the lungs, or from the dried
up uterus of the aged female ?” We know that in all these
hæmorrhagic conditions there were no open blood vessels from which
blood could flow.What other cause then can be assigned but that a
peculiar morbific condition exists in each case, which, having induced a
flux of blood to the parts concerned, caused the bleeding ? In
apoplexia, in the various congestions, in the erethism of blood which
causes flashes of heat, there is a morbific agent at work which is not
unlike in principle, other morbid conditions causing other forms of
disease which are perfectly amenable to the remedies of our materia
medica.And why then might we not as well employ the
so-called adjuvants in almost any other form of disease, as in bleeding
from inner parts ?As in the pathogenesis of a peculiar morbific
influence which we see manifested in the various forms of hæmorrhages,
so the pathogenesis of some peculiar drug must indicate its use in
arresting the forms of bleeding to which it is adapted.As we know our remedies, we can succeed with their
use a destined by the Creator without the aid of any cumbersome, and
often injurious, so-called adjuvants.(Courtesy :
The California Homœopathy. Nov. 1884).Copyright © Dr. Sayeed Ahmad
2004