Read the book: «Burnett Rediscovered»

1 Organopathie
Introduction

The first part of this book covers Organopathic medicine and includes a definition of organopathy and an introduction to Pathological Similimum. There is a comprehensive list of organ remedies and a materia medica section. To deepen our understanding of organopathy, Burnett’s term Synorganopathy is fully explored. It is an approach that is seldom taught alongside the teaching of organ remedies but it makes perfect sense, combined with an understanding of anatomy and physiology.

1.1 Definition of Organopathy
Organopathic Medicine

Organopathic medicine is the treatment of Organ Diseases with Organ Remedies.

Organ diseases may be conditions, diagnosed by a medical practitioner, such as jaundice or gallstones in the liver and gallbladder, respectively, or fibroids or polyps in the uterus. Inflammations, hyper-function and hypo-function as well as any pathology can be classified as an organ disease.

Organ remedies are medicines that have an elective affinity for specific locations in the body. Classic examples of organ remedies found in the Materia Medica are:

Ceanothus (Cean) for the spleen

Chelidonium (Chel) for the liver

Thlaspi bursa pastoris (Thlas) for the uterus

Organ remedies are predominantly but not exclusively of plant origin. For example, Chelidonium is Celandine, Thlaspi bursa pastoris is Shepherd’s Purse. Some organ remedies are of mineral and also of animal origin. (See full list in section 2.3.)

Well known Polycrest remedies such as Arsenicum album, Lycopodium and Nux vomica, also organ remedies, are used to treat liver disturbances as well as having multiple uses within their spectrum. When a patient’s symptoms indicate a polycrest remedy, which fully covers the organ disease, then smaller organ remedies are rarely needed.

Chelidonium is well known for having a strong elective affinity for the liver. Burnett called this affinity for a particular organ its Specificity of Seat. The pathological state of the organ he termed as the Primary Seat. He wrote that the quickest way to cure is to identify the primary seat of disease and then prescribe a remedy, or remedies, which has an affinity for location and pathology. In other words, the pathological state of an organ (Primary Seat) is referenced to medicines that can produce/cure a similar pathology (Specificity of Seat), and a prescription is given.

Organ remedy pathological affinity reflects patient’s organ pathology.

Specificity of seat matches primary seat.

The approach of using the characteristic mental/emotional, physical-general and physical-particular (Totality of Symptoms) need not necessarily be used when analysing a case using Burnett’s system. However, a confirmation of remedy selection requires a pathological diagnosis e.g. gallstones or jaundice.

Burnett considered organopathic medicine to be “Elementary Homoeopathy,” or “Homoeopathy of the First Degree” (Diseases of the Spleen p.vii) and wrote that organ remedies are “the foundations of our homoeopathic house”. (Organ Diseases of Women p.60) His reasoning is a simple one: an organ disease is matched to an organ remedy. A prescription based solely upon the totality of symptoms is termed the Similimum; whereas the use of organ treatment (organopathy) alone was termed by Burnett as the Simile.

It is important to emphasise that when an indicated homoeopathic remedy, the Similimum, covers the pathological organ state, fully, then organ remedies are not needed. Often, a polycrest will cover both symptoms and pathology, but at least equally as often, it will not, and an organ remedy is useful. The degree of similarity in organopathic treatment is less when compared to general homoeopathic treatment. For this reason, Burnett gave Tincture (Ø), low Decimal (x) or low Centesimal (c) doses. Tincture doses ranged from 5 to 20 drops given twice or three times a day. Decimal dose was generally 1x to 3x given two to three times a day. Centesimal was 1c to 5c given two to three times a day. Each prescription was continued for two to four weeks and then reviewed. The duration of organopathic treatment is typically one to six months. The results can be very effective, even though low potencies are employed.

If homoeopathy is the mighty oak then organopathy may be described as the acorn.

Burnett traced the origin of organopathic medicine back to Philippus Aureolus Theophrastus Bombastus Von Hohenheim (1493–1541), who is better known as Paracelsus. He was the first to formulate organopathic medicine in so far as he thought organs had counterparts in nature that could be curative to diseased states.

Johann Gottfried Rademacher (1772–1850) later resuscitated and extended Paracelsus’s theory. However, the practice of organopathic medicine largely passed away again after Rademacher. If Rademacher resuscitated Hohenheim’s organopathy then Burnett attached the electrodes, delivered a therapeutic dose of electrical energy causing defibrillation, jump starting the heart of organ medicines and extending it further still. Burnett was the leader of this approach of homoeopathic treatment in Britain and this was in no small part aided by his studies of anatomy. Burnett studied medicine initially at Vienna University and qualified in 1869. He was so interested in the science of anatomy that he devoted two extra years of study to this subject. Then he came back to Britain and enrolled at Glasgow University to study medicine, qualifying in 1872. His final anatomy exam lasted one and a half hours and the professor conducting the exam shook Burnett’s hand afterwards and stated that he had never encountered such a brilliant pupil with such a deep and thorough knowledge of anatomy. In 1875 he submitted his thesis of “Specific Therapeutics” for the MD degree. Due to its homoeopathic leanings, however, the examiners turned it down. Burnett waited a year, re-submitted a second, more acceptable thesis and passed in 1876.

With his thorough anatomical knowledge Burnett examined patients using techniques such as palpation, percussion and auscultation to ascertain the condition of the internal organs and to diagnose the primary seat of the disease. For instance, inflammation of the liver in different locations could help to differentiate between certain hepatic remedies as Carduus marianus, Chelidonium, or Chelone glabra. (See Organ Remedies Materia Medica, line of action diagram.) From such examination he would form a diagnosis and then initiate the appropriate treatment. However, historically, organopaths would frequently use Organ Testing. This is a use of the Law of Similar’s where the level of similarity is simply organ disease matched to organ remedy affinity. A case of liver pathology would be treated with either Chelidonium or Carduus marianus or any other prime liver remedy. If amelioration occurred then the test was positive and justified more treatment along the same lines. (If there is no amelioration then the test is considered negative and other avenues of treatment, such as Symptom Similarity/Totality of Symptoms, Vaccinosis, Miasmatic, can be considered.) Frequently, a month’s course of one liver organ remedy was followed by another month of a different organ remedy for the liver. For example, Chelidonium followed by Carduus marianus. This may be followed by another remedy or a return to Chelidonium. Burnett’s rationale was to either continue the search for the most effective remedy or, in some cases, each remedy cured a certain percentage of the case and once its action was complete, then another similar-acting remedy cured another percentage, and so on until the goal of cure is reached.

This Rotation of Remedies — the selection of similar-acting remedies prescribed sequentially — was used by Burnett not only for organ remedy prescriptions but also for homoeopathic therapeutic prescriptions and also nosodes. (See Symptom Similarity and Medical Doctrines chapters.)

To fully understand, it is necessary to define some of the terms that Burnett used in relation to organopathic medicine. This will also be useful when considering symptom similarity treatments.

Burnett’s terminology (modified to current definitions):

Primary Seat = pathology or even just inflammation in a particular organ. E.g. gallstones in the gallbladder.

Specificity of Seat = remedies that have an affinity for particular pathological states in organs, e.g. Chelidonium and the gallbladder and gallstones.

Symptomatic Similimum = a remedy that covers the totality of symptoms. The symptomatic similimum may, or may not, cover the organ pathology.

Pathological Similimum = a remedy that covers the pathology of the case fully. The pathological similimum may, or may not, cover the totality of symptoms of the case.

Seems confusing, but a case example will clarify and explain each term. Burnett’s approach was to look for constellations of symptoms within the totality of symptoms. Some of these constellations could be attributed to organ pathology needing treatment.

Case Study

Early in 1993, a gentleman of 77 came into the clinic with a diagnosis of weak heart and the advice to start taking allopathic medication. On questioning his doctor on the duration of treatment he was informed that it might well be for the rest of his days. He was unhappy with this prognosis so was investigating alternative advice and treatments. He had been a very keen gardener and rambler in the recent past. Now he presented with weak heart and low spirits. He had also been offered medication for depression but at this point declined. I took his case and being a recent graduate followed the advice of many, and analysed the case from a Totality of Symptoms’ approach. Placing the mental/emotional symptom of depression as uppermost and using various generals and the particulars of his heart symptoms, I was able to confidently prescribe Aurum LM1.

His follow-up one month later showed no amelioration whatsoever. I re-prescribed Aurum but in a Hahnemannian centesimal dose of 12c, twice daily. Another month passed and still no improvement. Now I was floundering. This time I gave Crataegus tincture 30 ml bottle 5 drops twice daily in water while contemplating what to do next. The third follow-up showed great improvement, physical symptoms of heart weakness much improved, in fact, almost absent. Patient returned to gardening and began walking/rambling again the next month with great vigour. He continued on Crataegus for two more months and then onto constitutional treatment.

What had happened in this case was that I had over-analysed and complicated things. The patient was depressed because he could not garden or walk due to his heart not being as strong as normal. Crataegus helped tone up his heart, and then he returned to the activities he enjoyed. He was no longer in low spirits. To use Burnett’s terms, the primary seat of the case was the heart muscle, the remedies selected and prescribed both had specificity of seat for heart muscle. Aurum was initially given as it covered the symptoms of the case such as depression as well as heart weakness. But Aurum was not the similimum and did not accurately reflect the heart weakness. Crataegus was the pathological similimum. It fully covered and thus fully cured the heart muscle weakness. The depressive state was produced by the limitations of heart weakness. Granted this was a lucky outcome but one that has taught me to consider organ treatment as equally important as the Totality of Symptoms’ approach when appropriate.

Burnett wrote that the organ affects the whole organism, which the case above exemplifies. Once the ailing organ has been correctly treated then the person’s entire state of health improves, or as he termed it:

“When a patient gets the right organ-remedy it is often really astonishing how their feeling of bien-être is augmented: they not only become well, they are, as it were aggressively well.” (Diseases of the Liver p.105)

In this case, there was a definite chain of events:

Weak heart => lifestyle limitations => depression

Organopathic treatment increased the strength of the heart enabling our patient to return to gardening and walking. Thus, the limitations to lifestyle are removed and subsequently the depression symptoms no longer have a causative factor to maintain. To treat the end product of the symptoms of depression in this case would only be palliative (making the symptoms less severe but not removing the cause of the disease). The causation of weak heart would still exist. The phenomenon of amelioration of mental/emotional symptoms due to organopathic treatment is not unusual. Women with heavy menstrual flow can easily succumb to anaemia and fatigue, leading to irritability and moodiness. Treating the emotional state does not cure. Remedying the excessive flow, however, helps and ameliorates and cures the irritated emotional symptoms by removing the cause, the exhausting metrorrhagia.

If a remedy had covered, perfectly, the weak heart, as in the earlier case, and also the depression, then this would be an ideal prescription of the homoeopathic similimum.

When the similimum covers the underlying pathology then organopathy is not needed.

Much more common is to find a remedy that is indicated for the affected organ. Then, all the limitations can be modified and the depression is ameliorated. According to Burnett, the weak heart in this case is the “primary seat” of the disease. He would further say that we need remedies with an affinity to the location of the disease and also that act in a similar way to the natural disease, i.e. remedies that have “specificity of seat”.

The remedy that covers the primary seat of the disease in the full range of pathology is termed the Pathological Similimum.

1.2 Pathological Similimum

As stated above, the pathological similimum is the remedy that covers the organ affinity and the organ pathology. Burnett wrote that many cases cannot be covered with just one remedy. The more complicated the case, the more likely a number of prescriptions are needed. The symptomatic similimum may cover the pathology, or it may not. If it does not cover the pathology then it cannot and will not cure. This means that to cure cases of pathology we must start with a sound diagnosis whenever possible. When taking and analysing cases it is necessary to consider if the symptomatic similimum is also homoeopathic to the pathology.

1.3 List of Organ Remedies

This list is, at present writing, as close to definitive as I know. The sources used are principally the books of Burnett, Clarke’s A Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica and Ian Watson’s Guide to the Methodologies of Homoeopathy. The remedies follow the repertory standard of Bold type, Italic type, Plain type, for strength of indication. The emphasis used here is mine. Remedy potency indications are generally those most frequently used by Burnett himself, or suggested by me in an attempt to field the prickly, perennial potency question asked by students.

Nervous System

Avena sativa Ø, Hypericum Ø-6c, Ignatia 1c-3c, Kalium phosphoricum 1x-6x, Zincum aceticum 1x, Cypripedium pubescens 3x, Scutellaria 3x

Spleen

Ceanothus Ø-1x-1c, China 6c, Chininum sulphuricum 6c, Quercus Ø-3x, Rubia tinctorum Ø, Scilla maritima Ø, Urtica urens Ø, Berberis Ø, Chelidonium Ø, Conium 3x, Helianthus Ø, Oleum succinum Ø, Polygonum persicaria 30c, Ferrum phosphoricum 6c, Juglans regia Ø

Uterus Aurum 3x, Aurum muriaticum 3x, Aurum muriaticum natronatum 3x, Bellis perennis Ø, Caulophyllum 1c, Cimicifuga Ø-1c, Fraxinus americana Ø, Helononias Ø, Pulsatilla Ø, Sabina 30c, Thlaspi bursa pastoris Ø, Guaco 3c, Hydrastis Ø, Secale 3x, Viburnum opulus Ø, Aletris farinosa Ø, Cedron 3x, Cypripedium pubescens 3x, Fragaria vesca Ø, Sabal serrulata Ø, Salix nigra Ø

Ovaries

Colocynthis 3x, 3c, 6c, 12c, Folliculinum 12c, Ovininum 12c, Visccum album 1x

Breast

Bellis perennis Ø, Lac caninum 12c, Phytolacca Ø, Fragaria vesca Ø

Liver

Carduus marianus Ø, Chelidonium Ø, 3x, 3c, Chelone glabra Ø, Cholesterinum 3x, Hydrastis Ø, Myrica cerifera Ø, Natrium sulphuricum 4c, Nux vomica 1x, 1c, 30c, Berberis Ø, Crocus Ø, Diplotaxis tenuifolia Ø, Euonymus europaeus 3x, Ferrum picricum 3x, Helianthus annuus Ø, Iodoformum 3x, Leptandra 3x, Magnesium muriaticum 30c, Muriaticum acidum 6c, Podophyllum 6x, 6c, Quassia amara Ø, Sanguinaria Ø, Terebinthinae 3x, Bilirubinum 5c, Calendula Ø, Picricum acidum 3c, Prunus spinosa Ø, 6x, 6c, Taraxacum 6c

Pancreas

Iris 30c, Phosphorus 30c, 100c, Kalium iodatum 30c, Nux vomica 1x, 1c, 30c, Pulsatilla 6c, Mercurius solubilis 12c, Iodum 1c, Jaborandi 3x, Pilocarpinum, Atropinum 12c

Prostate

Sabal serrulata3x, Thuja 3x, Conium 3x, Chimaphila umbellata12c, Pulsatilla 6x, Ferrum picricum 3x

Male Genitallia

Agnus castus Ø, Titanium 30c, Caladium 6c, Chionanthus Ø, Oxalicum acidum 3x, Selenium 5c, Stigmata-p Ø, Stillingia silvatica Ø, Urea 6c

Kidneys

Berberis Ø, Cantharis 3x, 3c, Solidago 1x, Coccus cacti Ø, Cocculus 6c

Bladder

Equisetum Ø, Cantharis 3x, 3c, Triticum repens Ø, Taraxacum 6c

Heart

Cactus Ø, Convallaria Ø, Crataegus Ø, Digitalis 3c, Glonoinum 3x, Naja 30c, Strophanthus Ø, Kalmia 12c, Lycopus virginicus 12c, Spongia 12c, Adonis Ø

Stomach

Hydrastis Ø, Alfalfa Ø

Blood Echinacea Ø, Ferrum 1x, Pyrogen 5c, 6c, Sulphur 30c, Gunpowder 6x, Baptisia 3x

Arteries

Belladonna 30c, Glonoinum 3x, Sanguinaria Ø, 1x, Bryonia Ø

Skin

Levico aqua Ø, Berberis aquifolium Ø

Thyroid

Fucus vesiculosus Ø, Iodum 6c

Veins

Aesculus Ø, 3x, 3c, 12c, Ferrum phosphoricum 3x, 12x, 6c (acts brilliantly in the older patient), Fluoricum acidum 5c, 6c, 12c (acts well in the young), Nux vomica 1x, 1c, 30c, Pulsatilla Ø, Sulphur Ø, Ferrum 3x, Rhus toxicodendron 3x, 3c

1.4 Materia Medica of Leading Organ Remedies

The materia medica section is arranged in the following format:

Remedy name and abbreviation for Repertory

Common name

Natural Order (N.O.)

Clinical

Characteristics

Symptoms

Related remedies

Dose

References

Liver Remedies

Carduus marianus, Chelidonium majus, Chelone glabra, Cholesterinum, Hydrastis canadensis, Leptandra virginica, Myrica cerifera

Carduus marianus (Card-m)

Common Name St. Mary’s Thistle, Silybum Marianum

N.O. Compositae

Clinical Alcohol, abuse. Cirrhosis. Epistaxis. Gallstones. Haemorrhages. Haemorrhoids. Hepatitis. Influenza. Jaundice. Liver, affections of. Metrorrhagia. Pleurisy. Rheumatism. Sciatica. Spleen, affections of. Typhlitis. Varicose ulcer. Varicose veins.

Characteristics Silybum is also known as lady’s thistle, milk thistle, blessed thistle. English name called Our Lady’s thistle from the spotted white leaves supposed to have been from milk dropped by the Virgin Mary.

Symptoms Carduus marianus is primarily a liver and portal system remedy. Particularly indicated in alcohol abuse, especially beer. Chronic liver weakness, cirrhosis, hepatitis, portal stasis and gallstones. Liver enlarged and swollen, particularly in transverse direction (Chelidonium in vertical direction), see Figure 1 below. Burnett called this a remedy’s Line of Action. Carduus marianus has a line of action that is horizontal from liver to spleen. Stitches in liver, worse lying on left side. Stitches in spleen worse inspiration and on stooping. Liver disease affecting lungs causing haemoptysis.

• Melancholy, apathetic and joyless.

• Liver headaches (Chelidonium, Lycopodium, Sanguinaria) and migraines, frequently worse right side. Headache better eating. Vertigo better for epistaxis (nosebleed).

• Bitter taste in mouth, tongue coated white; mucous membrane of palate has smooth sensation as if covered with fat.

• Nausea, retching and vomiting. Stitch in left side of stomach, spleen region.

• Stool very hard and knotty.

Burnett identified a Keynote symptom for Carduus marianus. The symptom is what he called the Sternal Patch. This is a cutaneous eruption, brownish in colour, located on the sternum that is concomitant to liver and heart symptoms. If the left lobe of the liver is enlarged and the heart has palpitations or systolic murmur and this skin eruption is on the sternum then this strongly indicates a prescription of Carduus marianus.

Related remedies Lycopodium, Chelidonium, Chionanthus, Nux vomica, Podophyllum.

Dose Tincture and low decimal/centesimal potencies.

References Boericke, Burnett, Clarke, Murphy, Stearn (Dictionary of Plant Names for Gardeners).

Figure 1

Figure 1.) Line of Action. Anatomical figure below shows the location of the liver and spleen (shaded areas). The “Lines of Action” of the remedies Carduus marianus, Chelidonium and Chelone glabra are also shown.

Note that Carduus marianus has a horizontal or transverse line of action, from liver towards the spleen. Chelidonium enlarges in the perpendicular measurement, a line of action up towards the right nipple. Chelone glabra has a line of action downwards in the direction of the bladder and uterus.

Chelidonium majus (Chel)

Common Name Greater Celandine

N.O. Papaveraceae

Clinical Bilious. Cancer. Gallbladder, pains. Gallstones. Headaches. Hepatitis. Influenza. Jaundice. Liver, affections of. Nose-bleed. Pneumonia. Tumours. Warts. Whooping cough.

Characteristics Chelidonium is from the Greek chelidon, meaning a swallow. Traditionally, the herb flowers when the swallows arrive.

Symptoms

“Of Chelidonium majus, I would say that it is in this country the greatest liver medicine we have and there is, in all conscience, no lack of hepatics.” (Diseases of the Liver p.30)

• Chelidonium was one of Burnett’s favourite remedies to use for hepatic cases. In one case, he attended a female patient for another physician but the patient strongly objected to new doctors. She spied on Burnett, did not like the look of him, big beardy man, and so had her daughter send him away. Within a few days her liver pains returned, and the physician sent for Burnett again. This time he was admitted, found the patient in great pain in the hepatic region with a much enlarged liver. Chelidonium was prescribed, the liver pains of thirty years eased quicker than ever before and finally cured. She gave Burnett a present and sent many of her friends to him for treatment.

• It has a perpendicular line of action, ranging from the liver up towards the right nipple. (See diagram.) This remedy has a strong keynote of stitching pain under inner and lower angle of the right scapula associated with liver derangements. Burnett called this a Synalgia, which are pains concomitant with inflammation or pathology in certain organs but located in a different part of the body.

• Cross, Irritable, upset easily. Forceful and very obstinate. Anxiety about health.

• Flapping of alae nasi. (Lycopodium, Phosphorus, Antimonium tartaricum)

• Keynote of yellow due to jaundice. Yellow sclera/whites of eyes, yellow/grey colour of skin. Tongue yellow and flabby with imprints of teeth (Mercurius, Hydrastis). Urine yellow, foaming, like beer. Stool pasty, yellow, floating. Itching skin. Neo-natal jaundice (Chamomilla, Phosphorus).

• Better after eating. Desires and ameliorated by hot food and hot drinks (Arsenicum album, Lycopodium).

Related remedies Bryonia, Lycopodium, Phosphorus.

Dose Tincture and low decimal/centesimal potencies.

References Boericke, Burnett, Clarke, Murphy, Stearn.

Chelone glabra (Chelo)

Common Name Turtle Head or Snake Head

N.O. Scrofulariaceae

Clinical Jaundice, Liver, diseases of. Varicose veins. Worms.

Characteristics Greek word chelone means tortoise, in allusion to flower appearance of this perennial. Hence also turtle and snake head.

Symptoms Seat of action/affinity is the left lobe of the liver. (See diagram.)

• Line of action is in the direction of the navel, bladder and uterus. “Chelone acts in a line between the hilus of the liver and the fundus of the uterus.” (Clarke, A Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica p.467.)

• Burnett states that Chelo is an important hepatic, acts from right to left and from above downwards.

Related remedies Carduus marianus, Hydrastis.

Dose Tincture.

References Boericke, Burnett, Clarke, Murphy, Stearn.

Cholesterinum (Chol)

From the epithelium lining of the gallbladder and larger ducts. Trituration (grinding together with a pestle in a mortar) of gallstones.

Clinical Gallstones. Jaundice. Liver, diseases of, cancer of. Vitreous opacities of eye.

Symptoms Burnett learnt of the use of Cholesterinum from Dr. Ameke of Berlin. Burnett used this remedy for obstinate hepatic engorgements and liver cancer, especially if the malignancy was located in the left lobe.

“Cholesterine is my sheet anchor in organic liver diseases in which the commoner hepatics Chelone glabra, Carduus marianus, Myrica cerifera, Kalium bichromicum, Mercurius and Diplotaxis tenuifolia have failed.” (Diseases of the Liver p.122.)

• Cholesterinum is a Sarcode, a remedy prepared from healthy tissues. Nosode is prepared from diseased tissues or secretions. (See Part 3 for nosodes.)

Related remedies Iodoformum (Burnett frequently alternated Cholesterinum 3x with Iodoformum 3x in malignant cases.)

Dose 3x, 3c.

References Boericke, Burnett, Clarke, Murphy.

Hydrastis canadensis (Hydr)

Common Name Golden Seal, Orange Root

N.O. Ranunculacea

Clinical Alcoholism. Breast, colon, liver, rectum, stomach, tongue, cancer of. Constipation. Emaciation. Gallstones. Jaundice. Liver, diseases of, cancer of. Sinusitis. Tawniness of skin. Ulcers.

Characteristics Hydor is Greek for water, name suggested by the leaf of Hydophyllum canadense, (water-leaf) which Hydrastis was confused with. Used by the Cherokee American Indian for medicine and as part of a compound to treat cancer. Also used as a dye. Canadensis means from Canada, early writers also used this term to cover the northeastern United States.

Dr. Henry Thomas suggested that Burnett used Hydrastis for gallstones and gallstone colic. Clarke writes that by no means a specific remedy it is nevertheless one of the main remedies to consider when prescribing in cancer cases.

Symptoms Absent minded, irritable, depression. Sure of death and desires it.

• Frontal headache from sinusitis, thick, yellow-green mucus. Eustachian catarrh, hearing impaired (glue ear).

• Bitter taste in mouth, tongue yellow, white stripe. Tongue swollen, flabby, imprints of teeth (Chelidonium, Mercurius). Tongue feels scalded, vesicle on tip.

• Ulcers in throat and mouth.

• Obstinate constipation; with dull headache. Haemorrhoids.

• Weak digestion, debility, emaciation.

• Atrophy of liver, cutting pains extends to right scapula. Cutting pain in hypogastrium extending to testes. Jaundice, with catarrh of stomach. Skin can be yellow or tawny as if dirty. Gallstones and colic. Liver cancer.

Related remedies Bacillinum. Burnett often gave Hydrastis for one to two months after treating with Bacillinum or intercurrently between two doses of Bacillinum. He maintained that it increased the appetite and helped emaciated patients put on weight.

Dose Tincture 5 drops morning/evening. In gallstone colic 10 drops every half hour in very warm water for a few hours.

References Boericke, Burnett, Clarke, Murphy, Stearn.

Leptandra virginica (Lept)

Common Name Culver’s Root, Black Root, Tall Speedwell

N.O. Scrophulariacea

Clinical Black stools. Constipation. Diarrhoea. Dysentery. Dyspepsia. Headaches. Jaundice. Liver, affections of. Typhoid. Yellow fever.

Symptoms Gloomy, drowsy and irritable.

• Severe frontal headache, sensation hair is being pulled out.

• Canine hunger, wakes 5am very hungry. Craves cold drinks, which aggravate. Sinking in pit of stomach (Dig, Tab).

• Digitalis has the keynote white stools, Chelidonium has yellow stools while the grand keynote of Leptandra is black stools. The stool is tar-like, black and foul. Often with pain at the umbilicus. Dull burning in liver. Jaundice with black, tarry stools or clay-coloured stools.

Related remedies Bacillinum (deep-in-headache), Digitalis, Myrica cerifera, Podophyllum.

Dose Tincture to third centesimal.

References Boericke, Burnett, Clarke, Murphy.

Myrica cerifera (Myric)

Common Name Bayberry, Wax myrtle, Candleberry, Bog myrtle, Gale

N.O. Myricacea

Clinical Catarrh. Conjunctivitis. Heart, affections of. Jaundice. Liver, affections of. Pharynx, affections of. Urticaria.

Characteristics Myrica is derived from the Greek word myrike for tamarisk. The fruit has a greasy covering that provides aromatic tallow that is used to make bayberry candles. Cerifera means wax-bearing.

Symptoms Burnett used Myrica for treating diseases of the liver such as cancer, especially when jaundice is evident.

• Exhilaration and excitement, disturbing sleep, alternating with depression, dull, drowsy state. On waking has dull, heavy aching in temples and forehead.

• Sclerotics-dirty yellow colour. Lids abnormally red. Tongue coated dirty yellow. Breath offensive. Thick mucus.

• Dull pain in liver region, griping pains, urge to stool but pass only flatus. Rumbling above umbilicus. Stool light yellow, clay-coloured and mushy. Neo-natal jaundice.

• Insomnia.

Related remedies Chelidonium, Cholesterinum, Hydrastis.

Dose Tincture to 6x.

References Boericke, Burnett, Clarke, Murphy, Stearn.

Spleen Remedies

Ceanothus, Helianthus, Quercus, Rubia, Scilla, Urtica urens

Burnett associated the following symptoms to spleen affections:

Pain in left side, left hypochondrium, pain in stomach, consecutive cough, violent and suffocative, chronic diarrhoea, constipation, asthma, disturbed renal function and oedema, uterus- excessive menstrual flow and leucorrhoea, anaemia, marked chilliness, heart disturbances-palpitations, varicose veins of left leg.

Aetiology to spleen affections: Infectious diseases, sycotic miasm, vaccinosis.

Ceanothus americanus (Cean)

Common Name New Jersey Tea, Red Root

N.O. Rhamnaceae

Clinical Anaemia. Jaundice. Leucorrhoea. Malaria. Menses, suppressed. Metrorrhagia. Spleen, affections of.

Characteristics Ceanothus is from the Greek name for a spiny plant thought to be Creeping Thistle (Cirsium arvense). The remedy in our materia medica is not a thistle but a shrub. The lilac and blue flowers associated with this shrub are common. However, this variety of Ceanothus has white flowers.

Symptoms The three main symptoms of Ceanothus are spleen enlarged with left-sided pains, extreme chilliness and profuse, thick leucorrhoea.

• Chronic enlargement of spleen with fullness sensation and deep-seated or cutting pains. Unable to rest on left side. Worse in cold weather, constant chilliness, sits next to fire.

• Menses are profuse and early, every two weeks, resulting in anaemia. Metrorrhagia with spleen pain. Thick, profuse leucorrhoea with pain under left ribs.

• Dreams of snakes and robbers.

Related remedies Followed well by Berberis, Conium, Myrica cerifera, Quercus.

Dose Tincture and low potencies.

References Boericke, Burnett, Clarke, Murphy, Stearn.

Helianthus annuus (Helia)

Common Name Sunflower

N.O. Compositae/Asteracea

Clinical Cold. Constipation. Epistaxis (nosebleed). Haemorrhoids. Nasal obstruction. Spleen, affections of. Throat, sore. Urticaria. Vomiting. Wounds.

Characteristics Helianthus is a fast-growing annual that flowers in the summer/autumn with oval, serrated leaves with a daisy-like brown or purple centre. The name is derived from the Greek helios which means sun and anthos which means flower. Can grow very fast in one season, up to ten feet in height.

Symptoms Spleen enlarged and painful. Black stools (Leptandra). Symptoms aggravated by heat and ameliorated by vomiting. Dry mouth.

• Skin red and hot with urticarial-like eruption on inner forearms and legs. Worse for warmth.

Related remedies Leptandra (Black stools), Arnica, Calendula, Hypericum (Wounds), Ceanothus (Spleen).

Dose Tincture.

References Boericke, Burnett, Clarke, Stearn.

Quercus glandium spiritus (Querc)

Common Name English Oak

N.O. Fagaceae

Clinical Alcoholism. Breath, offensive. Fistula. Gout. Intermittent fever. Leucocythemia. Spleen, affections of.

Characteristics The oak tree is an old symbol of strength and legend. Sacred to Jupiter and Thor. The Druids located their altars beneath these trees.

Symptoms Burnett’s symptoms for Quercus

• Pain in left side. Giddiness. Flushed state.

Rademacher used this remedy for chronic spleen affections and noted that under its use the flow of urine may increase and that eliminative diarrhoea often appears with amelioration of the general symptoms. Burnett read Rademacher’s use of Quercus and noted that one of the effects of its use was to induce a drunk-like state in some patients. This led Burnett to trial it, with success, in cases of alcoholism. He found that it does not stop the alcohol habit, but it can diminish craving and antidote the alcoholic state.

• Nervous, depressed and easily moved to tears.

• Spleen affections with vertigo, worse moving, giddiness as if very drunk. Unable to walk without support due to great giddiness.

• Foul breath. (Stercoraceous (odour of faeces) in one patient, who was examined, almost caused Burnett to vomit.) The smell is the unmistakable sign of the chronic drinker, one who takes frequent nips throughout the day, the chronic tippler, with the undigested alcohol causing halitosis.

• Reduces craving for alcohol.

• Increased flow of urine. Eliminative diarrhoea with amelioration of symptoms.

Related remedies Angelica atropurpurea for reduction in craving for alcohol, Ceanothus, Cedron, Rubia tinctorum, Scilla maritima, Urtica urens.

Dose Tincture and low potencies 1–3x.

References Boericke, Burnett, Clarke, Murphy, Stearn.