[Frans
Vermeulen]
In delay
there lies no plenty.
[Shakespeare]
Signs
Caulophyllum thalictroides. Blue Cohosh. Squawroot. N.O. Berberidaceae.
Caulophyllum
shares its Indian name Cohosh with Cimicifuga, but the latter belongs to the
Ranunculaceae.
NAME The
name Caulophyllum derives from Gr. kaulos, a stem, and phyllon, a leaf, in
allusion to the fact that the stem forms a stalk for a single leaf. The
specific name thalictroides refers to the similarity of the leaves with those
of Thalictrum [Meadow rue]. The blue-green hue of the foliage and the blue
colour of the berries will have inspired such names as Blue Cohosh, Blue
Ginseng, and Blueberry Root. Squawroot is a name not uncommon for herbs
relieving female complaints; Cimicifuga, Caulophyllum, Trillium, and Epiphegus
were all called 'squawroot'. Cohosh is Algonquian [Indian] for 'rough' and
refers to the gnarled roots of the plant.
Typical for
Caulophyllum is that the flowers are in bloom before the leaves are fully open,
and that the enlarging berry-like seeds burst through the wall of the ovary and
develop in a completely exposed state. The reddish purple
young
foliage turns bluish green when maturing.
Quinolizidine
[lupin-like] alkaloids [methylcytisine, anagyrine, baptifoline], apophine
alkaloids [magnoflorine], saponin, resins. Caulophylline, or N-methylcytisine,
closely resembles nicotine in its ability to stimulate respiration
and the
motion of the intestines, and to raise blood pressure. N-methylcytisine occurs
in other plants as well, particularly in plants belonging to the Leguminosae,
such as Baptisia, Sophora, and Cytisus. Caulophylline is known to
produce
toxic effects on the myocardium of laboratory animals. Cardiac effects in
humans have been reported once; it regarded a newborn infant, whose mother took
blue cohosh to promote uterine contractions.
The infant
presented with acute myocardial infarction associated with profound congestive
heart failure and shock; it was critically ill for several weeks, but
eventually recovered.
Also
contains a saponin, sometimes called 'caulosapogenin', which can act as a coronary
blood vessel constrictor and is thought responsible for stimulating uterine
contractions and inducing childbirth.
Caulophyllum
Phytology:
Emmenagogue,
antispasmodic, diuretic, diaphoretic and anthelmintic. Caulophyllum tea was
widely used by native Americans and early settlers to treat common ailments
such as sore throat, bronchitis, colic, and rheumatic pains. Names as
'Squawroot' or 'Papoose Root' reflect on the use of Caulophyllum by native
American women who brewed a tea from the roots to relieve menstrual cramps and
to ease the pains during childbirth. The tea was also found to induce uterine
contractions to speed delivery. The seeds, roasted and boiled in water, have
been used as a coffee substitute. The root was taken by North American Indians
as a contraceptive and was used by both sexes to treat genito-urinary
conditions. The Ojibwe Indians used the root for female troubles, especially
for stomach cramps during painful menstruation. Due to its anti-inflammatory
properties it is sometimes used for arthritic and rheumatic conditions.
Caulophyllum was listed in the U.S. Pharmacopoeia as a labour inducer from 1882
to 1905.
Proving:
Burt - self-experimentation, 1864; method: 10 grains on 1st day, 15 and 30
grains on 2nd day, and 50 and 75 grains on 3rd day of Caulophyllin ['pure
resinoid'], observation period: 4 days.
Affinity
for:
Female
organs/Nerves. Muscles. Nape of neck. lower limbs. Small joints.
Modalities:
<: evening/pregnancy/suppressed menses/open air/coffee/motion; >: Warmth;
Main
symptoms
Ailments
during pregnancy, parturition, lactation.
Nervous and
excitable women; weakness, drooping of upper lids, cannot keep them open, has
to raise them with fingers [Gels.].
Convulsions
during menses.
Mathur: "Spasmodic
affections, hysteria and epilepsy developing during puberty at the
establishment of menstrual functions."
Chilly.
Canine
hunger [with white-coated tongue] and great thirst.
ERRATIC
PAINS; drawing, cramping, shooting.
• Hughes:
"Dr Burt. In perfect health, aet. 29. April 28th, 1864, at 4 h. , took 10
gr. of Caulophyllin. 5, dull frontal headache, with contracted feeling of skin
of forehead; drawing pains in thighs, knees, legs, and ankles; very sharp pain
inside l.
knee-joint; elbows and wrists ache. 5.40, very hard pains in forehead, with
sensation as of needles being stuck there. 6, constant flying pains in arms and
legs, first in one part and then in another, remaining only 2 - 3 min.
at a time
in any place."
• Boger: Wandering
pains ending in neck, which becomes stiff.
Rheumatic
affections and gynaecological ailments.
Rheuma of
small joints [hands and feet].
• Burt: “Closing
the hands produces severe cutting pains in second joints of all fingers."
Severe
dysmenorrhoea.
[Pain: wandering,
shooting, cramping, paroxysmal pains with nausea, vomiting and pain in lumbar
region before menses]
Labour
doesn’t progress
Labour
pains fly about [to breasts], are weak or irregular; false labour pains.
• Dewey: “May
be called for in false labour pains during the last months of pregnancy."
Delayed
labour due to rigid os.
Unbearable
afterpains [across lower abdomen, extending to groins].
• Dewey "Should
be used during labour, when the pains are intermittent, sharp and crampy, and
appear in the groin, bladder and lower extremities; they are spasmodic and fly
from one place to another."
Habitual
miscarriage.
Subinvolution
after abortion or confinement.
Leucorrhoea
and brown spots on forehead.
Rewpertory:
Mind: Anger during menses.
Anxiety
during menses.
Delusions,
she is pregnant. Eating, refuses to eat. Fear, during pregnancy.
Hysteria -
during menses/after copious menses.
Prostration
of mind after abortion
Vertigo: Menses - before, during.
Head: Pain, pressing, temples, as if
crushed. Prickling, like needles, forehead.
Eye: Pain, pressing outward.
Face: Discolouration, brown spots on
forehead.
Mouth: Odour, offensive, before menses.
Taste,
bitter, at beginning of menses
Stomach: Nausea - during labour, before
menses, during menses.
Thirst,
during labour.
Vomiting,
before menses.
Bladder:
Pain - spasmodic
ext. back, ext. chest.
Urine: Copious, with amenorrhoea.
Female
organs: Abortion,
early months, from inertia of uterus; tendency to abortion, in flabby women.
Pain -
labour pains, ceasing, exhausting, false, interrupted, short, wandering about.
Back: Pain - lumbar region, before
menses, during menses.
Limbs: Cracking in joints, when turning,
when walking.
Pain -
wandering; small joints, > after menses; hand, on closing hand; fingers,
> after menses.
Sleep: Sleepless from rheumatic pains.
Chill: before menses, during menses.
Generals: Chorea, before menses, during
menses. Trembling, externally, during menses; internally, during menopause.
Food and
drinks: <: coffee;
Vorwort/Suchen Zeichen/Abkürzungen Impressum