Convallaria majalus Anhang
[W. Boericke/Presented
by Sylvain Cazalet]
Grows everywhere in the woods. Its blossoms are bell-shaped with four or
six divisions and a corresponding calyx. They are small plants with broad roots
and stem leaves. It is a span high and the two leaves are-broad and streakless. The fragrant flowers appear in May, the red
berries in September. The root is fibrous and creeping, spreads rapidly and
when powdered excites sneezing. An extract of the root is purgative. The name
is very old.
It occurs in the Bible. Great joy comes to those who wear it. In
the flower language it means, "you are modest ; renewed luck."
In the middle ages this spring flower was used as a remedy and highly treasured
as a panacea.
It was claimed that the Mayflower would strengthen the brain, nerves and
nervous tissue, hence it was used for all diseases of the head, as vertigo,
epilepsy, sleeping sickness, melancholia, strokes, etc. It was used in the
form of an extract or tincture. These cephalic properties were later
forgotten and towards the end of the eighteenth century it was used only for
the composition of sneezing powders. However, it remained popular in Russia
and was commonly used as a diuretic. In 1880, Convallaria
was first brought to the notice of the orthodox medical profession as a remedy
for cardiac valve affections by Trotsky. Two facts predominated from the
results of
the physiological experimentations in Russia and later corroborated in
Paris, viz., the regularization and augmentation in energy of the cardiac
contractions, and second, diuresis
Convallaria is one of the newer Homopathic remedies, not being mentioned in our literature
previous to 1883, and for that reason is not to be found in Allen's
"Encyclopedia" or Hering's "Guiding
Symptoms."
This may be one of the reasons why it is not more often used. Even the Allopaths value it more highly than many of us do, as I
shall attempt to show a little later.
But I can assure you that Convallaria is a very potent remedy in heart conditions
when certain indications are present, and finds its place as the much needed
remedy for cardiac support when there seems little else to
offer except digitalis and yet digitalis is plainly not indicated.
It is not my purpose now to go into the
indications for digitalis and yet I cannot refrain from remarking the digitalis
is used far too often when it is not
indicated. Certainly a pulse regular in force,
rate and rhythm
does not indicate digitalis and yet how of ten in cases of early myocarditis with dyspna on
exertion and slight dema of the extremities do we
see digitalis prescribed for such cases despite the regular pulse. How much
better we would do by the patient if we noted their symptoms carefully
and gave them Cactus, Cratęgus, Adonis, Iberis or Convallaria as the
symptoms seemed to indicate.
Orthodox school:
Dr. W. Lenneker in an article appearing in the
Therapeutic Gazette of Detroit says that he has been using the fluid extract of
Convallaria extensively in all kinds of heart
affections excepting fatty degeneration of the heart,
and sums up his experience by staling that "Convallaria
in itself is one of the best tonics for the stomach ; it gives tone to the
stomach and increases the appetite, and what is more, it exerts a tonic effect
upon the intestinal
mucosa, increasing the action of the bowels in a great many
people."
Shoemaker: "In small doses Convallaria strengthens the heart's action. In larger
quantities it restrains excessive cardiac activity. It has been found of
service in mitral insufficiency. It quickly relieves the dyspna
and
palpitation and after having been
given for two or three days may be discontinued for a week or more without
recurrence of symptoms.
"Convallaria
seldom disagrees with the stomach and no cumulative action has been observed.
As a rule the appetite and digestion seem to improve under its use and regular
action of the bowels is promoted.
"Germain-See
mentions its use in the following pathological conditions. He highly recommends
it in simple cardiac arrhythmias ; in palpitation resulting from a state
of exhaustion of the vagus nerve (the most frequent
cause of palpitation) ; in mitral stenosis,
especially when accompanied by failure of compensation on the part of the left
auricle, the cardiac force augments, visibly under Convallaria
as the syhygmograph testifies. In mitral
insufficiency where there is pulmonary congestion and in dilation of the heart
without fatty degeneration Convallaria is indicated.
In all cardiac affections indifferently from the moment that cardiac
inflammations appear Convallaria has an action
efficient, prompt, and certain".
Ellingwood: (eclectic) even enlarges on the above
indications for Convallaria.
It is evident from numerous clinical works
that Convallaria is an excellent substitute for
digitalis in those conditions where digitalis is not specifically indicated and
yet empirically prescribed.
Convallaria is better tolerated, does not
accumulate in the system, does not increase the blood-pressure (although I
realize that this is a mooted question in pharmacology), and finally if its
effect is slow,
it is less fleeting. This latter point I have personally demonstrated to
my satisfaction. Once a patient is under the influence of Convallaria
he may be kept comfortable for months at a time.
S. Solis-Cohen: "Convallaria
is recommended in place of digitalis, which as regards its action on the heart
and blood vessels it closely resembles, when for any reason it is deemed
advisable to suspend
the administration of the latter for a period and yet not leave the
heart without any support".
Homopathic
indications for Convallaria:
Dyspna with
inability to lie down is the leading indication for the selection of the
remedy. Around this symptom most of the other revolve. Dyspna
caused by walking or ascending stairs or a hill even when there is
no organic lesion or but slight
involvement.
Convallaria is a
valuable remedy for weak heart with more or less irregularity and with or
without valvular lesions.
It is always to be thought of in dyspna with pulmonary stasis, hyperstatic
congestion and cyanosis. It is useful for dilation of the heart due to
emphysema. It is also indicated in dropsical
conditions with scanty urine
and constipation.
The patient needing Convallaria
will often complain of a feeling as if the heart beat throughout the chest.
Also a sensation as if the heart ceased beating and then started again
suddenly.
Tongue is usually broad and thick with a dirty coating. There is a
coppery metallic taste. The abdomen is sensitive. Clothes feel tight. Bladder
feels full. In females soreness in the uterine region with sympathetic
palpitation
of the heart. Generalized aching in back, wrists, hands, ankles and
toes. The modalities are better in the open air and worse in a warm room.
I use Convallaria
in the tincture -usually 20 drops in one-half glass of water and one
teaspoonful every two hours. In old chronic I prescribe five drops of the
tincture three times daily.
Vorwort/Suchen Zeichen/Abkürzungen Impressum