Viburnum opulus 200c

- VERMEULEN Frans,
Vib.
The scentless and the scented rose, this red
And of an humbler growth, the other tall,
And throwing up into the darkest gloom
Of neighbouring cypress, or more sable yew,
Her silver globes, light as the foamy surf
That the wind severs from the broken wave.
[William Cowper]
Signs


Viburnum opulus. Guelder Rose. Highbush Cranberry. Cramp bark. N.O. Caprifoliaceae.
CLASSIFICATION See SAMBUCUS.
VIBURNUM Indigenous to temperate and warm regions, esp. Asia and North America, the genus Viburnum contains about 200 species of deciduous and evergreen shrubs and small trees with panicles or umbel-like cymes of small flowers. The outer flowers of the inflorescence are often irregular and sterile, and more showy than the central ones. The fruit is also often showy. Many species are important garden ornamentals and a few have local medicinal uses.
SPECIES Thicket-forming deciduous shrub, growing to 3-5 m high, with purplish red leaves in autumn, native to Russian Asia and Europe, and naturalised in North America. It can be found in hedges, scrub and woodland, usually on damp soils. Ill adapted to poor soils, very acid soils, or dry situations, it grows well in heavy clay soils and on chalk. The bright red translucent berries, following the snow-white flowers, are edible and sometimes a substitute for cranberries in making jellies and preserves. They are rich in vitamin C and have anti-scorbutic properties. The dried berries turn black and have been used for making ink. Large quantities of the fruit can cause vomiting and diarrhoea. The wood was formerly used for skewers, whilst the bark has been used medicinally. Viburnum is the old Latin name for V. lantana, the Wayfaring-tree. The name Guelder Rose refers to an erroneous belief that it originated in the Dutch province of Gelderland. In the 16th century it was known as Rose Elder because its pithy branches resemble those of the elder [Sambucus nigra]. In the language of flowers the guelder rose signifies age, though still young in heart and spirit.
CONSTITUENTS Triterpenes; valerianic acid; salicylic acid [basis for the aspirin group of drugs]; arbutin; resin; bitter substance [viburnin]; tannin and vitamin C [in fruit]; the bark contains traces of aluminium, calcium, chromium, cobalt, iron, magnesium, manganese, selenium, tin, and zinc. Scopoletin, a coumarin present in the bark, has a sedative effect on the uterus. Viburnin is antispasmodic on uterine muscle and hypotensive, yet cardiotonic as well. Valerianic acid is sedative.
MEDICINE Viburnum is a powerful antispasmodic and is much used in the treatment of asthma, cramps and other conditions such as colic or painful menstruation. It is also used as a sedative remedy for nervous conditions. "High cranberry bark is a powerful antispasmodic, and, in consequence of this property, it is more generally known among American practitioners by the name of Cramp bark. It is very effective in relaxing cramps and spasms of all kinds, as asthma, hysteria, cramps of the limbs or other parts in females, esp. during pregnancy, and it is said to be highly beneficial to those who are subject to convulsions during pregnancy, or at the time of parturition, preventing the attacks entirely, if used daily for the last 2 months of gestation. Like Viburnum prunifolium, it is a remedy for the prevention of abortion, and to prepare the way for the process of parturition. It allays uterine irritation with a tendency to terminate in hysteria, while in the neuralgic and spasmodic forms of dysmenorrhoea, it is a favourite remedy with many physicians. It has been used in spasmodic contraction of the bladder, and in spasmodic stricture."1 As a muscle relaxant, Viburnum is "effective at relieving any overtense muscle, whether smooth muscle in the intestines, airways or uterus, or striated muscle in the limbs or back. The herb also treats symptoms arising from excess muscle tension, including breathing difficulties in asthma, and menstrual pain caused by excessive contraction of the uterus. The herb relieves constipation, colic and irritable bowel syndrome, as well as the physical symptoms of nervous tension. In some cases of arthritis, where joint weakness and pain have caused muscles to contract until they are almost rigid, cramp bark can bring remarkable relief."2 North American Indians used a decoction of the bark as a diuretic. The dried bark was accepted in official medicine as a sedative and antispasmodic, listed in the US Pharmacopoeia, 1894-1916, and National Formulary, 1916-1960.
PROVINGS •• [1] H.C. Allen - 12 provers [8 males, 4 females], 1879-80; method: repeated and/or increasing doses of tincture or 1x dil.; four additional trials with repeated doses of 30x for 5, 7, or 14 days.
•• [2] Hawkes - 7 provers [4 males, 3 females], c. 1880; method: 5-10 drops of tincture every two hours for several days.
[1] King's American Dispensatory. [2] Chevallier, The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants.
Affinity
FEMALE ORGANS. Nerves. Rectum. Bladder. Left side.
Modalities
Worse: Fright. Before menses. Cold; snow air. Lying on left side. Close room.
Better: Rest. Pressure. Open air.
Main symptoms
M Very nervous and restless, esp. before and during menses.
Can't keep still.
M Exaltation of spirits.
• "The only symptoms experienced by all [7 provers] was an unusual exaltation of spirits. I myself experienced this to a notable degree, as did also my assistant, Dr. Penfield; a big day's work and a hard work before me seemed as nothing. This in some cases seemed the primary action only of the drug; some of the provers had a decided reaction, and were depressed in spirits after ceasing to take the drug. I had no such symptoms."1
M Confusion; can't think.
• "Stupid feeling on waking in morning, as if she could not tell where she was or what to do." [1 prover Allen]
• [Within half an hour after taking 15 drops of tincture] ... confusion of mind to such an extent that, although an entry clerk by occupation, and very accurate, he made numberless and stupid blunders in addressing a lot of envelopes. He also was tortured and doubled up by severe cramping pains in stomach and bowels. He was extremely angry with Dr. Penfield, accusing him of deliberately poisoning him." [1 prover Hawkes]
G Chilly.
G SPASMS and CRAMPS.
G Pains come suddenly and with terrible severity.
Pains flying from one place to another. [4 provers Hawkes]
G BEFORE MENSES:
Severe bearing down; drawing in anterior muscles of thighs.
Heavy aching in sacral region and over pubes.
So nervous that she cannot sit still. [Tyler]
G Threatened early miscarriage.
P Constant nausea > eating.
P Left hypochondrium / spleen.
• "Severe stitching, darting pain in l. hypochondrium, deep-seated as if in spleen, with sensation as if some hot fluid were running through splenic vessels, relieved by walking about room [evening of third day]; intense pain in region of spleen, producing faintness, relieved by perspiration; severe throbbing pain under floating ribs of l. side, relieved by hard pressure and walking about room; violent throbbing in l. hypochondrium if he attempted to lie on l. side, could not lie on l. side at all; most intense pain in l. lumbar region between floating ribs and wing of ilium." [H.C. Allen]
P Severe CONSTIPATION. [5 provers Allen].
• "After third day of first proving [with tincture], stool was small, dry, and composed of hard round balls, evacuated with much effort, and for over 3 weeks after drug was discontinued there was great inactivity of rectum, and no inclination for stool; for 2 months after second proving [with 30x] a similar condition obtained, - stool being so large, dry, and difficult that mechanical assistance was often necessary to effect [a painful] expulsion."
• "Constipation during entire proving, with great tenesmus; when bowels moved, pain felt in l. orbital region."
"Constipation; stool long, large, hard, and difficult to expel; had desire to evacuate, but when attempting feels as though there were nothing there, and evacuation occurs slowly, and only after long straining."
• "Constipation; there was urging to stool as if it would be dangerous to postpone, but stool was large and difficult to pass."
P Frequent, PROFUSE URINATION. [4 provers Allen]
During menses, headache, haemorrhage, etc.
• [After a fortnight of Viburnum, tincture every 3 hours, prescribed for "flushes of heat, pain in left side, dizziness when stooping"] ... "she reported dizziness quite well, flushes and pain much better, but added, 'The first week after commencing it I could not hold my water when I coughed or walked about, and I also passed water during sleep without knowing it.' She further remarked that it made her urine very offensive; in her own words, 'it made it nasty like cats' water'." [Burnett]
P DYSMENORRHOEA.
Pains start in the lower back and radiate around the abdomen, into the inguinal region and down into the thighs.
• "Pains in back, end in a cramp in uterus or go down anterior side of thighs." [Boger]
• "Sick feeling all over in connection with pelvic complaints, < movement, > rest." [Clarke]
• "Heavy ache or excruciating cramps in pelvis; > menses." [Boger]
P DYSMENORRHOEA.
And Flatulence, loud eructations and nervousness.
P DYSMENORRHOEA; CRAMPS.
• "Cramping colic pains in lower abdomen during menstruation; pains coming on suddenly and with terrible severity [never had anything like it before], felt as if breath would leave her body and heart cease beating. Diarrhoea during menstruation, profuse, watery, 4 or 5 stools in an hour, accompanied by terrible chills, cold sweat running off forehead. Flow [menses] ceased entirely for several hours, then came in four large clots, colour of raw beef and solid as liver." [1 prover Allen]
Cramping pains in hypogastrium "as if going to be unwell" occurred, "chiefly at night, in four young lady provers, who declined to experiment further on account of severity of pains." [H.C. Allen]
Tendency toward hysteria from pain; severity of pain causing a condition approaching convulsions.
c CONCOMITANTS OF 'PELVIC MIGRAINE'.
Based on the successful treatment of 74 women with dysmenorrhoea ['pelvic migraine'], Unger observed the following conditions and concomitants:
c In most cases the dysmenorrhoea started with the menarche, remaining for decades and resisting ordinary treatment.
c In 36 cases migraine was present from youth, which aggravated during the dysmenorrhoea.
c Other complaints accompanying the dysmenorrhoea included constipation [31 cases; 17 cases of spastic constipation, 14 cases of atonic constipation; in some women this alternated with diarrhoea during the dysmenorrhoea], allergic eczema [10 cases], colitis mucosa [6 cases], and allergic asthma bronchiale with hay fever [6 cases].
c 40 women had a slight hyperthyroidism with struma. [Unger refers to studies by Veil and Sturm which demonstrated an elevation of iodine blood levels three days before menstruation with a peak on the first day of the menses.]
c In 49 cases, the menses was 'regular but delayed, often with 5-8 days, and intermittent as a result of the violent cramps.'
c The colics and cramps began in 25 cases 1 to 2 days before the menses, whilst they in all other cases violently appeared on the first menstruation day, often continuing for 5 to 8 days, and sometimes even for 10 days. Invariably scanty, the menstrual flow ceased at intervals with the recurrence of the uterine spasms.
c Membranous dysmenorrhoea occurred in 11 women.
c In 14 cases there were symptoms of collapse, such as cold sweat, chills and shivering.
c Unger considers the potencies 2x and 3x the most effective, and potencies higher than 4x as having no effect. 2 [Hale, too, used the mother tincture, or 1x to 3x dils.]
P Sensation as if pelvic organs turning upside down.
[1] Hawkes, Proving of Viburnum opulus; Transactions of Am. Inst. of Hom., 1881. [2] Unger, Viburnum opulus als individuelles Therapeuticum bei der pelvinen Migräne; Allg. Hom. Zeitung, 1961 Heft 9.
Rubrics
Mind
Fear, baby will die in utero [1]. Does not recognize surroundings, couldn't tell where she was or what to do on waking [1/1]. Restlessness during menses [1].
Vertigo
On descending [1H]. On attempting to walk in dimly lighted room [1H].
Head
Pulsating, from mental exertion [1], > moderate motion [1; Iris].
Throat
Choking, at night [1H].
Stomach
Nausea, constant [1H], during menses [2], on rising [1]. Pain, > bending backward [1A]. Vomiting during menses [2].
Abdomen
Flatulence, during menses [1], with dysmenorrhoea [1/1]. Pain, left hypochondrium, < lying on left side [1A], > perspiration [1A], > hard pressure [1A], > walking about room [1A]; spleen [see under l. hypochondrium].
Rectum
Constipation, must remove stool mechanically [1A].
Bladder
Urination, frequent, during headache [1], frequent, during menses [1].
Urine
Colourless, during menses. Copious, during headache [1], during menses [1]. Odour, like cat's urine [1].
Female
Menses, blood looks like jelly [1H]; too short, only a few hours [1A]. Pain, uterus, > flow of blood [2]; labour-like, extending to thighs [1].
Chest
Sensation as if heart would cease to beat [1], during painful menses [1A].
Back
Pain, as though the back would break, during menses [2]; labour-like, lumbar region, extending to loins and pubes [2/1].
Limbs
Swelling and numbness of fingers, < washing in cold water [1H].
* Repertory additions: [A] = H.C. Allen; [H] = Hawkes.

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