Ranunculus bulbosus 200C
- VERMEULEN Frans
Ran-b.
He who does not fill his world with phantoms remains alone.
[Antonio Porchia]
Signs
Ranunculus bulbosus. Bulbous Buttercup. Crowfoot. Frogsfoot. N.O. Ranunculaceae.
CLASSIFICATION Ranunculus belongs to the Ranunculaceae or Buttercup family. Comprising over 1800 species in about 50 genera, the family is centred in temperate and cold regions of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. The genera Anemone, Pulsatilla and Clematis do not produce nectar and are visited only for their pollen. Nectar flowers with well-developed nectaries are found in Ranunculus, Aquilegia, Delphinium and Helleborus. In Anemone and Clematis insects are attracted by brightly coloured sepals, in Ranunculus by showy petals [with prominent nectar pouches, known as honey-leaves]; in Aconitum by showy sepals and petals. 1The Buttercup family is divided into two subfamilies: the Helleboroideae and the Ranunculoideae. The latter comprises three tribes, of which the Ranunculeae contains the genera Adonis and Ranunculus, amongst others.
GENUS The genus Ranunculus contains about 400 species of annual to perennial herbs with simple or compound leaves and yellow, white, or red flowers that bear 3-8 petal-like sepals and numerous stamens. True petals are either absent or very much reduced. The genus is widespread but centred in temperate and cool regions: northern England and from Europe to North Africa and West Asia.
SPECIES A very common meadow plant, Ranunculus bulbosus is one of the earliest buttercups to flower. It owes its specific name to a bulb-like, roundish and white swelling at the base of the stem. Common names as 'goldcup' and 'jaunet' [the yellow one] tell of its dazzling yellow colour. The sepals are turned back in the fully-expanded flower, so as to touch the stem that supports the flower. Although it doesn't spread by throwing out runners, as most buttercups do, it is still very persistent once it has established. In autumn it gives off lateral 'bulbs' near the top of its bulbous base, which next spring grow out into furrowed, hollow stems of 20 to 50 cm high, while the old 'bulb' dies. The plant flowers from May to September.
CONSTITUENTS As other members in the family Ranunculaceae, buttercups possess irritant properties from the presence of the glycoside ranunculin, which readily breaks down in bruised plant tissue to release protoanemonin. Protoanemonin is a volatile, strongly irritant oil which spontaneously undergoes polymerization yielding anemonin. The amount of protoanemonin in buttercups varies widely with the species and its stage of growth, the highest content being at the time of flowering. Protoanemonin inhibits mitosis in plant cells. Protoanemonin / anemonin have the following biological activities: amoebicide, antibacterial, antipyretic, antitumour, CNS-paralytic, fungicide, hypnotic, sedative, and vesicant. 2 Buttercups lose their acrid properties - blistering of the skin - when dried or boiled. Buttercups contain substances which disturb or even prohibit growth, particularly of clovers [Trifolium ssp.]. An increase of buttercups in meadows will therefore lead to a decrease of disappearance of clover species.
TOXICOLOGY "This fiery and hot-spirited herb of Mars is no way fit to be given inwardly," Culpeper recommended against its medicinal use, as do modern herbalists now. Ingestion of the plant results in severe pain, swelling and blisters in the mouth, followed by bloody diarrhoea and abdominal cramps. Responsible for these effects is protoanemonin, a toxin which also affects the central nervous system, resulting in such symptoms as dizziness and [sometimes] convulsions.
PHOTODERMATITIS "Photosensitization contact dermatitis is often caused by plants containing photosensitizing compounds related to furocoumarin. After exposure to the appropriate furocoumarin in the plant, followed by exposure to ultraviolet radiation of a wavelength greater than 3200 Å [usually sunlight], the characteristic sunburn-like rash develops. After healing, a white atrophic-looking area remains surrounded by a ring of dark brown pigment, leaving a recognisable area on the skin for years. ... Not many plant families contain species with these photosensitizing compounds. In man they include the Fabaceae, Moraceae, Clusiaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Rosaceae, Ranunculaceae, and the Liverwort genus Frullania, but the compounds are most widespread in the families Apiaceae [Umbelliferae] and Rutaceae."3 Of these, the following would thus be candidates for the rubric Eruptions from exposure to sun: Angelica spp., Apium graveolens [celery], Daucus carota [carrot], Foeniculum vulgare [fennel], Heracleum spp. [hogweed], Pastinaca sativa [parsnip], Hypericum spp. [St. John's wort], Brassica spp. [Sinapis; mustard], Chenopodium spp. [goosefoot], Ficus carica [fig], Ranunuclus spp. [buttercup], Agrimonia eupatoria [agrimony], Dictamnus albus [dittany], Citrus spp. [orange, lime], Ruta graveolens [rue].
MEDICINE "Like most of the crowfoots, the bulbous buttercup possesses the property of inflaming and blistering the skin, particularly the roots, which are said to raise blisters with less pain and greater safety than Spanish fly, and have been applied for that purpose, esp. to the joints, in gout. The juice, if applied to the nostrils, provokes sneezing and cures certain cases of headache. The leaves have been used to produce blisters on the wrists in rheumatism, and when infused in boiling water, as a poultice, at the pit of the stomach. A tincture made with spirits of wine will cure shingles very expeditiously, it is stated, both the outbreak of the small pimples and the accompanying sharp pains between the ribs, 6 to 8 drops being given three to four times daily. For sciatica, the tincture has been employed with good effect. The roots on being kept lose their stimulating quality, and are even eatable when boiled. Pigs are remarkably fond of them, and will go long distances to get them."4
NAME Many species inhabit damp, swampy places, which gave rise to name the genus after another inhabitant of marshes, the frog, rana. A more poetic explanation has it that Ranunculus was originally a prince, a prince loved by everyone because of his good looks. As an extra bonus, fate had given him a beautiful voice. He loved the open country and sang delightful songs for the nymphs. However, he did not have the courage to declare them his love. This haunted him so much that he died, after which he was changed into the delicately-flowered buttercup. Its Latin name commemorates this sad event as a reversed version of the tale of the frog and the prince.
FOLKLORE Culpeper writes that virgins, in ancient times, used to make powder of the [yellow] flowers to furrow bride beds. In certain parts of Great Britain lovers wore buttercups at betrothal time [association with golden yellow colour of wedding ring and with loyalty]. From the obvious association with milk and butter, Irish farmers used to rub their cows' udders with the flower on May Day in the belief that it increased the milk yield. Children hold the flower under each other's chins to discover who likes butter - a radiant glow on the skin of the external throat is supposed to reveal the ones who do. In England it was believed that the smell of buttercups would make one crazy. In flower language the buttercup stands for childishness, ingratitude, riches and spite. Associated with butter, the flower may also symbolize wealth since butter formerly was a luxury for many people.
PROVINGS •• [1] Franz - 3 provers [2 males, 1 female], c. 1827; method: tincture, either as a single dose or in increasing doses with irregular intervals.
[1] Heywood, Flowering Plants of the World. [2] Duke's Phytochemical Database. [3] Lewis and Elvin-Lewis, Medical Botany. [4] Grieve, A Modern Herbal.
Affinity
NERVES. Muscles. Eyes. Serous surfaces. THORAX. SKIN. Fingers and toes. * Right side. Left side.
Modalities
Worse: AIR [damp; cold; open; drafts]. Changing [weather; temperature; position]. Alcohol. Evening. Motion; of arms. Breathing. Touch. Wet and stormy weather. After eating. Morning. Stretching.
Better: Eructations. Rest. Warm applications. Warm weather.
Main symptoms
M Hasty, irritable and quarrelsome, esp. in morning.
• "Disposed to quarrel and scold. Provoked by innocent jests of friends."
• "The objects of his feelings, for instance, chagrin, occupy his mind long after the occurrence took place; one sees that he is thinking of those things; he talks to himself, gesticulates in his anger, in the forenoon." [Allen]
M Fear of ghosts.
• "Fearfulness in the evening; she does not want to remain alone, she is afraid she may be haunted by ghosts." [Allen]
G ALCOHOLISM.
[headache, spasmodic hiccough, delirium tremens]
• "One of our most effective remedies for the bad effects of alcoholic beverages." [Allen]
G FAINTNESS before eating.
G Very CHILLY.
G < COLD, DAMP, stormy weather; CHANGE of weather. [headaches, rheumatic pains, neuralgia of chest, spine and ovaries, vertigo] G < Cold and heat. G < MOTION [reverse of Rhus-t.]. G < TOUCH. G < Approach of a storm. G STITCHING, SHOOTING pains. G Burning [or sore pain] in small spots [margin of left scapula, ribs, spine]. G Bruised SORENESS or as of deep ulceration. G BLUISH vesicles. HERPES ZOSTER. Preceded or followed by intercostal neuralgia. Vesicles have a dark or bluish appearance. And Great itching and burning. P Hay fever. And Burning in eyes, itching of soft palate. And Pressing in root of nose, but esp. tingling and crawling in nostrils. • "Patient tries in every way to reach this sensation by hawking and blowing the nose." [Allen] And Hoarseness. < Evening. P Intercostal rheumatism [or neuralgia] [mainly LEFT-sided]. Chest sore, bruised. < Touch, motion or TURNING the BODY. In wet, stormy weather. P Intercostal pain AFTER pneumonia or pleurisy. Pain < change of weather. P Pain along inner [or lower] margin of LEFT SCAPULA. From needlework, type-writing, piano-playing. In women of sedentary employment. [Allen] In shoemakers, needle workers and writers from sitting bent. [Kent] Rubrics Mind Censorious [1]. Desire for company in evening [1]. Confusion, knows not where he is [1], loses his way in well-known streets [1]. Delusions, being at war [1]. Fear of ghosts [1]. Jesting, cannot take a joke [2]. Quarrelsome in morning [1]. Restlessness during headache [1]. Thoughtless staring [1]. Vertigo Sensation of ascending [1]. In cold weather [1]. Head Enlarged sensation during vertigo [1*]. Vision Dim, at night [2]. Hemiopia, during pregnancy [1]. Lost, at night [1]. Mouth Taste, empyreumatic, burnt, after dry food [1/1]. Stomach Pain, extending to back [1]. Abdomen Coldness in umbilicus [1]. Female Pain, ovaries, from change of weather [2]. Respiration Difficult, when walking on level ground but not when ascending [2/1]. Chest Pain, after herpes zoster [2], < pressure of clothes [1], on stretching the arm [2/1], when touched [2], on turning body [3], from change of weather [3/1]. Sleep Sleepiness from dyspnoea [1/1], during headache [1]. Generals Sudden weakness, as if senses would vanish [1/1]. * Repertory addition [Hering]. Food Desire: [3]: Brandy. [1]: Fat. Worse: [3]: Alcohol; wine. [2]: Brandy. [1]: Sour; tobacco; vinegar. Better: [1]: Bacon; pork; wine.
 |
| Ranunculus bulbosus |
He who does not fill his world with phantoms remains alone.
[Antonio Porchia]
Signs
Ranunculus bulbosus. Bulbous Buttercup. Crowfoot. Frogsfoot. N.O. Ranunculaceae.
CLASSIFICATION Ranunculus belongs to the Ranunculaceae or Buttercup family. Comprising over 1800 species in about 50 genera, the family is centred in temperate and cold regions of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. The genera Anemone, Pulsatilla and Clematis do not produce nectar and are visited only for their pollen. Nectar flowers with well-developed nectaries are found in Ranunculus, Aquilegia, Delphinium and Helleborus. In Anemone and Clematis insects are attracted by brightly coloured sepals, in Ranunculus by showy petals [with prominent nectar pouches, known as honey-leaves]; in Aconitum by showy sepals and petals. 1The Buttercup family is divided into two subfamilies: the Helleboroideae and the Ranunculoideae. The latter comprises three tribes, of which the Ranunculeae contains the genera Adonis and Ranunculus, amongst others.
GENUS The genus Ranunculus contains about 400 species of annual to perennial herbs with simple or compound leaves and yellow, white, or red flowers that bear 3-8 petal-like sepals and numerous stamens. True petals are either absent or very much reduced. The genus is widespread but centred in temperate and cool regions: northern England and from Europe to North Africa and West Asia.
SPECIES A very common meadow plant, Ranunculus bulbosus is one of the earliest buttercups to flower. It owes its specific name to a bulb-like, roundish and white swelling at the base of the stem. Common names as 'goldcup' and 'jaunet' [the yellow one] tell of its dazzling yellow colour. The sepals are turned back in the fully-expanded flower, so as to touch the stem that supports the flower. Although it doesn't spread by throwing out runners, as most buttercups do, it is still very persistent once it has established. In autumn it gives off lateral 'bulbs' near the top of its bulbous base, which next spring grow out into furrowed, hollow stems of 20 to 50 cm high, while the old 'bulb' dies. The plant flowers from May to September.
CONSTITUENTS As other members in the family Ranunculaceae, buttercups possess irritant properties from the presence of the glycoside ranunculin, which readily breaks down in bruised plant tissue to release protoanemonin. Protoanemonin is a volatile, strongly irritant oil which spontaneously undergoes polymerization yielding anemonin. The amount of protoanemonin in buttercups varies widely with the species and its stage of growth, the highest content being at the time of flowering. Protoanemonin inhibits mitosis in plant cells. Protoanemonin / anemonin have the following biological activities: amoebicide, antibacterial, antipyretic, antitumour, CNS-paralytic, fungicide, hypnotic, sedative, and vesicant. 2 Buttercups lose their acrid properties - blistering of the skin - when dried or boiled. Buttercups contain substances which disturb or even prohibit growth, particularly of clovers [Trifolium ssp.]. An increase of buttercups in meadows will therefore lead to a decrease of disappearance of clover species.
TOXICOLOGY "This fiery and hot-spirited herb of Mars is no way fit to be given inwardly," Culpeper recommended against its medicinal use, as do modern herbalists now. Ingestion of the plant results in severe pain, swelling and blisters in the mouth, followed by bloody diarrhoea and abdominal cramps. Responsible for these effects is protoanemonin, a toxin which also affects the central nervous system, resulting in such symptoms as dizziness and [sometimes] convulsions.
PHOTODERMATITIS "Photosensitization contact dermatitis is often caused by plants containing photosensitizing compounds related to furocoumarin. After exposure to the appropriate furocoumarin in the plant, followed by exposure to ultraviolet radiation of a wavelength greater than 3200 Å [usually sunlight], the characteristic sunburn-like rash develops. After healing, a white atrophic-looking area remains surrounded by a ring of dark brown pigment, leaving a recognisable area on the skin for years. ... Not many plant families contain species with these photosensitizing compounds. In man they include the Fabaceae, Moraceae, Clusiaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Rosaceae, Ranunculaceae, and the Liverwort genus Frullania, but the compounds are most widespread in the families Apiaceae [Umbelliferae] and Rutaceae."3 Of these, the following would thus be candidates for the rubric Eruptions from exposure to sun: Angelica spp., Apium graveolens [celery], Daucus carota [carrot], Foeniculum vulgare [fennel], Heracleum spp. [hogweed], Pastinaca sativa [parsnip], Hypericum spp. [St. John's wort], Brassica spp. [Sinapis; mustard], Chenopodium spp. [goosefoot], Ficus carica [fig], Ranunuclus spp. [buttercup], Agrimonia eupatoria [agrimony], Dictamnus albus [dittany], Citrus spp. [orange, lime], Ruta graveolens [rue].
MEDICINE "Like most of the crowfoots, the bulbous buttercup possesses the property of inflaming and blistering the skin, particularly the roots, which are said to raise blisters with less pain and greater safety than Spanish fly, and have been applied for that purpose, esp. to the joints, in gout. The juice, if applied to the nostrils, provokes sneezing and cures certain cases of headache. The leaves have been used to produce blisters on the wrists in rheumatism, and when infused in boiling water, as a poultice, at the pit of the stomach. A tincture made with spirits of wine will cure shingles very expeditiously, it is stated, both the outbreak of the small pimples and the accompanying sharp pains between the ribs, 6 to 8 drops being given three to four times daily. For sciatica, the tincture has been employed with good effect. The roots on being kept lose their stimulating quality, and are even eatable when boiled. Pigs are remarkably fond of them, and will go long distances to get them."4
NAME Many species inhabit damp, swampy places, which gave rise to name the genus after another inhabitant of marshes, the frog, rana. A more poetic explanation has it that Ranunculus was originally a prince, a prince loved by everyone because of his good looks. As an extra bonus, fate had given him a beautiful voice. He loved the open country and sang delightful songs for the nymphs. However, he did not have the courage to declare them his love. This haunted him so much that he died, after which he was changed into the delicately-flowered buttercup. Its Latin name commemorates this sad event as a reversed version of the tale of the frog and the prince.
FOLKLORE Culpeper writes that virgins, in ancient times, used to make powder of the [yellow] flowers to furrow bride beds. In certain parts of Great Britain lovers wore buttercups at betrothal time [association with golden yellow colour of wedding ring and with loyalty]. From the obvious association with milk and butter, Irish farmers used to rub their cows' udders with the flower on May Day in the belief that it increased the milk yield. Children hold the flower under each other's chins to discover who likes butter - a radiant glow on the skin of the external throat is supposed to reveal the ones who do. In England it was believed that the smell of buttercups would make one crazy. In flower language the buttercup stands for childishness, ingratitude, riches and spite. Associated with butter, the flower may also symbolize wealth since butter formerly was a luxury for many people.
PROVINGS •• [1] Franz - 3 provers [2 males, 1 female], c. 1827; method: tincture, either as a single dose or in increasing doses with irregular intervals.
[1] Heywood, Flowering Plants of the World. [2] Duke's Phytochemical Database. [3] Lewis and Elvin-Lewis, Medical Botany. [4] Grieve, A Modern Herbal.
Affinity
NERVES. Muscles. Eyes. Serous surfaces. THORAX. SKIN. Fingers and toes. * Right side. Left side.
Modalities
Worse: AIR [damp; cold; open; drafts]. Changing [weather; temperature; position]. Alcohol. Evening. Motion; of arms. Breathing. Touch. Wet and stormy weather. After eating. Morning. Stretching.
Better: Eructations. Rest. Warm applications. Warm weather.
Main symptoms
M Hasty, irritable and quarrelsome, esp. in morning.
• "Disposed to quarrel and scold. Provoked by innocent jests of friends."
• "The objects of his feelings, for instance, chagrin, occupy his mind long after the occurrence took place; one sees that he is thinking of those things; he talks to himself, gesticulates in his anger, in the forenoon." [Allen]
M Fear of ghosts.
• "Fearfulness in the evening; she does not want to remain alone, she is afraid she may be haunted by ghosts." [Allen]
G ALCOHOLISM.
[headache, spasmodic hiccough, delirium tremens]
• "One of our most effective remedies for the bad effects of alcoholic beverages." [Allen]
G FAINTNESS before eating.
G Very CHILLY.
G < COLD, DAMP, stormy weather; CHANGE of weather. [headaches, rheumatic pains, neuralgia of chest, spine and ovaries, vertigo] G < Cold and heat. G < MOTION [reverse of Rhus-t.]. G < TOUCH. G < Approach of a storm. G STITCHING, SHOOTING pains. G Burning [or sore pain] in small spots [margin of left scapula, ribs, spine]. G Bruised SORENESS or as of deep ulceration. G BLUISH vesicles. HERPES ZOSTER. Preceded or followed by intercostal neuralgia. Vesicles have a dark or bluish appearance. And Great itching and burning. P Hay fever. And Burning in eyes, itching of soft palate. And Pressing in root of nose, but esp. tingling and crawling in nostrils. • "Patient tries in every way to reach this sensation by hawking and blowing the nose." [Allen] And Hoarseness. < Evening. P Intercostal rheumatism [or neuralgia] [mainly LEFT-sided]. Chest sore, bruised. < Touch, motion or TURNING the BODY. In wet, stormy weather. P Intercostal pain AFTER pneumonia or pleurisy. Pain < change of weather. P Pain along inner [or lower] margin of LEFT SCAPULA. From needlework, type-writing, piano-playing. In women of sedentary employment. [Allen] In shoemakers, needle workers and writers from sitting bent. [Kent] Rubrics Mind Censorious [1]. Desire for company in evening [1]. Confusion, knows not where he is [1], loses his way in well-known streets [1]. Delusions, being at war [1]. Fear of ghosts [1]. Jesting, cannot take a joke [2]. Quarrelsome in morning [1]. Restlessness during headache [1]. Thoughtless staring [1]. Vertigo Sensation of ascending [1]. In cold weather [1]. Head Enlarged sensation during vertigo [1*]. Vision Dim, at night [2]. Hemiopia, during pregnancy [1]. Lost, at night [1]. Mouth Taste, empyreumatic, burnt, after dry food [1/1]. Stomach Pain, extending to back [1]. Abdomen Coldness in umbilicus [1]. Female Pain, ovaries, from change of weather [2]. Respiration Difficult, when walking on level ground but not when ascending [2/1]. Chest Pain, after herpes zoster [2], < pressure of clothes [1], on stretching the arm [2/1], when touched [2], on turning body [3], from change of weather [3/1]. Sleep Sleepiness from dyspnoea [1/1], during headache [1]. Generals Sudden weakness, as if senses would vanish [1/1]. * Repertory addition [Hering]. Food Desire: [3]: Brandy. [1]: Fat. Worse: [3]: Alcohol; wine. [2]: Brandy. [1]: Sour; tobacco; vinegar. Better: [1]: Bacon; pork; wine.
Comments
Post a Comment
PLEASE WRITE YOUR SYMPTOMS HERE TO GET SUGGESTION.