NAT. ORD., Compositae.
COMMON NAME, Californian compass plant.
PREPARATION.--One part of the fresh root is macerated in two parts by
weight of alcohol.
(The following, by Dr. J. M. Selfridge, Oakland, Cal.,
was published in _Pacific Coast Journal of
Homoeopathy_, April, 1899:)
There is probably no State in the Union where there is a greater number
of valuable remedies to be found than in the State of California. These
remedies are waiting to be proved by those of us who have sufficient
enthusiasm and who are willing to take the trouble and make what
sacrifice is necessary to accomplish so desirable a result. I know it
has been said that we have too many remedies which have not been
properly proven. While this is doubtless true, it is equally true that
many of the new remedies which have been introduced within the memory of
some of us are absolutely indispensable in the treatment of certain
forms of disease.
There is another reason why these California remedies should become a
part of our armamentarium. It is claimed by Teste and others that where
certain forms of disease prevail there, or in that vicinity, the
curative remedy may be found.
Again, it has been said that there is a remedy somewhere in nature for
every ill to which flesh is heir.
Whether this be true or not, we know there are certain diseases, which,
so far as we are aware, are incurable, for the simple reason that we
know of no remedy that will control the abnormal conditions. This being
true, the incentive ought to be sufficiently great to urge us forward in
the line of knowing more than we now know of the wealth of those
remedies that lie at our very doors. All we know of these drugs, so
far, are mere hints which have been given us by the older inhabitants of
the Coast.
Thus, the _Eriodictyon Californicum_ or "Yerba Santa," has been
suggested for the cure of "poison oak" and for certain bronchial
affections. A partial proving of it was made some years ago under the
supervision of the late Dr. Pease, which can be found in "Allen's
Encyclopaedia," Vol. iv., page 218.
The _Micromeria Douglassi_, or "Yerba Bueno," is another plant which
should be proved. Many years ago a friend of mine was suffering with a
series of boils, when an old "Spanish woman" directed him to make a tea
of this plant. This he did, and cured his boils; but, as the tea had an
agreeable taste, he continued to drink it, believing, as some do, "that
if little was good, more was better," until finally he became so weak he
could not continue his work.
It was one of these hints that induced me some years ago to make a
proving of _Wyethia Helenioides_, or "poison weed." Like many other
provings, it was only partial. A schema of it was published in "Allen's
Encyclopaedia," Vol. x., page 168.
Two years ago an attempt was made to secure additional symptoms, which
are given below in the language of the provers, who at that time were
members of the "Organon and Materia Medica Club of the Bay Cities."
At the time of the proving, the potency and the drug were unknown to the
provers.
I. "June 9th, 1896, began taking----, of which I took a drop in a
teaspoonful of water before each meal. First dose 7:35 (did this for
four days); 7:45, feels in nose as if about to sneeze; 7:50, sitting
quietly, a momentary pain on inside of right foot from instep to the
sole; 8:35, stretching and yawning, itching on the left side of the
chin; 4:10 P.M., dry sensation in throat, although mucus is abundant;
5:30 P.M., sensation of dryness and tickling on the edges of eyelids,
such as I felt when a sty was about to appear; sensation of dryness in
throat; 5:35 P.M., a small itching spot on right side of neck; 8 P.M.,
dryness in throat with abundant mucus.
"June 7th.--7:30 A.M., throat sore; 8:35, tingling in right foot when
standing; 11, while in church, sensations of formications in eyelids
with lachrymations; 11:25, pain in the right testicle; 3 P.M.,
despondent; P.M., pain on top of right shoulder midway between neck and
point of shoulder; motion does not affect it.
"June 8th.--Before breakfast, lips feel dry, back of throat (posterior
wall of pharynx) sore, increased flow of tasteless saliva; 10:30, pain
in left ear, itching in left external canthus; 1:30 P.M., mouth full of
sweetish saliva; at lunch bit tongue severely; 9:30 P.M., mouth feels
dry and as if scalded, with desire to drink frequently in order to
moisten it.
"June 9th.--Scalded mouth continues.
"June 12th.--6 A.M., lips feel scalded and swollen.
"June 17th.--Itching in rectum.
"July 4th.--10 A.M., headache in left anterior part of brain, as if
radiated from left inner canthus; 12:30, headache in left occipital
protuberance.
"For several nights waken frequently and too early in the morning,
without any disagreeable consequences.
"July 7th.--A sore hang-nail on third finger of right hand.
(Signed) "A. MCNEIL."