Materia Medica de A a Z

STROPHANTUS (STROPHANTHUS) HISPIDUS (stroph-h)

Strophanthus is a muscle poison; it increases the contractile power of all striped muscles. Acts on the heart; INCREASING THE SYSTOLE AND DIMINISHES THE RAPIDITY. May be used with advantage to tone the heart, and run off dropsical accumulations. In small doses for weak heart; it feels enlarged. In mitral regurgitation, where oedema and dropsy have supervened [Digit (Dig)]. Strophanthus occasions no gastric distress, has no cumulative effects, is a greater diuretic, and is safer for the aged, as it does not affect the vaso-motors. In pneumonia and in severe prostration from haemorrhage after operations and acute diseases. After the long use of stimulants; IRRITABLE HEART of tobacco-smokers. Arterio-sclerosis; rigid arteries of aged. Restores tone to a BRITTLE tissue, especially of the heart muscle and valves. Especially useful in failing compensation dependent upon fatty heart. HIVES. Anaemia with palpitation and breathlessness. Exophthalmia goitre. Corpulent persons.

Head

Temporal pains with double vision, impaired sight; brilliant eyes, flushed face. Senile vertigo.

Stomach

Nausea with special disgust for alcohol and so aids in treatment of dipsomania. Seven drops of tincture.

Urinary

Increased secretion; scanty and albuminous.

Female

Menorrhagia; uterine haemorrhage; uterus heavily congested. Aching pain through hips and thighs during climacteric.

Respiratory

DYSPNOEA, especially on ascending. Lungs congested. Oedema of lungs. Bronchial and cardiac asthma.

Heart

Pulse quickened. Heart's action weak, rapid irregular, due to muscular DEBILITY; and INSUFFICIENCY. Cardiac pain.

Skin

Urticaria, especially more chronic forms.

Extremities

Swollen, dropsical. Anasarca.

Relationship

Compare: Digit (Dig) (but is slower than strophant in its action); Ph-ac (weak heart, irregular pulse, fluttering sensation in cardiac region, palpitation during sleep, fainting).

Dose

Tincture and 6x potency. In more acute cases, five to ten drops of the tincture three times a day.