Materia Medica de A a Z

BERBERIS VULGARIS (Berb)

"I do not propose to adopt the usual way by beginning with /Aconite/ and ending with /Zincum/, but to follow the bent of my inclinations, or, as it is sometimes expressed, the movings of the spirit; and may I not here invoke the aid of the spirits of the immortal Hahnemann, Boenninghausen and the galaxy of bright names that adorn the fair page of the history of Homoeopathy to help me."

First: NUX VOMICA (nux-v)

Previus: LEPTANDRA VIRGINICA (Lept)

Next: TEREBINTHINA (Ter)

Bruised pain, with numbness, stiffness and lameness in region of kidneys agg. in bed in the morning.

Soreness in the region of the kidneys; bubbling sensation, agg. stepping or jarring motion.

Rheumatism or pains, like gouty pains in the joints; the pains radiate from a center.

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"Bruised pain, with stiffness and lameness in the small of the back." "Rise from a seat with difficulty." "Backache worse when sitting or lying, especially when lying in bed in the morning." "Sensation of numbness, stiffness and lameness, with painful pressure in lumbar and renal regions." These pains sometimes extend all through the hips. Guernsey says: "A great many old troubles in the back. Sufferings in the back aggravated by fatigue." One might say all these symptoms are found under Rhus tox (Rhus-t). True, but in the Berberis cases they all come from or are in connection with kidney or urinary troubles, Rhus tox (Rhus-t) seldom so. The pains extend often into the bladder and urethra, and the urine itself is changed. It may have a turbid, flocculent, clay-like, copious, mucous sediment, or a reddish, mealy sediment, or be blood-red, but the persistent pains in the back are the leading indications. It is especially to be thought of in arthritic and rheumatic affections, when these back symptoms connected with urinary alterations are present. One very characteristic symptom is a bubbling sensation in the region of the kidneys. Another is soreness in region of kidneys when jumping out of a wagon or stepping hard downstairs or from any jarring movement. There is almost always, in the back troubles of Berberis a great deal of prostration or a sense of weakness across the back, and the face looks pale, earthy complexion, with sunken cheeks and hollow eyes, with blue circles under them. No matter what ails the patient, if he has persistent pain as above described in the region of the kidneys do not forget Berberis.