Materia Medica de A a Z

COPAIVA = BALSAMUM COPAIVAE = COPAIFERA OFFICINALIS (cop)

"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: CLEMATIS ERECTA (Clem)

Next: CUBEBA (Cub)

This remedy acts strongly upon mucous membranes. It has, like many other remedies, been so abused by the old school that it has fallen into disrepute, and the tendency even with our own school under such circumstances is to underrate its virtues or to fail to investigate as they ought to. It is, however, an excellent remedy in the form of chronic bronchial catarrh, with profuse expectoration of greenish or gray purulent matter [Stannum (Stann), Lycopodium (Lyc), Sulphur (Sulph), Phosphorus (Phos), etc.]. Among remedies not yet well understood we have:

Copaiva, profuse greenish-gray, disgusting smelling sputa.

Illicium anisatum (Anis), pus, with pain at third cartilage, right or left.

Pix liquida (Pix), purulent sputa, pain at left third costal cartilage.

Myosotis, copious sputa, emaciation, night sweats.

Balsam Peru (Bals-p) catarrhal phthisis, copious purulent expectoration.

Yerba santa (Erio), accumulation of mucus causing asthmatic breathing.

I mention these remedies in order to call attention to them for trial in case we cannot find the curative among the better proven ones. All the old remedies had to have their beginnings.

Copaiva is a valuable remedy in gonorrhoea. There is great irritation in the urethra and at the neck of the bladder. It may be indicated in the beginning, when the discharge is thin or milky, and later, especially when the disease has extended to the bladder, with discharge of a large amount of viscid mucus or blood and mucus in the urine. Although not so violent in its action on the urinary tract as Cantharis (Canth), it stands very close to it.