Materia Medica de A a Z

EUPHRASIA OFFICINALIS (euphr)

"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: ALLIUM CEPA (All-c)

Next: PHYTOLACCA DECANDRA (Phyt)

The action of this remedy seems to center in the eyes. If you read the symptoms as laid down in "Hering's Guiding Symptoms," you would think that it would cure almost all possible affections of the eyes, acute or chronic conjunctivitis, iritis, kerato-iritis, spots, vesicles, pannus, etc., and so it will if indicated by the symptoms.

In colds with cough and severe fluent coryza it will sometimes cure, but here the choice must be made between it and Arsenicum (Ars), Cepa (All-c) and Mercurius (Merc). [See Cepa (All-c) for comparison].

In measles with watery eyes and fluent coryza it is sometimes the best remedy. I remember Dr. C. W. Boyce, of Auburn, N. Y., reporting great success with it in an epidemic in that city.

He cured all his cases with it. So I went for the next epidemic in my vicinity with Euphrasia, and my failure was as marked as his success. It was not the remedy for my epidemic. But I know enough not to "go it blind" that way very long, and hunted up my simillimum. Then I succeeded, too. Look out, young man, for the remedy that is recommended for all cases of any disease, or you'll "come down hard" some time.

One very prominent characteristic in eye troubles for this remedy is a tendency to an accumulation of sticky mucus on the cornea, which is removed by winking. All cases of any kind attended with photophobia and lachrymation, with or without coryza, should suggest this remedy, or at least call it to mind. In the eye affections of Euphrasia the lids are often involved. Of course this is so with other remedies, such as Arsenicum (Ars), Apis, Rhus toxic (Rhus-t), etc. Study up. one more symptom: Cough, sometimes dry, but generally loose, worse during the day, not troublesome at night. This is important, as more coughs are agg. at night.