Materia Medica de A a Z

GAMBOGIA = GARCINIA MORELLA = GUMMI GUTTI (gamb)

"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: SQUILLA MARITIMA (Squil)

Next: CONVALLARIA MAJALIS (Conv)

GAMBOGIA; GRATIOLA OFFICINALIS; OLEANDER

GAMBOGIA

Is a very valuable remedy for diarrhoea, though not so often used, I think, as it should be. It resembles Croton tiglium (Crot-t) in the suddenness of the desire for stool, and in the all coming out at one gush. Again, it resembles it, in that it is sometimes watery and yellow, but Croton tig (Crot-t). is aggravated by the least food or drink, which is not the case with Gambogia. Again, Gambogia has all the way from yellow, watery, to almost formed stools, and in each case, the stool comes all at once in one prolonged effort, and there is a feeling of great relief after stool, as if an irritating substance were removed. Sometimes there is burning of the anus after the stool, similar to Arsenicum (Ars), Iris versicolor (Iris) and Capsicum (Caps). It is curative in both acute and chronic forms of diarrhoea. There is often much rumbling in the bowels.

GRATIOLA OFFICINALIS

Gratiola officinalis is another remedy that has the yellow, watery diarrhoea, gushing out with great force. It is sometimes especially useful in the summer complaints of children, especially where they have been drinking too much cold water, which frequently happens. Gratiola resembles Aloe in some points, but has not the hæmorrhoids.

OLEANDER

Oleander is one of our best remedies for diarrhoea of undigested food, and the best indication for it is involuntary stool when emitting flatus. The least passage of flatus is always accompanied with stool, so that the clothes are always liable to be soiled. I cured with the 200th of this remedy a case of three years' duration in a child. It was my own child, and I had tried many remedies (it was in the beginning of my practice) and was almost despairing that she would ever be well or strong, but after taking the Oleander she was cured, not only of the diarrhoea, but became perfectly strong and well and has always remained so, not having the slightest tendency to a return of the trouble.