Ruta Graveolens

• ▸Bones, injuries of.
• ▸Bruises.
• ▸Fractures.
• ▸Sprains.
• ▸Carrying heavy weights.
• ▸Over-

exertion of eyes.

Anxiety, as from a troubled conscience.—Disposition to quarrel and to

contradict.—Unfitness for labour.—Cross and suspicious, imagined he was always being

deceived.—Patient dissatisfied with himself and others, and disposed to weep.—Melancholy and

moral dejection (towards evening).—Slowness of conception.—Frequent absence of mind.

[We are led to the use of this remedy for injuries of the periosteum (as when a

fall or an accident injures the periosteum), making it very sore and causing a bruised sensation;

when the rectum protrudes from the anus after confinement; prolapsus ani, which may come

down every time the bowels are moved; pain as if bruised in the outer parts and in the bones;

wounds where the bones are injured; gnawing in the inner parts; affections in general of |. side of

head; of the bladder; wrist-joints; lumbar region; bones of the lower extremity; < from lying on

painful side; looking fixedly at an object, as in cases of those who have looked closely at watch-

• ▸making, fine sewing, &c.
• ▸; from taking uncooked food—H.
• ▸N.
• ▸G.
• ▸].
• ▸—Contusive pains in limbs,

joints, and bones, esp. when touched.—Burning or gnawing pains in periosteum of

limbs.—Sensation of soreness of the parts on which one lies.—Pain in long bones as if

broken.—Pressive, spasmodic tearings, and drawings in the limbs.—Sensation of fulness in whole

body, with obstructed respiration.—Lassitude, weakness, and heaviness in all limbs, esp. when

seated, with great restlessness in legs ——Lameness after sprains, esp. the wrists and

ankles.—Tottering, unsteady gait, from weakness of thighs.—Sensation in all limbs as if severely

beaten, with painful sensibility of sacrum and loins when sitting down after a short

walk.—Sensation in head and body as if he had not slept enough—Knows not where to put his

legs on account of restlessness and heaviness, puts them first in one place, then in another, and

turns his body from side to side—Whole body feels as if stuffed full, whereby breathing is

impeded.—Cannot bend his body, all joints and hip-bones painful as if bruised —On touching the

painful parts, and esp. hips and thigh-bones, they are painful as if bruised.—Acts specially on

• ▸yellow elastic tissue (R.
• ▸T.
• ▸C.
• ▸).

Pain as from a nail; after excessive intoxicating drinks. Periosteum sore. Epistaxis.

Head bewildered, as from too little sleep —Whirling vertigo, which causes falling

when rising in morning, also when seated, and when walking in open air—When sitting, sudden

vertigo: all turned round him in a circle; thereafter glowing cheeks.—Headache as from stunning

pressure on whole brain, with great inquietude.—Headache as if a nail were driven into

head.—Headache after excessive use of intoxicating drinks.—Throbbing or tearing pain in

forehead, with confusion in head, in evening before lying down, and in morning on

• ▸waking.
• ▸—Heat in head (with much restlessness).
• ▸—Intermittent boring stitches in r.
• ▸side of

forehead.—Shooting, drawing pain from frontal to temporal bone:—From temporal bones to

occiput, in the periosteum, pain as from a fall—(Occipital headache < during menses, with pains

in backs of eyes (< in 1. eyeball), with dyspepsia; cannot bear a bright light, eyes tire, ache and

• ▸prick and turn bloodshot when she uses glasses—R.
• ▸T.
• ▸C.
• ▸).
• ▸—Tensive drawing or lancinating pains

in exterior of head, as from a blow or contusion, esp. in periosteum.—Gnawing itching in

scalp.—Nodes and abscesses on scalp, with pain as from excoriation when touched, formed after

a tearing pain had been felt in the part which they occupy.—Biting itching (ulcers) on

scalp.—Small ulcers and running sores on scalp.

• ▸Eyes-strain followed by headache. Eyes red, hot, and painful from sewing or reading fine print (Nat mur; Arg nit).
• ▸Disturbances of accommodation.
• ▸Weary pain while reading.
• ▸Pressure deep in orbits.
• ▸Tarsal cartilage feels bruised.
• ▸Pressure over eyebrow.
• ▸Asthenopia.

Pains in eyes when viewing an object minutely.—Itching smarting in canthus.—Aching

in eyes.—Eyes hot like balls of fire; ache; feel strained.—Burning sensation in eyes when reading

by candle-light—Burning under |. eye.—Itching in inner canthi and on lower lids, which becomes

smarting after rubbing them, whereupon the eye becomes filled with water.—Lachrymation in

• ▸open air.
• ▸(not in room).
• ▸—Speck on cornea.
• ▸—Red areola round candle in evening.
• ▸—Quivering and

jerking in muscles of eyebrows.—Spasms in (lower) lids; the tarsus is drawn hither and thither,

and when it ceases water runs from both eyes for an hour and a half—Tendency to

• ▸stare.
• ▸—Contraction of pupil (Aitken).
• ▸—(Detachment of retina.
• ▸) —Asthenopia.
• ▸—Astigmatism

(?).—Sight confused, as if directed through a mist, and complete cloudiness at a

distance.—Obscuration of sight from reading too much, with clouds, or like a veil before

eyes.—A green halo around the light in evening.—Bad effects from over-straining eyes, from

reading too much, esp. fine work at night.—Dancing spots before eyes.

Earache with scraping pressure; as if a blunt piece of wood were pushed about in

it.—Itching lancinations in ear.—Pain in cartilage of ear and under mastoid process as from a

bruise.

Acute and hard aching in root of nose.—Perspiration on back of nose.—Epistaxis with

pressure at root of nose.

Pains in face, in periosteum, as if caused by contusion or blows.—Spasmodic tearing in

cheek-bone.—Itching and gnawing at face and on cheeks.—Erysipelas in forehead with

• ▸swelling.
• ▸—Eruption of pimples on lips.
• ▸—Lips dry and sticky.
• ▸—Acne.

Mouth dry and glutinous.—Cramp in tongue, with embarrassed speech.—Profuse

salivation and swelling of tongue (Taylor, Med. Juris).

Toothache with digging pain (in the lower teeth).—Painful sensibility and ready

bleeding of the gums.

Sore throat, as if a tubercle were in bottom of gullet, during empty

deglutition.—Sensation as from excoriation and pressure on velum palati when swallowing.

10. Appetite-—Mawkish and dry taste of food, like wood.—Violent thirst for cold water in

afternoon.—Disgust at first mouthful with a sensation of fulness and satiety in abdomen, although

the appetite is good.—Sudden nausea when eating, with vomiting of food.—Pains in stomach after

eating bread, or crude and indigestible food.

Gastralgia of aching, gnawing character.

Empty risings or with the taste of food—Hiccough when smoking.—Putrid risings

after eating meat.—Risings like those of hysterical women.—Nausea at pit of

stomach.—Vomiting, even of food.—Pains in stomach after having eaten uncooked or indigestible

food.—Pinchings in stomach after eating bread ——Gnawing (sensation as from emptiness or

hunger), burning, or pressive pains in stomach.—Tearing shootings in epigastrium.

Gnawing pressure in hepatic region.—Gnawing and eating pain about

navel.—Sick feeling in abdomen followed by soft stools.—Pulsation and pricking in 1.

hypochondrium.—Painful swelling of spleen.—Pain in abdomen as from a bruise, with digging in

lumbar region.—Pressive pinchings in hypogastrium.—Incisive pinchings in sides of

abdomen.—Shooting pains, which pass into abdomen, when sitting down.—Sensation of coldness

or of heat, and burning sensation in abdomen.—Gnawing in abdomen.—Colic with burning or

gnawing pain.—Colic as from worms (in children).—Lancinations in muscles of abdomen, which

compel retraction of abdomen.

• ▸Difficult feces, evacuated only with straining.
• ▸Constipation, alternating with mucous, frothy stools; discharge of blood with stool.
• ▸When sitting, tearing stitches in rectum.
• ▸Carcinoma affecting lower bowel. Prolapsus ani every time the bowels move, after confinement.
• ▸Frequent, unsuccessful urging to stool.
• ▸Protrusion of rectum when stooping.

Difficult feeces, as from inactivity of rectum (or impaction following

mechanical injuries), evacuated only with straining.—Constipation alternating with mucous,

frothy stools—Feeces scanty, hard, knotty, like sheep-dung.—Slimy diarrhoea alternately with

• ▸constipation.
• ▸—(Chronic and obstructed diarrhoea.
• ▸—R.
• ▸T.
• ▸C.
• ▸).
• ▸—Frequent want to evacuate, with

scanty but soft evacuations.—Ineffectual want to evacuate, with prolapsus recti.—Prolapse of

rectum immediately on attempting a passage; from slightest stooping; after confinement;

frequent unsuccessful urging.—Prolapsus recti at every evacuation (whether hard or soft

• ▸stool).
• ▸—Discharge of blood with stool.
• ▸—When sitting, tearing stitches in rectum.
• ▸—Pruritus ani

• ▸with smooth appearance of skin round anus.
• ▸—R.
• ▸T.
• ▸C.
• ▸).
• ▸—Tearing in rectum and urethra when not

urinating. —Nausea felt in rectum.

Want to urinate, sometimes very urgent, with pressure on bladder and

scanty emission of green urine.—Pressure on bladder (as if continually full), sometimes also after

emission of urine and at other times.—Frequent and profuse emission of urine, even at

night—Continued want to urinate, even immediately after an emission.—Retention of

urine.—Involuntary emission of urine at night in bed and by day during movement

(walking).—Urine charged with gravel.

Pressure in neck of bladder after urinating; painful closure (Apis). Constant urging to urinate, feels bladder full.

Sterility—Catamenia very irregular—Symptoms < at menstrual

period.—Catamenia of too short duration, preceded and followed by leucorrhcea.—Corrosive

leucorrhcea after the catamenia.—(Pruritus pudendi.—Vaginal pruritus with irritation of skin

elsewhere.—Pruritus vulve, very severe, affecting external lips, which are swollen, began in

• ▸vagina with pain under |.
• ▸breast and dimness of sight.
• ▸—R.
• ▸T.
• ▸C.
• ▸).
• ▸—Metrorrhagia as a forerunner

of miscarriage —Bearing-down pains.—Miscarriage; at seven months.—Lameness and soreness

all over; with feeble contractions during labour.

Cough with copious, thick, yellow expectoration; chest feels weak. Painful spot on sternum; short breath with tightness of chest.

Bruised pain in larynx.—Cough in evening after lying down, with

copious expectoration of viscid mucus, and heaving as if about to vomit.—Croaking cough at

night with scraping in chest.—Cough, with copious expectoration of purulent

matter.—Expectoration of thick, yellowish mucus, almost without cough, but with a sensation of

fatigue in chest—Wakened about midnight with a choking cough.

Breath very short, with dyspnoea.—Aching at chest with sensation of

fulness.—Nocturnal compression in lower part of chest—Lancinations in chest, often with

suspended respiration, principally when going up stairs.—Sensation of coldness or of heat in

• ▸chest.
• ▸—Gnawing in r.
• ▸chest with corrosive burning.
• ▸—Gnawing sensation in (1.
• ▸) chest.
• ▸—Phthisis

after mechanical injuries of chest—A place in region of sternum is painful when touched.

Pain in nape, back and loins. Backache better pressure and lying on back. Lumbago worse morning before rising.

Drawing in nape of neck and in the shoulder-blades.—Pressure on inside of

• ▸r.
• ▸scapula.
• ▸—Pricking itching between scapulz, not > by rubbing.
• ▸—Contusive pains in back and

loins, often with oppressed respiration.—Pain in loins and sacrum as from contusion.—Shootings

in loins when walking and when stooping, or only when seated, > by pressure and when lying

• ▸down.
• ▸—Backache > lying on back.
• ▸—Pain in lumbar vertebree as if bruised.
• ▸—Bruised pain in

spine; and in iliac bones.—Pain from coccyx to os sacrum as from a fall or blow.

Wrenching pain in the shoulder-joint, esp. when permitting arms to hang

down or when resting on them.—Shocks in arms as if in bones.—Dull tearings in bones of the arm

and joints of elbow.—Pain as from contusion in joint of elbow.—Pain in forearms as well as in

bones and joints of hands as if they had been beaten.—Pressive and spasmodic drawing and

tearing in forearms, hands, and fingers.—Paralytic stiffness of wrist ——Wrenching pain or

shootings in wrists.—Sensation as from a sprain and stiffness in wrist—Bones of wrist and back

of hand painful as if bruised when at rest and when moving.—Pain in wrist (as from a sprain) on

lifting a weight—Numbness and tingling in hands after exertion.—Spasmodic contraction of

fingers—Swollen veins on hands; after eating.—Warts; with sore pains; flat, smooth, on palms of

hands.

Falling from side to side when walking, legs will not support him, no power

or steadiness in thighs.—Legs give out on ascending or descending stairs —Sciatica; < by cold

applications, and in cold, wet weather.—Spasmodic drawing in thighs, extending into the hip-

joint and sacrum.—Contusive pain in hip-joint and bones of the legs, esp. on touching and

stretching them.—Weakness in thigh-bones on rising from a seat, as if they had been

broken.—Weakness, trembling, and paralytic heaviness of knees and legs, which prevent

standing firmly, fatigue and heaviness of legs after walking.—Sensation of contraction in tendons

of knee (as if they were shortened, and weakness in them, esp. on descending).—"Rue pounded

• ▸with honey and salt helps swelling of knee.
• ▸"—Culpepper).
• ▸—Fistulous ulcers in legs.
• ▸—Flexion of

knees, esp. when going down stairs.—Lameness and pain in the ankles after a sprain or

dislocation; as if ulcerated.—(Pain and tenderness in soles, aching in ankles and very acute

shooting in back of 1. heel, sometimes of r. with pinkish discoloration of it; and shootings up

through limb settling in one spot (sacro-sciatic foramen), with aching and heavy drawing across

back of neck as if being dragged down; patellee stiff and snap on bending knees.—R. T.

C.).—Burning, gnawing pain in bones of the feet, which does not permit standing or

walking.—Paralytic stiffness of instep —Small epithelial swellings on joints of toes.

• ▸Spine and limbs feel bruised.
• ▸Small of back and loins pain.
• ▸Legs give out on rising from a chair, hips and thighs so weak (Phos; Con).
• ▸Contraction of fingers.
• ▸Pain and stiffness in wrists and hands.
• ▸Ganglia (Benzoic ac).
• ▸Sciatica; worse, lying down at night; pain from back down hips and thighs.
• ▸Hamstrings feel shortened (Graph).
• ▸Tendons sore.
• ▸Aching pain in tendo-Achilles.
• ▸Thighs pain when stretching the limbs.
• ▸Pain in bones of feet and ankles.
• ▸Great restlessness.

Gnawing itching on skin.—Erysipelatous inflammation.—Tendency to excoriation in

• ▸children, either when walking or riding on horseback.
• ▸—Inflamed ulcers.
• ▸—Anasarca.
• ▸—Warts; with

sore pains; flat, smooth on palms.

Frequent yawning and stretching.—Strong disposition to sleep in evening and after a

meal, waking with a start, and piercing cries on least touch.—Nocturnal agitation, with tossing

and frequent waking.

Pulse only accelerated during heat.—Coldness running over one side of

head.—Chilliness principally in back and running up and down.—Heat over whole body, mostly

in afternoon, without thirst, but with anxiety, restlessness, and dyspncea.—Heat in face, with red

cheeks and cold hands and feet.—Cold perspiration on face in morning in bed.—Perspiration all

over when walking in open air.—Shuddering, coldness, and shivering, even when near the

fire—Coldness in hands and feet, with heat in face, confusion in head, and thirst.—General heat

with agitation and excessive uneasiness, feeling of suffocation; and pressive headache.—Frequent

flushes of heat.

• ▸Amblyopia.
• ▸Anus, prolapse of.
• ▸Bone, bruised; pains in.
• ▸Bruises.
• ▸Bursitis.
• ▸Cartilages,

• ▸bruises of; pains in.
• ▸Chest, sternum, pains in.
• ▸Constipation.
• ▸Dislocations.
• ▸Dyspepsia.
• ▸Enuresis.

• ▸Epistaxis.
• ▸Exostosis.
• ▸Eyes, sight weak; pains in.
• ▸Facial, paralysis, from cold.
• ▸Fevers.
• ▸Fractures.

• ▸Ganglion.
• ▸Hemorrhages.
• ▸Hands, pains in.
• ▸Paralysis.
• ▸Perichondritis.
• ▸Periostitis.
• ▸Rectum,

• ▸affections of; prolapse of.
• ▸Restlessness.
• ▸Rheumatism Sciatica.
• ▸Spleen, affections of.
• ▸Sprain.

• ▸Stammering.
• ▸Tongue, cramp in; swelling of.
• ▸Urination, difficulty of.
• ▸Varicocele.
• ▸Veins, swollen;

varicose. Warts.

Characteristics—The common Rue of our gardens is a native of Southern Europe. It was

formerly in great repute in medicine; epilepsy, hysteria, hydrophobia, weakness of sight (from

excessive reading), ozzena, epistaxis, foul gumboils, flatulent colic (in hysteric females), inertia

of the bowels, having been cured with it empirically (Teste). It was also supposed to be a kind of

universal antidote: "Even in our own time the Roman ladies imagine that the most odoriferous

flowers may be left in their rooms without the least danger provided a bush of garden rue be

• ▸amongst them" (Teste).
• ▸Practitioners (says Treas.
• ▸of Bot.
• ▸) have perhaps been deterred from

employing it by the symptoms of acrido-narcotic poisoning induced by an overdose. Locally

applied Rue is a powerful irritant, and one species, Ruta montana, is dangerous to handle even

with gloves. Ruta is "useful in feverish complaints, promotes perspiration and removes noxious

material; in headache, nervous and hysteric complaints, weakness of the stomach and pains in the

bowels, suppressed menses, and if taken for a long time it benefits epilepsy. The expressed juice

benefits nightmare" (Green's Herba/). In large doses it causes violent gastric pains, excessive and

sometimes bloody vomiting, profuse salivation and swelling of the tongue, great prostration,

confusion of mind, and convulsive twitchings, with, in pregnant women, abortion (M. Heélie). In

olden times it was used to ward off plague, and is at the present day the great remedy for pip or

roup in fowls: a disease which affects the throat and causes chokiness and turns the comb of the

fowl black; it is due to impure water and is contagious. "It certainly acts strongly on deposits of

scirrhous material in both the breasts and in the vagina and sometimes lessens the size of these"

(Cooper). Hahnemann's proving shows how largely the old uses were founded on a homceopathic

relationship. The vulnerary remedies indicate in symptoms of their provings the peculiar form of

injuries for which they are adapted; there are the sprained pains of Rhus, the bruised pains (in

skin and muscles) of Arn.; Ruta also has bruised pains, but these are more particularly

manifested in bones. Ruta is one of the chief remedies for injured bones, and especially bruised

bones. This power of Ruta does not appear to have been known before the provings were made.

But impaired sight due to straining the eyes was an old use of the remedy; and here are

symptoms from the provings His eyes feel as if he had strained the sight too much by reading;

Weak, pressive-like pain in right eye, with dimness of surrounding objects, as if from having

looked too long at an object that was fatiguing to the eyes;" "A feeling of heat and burning in the

eyes, and pain in them when he reads (in the evening and by candle-light)." Each of these

symptoms was experienced by a separate prover. Another effect of bruising is seen in prolapse of

the rectum after confinement. But Ruta has, independently of this, a powerful action on the

rectum, and caused prolapse in the provers and many severe symptoms. Tearing stitches in

rectum when sitting. The prolapse is < by stooping, and especially by crouching together; it

• ▸comes on immediately on attempting a passage.
• ▸Rushmore (#7.
• ▸P.
• ▸, x.
• ▸516) cured with one dose of

Ruta 900 (Fincke) a case of prolapse preceding a very difficult stool —Tearing in rectum and

urethra while urinating. Constipation; from inactivity of rectum or impaction of feeces following

mechanical injuries. A curious clinical symptom is a sensation of nausea located in the rectum.

Among the general symptoms are: Great weakness after a short walk; limbs feel bruised; small

of back and loins painful. Tottering as if thighs were weak; limbs pain when walking. Does not

know where to lay his legs on account of uneasiness and heaviness; lies now in one place, now in

another, and turns from side to side. All parts of the body on which he lies, even in bed, are

painful as if bruised. Facial paralysis from catching cold, in robust, sanguine persons. Rheumatic

paralysis of wrists and ankles. Ruta 1s specially suited to robust, sanguineous persons; and

corresponds to hemorrhages from nose (with pressure at root), gums, rectum. Peculiar

Sensations are: Pain as if from a fall in periosteum. As if a nail were driven into head. Head as if

bruised or beaten. Eyes, as if strained; as if a shadow flitting before them; as after looking too

long and intently at an object; as if eyes were balls of fire. As if one were digging about in the

• ▸ear with a blunt piece of wood.
• ▸As of a lump in throat.
• ▸Bladder as if constantly full.
• ▸Spine as if

beaten and lame. Wrists as if sprained. As if pain were in marrow of bone, or as if bone were

• ▸broken.
• ▸Thighs as if beaten; as if weak.
• ▸As if there were an ulcer on ankle.
• ▸All parts of body

bruised at night, feeling as if it were time to rise. Restlessness is a very frequent Concomitant of

Ruta conditions. A peculiar symptom is cramp in the tongue with embarrassed speech. A

• ▸prolonged use of Ruta 3x has cured ganglion in front of left wrist (Oran W.
• ▸Smith, 1.
• ▸P.
• ▸, ix.

308). Slow pulse, contracted pupil, salivation and swollen tongue are features of its action. The

symptoms are: < By touch. Pressure < sore spot on sternum; > pain below r. scapula, and stitches

in small of back. Backache > lying on back. [This is characteristic, and has led to many cures;

• ▸and the relief of a case of malignant disease of kidneys and bladder (Rushmore, H.
• ▸P.
• ▸, x.
• ▸516).

This is important in connection with a use Cooper has made of Ruta ointment, prepared by

extracting the plant in warm vaseline as an application in broken cancer of the breast.] Walking

or riding = chafing. Dyspepsia from straining stomach by carrying heavy weights. Scratching >.

• ▸Rubbing >.
• ▸Rest <.
• ▸Motion >.
• ▸Lying down = parts lain on to be sore; > pain below right scapula;

• ▸> stitches in small of back.
• ▸Sitting <.
• ▸Stooping <.
• ▸Bending over = feeces to escape.
• ▸Exertion <.

• ▸Ascending <.
• ▸Going up and down stairs = hamstrings to feel shortened and weak.
• ▸< At night.
• ▸<

• ▸Morning.
• ▸(Vertigo on rising.
• ▸Rheumatic pain in back < before rising.
• ▸Sweat in bed.
• ▸) Warm stove

• ▸= chilliness.
• ▸Indoors = yawning and stretching.
• ▸Open air = vertigo.
• ▸Cold applications <.
• ▸Cold wet

weather <. < Reading and straining eyes. < During menses.

• ▸Antidoted by: Camph.
• ▸Antidote to: Merc.
• ▸Complementary: Calc.
• ▸ph.
• ▸in joint

• ▸affections.
• ▸Compatible: After Arn.
• ▸in joint affections; after Symphyt.
• ▸in bone injuries; Calc.
• ▸,

• ▸Caust.
• ▸, Lyc.
• ▸, Ph.
• ▸ac.
• ▸, Puls.
• ▸, Sul.
• ▸, Sul.
• ▸ac.
• ▸(diseases of bone).
• ▸Compare: In diseases of bone,

• ▸Angust.
• ▸(also botan.
• ▸), Conchiol.
• ▸Restlessness, effects of cold and damp, Rhus.
• ▸Eye-strain, Nat.

• ▸m.
• ▸, Onos.
• ▸, Seneg.
• ▸Prolapse of rectum, Aésc.
• ▸, Bell.
• ▸, Chi.
• ▸s.
• ▸, Nit.
• ▸ac.
• ▸, Pod.
• ▸Pain in back < in

• ▸morning before rising, Pet.
• ▸Sore as if bruised in parts lain on, Arn.
• ▸, Bap.
• ▸, Pyro.
• ▸Constipation after

• ▸injuries, Arn.
• ▸Warts on palms, Nat.
• ▸c.
• ▸, Nat.
• ▸m.
• ▸(on backs of hands, Dul.
• ▸).
• ▸Chafing.
• ▸Compare also:

• ▸Arg.
• ▸n.
• ▸, Con.
• ▸, Euphras.
• ▸, Lyc.
• ▸, Cham.
• ▸, Sep.

Compare: Ratanhia; Carduus. Rectal (irritation); Jaborandi; Phyt; Rhus; Sil; Arn.

Antidote: Camph.

Complementary: Calc phos.

First to sixth potency. Locally, the tincture for ganglia and as a lotion for the eyes.

RUTA GRA^OLENS,

Ruta is another remedy often overlooked. It is sometimes over*

looked and Rhus or Argentum nitficum given, or other remedies not

fully related to the case arc given because Ruta is not well known.

Many of its symptoms are difficult to classify in the Repertory. A

knowledge of its nature must be obtained. It falls under a class of

complaints that resemble Rhus, in that it is sensitive to cold, aggravated from cold, damp weather ; aggravated from becoming cold, and

the complaints are often brought on from straining the part ; overstraining or overexertion of parts, but principally confined to parts

that are of a tendinous character ; aponeurotic fibres ; white fibrous tis^

sue ; the flexor tendons especially ; flexor tendons that are overstrained

by exertion. Rhus has something like this, but nothing like what is

found in Ruta. Ruta often suits in various surgical conditions ; periosteal troubles from injury. Periosteal trouble where the flesh is thin

over the bone ; over the tibia. Bruises go away slowly and leave a

hardened spot ; thickening of periosteum ; a knotty, nodular condition ;

it remains sore ; slow repair. A lump in the periosteum that has existed for months or years ; sensitive and sore and nodular ; as a result

of a blow with a stick or a hammer, or from bumping the shin bone.

8o2

In farmers, woodmen, mechanics, from holding a hammer or iron instrument ; hard nodules form in the palm from clasping the hand over

an iron instrument in projecting it forward, as from using a crowbar ;

a hardened mass of tissue in the tendons, like a bursa. Tendency to

the formation of deposits in the periosteum, in bone, in tendons, about

joints. The especial location is in the wrist ; bursae and nodules form

in this part. Overstraining of tendons and in the place where it is

likely to give out a nodule will form in the tendon ; lumps, bunches,

little tumors in the tendon. Gradually increasing contraction of flexors, so that the hands become permanently flexed ; the foot becomes

flexed so that the sole becomes increasingly concave, and the toes are

drawn under from overstraining and violence to the flexors.

Overstraining of the muscles of the eye. These muscles are largely

tendinous. Continual use until it becomes an overuse. Eyestrain followed by headache, and the effects are also on the globe of the eye, and

coating of the eye, so that the overstrained eye is red. Pain in the

eye, above and through the eye when he attempts to use the vision,

that is, aggravation from the exertion of vision. From looking at fine

print, fine sewing. This overexertion ol vision brings about redness,

• ▸pain and inability to concentrate vision on one point.
• ▸Headache follows.
• ▸Here Argentum nitricum resembles Ruta.
• ▸Arg, nit, and Natrum mur are the two remedies most frequently used, but Onosmodiunt

is a very frequently indicated remedy for headaches from eyestrain.

But they can be easily differentiated. Ruta is aggravated from cold,

wants everything warm. Arg, nit, is aggravated from heat, wants to

be in a cool place. The patient must be considered.

There is general exhaustion in Ruta. The legs give out on rising

from a chair, the patient totters and makes several efforts on rising

from a seat. Routinists give Phosphorus and Conium for this. Ruta

and Phosphorus both have violent, unquenchable thirst for ice-cold

water. Compare Phos, and Con, because of the weakness through the

hips and thighs.

The remedy has not been proved sufficiently to bring out the mental

• ▸symptoms.
• ▸They are only common and belong to many other remedies.
• ▸‘Inclination to contradict and quarrel.
• ▸'’ “Dissatisfied with himself and others.
• ▸” “Anxious and low-spirited, with mental dejection.
• ▸”

These symptoms are only common ; they can be grouped in one of two

classes. The patient can be irritable, or the opposite— good-natured.

This remedy is classified among the irritable. “Despondent,” that is,

the opposite of happy — another of two classes. “Melancholy disposition toward evening.” The only thing here is that it is aggravated

toward evening. When things are brought out so that they belong to

one of two classes, they are important only in a mild degree.

Many of the complaints are worse lying down, especially the pains

that are sharp, stinging, tearing in the nerves. Ruta is a painful medicine, but is slow in producing symptoms, hence its pains are of a

chronic nature. Old neuralgias, stinging, tearing, burning pains, especially in the lower extremities, about the eyes ; faceaches. It has all

the pains, described by all the adjectives that apply to pain, l)ut it is

worse lying down and worse from cold. Rending, tearing pains in the

sciatic nerves. The severest forms of sciatica ; pains commence in the

back and go down the hips and thighs ; tearing pains ; comfortable during the day, but aggravated as soon as he lies down at night. Gna^

phalium is a great sciatic remedy, and it also has this aggravation from

lying down.

“Eyes feel hot like balls of fire.'" To use Ruta for a pure inflammation when the eyes feel hot would be a failure. Euphrasia^ Belladonna

and Aconite are used in simple inflammations from a cold, and the

antipsorics when the case is chronic. But if a woman strains her eyes

from long sewing on fine work, and the balls feci like fire, she needs

Ruta. Aconite if, after exposure to cold winds, there is inflammation

with lachrymation, and the eyes look like raw beef.

“Eyes burn, ache, feel strained ; sight blurred ; aggravated from

using them in the evening,” A part of the general aggravation in the

evening. When, in copying, the manuscript is placed here, and the

copy at a different distance, this necessitates a constant change of vision in looking from one to the other, and especially if the copying is

done in a poor light, a headache will come on, which Ruta will cure.

After overusing the eyes in this way^if the patient rides in a cold wind,

a paralytic weakness results, and this is a further indication for Ruta,

• ▸Lachrymation from exposure to the wind or riding in the cold.
• ▸Paralysis of certain muscles of the eye, even strabismus ; all sorts of disturbances of accommodation.
• ▸“Loss of power over internal rectus.
• ▸”

“Asthenopia ; irritability of every tissue of eye from overwork or from

nsing eyes on fine p)ork ; heat and aching in and over eyes ; eyes feel

like balls of fire at night ; blurring of vision ; letters seem to run together, lachrymation, etc.” Amplyopia, dependent upon overexertion

of eyes, or anomalies of refraction ; from writing by artificial light ;

fine needlework, etc, in a weaver, could with difficulty distinguish one

thread from another, and could not read at all ; mistiness of sight, with

complete obscuration at a distance.

Constipation is a striking feature, with prolapsus of the rectum at

stool, “Frequent unsuccessful urging with prolapsus ani.” “Protrusion of rectum after confinement.” Pain in rectum when sitting.

Great soreness in rectum as from ulceration. It is a useful remedy in

piles and stricture of the rectum.

Back symptoms. It is a decided rheumatic remedy. All those remedies which are susceptible to cold, aggravated by cold, wet, stormy

SABABIIXA

weather, are described as rheumatic remedies. Rheumatic symptoms

of the back. ‘Tains as if bruised in lumbar vertebrae/' ‘Tain in!

back or coccyx as from a fall or blow, or as if bruised/' “Hamstrings

feel shortened and weak ; knees give way going up or down stairs/'

“Pain and lameness in the ankles after sprain or dislocation/'

“Lameness after sprains, especially of the wrists and ankles/’ Immediately after a sprain, for the inflammatory state, you will most

likely need to give Arnica, and Rhus will probably follow. But when

nodules occur in the tendons as a result of the strain Ruta is called

for. Ruta is a great remedy for a mere sprain ; it has all the soreness

and weakness of tendons. Arnica, Rhus and Calcarea are often necessary in a routine way when there is absence of all symptoms, except

the strain alone.

Paralytic weakness in the lower extremities after a sprain of the

back.

Under the aggravation in the evening is melancholy disposition,

burning in the eyes, green halo around the light ; sight blurred ; eyes

ache ; pain below right scapula.

Extreme restlessness like Rhus. So restless he can't keep still ; a

nervous restlessness.

“Bruised feeling all over as from a fall or blow, worse in the limbs

and joints." “Bruises and other mechanical injuries of bones and

periosteum ; sprains ; periostitis ; erysipelas."

Ruta is related to and is an antidote to Mercury.

Eruptions on the skin with itching, which changes place after

scratching like Mezereum. Compare Phos. in the thirst for cold water

• ▸and the weakness of the lower extremities.
• ▸In the rheumatism distinguish Phytolacca.
• ▸Compare Rhus, Sepia, Silicea and Sulphur.
• ▸Ruta

is an antipsoric, but not so deep as Silicea and Sulphur.