Silphium Spicatum

Simaruba is a native of the West Indies and tropical America. "Simaruba

bark" is used as a bitter tonic and as a local remedy for dysentery and diarrhoea. The part used is

the "bark," which is really the rind of the root, of which, domestically, a decoction is made. "In

large doses," says Treas. of Botany, "it is said to act as an emetic, purgative and diaphoretic." S.

versicolor, a Brazilian species, has similar properties. The fruits and bark are used as

anthelmintics; an infusion of the latter is employed in cases of snake-bite. The plant is so bitter

that insects will not attack it, on which account the powdered root has been used to kill vermin.

S. glauca, a native of Cuba, furnishes a glutinous juice which is employed in certain cases of

skin-disease." This very well sums up the place and properties of Simaruba. And it is well to

remember that Cedron, which is "Simaba Cedron," belongs to the same order. My first practical

acquaintance with Simb. as a homceopathic remedy was in the case of a much-travelling patient

who suffered from a chronic tendency to looseness of the bowels. He had stools like yellow

ochre, for which Gamboge had been very helpful. When in the South of France he consulted a

homeeopathic practitioner, whose name has escaped my memory, and he prescribed Simaruba

• ▸with excellent effect.
• ▸Since then I have used it in similar cases.
• ▸H.
• ▸H.
• ▸Beamish (H.
• ▸W.
• ▸, April

1925) says that on the Zambesi for dysentery the Simaruba bark is boiled, and, by way of

strengthening the astringent effect, A/um is added to the decoction. But Simaruba is the specific

agent.

Irritation extends from throat up posterior nares to nose causing sneezing, followed by

discharge of limpid, acrid mucus, attended with constriction and pressure in supraorbital region.

Scraping, tickling, and irritation of fauces and throat—Desire to hawk and scrape

throat and throw off a thin viscid mucus.—Engorgement and thickening of mucous membrane of

throat extending down.

Urine: high-coloured, scanty.—Frequent micturition, with sense of heat or

burning at meatus during micturition.

• ▸Cough with expectoration profuse, stringy, frothy, light-colored.
• ▸Excited by sense of mucus rattling in chest and worse by drafts of air.
• ▸Constriction of lungs.
• ▸Catarrh, with copious, stringy, mucous discharges.
• ▸Desire to hawk and scrape throat.
• ▸Irritation of posterior nares, involving mucous membranes of nasal passages with constriction of supra-orbital region.

Constriction and tightness of lungs, with constant disposition to raise; hacking,

spasmodic cough.

Simaruba.

• ▸Simaruba amara.
• ▸Mountain damson.
• ▸N.
• ▸O.
• ▸Simarubacez.
• ▸Tincture of the dried root-bark.

• ▸Compare: (Botan.
• ▸) Cedron, Ail.
• ▸, Chap.
• ▸am.
• ▸, Quassia.
• ▸Compare also: Vacc.
• ▸myrtt.
• ▸,

Chi., Rheum, Gamb.

Compare: Aral; Copaiv; Tereb; Cubeb; Samb; Silphion cyrenaicum (phthisis pulmonum, with incessant cough, profuse night-sweats, emaciation, etc); Polygonum aviculare (has been found useful in phthisis, when given in material doses of the mother tincture); Salvia (tickling cough). Arum dracontium (loose cough at night on lying down). Justicia adhatoda (bronchial catarrh, hoarseness, oversensitive).

Third potency. Lower triturations preferred by some.

Rosin-weed (SILPHIUM)

Is used in various forms of asthma and chronic bronchitis Catarrh of bladder. Catarrhal influenza. Dysentery; attack preceded by constipated stools covered with white mucus.