Apocynum Cannabinum Introduction: The dropsies of Apocynum are general dropsies with or without organic disease; swelling of every part of the body; cardiac dropsies. The excretions are diminished, especially urine and sweat. Hydrocephalus has been cured with it: "Child lying in stupor, with constant involuntary motion of one arm and leg." "Paralysis of left side; one eye motionless, one rolling." Increases secretions of mucous and serous membranes and acts on cellular tissue, producing oedema and dropsy and on skin causing diaphoresis. Acute hydrocephalus. A diminished frequency of the pulse is a prime indication. This is one of our most efficient remedies, in dropsies, ascites, anasarca and hydrothorax, and urinary troubles, especially suppression and strangury and as such it occupies a place as important as that of Apis. In the digestive complaints of Bright's disease, with the nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, difficult breathing, it will be found of frequent service. The dropsy is characterized by great thirst and gastric irritability. Arrhythmia. Mitral and tricuspid regurgitation. Acute alcoholism. Relaxation of sphincters. Three cases of neuralgia of the right side ─ groin, hip, and in one case region of right kidney─have been cured with this remedy. Hale says the kidneys are the peculiar seat of the operation of the drug, and that it is in renal dropsies that it is especially curative. It has cured diabetes insipidus with "a sense of sinking in the pit of the stomach with great debility." Haemorrhages, especially menorrhagia, and haemorrhages at the change of life have been cured with it. Hale has found it restore the menses when given in cases of dropsy. Scientific Name: Apocynum cannabinum L. Synonyms: Dogbane; Amy root; Indian hemp; Hemp dogbane; Prairie dogbane; Black Indian hemp; Apocynum hypericifolium; A. pubescens; A. sibiricum; Wild cotton. French: Chanre du canad. German: Canadische andische hanfwurzel. Source: Vegetable kingdom is the main source of Apocynum cannabinum. It belongs to the family Apocynaceae. It is a perennial herbaceous plant that grows throughout much of North America - in the southern half of Canada and throughout the United States. It is a poisonous plant: Apocynum means "poisonous to dogs". All parts of the plant are poisonous and can cause cardiac arrest if ingested. The cannabinum in the scientific name and the common names hemp dogbane and Indian hemp refer to its similarity to Cannabis as a fiber plant, rather than as a 1 source of a psychoactive drug. Although dogbane is poisonous to livestock, it likely got its name from its resemblance to a European species of the same name. It grows in open wooded areas, ditches, and hillsides. It is found in gravelly or sandy soil, mainly near streams in shady or moist places. A. cannabinum grows up to 2 meters/6 feet tall. The stems are erect, reddish, grow upto 4 feet in height and contain a milky latex capable of causing skin blisters and assurgently branching, not bifurcating. The leaves are opposite petiolate, simple broad lanceolate, 7–15 cm long and 3–5 cm broad, entire, and smooth on top with white hairs on the underside and sometimes sessile or nearly so those at the bases of the branches single, sessile and larger. Inflorescence close, erect cymes; It flowers from July to August, has large sepals, and a five- lobed greenish-white smaller corolla; tube not longer than the calyx lobes; lobes erect. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by moths and butterflies. The fruit is in pods, 3 to 5 inches long, slender and pendulous. Root bark grayish-brown; wood yellowish, soft, porous; pith minute or not evident. Parts used: The fresh root. Composition: Tincture θ. Drug Strength 1/10 Active ingredient: Apocynum cannabinum, fresh pulp containing solids 100 gm. And plant moisture approximately 233 cc. = 333 gm. Excipients: Distilled water = 167 cc. Strong Alcohol = 635 cc. To make one thousand cubic centimeters of tincture. Prover Name: Dr. Freiteg. Spheres of Action & Pathogenesis: It acts upon on urinary organs, heart, digestive tract and uterus. Acting on urinary organs, it induces dieresis and removes the dropsical effusions. It depresses the heart, kidneys and intestines relaxing sphincters. It also produces intense gastric disturbance. Clinical: Ascites. Catarrh. Coryza. Diabetes insipidus. Diarrhoea. Dropsies. Enuresis. Heart, affections of. Hydrocephalus. Menorrhagia. Metrorrhagia. Nausea. Neuralgia. Snuffles. Tobacco-heart. Urinary difficulties. Vomiting. Constitution: Patient is chilly, sensitive to air and cold drinks. Causation: Dropsy after typhus, typhoid, scarlatina, cirrhosis, after abuse of quinine, alcohol. 2 Guiding Symptoms: 1. Excretions diminished especially urine and sweat. 2. Dropsy of serous membranes; acute, inflammatory. 3. Dropsy: with thirst (Acet. ac.), water disagrees or is vomited (Ars.); most cases uncomplicated with organic diseases; after typhus, typhoid, scarlatina, cirrhosis; after abuse of quinine. 4. Acute hydrocephalus, with open sutures; stupor, sight of one eye lost; constant and voluntary motion of one arm and one leg (left arm and leg, Bry.); forehead projected. 5. Amenorrhoea in young girls, with bloating or dropsical extension of abdomen and extremities. 6. Metorrhagia: continued or paroxysmal flow; fluid or clotted; nausea, vomiting, palpitation; pulse quick, feeble, when moved; vital depression, fainting, when raising head from pillow. 7. Cough, short and dry, or deep and loose, during pregnancy (Con.). Particulars: Mind: Bewildered; nervous, low-spirited. Head: Dizzy. Very marked piercing pain in r. temple followed by vertigo. Vertigo suddenly appearing and disappearing. Hydrocephalus: stupor, sight of one eye totally lost, the other nearly so; forehead projecting; sutures open; stage of exudation. Eyes: Eyes inflamed; < morning and evening. As if sand in them. Face: Face pale, covered with cold sweat (diarrhœa). Dry lips. Mouth: Dry tongue, immoderate thirst. Tongue coated. Constant spitting, increase of mucus and saliva. Nose: Long-continued sneezing. Snuffles of children (Sambucus). Chronic nasal catarrh with tendency to acute stuffiness with dull, sluggish memory. Dull headache. Takes cold easily, nostrils become congested and blocked up easily. Stomach: Nausea, with drowsiness. Thirst on walking. Excessive vomiting. Food or water is immediately ejected. Dull, heavy, sick feeling. Oppression in epigastrium and chest, impeding breathing (Lobelia infl). Sensation of sinking in stomach. Abdomen bloated. Ascites. Stool: Watery, flatulent, with soreness in anus; worse after eating. Feeling as if sphincter were open and stools ran right out. Urine: Bladder much distended. Turbid, hot urine, with thick mucus and burning in urethra, after urinating. Little expulsive power. Dribbling. Strangury. Renal Dropsy. 3 Male: Penis and scrotum swollen, dropsical. Female: Amenorrhœa, with bloating; metrorrhagia with nausea; fainting, vital depression. Hæmorrhages at change of life. Blood expelled in large clots. Respiratory: Short, dry cough. Respiratory short and unsatisfactory. Sighing. Oppression about epigastrium and chest. Heart: Tricuspid regurgitation; rapid and feeble, irregular cardiac action, low arterial tension, pulsating jugulars, general cyanosis and general dropsy. Sleep: Great restlessness and little sleep. Fever: Body covered with large drops of cold sweat. Dropsy after scarlet fever; after abuse of quinine. General Modalities: Aggravation: Cold weather; cold drinks; uncovering. Relationship: Compare: Apoc. andr., Alstonia const., Strophanth., Acet. ac., Apis (thirstless in dropsies), Arsen., Bell., Bry., Chi., Colch., Digit. (dropsy; slow pulse), Elat., Helleb. (hydrocephalus; ascites); Alo., Gamb., and Trombid. (diarrhœa), K. ca., Lyc., Merc., Merc. sul., the Loganiaceæ ─ Nux v., Ignat., Curare; Spig., Scill., Sul., Verat. Cymarin is the active principle of Apocyn, lowers pulse rate and increases blood-pressure. Strophanthus (extreme cardiac depression with intense gastric disturbance; dropsy). Aralia hispida - Wild Elder-a valuable diuretic, useful in dropsy of the cavities, either due to hepatic or renal disease with constipation. Urinary disorders, especially with dropsy. Scudder advises doses of five to thirty drops in sweetened cream of tartar, (Solution). Blatta orientalis has cured bad cases of general dropsy, after Apis, Apoc. and Dig. failed. - Haynes. In dropsy, it can be compared with – Acetic Acid: It is one of the prominent medicines for dropsy associated with diabetes and gastrointestinal diseases. With dropsical condition, there is profound anaemia with waxy pallor of the face. Dropsy with great thirst and debility, emaciation, sour belching, waterbrash & diarrhea. Patient cannot sleep lying on back but rest better lying on belly. 4 Apis Mel: Oedema of the hands & feet, anasarca, ascites. Dropsy without thirst. Bag like puffy swelling under the eyes is characteristic dropsy after suppressed eruptions. Urine frequent, painful, scanty. Arsenic Alb: Anasacara with skin pale, waxy, earth colored. Dropsy with burning thirst without special desire to drink. Stomach does not seem to tolerate because it cannot assimilate, cold water. Great thirst for cold water, drinks often, but little at a time. Patient sleeps better on back. Dose and Administration: Mother Tincture eight or ten drops mixed with water four times daily; in chronic dropsy five or six drops one hour intervals and in acute alcoholism 1 dram of decoction in 4 oz water or as