Amylenum nitrosum
Amyl nitrite · Amyl nitrite. · Human-made/chemical
Amyl nit. is most appropriate for people who are hot and red, feel constricted by their clothes, and have a desire for fresh air. They may be weak, anxious, restless, and weary, often due to disturbed sleep.
The classic symptom picture is of flushing that spreads rapidly over the skin, followed by drenching sweats and great exhaustion. The remedy may be used for these symptoms in conjunction with menopause, sunstroke, or heart problems.
Typical heart symptoms treated with Amyl nit. include sharp pains in the heart area and a feeling of oppression, with pain radiating down the right arm.
Key symptoms
- Deep facial flushing with surging of blood to head
- Flushings and discomforts at climacteric with heat
- Tumultuous action and palpitation of the heart
- Pain and constriction around heart with anxiety
- Dyspnea and asthmatic feelings with great chest oppression
- Throbbing throughout whole body with sensation of flushings
- Hiccough and yawning; relieves temporary epileptic convulsions
- Veins of hands dilated with pulsations in fingertips
Worse (aggravation)
Better (amelioration)
Amyl Nitrite (AMYL NITROSUM)
On inhaling this drug, it rapidly dilates all arterioles an capillaries, producing flushings of face, heat, and throbbing in the head.--Superficial arterial hyperæmia. Palpitation of the heart and similar conditions are readily cured by it, especially the flushings and other discomforts at climacteric. Hiccough and yawning. Often relieves temporarily epileptic convulsions. Seasickness.
Head
Anxiety, as if something might happen; must have fresh air. Surging of blood to head and face; sensation as if blood would start through skin, with heat and redness. Flushings, followed by sweat at climacteric. Ears hyperæmic. Throbbing.
Throat
Constriction; collar seems too tight.
Chest
Dyspnœa and asthmatic feelings. Great oppression and fullness of chest; spasmodic, suffocative cough. Præcordial anxiety. Tumultuous action of heart. Pain and constriction around heart. Fluttering at slightest excitement.
Female
After-pains; hæmorrhage associated with facial flushing. Climacteric headache and flushes of heat, with anxiety and palpitation.
Fever
Much flushing of heat; sometimes followed by cold and clammy skin and profuse sweat. Throbbing throughout whole body. Abnormal sweat after influenza.
Extremities
Constant stretching for hours. Veins of hands dilated; pulsations felt in tips of fingers.
Relationship
Compare: Glonoine; Lachesis.
Antidotes: Cactus; Strychn; Ergot.
Dose
Third potency.
For palliations. In all conditions where the blood-vessels are spasmodically contracted, as in angina pectoris, epileptic seizure, megrim, accompanied by cold, pallor, etc, also in paroxysms of asthma, chloroform asphyxia, inhalation of the Amyl nit will give immediate relief. For this non-homeopathic application, two to five minims (put up in pearls) dropped on a handkerchief and inhaled may be required.
Nitrite of Amyl. C5 H11 NO2. Dilution with alcohol.
Clinical
Angina pectoris. Blushing. Chorea. Climacteric flushing. Epilepsy. Exophthalmos. Flushings. Headache. Heart, affections of. Hysteria. Sea-seakness. Sunstroke.
Characteristics
The Nitrite of Amyl was introduced into medicine by the old school as a remedy for angina pectoris, and was supposed to act by lessening arterial tension. Dr. G. W. Balfour has, however, shown that this cannot always be the case, since samples which have been kept for a time in imperfectly sealed bottles, whilst retaining their power to relax tension, have none over the pain. Homœopathic provings have shown that in some cases at any rate Amyl nit. has a specific action. The most striking action of the drug is the deep facial flushing it causes and the pulsation all over the body. The specific heart symptoms are: Sensation of swelling of front of chest as if convex, with a feeling as if the lower end of the sternum made a deep depression bent in towards the spine. Precordial …
Nitrite of Amyl (C5H11NO2.)
For nervous, sensitive, plethoric women, during or after menopause. Often palliative in incurable cases; very important as regards euthanasia. Rapidly dilates the arteries and accelerates, but later weakens and retards the pulse. Intense surging of blood to face and head (Bell., Glon.). Craves fresh air; opens clothing, removes bed covering and opens windows in the coldest weather (Arg. n., Lach., Sulph.). Flushings: start from face, stomach, various parts of body, followed by sweatings, often hot, profuse; abruptly limited, parts below are icy cold; followed by great prostration. Face flushes at the slightest emotion (Coca, Fer.). Blushing: chronic or acute; sea sickness. Hemicrania, especially when afflicted side is pallid. Collar seems too tight, must loosen it (Lach.). Angina pectoris; tumultuous heart action; intense throbbing of heart and carotids (Glon.). Constant stretching for hours; impossible to satisfy the desire; would seize the bed and call for help to stretch. Profound and repeated yawning (Kali c.). Puerperal convulsions immediately after delivery.
Head
Sudden and intense rush of blood to head and face, flushing the face deeply; these flushes sometimes appear on the slightest emotion or during climacteric.
Sight and Eyes
Eyes protruded, staring; conjunctival vessels injected as well as the fundus.
Heart and Pulse
Tumultuous action of the heart, with dyspnoea and the characteristic rush or flush of blood to head and face.
Phatak's chapter on Amylenum nitrosum is available in the app.
Read Phatak in the appClassical texts are in the public domain. Educational reference only — not medical advice.
