Gnaphalium
Plant · Asteraceae
Suited to patients suffering from neuralgic conditions, especially sciatica, where the distinguishing feature is the alternation of intense pain with complete numbness. Patients tend to be cross and irritable during complaints, with associated digestive disturbances. The remedy has a reputation in dysmenorrhoea with very painful, scanty menses.
Key symptoms
- Numbness alternating with pain in sciatica and lumbago (keynote)
- Sciatic pain with characteristic alternation of numbness and aching
- Watery, offensive diarrhoea in the morning, repeated during the day
- Rumbling in bowels with colicky pains; patient cross and irritable
- Coldness with numbness and loss of sensation in the back
- Dysmenorrhoea with scanty, very painful menses on the first day
- Scanty urine; appetite and taste lost
- Night sweats; reputation for colds and fevers
Worse (aggravation)
- Worse in cold and damp weather
Better (amelioration)
- Better lying with limbs drawn up
Gnaphalium polycephalum. Sweet-scented Everlasting Flower. N. O. Compositæ. Tincture of fresh plant.
Clinical
Anterior crural neuralgia. Cholera. Diarrhœa. Dysmenorrhœa. Gout. Lumbago. Prostate gland, irritation of. Rheumatism. Sciatica.
Characteristics
Gnaphal. has been used mainly in affections of the sciatic nerve. But it has also an action on the abdominal organs, causing vomiting, colic, and diarrhœa, thus comparing with Colocynth. in both spheres. The special indication for its use in sciatica and lumbago is: Numbness alternating with the pain. The diarrhœa is watery and offensive; occurs in the morning and is repeated during the day. There is rumbling in the bowels, colicky pains, and the patient is cross and irritable, urine is scanty, appetite and taste are lost. There is also sexual excitement in mate provers, pain and irritation in the prostate gland. Dr. W. McGeorge (Hahn. Month., Oct., 1885, p. 606) tells us that among the negroes Gnaph. has a reputation for colds, fevers, and …
Extremities
Intense pain along the sciatic nerve, following its larger ramifications; sometimes numbness takes the place of the pains.
Classical texts are in the public domain. Educational reference only — not medical advice.
