Hydrocotyle asiatica
Centella asiatica · Gotu kola, Indian pennywort, tiger grass. · Plant · Apiaceae
Hydrocotyle is best suited to people who alternate between lively, talkative behavior and dull sadness, with a desire to be alone. They may sleep heavily, sometimes with persistent dreaming all night long. Classic features associated with this remedy are overgrowth and hardening, which often manifests itself as thickening or hardening of the connective tissue, or scaly, thickening skin conditions. Typical skin conditions treated include psoriasis, with hardening and scaling of the affected area, lupus (scaly patches that leave dull white scars), and leprosy with no ulceration. The remedy may even be used for excessive skin thickening, swelling, and distortion, like that occurring in elephantiasis (a chronic disease of the lymphatic system).
Key symptoms
- Great thickening of epidermoid layer with exfoliation of scales
- Intolerable itching especially of soles
- Psoriasis gyrate on trunk, extremities, palms and soles
- Granular ulceration of womb with profuse leucorrhoea
- Heat within vagina; pruritus of vagina
- Difficulty in maintaining the upright posture
- Very copious perspiration
- Hypertrophy and induration of connective tissue
- Used in leprosy and lupus without ulceration
- Dry eruptions; pustules on chest; circular scaly spots
Worse (aggravation)
Better (amelioration)
Indian Pennywort (HYDROCOTYLE)
Curative in disorders that exhibit interstitial inflammation and cellular proliferation in any part. Hypertrophy and induration of connective tissue. Has considerable reputation in leprosy and lupus, when there is no ulceration. The skin symptoms are very important. Of great use in ulceration of womb. Difficulty in maintaining the upright posture. Very copious perspiration. Pains of cervical cancer.
Face
Pain in left cheek-bones and about orbits.
Female
Pruritus of vagina. Inflammation of neck of bladder. Heat within vagina. Granular ulceration of womb. Profuse leucorrhœa. Dull pain in ovarian region. Cervical redness.
Skin
Dry eruptions. Great thickening of epidermoid layer and exfoliation of scales. Psoriasis gyrate, on trunk and extremities, palms and soles. Pustules on chest. Circular spots, with scaly edges. Intolerable itching, especially of soles. Profuse sweat. Syphilitic affections. Acne. Leprosy. Elephantiasis (Ars). Lupus non-exedens.
Relationship
Compare: Elæis-South American Palm--(scleroderma, elephantiasis, leprosy, skin thickened, itching and hardened. Anæsthesia). Hura; Trychnos Gaultheriana (bites of serpents, ulcers and cutaneous affections generally); Hoang-Nan. Chaulomoogra oil from seed of Taraktogenos; Hydrast; Arsenic; Aurum; Sepia.
Dose
First to sixth potency.
Indian Pennywort (India and South Africa). N. O. Umbelliferæ. Tincture of whole fresh plant.
Clinical
Acne rosacea. Constipation. Elephantiasis arabum. Favus. Gangrene after amputation. Gonorrhœa. Gout. Ichthyosis. Leprosy. Leucorrhœa. Liver, contraction of. Lupus. Neuralgia orbitalis. Skin, affections of. Syphilis. Uterus, follicular inflammation of. Vagina, pruritus of.
Characteristics
Hydrocot. has been long known as an Indian remedy. Boileau was the first to use it as a remedy in leprosy. It has been tested pathogenetically and clinically, and its place has been fairly well defined. The skin and the female generative organs are the chief seats of the drug's action; though the liver, the nerves, and the mucous membranes are also powerfully acted upon. A great variety of skin affections have been cured with it; acne, eczema, pemphigus, lupus, copper-coloured eruption; papular eruption on face; intolerable itching in various places. Auduit (H. R., ix. 434) cured this case: Girl, 20, weak and …
Phatak's chapter on Hydrocotyle asiatica is available in the app.
Read Phatak in the appClassical texts are in the public domain. Educational reference only — not medical advice.
