Rumex acetosa
Plant · Polygonaceae
Rumex acetosa produces a severe toxic picture with violent convulsions of a peculiar character and complete prostration of bodily powers. The remedy is indicated where there is involvement of the oesophagus with painful swallowing, elongated uvula, and persistent dry cough. Unconsciousness and collapse of features accompany the acute state.
Key symptoms
- Violent convulsions with limbs thrown reciprocally backwards and forwards
- Head thrown from side to side; hands alternately clenched and unclenched
- Eyes sunken; lower lid puffed; eyeballs fixed, glassy, prominent
- Elongated uvula
- Pain all down oesophagus worse from swallowing
- Persistent short, dry cough
- Complete paralysis of bodily powers with features collapsed
- Copious green vomit with constipation
Worse (aggravation)
- Swallowing (pain down oesophagus)
Rumex acetosa. Sorrel. N. O. Polygonaceæ. Tincture of the leaves.
Clinical
Convulsions. Gastritis. Œsophagus, inflammation of. Paralysis. Throat, sore. Uvula, elongated.
Characteristics
Sorrel was at one time cultivated in this country as a salad, and the Buckler-shaped, or French Sorrel, is still cultivated in France, where it is considered as a powerful antiscorbutic. The leaves contain a large quantity of Binoxalate of Potash (Kali oxal.). The symptoms of the Schema were observed on three men who ate largely of the leaves. In one very violent convulsions were induced of a peculiar kind, the limbs being thrown reciprocally backwards and forwards and the head from side to side; the hands being alternately clenched and unclenched, the eyes prominent. Other remarkable symptoms were: Swelling of lower eyelid. Elongated uvula. Pain all down œsophagus < by swallowing. Persistent short, dry cough. There was complete paralysis of bodily powers; copious green vomit; constipation.
Classical texts are in the public domain. Educational reference only — not medical advice.
