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THUJA OCCIDENTALIS
Common Names:-
Arbor-Vitae, yellow Cedar.
Parts Used:
Brachelets and leaves.
Description:
The Arbor Vitae or Thuja is a handsome ornamental
evergreen, much cultivted for hedge rows and windbreaks,
grows 29 to 40 feet high with a a truck diameter of 2 to
4 feet. The grunk often buttressed at the base and
sometimes distorted and twisted; branches short, the
lower ones horizontal, the uper closely crowded with
foliage and forming a dense conical head. Bark light
brown, shredded, separating into long narrow strips. The
leves are bright green in overlapping scales, 4 rows, on
the two-edged small twigs, the middle row flat with a
tiny slightly raised tubercle on each scale; with an
aromatic odor when crushed. Cones small, when very
young palae greeen, about ½ inch long; when old, light
red dish brown with 6 to 12 pointless, then oblong
scales.
It is used by the herbologists as a
counter irritant in the relief of muscular aches and
pains, and for the usual purposes of such a remedy.
Boiled with lard they form an excellent salve.
Homeopathically,
it is a medicine of par excellence
frequently indicated in the day to day practice for :
WARTS
- SKIN DISORDERS - HEADACHES -
DANDRUFF - VACCINOSIS.
In the introductary description on
Thuja, Dr. Nash says,
"Hahnemann
recognized three miasms (as he called them) which
complicated the treatment of all diseases. They were
syphilis, psora and sycosis.
Sulphur was his chief anti-psoric, Mercury
his anti-syphilitic and Thuja his anti-sycotic.
Whatevery may be said against his
theories along this line, certain it is that these three
remedies do correct certain states of the system which
seem to obstruct the curative action of other seemingly
well indicated remedies.
Thuja,
for instance, cures or so changes the existing
conditions tht other remedies cure which could not do so
before Thuja was given. Many diseases of various
form come under this rule. Whenever warts, condyulomata,
fig-warts, etc., which come in consequence of
gonorrrhoeal affection,s especially suppressed
gonorrhoea, are found in any case we think of
Thuja. For instance, a case of enuresis had resised
many seemingly indcated remedies, until the hands were
discovered to be covered with warts, when a faew drops
of Thuja cured. Of course, the curative power of
Thuja is not confined to sycosis, but can, like other
remedies, cure when symptoms indicate it where no
sycotic element in the case is apparent. .
Nevertheless, its chief power is manifested in those
cases in which this miasm is unmistakably present. It
is astonishing what widely different and varied forms of
the disease will be so modified by this miasm as to call
for antisycotic treatment.
As Sulphur is not the only anti-psoric,
or Mercury the only anti-syphilitic, so Thuja
is not the only anti-sycotic; for Nitric acid,
Staphisagria, Sabina, Cinnabaris and
other remedies are somtimes called for, either before or
after Thuja, or even when Thuja is not at
all the remedy. But on the whole, Thuja perhaps,
as Hahnemann taught, stands at the head of the
list. Thuja, Agaricus and Lycopodium have
been called over-proven remedies; but when we realize
the wide range of diseases which are complicted by the
sycotic element in them we are not so sure of the
over-proving of the Thuja, for it could not so benefit
such a wide range of complaints if it could not produce
a wide range of symptoms in its pathogenesis. This is
also true of Sulphur and Mercury.
Action:-
Acts on skin, blood, gastro-intestinal tract, kidneys,
and brain. Its relation to the production of
pathological vegetations condylomate, warty
excrescences, spongy tumors is very important. Moist
mucous tubercles. Bleeding fungus growths. Nævus. Excess
of venosity.
The main action of Thuja is on the skin
and genito-urinary organs, producing conditions that
correspond with Hahnemann's sycotic dyscrasia, whose
chief manifestation is the formation of wart-like
excrescences upon mucous and cutaneous
surfaces-fig-warts and condylomata. Has a specific
anti-bacterial action, as in gonorrhoa and vaccination.
Suppressed gonorrhoa, salpingitis. Ill effects of
vaccination. Sycotic pains, i.e, tearing in muscles
and joints, worse at rest, better in dry weather, worse
damp humid atmosphere; lameness. Hydrogenoid
constitutions, whose blood is morbidly hydroscopic,
so that damp air and water are inimical. Complaints from
moonlight. Rapid eexhaustion and emaciation.
Left-sided and chilly medicine. Variola, aborts the
pustule and prevents the suppurating fever.
Vaccinosis, viz, inveterable skin troubles,
neuralgia, etc.
Constitutional taint:
SYCOSIS. [Also to a certain extent
responds to syphilitc constitution]
Typical subjects:
patients who are extremely sensitive to dampness,
bathing, getting wet, to food that increases water in
the system. Also those who are affected by residing
near river, lake etc. Persons of gonorrhoeal
constitution. And, who suffer from the bad effects of
vacccination. Persons having a history of suppresed or
maltreated gonorrhoea. Persons of lax muscles
(abnormally fleshy), dark, complexion, black hair,
unhealthy skin.
"Very
obstinate children, who throw themselves angrily upon
the floor when in the least opposed and cannot get their
breath."
Sycotic children with asthma.
Notes and features;
1. Growths.
"Warts
and new growths of many kinds."
Wart-like excrescences on mucous and cutaneous
surfaces. Warts wih little necks. Warts hard,
cleft, and seedy (these warts may bleed and
itch). Polypus in ears which readily bleed.
Decay.
Roots of teeth become carious or teeth decay from sides;
crowns remain sound. Teeth become crused with tartar;
crumble off. Nails crippled, discoloured and crumble
off; nails brittle or soft.
Discolouration:
Dirty brownish skin. Brownish spots.
Brown or red (or brown-white) mottled spots on the skin.
Yellow or brownish spots on abdomen.
Sensitiveness:
Vagina extremely sensitive; coition is
impossible or extremely
difficult.
Paretic:
Bladder feels paralyzed, having no power to expel
urine. Urine stops several times before the bladder
is emtied. Involuntary urination at night; when
coughing. Obstintge constipation.
Syphlitic taint:
Infantile syphilis. Syphilitic headache. Syphilitric
condylomata. Chancre with splinter like pains.
Mind:
Anxious apprehensions respecting the future.
Indisposition to any kind of intellectual labour. Very
depressed, sad, irritable. Averion to like. Overexcited,
quarrelsome; easily angered about
trifles. The child is excessively obstinate. Slowness of
speech and of reflection; seeking for words when in
conversation. Fixed ideas;
as if a strange person were at his
side; as if the sould is separated from the body; as if
the body, esp. the limbs, were of glass and would break
easily; as if living animal were in the abdomen(Croc.)
Face/Appearance:
The general appearance of the Thuja suject, if he has a
characteristic picture, is tht of a waxy, shiny face, it
looks as if it had been smeared over with grease, and is
often transparent, he is a sickly looking individual ,
looks as if is entering upon some cachexia. This is
often the case in the sycotic constituion and the
cancerous cachexia, weakly, cachetic, yellowish, or
often very pallid.
Head:
Pain as if pierced by a nail (Coffea; Ignatia) .
Neuralgia from tea. (Selenium). Left-sided
headache. White, scaly dandruff; hari dry and falling
out. Greasy skin of face.
Eyes:-
Ciliary neuralgia; iritis. Eyelids agglutinated at
night; dry, scaly. Styes and tarsal tumors (Staphysgaria)..
Acute and subacute inflammation of sclera. Sclera raised
in patches, and looks bluish-red. Large, flat
phlyctenules; indolent. Recurring episcleritis.
Chronic scleritis.
Ears:-Chronic
otitis; discharge purulent. Creaking when swallowing.
Polypi.
Nose;-Chronic
catarrh; thick, green mucus; blood and pus. On blowing
nose, pain in teeth. Ulceration within the nostrils.
Dryness of nasal cavities. Painful pressure at root.
Mouth:-Tip
of tongue very painful. White blisters on side close
to root, painfully sore. Teeth decay next to gums;
very sensitive; gums retract. Drinks fall audibly into
stomach. Ranula; varicose veins on tongue and mouth.
Pyorrhea alveolaris.
Stomach:-Complete
loss of appetite. Dislike for fresh meat and potatoes.
Rancid eructations after fat food. Cutting pain in
epigastrium. Cannot eat onions. Flatulence; pain after
food; sinking sensation in epigastrium before food;
thirst. Tea-drinking dyspepsia.
Abdomen:-
Distended; indurations in abdomen. Chronic diarrhoa,
worse after breakfast. Discharges forcibly expelled;
gurgling sound. Brown spots.Flatulence and
distension; proruding here and there. Rumbling and
colic. Constipation, with violent rectal pain, causing
stool to recede (Sil.; Sanicul). Piles swollen;
pain worse sitting, with stitching, burning pains at the
anus. Anus fissured; painful to touch with warts.
Movements as of something living (Crocus) ,
without pain.
Urinary:-Urethra
swollen inflamed. Urinary stream split and small.
Sensation of trickling after urinating. Severe cutting
after (Sars). Frequent micturition
accompanying pains. Desire sudden and urgent, but cannot
be controlled. Paralysis sphincter vesicæ.
Male.--Inflammation
of prepuce and glans; pain in penis. Balanitis.
Gonorrhoal rheumatism. Gonorrhoa. Chronic induration
of testicles. Pain and burning felt near neck of
bladder, with frequent and urgent desire to urinate.
Prostatic enlargement (Ferr pic; Thiosinaminum; Iod;
Sabal).
Female.--Vagina
very sensitive (Berb; Kreos; Lyssin).
Warty excrescences on vulva and perineum. Profuse
leucorrhoa; thick, greenish. Severe pain in left ovary
and left inguinal region. Menses scanty, retarded.
Polypi; fleshy excrescences. Ovaritis; worse left
side, at every menstrual period (Lach). Profuse
perspiration before menses.
Respiratory.--Dry,
hacking cough in afternoon, with pain in pit of stomach.
Stitches in chest; worse, cold drinks. Asthma in
children (Nat sulph). Papilloma of larynx.
Chronic laryngitis.
Extremities.--When
walking, limbs feel as if made of wood or glass, and
would break easily. Tips of fingers swollen, red, feel
read. Muscular twitchings, weakness and trembling.
Cracking in joints. Pain in heels and tendo-Achilles.
Nails brittle. Ingrowing toe nail.
Skin.--Polypi,
tubercles, warts epithelioma, nævi, carbuncles;
ulcers, especially in ano-genital region. Freckles and
blotches. Perspiration sweetish, and strong. Dry skin,
with brown spots. Zona; herpetic eruptions. Tearing
pains in glands. Glandular enlargement. Nails crippled;
brittle and soft. Eruptions only on covered parts;
worse after scratching. Very sensitive to touch.
Coldness of one side. Sarcoma; polypi. Brown spots on
hands and arms.
Sleep.--Persistent
insomnia.
Fever.--Chill,
beginning in thighs. Sweat only on uncovered parts,
or all over except head, when sleeping; profuse, sour,
smelling like honey. Orgasm of blood in the evening,
with throbbing in the blood-vessels.
Modalities.--Worse,
at night, from heat of bed; at 3 am and 3 pm; from cold,
damp air; after breakfast; fat, coffee; vaccination.
Better, left side; while drawing up a limb.
Relationship.--Compare:
(Hydrogenoid constitution: Calcar; Silica; Nat sulph;
Aranea; Apis; Pulsat). Cupressus australis
(sharp, prickling pain; general feeling of warmth;
rheumatism and gonorrhoa). Cupressus Lawsoniana
(acts like Thuja; terrible pains in the stomach).
Sphingurus (falling out of hair from beard; pain
in jaw-joint and zygoma); Sil; Maland
(vaccination); Medorrh (suppressed gonorrhoa);
Merc; Cinnab; Terebinth; Juniperus; Sabin; Sil; Canth;
Cannab; Nit ac; Puls; Ant tart; Arborin is a
non-alcoholic preparation of Thuja.
Antidotes: Merc; Camph; Sabin
(warts).
Complementary: Sabina; Ars; Nat sulph;
Silica.
Dose.--Locally,
for warts and excrescences, tincture, or cerate.
Internally, tincture to thirtieth potency.
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