American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy

nervous twitching and wandering of the mind, constriction of the
temples, chilliness, nausea, thirst, debility, faintness and convulsions.
It relieves cerebral engorgement by increasing arterial pressure. In
minute doses it acts as a cerebral sedative to the overworked and irritable
brain and improves its tone and functional activity. It acts somewhat
similarly to strychnine in that it produces increased functional activity of
terminal nerve filaments and is beneficial in some forms of paralysis.
Specific Symptomatology—In inflammatory fevers with sharp hard pulse;
acute inflammation involving the skin, with bright circum-scribed
redness, extreme soreness or sharp burning pain; extreme redness of
local parts inflamed, with great local heat and sharp pain; sharp supraorbital
pain, especially of the left orbit; burning in the eyes with flushed
face; inflammation with constitutional impairment, evidenced by a sharp
red tongue and deep red mucous membranes. The tongue has a pointed
tip upon which the papillae are elongated and pointed; In subacute or in
chronic disease also with the above specific evidences, it is demanded.
The differential diagnostic points between rhus and bryonia, are that rhus
is the remedy when the patient suffers, most when warm and at rest, or
when the distress is aggravated by heat, while bryonia is indicated when
the distress is increased by motion. One prominent homeopathic writer is
authority for the statement that it has direct influence upon the tendons,
sheaths of the nerves and fasciae, hence its influence in rheumatism.
Restlessness seems to be a leading indication for rhus, as a specific
agent. Whether it be a meningeal irritation or “rheumatism,” the patient
shows this same symptom. In many respects in its indications rhus is the
opposite of belladonna.
Therapy—The indications for this remedy are present in acute
erysipelas to a marked degree, especially in erysipelas of the head and
face, or that involving loose cellular tissue. If it be given in the first stages
of this disease the symptoms abate rapidly. If typhold symptoms be
present in erysipelas it is an excellent agent, its influence being marked
upon typhoid conditions. It is useful in typhoid fever and in typhoid
conditions complicating acute inflammations. It seems to exercise the
influence of a special sedative in these cases when aconite and veratrum
are contraindicated. Sordes with dry red tongue and dry mucous
membranes, flushed face, bright restless eyes, with tympanites, all
demand rhus. It soothes the cerebral irritation of typhoid; inducing rest
and quiet, and controls delirium. It has antiseptic properties also which
Ellingwood’s American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy - Page 378