# Gaultheria Procumbens ## Remedy Classification - **Type:** Herbal Remedy - **Miasm:** Psoric Miasm - **Temperament:** Neutral - **Aggravation Time:** Neutral/Anytime ## Keynote Indications Several cases of poisoning with the oil have been recorded in which symptoms of acute gastritis appeared. Prolonged vomiting, set up afresh by the least thing taken, as a cup of water. Severe pain in epigastrium. Slow, laborious breathing. Insensibility and hot skin. Inflammatory arthritis, rheumatism, sciatica and other neuralgias. Pleurodynia. Bladder and prostatic irritation. Kidney inflammation. Undue sexual excitement. ## Symptoms by System ### Head - Neuralgia of head and face. - Neuralgia of head and face. ### Ears - Marked dullness of hearing. ### Chest - Pleurodynia with pain in anterior mediastinum. ### Stomach & Abdomen - Acute gastritis, severe pain in epigastrium. - Prolonged vomiting. - Uncontrollable appetite, with irritable stomach. - Stomach pain from nervous depression. - Tongue - Tongue dry, smooth and slightly swollen. - Speech rather indistinct from the swelling. - COMMENTS - B. - F. - Lang related his experience with material does in ciliary neuralgia, facial neuralgia, gastric, ovarian, uterine and menstrual neuralgias, sciatica and inflammatory rheumatism. - Anshutz wrote on the action of Gaultheria: “My attention was first called to its use about ten years ago southern Ohio, where I re ceived most pleasing results in the treatment of inflammatory rheumatism. - Afterwards to complaints in form of neuralgia.” “While I am not a champion of any specific, I want to say that this drug has given me the quickest and most satisfactory results of any remedy in the Materia Medica. - If there is anything that a person wants relief from quick and now, it is from these excruciating pains.” “Often was I called to treat some obstinate cases of ciliary neuralgia or facial or in fact nearly every form of neuralgia and found my skill taxed to its utmost to bring out the balm. - Did I find it in the homeopathic indicated remedy? - I trust so, but not in any Materia Medica. - I don't say but what I got some results from them, but I found it in this a “helper”, it came to my relief immediately and to the great comfort of the patient.” “In severest cases of neuralgia of the head and face it would do its work quick and well. - Equally well has it served me in very severe cases of neuralgia of stomach and bowels, while for the past few years it has done faithful work in ovarian and uterine neuralgia following or preceding difficult menstruation. - I have many a dear friend today whose relief from suffering was found in this remedy. - I am satisfied that it should be given a prominent place in our Materia Medica.” “Lest this article should become tedious, I will cite a few cases. - Mr. - A., traveling man from Chicago, a few years ago called on me for temporary relief of a severe case of ciliary neuralgia. - He had suffered for many years with it, every spring especially and that he had consulted great numbers of physicians of Chicago, Milwaukee and Cincinnati. - He said, “had taken bushels of drugs, both old and new school,” with only temporary relief.” “So he expected nothing more, as he was told he must wear it out. - I told him I thought I could give him relief. - I furnished him one- half ounce of Gaultheria with directions to take, did not see him again for two years.” “When he came into my office one day and greeted me by saying I was the only man that could ever give him any permanent relief from his sufferings, that he never had any return after first day taking medicine.” “Miss B., dressmaker, came to me suffering terribly with facial neuralgia and greeted me similar to No. - 1, that she expected nothing but temporary relief, as she had been afflicted for a long time. - Gave her 2 drachms of oil of Wintergreen told her to take one dose immediately and another in two hours if the pain did not quiet down.” “She was careful to ask if it was an opiate, as she objected to that. - I assured her it was not, saw her next day, said that pain disappeared and had not returned. - I was acquainted with the lady for three and one - half years and she only had one return of the disease, which the same remedy relieved immed iately. - Many cases more could I cite in which it never has failed me.” “Another case: Mrs. - G., 1 was called to relieve a severe case of neuralgia of stomach and bowels this last summer, who had been under the care of two of my worthy competi tors. - They had exhausted their pill case and for about three weeks the poor woman had suffered everything but death itself.” “After diagnosing the case I put her on this remedy and in two hours she was relieved. - After two days was able to be about and cured shortly by no other remedy than it. - I want to say you will find a true friend in this remedy in all forms of neuralgia and only give a few suggestions now, but if it should be necessary could give scores to prove its value. - I mentioned in the beginning that it had been of great value in inflammatory rheumatism.” “A word as to the best way of giving the drug. - I have found that the dose should never be less than five drops and if pain is severe fifteen drops repeated in half hour afterwards two hours apart. - For adult it may be necessary to give twenty drops at first. - It always should be dropped on sugar and taken.” “One suggestion: I would like to have it put in a tablet of about two to five drops pure oil, as 1 think it could be taken more satisfactorily. - While the crude oil is very pleasant to take at first, yet, on account of its strong odor, will nauseate after awhile if not removed from room. - I am confident that if you make this into a tablet and place it among your remedies you would have a weapon that you could plac e into the hands of doctors of untold value in these troubles.” Very severe pain in epigastrium and inferior part of the hypochondria, greatly worse by pressure of finger. - Inordinate, uncontrollable appetite for food. - Irritability of the stomach, ev erything, even cold water, is immediately rejected. ### Skin - Smarting and burning. - Intense ery thema, worse cold bathing, better olive oil and cool air blowing on part.