# Phytolacca (HMT)

## Remedy Classification
- **Type:** Remedy
- **Alternative Names:** Poke Root
- **Miasm:** Tubercular Miasm
- **Temperament:** Neutral
- **Aggravation Time:** Neutral/Anytime

## Keynote Indications
Phytolacca is prepared from the roots of a plant, the fr uit of which is
toxic when ingested in large quan tity.  The early symptoms of the
toxicity are vomiting, diarrhoea and headache.

Phytolacca is a very important remedy.  It resembles Mercury with
respect to many of its symptoms.  That is why it is also called
Botanical Mercury.  The diseases of Mercury become worse in the
cold and humidity.  At night als o, the discomfort increases.  In
Phytolacca also, backache increases with cold and humidity.  When
the patient warms up in the bed at night, the pain intensifies further.
All its ailments aggravate during the night.  Both Mercury and
Phytolacca are strongly connected to the diseases of the glands.
Phytolacca acts as an antidote to the toxic effects of Mercury.

The feeling of pain and scraping of the skin over the sensitive area of
the human body, where the skin is closely attached to the bone
without the cushion of muscle or fa t, is found both in Phytolacca and
Mercury.

Both Mercury and Phytolacca are widely effective against bone pain.
Eupatorium too is effective against influenza and the fever
associated with severe bone aches .  However, Mercury is the most
important remedy for the treatment of bone problems.  Mercury is
very effective in the diseases in which the bones start to decay, with
the formation of sinuses.

Phytolacca is very effective against the lesions of the inner linings
(mucous membranes), skin and throat as well as glands  that
become hardened and have a tend ency to produce pus.  However,
sometimes it becomes necessary to use Hepar Sulph or Silicea as its
helpers.  In Phytolacca, like Hepar Sulph, the phlegm is thick and
sticky.

Phytolacca is the foremost remedy for the treatment of syphilis.  It is
also effective in chronic syphilis and diphtheria .  Chronic joint
pains, including rheumatoid arthritis , stiffness of the left shoulder
and arm, a lightning type of migrati ng pain and the pain at the ankles
and forefoot, are all the symptoms of Phytolacca.  Phytolacca is also
effective in the treatment of the cancer of the nose.  The redness of the
eyes, along with the flow of hot watery tears due to cold, a cough,
sensitivity to light, a burning sensa tion with a feeling of sand in the
eyes, the margins of the eyelids be ing hot, an abrased tongue and the
feeling of a hot ball stuck in th e throat, are all the symptoms of
Phytolacca.

The Phytolacca patient  often feels quite dizzy.  He feels weak on
getting up from the bed.  The headache moves from the forehead
towards the back of the head.  The patient feels pressure in the eyes
and the temples.  The headache becomes worse during the rain .  If
there is itching on the head, accompanied with the formation of bumps
and scabs, then Phytolacca can also be a good remedy.

Phytolacca is an exceptional remedy for breast-feeding women.  If the
mammary glands become indurated and sensitive  with a tendency
towards cancer, these women shoul d be treated with Phytolacca
without any delay.  Besides Phytolacca, Bryonia, Belladonna and
Conium can also be useful.  In Belladonna, the mammary glands are
not only hardened but also become red.  However, in Bryonia, the
glands harden, but there is no redness.  Even the slightest movement is
unbearable.  In Bryonia and Phytolacca, the glands become stone
hard.  The milk of a Phytolacca woman is sour, poisonous and in
clotted form.  Breast-feeding the baby is very painful.  The pain
spreads throughout the body.  (For de tails on Conium, please refer to
the relevant chapter).  Phytolacca is  also useful for women in whom
the breast milk is either deficient of dries up completely .  Before
and during the menstruation, the brea sts become swolle n and tender.
In these women, the cold weather affects the mammary glands causing
them to become painfully hard.  The breast milk becomes thready like
a spider web.  If , while breast-feeding, a women develops
convulsions and the pain spreads all over then Phytolacca is the
treatment of choice.  Frequent menstruation and excessive bleeding
(menorrhagia) is also a symptom of Phytolacca.  Usually these women
develop a pain in the right ovary.  In Phytolacca, the stomach feels
injured.  The vomitus is sticky.  Phytol acca is also useful in the
treatment of nausea associated with pain and a feeling of heat in the
stomach, as well as bleeding piles.

Phytolacca is very useful in the teething problems of the children .
Children clench their teeth forcef ully leaving their marks on the
tongue.  Phytolacca ailments aggravate in humid and cold weather,
during night and on movement.  The discomfort subsides in dry, hot
weather and on taking rest.

One form of Phytolacca called Phytol acca Berry is very famous in the
treatment of obesity.  I have treated several pa tients with it and have
seen excellent results.  Although P hytolacca is not as dangerous for
the heart patients as Fucus, yet some patients with weak heart feel
weaker while using Phytolacca.  If so, Phytolacca should be
immediately discontinued.  Furthermore, the patients desirous of
losing weight must, as a rule, be given Crataegus Q, which strengthens
the heart.  Fucus is more effective against obesity however it must be
used with extreme care.  As soon as  the patient feels weakness of the
heart, Fucus should be immediately stopped or there is a danger that
the patient may have heart attack any time, which may prove fatal.

Antidotes: Belladonna, Meserium
Potency: Usually 30 to 1000.  CM as needed.

## Symptoms by System