Homoeopathy — Page 406
Ipecacuanha 406 In Ipecac, convulsions occur. Like Cicuta and Dioscorea, the body tends to bend backwards due to severe muscular contractions (opisthotonus). Ipecac is one of the best treatments for stomach disorders, such as distension of the abdomen and dysentery associated with severe cramps and frequent motions. In the dysentery of children , the stools contain greenish mucus. Stools may also be mixed with blood and there is a definite tendency of nausea and vomiting. There is a kind of pinching sensation around the navel. The entire body becomes stiff. Ipecac is useful in the treatment of all these symptoms. Ipecac is also closely related to asthma. Its patient has a full face, glowing with good circulation, while in Antimonium Tart, the asthma patient is very weak and has near-death appearance. This difference is only arbitrary and manifests in later stages. Instead of waiting for this clear distinctive appearance, one should be able to distinguish between the two at the outset of the disease. In Ipecac, the illness is sudden, progresses rapidly, and the face becomes flushed. But in Antimonium Tart, on exposure to cold the child becomes weak slowly and steadily, and once the disease has well established the symptoms become extremely aggravated, more than in Ipecac. Moreover, the defensive body response does not develop. In Ipecac, the entire body of the patient reacts to the illness, but in Antimonium Tart, even if the chest is full of phlegm and there is difficulty in breathing, the patient does not have the desire to expel the phlegm. The result is that the patient becomes overwhelmed by the severity of the disease. If initially, the diagnosis for Antimonium Tart has been made the treatment should be started without any delay. Once the symptoms aggravate, the condition becomes dangerous. One distinctive point between the two is that if there is nausea but no vomiting, then it is probably due to Ipecac. However, if there is a tendency to vomit with or without nausea, it is a symptom of Antimonium Tart, except in the case where the chest becomes full of secretions, which the patient cannot expel due to marked weakness. Ipecac is also useful in the treatment of uterine conditions. Ipecac is very effective to treat the excessive red menstrual bleeding associated with nausea. It is also useful in the vomiting of pregnancy. If the placenta happens to be partially retained in the uterus after the childbirth and if the patient has other symptoms of Ipecac, then it will help in the expulsion of the placenta. If the patient