Homoeopathy — Page 673
Veratrum Album 673 VERATRUM ALBUM (White Hellebore) In Veratrum Album, the patient feels extremely cold from head to toe. It is one of the most effective treatments of cholera. Dr. Hahnemann advises its use even before the onset of a cholera epidemic. In the effectiveness against cholera, it is comparable to Camphor and Cuprum. In Veratrum Album, the stools are exuberant, rendering the patient extremely weak. A prominent feature of Veratrum is that the patient feels extremely cold yet is drenched in cold sweats from head to toe. Similar symptoms are also found in Camphor, though the stools are scanty. In Veratrum Album, the stools are watery and exuberant, causing severe dehydration which may even lead to death. Cramps in the legs are an essential feature of Veratrum Album, Camphor and Cuprum as well as of cholera. A rather contradictory symptom of Veratrum Album is dryness of the gastro-intestinal tract. It is an extremely effective treatment of diarrhoea, as well as for severe constipation. Severe chronic constipation, associated with a feeling of weakness and cold sweats can well be treated with Veratrum Album. Veratrum Album can still be useful even if the weakness and cold sweats are absent. In severe constipation, Veratrum Album 30 should be used two to three times a day. It gradually softens the abdomen by alleviating the dryness of the intestines. It is recommended however that prior to the treatment with Veratrum Album, severe constipation may better be relieved with an enema or glycerine suppositories. This will soften the dry voluminous stools which are otherwise impossible to pass naturally. Veratrum Album, like Carbo Veg, may also be tried in the treatment of cold sweats associated with severe irreversible shock and impending death. The Veratrum Album patient happens to be irritable and is easily provoked due to the constant feeling of cold. If he is kept warm all the time, he becomes mellow, showing that the irritability is not his nature.