Digitalis Purpurea

Introduction of Digitalis Purpurea

Common name: 

 Foxglove [1]

Synonyms:

Foxglove [9]

Family / Group / Class / Order:

Scrophulariaceae [9]

Habit and habitat / Description:

Digitalis Purpurea is cultivated in Europe and USA.

In India, it grows in the Himalayan ranges. The plant is a biennial herb.

Digitalis Purpurea mostly grows in the sandy
soil, on the edges of woods and thickets.

Digitalis Purpurea appears to grow naturally in many parts of the world. Roots are numerous, the upper surface of the leaf is deep green and grayish, the lower, pale green and more gray.

The leaf is simple, the flowers
are purple, bell shaped. They appear form June to August. [9]

Name of prover:

Dr Hahnemann in 1805 [9]

Introduction and history:

Digitalis Purpurea is an excellent homeopathic remedy. It was used as a specific heart remedy before Hehnemann by the orthodox system of medicine.

The name Digitalis is derived from ‘digitus’, a finger because of the finger shaped corolla. Purpurea is derived from the Latin word ‘purpureus’ meaning purple coloured because of its purple flowers.

Digitalis has been used in
medicine since the sixteenth century.

Parts used:

Mother tincture is prepared from the leaves of the Digitalis Purpurea in the second year. [9]

Active principles:

The leaves contain a large
number of glycosides but only three are important from the medicinal point of view. They are – digitoxin, gitoxin and gitatoxin. [9]

Preparation:

Higher potencies are prepared from the mother tincture. [9]

Physical make up :

Digitalis Purpurea is best suited to light haired persons, of scrofulous constitution, having blue skin and cyanosis. [9]

Temperament:

Irritable [9]

Diathesis:

Scrofulous [9]

Relation with heat & cold:

Chilly patient [9]

Miasm:

Psora and sycosis [9]

Clinical conditions of Digitalis Purpurea

Cardiac Decompensation & Heart Failure [1]

Cardiac Arrhythmias [1]

Dropsy (Edema) of Cardiac Origin [8]

Jaundice with Associated Cardiac Weakness [1]

Certain Respiratory Conditions [1][8]

Faintness or a "sinking feeling" at the pit of the stomach. [1]

Profound prostration from slight exertion. [7]

Deathly nausea, often not relieved by vomiting. [3]

Sites of action / Pharmacodynamics:

Heart, circulation, gastrointestinal
tract, urogenital organs. [9]

Causation (Causes / Ailments from):

High living, sexual excesses, tobacco, alcohol, etc.

Physiological action:

Digitalis Purpurea cardiac glycosides directly influence the heart muscle

This primary and potent cardiac action significantly alters systemic circulation and the dynamics of blood vessels throughout the body.

A notable secondary physiological response is its diuretic effect on the kidneys, which is particularly evident and important in cases of dropsy (edema) arising from cardiac insufficiency. [2]

Patho-physiological changes / Pathogenesis:

Digitalis Purpurea acts on the heart producing irregular contraction through nerve stimulation, causing firm arterial contraction, slow heart beat, prolonged diastole and the blood pressure rises. Inhibitory activity of the cardiac peripheral end of the
vagus is increased.

Digitalis Purpurea acts on the gastrointestinal tract producing irritation, vomiting and
diarrhoea.

It acts on the kidneys producing oedema, resulting in diuresis and also
suppression of urine.[1]

Characteristic Mental Symptoms (psychology) of Digitalis Purpurea

• Lascivious fancies, day and night.
• Music is unbearable, aggravates all complaints.
• Weak memory, thinking is difficult, very forgetful.
• Internal anxiety, with great fear for the future.
• Low spirited, very fearful and despondent.
• Great anxiety and apprehension, tearfulness, worse at 6 pm.
• Dullness of head with increased mental activity. [9]
• Despondency; fearful; ANXIOUS about the future.
• Dullness of sense. Every shock strikes in epigastrium. [1]

Guiding Symptoms of Digitalis Purpurea

Generalities:

In Digitalis Purpurea General weakness and faintness, (<) rising.

Cold, pale, and covered with profuse sweat.

Restlessness. The symptoms, especially those of the circulation, (<) suddenly rising. [10]

Head:

Digitalis Purpurea Sudden cracking noises in the head, starting one up from the midday nap.

Confusion and pain, as if the head were full. Vertigo worse on rising from a seat, with weakness of the limbs.

On stooping a feeling as if something fell forward in the head. Head is inclined to fall backward while sitting and walking, as if the muscles were too weak to hold it up. [10]

Eye:

Digitalis Purpurea has Diplopia.

Objects appear either green, yellow, or as if silvered.

Chronic inflammation of the conjunctiva.

Yellowish redness of the conjunctiva palpebrarum.

Pupils not very active.

Inflammation of the meibomian glands.

Swelling of the lower lid.

Lachrymation, worse in bright light or cold air.

Agglutination of the lids in the morning.

Both eyes turn to the left. [11]

Ears:

In Digitalis Purpurea Sudden crashing noise in the head, on falling asleep; awaking with a frightened start.

Noise before the ears like boiling water. [11]

Nose:

Objective. Much sneezing, without coryza (first days).

Digitalis Purpurea Awakened three times during the night from a quiet sleep, by violent sneezing, which seemed to start from the stomach and rise up as a slight nauseous sensation until it affected the nerves of sneezing (first night).

Coryza in the morning, with stoppage of the nose. (Constant, very violent coryza, mostly with loss of smell, with catarrh of the larynx and trachea, and expectoration of greenish mucus, without cough, during the whole proving).

Stopped coryza in the evening and night, fluent during the day (twentieth day).

Fluent coryza with much sneezing, followed by stoppage of the nose.

Epistaxis of bright blood from both nostrils (after one hour).

Subjective. Pain across the root of the nose. [12]

Face:

Digitalis Purpurea Patient Pale face; bluish hue under the pale skin.

Blue lips (and eyelids).

Lips dry, parched.

Black pores in the skin, which suppurate and become ulcerated

Convulsions on the left side of the face. [13]

Mouth:

 In Digitalis Purpurea Blueness of the tongue.

Swelling of the tongue.

White-coated tongue (morning).

Fetid or sweetish ptyalism (with soreness of mouth, gums and tongue).

Ulcer on the tongue.

Mouth and throat rough, sore; scraped feeling of. [13]

Stomach:

In Digitalis Purpurea Sweet taste with constant ptyalism. EXCESSIVE NAUSEA, not relieved by vomiting. Faintness, GREAT WEAKNESS IN STOMACH. Burning in stomach extending to oesophagus. After cold water or ice-cream, sharp pain in forehead, extending to nose.

FAINTNESS and vomiting from motion. Discomfort, even after a small quantity of food, or from mere sight or smell. TENDERNESS OF EPIGASTRIUM.

Copious salivation. NEURALGIC PAIN IN STOMACH, unconnected with taking food. [1]

Abdomen:

In Digitalis Purpurea Pain in left side apparently in descending colon and under false ribs. Severe abdominal pains, pulsation in abdominal aorta, and epigastric constriction. ENLARGED, SORE, PAINFUL LIVER. [1]

Rectum & Anus:

Evacuation forcible. Constipation.

White, chalk-like, ashy, pasty stool. Diarrhea during jaundice. Watery diarrhea.

Stool mixed with mucus. Frequent, distressing and exceedingly offensive stools. [14]

Stool:

Stools, perfectly flat and shaped like a boat. Renewed desire and urging in rectum after stool. [14]

Urinary Organ:

Digitalis Purpurea Patient is Dragging and pressure in the bladder, not (>) frequent micturition. Urine generally decreased in quantity (though sometimes increased). At times dark brown or red, depositing brick-dust sediment.

Clinical. Nephritis after scarlatina. Cystitis. Inflammation of neck of bladder; after passing a few drops the desire to urinate is increased and the patient walks about in great distress, associated with tenesmus of rectum; these symptoms have indicated the use of the drug for the relief of acute inflammation in chronic enlargement of the prostate.

In inflammation of the kidneys of the chronic form it is sometimes of temporary value when there is threatened failure of the heart, or very scanty or suppressed urine, with edema of the lungs, etc. [12]

Sexual Organ:

In Digitalis Purpurea Copious seminal emissions at night. Weakness of the sexual organs, with great irritability.

Weak pulse. Suppression of menstruation follows irregularity; sometimes haemorrhages.[12]

Respiratory System:

Desire to take a deep breath. Breathing irregular, difficult; deep sighing. Cough, with raw, sore feeling in chest.

Expectoration sweetish. specific characteristic of pneumonia. Great weakness in chest. DYSPNOEA, constant desire to breathe deeply, lungs feel compressed.

In Digitalis Purpurea Chronic bronchitis; passive congestion of the lungs, giving bloody sputum due to failing myocardium. CANNOT BEAR TO TALK. Haemoptysis with weak heart. [1]

Heart & Pulse:

The least movement causes violent palpitation, and sensation as if it would cease beating, if he moves. [Opposite: GELS.] Frequent stitches in heart.

Pericarditis, copious serous exudation. Dilated heart, tired, irregular, with slow and feeble pulse. Hypertrophy with dilatation. Cardiac failure following fevers. Cardiac dropsy.[1]

Neck & Back:

Neck. Stiffness and pain in the muscles on the right side of the nape of the neck, especially when bending the head (lasts till going to sleep, and does not disappear finally till the forenoon of the following day).

Pressive stiffness and tension of the neck and throat, especially on motion. Pressive drawing in the nape of the neck, at the occiput, at the point of insertion of the cervical muscles, on bending the head backward. [10]

Extremities:

Sensation in legs as if a red, hot wire were suddenly darted through them.

Shivering; white swelling of joints. [1]

Skin:

Dry, arid heat of skin. Paleness of the skin. Cyanosis.

Bluish skin particularly at the eyelids, lips tongue and nails. Blue distended veins.

Cold skin. Dropsy. Elastic white swelling of whole body. Itching and jaundiced.

Gnawing itching increasing to intolerable burning pricking. Corrosive itching. Erythema, deep red, worse on back like measles.

Measly eruptions on back. Sebaceous follicles ulcerate. Skin painful to touch. Desquamation of the skin. [14]

Sleep:

Discomfort in stomach, even after a small quantity of food, or from mere sight or smell. Burning in stomach and into esophagus. Faintness, great weakness in stomach.

Extreme anxiety in pit, causing frequent deep sighs. Epigastric region tender. Neuralgic pain in stomach. Stomach burning, extending to esophagus. Gulping up of an acrid or tasteless fluid.

Deathly nausea, with faint sinking in stomach. Persistent nausea and vomiting with clean tongue (Ip.). Excessive nausea, not better vomiting. Nausea before and after urination. [14]

Fever:

In Digitalis Purpurea Coldness spreads from extremities over the body. Internal chilliness. Profuse perspiration at night. [10]

Important characteristic features of Digitalis Purpurea

Keynotes / Redline:

Heart troubles with slow and intermittent pulse.

In Digitalis Purpurea Sensation as of heart would stop if he moved with cyanosis.

Jaundice with clay coloured stools and slow pulse. [15]

Guiding:

Digitalis Purpurea Combination of heart and prostate or liver complaints.

Great weakness, can hardly talk, sinking of strength, faintness, coldness of skin and irregular respiration are other symptoms. Prostration from slight exertion.

Faintness or sinking at the stomach, exhaustion, extreme prostration. Feels as if he were dying, great weakness of chest cannot bear to talk.

Vertigo-With heart or liver symptoms.

Head-Meningitis with state of effusion with scanty albuminous urine, cold sweat, intermittent pulse. [15]

PQRS:

Digitalis Purpurea is Irregular blood distribution; inflammation characterized by
dilatation of blood vessels.

Numbness of parts, strong pulsations, tossing about in fever.

Congestive and gouty headache of children, better by cold application. Rush of blood to head. [15]

Confirmatory:

Bad effects of high living, alcohol, tobacco and sexual abuse or excess.

Heart remedy with sensation as if heart would stop if he moves.

Cyanosis external or internal with great desire to take deep breath to relieve suffocation.

Slow pulse.

Pulse intermittent, irregular. Every 3rd, 5th, 7th beat missing.

Jaundice with clay coloured stool. [15]

Nucleus symptoms:

In Digitalis Heart trouble (without valvular tension) with slow or intermittent pulse and enlarged, tender liver.

Jaundice with clay coloured stools or slow pulse. [15]

Therapeutic Value of Digitalis Purpurea:

Angina pectoris, Asthma, Bright’s disease, Cyanosis, Diarrhoea, Dropsy, Enlarged prostate, Gonorrhoea, Heart affection, Jaundice, Lung troubles, Palpitation, Pneumonia, Soreness of liver, Urinary troubles, Weakness. [9]

Modality of Digitalis Purpurea:

Aggravation:

Motion, talking, sitting erect, during sleep, emission, excitement, etc. [9]

Amelioration:

When stomach is empty, in open air, pressure, frequent micturition. [9]

Follows Well:

Bell, Bry, Cham, Lyc, Nux, Phos, Puls, Sep, Sulph, Verat. [9]

Inimical:

Chin. [9]

Antidoted By:

Camph, Serp.[15]

It Antidotes:

Nit-ac, Apis, Camph, Calc, Nux-v, Op.[9]

Comparison:

Palpitation from least motion: Cimic, Dig

Palpitation from least mental exertion: Calc-ar.

Vicarious menses in debilitated constitutions: Dig, Ip, Puls, Lyc.

Fears, unless on the move the heart will cease beating: Gels.

Fears heart would stop beating if she moved: Dig.

Pulse irregular and slow: Dig, Kalm, Verat-v. [9]

Dose of Digitalis Purpurea

Dosage:

3c to 30c. [9]

Potency:

3x, 6x, 12x, 30x, 200, 1000. [9]

Duration of Action:

40 to 50 days. [9]

Terminology:

Refrences:

1. Boericke, W. (Pocket Manual of Homoeopathic Materia Medica & Repertory)
2. Allen, H.C. (Keynotes and Characteristics with Comparisons of Some of the Leading Remedies of the Materia Medica)
3. Nash, E.B. (Leaders in Homoeopathic Therapeutics
4. Hering, C. (The Guiding Symptoms of Our Materia Medica)
5. Hahnemann, S. (Materia Medica Pura)
6. Kent, J.T. (Lectures on Homoeopathic Materia Medica)
7. Clarke, J.H. (A Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica)
8. Farrington, E.A. Clinical Materia Medica.
9. Textbook of homoeopathic materia medica by Dr. J. D. Patil
10. A Primer Of Materia Medica By T. F. Allen.
11. Condensed Materia Medica By Hering C.
12. Encyclopedia Of Pure Materia Medica, Vol.4 By Allen T.F.
13. Text Book Of Materia Medica By Adolph Von Lippe
14. Nature’s Materia Medica By Robin Murphy, Md
15. Zomeo Ultimate Pro Lan Software 

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