Bryonia Alba

Bryonia Alba.
White Bryony, Wild Hop. (Cucurbitaceae.)

Is best adapted to persons of gouty or rheumatic diathesis; prone to so- called bilious attacks. Bryonia patients are irritable, inclined to be vehement and angry; dark or black hair, dark complexion, firm muscular fibre; dry, nervous, slender people (Nux). Pains: stitching, tearing, worse at night; < by motion, inspiration, coughing; > by absolute rest, and lying on painful side (Ptel., Puls. - stitching pain, but < and > are opposite, Kali c.). Excessive dryness of mucous membranes of entire body; lips and tongue dry, parched, cracked; stool, dry as if burnt; cough, dry, hard, racking, with scanty expectoration; urine, dark and scanty; great thirst. Vicarious menstruation; nosebleed when menses should appear (Phos.); blood spitting, or heamoptysis. Ailments from chagrin, mortification, anger (Col., Staph.); violence, with chilliness and coldness; after anger chilly, but with head hot and face red (Aur.). Complaints: when warm weather sets in, after cold days; from cold drinks or ice in hot weather; after taking cold or getting hot in summer; from chilling when overheated; kicks the covers off; from exposure to draft, cold wind (Acon., Hep.); suppressed discharges, of menses, milk or eruption of acute exanthema. One of the chief characteristics of Bryonia is, aggravation from any motion, and corresponding relief from absolute rest, either mental or physical. Desires things immediately which are not to be had, or which when offered are refused. Children dislike to be carried, or to be raised. Delirium: talks constantly about his business; desire to get out of bed and go home (Act., Hyos.). Constant motion on left arm and leg (Apoc., Hell.); Patient cannot sit up from nausea and faintness. Great thirst for large quantities at long intervals. Headache: when stooping, as if brain would burst through forehead; from ironing (Sep.); on coughing; in morning after rising or when first opening eyes; commencing in the morning, gradually increasing until evening; from constipation (Aloe, Colin., Op.). Pressure as from stone at pit of the stomach, relieved by eructation (Nux, Pul.). Constipation: inactive, no inclination; stool large, hard, dark, dry, as if burnt; on going to sea (Plat.). Diarrhoea: during a spell of hot weather; bilious, acrid with soreness of anus; like dirty water; of undigested food; from cold drinks when overheated, from fruit or sour krout; < in morning, on moving, even a hand or foot. Mammae heavy, of a stony hardness; pale but hard; hot and painful; must support the breasts (Phyt.). Cough: dry, spasmodic, with gagging and vomiting (Kali c.); with stitches in side of chest; with headache, as if head would fly to pieces; < after eating, drinking, entering a warm room, deep inspiration.

Relations. - Complementary: Alumina, Rhus. Similar: to, Bell., Hep., for hasty speech and hasty drinking. To Ran. in pleuritic or rheumatic pains of chest. To Ptelea, in aching heaviness in hepatic region; > lying on right side, greatly < lying on left side; turning to the left causes a dragging sensation. After Bryonia; Alum., Kali c., Nux, Phos., Rhus, Sulph.

Aggravation. - Motion, exertion, touch; cannot sit up, gets faint or sick or both; warmth, warm fold; suppressed discharges of any kind.

Amelioration. - Lying, especially on painful side (Ptel., Puls.); pressure; rest; cold, eating cold things.

Materia Medica