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.