RADIUM BROMIDE 

  The Great-toe joints and the Sacro-lumbar regions are the most important seats of pain.  Sharp, lightning pains coming or going suddenly or coming slowly, going gradually.  These are apt to change places or go from side to side.  Severe, dull aching, ranging from Pains situated deep in the joints, to an aching all over the body, which torments the patient to a restless moving about all night, leaving him exhausted next day; this type comes on gradually and wears away slowly. 

  Movement aggravates at first, continued motion relieves.  Pressure amel. and Warmth is disagreeable. 

  Radium causes a marked desire for relief in the open air.  There is great weakness from the Lumbar region down, a sort of paretic Languor and great desire to stretch the Muscles, which relieves. 

Sometimes nothing relieves the pains; they simply gradually wear away.  Although local heat is disagreeable, there is marked relief of pains and other symptoms from a hot bath. 

  Vasomotor disturbances: Some experience a sensation of internal chilliness, relieved by warmth, and others have a sensation of heat all over, so that they have to throw off the clothing.  Another expression of this same type is a feeling as if the whole body were on Fire, with the sharpest kind of needle pricks.

 
  In the Provings there is no record of any actual rise of temperature. 

  Many symptoms appear late in the afternoon, continue until after Supper.  Most symptoms are better after eating. 

  Intense Vertigo with Weakness and a feeling as if Neck, Arms and Legs were hard and brittle, and would break if one moved.  “So dizzy, has to walk with the hand against the Wall”; “tendency to fall to the left.”  This Vertigo is entirely relieved in the open air and when lying down, but remains when sitting, and is brought on or increased on rising. 

  Headaches, amel. open air, cold, pressure; agg. Lying down. 

  The ocular muscles are affected by the same paretic weaknes as are those of the Extremities and Ptosis occurs, so that sometimes the Eye has to be opened with the fingers.  Sharp pains over and in the Eyeballs.  Blepharitis and Conjunctivitis with sense of Dryness, Soreness, Burning. 

  Dryness appears to be a characteristic, felt in the Eyes, Nose, Throat and Lungs.  As if Mouth dry, parched, must sip cold water. 

  Tongue feels thick and swollen, so that Speech is difficult.  This last is probably due to the paretic state of the Muscles. 

  Aversion to Sweets is marked.  Mild craving for Sour.  ‘Gone’ – empty feeling in the stomach.  This is amel. eating but a small quantity satisfies. 

  Sharp, quickly appearing and disappearing pains in the McBurney’s point. 

  Stools come with a gush, even though normal in character; Constipation and Diarrhoea. 

  Macules, Papules and Pustules which itch and burn, agg. Scratching, amel. open air.  General scaly Eruption, with Desquamation of large amount of dry, bran-like scales without sensation.  Sebaceous cysts.  Burning, and Corns: inflamed, tender. 

  Depressed, with need for someone near. 

  Albuminuria.  Marked increase in the nitrogenous excretion of Kidneys and loss of flesh. 

  It lowers Blood pressure, which is consistent with the muscular weakness and the let- down conditions which it causes. 

  Blood changes are interesting: it causes a marked increase in the type of blood cells that attack and destroy bacteria.  Undoubtedly this quality is due its effect in causingn Gum-boils pustules.  

  Its abdominal symptoms, its effects on the joints, especially of the great toe, its irritating effects on Bunions, and its upset of nitrogenous balance all point its relation to Gouty and Chronic Rheumatic  conditions. 

  Its loss of Flesh, its craving for Pork, and its prostrating effect link it with the beginning of chronic Wasting diseases, especially Tuberculosis.  It makes Scar tissue sensitive; hence its relation to Keloid and perhaps Cancer.  Von der Golttz says it is indicated in Cancer to arouse reaction, much as Sulphur  does in sluggish reaction in other conditions. 

  Acute conditions accompanied by much pain such as Grippe, inflammatory Rheumatism, Neuralgia and Neuritis, fall within its scope. 

  It is related symptomatically to Rhus tox and Rhus radicans and often cures where these help but do not hold. 

  It resembles Causticum closely and complements. 

  It has removed X-ray dermatitis. 

  Dreams of Fire have been produced and cured. 
  
  (GUY BECKLEY STEARNS, HG. 6-80) 
  
 RANUNCULUS BULBOSUS

  A very very cold remedy; mostly left sided; easily confused with Rhus tox. 
  
  (HL. 2&3/94). 
  
  Dorsal pains stabbing, even from slight movements like knitting. 
  
  Think of this remedy for affections of drunkards.  Alcoholism, acute or chronic.  It can be needed for someone who has given up Alcohol long ago, but now comes into different complaints. 
  Complaints of characteristic Hiccoughs. 

  Affections of chest walls.  Coldness is a dominant feature (DD: Bryonia, which is warm).  

Pneumonia/Bronchitis with coldness of chest or Sternum.  Worse cold air, etc. 

  Rheumatic pains or systemic rheumatic conditions with coldness.  Coldness in a case of Cancer with metastasis to the Sternum or ribs or thoracic vertebrae.  Ranunculus will relieve the severe pains here.

 
  Painful respiration: due to any cause, say Liver conditions, Cervical syndrome, intercostal Neuralgia from nerve root compression. 

  For those who work sitting: e.g. Musculo-skeletal problems of computer operators, deltoid pains of Piano players. 

  Liver conditions where Bryonia  is wrongly chosen and does not work (Ranunculus too is worse movement and deep inspiration, with stitches). 

  If there is Rheumatoid Arthritis and the Skin is very hard, think of Ranunculus.   In Skin conditions resembling Graphites, but with very hard skin. 
   (Vassilis GHEGAS, SIM. 2/94) 
  
 RAUWOLFIA SERPENTINA 

  Pain in the lower limbs aggravated by the weight of the body: a Key note we owe to W.L.TEMPLETON 
  (HUI BON HOA, BHJ. 2/75) 
  
  Should prove an effective remedy in Hyperpiesia, especially in patients worried on depressed about their Blood pressure or Angina. 

  In Great Britain a Rauwolfia preparation, and Reserpine, its principal alkaloid, were advertised in 1955 (Medical Annual).  But, in 1956, the complication of severe Depressive states, even Suicide, was reported by both American and British physicians (Medical Annual). 

  Patients on Rauwolfia products, previously anxious worriers, claimed “nothing bothers me now”. 

  The provings of Dr.TEMPLETON brought out a special type of Diarrhoea: the first Stool is firm, but a few hours laters a softer, looser stool and then a diarrhoeic stool.  Dr.TEMPLETON used this symptom to relieve an acute Enteritis with high Fever. 
  
  (BHJ. April 1956) 
  
 RHEUM 

  A “rare” remedy, useful in cases of Diarrhoea during Teething.  The Stool is acidic, Sour; Childs’ whole body smells sour, bitter, the buttocks are red and irritated.    (DG) 
  
 RHODODENDRON 

  In a bad mood,  and feels lonely even in the midst of general Gaiety. 
  Cannot live near Electricpower plants where the air is saturated with electric charges. 
  (G.URETZKI, LIGA 1995) 
  
 RHUS TOXICODENDRON 

  Back ache in a characteristic locality: upper angle of Left Scapula, near the junction of C7-D1. 
  (ANANDA ZAREN, HL. 2 & 3/94) 
  
  Can act very deeply in restless children, depending on the depth of similarity; vigorous nodding/shaking of Head to indicate Yes/No; desire for Sweet and cold Milk. 
    (Rajan SANKARAN, HL. 2 & 3/94) 
  
  In backaches, although Rhus tox  is left-sided a right-sided Sacro-iliac will respond like mad. 
    (E.W.HUBBARD, HG. 1-80) 
  
  Remarkably efficient in relieving the Soreness, Restlessness and other distress after Operation involving the right lower quadrant.  The late Dr. BIEGLER of Rochester, New York, called Rhus tox  his homœopathie knife in Appendicitis. 
    (Guy B. STEARNS, HG. 4-80) 
  
  Blistery eruption in the center of a red area.  Oedema, but far less general than Apis.  Characterized by the periodicity of the irritation, or even of the eruption, with a burning itching which is worse after scratching, but there may be some relief from bathing in water as hot as can be borne. 

  I remember reading of a lady cured by Rhus tox of an Urticarial eruption which had started on the same date in May every year for the previous twelve years.  I cannot remember the exact indications on which the Rhus tox was prescribed, but it cured the attack and she had no more. 
  (K.G. PRIESTMAN, BHJ. 2-76) 
  
  May appear ill, pale, sunken Eyes surrounded by blue rings. 
  Empty, hungry feeling but without any real Appetite or desire for Food. 
  Limbs feel unduly heavy, almost paretic, especially after exertion when there may be also definite Tremors of the muscles involved. 
  (D.M.GIBSON, HG. 9-76) 
  
 RUMEX 

  This is a remedy for Winter Colds, when patients arrive with a muffler up over their   
nose.    (DG) 
  
 RUTA 

  Sacro-iliac Synchondrosis Slips (often resulting from jobs like Housecleaning).  Patient should lie prone and Ruta given. 
  (WILLIAM A. BOYSON, JAIH, 5-6, 67) 
  
  Ruta symptoms usually have a somewhat insidious onset.  The cause on careful enquiry can often be found to be occupational, some oft-repeated slight trauma in the neighborhood, of a joint involving the attachment of a muscle Tendon to the Periosteum.  Tennis elbow is one example, but the condition may be caused by a wide variety of occupational Strains affecting different sites and often unnoticed as such when rising from a chair tends to flop back at the first attempt owing to be feeling as if the knees would give way.  After rising also, likely to stagger a bit, but more from weariness than actual weakness.  (Rhus-t. Muscle Weakness Paralysis) 

  There may be noticeable limitation of movements which renew strain on the affected part – Elbow, Knee, Wrist, Ankle.  There is also reluctance to remain long in one position. 

  The nagging soreness and bruisedness causes an ill-temper, inclination to quarrel or contradict.  Residual disability after Sprains or Injuries involving the periosteal attachment of muscle tendons.  The lower limbs feel heavy and uneasy; does not know where to put them for relief.  Getting up from a chair or going up/down strais is complicated by a feeling of insecurity, especially in the knee joints. 

  Pain sometimes in a small spot as if a nail being driven in. 

  Cold and Wet agg. prolonged inactivity and lying on the affected part agg. walking out of doors agg. but moving about indoor (warmth) amel. 
  
  (D.M.GIBSON, HG. 9-76)