Rhus Toxicodendron

I will start the first discussion about one of my favourite remedies: rhus toxicodendron or shorter rhus tox.

Rhus Toxicodendron is an older name of Toxicodendron radicans (Poison ivy). It belongs to the family of 3 leaves Anacardiaceae.
Rhus tox produces certain oil, a skin irritant that causes an itching contact dermatitis.

Poison ivy sap badly damages skin after a short-lived itching. In a few hours, a rash appears as well as reddening and swelling of parts of the body that have been in contact with the plant. After that, itching returns accompanied by a local sharp stinging pain.
General symptoms also include fever, vomiting and diarrhea. There is a great risk of a lethal end after oral intake of parts of the plant.
There are also cases of irritation and inflammation of the skin and the mucous membrane. These are caused by a long stay in gardens where poison ivy is cultivated as a decorative plant. A number of medicinal substances such as tannin and gallic acid are extracted from poison ivy.

Preparation:
Rhus tox is prepared from plants gathered at night, when the oil is said to be in its most potent state. Fresh leaves and stalks are pounded to a pulp and mixed with alcohol, then strained and diluted.

Use:
The medicinal history of its leaves and stalk began in the late 18th century, when it was used to treat conditions such as paralysis and rheumatism. The effects of its un dilute form can range from a rash to nausea, fever, delirium, swollen glands, and ulcers in the oral cavity.

Rhus tox. covers a huge scale of symptoms: mostly is used to treat skin complaints with burning, itchy, red, swollen skin such as herpes, diaper rash, blisters, eczema, and it is used to treat musculoskeletal problems (osteoarthritis, rheumatism, restless legs, cramps, sprains, and strains)

Tags: rhus, toxicodendron

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Permalink Reply by tihana buterin on November 6, 2009 at 6:08am: Rhus Toxicodendron has a strong effect on the nerves, mucous and serous membranes, and skin.
Clinical:
Angina. Arthritis. Asthma. Behavior disorder. Bronchitis. Cervical strain - "Whip-lash." Chicken pox. Chorea. Compulsive disorders. Connective tissue disease. Contusion. Eczema. Enuresis. Erysipelas. Erythema Nodosum. Fibrositis. Headache. Hemiplegia. Herpes. Impetigo. Influenza. Laryngitis. Low back pain. Parkinson's Disease. Pemphigus. Pharyngitis. Pneumonia. Rheumatic fever. Rheumatism. Sciatica. Shingles. Sprains. Tendonitis. Urticaria.

The hallmark of the remedy is progressive stiffness, often coming after a period of restlessness or overuse.
There are several stages to the psychological state of Rhus Toxicodendron.
The early stage finds a patient who is cheerful, joking and very lively; he is quick witted and friendly yet peculiarly timid. This animated stage is replaced by an inner restlessness and agitation. Often, in this stage, the patient becomes irritable and easily frustrated.
As the pathology deepens, the patient becomes as stiff and rigid on the emotional plane as he is on the physical plane. At this stage we find depression and moroseness. In the later stages the patient becomes more stiff and fixed mentally as well. Here we find a stage of compulsiveness and ritualistic behavior. Rhus Toxicodendron is one of the most superstitious of all remedies. The patient has fixed ideas and even ritualistic behavior.

Mind.
Joking, restless, cheerful patients
Mind restless; jumps from subject to subject.
Irritability. Impatience. Hurried.
Anxiety for his own children.
Fears: To be poiseoned
Timid. Self-conscious.
Depression; moroseness.
Superstitious,ritualistic; fixed ideas. Compulsive disorder.

General.
AGGRAVATIONS FROM COLD AND COLD WET WEATHER, drafts.,
in cloudy, overcast, or foggy weather,from getting wet Generally right-sided complaints.
Periodic complaints, especially chills and fevers.
Sudden periodic chills, worse at night.
General aggravation from over-exertion.
General aggravation in the evening after the exertions of the day.
General amelioration from motion; cannot sit still.>>
Generally worse in the morning on rising.>>
Acutes.
Influenza with much aching which forces the patient to shift around constantly. The fever may come rapidly especially at 10 AM.
Chicken pox. Impetigo. Scarlet fever.
Pharyngitis, better warm drinks with restless uncomfortable feeling in the body. Upper respiratory infection.
Pneumonia, cough producing a rusty colored sputum.
Sprains with a stiff, sore sensation but the patient feels the need to be flexing and moving the joint.
Back injuries.
Injuries to the tendons or muscles, worse from over exerting.

Nerves.
Parkinson's disease, great stiffness, better motion, the patient is stiff in his emotions and expressions, tremor.
Chorea. Twitches. Tics.
Hemiplegia, especially on the left side.
Vertigo, worse rising, tendency to fall backwards.

Head.
Headaches, worse from damp weather, worse from storms, worse from changes of weather, better motion.
Iritis.
Swelling and inflammation of the eyelids (Apis, Kali-C, Ars).
Erysipelas of the face.
Acne rosacea.
Eruptions at the tip of the nose (Caust, Aeth, Nat-C).
Fever blisters about the lips.>> Cracks at the corners of mouth.

Mouth.
RED TIP OF TONGUE OR A TRIANGLE OF REDNESS ON THE TONGUE.
Cracking jaw. Temporomandibular joint syndrome.

Throat.
Pharyngitis, better warm drinks.
Laryngitis and hoarseness, worse from over-use of the voice but may be better from speaking (motion).

Gastro-intestinal.
Craving: COLD MILK. Cheese. Sweets.
Aversion: Meat.
Thirsty for sips.
Desires cold drinks.

Urinary and Sexual Organs.
Herpes of the genitals.>>
Eruptions on the genitals or on the inner thigh.>>
Frequent urination.
Enuresis, especially in boys.

Chest.
Asthma, especially in association with or from suppression of eczema.
Cough, worse cold or damp weather, worse before or during chill.
Bronchitis; Pneumonia, often producing rusty sputum.
Palpitations.
Cardiac hypertrophy. Valvular disorders.
Angina, worse from exertion, extending to the left arm.>>

Back.
Low back pain and sciatica.>>
Back pain, worse after muscle strains as in car accidents or over-lifting.>>
Back pain, worse sitting still which causes him to stiffen.>>
Back pain, better heat or hot baths or showers.>>
Back pain, better motion and forces him to get up and move around.>>
Back pain better from hard pressure and massage.>>
Cracking of the neck and back. Torticollis.
Stiffness and pains in the trapezius muscles into the neck.
Cervical stiffness which causes the patient to stretch and move the head, worse from being irritated, worse cold damp, better heat. The stiffness may go to the occiput and cause headache.>>

Extremities.
ARTHRITIS, ACUTE OR CHRONIC RHEUMATISM.
ARTHRITIS WORSE IN THE NIGHT IN BED, WORSE IN THE MORNING ON WAKING, WORSE IN DAMP AND COLD WEATHER OR BEFORE STORMS, WORSE EXERTION.
ARTHRITIS BETTER HEAT OR HOT BATHING, BETTER DRY WEATHER, BETTER MOTION.
Pain in the left shoulder.>>
PAIN IN THE INNER, UPPER LEFT SCAPULA.
Restless extremities>>, even to the point of chorea.
Restless legs in bed.>>
Bursitis. Tendonitis. Sprains.>>
Numbness from lying on the arm or leg.
Numbness of left arm in heart conditions.
Cracking joints.
Arthritic nodosities.

Skin.
Eczema>> with small vesicles which are intensely itchy.
ITCHING BETTER FROM SCALDING HOT WATER (Rhus-V).
Herpes. Shingles. Poison Oak or Ivy.>>
Urticaria. Psoriasis.
Thickened skin in long-standing skin disorders.
Erythema nodosum.
Erysipelas with dark reddish splotches.

Sleep.
Restless sleep, must constantly shift in his sleep and can not find a comfortable position.>>
Dreams of work or long walks or exertions.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by tihana buterin on November 6, 2009 at 6:12am: Relationship of Rhus Tox with other remedies:
Complementary to:
Bry. Calc.
Non complimentary with Apis!!Be careful of using Apis before or after Rhus.
Differentiations:
Phos - Arthritis with pains better motion and heat, worse before a storm, chilly, craves cold milk, angina, coughs and hoarseness.
Tub - Arthritis with similar modalities, worse night, worse from cold damp and from storms, restless, ritualistic, craves cold milk, eczema, respiratory troubles.
Ruta - Arthritis and injuries with similar modalities, stiffness, neck pains and stiffness.
Calc - Chilly and worse from cold damp, worse from over-exertion, arthritis, crave sweets, cracking skin and eczema.
Ars - Especially in acutes may be confused with fever, chilliness, restlessness, thirst for sips, irritable, skin symptoms, respiratory troubles, may crave milk.
Apis - Acute rheumatisms, fevers, skin symptoms, erysipelas.
Ran-B. Rhod. Cimic. Dulc. Calc-P. Rad-Br. Stel.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by tihana buterin on November 6, 2009 at 6:17am: An interesting article:
http://www.hpathy.com/materiamedica/hugall-rhus-tox.asp; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Dr. MAS on November 6, 2009 at 6:19am: Remember, I have three bad experiences of using Rhus tox in lower dilution on Patients suffering with inflammation of joints with pain where Rhus Tox was their indicated (simiimum) remedy. In lower dilution its aggravation is strong. it should be used in higher dilution. May be 1m or cm.

Once an old man suffering from gout. His symptoms were taken. Rhus Tox 30 was prescribed.

In 48 hours the joints got inflammed. On next day, those joints which were once in life got affected were also turned red and inflammation also occured again.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Debby Bruck on November 6, 2009 at 11:21pm: Thank you for the recommendation of higher potency use. That will certainly help many prevent aggravations. I always think of using low potency for physical level ailments.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by breda o connor on November 10, 2009 at 6:57pm: i had a stubborn case of impetigo, after going over it and administering several unsuccessful remedies i decided to try rhus tox, 1 dose of 6c cleared it up beautifully.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ranga Sai on January 6, 2010 at 11:35pm: You could alternate Rhust Tox 30 with Calc Fluor 30.
Tested and verified in thousands of arthritis cases, personally.

Aggravations ?!! Never seen them occur.; ▶ Reply to This