Diphtherinum Homeopathic Medicine – Diphtherinum Materia Medica

• Most useful in post-diphtheric paralysis
• Catarrhal affections of respiratory system
• Tongue red, swollen

Source: A nosode
Synonyms: Diphtheria nosode
Prover: Skinner, Frash, Dr H.C. Allen
Duration of Action: Not definite
Diathesis: Strumous and scrofulous
Miasmatic Background: Psora and tubercular

Introduction and History: O.A. Julian has described his own researches and his clinical experiences as a practicing doctor in a village between 1935-1939, where he had to treat cases of diphtheria.

Preparation: The potencies of this nosode are prepared either from the diphtheria bacteria or membranes. Trituration of diptheritic membrane is prepared with sugar of milk from which higher potencies are prepared.

Constitution and Physiognomy: It is especially adapted to strumous diathesis, scrofulous, psoric or tuberculous persons, prone to catarrhal affections of the throat and respiratory mucous membranes.

Seat of Action (Pharmacodynamics): It mainly acts on the respiratory organs, glands, throat, etc.

Characteristic Mental Symptoms (Psychology)

1. Patient is greatly prostrated, yet restless without pain.
2. Wants to be held.
3. Sees imaginary objects.

Characteristic Physical Guiding Symptoms

Exhausted vitality: Patient has a weak or exhausted vitality, hence there is susceptibility towards diphtheritic virus infection.

Diphtheria: Dark red swelling of tonsils and palatine arches; parotid and cervical glands swollen, breath and discharges from throat, nose and mouth very offensive. It is indicated in laryngeal diphtheria.

Tongue: Tongue is swollen, very red, with little coating.

Diphtheritic membrane: It is thick, dark red or brownish-black.

Pulse: Weak and rapid.

Epistaxis: Epistaxis or profound prostration from every onset of attack; collapse almost at the very beginning.

Regurgitation: Patient swallows without pain, but fluids are vomited or returned by the nose. Breath very offensive.

Important Characteristic Features

Diphtheria: It is indicated in laryngeal diphtheria. Dark red swelling of tonsils and palatine arches. Parotid and cervical glands swollen, breath and discharges from throat, nose and mouth very offensive. Diphtheritic membrane is thick, dark red or brownish-black. Tongue is swollen, very red with a little coating. Pulse is weak and rapid.

Epistaxis or profound prostration from every onset of attack. Collapse almost at the very beginning. Patient swallows without the pain, but fluids are vomited or returned by the nose; breath very offensive.

General Modalities

Aggravation: From lying down, by movement.

Amelioration: From cold, drinking milk in sips, by heat, in cold.

Remedy Relationships

Precede well: Merc-cy, Bapt, Apis, Kali-bi, Lac-c, Lach, Lyc, Chlor, Crot-h, Caust, Gels, Nux-v, Sec, Ail.

Comparison

Collapse almost at the very beginning: Crot-h, Diph, Merc-cy.

Malignancy from the very beginning: Diph, Lac-c, Merc-cy.

Extension from left to right: Lac-c, Lach, Sabad.

Dosage: As per Allen, 30, 200 and 1M potencies are used.

Therapeutic Value: Anorexia, Croup, Diphtheria, Myelitis, Polyneuritis, Sore throat, Tachycardia, Tonsillitis.