STROPHANTHUS HISPIDUS Kombe-seed

Strophanthus is a muscle poison; it increases the contractile power of all striped muscles. Acts on the heart; increasing the systole and diminishes the rapidity. May be used with advantage to tone the heart, and run off dropsical accumulations. In small doses for weak heart; it feels enlarged. In mitral regurgitation, where œdema and dropsy have supervened (Digit). Strophanthus occasions no gastric distress, has no cumulative effects, is a greater diuretic, and is safer for the aged, as it does not affect the vaso-motors. In pneumonia and in severe prostration from hæmorrhage after operations and acute diseases. After the long use of stimulants; irritable heart of tobacco-smokers. Arterio-sclerosis; rigid arteries of aged. Restores tone to a brittle tissue, especially of the heart muscle and valves. Especially useful in failing compensation dependent upon fatty heart. Hives. Anæmia with palpitation and breathlessness. Exophthalmia goitre. Corpulent persons.

Head.--Temporal pains with double vision, impaired sight; brilliant eyes, flushed face. Senile vertigo.

Stomach.--Nausea with special disgust for alcohol and so aids in treatment of dipsomania. Seven drops of tincture.

Urinary.--Increased secretion; scanty and albuminous.

Female.--Menorrhagia; uterine hæmorrhage; uterus heavily congested. Aching pain through hips and thighs during climacteric.

Respiratory.--Dyspnœa, especially on ascending. Lungs congested. Œdema of lungs. Bronchial and cardiac asthma.

Heart.--Pulse quickened. Heart's action weak, rapid irregular, due to muscular debility; and insufficiency. Cardiac pain.

Skin.--Urticaria, especially more chronic forms.

Extremities.--Swollen, dropsical. Anasarca.

Relationship.--Compare: Digit (but is slower than strophant in its action); Phos ac (weak heart, irregular pulse, fluttering sensation in cardiac region, palpitation during sleep, fainting).

Dose.--Tincture and 6x potency. In more acute cases, five to ten drops of the tincture three times a day.