• Affected parts cold to touch, yet ameliorated by cold applications
• Sometimes only relief is by putting feet into ice cold water
• Rheumatism or gout begins in lower limbs and ascends
• Long remaining discolouration after injuries

Source: Vegetable kingdom
Synonyms: Marsh tea, Wild rosemary, Marsh cistus
Family: Ericaceae
Prover: Dr Samuel Hahnemann
Duration of Action: 30 days
Miasmatic Background: Psora in the background
Diathesis: Rheumatic and gouty
Temperament: Sanguine
Thermal Relationship: Hot patient

Introduction and History: In Sweden, a decoction of Ledum is used for freeing oxen and pigs from lice. Lineups says that this same decoction, if taken internally, has cured violent headache and ‘species of angina’. The leaves of Ledum are also used in Swedish beer to increase its intoxicating power and also in tannin.

Preparation and Parts Used: Tincture of whole fresh plant is used for
preparation of potencies.

Constitution and Physiognomy: It is adapted to rheumatic, gouty diathesis; to constitutions abused by alcohol. Also adapted to full blooded, plethoric, robust people. Suited to pale, delicate persons.

Seat of Action (Pharmacodynamics): Skin, serous membranes, fibrous tissues, circulatory system and joints.

Physio-pathological Changes (Pathology)

1. It affects the fibrous tissue of joints, especially small ankles, tendons, heels and skin. Hence it can be called a rheumatic remedy, where rheumatism begins in the feet and travels upwards. Affected parts become puffy and then emaciate.
2. Produces a rheumatic diathesis; from functional pain to altered secretions and deposits of solid, earthy material in the tissues.
3. It affects also the skin, producing an eruption like poison oak and its antidotes thereto.

Ailments From: Abuse of alcohol, injuries from sharp pointed instruments, rat bites, stings of insects especially mosquitoes, hair cutting or suppressed discharges, bruises, ill-effects of punctured wounds.

Characteristic Physical Guiding Symptoms

Eyes: Indicated in contusion of eyes and lids, especially with much extravasation of blood, echymosis of lids and conjunctiva.

Rheumatism or gout

(i) It begins in the lower limbs and ascends. Painful nodosities of joints.

(ii) It affects the left shoulder and right hip joint.

(iii) There is emaciation of the affected parts.

Pains: Pains are sticking, tearing and throbbing. Rheumatic pains worse by motion, at night, by warmth.

Chilliness: People always feel cold and chilly, lack of animal or vital heat; the wounded parts are cold to touch.

Swelling: Swelling of feet upto the knees; of ankles with unbearable pain when walking as from a sprain or false step; ball of great toe swollen, painful; in heels as if bruised.

Itching: Itching of feet and ankles, worse from scratching and warmth of bed.

Sprain: Easy spraining of ankles and feet.

Wounds and injuries: Indicated in punctured wounds by sharp pointed instruments like awls, nails, rat bites, stings of insects, especially those of mosquitoes.

Skin: There is a pimple or tubercle on the forehead and cheeks; stinging when touched.

Important Characteristic Features

Rheumatism/Joint affections: It is an indicated remedy for rheumatism or gout beginning in the lower limbs and then ascending. Especially brought about in a low asthenic condition by abuse of Colchicum. Joint becomes the seat of painful nodosities. Indicated both in acute and chronic arthritis. Affects the left shoulder and right hip joint. There is swelling of feet upto the knees; of ankles with unbearable pain when walking as from a sprain or false step; ball of great toe swollen, painful; pain in heels as if bruised. There is easy spraining of ankles and feet.

General Modalities

Aggravation: From warmth, covering, motion.

Amelioration: From cold water and holding feet in ice cold water, copious urination in case of rheumatism.

Remedy Relationships

Follows well: Sul-ac, Acon, Bell, Bry, Chel, Nux-v, Puls, Rhus-t, Sulph.

Inimical: Chin.

Antidotes: Camph.

Comparison

Conjunctival or retinal haemorrhage, with extravasation from injuries or cough: Arn, Led.

Punctured wounds: Hyper, Led.

Better from warm air but worse in warmth of bed: Mag-c, Led, Merc.

Gout of great toe with fibrous deposit, often mistaken for bunion: Colch, Led, Rhod.

Dosage: 3 to 200 potency.

Repetition: Single dose.

Therapeutic Value: Arthritis, Ascites, Bites and stings, Carbuncles, Chronic bronchitis, Emphysema, Eye injuries, Gout, Pimples, Punctured wound, Rheumatism, Sprains, etc.