Schwabe News Volume 4 | Issue 3 | March 2013

Scrophularia nodosa

Commonly known as ‘Knotted figwort’, it is a smooth deciduous herb up to 1.2 m in height, often foul smelling. It has whitish root beset with fleshy knots. Stem is four blunt angled. Leaves are opposite or upper alternate, often bellucil-punctated. Flowers in terminal cyme, small, greenish purple to yellow; calyx deeply 5-lobed or oblong; posterior two, mostly longer, perfect; stamens 4, didynamous, inserted on the tube, included or exerted posteriorly, staminode at the apex of the tube scale-like or absent; anther-locule confluent transversely into one; style slender, stigma minute or rarely capitate. Fruit a capsule, septicidally dehiscent, valves entire or 2-lobed. Seeds rugose. A homoeopathic tincture made from whole plant1.

The chief authority for Scrophularia is Cooper. Gerard mentions “hard kernels” and painful, swollen haemorrhoids as indicative of the drug. It was proved by Franz and later in America by W. H. Blakeley.2 It is covered by both Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia of India and German Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia.

This remedy is of service in diseases of the skin, especially in eczema, crusta lactea, eruptions of a vesicular character, pruritus vaginae, herpetic ulceration and scrofulous swelling. Indicated when there is a tendency to ulceration following the slightest contusion. Scrophularia nodosa is useful in diseases with indication of perverted nutrition.3 It is a powerful medicine whenever enlarged glands are present. Reported to be useful in Hodgkin’s disease. It has a specific affinity for the breast; very useful in the dissipation of breast tumours. It is also locally applied to cancerous glands.4 Eczema of the ear and painful haemorrhoids are also covered.2 Epithelioma, nodosities of the breasts, pain in all flexor muscles, pain in liver, colic below navel and asthma in scrofulous patients are other indications covered by William Boericke.4

Recommended dose: 10-60 drops of tincture, thrice daily.
 
References:

• P. N. Varma, Indu Vaid, Encyclopaedia of Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia, Updated edition 2007, B. Jain Publishers, New Delhi.
• R. Murphy, Homeopathic Remedy Guide, RadarOpus 1.33, Archibel S.A. Rue Fontaine St. Pierre 1E, Zoning Industriel de la Fagne, 5330 Assesse, Belgium.
• A. L. Blackwood, A Manual of Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacology, Reprint Edition 1995, B. Jain Publishers, New Delhi.
• W. Boericke, New Manual of Homoeopathic Materia Medica & Repertory [with Relationship of Remedies], Second Re-Augmented & Revised Edition Based on Ninth Edition, Reprint Edition 2002, B. Jain Publishers, New Delhi.