Spiranthes autumnalis, Ladys Tresses, tincture of the root.
The genus to which this orchid belongs received its name from the spiral arrangement of the flowers.
The tuberous roots of Spi. autum. were "formerly esteemed as an aphrodisiac" (Treas. of Bot.). The tincture of the root was proved by Dr. Patti Chagon, Duc de Sorentino, who says of it: "The action of this drug begins with decided symptoms of inflammation of the eyes, chin, chest, which become red and hot, the whole skin is dry and hot, the hands are burning, the extremities of the feet are cold most of the time, there is a sensation of oppression and heat, with palpitation and a desire to uncover." This condition lasted two hours and gave place to others, including desire to meditate and complain, vertigo, pains in shoulders, ennui, loss of appetite. The last symptoms to appear are: pains in scalp and sutures, on vertex, distress in kidneys and intestinal troubles after eating.
The secretions of urine and milk were first diminished, afterwards increased. The aphrodisiac property of Spiran. Was shown in some of the symptoms of the proving, and this bears on the increased secretion of milk.
A number of symptoms appear in the lower abdomen, and the globus hystericus rises from thence to oesophagus. Heat in lower abdomen, preceding eructations, caused by laughing.
Among the Peculiar Symptoms are: cerebral troubles on bending or raising the arm.
Sensation of a band tied round head. Sensation of a foreign body in throat. Coldness of teeth. Coldness of the affected part. Pulsation in arteries over whole body. Preference for lying on left side, or else on back. Pain followed by numbness. Laughing causes heat in lower abdomen. Least emotion causes palpitation. Worse mental effort.
The symptoms are worse by touch. Worse bending or raising arm.
Worse raising breast. Better lying on left side. Better lying on back. Worse bending over (rheumatism of shoulders). Worse stooping.
Other mentals. Feeling of confusion, discomfort, indolence, enui with disposition to complain. Lascivious, voluptuous dreams; remorse over past sexual indiscretions. Wobbling feeling in the brain with desire to lean the head against the wall. Restlessness and nervousness at night.