Corydalis cava
Scientific: Corydalis tuberosa, Corydalis bulbosa, Fumaria cava, Fumaria bulbosa, Pseudofumaria major, Capnoides cava. English: Hollowroot-birthwort.
German: Hohlwurz.
Dutch: holwortel.
Corydalis cava
The name is derived from the Greek word korydalis, a crested lark. Korys means 'helmet,' which is a reference to the shape of the flower.
The plant is indigenous to Europe except in Scandinavia, Russia, Ireland and Switzerland [too cold], and has a bowl-shaped hollowed-out, sometimes completely hollow, tuber [cava = hollow or cave-like]. In Great Britain, it only grows wild in the south of England. Originally from Southern and Central Europe, the species has spread all over Europe. It grows in groups in lightly shaded areas, with a particular preference for beech forests, and likes clay soil. Peculiarly enough, Corydalis only blooms from the time it is four or five years old. The tuber used to be officially known as 'Radix Aristolochiae cavae' in the pharmacopoeia. In China, various Corydalis varieties - called Yan-hu-suo - have had a reputation for centuries as a remedy against dysmenorrhoea and pain in the lower back.
Constituents: protopine (narcotic), bulbocapnine (morphine-like effect on cold-blooded animals; in warm-blooded animals, it evokes symptoms that resemble catalepsy, voluntary muscles and reflexes are paralysed, while the muscle tone and perception remain unaffected; breath and heartbeat are slower, while tear and saliva secretion increases; dogs and cats have been found to be more sensitive to bulbocapnine than sheep and goats).
Mind
Sadness without cause. Indifference.
General
Localisation: right.
Weather: > warmth
Desire: food, voracious, pungent, sour. Aversion: wine.
Sleep: waking << hunger.
Physical: < motion.
Physical
Parkinsonism
Headache: right-sided, forehead, temple, occiput; pressing shooting; < closing eyes, < motion, > open air, + heat of head.
Vertigo, as if ground gave way.
Conjunctiva: cathar, inflammation, burning pains.
Nose: obstruction; yellowish mucous, < rest, < warmth.
Mouth: catharre, inflammation, burning pains.
Throat: S swollen < lying; S thyroid were enlarged.
Larynx: catharr, inflammation, burning pains.
Lungs: dyspnea, + anxiety, + palpitation, + sweat forehead.
Heart: palpitations; paroxysmal, < lying on left side, < ascending, < 3 am.
Stomach: pain pressing, < eating, < coffee, < bending double, > stretching; + nausea, retching and diarrhoea, catarrh, inflammation, burning pains, sensitive < pressure.
Vulva: catharr, inflammation, burning pains, dysmenorrhoea.
Urethra: catharr, inflammation, burning pains.
Anus: catharr, inflammation, burning pains.
Limbs: joint problems, rheumatic pains, hands fingers, lower back pain.
Skin: furunculosis.