Lycopodium Clavatum

by H. C. Allen

Wolf’s Foot; Club Moss (Lycopodiaceae)

Lycopodium clavatum is For persons intellectually keen, but physically weak; upper part of body emaciated, lower part semi-dropsical; predisposed to lung and hepatic affections ( Calcarea, Phosphorus, Sulphur ); especially the extremes of life, children and old people.

Deep-seated, progressive, chronic diseases.

Lycopodium clavatum Pains: aching-pressure, drawing; chiefly right sided, < four to eight P.M.

Affects right side, or pain goes from right to left; throat, chest, abdomen, liver, ovaries.

Children, weak, emaciated; with well-developed head but puny, sickly bodies.

Lycopodium clavatum Baby cries all day, sleeps all night (rev. of, Jal., Psorinum ).

Ailments from fright, anger, mortification, or vexation with reserved displeasure ( Staphysagria ).

Avaricious, greedy, miserly, malicious, pusillanimous.

Irritable; peevish and cross on walking; ugly, kick and scream; easily angered; cannot endure opposition or contradiction; seeks disputes; is beside himself.

Weeps all day, cannot calm herself; very sensitive, even cries when thanked.

Dread of men; of solitude, irritable and melancholy; fear of being alone ( Bismuth, Kali carb., Lilium ).

Complexion pale, dirty; unhealthy; sallow, with deep furrows, looks older than he is; fan-like motion of the alae nasi ( Antim tart. ).

Lycopodium clavatum Catarrh: dry, nose stopped at night, must breathe through the mouth ( Ammonium carb., Nux, Sambucus ); snuffles, child starts from sleep rubbing its nose; of root of nose and frontal sinuses; crusts and elastic plugs ( Kali bichromicum, Marum ).

Diphtheria; fauces brownish red, deposit spreads from right tonsil to left, or descends from nose to right tonsil; < after sleep and from cold drinks (from warm drinks, Lachesis ).

Everything tastes sour; eructations, heartburn, waterbrash, sour vomiting (between chill and heat).

Canine hunger; the more he eats, the more he craves; head aches if does not eat.

Lycopodium clavatum Gastric affections; excessive accumulation of flatulence; constant sensation of satiety; good appetite, but a few mouthfuls fill up to the throat, and he feels bloated; fermentation in abdomen, with loud grumbling, croaking, especially lower abdomen (upper abdomen, Carbo vegetabilis – entire abdomen, Cinchona ); fulness not relieved by belching ( Cinchona ).

Complexion pale, dirty; unhealthy; sallow, with deep furrows, looks older than he is; fan-like motion of the alae nasi ( Antim tart. ).

Lycopodium clavatum Catarrh: dry, nose stopped at night, must breathe through the mouth ( Ammonium carb., Nux, Sambucus ); snuffles, child starts from sleep rubbing its nose; of root of nose and frontal sinuses; crusts and elastic plugs ( Kali bichromicum, Marum ).

Diphtheria; fauces brownish red, deposit spreads from right tonsil to left, or descends from nose to right tonsil; < after sleep and from cold drinks (from warm drinks, Lachesis ).

Everything tastes sour; eructations, heartburn, waterbrash, sour vomiting (between chill and heat).

Canine hunger; the more he eats, the more he craves; head aches if does not eat.

Lycopodium clavatum Gastric affections; excessive accumulation of flatulence; constant sensation of satiety; good appetite, but a few mouthfuls fill up to the throat, and he feels bloated; fermentation in abdomen, with loud grumbling, croaking, especially lower abdomen (upper abdomen, Carbo vegetabilis – entire abdomen, Cinchona ); fulness not relieved by belching ( Cinchona ).

Constipation: since puberty; since last confinement; when away from home; of infants; with ineffectual urging, rectum contracts and protrudes during stool, developing piles.

Red sand in urine, on child’s diaper ( Phosphorus ); child cries before urinating ( Borax ); pain in back, relieved by urinating; renal colic, right side (left side, Berberis ).

Lycopodium clavatum Impotence: of young men, from onanism or sexual excess; penis small, cold, relaxed; old men, with strong desire but imperfect erections; falls asleep during embrace; premature emissions.

Dryness of vagina; burning in, during and after coition ( Lyssinum ); physometra.

Discharge of blood from genitals during every stool.

Foetus appears to be turning somersaults.

Hernia: right sided, has cured many cases especially in children.

Pneumonia; neglected or maltreated, base of right lung involved especially; to hasten absorption or expectoration.

Cough deep, hollow, even raising mucus in large quantities affords little relief.

One foot hot and the other cold ( Cinchona, Digitalis, Ipecac. ).

Waking at night feeling hungry ( Cina., Psorinum ).

Relations. – Complementary: Iodine.

Lycopodium clavatum has Bad effects: of onions, bread; wine, spirituous liquors; tobacco smoking and chewing ( Arsenicum ).

Follows well: after, Calcarea, Carbo vegetabilis, Lachesis, Sulphur

It is rarely advisable to begin the treatment of a chronic disease with Lycopodium unless it is clearly indicated; it is better to give first another antipsoric.

Lycopodium is a deep-seated, long-acting remedy, and should rarely be repeated after improvement begins.

Aggravation. – Nearly all diseases from 4 to 8 p. m. ( Helleborus – from 4 to 9 p. m., Colocynthis, Magnesium phos. ).

Amelioration. – Warm food and drinks; from uncovering the head; loosening the garments