OCIMUM CANUM

Commonly it is known as Kali tulsi, its current botanical name is Ocimum americanum. The drug was first proved and introduced by Mure. The reproving details are in the book “Homoeopathic Drug Provings”, published by the Central Council of research in Homoeopathy in 2005. It has earlier been reported by T. F. Allen, W. Boericke, J. H. Clarke and others. The drug is prepared from the leaves. The reproving was conducted in 1996-1998 using 6, 30 and 200 centesimal potencies at (i) Drug Proving Research Unit, Kolkata (W.B.) and (ii) Homoeopathic Drug Research Institute, Lucknow (U.P.). 25 provers in the age group of 18-38 years took part in the proving. 7 of them were females. A combined materia medica from available literatures is given below.

Head

Throbbing pain in right side of head, worse morning; better after sleep.  Left sided headache with numbness, better pressure, lying down.  Headache with feeling of heaviness in forehead, worse morning, bending forward; better lying down.  Heaviness in head, worse standing; better rest.  Pressing pain in temporal region, extending to eyes, better pressure.

Eyes

Agglutination in eyes with burning pain.  Photophobia, worse sunlight, day time; better night, cold application.  Itching around the eyes.

Nose

Sneezing with watery discharge from nose, worse cold things; drinking tea.

Face

Itching on face and forehead, worse gentle rubbing, heat of sun; better cold.

Throat

Soreness and itching sensation in throat with difficulty in swallowing, worse cold things; better drinking tea.

Stomach

Thirst increased with desire for cold water.

Rectum

Loose watery stool, whitish in colour.

Respiratory

Dry cough, worse evening, morning; better drinking tea.  Dry cough, worse night; better drinking water.  Cough with yellow expectoration.

Extremities

Swelling in left ankle joint with pain.

Sleep

Disturbed sleep due to pain in eruptions on body.

Skin

Itching on thighs, back of hands, worse night; better scratching.  Eruptions on face, forehead, elbow, forearm, from knees to legs, scratching followed by burning sensation.  Itching on whole body, worse night, warmth of bed, heat; better scratching, cold application. Itching eruptions on back, worse heat; better cold.  Painful eruptions on neck, worse slight pressure.

Reference:

1. Embelia ribes, Homoeopathic Drug Provings, Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy, 61-65, Institutional Area, Opp. ‘D’ Block, Jankpuri, New Delhi.
2. T. F. Allen, Encyclopaedia of Pure Materia Medica, B. Jain Publishers, New Delhi.
3. J. H. Clarke, Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica, Reprint Edition 1992, B. Jain Publishers, New Delhi.
4. 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.