(Marsh-Tea)
Affects especially the rheumatic diathesis, going through all the changes, from functional pain to altered secretions and deposits of solid, earthy matter in the tissues. The Ledum rheumatism begins in feet, and travels upward. It affects also the skin, producing an eruption like Poison-oak, and is antidotal thereto, as well as to stings of insects. THERE IS A GENERAL
LACK OF ANIMAL HEAT, and yet heat of bed is intolerable. For punctured wounds, produced by sharp-pointed instruments or bites, particularly if the WOUNDED PARTS ARE COLD, this is the remedy. Tetanus with twitching of muscles near wound.
HEAD
Vertigo when walking, with tendency to fall to one side. Distress when head is covered. Nosebleed. (MELLILOT.; BRY.)
EYES
Aching in eyes. Extravasation of blood in lids, conjunctiva, aqueous or vitreous. Contused wounds. Cataract with gout.
FACE
RED PIMPLES ON FOREHEAD AND CHEEKS; stinging when touched. Crusty eruption around nose and mouth.
MOUTH
Dry, retching with eructation. Musty taste with catarrhal affection.
RESPIRATORY
Burning in nose. Cough, with bloody expectoration. Dyspnoea; chest feels constricted. Suffocative arrest of breathing. Pain along trachea. Bronchitis with emphysema of aged. Oppressive constriction of chest. Tickling in larynx; spasmodic cough. Haemoptysis, alternating with rheumatism. Chest hurts when touched. Whooping-cough; spasmodic, DOUBLE INSPIRATION with sobbing.
RECTUM
ANAL FISSURES. Hemorrhoidal pain.
EXTREMITIES
Gouty pains shoot all through the foot and limb, and in joints, but especially small joints. Swollen, hot, pale. Throbbing in right shoulder. Pressure in shoulder, worse motion. Cracking in joints; worse, warmth of bed. Gouty nodosities. Ball of great toe swollen. (BOTHROPS.) Rheumatism begins in lower limbs and ASCENDS. (KALMIA opposite.) Ankles swollen. SOLES PAINFUL, can hardly step on them. (ANT. C.; LYC) Easy spraining of ankle.
FEVER
Coldness, want of animal heat. Sensation as of cold water over parts; general coldness with heat of face.
SKIN
Acne on forehead, sticking pain therein. Eczema (facial). Itching of feet and ankles; worse, scratching and warmth of bed. Ecchymosis. Long discoloration after injuries. CARBUNCLES. (ANTHRACIN. TARANT. CUBEN.) ANTIDOTE TO RHUS POISONING. (GRINDEL.; CYPRIP.; ANAC)
MODALITIES
BETTER, from cold, putting feet in cold water. WORSE, at night, and from heat of bed.
RELATIONSHIP
Compare: Ledum antidotes spider poisons. RUTA; HAM.; BELLIS; ARNICA.