Artemisia vulgaris

Lecture XXII — Compositae — Arnica montana, Artemisia vulgaris, Absinthium, Millefolium, Taraxacum, Eupatorium perfoliatum, Artemisia abrotanum

Artemisia Vulgaris.

Artemisia vulgaris, another member of the order Composite, is a very serviceable remedy in epilepsy, brought on by violent emotions, and especially by fright. The attacks come in rapidly repeated seizures, that is to say, several convulsions come close together and then there is a long interval of rest. The paroxysms are usually followed by sleep. Again, Artemisia vulgaris seems to be of some use in that form of epileps}' known as "petit mat." The patient is walking in the street, when, suddenly, he stops, stares into vacancy, possibly mumbles a few words, regains a normal condition, and then goes his way totally unconscious of anything unusual having happened. Artemisia, like other members of the order (Cina more prominently than any of the others), has an effect on the eye. We find under the drug the symptom : " colored light produces dizziness ; " for example, when seated near a stained-glass window the patient becomes dizzy. In addition to this it causes a well-developed asthenopia. On attempting to use the eyes the patient experiences pain in them, together with blurring of the vision, the latter symptom being momentarily relieved by rubbing the eyes. This is easily explained ; the asthenopia is due to muscular defect and error of accommodation. By rubbing the eyes, the accommodation is temporarily restored.