Vinca minor

Lecture XIV — The Vegetable Kingdom — Apocynaceae: Apocynum cannabinum, Oleander, Vinca minor and Alstonia scholaris

Vinca Minor.

Vinca minor is one variety of the periwinkle. It contains a bitter and astringent principle, making it of service asa " tonic," to use oldschool language, and also as a styptic to control haemorrhage. These properties it retains in the potencies. For instance, it may be used for profuse menstruation or passive menorrhagia when the blood flows in one continuous stream, associated of course with great debility. I find that Dr. Richard Hughes, in his Ma?iual of Pharmacodyna?nics , speaks of three cases of post-climacteric haemorrhage, all of which were improved by Vinca minor. In one a permanent cure resulted; in the other two there was a return of the haemorrhage, and in one of these the trouble was due to carcinoma.

Vinca minor, like its relative, Oleander, produces an offensive smelling eruption on the scalp and face and behind the ears, in which vermin breed. It develops a crust which allows the discharge to remain beneath, and decomposition furnishes pabulum for the vermin ;the hair falls out and is replaced by gray hair.

Viyica minor is also useful in plica polonica, a condition in which the hair is matted together.

In these skin symptoms you may compare Vinca minor with several remedies; first with Viola tricolor. This is useful in crusta lactea, when the exudation is very copious. Like Vinca, it mats the hair together, but there is this peculiarity which always enables you to distinguish between the two, namely, Viola has urine with a peculiar pungent odor, which has been aptly compared to that of cat's urine. You may think of it when persistent eczema is accompanied by disturbance in the urinary organs, either too copious urination, or sudden cessation of the urinary secretion.

Another remedy is Arctium lappa, which is useful for moist offensive eruption, forming grayish-white crusts, especially when the adjacent glands are swollen; the axillary glands may even suppurate. There is polyuria with pain in the bladder after voiding the urine. Still another remedy for crusta lactea or tinea favosa is Nuxjuglans. It has soreness on and behind the ears, like Graphites; the scalp is red and itches violently. Scabs appear on the arms and in the axillae (also Arseiiicum iod.).

Staphisagria is a good remedy for an oozing foetid eruption, worse on the occiput; the hair falls out. Scratching seems to cause the itching to change place. It is particularly indicated in sickly children with pale face and dark rings around the eyes. They are easily angered and reject proffered gifts, just as under Chamomilla. It is especially indicated after the abuse of mercury.

Ustilago has caused, but it has not yet been reported to have cured, a filthy eruption of the scalp, in which part of the hair came out, leaving the remainder matted. A watery serum oozed continually from the eruption.