# Sarsaparilla Officinalis

## Remedy Classification
- **Type:** Homeopathic Remedy
- **Miasm:** Syphilitic Miasm
- **Temperament:** Chilly
- **Aggravation Time:** Morning

## Keynote Indications
Hahnemann proved Sars., confirming many of the historical uses. Sars. is “restorative ” 
after over-dosing with Merc., because it is a homeopathic antidote to Merc. It covers the syphilitic, sycotic and 
psoric constitutions. 
Affinity for the genito -urinary organs, skin, bones, and lower right extremity. Ma rasmus, emaciation. Kidney 
colic. Marked urinary symptoms. Moist eruptions about the genitals or between the scrotum and thighs. 
Periosteal pains due to venereal disease. Retraction of nipples in those of cancerous inheritance or 
constitution. 
Clears the complexion. Eruptions follow ing hot weather and vaccinations, boils and eczema. Fig warts. 
Scratching causes itching to begin in another place, causes eruption on forehead to become humid.  
Parts feel screwed together. Nightly bone pains. Pains shoot in different directions and are accompanied by 
depression and anxiety. As if salt were put upon the wound. Very sore, gouty nodes. Rheumatism.
Temperature - Chill starts from region of bladder to back. Influenza. 
COMMENTS - Sars. chiefly affects the urinary organs, genitals, rectum, skin and bones, right lower extremity, 
right lower side inner, and one -sided head. General “sin king” sensation of the great anti -psorics. General 
sensitiveness. 
Acute and chronic bladder infections. Kidney stones, and the tendency to form kidney stones. Acute kidney 
stone colic (Berb.). Cystitis. Bladder infections in children, the child screams when they feel the urge because 
they anticipate the pain (Petros.). 
Cannot pass urine freely except when standing, dribbles when sitting. Excessive pain in urethra that runs back 
into abdomen. Great pain and burning at end of urination (Equis.). Tenesmus. Urine is turbid, full of flakes and 
mucus or gravel, red or gray sand, or particulate matter. Urine with mucus or blood.  
Gonorrhea, and the effect of suppressed gonorrhea. Herpes. Moist eruptions on scro tum and thighs. 
Spermatorrhea with swollen cords. The semen may be bloody. Offensive odor about genitals in both sexes. 
“Moist eruption in right groin before menses.” Painful and disordered menstrua tion. Nipples are soft, 
unexcitable, retracted, inverted. Cracked nipples (Cast -eq.), as sociated with cancer (A ster., Phyt.). Breast 
abscesses (Phyt.), with inverted nipples. Scirrhus of the breast. Helpful in patients of cancerous history with 
 
 
retracted nipples. 
Herpetic eruptions in all parts. Moist and dry tettery eruptions. Cracks. Itch -like eruptions, prone to appear in 
spring. Itching eruption on forehead during menses. Emaciation, causing the skin to be shriveled and lie in 
folds. 
Pains shoot in different directions. Anxi ety accompanies the pains, and can cause depression. Warmth 
generally relieves. Warm diet aggravates, cold diet relieves. Warm room aggravates vertigo. Washing, bread 
and yawning aggravates. 
Grimmer wrote, “Ulcers, cutaneous eruptions, nodes indurated glands, decay, necroses, joint swellings and 
rheumatism often improve under a persistent course of this remedy.” 
One of Sars. popular uses was for “clear ing the complexion.” When it succeeds it is by virtue of its similarity, 
for Clarke saw a very extensive crop of blotches it produced in a young woman.  
Farrington offered several indications fo r Sars., including sycotic eruptions with little spots scarcely raised 
above the skin, often scaling a little, but looking like the roseola of syphilis and itching intolerably, worse in 
spring. 
Moist eruption on scalp, the pus from which causes the inflammation of any part it touches. Sycotic headache, 
beginning at back of head, coming forward and settling at root of nose with swelling of nose. Moist eruption 
about genitals or between the scrotum and thighs. 
With Sars., Skinner cured many cases of retractio n or flattening of the nipple in nurs ing women. On two 
occasions with high potencies of Sars. he enabled a woman to nurse her child when it was utterly hopeless.  
ELATIONS - Antidoted by: Bell., Merc. It antidotes: Merc. Compare: (1) Berb., Lyc., Nat-m., Petr., Sass. (2) 
Saur. - Lizard’s tail - irritation of kidneys, bladder, prostate and urinary passages. Painful and difficult urination, 
cystitis with strangury. (3) Cuc - c. - Watermelon, infusion of the seed acts promptly in painful urination with 
constriction and backache, relieves pain and stimulates flow. Compatible: Hep., All-c., Phos., Rhus-t., Sulph., 
Sep. Complementary: Merc., Sep. Rumbling with sensation of emptiness. Much flatus, rumbling and fermentation. Colic and 
backache at the same time, with diarrhea. Cholera infantum.

## Modalities (Aggravations / Ameliorations)
Better from uncovering neck and chest, warmth. Standing improves difficult urination. Worse at 
the close of urination. Worse from cold, wet, dampness, spring, at night. Worse from touch, pressure, tight 
clothes. Worse motion, sitting, going up and down stairs. Worse scratching, yawning. Worse after urinat ing, 
before menses, from suppressed gonorrhea.

## Symptoms by System

### Mind
- Depression and anxiety from pain.
- Despondent, gloomy without any cause.
- Ill humored and taciturn.
- Sensitive, easily offended.
- Depression and anxiety from pain.
- Despondent, gloomy without any cause.
- Ill humored and taciturn.
- Sensitive, easily offended.

### Head
- Itching and humid eruption of  forehead.
- Moist eruption on scalp.
- Scalp sensitive.
- Crusta lactea 
beginning in face.
- Shooting pain from above right temporal region.
- Pains from occiput to eyes  or to root of 
nose.
- As of a painful tight band around the head.
- Periosteal pains due to venerea l disease.
- Pains cause 
depression.

### Eyes
- Foggy vision, worse seminal emission.
- Itch like eruptions on eyelids.

### Ears
- Words reverberate in ear to the root of nose.

### Face
- Yellow, wrinkled, old looking.
- Eruptions on face and upper lip, worse during menses.

### Mouth
- Aphthae, salivation.
- Offensive breath.
- Metallic taste, no thirst.
- White tongue.
- Pain in jaw, worse 
bending head back.
- Nose - Stoppage for years.
- Swelling at the root of nose.

### Chest
- Breasts - Sore, shriveled breasts.
- Nipples retracted or cracked, small and shriveled.
- Nipples retracted 
before menses.
- Constitutions - Anti-syphilitic and anti - sycotic.
- Suited to children with faces like old people and enlarged 
abdomens, to thin, frail, shriveled, old looking persons.
- To dark -haired persons, and to lithic or sycotic 
diathesis.

### Stomach & Abdomen
- Sensation of emptiness after a meal as while fasting, or else nausea or disgust when thinking of 
what has been eaten.
- Drinking water causes vomiting.

### Urinary & Genital
- Kidneys - Pain from right kidney down ward.
- Kidney colic and painful urination, in infants.
- Child screams 
before and while passing urine.
- Gravel.
- Itching and humid eruption of  forehead.
- Moist eruption on scalp.
- Scalp sensitive.
- Crusta lactea 
beginning in face.
- Shooting pain from above right temporal region.
- Pains from occiput to eyes  or to root of 
nose.
- As of a painful tight band around the head.
- Periosteal pains due to venerea l disease.
- Pains cause 
depression.
- Kidneys - Pain from right kidney down ward.
- Kidney colic and painful urination, in infants.
- Child screams 
before and while passing urine.
- Gravel.
- Bladder - Bladder distended and tender.
- Tenesmus of bladder.
- Urging to urinate before menses.
- Pain at 
meatus, in urethra going back to abdomen.
- Jerking along the urethra.
- Can pass urine only when stand ing, 
urine dribbles while sitting.
- Urine passes in thin, feeble stream.
- Urine scanty, slimy, flaky, sandy, pus, 
bloody.
- Air passes from bladder during urination.
- Crusty urinary sediment.
- Sand on diaper.
- Severe pain at 
conclusion of urination.
- Genitals moist and offensive.
- Itching on scrotum and perineum.
- Herpetic eruption on genitals.
- Syphilis, 
squamous eruption and bone pains.
- Intolerable stench on genitals.
- Bloody semen.
- Spermatic cord painful after 
emission, swollen after unrequited sexual excitement.
- Jerking along urethra.
- Moist eruption and soreness in right groin before menses.
- Menses late and scanty.
- Dysmenorrhea, 
with retracted nipples or sore breast.

### Extremities
- Rheumatism, bone pains, worse at night.
- Rheumatic pains after gono rrhea (Thuj.).
- Paralytic, tearing 
pains.
- Affections of any kind in general in right 
lowerlimb.
- Trembling of hands and feet.
- Burning on sides of fingers and toes, under nails.
- Deep cracks on 
fingers and toes, worse sides.
- Cutting sensation under nails (Pet r.).
- Tetter on hands, ulceration around ends 
of fingers (Psor.).

### Neck & Back
- Emaciation of neck.
- Backache with colic.
- Pain from small of back down the spermatic cord after 
emission.

### Skin
- Emaciated, shriveled, skin lies in folds (Abrot., Sanie.).
- Dry, flabby skin.
- Skin hard, indurated.
- Cracks 
on hands and feet.
- New skin cracks and burns.
- Itching, scaly spots.
- Dr y, itching rash from exposure to open 
air, comes on in spring, becomes crusty.
- Summer cutaneous disorders.
- Herpetic eruptions, ulcers.
- Irritating 
pus.
- Copper-colored eruptions.
- Ecchymoses in old age.
- Edema.

### Sleep
- Yawning.
- Complaints concomitant to yawning.
- Worse when yawning.
- Sleep early in evening.
- Nocturnal 
sleeplessness and frequent waking.
- Frightful dreams.

### Generalities
- As if in a dream.
- Buzzing as if a large bell had been struck in head.
- As if he had been hit with a 
hammer on top of head.
- As of a great weight in head.
- As if breath were stopped by a spasm.
- Breastbone as if 
bruised.
- As if chest were too short.
- Limbs as if paralyzed.
- As if fingertips ulcerated or as if salt were put on a 
wound.