Senega
Remedy of chest catarrh in elderly with rattling and difficult expectoration. Old people with chronic bronchitis — chest full of mucus but cannot expectorate. Eyes sensitive. Promotes expectoration. Useful in emphysema.
Source
Prepared from the dried root of Polygala senega (Polygalaceae).
Available Potencies
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Keynote Symptoms
Chronic bronchitis in elderly — chest full of mucus, rattling, but cannot expectorate. Promotes expectoration. Cough ends in a sneeze. Eyes sensitive — burning, aching. Emphysema with shortness of breath. Thick, tough, tenacious mucus. Loss of voice. Useful as an expectorant tonic in elderly.
Mind & Emotional Symptoms
Dull, confused. Irritable from chest congestion. Depressed.
General Symptoms
Chest and eyes. Worse from walking, open air, rest, cold, touch, mornings. Better from bending head backward, sweating.
Physical Symptoms
Eyes
Burning, aching. Sensitive to light. Dimness. Dry, stinging. Blepharitis. Eyes feel too large.
Throat
Dry, scraping. Hoarseness. Loss of voice.
Respiratory
Chest full of rattling mucus — cannot expectorate. The keynote. Cough ends in sneeze. Promotes expectoration. Chronic bronchitis of elderly. Emphysema. Thick, tough mucus. Dyspnoea.
Chest
Oppression. Soreness. Rattling. Walls of chest sore, bruised.
Modalities
Better From
Bending head backward, sweating, expectoration
Worse From
Walking, open air, rest, cold, touch, mornings
Constitutional Type
Elderly with chronic bronchitis. Emphysema patients. Those who cannot expectorate.
Clinical Indications
Chronic bronchitis in elderly, emphysema, difficult expectoration, hoarseness, eye sensitivity, cough ending in sneeze
Comparative Materia Medica
Antimonium tartaricum has rattling mucus but with more prostration. Grindelia has asthma worse falling asleep. Ipecacuanha has chest mucus with nausea. Kali bichromicum has tough, ropy mucus.
Safety Information
Belladonna, Bryonia.
Senega root contains saponins that are expectorant in small doses and emetic in large doses. Used in pharmaceutical cough preparations. Moderate GI irritation at higher doses. Safe in potentised forms and low-dose tincture.
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