Bulbous buttercup

Vesicular, burning eruption of herpes zoster with sharp, lancinating neuralgic pain following the nerve path

Deep, bruised, aching muscular pain in the chest wall or intercostal spaces, worse with pressure, movement, or coughing (pleurodynia)

Overview. Ranunculus bulbosus is a low perennial buttercup native to Europe and naturalized widely in North America, growing in meadows and disturbed ground. The fresh root and herb, intensely acrid when fresh, were used by nineteenth century eclectic physicians chiefly for herpetic and neuralgic conditions, most notably herpes zoster with its characteristic vesicles and burning nerve pain. It has little presence in modern herbal practice and is used, when at all, only as a well diluted tincture prepared from fresh material.

Clinical Notes. The classic eclectic picture for this remedy is shingles: a band of grouped vesicles with sharp, burning, nerve-line pain, sometimes with residual neuralgia after the eruption fades. Felter and King both mention it for this pattern, and it was also given in very dilute infusion for nursing sore mouth and other irritated oral mucosa, an indication King is recorded as having found useful.

Specific indications and reasoning. (CROWFOOT.) Preparation: Prepare a tincture from the fresh root in the proportion of 5viij. to Alcohol 76° Oj. Dose, the fraction of a drop, very largely diluted with water. The remedy is exceedingly acrid, and must be used with care. Prof. King reports the cure of nursing sore mouth by its internal administration in small doses in infusion. It has also been employed as a stimulant to the vegetative processes, with reported good results. It should be thoroughly tested, and we will be obliged to any one of our readers for a report. Prescribe it in about the following proportion: By Tincture of Ranunculus, gtts. x.; Water, Siv. Dose, a teaspoonful.