Dulcamara

Chronic, scaly, thickened eczema or psoriasis that is worse in cold, damp weather and better with warmth

Chronic catarrhal or rheumatic complaints that trace back to a history of exposure to cold and dampness

Overview. Solanum dulcamara is a scrambling perennial vine of the nightshade family, native to Europe and western Asia and widely naturalized in damp hedgerows, riverbanks and waste ground across the temperate world. The young dried stems, harvested after the leaves fall, were the part favored by nineteenth century eclectic and physiomedical practitioners, who classed dulcamara among the alteratives for chronic, cold, damp-aggravated skin and catarrhal conditions. Its name reflects the sequence of taste on chewing the fresh stem, bitter followed by a lingering sweetness. It has never held an established place in modern evidence-based herbal practice and is used today, if at all, cautiously and briefly.

Clinical Notes. Historically dulcamara was reached for in chronic, low-grade skin disease, particularly scaly or crusted eczema and psoriasis that worsened in cold, damp conditions and improved with warmth and dry weather, a pattern the old writers considered diagnostic.

Action and Therapy. Dulcamara is an active agent capable of producing poisonous effects. These are those of the belladonna type, differing only in minor particulars. Cutaneous redness and congestion of the kidneys are especially apt to result from immoderate doses.

Therapy. Dulcamara is a remedy for all conditions resulting from suppression of secretion, from exposure to cold and dampness . It will restore normal excretion and secretion. In acute coryza, in bronchial and nasal catarrh, in lung congestion and bronchial cough, with pain in the chest, all from cold, in bronchial asthma, and in acute bronchitis it is an excellent auxiliary remedy.