Arum triphyllum

The fresh corm of Arum triphyllum, a perennial plant native to moist woodlands of North America. It has a three-part leaf (hence triphyllum), a distinctive hooded spathe, and an acrid, pungent root that causes intense irritation to mucous membranes when chewed. Prepared homeopathically, its toxic acridity becomes a potent remedy for destructive mucosal inflammation, ulceration, and irritative fevers.

In crude form, the root has historically been used in Native American herbalism as a topical application for ringworm and respiratory catarrh, but its raw juice is dangerously caustic. Properly dried (which reduces acridity), it was occasionally used as a stimulant or expectorant.

Proved by Dr. Jeanes and others in the United States (1837 onwards), and later expanded by provings recorded in Allen’s Encyclopedia of Pure Materia Medica.

• Mouth and Throat: Intense action on the buccal mucosa, fauces, and tongue, producing rawness, ulceration, and sloughing [Hering].
• Nose: Violent, excoriating coryza, with raw, sore nostrils and upper lip [Allen].
• Larynx and Voice: Hoarseness to complete aphonia from mucosal swelling and ulceration [Clarke].
• Skin: Around the lips, nose, and nostrils — chapping, fissuring, and bleeding due to acrid discharges [Lippe].
• Digestive Tract: Acrid burning in oesophagus and stomach, with aversion to food [Kent].
• Respiration: Irritative cough from raw throat and larynx [Boericke].

• Constant picking of the lips or nose (in children, a palliative behavioural relief) [Hering].
• Cold drinks and cool air when throat is burning [Allen].
• Resting the voice completely during aphonia [Clarke].

• Talking or attempting to sing, which aggravates throat pain [Kent].
• Swallowing liquids more than solids due to mucosal rawness [Allen].
• Warm rooms; the heat increases irritative restlessness [Hering].
• Night and early morning — discharges more profuse, restlessness greater [Clarke].

• Arum maculatum – Similar acrid discharges and ulcerations but less marked in mouth-picking habit.
• Kali bichromicum – Ulceration with thick, ropy discharge, less excoriation than Arum-t.
• Mercurius solubilis – Ulceration with profuse saliva but more offensive breath and metallic taste.
• Rhus toxicodendron – Excoriation with vesicles; more rheumatic restlessness.

• Complementary: Hepar sulphuris, Sulphur.
• Antidotes: Belladonna, Hepar sulphuris.
• Inimical: None noted.
• Follows well: Hepar sulphuris in ulcerated throat states.

Arum triphyllum expresses a picture of intense local irritation, excoriation, and restless aggravation, especially in febrile children. The essence is rawness — of mucosa, skin, and temperament. There is a constant need to relieve the irritation by picking or rubbing, yet the action worsens the condition. It is a destructive, sycotic-syphilitic state, where mucous membranes break down rapidly.

Particularly valuable in scarlet fever with raw, bleeding lips and nostrils; diphtheria with excoriating discharges; hay fever with excoriated nostrils; aphonia from laryngeal inflammation. In children with the habit of picking lips and boring into nose during fevers, this remedy is often curative [Hering, Clarke].

Mind:

• Irritability in children with catarrh
• Restlessness during fever
• Picking at lips and nose

Head:

• Pain, forehead, during coryza
• Congestion with flushed face

Nose:

• Discharge, acrid, excoriating
• Ulcerated nostrils
• Sneezing, frequent, violent

Mouth:

• Ulceration, lips and buccal mucosa
• Tongue, raw, tip and edges
• Speech difficult from soreness

Throat:

• Rawness, fauces
• Hoarseness, aphonia

Skin:

• Excoriation around nostrils and mouth
• Cracks, lips, bleeding

Hahnemann S. – Chronic Diseases: primary proving notes on mucosal irritation.

Hering C. – Guiding Symptoms: extensive clinical notes on excoriating discharges and picking habit.

Lippe A. – Keynotes: characteristic chapped lips and nostrils.

Allen T.F. – Encyclopedia of Pure Materia Medica: proving details of rawness in mouth and throat.

Hughes R. – Cyclopaedia: pharmacodynamic emphasis on acridity of crude root.

Clarke J.H. – Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica: acute and chronic clinical cases.

Kent J.T. – Lectures: mental state and aggravations from speaking.

Boericke W. – Pocket Manual: concise keynote summary of excoriations.

Farrington E.A. – Clinical Materia Medica: comparison with other acrid discharge remedies.

Nash E.B. – Leaders: acute indications in scarlet fever.