Viburnum opulus
The great anti-spasmodic remedy for cramps. Severe menstrual cramps radiating to thighs. Threatened miscarriage with spasmodic pains. False labor pains. Spasmodic dysmenorrhea. Cramps in legs during pregnancy.
Source
Prepared from the bark of Viburnum opulus (Caprifoliaceae).
Available Potencies
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Keynote Symptoms
Spasmodic, crampy pains — especially uterine. Severe dysmenorrhea with cramps radiating to thighs. Threatened miscarriage with spasmodic cramping. Menses too late, scanty, lasting only a few hours. False labor pains. Cramps in legs during pregnancy. Ovarian pain extending to thighs.
Mind & Emotional Symptoms
Nervous, restless. Cannot sit still during cramps. Irritable. Excitable.
General Symptoms
Anti-spasmodic — uterine and muscular cramps. Worse from lying down, close room, evening, motion. Better from open air, rest, pressure.
Physical Symptoms
Female Genitalia
Severe dysmenorrhea — cramps beginning in back, radiating to front and down thighs. Menses too late, scanty, last only a few hours with excruciating pain. Threatened miscarriage — cramp-like pains. Bearing-down before menses. Ovarian region tender. False labor pains. Leucorrhea, excoriating.
Abdomen
Cramps. Colic. Spasms.
Back
Severe aching in sacrum and lumbar region. Pains radiate from back around to front.
Extremities
Cramps in legs, especially during pregnancy. Thigh pains with uterine cramps.
Urinary
Frequent urination. Spasm of bladder.
Modalities
Better From
Open air, rest, pressure, sitting up
Worse From
Lying down, close room, evening, motion, before menses, overexertion
Constitutional Type
Women with spasmodic dysmenorrhea. Those prone to miscarriage from uterine spasm. Pregnant women with cramps.
Clinical Indications
Dysmenorrhea (spasmodic), threatened miscarriage, false labor, menstrual cramps, leg cramps in pregnancy, ovarian pain
Comparative Materia Medica
Magnesia phosphorica has similar cramps better from warmth and pressure but less specifically uterine. Caulophyllum has uterine spasm but more in labor and with small-joint rheumatism. Cimicifuga has severe dysmenorrhea but with more depression and left-sided ovarian pain.
Safety Information
Not well established.
Cramp bark is widely used in herbal medicine as an antispasmodic. Non-toxic in normal doses. Safe in all potencies and mother tincture.
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