As it is soon to be Halloween (all soul's even) I thought we could have some fun. Apologies to those who do not celebrate this occasion.
Halloween is a gaelic celebration of the end of summer, the end of the lighter side of the year as we enter into the darker side - a time of harvest to keep nourished through sparse times. It is seen as a fragile time of division when good and bad spirits can pass through as well, hence the 'all soul's even' - but still a time to ward off those evil spirits with the dressing up in costumes and masks and carrying out certain festivities, many of which involve vampires, wolves, witches, skeletons, magic, black cats - you get the picture, it is a fusion of horror and hope fuelled by a fear of famine and getting through the dark side once more. The idea is to ward off fear with more fear. Similia.
These rituals, although now quite trivialised, are ancient and, depending on your culture, have been instilled within us and hence the real fears and phobias that can emerge in regard to wolves, vampires, witches, black cats and the like.
I am particularly interested in Wiccaphobia - the fear of witches and the group of remedies where this appears, that being the Solanum group (there are other rx where this occurs).
There are many remedies within the Solanum (Solanaceae) group –
Atropinum
Belladonna
Capsicum
Datura
Dulcamara
Fabiana
Franciscea
Hyoscyamus
Lycopersicum
Mandragora
Stramonium
Tabacum
Withania
but I would like to offer an insight into 3 remedies that have this connection to witches, either through fear or dreams.
Solanum tuberosum
Solanum tuberosum aegrotans
Mandragora
The remedies in the Solanum group are all remedies of terror in some form or another. Nearly all of them contain some deliriant alkaloid that causes this. Common to the whole group are symptoms that have a violence and suddenness to them and pains/sensations are characteristically spasmodic, jerking, shooting, choking. There is a lot of rage and blackness and fear of sudden death. Opposite to this, understandably, is stupor, fainting and unconsciousness that represents an escape from the turbulence. To complete the triad of active, passive and compensatory states there exists a cheerful and vivacious energy that allows them to be courageous in the face of adversity - a kind of adrenal excess.
The chain reaction begins with an initial disturbance of being poisoned which is akin to being disillusioned, bitter and resentful. This ‘poison’ sets up the turbulence –
Destruction (solanum tub aeg – the rotten potato)
Loquacity (solanum tub aeg)
Censorial and critical (solanum tub aeg)
Euphoria alternating with depression (mandragora)
Fearful – a huge collection of extreme fears and delusions including the fear and dreams of witches.
These delusions and fears are the innermost focal point of the group.
It would be very easy to get into a realm of psychobabble speculation about why anyone would be fearful of witches, it will always depend on the individual case. I will also leave it to yourself to research the history of Wicca, Witchcraft and its festivities, if you so wish. Suffice it to say that a probable cause of the fear of witches is linked with that of 'being accused' - a deep and dark negativity about being blamed for some wrong doing (whether true or not, is neither here nor there). This developed state comes with significant fear, believing they will die suddenly; they have frightful dreams or dream of death with violent weeping and of course the dreams about witches.
So, caught up in the turmoil with no respite terminates into an inability to express themselves appropriately –
Loquacity (solanum tub aeg)
Depressive psychosis (mandragora)
Stammering (solanum tub)
Constantly spitting (solanum tub)
Hurried breathing (solanum tub)
Unable to concentrate (mandragora)
Escape comes in the form of –
Lost consciousness (solanum tub and solanium)
Sleep (mandragora, solanum tub aeg, solanum)
Prolapse (solanum tub aeg)
Developing pathology includes -
Tumours (solanum tub, mandragora)
Convulsions (solanum tub, mandragora)
Amaurosis (solanum tub)
Prolapse (solanum tub aeg)
Swellings (solanum tub aeg)
Congestive headaches/migraines (mandragora)
Gall bladder disease (mandragora)
Pancreatitis and digestive ulcers (mandragora, solanum tub aeg)
Nearly all have violent gastric ailments - fear of being poisoned? They are all poisonous.
The legend of the Mandrake is from it being named the 'insane root'. There is an age old story of the root sending out a 'scream' when it is pulled from the earth. As with other rx in this group there is intense hyper-excitability of the senses and this includes the sexual energies as well - again common to this group. There is a host of history to be studied along these lines for Mandragora. Impotence and infertility come through the provings.
Of all the group remedies Mandragora has the strongest link to witchcraft. I know that many don't have much faith in wiki but these references here are very interesting:-
Mandragora
I particularly liked the link to an X- File episode :-)
Solanum tub is possibly more of an acute remedy. It has violent colic. It plummets into coma, or near coma, showing signs of Trismus, spitting (has to be linked to hydrophobia and rabies - has dreams of dogs!) and paralysis.
Solanum tub aeg is a most discontented remedy. Extremely censorious, anxious, loquacious, fearful and restless. The focus is often that of always being ill, no peace anywhere.
All these remedies have a sense of 'being rotten' about them, all have bad odours. This brings us back to the 'fear of being accused' or 'having done wrong' and the core is that of feeling rotten, full of decay and not worthy of anything, feelings of shame.
All these remedies are sleepy, almost overpoweringly so and dreams feature a lot. It is as if being sleepy is a peaceful state for these remedies but the dreams bring their own terror.
Solanum tub dreams of dogs and other animals; being mutilated; of witches; of cannibals. Solanum tub aeg dreams of pools of blood; fires; revolution; corpses; dreams of an amorous nature; bodily transformations; acting; witches; magic; eating human flesh; dead bodies; drowning; being disconnected; swimming; fires; being cut to pieces - and more, if this isn't enough. Mandragora dreams of coffins; bones; dead bodies; mutilation; fires; waterfalls, and many more as well as a vast array of delusional states along the same lines.
As I said these are remedies of terror they are not happy, they are lonely, stand accused, borderline psychotic and in need of help.
Happy Halloween!
Joy
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Preservation Order - Kreosotum
Some of the MM's mention this as being the flesh preserver and it is no coincidence that Kreosote is well known for preserving and yet its sx picture is that of destruction and of eating the flesh away. Easy to see the syphilitic miasm mainly with all the destruction, although Sankaran places this rx in the cancer group, but this could be viewed as end stage cancer where ulceration and decay is the final stage.
Kreosote is obtained through burning so expect all the types of pains associated with burning such as excoriation, heat, acrid, smarting, salty, inflamed, corrosive itching, burnings as of hot coals, and the appearance will be red, swollen, bleeding, ulcerative, gangrenous, degenerative and destructive. All very visible as kreosote has a lot of discharges, it is as though there is a liquifying of the internal organs and they begin to drip outwards - a kind of internal decomposition. There is a feeling as if everything is dragging down and out, through the genitals and down the thighs.
Discharges thus are profuse, usually foul, putrid smelling, lumpy, bloody, purulent. The body has feelings of pulsations or buzzings and it is as if this is a pump pushing the discharges outward. On the external surfaces you have eczema and acne, working its way inward in the same ulcerative and corrosive manner. The teeth are often the first sign of this decay - they rapidly decay, gums bleed, teeth appear with a great deal of pain and then they crumble before they have time to develop - a sure sign of congenital syphilis.
An important modality is the need to eat, fasting <<<, as though there is a need for food and nutrition to also preserve. There is a craving for smoked meats and as you'd expect there is a great thirst.
The theme of burning and smoke continue on the emotional and mental sphere - there are dreams about fire and about being pursued. They do not like to be touched (they would disintegrate) - a great deal of fear and anxiety is to be expected, they make themselves very busy as a distraction - it is also one of the rx that believes they are well when actually very sick (Arnica), this also acts as a distraction. You might also see silly behaviour as well such as laughing or being too cheerful or excited, again this is a distraction and also an indication of the move towards something such as insanity that you would expect in the syphilitic range.
It is one of the remedies where music plays an important role - I believe this is an indication of their profound sensitivity considering what is going on (I prescribed this once to a toddler who had the most appalling teeth, always in a lot of pain and crying a great deal with the pain but music always seem to change the crying, it became more mellow and softer.
One curious sx is they have a delusion that things are growing taller - I am not really sure about this and logically this probably reflects a sx of vertigo with falling, possibly a sight impairment or the later potential of insanity but it could also be that being taller represents growth within the looming despair of their destruction.
Kreosote is obtained through burning so expect all the types of pains associated with burning such as excoriation, heat, acrid, smarting, salty, inflamed, corrosive itching, burnings as of hot coals, and the appearance will be red, swollen, bleeding, ulcerative, gangrenous, degenerative and destructive. All very visible as kreosote has a lot of discharges, it is as though there is a liquifying of the internal organs and they begin to drip outwards - a kind of internal decomposition. There is a feeling as if everything is dragging down and out, through the genitals and down the thighs.
Discharges thus are profuse, usually foul, putrid smelling, lumpy, bloody, purulent. The body has feelings of pulsations or buzzings and it is as if this is a pump pushing the discharges outward. On the external surfaces you have eczema and acne, working its way inward in the same ulcerative and corrosive manner. The teeth are often the first sign of this decay - they rapidly decay, gums bleed, teeth appear with a great deal of pain and then they crumble before they have time to develop - a sure sign of congenital syphilis.
An important modality is the need to eat, fasting <<<, as though there is a need for food and nutrition to also preserve. There is a craving for smoked meats and as you'd expect there is a great thirst.
The theme of burning and smoke continue on the emotional and mental sphere - there are dreams about fire and about being pursued. They do not like to be touched (they would disintegrate) - a great deal of fear and anxiety is to be expected, they make themselves very busy as a distraction - it is also one of the rx that believes they are well when actually very sick (Arnica), this also acts as a distraction. You might also see silly behaviour as well such as laughing or being too cheerful or excited, again this is a distraction and also an indication of the move towards something such as insanity that you would expect in the syphilitic range.
It is one of the remedies where music plays an important role - I believe this is an indication of their profound sensitivity considering what is going on (I prescribed this once to a toddler who had the most appalling teeth, always in a lot of pain and crying a great deal with the pain but music always seem to change the crying, it became more mellow and softer.
One curious sx is they have a delusion that things are growing taller - I am not really sure about this and logically this probably reflects a sx of vertigo with falling, possibly a sight impairment or the later potential of insanity but it could also be that being taller represents growth within the looming despair of their destruction.
Monday, June 09, 2008
Colchicum autumnale – do not interrupt me
Colchicum is a beautiful autumn crocus. It has a thin and very unstable looking stem with no leaves for support making it appear fragile but when grown in masses the group seem to hold each other up but when grown singly inclement weather soon topples the plant right over. From this we could begin to understand how Colchicum needs ‘the group’ to feel as if they belong – there is a need to have support of some kind to remain upright and if this is not available the diseased state will be characterised by feeling left out and excluded. They do not like the status quo to be disturbed, and yet there is a strong sensitivity within this remedy that requires a constant need to adjust. This contradiction is seen by disturbing the status quo they are upset by this, it disturbs the group and yet they need frequent adjustment otherwise they feel trapped by the group.
How does Colchicum show this by way of symptoms?
The most well known disturbance with Colchicum is the extreme reaction to smells, especially that of food and even more specifically fish and eggs. They can go so far as to crave these substances but when they smell them they collapse, can faint or at least very nauseous – need but then reject.
Prostration comes also in the form of colitis or dysentery type symptoms. There will be mucous, blood, pain, prolapse, diarrhoea and yet also an ineffectual urging whereby the stool cannot be expelled – hanging on. The stomach and rectum symptoms will always be <<< by strong smells. Icy coldness is felt in the stomach and the abdomen distended and continuously rumbling. Interestingly they desire fizzy drinks (like Phos-ac) as if the effervescence provides an acceptable stimulation. One form of collapse that does ameliorate is bending over forward – this they will do (like Colocynthis) to >>> the pains in the abdomen or stomach.
Colchicum affects the joints, mainly the small ones and has an affinity to muscles, fibrous tissue and gout type symptoms are common. Muscles give way in a relaxed manner and again there is a tendency to collapse. Motion or any type of exertion <<< (fearful of moving away) and so they will hang on to prevent movement. Even being touched will cause paroxysms of pain and discomfort. The intense pains are due to the alkaloid Colchicine and pains can be tingling, crawling, dragging, tearing, drawing, electric shock like, stinging, or sharp.
There is an affinity to the uric acid diathesis and you can also picture this as an accumulation that is difficult to break up as it forms stones and gouty swellings. Urine is usually highly coloured – anything from pale yellow through to dark red and even black!
It is easy to understand that the backbone comes into the symptom picture. The whole back aches and requires pressure and stillness so as to avoid collapse.
They are concerned about their public image. To be accepted as part of the group they feel it is their duty to behave correctly (in an upright manner) and do not tolerate well the bad behaviour of others – this too disturbs the status quo.
They do not like to be interrupted as this also disturbs the status quo, they lose their train of thought and forget everything, thinking becomes clouded. They can get quite irritable with this.
They rarely complain about their pains as this also interferes with the passive state so they appear to be quite indifferent to their plight. If not indifferent the they will play to being cheerful and unperturbed.
In the same manner they do not like it when people argue or fight, they want peace and for all to be cared for and behave properly (like the Magnesiums) – this peace must not be interrupted by anything whether it be bad behaviour or bad smells, exertion, touch, changing weather (remember this is an autumnal plant), even vibrations (one of the pain sensations is that of electric shock).
The sleep is disturbed – dreams of animals mainly but also that someone is under the bed. This is another expression of disquiet and disturbance that will need to be dealt with and loss of sleep does not do well for them because the mind becomes over active, overly disturbed.
Anything that interrupts is going to create a strong reaction and yet there will always be a need to adjust or modify, shift, so as to maintain peace. Powerless, needing the support, cannot tolerate disturbance and yet needs adjustment.
How does Colchicum show this by way of symptoms?
The most well known disturbance with Colchicum is the extreme reaction to smells, especially that of food and even more specifically fish and eggs. They can go so far as to crave these substances but when they smell them they collapse, can faint or at least very nauseous – need but then reject.
Prostration comes also in the form of colitis or dysentery type symptoms. There will be mucous, blood, pain, prolapse, diarrhoea and yet also an ineffectual urging whereby the stool cannot be expelled – hanging on. The stomach and rectum symptoms will always be <<< by strong smells. Icy coldness is felt in the stomach and the abdomen distended and continuously rumbling. Interestingly they desire fizzy drinks (like Phos-ac) as if the effervescence provides an acceptable stimulation. One form of collapse that does ameliorate is bending over forward – this they will do (like Colocynthis) to >>> the pains in the abdomen or stomach.
Colchicum affects the joints, mainly the small ones and has an affinity to muscles, fibrous tissue and gout type symptoms are common. Muscles give way in a relaxed manner and again there is a tendency to collapse. Motion or any type of exertion <<< (fearful of moving away) and so they will hang on to prevent movement. Even being touched will cause paroxysms of pain and discomfort. The intense pains are due to the alkaloid Colchicine and pains can be tingling, crawling, dragging, tearing, drawing, electric shock like, stinging, or sharp.
There is an affinity to the uric acid diathesis and you can also picture this as an accumulation that is difficult to break up as it forms stones and gouty swellings. Urine is usually highly coloured – anything from pale yellow through to dark red and even black!
It is easy to understand that the backbone comes into the symptom picture. The whole back aches and requires pressure and stillness so as to avoid collapse.
They are concerned about their public image. To be accepted as part of the group they feel it is their duty to behave correctly (in an upright manner) and do not tolerate well the bad behaviour of others – this too disturbs the status quo.
They do not like to be interrupted as this also disturbs the status quo, they lose their train of thought and forget everything, thinking becomes clouded. They can get quite irritable with this.
They rarely complain about their pains as this also interferes with the passive state so they appear to be quite indifferent to their plight. If not indifferent the they will play to being cheerful and unperturbed.
In the same manner they do not like it when people argue or fight, they want peace and for all to be cared for and behave properly (like the Magnesiums) – this peace must not be interrupted by anything whether it be bad behaviour or bad smells, exertion, touch, changing weather (remember this is an autumnal plant), even vibrations (one of the pain sensations is that of electric shock).
The sleep is disturbed – dreams of animals mainly but also that someone is under the bed. This is another expression of disquiet and disturbance that will need to be dealt with and loss of sleep does not do well for them because the mind becomes over active, overly disturbed.
Anything that interrupts is going to create a strong reaction and yet there will always be a need to adjust or modify, shift, so as to maintain peace. Powerless, needing the support, cannot tolerate disturbance and yet needs adjustment.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
new homeopathy study group
This group will study Hahnemann's methods and work as well as many other great contributors to homeopathy; we will study cases, materia medica, repertory work, booklists, establish specific classes on relevant homeopathic subjects, learn how to take the case both acute and chronic and much more. There will be no moderation, anyone can join as long as they are willing to contribute along these lines and keep the group happy and healthy :-)
Come and enjoy.
study group
Come and enjoy.
study group
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Remedies in a Pod
This is just to let readers know that I am now offering podcasts of various remedies on my website
Click on the 'podcast' page to listen
Makes for good bedtime listening :-)
Click on the 'podcast' page to listen
Makes for good bedtime listening :-)
Sunday, July 01, 2007
Hear, hear
HEARING ILLUSIONS
Nearly every remedy will have some kind of noise or sound within the ear - the stranger it is the easier it is to repertorise. It is important to cross reference with noises in the ear. Some of these illusions might be 'felt' within other parts of the body or mind and contribute to the essence of the whole symptom picture. Here I am just going to list some of the more unusual illusions.
REMEDIES
ABSINTHIUM - hysterical - associated with demons; falling noises; distorted; can hear their own heart beat in the ear.
BELLADONNA - hears own voice inside ear; animal noises; hear people murmuring, cockroaches.
CANNABIS INDICUS - hears water boiling; people singing; sweet toned bells; cathedral choir; people shouting; vehicles; marching soldiers; a sigh turns into a clap or thunder.
CHAMOMILLA - hears running water; voices of absent people, birds fluttering in the ears.
COFFEA - hears a swarm of bees; all noise is painful; distant sounds seem near; music is always too loud or sharp.
CROTALUS HORRIDUS - hears voices, animals, noise is distorted.
ELAPS CORALLINUS - hears rain; voices; roaring noises.
HYOSCYAMUS - hears animals; calling for people; peacocks; imaginary noises; voices.
KALIUM ARSENICOSUM - hears voices; imagines deafness.
LYSSIN - hears church bells; rushing water, voices, clairaudient.
MEDORRHINUM - hears unreal noises, voices, things crawling around; rats.
NAJA - hears imaginary sounds; whizzing noises; windmill oars turning.
STRAMONIUM - hears animals; music; voices of absent people; distant voices; water; wind.
THEA - hears the ringing of a doorbell.
Nearly every remedy will have some kind of noise or sound within the ear - the stranger it is the easier it is to repertorise. It is important to cross reference with noises in the ear. Some of these illusions might be 'felt' within other parts of the body or mind and contribute to the essence of the whole symptom picture. Here I am just going to list some of the more unusual illusions.
REMEDIES
ABSINTHIUM - hysterical - associated with demons; falling noises; distorted; can hear their own heart beat in the ear.
BELLADONNA - hears own voice inside ear; animal noises; hear people murmuring, cockroaches.
CANNABIS INDICUS - hears water boiling; people singing; sweet toned bells; cathedral choir; people shouting; vehicles; marching soldiers; a sigh turns into a clap or thunder.
CHAMOMILLA - hears running water; voices of absent people, birds fluttering in the ears.
COFFEA - hears a swarm of bees; all noise is painful; distant sounds seem near; music is always too loud or sharp.
CROTALUS HORRIDUS - hears voices, animals, noise is distorted.
ELAPS CORALLINUS - hears rain; voices; roaring noises.
HYOSCYAMUS - hears animals; calling for people; peacocks; imaginary noises; voices.
KALIUM ARSENICOSUM - hears voices; imagines deafness.
LYSSIN - hears church bells; rushing water, voices, clairaudient.
MEDORRHINUM - hears unreal noises, voices, things crawling around; rats.
NAJA - hears imaginary sounds; whizzing noises; windmill oars turning.
STRAMONIUM - hears animals; music; voices of absent people; distant voices; water; wind.
THEA - hears the ringing of a doorbell.
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