Stramonium

Datura stramonium


Origin
Thought to be native to both South America and western Asia, but now found growing in many temperate areas, often on wasteland.
Background
Introduced to Europe in the 16th century, and traditionally used as a narcotic, a painkiller, an anti-inflammatory, and to treat convulsions.
Preparation
The fresh leaves and flowers, or the seeds, are chopped and macerated in alcohol, before being filtered, diluted, and succussed.
Common Names
Thorn apple, devil's apple, stinkweed, false castor oil.
THORN APPLE The alkaloids in thorn apple are poisonous and even deadly if taken in sufficient dosage.

Key Symptoms

anger accompanied by fear; fear of the dark; fear of water; stammering; trembling and convulsions
    A strong hallucinogen, thorn apple was used in the salves of medieval folk healers and in American Indian shamanistic rites. It relaxes the muscles of the bronchial tubes and digestive and urinary tracts, and reduces mucus secretions. Stramonium, proved by Hahnemann and published in his Materia Medica Pura (1821–34), is used for violent brain activity, often due to nervous disorders.

Remedy Profile

People who respond best to Stramonium may experience rage and violence, particularly sudden outbursts accompanied by strong fears. The anger may be rooted in profound fear, following abuse or an accident. The fear may take the form of terror of the dark or of water. Those affected may also manifest hyperactive or overt sexuality. They are prone to stammering, and may have religious delusions, praying and proselytizing incessantly. Sleep may exacerbate symptoms.

Stramonium is prescribed for fevers and chest complaints accompanied by the typical rages and terrors. It is also used, if the characteristic traits are evident, for delirium, tics, convulsions, Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, and other nervous-system disorders.

The remedy is sometimes prescribed to treat chorea and for some serious psychological problems, such as mania, manic depression, and schizophrenia, particularly if they are accompanied by hallucinations or violence.

Fever

Symptoms: High fever with a burning thirst. There may be night terrors, fear of the dark, hallucinations, delirium, or febrile convulsions. The limbs may twitch involuntarily, and the heart and pulse may be "in turmoil."

Symptoms better: For warmth; for light; for company.

Symptoms worse: For cloudy weather; for sleep; for darkness; for being left alone; for looking at shiny, reflective surfaces; for swallowing.

Violence & mania

Symptoms: Excitability with disorientation, confusion, a tendency to violence, and fear of the dark. Writhing, bouts of garrulousness, and incoherent muttering are common, and there may be hallucinations, visions, and imaginary voices. Symptoms may be triggered by the trauma of childbirth, by alcoholism or drug addiction, or by more serious conditions such as schizophrenia.

Symptoms better: For warmth; for light; for company.

Symptoms worse: For touch; for darkness; for looking at shiny, reflective objects; for looking at dark water.

Chorea

Symptoms: Involuntary, jerky, twitches of the face, limbs, or trunk, often with stuttering. Symptoms may be caused by extreme fright, a head injury, a bad reaction to vaccination, or meningitis. In extreme cases there may be facial grimacing, convulsions, or epilepsy.

Symptoms better: For warmth; for light; for company.

Symptoms worse: For windy weather; for touch; for looking at shiny, reflective objects; for looking at dark water.

Asthma

Symptoms: Breathlessness, tightness in the chest, or a dry, wheezy cough. Attacks occur with, or after, fits of intense rage or fear.

Symptoms better: For warmth; for light; for company.

Symptoms worse: For darkness; in the morning; in the evening; for looking at dark water.

Bronchitis

Symptoms: Wheezing that is associated with shortness of breath, or a cough that generates yellow or green phlegm. Strong fear or anger may trigger or exacerbate the symptoms.

Symptoms better: For warmth; for light; for company.

Symptoms worse: For darkness; in the morning; in the evening; for looking at dark water.


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