Veratrum Drug Picture in Homoeopathy
This article has been compiled by Dr. Saloni Jain and Dr. Viraj Shah about the popular drug Veratrum Family.
Veratrum Drug Picture in Homoeopathy
Key Symptoms of Veratrum
• profuse diarrhea
• vomiting with exhaustion
• cold perspiration
• blue-tinged skin
• fainting
• hyperactivity or melancholy
Origin of Veratrum
Grows in mountainous areas, damp meadows, and open woodlands in central and southern Europe, northern Asia, and north Africa.
Background of Veratrum
Reputedly used by the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates to cure a young Athenian who had contracted cholera.
Preparation of Veratrum
The fresh root is dug up before flowering, chopped, macerated in alcohol, and succussed.
Common names of Veratrum
White hellebore, false hellebore.
Extremely toxic in all its parts, white hellebore was reputedly used in ancient Rome on the tips of weapons. Its toxicity has limited white hellebore's role in herbal medicine, although the plant has been used in insecticides and veterinary medicine. The remedy was proved by Hahnemann between 1826 and 1830. Along with Camphor, it was successfully used to treat victims of the 19th-century cholera epidemic in Europe, helping to make Hahnemann's reputation.
Veratrum alb. is thought to work best on those who appear restless, self-righteous, overly critical, haughty, melancholy, and solitary, or who loathe being alone. A hyperactive or manic state, possibly with repetitive behavior, may be evident in people who are best suited to this remedy. Typical physical symptoms include a poor immune system; extremely cold skin and perspiration, with chilliness possibly extending to the breath and tongue; a blue pallor; a rapid pulse; weakness; anemia; extreme thirst; or cravings for fruit or ice cream.
Symptoms tend to become worse for damp cold, at night, following a bowel movement, and after eating fruit. The remedy is usually given for debilitating gastrointestinal problems with severe vomiting and diarrhea. It is also used to treat collapse and some psychological problems.
Mind of Veratrum
- MENTAL OVER-STIMULATION.
- Intellectual precocity.
- RESTLESSNESS. Tremendous hyperactivity. Need for motion.
- Senseless, repetitive behavior out of internal restlessness,like cutting or tearing things, into smaller and smaller pieces.
- Inquisitive.
- CRITICAL. Hardhearted. Cursing.
- Haughty.
- Never happy with SOCIAL POSITION. Feel they deserved better.
- Jealous.
- Mania. RELIGIOUS DELUSIONS. ERRORS OF IDENTITY. Thins he is Christ or appointed by God. Thinks he is a chosen person, send - Erotic mania. exhibitionism. Kisses everyone.
- Anxiety about salvation.
- Gloomy before menses.
- Waking with screaming from nightmares.
- Lies, does not know what he is saying.
Generalities
- CHILLY. Internal coldness, as if ice-water in the veins.
- agg. COLD.
- WEAKNESS. COLLAPSE WITH COLDNESS, COLD PERSPIRATION.
Food and drinks sensation of Veratrum
- Desire: SOUR, UNRIPE FRUIT, SALT, highly seasoned, ICE, COLD DRINKS, cucumber, herring, sardines, anchovies.
- agg. Fruit, cold water.
Head complaints of Veratrum
- COLD PERSPIRATION ON FOREHEAD (Carb-v, Op) or vertex.
- Neuralgic pains with weakness, vomiting, collapse, cold perspiration.
- Cold sensation of vertex.
Ear complaints of Veratrum
- Ears alternating hot and cold.
Nose complaints of Veratrum
- Cold tip.
Face complaints of Veratrum
- Pale, cold.
- Lips cold and blue.
Mouth complaints of Veratrum
- Cold breath (Camph, Carb-v).
- Tongue pale, cold.
Teeth complaints of Veratrum
- Grinding.
Throat complaints of Veratrum
- Sensation that water is running down on the outside when drinking.
Stomach complaints of Veratrum
- VOMITING AND DIARRHEA SIMULTANEOUSLY, WITH COLD PERSPIRATION, WEAKNESS (Ars).
- PROJECTILE VOMITING.
- Thirsty.
- Cold feeling in stomach.
Abdomen complaints of Veratrum
- Cold feeling.
- Cramps. Distention. Colic.
Rectum complaints of Veratrum
- DIARRHEA: agg. During chill, during menses, motion.
Profuse, watery, forceful.
WITH VOMITING, COLDNESS, PROSTRATION (Ars).
Female genitalia complaints of Veratrum
- Desire increased, agg. before menses.
- Dysmenorrhea: with coldness, prostration. vomiting and diarrhea.
Respiration complaints of Veratrum
- Asthmatic agg. cold, damp weather, amel. bending head back.
Chest complaints of Veratrum
- Sensation of coldness in the chest.
- Pneumonia. Chronic bronchitis.
Extremities complaints of Veratrum
- COLD. BLUE. Raynaud.
- Blue nails.
- Jerks, twitches. Cramps.
- Rheumatic pain agg. cold, wet weather, warmth of bed,
amel. walking up and down.
Classification of Veratrum
Botanists differ as to the taxonomic composition of this very diverse and large family. Different authorities have recognised between 12 and 28 tribes within the family.