Encyclopedia of Homeopathy

168 • MINOR REMEDIESStrychnos toxiferaCURARECOMMON NAMES Curare, woorali root.ORIGIN Found in South America.BACKGROUND A paralyzing poison wastraditionally extracted by native SouthAmericans from this and other Strychnos speciesfor use on arrows during hunting.PREPARATION The resin is extracted from the treeand macerated in alcohol.Remedy profileThose who respond best to Curare tend to behurried, irritable, and aggressive. They want tobe alone and may behave maliciously towardothers. A loss of moral judgment is alsopossible. They often have a history of self-abuse,perhaps involving biting or hitting themselves,or ripping their clothes. Typically, they can eatonly small amounts of food at a time.Classic symptoms associated with Curareinclude weakness, heaviness, numbness, andpiercing pains. Progressive muscular paralysisand impaired reflex action may also betreated by the remedy.Symptoms better None known.Symptoms worse For dampness; for coldwinds; for cold weather; at 2 a.m.; formovement; on the right side of the body.Sulphur iodatumSULPHUR IOD.COMMON NAME Sulfur iodide.ORIGIN Chemically prepared.BACKGROUND This rather unusual compoundis rarely used in medicine other than forhomeopathic purposes.PREPARATION Sulfur iodide is dissolved ina closed vessel, heated to 140°F (60°C),diluted, and succussed.Remedy profilePeople who benefit most from Sulphur iod. tendto be anxious and doubtful, and are unable tostring coherent ideas together or to remain calmand composed in a working situation.The remedy is prescribed primarily forchronic, itchy skin conditions such as weepingeczema, acne, boils, pustules, urticaria (nettlerash or hives), and lichen planus (pink orpurple raised spots on the wrists, forearms, andlower legs). The body tends to feel cold on theoutside, yet raw and burning hot inside, andsymptoms tend to be worse on waking.Symptoms better For cool air; for winter;for standing.Symptoms worse For heat; prior to a storm; onwaking in the morning; for the slightest exertion.Symphytum officinaleSYMPHYTUMCOMMON NAMES Comfrey, knitbone.ORIGIN Native to Europe and now found intemperate regions worldwide.BACKGROUND This plant had established areputation as early as the 1st century CE forhealing bruises, sprains, fractures, andbroken bones.PREPARATION The fresh root isgathered either before floweringor in the fall, steeped inalcohol, diluted, and succussed.SYMPHYTUMOFFICINALE(Comfrey)Remedy profileSymphytum’s markedaffinity with thebones in herbalmedicine is alsocarried through to its focus inhomeopathy. It is used to heal sprainsand fractured or badly set bones, as well as toease any pricking pain from old injuries to thebone, cartilage, and periosteum (the membranesurrounding the bone), or pain on the site ofan amputation. Abscesses in the psoas muscle(which links the hip and the pelvis) andmalignant bone tumors on the face may also behelped by Symphytum.In addition, the remedy is prescribed to treatpainful eye injuries with strange sensations—forexample, on closing the eyelids, the eyeballsmay feel raised, although there is no visible signof injury. There is frequently a marked tendencyto rub the eyes and great difficulty in openingthe eyelids.Symptoms better For warmth.Symptoms worse For injuries; for a blow to theaffected area; for touch or pressure on theaffected area; for sexual excess; for movement.Taraxacum officinaleTARAXACUMCOMMON NAME Dandelion.ORIGIN Grows wild in temperate climatesworldwide, and is cultivated in Franceand Germany.BACKGROUND Used herbally in the traditionalmedicines of many cultures, includingthose of the West, Middle East, and China,dandelion is particularly well known forits use as a diuretic.PREPARATION The whole plant, including theroot, is picked as the flowers open, choppedfinely, and macerated in alcohol.Remedy profileThose for whom Taraxacum is considered mostappropriate have a tendency to be depressedand mutter to themselves.Key conditions that may benefit from theremedy include digestive disorders, gallbladderinflammation, and gallstones. The classicsymptom picture includes an enlarged,hardened liver, urinary problems, biliousattacks, cramping pains, headaches associatedwith gastric problems, and jaundiced skin.Acidic saliva tends to build up in the mouth,causing raw patches to develop on the tongueand a sensation of dullness in the teeth.Symptoms better For walking; for movement;for touch.Symptoms worse For rest; for standing; forsitting; for fatty foods.Tarentula cubensis syn. Mygale cubensisTARENTULA CUB.COMMON NAME Cuban tarantula.ORIGIN Found in Cuba and the southern US,particularly South Carolina and Texas.BACKGROUND This large, hairy, dark brown spiderhas a bite that can cause blood poisoning inhumans, with symptoms first appearing24 hours after being bitten.PREPARATION The whole, live spider is steeped inalcohol, diluted, and succussed.Remedy profilePeople who respond to Tarentula cub. may bedelirious, extremely restless, and uneasy. They