Encyclopedia of Homeopathy

MAJOR PLANT REMEDIES• 63Strychnos nux-vomicaNUX VOMICAKEY SYMPTOMS irritability • overly critical nature • tendency to behighly driven and ambitious • chilliness • desire for rich foods andstimulants • indigestion and constipation • sleeplessnessThe poison-nut tree was brought to Europe from southeast Asia in the15th century. Strychnine, the toxic alkaloid from its seeds, was famousas a poison before 17th-century physicians discovered its stimulatingeffect on the digestive and nervous systems. Small doses can be diuretic,stimulate the appetite, and aid digestion, but excessive amounts can befatal. Nux vomica was proved by Hahnemann in 1805.REMEDY PROFILENux vomica is chiefly linked to workaholicpersonalities who drive themselves to stressand excess. Ambitious and pushy, theythrive on challenges, and often work inentrepreneurial or managerial jobs. Thetypical pattern is of someone who isoversensitive and intolerant of criticism,yet perfectionist and often very critical ofothers. Such highly driven people tend tooverload their bodies at play as well as atwork. They tend to have high sex drives,consume too much rich food, coffee, andalcohol, and abuse drugs. This indulgencecan create tension and sleeplessness, andoften leads to digestive disorders (mostseriously, peptic ulcers, irritable bowelsyndrome, or liver problems when the bodycan no longer keep up with the lifestyle).If the profile matches, Nux vomica is givenfor irritability, insomnia, digestivesymptoms, colds and influenza, asthma,cystitis, and menstrual or pregnancyproblems. Typically symptoms are worsefor cold, noise, light, and odors.Irritability & insomniaSYMPTOMS Hangover-like symptoms, withdisrupted sleep and great irascibility, due toan excessive lifestyle with too much alcohol,coffee, or other stimulants. A headache thatfeels as if a nail has been driven into theforehead is typical, as is waking at around4 a.m. feeling very irritable and unable tosleep again until morning.Symptoms better For warmth; for rest;for hot drinks.Symptoms worse For cold; for open air;for noise; for light; for strong odors.Digestive disordersSYMPTOMS Indigestion, and vomiting withpainful retching. Diarrhea is accompanied byabdominal cramps, and nausea by colicky pain.Constipation may make it difficult to empty thebowel fully. Hemorrhoids and constipation maybe due to rectal spasms. The abdomen is oftenbloated and flatulent. There may be cravings forstimulants or spicy, fatty, or rich foods, eventhough these only aggravate symptoms.Symptoms better For warmth; for resting;for sleep; for firm pressure on the abdomen;in the evening.Symptoms worse For cold; for touch; for noise;for mental overexertion; for repressingemotions; between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m.;for stimulants; for eating; for spicy foods.Colds & influenzaSYMPTOMS Runny catarrh by day, especiallyin warm rooms, but a blocked nose at night.There may be sneezing, a sore throat and dry,tickly cough, headaches, and watery, sensitiveeyes, or influenza with aching muscles anda shivery fever.Symptoms better For warmth; for sleep;for being left alone; in the evening.Symptoms worse For cold, dry weather;for touch; for noise; for overexertion; between3 a.m. and 4 a.m.Women’s healthSYMPTOMS Cystitis with spasmodic pain in thebladder, and a frequent but ineffectual urge tourinate. Early, irregular, or heavy menstruationwith cramping pains is treated with theremedy, as is menstruation preceded byfaintness, and premenstrual syndrome with aviolent temper. In pregnancy Nux vomica maybe used to help ease fatigue, frequentSEEDSPOISON-NUT TREE In large doses, the strychninepresent in this plant induces intense spasms ofthe diaphragm, causing respiration to cease,leading to death by suffocation.SOURCE DETAILSTWIGLeaves, seeds,and bark all containthe poison strychnineButtonlike seeds areobtained from fruit of treeORIGINNative to southeast Asia, the tree grows insandy soil in dry forests of India, Burma,Thailand, China, and Australia.BACKGROUNDA rat poison in medieval Europe, and alsoused to treat the plague. Indian herbalistsuse the bark to treat cholera, and in Nepalit is prescribed for menstrual problems,rabies, and paralysis.PREPARATIONThe dried, ripe seeds are steeped in alcoholfor at least five days, before being filtered,diluted, and succussed.COMMON NAMESPoison-nut tree, Quaker buttons (seeds),nux vomica, vomit weed.urination, numbness in the arms, leg cramps,constipation, and morning sickness.Symptoms better For warmth; for sleep;in the evening; for firm pressure on theaffected area; for being left alone; forwashing; for warm compresses.Symptoms worse For mental overexertion;for touch; for noise; for stimulants; for eating;for spicy foods.See also Headaches, page 218; Indigestion, page 234; Irritability, page 244; Cystitis, page 260; Morning sickness, page 262