# Dulcamara (HMT)

## Remedy Classification
- **Type:** Remedy
- **Alternative Names:** Bitter Sweet
- **Miasm:** Syphilitic Miasm
- **Temperament:** Neutral
- **Aggravation Time:** Neutral/Anytime

## Keynote Indications
Dulcamara is prepared from a pl ant which grows abundantly in the
continents of Europe and America.   Its branches are quite long and
spread out, bearing purple coloured flowers.  Its stem and roots make
the mouth bitter when chewed, but la ter on there is a sweet after-taste
in the mouth.  That is the reason why it is called bitter sweet.  The
homoeopathic medicine prepared from the extract of the fresh plant is
called Dulcamara.

The main function of Dulcamara is  on the inner linings (i.e. the
mucous membranes).  The most sa lient point is that any kind of
sudden change of weather, from hot to cold or from cold to hot, from
moist to dry and vice versa, aff ects the mucous membranes of the
body, especially when the change is very prompt and sudden.  For this
kind of condition, Dulcamara would pr obably be the most appropriate
treatment.  The common cold spreads far and wide during a change
of weather . Dulcamara would certainly be  useful to treat a patient
who catches a cold with every change  of weather, even if the other
symptoms of the patient do not give a clear picture.

After a vigorous game, some player s change their clothes while the
body is still hot.  They develop nasal catarrh.  Similarly, sudden
exposure to hot weather from a cold situation also causes a cold.  The
symptoms get worse at night and on  resting.  The cat arrhal changes
can affect the kidneys, the intestines as well as the stomach, leading to
frequent urination and the onset of  diarrhoea, the reason being the
same (i.e. irritation of the mucous linings of these organs).  The
symptoms aggravate in moist climate and wet weather.

If during summer a person contracts cold while visiting hill stations or
coming back from the hill stations, Dulcamara would certainly be the
indicated treatment.  Some people develop dysentery instead of
diarrhoea on exposure to cold.  This type of dysentery would also be
amenable to Dulcamara. Dulcamara given in high potency works as a
sure preventive measure, so much so that sudden changes in weather
would not affect such patients at all.

Dulcamara will also be useful in treating the symptoms which result
from suppression of sweating on entry into a cold place.

The cold due to Dulcamara starts at  the nose and settles in the eyes.
The eyes become heavy and discharge yellowish liquid.  The
secretion is thin like water.  The ey elids get swollen as  well.  If not
treated adequately with Dulcamara,  the cold becomes chronic.  In
Dulcamara, the cold is usually of dry nature, associated with
blockage of the nose.  The thick ye llow secretion sticks in the nose.
The nasal catarrh returns on exposure to even the sli ghtest cold. The
nose also bleeds.

Dulcamara is also the treatment for chronic ulcers of the inner linings
(mucous membranes), as well as of  the skin.  The eczema like lesions
develop on the skin of the face, which then spread rapidly and get
covered with yellow scabs.  Clusters  of blisters develop and spread
widely.  The similar symptom is well seen in Arsenic also, though
their nature is different.  In Arse nic, the wounds can progress to the
formation of gangrene, although there is no such tendency in
Dulcamara. Dulcamara results in the formation of ulcers over the
superficial bones, which are separated from the outside only by skin
e.g., Shin bone.  Regarding the wounds and sores of Arsenic and
Dulcamara, the difference is that in  Arsenic, there is formation of
lumps similar to those found in plague.  The glands in the armpits
(axilla) also enlarge and pus form s in them.  In Dulcamara, the
enlargement of the glands does not lead to the formation of pus.  They
only get hardened.

In Dulcamara, scabs form over the scalp  which can weep at the
edges.  This symptom is also  found in Mezereum however, in
Mezerum the eczema-type of lesion gets covered with a membrane-
like structure.  Under this structur e, there is formation of pus, which
obviously smells foul.  In Dulcamara,  the symptoms are not as severe
and progressive.

The other remedies that produce ecze ma like signs are Sepia, Arsenic,
Graphites, Petroleum, Sulphur, Calcaria salts and Rhus Tox.  All these
will have to be distinguished on the basis of their peculiar symptoms.
Croton, Anagalis and Anacardium may al so be very useful in treating
such conditions.  The eczematous lesions  of Anagalis, Croton and

Rhus Tox are mostly on the lower part of the body  and around the
thighs, while in Anacardium, the eczema affects the entire body

In Dulcamara, the headache gets worse in the cold and wet weather.
The patient feels light headed.  The head is heavy, and there is pain
on the temple areas .  The ears ache and buzz, affecting the
capability to hear.  The glands arou nd the ears become inflamed.  The
cheeks hurt badly and the pain sp reads towards the ears, eyes and
jaws.  The tongue becomes dry and rough.  Paralysis of the tongue is
also prominent.  The neuralgic pain on the face as described gets
worse on exposure to cold.

The patient hates food.  There is a non-ending urge to drink water.
There is burning in the stomach, along with the tendency for nausea
and vomiting.  The vomiting contains white sticky secretions.  During
the act of vomiting, the patient feels very cold.  On exposure to cold,
the bladder becomes inflamed and irritable , leading to frequent
urination.  There is a constant de sire to pass urine which comes in
drops.

The ailments of Dulcamara are relieved by lying on the side, but
become aggravated on lying on the back or bending forwards.
Movement ameliorates the symptoms, which increase in the evening
and at night.  The symptoms also  get worse during the change of
weather or on getting wet in humid weather or taking cold beverages,
etc.

Adjuvan:  Baryta Carb
Antidote:  Camphor, Cuprum
Potency: 30 to 200

## Symptoms by System