# Physostigma Venenosum ## Remedy Classification - **Type:** Homeopathic Remedy - **Miasm:** Psoric Miasm - **Temperament:** Chilly - **Aggravation Time:** Morning ## Keynote Indications Source: Derived from the seeds of Physostigma venenosum, commonly known as the Calabar bean,. a plant native to West Africa, prepared for homeopathic use through trituration and serial dilution to. enhance therapeutic action while eliminating material toxicity, in accordance with homeopathic. pharmacopeia standards. Traditional Context: Historically employed in homeopathy for neurological, ocular,. psychological, musculoskeletal, and cardiovascular disorders, particularly those involving. muscle spasms, visual disturbances, and nervous excitability. It is noted for symptoms such as. trembling, dim vision, anxiety, and heart palpitations, often aggravated by heat, motion, or. emotional stress, and ameliorated by rest, cold applications, or quiet environments. Modern Context: Indicated for neurological conditions (e.g., myasthenia gravis, tremors), ocular. conditions (e.g., glaucoma, myopia), psychological conditions (e.g., generalized anxiety disorder,. adjustment disorder), musculoskeletal conditions (e.g., muscle spasms, fibromyalgia), and. cardiovascular conditions (e.g., palpitations, tachycardia). It suits patients with acute or chronic. symptoms characterized by trembling, dim vision, anxiety, muscle spasms, or palpitations,. typically exacerbated by heat, motion, emotional stress, or mental exertion, and often seen in. individuals with sensitive, nervous constitutions. The remedy is particularly relevant for those with. neurological or ocular conditions, often presenting with symptoms like muscle weakness or blurred. vision, commonly observed in patients with myasthenia gravis, glaucoma, or generalized anxiety. disorder triggered by stress, heat, or overexertion. COMMENTS - According to Brunton, the tetanus properties of the bean belong to the alkaloid calabarine. The paralysis, to eserine, or as it is now called, physostigmine. In cases of poisoning, people experience a speedy general paralysis. Death occurs from failure of respiration, although the heart may be poisoned both directly and through its nerves. The paralysis is seated in the spinal cord. The muscles are affected by fluttering tremors. Involuntary muscles are excited to active movements and expulsive efforts. The intestines are often twisted up in knots. All the secretions are somewhat increased. Many provings have been made with Phys., among which a proving made by Christison on himself is remarkable. Simpson and Douglas MacL agan were sent for to attend to him in his collapsed state. Simpson could only compare it to the state produced by severe flooding, though Christison's only sensation was one of “extreme but not unpleasant faintness.” MacLagan thought it a lot like aconit e poisoning. Christison could not get his will into his muscles except by a tremendous effort. Warmth to Christison’s feet and a mustard plaster to his whole abdomen gave great relief and he was then able to turn on his left side, but only remained there a very short time on account of the tumultuous action of the heart it caused. He became drowsy and slept, but his mind was so active in sleep that on awaking he did not know that he had slept. The tumultuous Physostigma venenosum action of the heart continu ed on waking, but strong coffee quickly restored the whole condition and made the heart regular. Indigestion was observed by Christison and many other provers, “as if large pieces of food had been suddenly swallowed.” It began under the upper sternum, desc ending and increasing in intensity until it reached the epigastrium. Belchings then occurred and a reversal of direction followed, the sensation ending where it began. With other provers, there was a sensation of weight and hardness. Christison also experi enced giddiness and dimness of vision. Phys., and its alkaloid eserine, are best known in old school practice for its action on the eye, especially of contracting the pupil. The effects are more definite when the drug (tincture, extract or solution of alka loid) is applied to the eye directly, but one myopic prover had his myopia much diminished. Dudgeon related the case of A. E., 26, struck by the cork of a soda -water bottle on the inferior and outer part of the left eyeball. Intense burning pain and effusion into the eyeball followed. Under Arn., prescribed by Mr. Engall, the effusion disappeared and later the pain and inflammation subsided under Aeon, and Merc -c. The pupil was now egg -shaped, the long diameter perpendicular, smaller end downwards, vision extremely myopic. Bell, dilated the pupil, but it had no ef fect on the vision. Engall sent the patient to Dudgeon, who found the pupil was sluggish and a book had to be held within four inches of the eye to be read. Phys. 3x, every three hours, was given. After the first dose, objects could be seen at a considerable distance and the next day sight was nearly as good as ever. Dudgeon believed that the lens was tilted by the blow and that Phys, restored the over-stretched or paralyzed portion of the ciliary muscle. Woodyatt stated that Phys, produced corneal astigmatism in a young woman who found any attempt at close work caused redness of tarsal edges and a hot, sandy feeling in conjunctiva. Lil-t. 30c cured. For ocular tension, especially when glaucoma has been the result of injury. Eye injuries (Calen., Hyper.). Conjunctivitis with sharp, shooting pains. Pinpoint pupils (Op.). Paralysis of certain eye muscles. Astigmatism. Double vision, severe blurry vision, worse in the right eye. Holes in the field of vi sion. The eye feels full of fluid. Eye problems associated with extreme insomnia. Muscae volitantes. Paralysis and tremors predominate, but also cramps, twitchings, stiffness and tension. Tetanus. Paralysis and numbness is more apparent on the left side, especially in left arm. Nervous disease with extreme tremors or trembling. Paralysis of the spinal cord and respiratory failure. Parkinson's. Guillain -Barre syndrome. Muscular prostration. Polio, diaphragm paralysis (Con.). Labored respiration. Pa ralysis with an inability to get the will into the muscles. Paralytic state of mind and body from grief. Ataxic gait, shooting pains down limbs. Locomotor ataxia. Spinal, sacral and coccygeal pains, with numbness of the womb. One prover noted a feeling of levitation on stepping. Dread of cold water, aversion to bathing. Weakness on change of weather and on cold, bracing days. Sleeplessness. Nash cured with Phys. 12c and 30c persis tent sleeplessness in a patient who had been in an insane asylum and feared she would have to go again. Her symptoms were “If we chanced to get a nap she awoke suddenly as if in a fright and felt no better from what she had slept.” H. L. Chase, another prover, had a “very severe pain in the right popliteal space,” and he afterwards cured a patient who came to him with pain in the same region two years later. Temperature - Cold, clammy skin. Hands and feet cold. Every movement and draft causes shuddering. Creeping, chilly sensation in back. Heat in head and face, flushed and hot. Dry burning in hands. Perspires very easily. Navel, sore, bloated, red. Hy - pogastrium sore, bloated worse standing. Gripe in right hypochondrium. Groins pain alternately. Colicky pains, worse diarrhea, better extending legs. Hunger but can find nothing to sat isfy it. Food has a flat taste. No appetite, disgust for food, tobacco and coffee, and especially for cold drinks. ## Modalities (Aggravations / Ameliorations) Worse from: Heat (weather, rooms, drinks), motion, emotional stress, mental exertion,. night, reading, bright light, exertion, morning, solitude, lying down, cold (in some. musculoskeletal symptoms). ## Symptoms by System ### Mind - The mind is active even during sleep. - Nothing was right. - Too many things in the room, continually counting them. - Paralytic state of mind and body from grief. - The mind is active even during sleep. - Nothing was right. - Too many things in the room, continually counting them. - Paralytic state of mind and body from grief. ### Vertigo - Vertigo, stumbles on ascending or descending steps. - Vertigo with constrictive feeling of head. ### Head - Headache unbearable, worse atnight. - Constant pain on vertex. - Pain over orbits. - Headache, cannot bear to raise eyelids. - Pain from forehead down nose. - As of a band about the head, as of a tight cap on head. - Heartbeats felt in head on lying down. - Cerebro -spinal meningitis, general tetanic rigidity. - Brain, falls to side lain on, wavering in. - Tremors in head. - Headache unbearable, worse atnight. - Constant pain on vertex. - Pain over orbits. - Headache, cannot bear to raise eyelids. - Pain from forehead down nose. - As of a band about the head, as of a tight cap on head. - Heartbeats felt in head on lying down. - Cerebro -spinal meningitis, general tetanic rigidity. - Brain, falls to side lain on, wavering in. - Tremors in head. ### Eyes - Bloodshot eyes with burning. - Muscae volitantes, flashes of light. - Glaucoma, especially afterinjury. - Contraction of pupils. - Visiontiembhng. - Increasing myopia. - Accommodation affected, astigmatism. - Night- blindness, photophobia. - Profuse lachrymation. - Exophthalmus. - Spasm of ciliary muscle with irritability after using eyes. - Post-diphtheria paralysis of eye and accommodation muscles. - Twitching of eye muscles. - Pain over orbits, cannot bear to raise eyelids. - Eyelids tense, cannot close or open them. ### Ears - Sharp, shooting pains in the ears. - Sudden pain from throat to middle ear, worse eructation. - Pain in the ear when writing. - Painful pressure on tympani. - Crawling in left ear. - Sensitive to every sound. - Hissing, buzzing, ringing in the ears. - Fullness. - Stopped feeling. - Partial deafness. ### Face - Face pale, flushings of the face, heat. - Lips numb, licks them. - Lockjaw. - Neuralgic pain in right side of face. - Spastic conditions of the face muscles. - Sensation of cramps or spasms in face. ### Mouth - Bad taste in mouth. - Profuse salivation, thick, leathery saliva. - Tongue feels sore on tip. - Tongue feels oily, scalded, swollen in chorea. - Feeling of loose skin on roof of mouth. - Teeth feel rough. - Dentition stressful in nervous children. ### Throat - Tonsils enlarged, swollen. - Elongated uvula. - Feeling as if a ball came up throat. - Strong heartbeats felt in throat. ### Chest - Palpitations or irregular heartbeat, with a sensation of fluttering or oppression,. - resembling tachycardia, worse with emotional stress, heat, exertion, or lying down,. - often with anxiety or faintness. - Chest tightness or discomfort, with a tendency to pressure or burning, resembling. - angina-like symptoms, aggravated by heat, motion, or stress. - Weak pulse or circulatory instability, with a sensation of faintness or coldness,. - resembling orthostatic hypotension, worse with heat, exertion, or morning. - Tendency to cardiovascular sensitivity, with aggravation in stressed or heated states. - Breasts - Stitches in left breast, unable to draw in breath. - Causations - III effects of emotions, grief. - Injuries, falls, blows, and bathing. ### Stomach & Abdomen - Great pain immediately after eating. - Sensitive to pressure in epigastric region. - Pain extends into chest and down arms. - Gastralgia, chronic constipation. - Hiccough with short break, better from sleep. ### Urinary & Genital - Frequent erections with but slight desire. - Emissions without dreams or excitement. - Strong -smelling sweat about genitals. - Pain as if menses were coming on. - Menses are irregular with palpitations. - Leucorrhea worse during the day, when exercising. - Sighing, worse when leucorrhea is worse. - Metrorrhagia. - Rigid muscles. - Numbness of womb with pain in back. ### Extremities - Muscle spasms or cramps, with a sensation of tightness or jerking, resembling. - muscle cramps, worse with motion, heat, morning, or stress, often with soreness or. - stiffness. - Physostigma (Calabar Bean) 1536. - Stiffness or aching, with a tendency to rigidity or fatigue, resembling fibromyalgia,. - aggravated by heat, exertion, or cold, often with joint pains or twitching. - Weakness or heaviness, with a sensation of dragging or prostration, resembling. - chronic fatigue syndrome, worse with motion, heat, or evening. - Tendency to musculoskeletal irritability, with aggravation in active or heated states. - Cardiovascular:. - Palpitations or irregular heartbeat, with a sensation of fluttering or oppression,. - resembling tachycardia, worse with emotional stress, heat, exertion, or lying down,. - often with anxiety or faintness. - Chest tightness or discomfort, with a tendency to pressure or burning, resembling. - angina-like symptoms, aggravated by heat, motion, or stress. - Weak pulse or circulatory instability, with a sensation of faintness or coldness,. - resembling orthostatic hypotension, worse with heat, exertion, or morning. - Tendency to cardiovascular sensitivity, with aggravation in stressed or heated states. ### Neck & Back - Neck - Pain at base of brain. - Inclination to stretch out neck. - Stiffness in neck. - Rheumatic pains in left neck. - Nose - Fluent coryza, burning and tingling of nostrils, nose stuffed and hot. - Fever blisters around nostrils. - Small boil inside right nostri l. - Nosebleed while at supper. - Smarting at end of nose. - Twitching of muscles of nose. - Tension in skin of nose and forehead. - Perspiration - Easy sweat with excitement. - Copious, cold sweat in drops over whole body. - Strong -smelling sweat around genitals. - Sensitive spine. - Cramp -like stitc hes up and down the spine. - Drawing on turning head. - Creeping numbness from occiput down spine. - Chilly, creeping sensations up back. - Dull pain in back. - Backache in kidney region. - Back very weak, unable to stand erect. ### Sleep - Attacks of overpowering sleepiness with feeling as if to lose consciousness. ### Generalities - Sensations of contraction and tension. - Wavering in brain. - As if she will lose her mind. - Tongue as if burnt, swollen and paralyzed. - As if a ball were coming up throat. - As if stomach were full. - Weak feeling in stomach. - Back as if paralyzed. - Lower limbs as if asleep.