# Spigelia (HMT)

## Remedy Classification
- **Type:** Remedy
- **Alternative Names:** Pink Root
- **Miasm:** Sycotic Miasm
- **Temperament:** Neutral
- **Aggravation Time:** Neutral/Anytime

## Keynote Indications
Spigelia is prepared from a plant called pink root.  It is renowned for
the treatment of neuralgic pains aff ecting the left side of the body.  It
is also of great value in the treatment of joint pains . Patients
suffering from chronic multiple joint pains  become irritable and
hypersensitive.  Spigelia will be very useful in the treatment of these
patients.  Spigelia is highly effec tive in certain heart conditions, such
as inflammation of the outer covering of the heart as well as the
valves of the heart, and rapid heartbeat (tachycardia).  Spigelia is
of immense value for the treatment of  left-sided facial neuralgia.
According to the majority of Homoeopaths, Spigelia can cure any
form of neuralgic pain affecting the neck and the face.  Sometimes,
the pain at the neck and shoulder be comes chronic.  It feels better on
application of hot fomentation.  Th e Spigelia ailments become worse
in cold weather, though the pain as such is of burning and lightning
type, as if the affected part has be en tied with hot burning wires.  The
patient feels hot up to the end of the nerves.  Spigelia should not be
forgotten in this situation.  As far as possible, one should avoid having
injections, etc.  Injection thera py may suppress the condition, but the
wrong choice of injection may inf lict permanent, serious harm.
Spigelia, when effective, needs no supplementation with injections.  If
Spigelia fails then one shoul d look for other appropriate
Homoeopathic remedies.

The neuralgic pain of the eye  (ocular neuralgia) usually arises, on
exposure to cold.  The pain undulates  along the course of the nerves.
The Spigelia pains fleet around, over the entire body.

Spigelia is very useful in the treatment of pericarditis as well as
endocarditis.  Pericarditis means the inflammation of the outer
covering of the heart, causing feve r and tightness in the chest.
Endocarditis means the affliction of the valves of the heart by bacteria,
resulting in fever, difficulty in breathing and dysfunction of the heart.

The neurologic symptoms of Spigelia include a weak memory ,
general indifference, restlessness and confusion.  The patient feels
dizzy on getting up suddenly.  The weakness may be due to increase
or decrease of blood pre ssure, or due to the disturbance of the fluid
level in the internal ear (labyrinth).  Dizziness may sometimes be due
to an ear infection.  De spite severe pain, the pa tient is drowsy.  The
patient feels better on lying down with the head elevated.  The
symptoms of Spigelia become worse on bowing the head forward.

The aches and pains of Spigelia can a ffect the right as well as the left
side of the body.  Yet, Spigelia is considered ideal for the treatment of
left-sided problems.  Sanguinaria is considered useful for the problems
related to the right side of th e body.  The headach e amenable to
treatment with Spigelia begins at th e nape of the neck, and then shifts
to the right or the left side of the head.  It is associated with severe
throbbing and is of undulating type.  The pain may become localized
to the forehead over the right or the left eye.  During the pain, the head
feels tightly tied.  Sometimes, the patient starts having cold sweats due
to the extreme severity of the pain or he may start throwing up.  Such
a patient should be immediately wrapped in a heavy quilt, given hot
black tea and Spigelia be administered to them without delay.

Unusual high sensitivity to pain is  found in Pulsatilla, Hepar Sulph,
Chamomilla and Oxalic Acid.  For details, please refer to the
appropriate chapters.

In Spigelia, the pain is felt in the substance of the nerve.  It is not due
to inflammation or injury to the nerve.  The pain is very severe and
may be externally marked with red lines along the course of the nerve.
It may probably be due to increased blood flow along the nerves.  This
symptom is typical of Spigelia.  Th e red lines are vi sible only on the
affected area.  The pain may be of piercing type and touch is
unbearable.

In Spigelia, the eyes feel big .  The patient cannot  focus the eyesight
and sometimes objects look out of their actual place.  The pain in the
eye is associated with extreme pressure.  The eye hurts on moving the
eyeball.  However, the eye is not red.  Pain without redness indicates
the neuralgic nature of the pain.  One may feel dizzy on trying to
move the eye.

The eyes water and are sensitive to light.  The facial pain may involve
the cheekbones, eyes, teeth and the temple areas.  The pain becomes
worse on bending forwards.  Spigelia is also useful in the treatment of
intestinal worms.

Antidote: Pulsatilla
Potency: 30 or higher

## Symptoms by System