GELSEMIUM


Homeopathic remedy Gelsemium from A Manual of Homeopathic Therapeutics by Edwin A. Neatby, comprising the characteristic symptoms of homeopathic remedies from clinical indications, published in 1927….


      Gelsemium sempervirens. Yellow Jessamine N.O.Loganiaceae.

PATHOGENESIS

      GELSEMIUM contains a mixture of two or more alkaloids known as gelseminine, which is the active principle of the drug. It acts powerfully on the motor nervous system, both voluntary and involuntary, congesting it and causing depression of nervous function, ultimately going on to paralysis. Death is brought about by gradual depression of the respiratory centre, resulting in asphyxia, and in mammals this occurs before paralysis of the motor nerves is complete. It paralyses the inhibitory cardiac fibres and the chorda tympani through acting on the ganglionic nerve fibres in their course and not on their extreme terminations as is the case with atropine. Locally applied in solution to the eye it causes complete paralysis of accommodation and wide dilatation of the pupils. Taken internally it may at first cause contraction of the pupils, dilatation comes on at an advanced stage. Diplopia is produced by paralysis of the recti, especially the external recti.

Mind-Gelsemium produced in the provers extreme relaxation and prostration of the whole muscular system and also of the intellectual faculties; a certain amount of erethism precedes or accompanies the prostration in both instances. The mind is dull and stupid, disinclined for conversation and averse from study. The patient is melancholy and desponding but at the same time irritable and impatient, he desires to be quiet and does not wish to speak or to be spoken to, yet does not like to be left alone, as he is afraid that he will lose his self-control. He is apprehensive, and the emotions are easily stirred and when this happens physical ailments follow, as for example the approach of a thunderstorm or the anticipation of having to pass through any usual ordeal with bring on enuresis or uncontrollable diarrhoea; a child starts, his chin quivers; he grasps the nurse and screams as if afraid of falling. The melancholy mood may cause an inclination to commit suicide, the form of which tends to be to throw himself from a height or to jump out of the window. In some cases there has been violent delirium, but as a rule the mind remains clear. Gelsemium causes giddiness, which begins in the occiput and spreads over the whole head: it is accompanied by blurred vision and is increased by sudden movement and by walking.

Nervous system-The prostration of the motor nervous system caused by gelsemium is manifested by weakness and trembling, by the ease with which the patient gets tired, by general languor and disinclination to move, and in bad cases by the inability to do so. Gelsemium produces nervous sensations and shiverings that run all over the body down to the to the fingers and toes and are especially apt to be brought on by emotions. The patient trembles and wants to be held so that he may not shake. There is want of power to make the muscles obey the will and, if there is not paralysis, there will be inco-ordination. Paralysis, there will be inco-ordination. Paralyses are seen in the muscles of the eyes, the tongue, throat, larynx, limbs, especially the lower limbs, and the sphincters. Convulsions may occur in the extremities and cramps in the fingers and toes and in the muscles of the back. rigidity of the muscles of the back of the neck and retraction of the head are common symptoms. The muscles feel bruised, aching occurs under the left shoulder-blade;dull, deep- seated muscular pains are present in the extremities and sometimes, though more rarely, paroxysmal shooting pains. Sudden, acute dartings may run along single nerve trunks in any part of the body. There are heaviness and a sensation of weight in the limbs. Numbness of the extremities, nose, ears, tongue, gingers, hands and feet are produced by gelsemium.

Head-The headaches caused by gelsemium are congestive or neuralgic, more often the former. The head feels heavy,. with a sensation of weight and pressure in it. There is a settled, dull, dragging pain, mainly in the occipital and mastoid regions, which extends to the occipital and mastoid regions, which extends to the upper part of the neck and down to the shoulders. It is worse lying flat and is relieved by sitting still with the head reclined on a high pillow, it passes off with a copious flow of pale, watery urine. an icy-cold spot may be felt on the back of the head. Another type of headache is as if a band were tied tightly round the head above the root of the nose and above the eyes: it is a dull, heavy pain and is associated with giddiness and blurring of sight.

Face and Eyes-The patient has a heavy, sleepy look, his face is flushed, of dark colour and besotted expression, the upper eyelids fall; and and can with difficulty be kept open, there may be complete ptosis. The extrinsic and intrinsic muscles of the eyeballs are weak or paralysed, leading to diplopia, nystagmus, loss o accommodation and sometimes dilatation of pupils (always dilated from local application). The external rectus is more affected than the others, so that there is internal strabismus.

Digestive system-The tongue is coated with a yellowish white fur, feels thick and stiff and may be paralysed. It trembles when protruded. a numb pain may be felt along the teeth and the edges of the gums in the upper jaw. There is difficulty or impossibility of swallowing from paralysis of the pharyngeal muscles, and from this cause food may get into the trachea and cause choking. A painful sensation is often felt in the oesophagus, as of a sore lump there. Hiccup and eructation of semi-solid matters occur. In the stomach is a sensation of emptiness and weakness, as if something is wanting (ign., sep) or a violent cramping pain is felt in the epigastrium, followed by heat and burning in the stomach. Rumbling and rolling, with emission of flatus upwards and down wards, with various pains, are observed in the abdomen, chiefly in the transverse colon and left side. The stools are loose or diarrhoeic, of bilious character, deep yellow and their evacuation relieves abdominal pain. In patients under the influence of gelsemium, diarrhoea is caused by exciting news or other emotion.

Respiratory-sneezing and watery discharge from the nose and a pain at the bridge, extending to the eyes, a weak voice, stitches in the chest and dyspnoea with precordial oppression are the principal respiratory symptoms caused by gelsemium which, though it caused death through paralysis of the respiratory centres, producers no inflammation of the lungs.

Circulatory-The pulse is frequent, soft and weak, sometimes irregular, or slow and full; there may be palpitation. There is a sensation as if the heart will stop beating unless the patient moves about.

Urinary-Gelsemium causes frequent micturition with increased flow of clear, watery urine, “nervous” urine. Paralysis of the bladder occurred in some cases of poisoning accompanied by constant dribbling from over flow. Incontinence may take place from paralysis of flow. Incontinence may take place from paralysis of the sphincter vesicae. In urinating the stream may be intermittent with a constant feeling as if something remained behind. the urinary phenomena arise from the condition of the nervous system, there is no organic affection of the kidneys or bladder.

Sexual-The male sexual organs, again, l illustrate the nervous prostration of gelsemium in th importance produced by it and the involuntary emission of semen without erections. In women severe, labour-like pains occur in the uterine region, extending to the back and hips (actaea).

Fevers,&c-the drug causes a true fever with a temperature that may reach 102 degree F. or more. The chill begins in the hands and feet and runs up the back, it come on with a sense of fatigue every afternoon at 4 to 5 o’ clock. With cold extremities there is heat of the head and face. In the feverish stage there is great drowsiness and prostration. Sweats are profuse and exhausting.

Sleep-Though the patient is drowsy he cannot compose his mind to sleep and is restless, especially in the latter part of the night. Excitement will easily keep him awake. In febrile conditions sleep is usually profound and may be comatose.

Skin-The skin itches and there is an eruption like measles in colour but the spots are larger and more discrete, more like rubella.

THERAPEUTICS.

      Nervous-Gelsemium has not been shown to produce any organic changes in the brain or spinal cord, its effects are functional and it is for functional disorders and paralyses of the nerves that it has obtained its reputation as a remedy in nervous complaints. It is useful in functional paralyses of all descriptions. It will be sufficient to enumerate some of them: (1) cases left behind from fevers, such as enteric: (2) Postdiphtherial-paralysis of eye, tongue, throat, larynx, limbs: (3) Hysterical dysphagia and aphonia after emotion, loss of voice during menstruation: (4) paralysis of sphincters, ex.gr., enuresis in old people from paralysis of the sphincter vesicae; (5) ptosis, paralysis of the sixth cranial nerve, diplopia, strabismus, loss of power of accommodation: (6) paraplegia, not of organic origin; (7) occupational paralyses, like writer’s cramp. In these cases it is equally useful when there is mere weakness short of paralysis.

Edwin Awdas Neatby
Edwin Awdas Neatby 1858 – 1933 MD was an orthodox physician who converted to homeopathy to become a physician at the London Homeopathic Hospital, Consulting Physician at the Buchanan Homeopathic Hospital St. Leonard’s on Sea, Consulting Surgeon at the Leaf Hospital Eastbourne, President of the British Homeopathic Society.

Edwin Awdas Neatby founded the Missionary School of Homeopathy and the London Homeopathic Hospital in 1903, and run by the British Homeopathic Association. He died in East Grinstead, Sussex, on the 1st December 1933. Edwin Awdas Neatby wrote The place of operation in the treatment of uterine fibroids, Modern developments in medicine, Pleural effusions in children, Manual of Homoeo Therapeutics,