Sepia is an animal remedy made from the ink of the cuttlefish. It belongs to the syco-syphilitic miasm. The main feeling of the Sepia woman is that she is forced to undertake things opposed to her intentions, to do what she doesn’t want to do. It is a chronic situation in which she has been dominated and not allowed to have her way. There is a feeling of dependence in Sepia. She feels that her body is disfigured and unattractive, especially to the opposite sex. In order to keep him happy, so that she is accepted by him, she has to do what he wishes, not what she wishes. She feels forced to accept situations against her will, because of her feeling of not being good enough. This makes her miserable and she feels unfortunate.
There is one side of her that says: “Do what you want to do, be independent, occupy yourself.” And indeed Sepia likes to occupy herself mentally and physically; she likes brisk movements, dancing, etc. But if she is too independent she will lose her support and will not be able to keep her husband and children happy. The dependence may be emotional and/or financial (fear of poverty). So often she is forced to do things she does not want to do. This is the uncompensated, failed side.
A successful Sepia is one who is independent right from the beginning. But in various life situations she will be dominated or forced to do things that she does not want to. So there is divorce or separation, or the patients remain spinsters. Many of them also join the Women’s Lib. But in most cases, she tries to keep her husband and children happy while at the same time pursuing her career. This can become very strenuous. She becomes miserable and worn out since she is busy all the time. This situation leads slowly to despair and indifference, to sadness from which she tries to find some relief by being constantly occupied. She withdraws into herself and becomes averse to her husband and children. I have seen that Sepia women in this stage do not even like to take medicine.
Sepia has also the theme of rape (dreams of rape). She is tired, doesn’t want to have sex, but to keep her husband happy, she does it against her will, thus feeling forced to do it against her will.
Sepia comes close to Lachesis, with its envy and dreams of snakes, but in Lachesis the emphasis is more on keeping herself attractive. It is as if there is competition and she has to win. If she does so, all is well. In Sepia, there is despair, there is no hope in the relationship. Sepia comes close to Tarentula too, since the theme of Tarentula is unrequited love and the need to be attractive. The dancing, attractive hysteria and sarcasm are common to both and a young Sepia can often seem like Tarentula. Tarentula can also be very industrious. But here again, the emphasis is much more on attractive behaviour, and the contradiction of will as found in Sepia is not present. Also deceitfulness, mischievousness and speed are much stronger in Tarentula.
Sepia comes closest to Natrum muriaticum. Both have the theme of disappointment in love and the theme of the body being disfigured. But the dependence of Natrum muriaticum is much greater. The main problem of Natrum muriaticum is not between relationship and occupation as in Sepia, it is between the making and breaking of relationships. There is no contradiction of will in Natrum muriaticum. The whole theme is one of relationship and not two separate themes of occupation and relationship. Sepia is the larger sphere, of which Natrum muriaticum is a part. Also Natrum muriaticum has “Cheerful after coition” which is the opposite of Sepia. Coition creates hope in Natrum muriaticum, it creates confusion in Sepia.
The acute of Sepia is Nux vomica. Nux vomica is concerned with occupation and business, with tremendous irritability and has many symptoms similar to Sepia, e.g. chilly, constipated, etc. In an acute situation of business failure, the Sepia person can need Nux vomica.
Rubrics:
- Undertakes things opposed to his intentions.
- Anger, from contradiction.
- Indifference, loved ones, to.
- Cares, full of, about domestic affairs.
- Delusion, that he is unfortunate.
- Exertion, from mental, aggravates.
- Fear, of poverty.
- Hysteria.
- Indifference to everything.
- Occupation ameliorates.
- Industrious.
- Irritability, consolation aggravates.
- Weeping when telling of her sickness.
- Will, contradiction of.
Kent:
- Cataract in women.
- Eye, falling of lids during headache.
- Nose, yellow saddle across.
- Skin, cracks in winter.
Phatak:
- Busy, when, ameliorates.
- Sadness over one’s health.
- Lying on hands and knees ameliorates.
- Sadness, domestic affairs, over.
- Desire for bitter drinks (Synthetic Repertory, Vol. II).
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Some of the symptoms (like “she is busily occupied ………” ) etc belong to nux vomica, a confirmed complementary.
Clarke’s materia medica, boericke etc do not mix symptoms. Since The symptoms listed in them are highly trustworthy, we don’t have much use for these elaborations is my humble opinion.
This is really insightful. It feels a part of me is described and it feels good to be known and to be verbalised. Thank you Dr. Sankaran. I will try to get a consultation with you.
can Sepia dislike movement and dancing ?what does you think?
Sepia is known for being better for both movement and dancing.
Yes, it is key note. But my question is there Sepia who doesn’t like dancing and movement, even if it makes her better?
Raisa, let me just say this: There are a lot of reasons to give Sepia. Maybe you just need Sepia because you’ve got a bladder infection with bearing-down pains. Maybe you just need Sepia because of Post-partum Depression. Maybe you need Sepia because of menopausal hot flashes. Everyone who needs Sepia is not necessarily a Sepia “person”. In that sense, if you had, for example, menopausal hot flashes, you wouldn’t say, “But I can’t take Sepia because I don’t feel like dancing or exercising.” I hope this helped.
Sepia as per old era homeopaths,chlorotic low vital heat,puffy yellow face,internal chill external heat nails turn yellow,offensive reddish bloody urine burn pain small back,faint like feel epigastrium,cerebral anaemia anxiety health and things happened years ago,awakes 3 AM,cataleptic mind pelvic liver area congestion veins,prone exanthema rash,lithemia excess uric acid blood.Fortier hints works in left lung apex tubercular congestion recalcitrant tuberculosis and cites has thuja plus nux symptoms.