Physostigma


Dr. S.R. Phatak describes the clinically confirmed symptoms of the homeopathic remedy Physostigma in his Concise Materia Medica, published in 1977….


Generalities

      Motor nerves through spinal cord are affected by this remedy; causing fluttering tremors in the muscles; they do not respond to the will and / or draw into knots; even the intestines are seen twisted in knots. Spinal irritation; sensitive vertebrae, weakness of the lower limbs; coming from a spot between hips. Loss of sensibility to pain. Weakness; followed by complete paralysis, though the muscular contractility is not impaired. Rigidity of muscles. Horror of cold water, drinks or bathing; cold water feels too cold. Averse to bathing. Shuddering worse every draft. Floating sensation. Darting pain here and there. Flushes of heat worse palms. Ataxic gait, shooting pains down the limbs. Tetanus. Trismus. Tremors. Ill effects of emotions; grief. Injuries, blows. Progressive muscular paralysis. General paralysis of the insane.

Worse

      Change of temperature. Eyestrain. Bathing. Heat and cold. Descending. Motion. Stepping. Jar, misstep.

Better

      Lying on abdomen or with head low. Exerting the will. Closing eyes. Sleep.

Mind

      Active even during sleep. Nothing was right; too many things in the room; continually counting them. Paralytic state of mind and body, from grief.

Head

      Brain; falls to side lain on; wavering in. Vertigo, stumbles on ascending or descending steps. 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. Tremors in head.

Eyes

      Twitching of eye muscles. Pain over orbits; cannot bear to raise eyelids. Accommodation affected; astigmatism. Glaucoma; esp. after injury. Pupils contracted. Post-diphtheritic paralysis of eye. Eyelids tense; cannot close or open them. Bloodshot eyes; with burning. Night blindness. Muscae volitantes; flashes of light. Increasing myopia. Vision trembling.

Ears

      Sudden pain from throat to middle ear worse eructation. Pain in the ear (right) when writing.

Nose

      Twitching of muscles of nose.

Face

      Lips numb; licks them. Lockjaw.

Mouth

      Teeth feel rough. Tongue; feels oily, scalded, swollen; in chorea. Loose skin feeling roof of mouth. Thick leathery saliva.

Throat

      As if a ball coming up throat. Strong heartbeats felt in throat. Seems to have swallowed a large piece of food; felt at epigastrium.

Stomach

      Hiccough; with short breath, better sleep.

Abdomen

      Navel, sore, bloated, red. Hypogastrium sore, bloated worse standing. Gripe in right hypochondrium. Groins pain alternately. Colicky pains worse diarrhoea; better extending legs.

Female

      Numbness of womb; with pain in back. Leucorrhoea worse during the day-time when exercising. Sighing worse when leucorrhoea is worse. Menses, irregular; with palpitation.

Heart

      Seems to flutter in throat or over whole body, or in head.

Neck and Back

      Creeping numbness from occiput down spine. Sensitive spine.

Extremities

      Jerking limbs. Offensive odour from hands. Pain in deltoid (right) better violent motion. Pain in right popliteal space. Flushes of heat in palms.

Sleep

      Attacks of overpowering sleepiness; with feeling as if to lose consciousness.

Fever

      Every movement and draft causes shuddering. Easy sweat; with excitement.

Related

      Agar; Gels; Nux-v.

S.R. Phatak
A pioneer of Homoeopathy in Maharashtra, Dr Shankar Raghunath Phatak was born on 6th September, 1896. He did his MBBS from Grant Medical College, in 1924. Started his practice but somehow not satisfied with Allopathic Treatment.

He was convinced about Homoeopathy while going through Sir William Osler's writings on 'History of Medicine' so switched over to an entirely Homoeopathic Practice in 1932. He also started working on Homoeopathic literature along with his Practice.

He has contributed immensely to homoeopathic literature. He was an ardent follower of Dr Boger. His Repertory is based on Boger's ''A Synoptic key to Materia Medica'.