Sycamore Seed Info / Proving - LONG!!

[Rochelle]

sycamore
Sycamore Seed
Edited by Susan Palmer
For children the double-winged seeds bring joy, as they throw them into the wind and watch them twist like helicopters back to the ground; for adults they create antagonism as the same fertile seeds invade gardens and woods. The resemblance of the shape of the seeds to the sphenoid bone gave the original idea for the remedy and the proving and subsequent clinical experience has shown its usefulness in this area.
Sycamore is not a native British tree, but an alien Maple invader from central Europe and the near East. It is believed to have been introduced to Britain in the thirteenth or fourteenth centuries, but there is no documentary evidence of it until the sixteenth Century.
From early times the Sycamore was planted to provide protection and shade. It roots easily and grows quickly even in exposed areas, its robust nature making it more resilient to strong winds and even salt spray than most native trees. Its protective qualities made it a popular tree in northern counties, often associated with paper and textile mills where the wood was used as rollers.
In Scotland it was compared with the Plane tree hence its Latin name Acer Pseudoplatanus and was used by feudal lairds as a 'dool' or 'jong' tree, for their gallows (dool meaning grief) and a few such trees remain standing. This asso­ciation with hanging led to a folk lore that a Sycamore was unlucky.
Other folk tales associate the Syca­more with death and life after death. At Aldenham, Hertfordshire, William Hutchinson (d. 1697) declared his disbelief in the Resurrection and ordered a heavy tomb enclosed within iron railings: 'If a tree grew from the tomb, future generations would know that there was life after death.' Today three Sycamores grow on the plot!
By the eighteenth Century Sycamores had become fashionable and thoroughly naturalised, spreading quickly as a 'trou­blesome weed' of cleared and open woodland because of their ability to grow on anything except the most acidic soil, spreading at the expense of native trees.
Once established it is a difficult tree to destroy as even felled trees continue to exist as coppiced stools and it has few predators.
Today the tree is disliked by many, especially conservationists as it creates a poor habitat for wildlife, producing heavy shade and dense leaf litter and its sugary sap creates a mulch that encour­ages extensive pest growth.
The Sycamore itself is the largest of the Maples in Britain. It is not the tall­est of trees, perhaps only reaching 50 or 60 feet, but obtains this relatively quickly within 50 years. Few trees exist older than two hundred years. The straight main stem often splits into two, with each straight upward spreading branch repeatedly Splitting. This duality (reflected in the proving) continues with the pointed leaf buds arranged in pairs and the flowers developing in bisexual pairs. The wood is white and smooth grained and is used for floor coverings, furniture and veneers.
The meditative proving of Sycamore Seed is perhaps the most extensive to date involving some 35 people in four groups, one of which took the remedy without knowing what it was and experienced similar symptoms to the other groups. Most people took a 30c but one group took a 10m.
ESOTERIC
On a esoteric level the action of this rem­edy can be viewed as corresponding to spirit manifesting on the physical level.
Sycamore Seed allows the dual energies of the energy Channels in the spine known as Ida and Pingala to be balanced, so there is equilibrium between the mas­culine and feminine, the yin and the yang. Only then can the soul's purpose be reached. As balance is brought to the aura there is a cleansing effect through-out the whole person, so the remedy not only balances but also cleanses as it does so. Any trauma on any level: spiritual, emotional, mental or physical, is re-corded within the aura and may result in an imbalance in the flow of these and other energies through the body which ultimately manifests as mental or physi­cal symptoms.
With Sycamore Seed the cranial struc­tures are released, improving the flow of cranial energy so the higher centres breathe again and allowing nutrients to the pituitary. This may bring a shift in the level of consciousness and the development and trust of intuition with in-creased focus, clarity and awareness. The etheric, astral and physical bodies be­come more integrated, harmonious and spiritualised therefore allowing more movement and versatility. As the energies are more able to flow throughout all the chakras, there is a firmer foundation and a greater awareness of and sur­render to the purpose of the incarnation. This is especially useful during gestation where the physical body is being developed under the guidance of the spirit and after birth where an infant has not been breast fed.
With its affinity for the sphenoid bone (see article on p.22) and the pitui­tary gland on a physical level, Sycamore Seed has strong connection to the brow chakra and therefore to the resolution of division and separation in the uniting of what is above with what is below, of the masculine and the feminine, of man and God. As do all the tree rem­edies, it links higher and lower energies through the spine.
MENTALS
The importance of duality and the bringing of it into unity as seen on the spiritual level is also of great significance on the mental level. Not only are Symptoms of mental duality (e.g. Schizophrenia) a feature of this remedy, but lesser Symp­toms showing a mental imbalance are also prominent for example a restless mind, scattered thoughts, sense of panic or fears, sense of being trapped, desire to control etc. Duality is also important when considering relationship problems.
Ail states or senses of duality on ail levels. Remedy helps balance and brings a point of equilibrium, of calmness and centeredness.
Dual states of mind: Schizophrenia, manic depression, but with non-aggression / violence as a marked feature (Anac).
Scattered emotions, thoughts, unpredictable moods, uncoordinated, go off at a tangent. People whose live are in a spin.
Not grounded: too focused in their head (brow), always intellectualising, thinking, not enough heart. Have many ideas but do not carry them through (need grounding). Restless mind. Continuous changing thoughts, flitting from one thing to another, difficult to focus. Time stands still, sense of timelessness.
Feels trapped, sense of internal imprisonment, shut away, locked in (Ber­lin Wall, Goldfish) - stagnant and held them back, slowed down. Following a path they do not enjoy, or does not feel right, but they can see no way of changing the situation. Caught up in materialistic / worldly things (on a physical level hormone problems are a manifestation of this). Cocoon themselves, forming a protection, so they feel safe and snug. Avoid looking at what needs to be dealt with, due to fear. May withdraw into themselves as a form of safety. Remedy allows them to look at a situation from a different perspective, frees the spirit to fly to the light, pass over their fear.
Panic attacks. They feel they are go­ing mad or going to have an epileptic seizure; say they are not themselves.
Fears: of dying especially how they may die; of heights and fear of falling; of letting go of the past; of having reached the limits of endurance after trying so hard. (Oak)
Sense of darkness, everything is dif­ficult. Sense there is something good about the person that should be brought to the surface and become more promi­nent in their lives.
Impatient, unwilling to wait and grow. Sense of urgency.
Those who have a need to control others and situations, events and out-comes, which may be as a result of poor self worth, and a feeling of being under valued.
Where one partner grows away from the other: feels forsaken, a failure, left behind. Remedy brings healing of separation, where the separation is healthy and necessary for the soul's progression on a physic level. Restores the balance within a relationship, between male and female. Brings understanding and independence and stops blame.
Helps balance the male and female energies. Given in high potency repeated frequently, reminds the soul what the correct balance should be, e.g. in homo-sexuality.
Important for those people who consider themselves British, but their roots are in a different part of the world e.g. West Indian, African or Asian communities. Also for people who have been adopted and do not know where their origins are. (Thymus Gland)
Remedy allows children to play, brings back the joy of childhood. Where children have not been allowed to play. Recognise the inner child within our-selves. Brings humour, enjoyment and a childish naiveté.
Remedy reminds people who they are and what they are here for on a subconscious level. Brings an awareness of their purpose, their karma and particularly how it affects those around them. Helps them understand the point of view of others, without judgement, 'none are right and none are wrong'. Motivation becomes clear and true.
Antagonism towards others. Guilt and regret over past actions, which have shaped their lives. Grief: with tears. They have lost their way and hold onto the guilt as a support. Disappointment, de­feat, sadness, despair. Sense of life spi­ralling spiralling downwards out of control.
GENERALS
Big, heavy set people, muscular, not fleshy, solid people.
Good for those who smoke tobacco.
Alternating states or changeable states.
Feeling of heat with cold feet.
Balances left and right sides of the body and brain: Left = light, right = heavy
Autumn aggravation
Birth process: Remedy helps physically by allowing the correct movement of the skeletal system in both the mother and the baby and to help where there is com­pression of the skull or spine or where there is the potential or danger of physi­cal damage. On a spiritual level allows the correct incarnation of the soul and its manifestation in the physical world.
Twins: during pregnancy or at any stage of their life where there is an im­balance of energy between the twins. Remedy helps create a balance between the two individuals. Twins conceived by IVF - helps them to maintain their indi­viduality.
Skeletal system: especially the cranium and sphenoid bones:
Remedy associated particularly with the sphenoid bone and the correct move­ment of it. Where the sphenoid has been 'locked' due to any injury to the skeletal system, Sycamore Seed helps free the sphenoid, releasing the cranial and other bony structures, allowing the pituitary gland and pineal gland to receive nutri­ents and function more efficiently.
Works well while patients are going through all forms of osteopathic treat­ment for it loosens all cranial and bony structures which have been stuck for a long time. Especially useful for cranial osteopathy on children. It is particularly effective given to babies shortly after the birth. Arnica should be given first and very shortly afterwards a dose of this rem­edy, if possible in 10m potency. Also useful for the mother directly after birth.
Any twisting injury, particularly to the spine.
Paired organs/bones/glands:
- bones: e.g. ribs, stapes in the ear, pel­vis, sphenoid. Anywhere where free movement of paired bones is prevented from tension or injury. - organs: e.g. kidneys, lungs, two halves
PHYSICALS
Head: Expansive feeling in brow with desire to apply pressure.
Feeling of head being separate from the body.
Like wearing a skull cap made of metal and sometimes feel as if head was in a vice.
Sycamore tree in winter of brain, endocrine glands: e.g. ovaries, testes, adrenals, thyroid, pituitary.
Imbalances in energy in paired struc­tures due to a twist in the body.
Remedy rebalances the energy be­tween the paired organ/gland, allowing them to work in harmony together.
Cleansing: Drains toxicity.
Feels as if the inside of the head is being pulled out.
Feels like a split, as if someone had chopped a block of wood in half, going down through the head.
Voices in the head as if things were alive inside the head.
Intense headache starting centre of the forehead, spreading out across the eyebrows and out to the temples then around to the Occiput.
Headache behind eyes - forehead, sharp, stabbing, screwing up face with the pain - drawn backwards.
Crushing headache, either side of the head.
Pressing pain on top of the head, pushing down.
Light headedness with nausea or sen­sation of heaviness.
Sphenoid bone - stuck due to glue ear, sinus catarrh or muscular tension.
Pituitary gland and intuition. Post nasal catarrh, causing much swallowing and a tickling cough. Sinus headaches, possibly with nausea.
Eyes: Pain left eye extending towards the nose; colour-blindness; small round cysts on eye lids.
Ears: Congestion of the inner ear (glue ear) causing restricted oscillation of the stapes bones, leading to hearing problems or total deafness, tinnitus or whining noises. Bubbling, popping sensation in the ear.
Lower jaw bone problems.
Vertigo: All states of vertigo, from any cause, with or without nausea. One of the best vertigo remedies there is. Ver­tigo on rising; with buzzing noises; with sensations of circular motions.
Face: Flushing on the cheeks.
Sinuses: Congested sinuses, thick ca­tarrh, green, causing blockage of the pi­
Nose: Running clear. Peels sensitive on inspiration.
Mouth: Children with braces on teeth. Very dry mouth and Ups
Throat. Post-nasal catarrh with desire to swallow and a tickling cough.
Heart: Burning Sensation around heart; Sensation as if heart is pierced; heart pounding, feels knotted, heavy and dense.
Circulatory system: Assists blood flow to and from the heart, therefore heart pathology. Drains toxicity and pollution from the body, especially blood and dis­eases of the blood. Pulsating all over.
Urinary organs: incontinence of urine; urination little and often. Ache in right kidney area. Oedema and general water retention.
Extremities: Clumsiness, knocking things over. Restlessness.
Muscles: Spasm of the muscles. Ten­sion in muscles preventing free move­ment of bones. Involuntary jerks.
Joints-.Toxicity in the joints - arthritic and rheumatic conditions.
Slow development of joints, distorts joints e.g. hands unnatural angle.
Pelvis: Pelvic girdle locked after child-birth, linked to a locked sphenoid bone (after Arnica).
Lower limbs: Transient aches and pains in the nates pushing hands together hard.
Back/spine: Affinity for the spine. Back aching, tense, twisting ameliorates. Twist in the spine (Ayahuasca) e.g. back injury with a twist, locking up the sphenoid bone. Tightness in the spine, linked with having children, but also with being born - difficult births.
Shoulders neck: Shoulders and top of back aching, feel hunched up. Deep pain R Shoulder near the spine, extending up to the skull. Crunchy necks. Cricked necks.
Stiffness, tension and pains in the cervical spine extending to the Shoulders. Tension in the neck and Shoulders caus­ing headaches, migraines and vertigo with poor blood supply to the brain.
Disability: Various handicaps and damage, mutation of the spine and spi­nal nerves, joints, anywhere in the skeletal system, occurring in the early stages of foetal development or from a diffi­cult birth.
Sexual: Awakening of sexual energy. Loss of sexual energy.
Female: R fallopian tube damaged.
Menopausal sweats and flushes.
Fertility: Good for all fertility prob­lems. Very useful to aid conception, es­pecially where there are hormonal blocks.
Re-establishes a balanced hormonal system especially after hormonal abuse of the body e.g. pill, HRT, IVF.
IVF treatment: Children born as a result of IVF treatment. Restores balance to those conceived whilst mother has been on IVF.
Where genetic engineering has taken place.
Repeated miscarriage due to a blighted ovum. (Remedy is important where the cell does not divide correctly, possibly during the early stages of foetal development. It works on a cellular level where cells divide, i.e. process of mito­sis.)
Abdomen: distended abdomen. Gall bladder pain ext. to right scapula and into right hip. Stomach: ravenously hun­gry but for nothing specifically. Desire to eat anything with rapid weight gain and water retention. Gurgling. Frequent belching.
Newer. Potentially useful in ME and MS. Awakening of sense of touch. Bal­ances the energy between the two hemi­spheres of the brain. Will help nervous system and endocrine to work in har­mony
Skin: Sore, tight, itchy. Poor skin tone; transparent, net like appearance (Thuja), veins visible through the skin (e.g. where steroids have caused thin­ning). Burns. Black spots. Warts that dry up but won't go. Night sweats
Endocrine glands: re-establishes bal­ance and harmony. Stimulates correct endocrine balance and has powerful ef­fect on every endocrine gland and its secretions and facilitates a balance be­tween them all to enable individuality to shine.
Pituitary: any pathology of pituitary gland. Poor function of the pituitary gland due to congestion or locked sphenoid bone.
Thyroid: imbalances, over or under active. Will remind the thyroid and thyroid stimulating hormone what is the norm.
Pineal: efficient in loosening structure if there is calcification around pineal gland.
Adrenals: works profoundly on adre­nal energy. For those who function on too much adrenalin, remedy will calm the adrenals.
Pancreas: diabetes and low blood sugar.
Gonads: all ovarian and testicular problems.
Sleep: difficult sleep patterns - not sleeping at night but not alert during the day.
Dreams: she was a happy foetus in the womb, waving. Dreams of falling.
Pathology: Remedy brings out hidden disease.
Seasonal Affective Disorder - loosens fear and darkness in such cases.
ME and MS. Alzheimer's. Mental states such as schizophrenia.
Cancer: of a Sycotic nature: use in low potency as drainage; of a syphilitic ori­gin: use in higher potency on monthly basis.
To prevent the spread of cancer: use in low potency two or three times daily, possibly along with cancer drainage rem­edies.
ACUTES
Very possibly a remedy against viral in­fection and not simply 'flu or colds but also AIDS as well. After fevers when the fever has abated and patient is recover­ing, a few doses of Sycamore Seed will restore fluid to the brain. This is very strongly indicated after viral flu's and colds. (Dehydration of the cranial mem­branes during acute fevers leads to tight­ening of the intracranial membranes and a locked sphenoid bone.)
MIASMS
Sycotic, with syphilitic as a base.
RELATED REMEDIES
Thuja, Anacardium, (duality). Ayahuasca (twist injuries). Clay, Kali Bich, (stuck catarrh). Arsenicum, Carcinosin, Chalice Well, Hydrogen, Medorrhinum, Nux Moschata, Oak, Stonehenge. Compound remedies e.g. Calc Phos, Calc Iod, Calc Mur, Mag Phos, Mag Carb. Use in conjunction with:
Arnica (e.g. Arnica then Sycamore 1OM straight after birth); Thuja, (e.g. Syca­more low and Thuja high or in LM, to help integrate the two halves).
Followed well by: Calc Carb.
Related: Bach flower remedies: Wild Oat, Scleranthus.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
The History of the Countryside Oliver Rackman.
The Country Life Pocket Guide to Trees in Britain A. W. Holbrook.
Osteopathy in the Cranial Field (3rd Ed) H. Magoun 1976.
Teachings in The Science of Osteopathy William Sutherland 1990.
Cases
BOY AGED 5
Severely hyperactive, dyslexic and dyspraxic. Required constant one to one attention at school. Very angry - frequent uncontrollable tantrums with screaming, throwing, kicking. Poor attention span. Could only read a few words and can write 'John' in large scribbled letters. Showed no remorse and considered it a 'game' if told off. Could cry easily. Con­stantly sucked his thumb. Physically he was very large for his age. A poor sleeper. Frequent colds, with ear infections and constant thick catarrh. History of a very difficult birth, in which he became stuck in the birth canal due to his large size, resulting in an emergency Caesarean. Always difficult as a baby, screamed a lot and was very demanding. Mother stopped breast feeding at 6 weeks as he wanted to suck all the time and she felt she had insufficient milk. All childhood vaccines. The GP wanted to put him on Ritalin and an anti-depressant!
Over several months he received many remedies including the vaccines, Thymus Gland, Silica, Tub Bov, Ayahuasca, Oak, Bar Carb, Cham, Med, Stram and Merc, each making gradual progress. Much of this time I worked in conjunction with a cranial osteopath. Great improvement resulted after we addressed the frontal compression of the skull from the birth. The osteopathic treatment was aided tremendously with a twice daily dose of Arnica/Hyper/Carb Ac 6x over many weeks. When Sycamore Seed was first proved I gave him Syca­more Seed 10M to take whilst with the osteopath. She reported an instant re­lease of the frontal cranial bones and the freeing of the sphenoid bone.
Unfortunately this resulted in an ag­gravation of nearly 10 days when all the good progress seemed to have been wiped out and his behaviour returned to the original state. A dose of Oak 200, a remedy previously given with only minor effect, was repeated and instantly he calmed down. A month later his mother reported that for the whole month he had entered school each day without a tantrum, he had not needed one-to-one attention and joined in with the rest of the class. His reading had im­proved dramatically and he wrote his name in smaller and clearer letters. He was sleeping better. The constant catarrh had increased dramatically after the Syca­more then gradually decreased and dis­appeared for the first time ever. The im­provement was extremely noticeable. The osteopath reported that the cranial bones were much freer and moving easier, there was little evidence of the frontal compression.
Looking at this case there were many symptoms that would suggest a locked sphenoid bone: the difficult birth, fron­tal compression, constant desire to suck and crying as a baby (an attempt to in­crease the pressure in the skull to release the compression), the constant catarrh and his restless behaviour. Initially after the Sycamore I was disappointed by the aggravation, knowing that the cranial structures had been released. However, looking back I realise that the Oak grounded him, bringing the new flow of energies down to the base chakra. I have since found with other cases that a grounding remedy (such as Oak, Calc Carb, Sulph, etc.) may be needed after the Sycamore has freed the cranial struc­tures, if an aggravation seems to occur.
MALE AGED 53
Motor bike accident 5 years ago in which his back was severely damaged, result­ing in an operation to fuse three verte­bra together (T10,11 and 12). Since that time he had been in constant, unbear­able pain requiring frequent changes in posture e.g. sitting, standing, kneeling, swaying. At the first consultation he was taking 24 Ibuprofen daily. The pain caused constant depression and he had attempted suicide 3 times. On each oc­casion he stopped at the last moment because of his love for his family. He hated his life now. He was hard working and had enjoyed life. Now his wife has to go out to work and he did some 'domestics' - not his place. The constant pain prevented any thought of the fu­ture and he took each day as it came. There was a great deal of anger over the accident and even after 5 years the in­surance claims were not finalised. He wanted his day of revenge in court with the car driver, who received a 6 months driving ban for the accident. As well as the back pain, he had abdominal pain associated with chronic constipation. The neck and shoulders were tense and painful. There was a constant all over headache.
Many of the new remedies helped this patient over many months. He received Berlin Wall, Thuja, Kali Carb, regular doses of Arnica + Hyper + Oak 200, Rhus Tox 30 daily, Calc Carb frequently, Tub, Syph, Aurum, Chalice Well and Silver-fish. The constipation cleared, as did the abdominal pains. The back discomfort eased slightly (he reduced to 8 Ibuprofen per day, but would not give them up as he described them as his crutch), he did not have to change position as frequently. On a mental level, his depressive state lifted and he did not attempt suicide again, but still saw little hope for the future.
After 5 months the headaches re­mained, the shoulder tension remained and the back was still unbearably pain­ful. At the anniversary of the accident he described himself as "spiralling down­wards, out of control. I'm not the per­son I used to be. I left the real me be­hind at the accident. I used to be loving now I'm filled with anger and hate. I just want to enjoy life again and have some reason for living." He was given Syca­more Seed 30 weekly, along with his regular Arn + Hyper + Oak 200 and Rhus Tox 6C daily.
One month later he reported his Ibuprofen intake was down to 4 per day. The shoulders were no longer painful and did not feel tense. The headaches were no longer constant, but were still regular. For the first time he spoke of the future. The insurance company had come up with another out of court offer which he had decided to accept. He had agreed to flying to Australia for his daughter's wedding, an event that he pre­viously would not consider because of the lengthy flight and the agony that would cause him, as he still had to con­stantly move about. He was also seriously considering his future, instead of "wal­lowing around in self pity." Although he was now financially secure he felt unoc­cupied and was looking at some volun­tary work.
In this case the spinal fusion was pre­venting the flow of energy up and down the spine. Gradually over time the soul was re-connecting with the physical, but with the fusion acted as a maintaining cause preventing a full integration. The injury and subsequent operation resulted in a constant tension in the inter spinal and hence intracranial membranes, lock­ing up the cranial mechanism and pre­venting a balanced flow of energy in the brow chakra. This was shown by his con­stant depression, feelings of not being himself, no view of the future and split between love and hate. After the Syca­more seed was given, he had thoughts of the future and was more accepting of his circumstances, showing that a degree of equilibrium had been reached, allow­ing a balancing of energies to begin throughout his whole body resulting in some of his physical symptoms being relieved.
Registered Homeopath
EFT(Advanced) Practitioner
www.southporthomeopathy.co.uk