The Genus Materia Medica/The Compositae/Part 1

[David Little]

The Three Kingdoms,

The study of the natural sciences and homoeopathy go hand and hand.
This includes the assessment of the mineral remedies elements of the
periodic table, the plant remedies and the study of the botanical families,
the animal remedies and study of their families. The first period to
discuss the homoeopathic remedies in relationship to the three kingdoms was
Samuel Hahnemann.

"As a rule it was developed from their pure symptoms, that most of the
earths, alkalis and acids, as well as the neutral salts composed of them,
together with several of the metals, cannot be dispensed with in curing the
almost innumerable symptoms of Psora. *The similarity in nature of the
leading antipsoric, sulphur, to phosphorus and other combustible substances
from the vegetable and mineral kingdoms led to the use of the latter, and
some animal substances naturally followed them by analogy, in agreement
with experience*."

The Chronic Diseases Their Peculiar Nature and Their Homoeopathic
Cure, Hahnemann, The Medicines, page 244.

Hahnemann was the first to study the similarity of the minerals to
miasmic states as well as the complementary relationships of the remedies
of the three kingdoms. The Founder taught the importance of “analogy in
accordance with experience” in the study of the relationships of the
remedies of the three worlds. When homœopaths work in this manner they
often uncover homogeneous relationships between individual medicines and
remedy families found in the materia medica.

The study of remedies in families can be found in the works of
Hahnemann, E.A. Farrington, O Lesser, H. A. Roberts, Whitmont and others.
When I first came to India very senior homeopaths like the late, great
doctor Dhawlae of Bombay were very skilled in understand the remedies
powers of various mineral, plant and animal families. The really understood
the proven characteristic symptoms of Magnesias, Carbons, Natrums, etc.
This research has been expanded by contemporary homoeopaths like J
Scholten, J. Shah, and R. Sankaran. Some of the spin-offs of this work,
however, has been trivialized to point that it no longer is based on the
characteristic symptoms found in the materia medica and some of it has
given away to too much speculation. Nevertheless, it is not necessary to
throw the baby (the study of the natural families) with the bath water (too
much dependance on essences, concepts and themes.)

I am not of the opinion that a person can be label a mineral, plant
of animal remedy by a few stereotypical indications and without a serious
study of the totality of the symptoms.. A person may need a mineral, plant
or animal remedy at different times under different circumstances in
accordance with their symptoms. The only time one can be sure that a
patient needed a mineral, plant and animal remedy is after it has worked.
The most important factor in selecting homoeopathic remedies are the
individual characteristic symptoms of the mistuned vital force. This is
what transcends the apparent distinctions of the psyche and soma and is
what some are now calling "the vital sensation". In order to do this one
must learn how to judge the characteristic value of symptoms in categories
of striking, extraordinary, unusual and odd symptoms (Org. aphorism 153).
The more strange, rare and peculiar the symptoms - the more it deserves to
be under lined in the anamnesis of the patient. This is the road to finding
a true simillimum.

All of this said, the mineral, plant and animal remedies do have
differing remedial powers based on their constituents. Hahnemann's Materia
Medica Pura appeared in six parts from 1811 to 1821. This work was based on
the provings of the First Provers Union that formed around Hahnemann in
Leipzig. At this time, the Founder was using Similia and individualization
without the classification of specific disease syndrome. This method,
however, was found lacking in the treatment of chronic degenerative
diseases. This led to a twelve year study in which Hahnemann recorded the
universal actions of three chronic miasmatic diseases, psora, sycosis and
syphilis. I

n 1828 Hahnemann published the theory of chronic miasms and a materia
medica of anti-miasmatic remedies. The Materia Medica Pura contained 67
remedies of which only 16 are minerals, 47 are plants, and 4 are animal
remedies. Of the 48 anti miasmic remedies in The Chronic Diseases, 32 are
minerals, 13 are plants, and 3 are animal remedies. This is shows that the
mineral remedies are at the core of the treatment of inherited and acquired
chronic miasms. Of 28 new remedies introduced by Hahnemann between the
years 1828-1839 there are 23 minerals and 5 plants.

Most of the apsoric remedies come from the plant world and most of the
anti-psoric remedies come from the mineral world. This tells the homoeopath
something about the nature of the plant and animal kingdoms. Plants grow
fast and go through rapid transformations and many are very similar to
traumas, crisis, acute disorders and acute miasms. The minerals are slow
moving, stable and pass through changes over longer periods of time. This
is analogous to chronic diseases and miasms. The animal are always of the
move and the most quick reacting species. The animals remedies are some of
the quickest acting most rapidly destructive medicines in the materia
medica. They are suitable for very destructive forms of acute and chronic
diseases. Those plants and animal remedies that are most suited to chronic
diseases are deeply affected by the mineral constituents as in the case of
Lycopodium and Calcaraea Carb Ostrearum.
.
Sulphur, Lycopodium and Calcarea Carbonate Ostrearum are the three
cardinal anti-psoric remedies featured in Hahnemann's Chronic Diseases
(1828). These remedies are very well proven and their deep actions have
been confirmed by generations of homœopaths. John H. Clarke, the English
homœopath, once opined that a homœopath should begin their study of the
materia medica with the three pivotal chronic remedies, Sulphur, Calcarea,
and Lycopodium. Clarke suggested that this grand trio is the basis on which
the rest of the materia medica may be grouped by comparison.

"Moreover, Calcarea is one of the polychrest remedies, and ranks with
Sulphur and Lycopodium at the head of the antipsorics. It is absolutely
essential to a correct appreciation of the homoeopathic materia medica that
these three medicines should be thoroughly known, as these are in a sense
the standards around which the rest are grouped."

Clarke's Dictionary, Volume 1, Calcarea, page 338.

It is no accident that Sulphur is a mineral, Lycopodium is a plant, and
Calcarea is an animal remedy. These three chronic medicines hold the
template for the Three Kingdoms in the treatment of the chronic diseases
and miasms. Sulphur is at the head of the mineral world, Lycopodium is at
the head of the plant world, and Calcarea is at the head of the animal
world in the treatment of chronic miasms. All the other chronic remedies
can be grouped by their connections to the three cardinal antipsorics.

Group Studies

I don't think an entire genus group like the botanical Compositae
family can be definitively reduced to a few words that are supposed to
represent the essence all the remedies. This is an over simplification. The
Compositae family, however, does have its characteristic causations, signs,
befallments and symptoms that make it unique. The Compositae family
includes around 60 homoeopathic remedies including:

ABROT., Absin., Ambro., anth., anth-c., ARN., Art-v., Bell-p.,
blum-o., brach., CALEN., card-b., Cardus-m., cent., CHAM., chrysan., cich.,
CINA, cyna., echi., Echi-p., erech., erig., esp-g., eup-a., EUP-P.,
Eup-pur., galin., Gnaph., Grin., Gua., helia., inul., lact., lact-e.,
lact-s., lappa, laps., liatr., Mill., Nabal., onop., parth., polym.,
pyre-o., pyre-p., pyre-r., Sant., Senec., senec-j., senecin., silphu.,
Solid., tanac., Tarax., tus-f., tus-fa., tus-p., vern-a., WYE., xanrhi., xanth.

In folk medicine these plant were used for shock, traumas, bruises,
liver and blood dyscrasia, nervous conditions, spasms, respiratory catarrh,
sepsis, and worms. The regional affinities of the Compositae are the
Sensorium; mind, BRAIN, Nervous system; respiratory system; immune system;
vital organs, HEART, lungs, LIVER, spleen, kidneys; DIGESTIVE ORGANS, gall
bladder, stomach; circulation, BLOOD, blood vessels and veins; MUSCLES,
Tendons, and Bones; Mucus membranes. Complaints of INJURED, babies,
dentition, the young and the aged as in infants and grandparents.

Many of the Compositae represent sudden shocks, traumatism, injury and
wounds. These remedies have a feeling as if SHOCKED, BRUISED, TRAUMATIZED,
VICTIMIZED, WOUNDED AND “DISLOCATED”. There is a need to “get it all back
together” and start living again. This is a contrary group of remedies that
act with a mixture of defensiveness with fear of interference, injury,
invasion, and attack as well as aggression, abuse and striking out. The
Compositae patients do not really like to be approached, moved, or TOUCHED
because they are < worse contact [emotional and physical], jar, being hit,
or sudden movements. Many of these remedies have NEVER WELL SINCE SHOCKS,
TRAUMAS, OPERATIONS, WOUNDS AND INJURIES.

The Compositae construction is reminiscent of the complex structures of
similar cells in the vital organs like the brain, lungs, liver, heart,
spleen, and kidneys. Many of these remedies are have very strong affinities
with organs and regions. They are also useful in acute and chronic
one-sided states centered in these areas. The more plethoric sanguine
elements show symptoms like flushes of heat, heart and circulatory
problems, easy hemorrhages, bloody discharges and blood poisoning. Many
Compositae are useful in cancer treatment.

Some of these flowers are also very useful in infections, worms,
parasites, septic states, rapid decomposition, accompanied by nervous
complications, continued and remittent fevers. Here there is a mixture of
high fever, chill and sweats with bone and muscles aches, hard bed
sensations, prostration, and restlessness. These remedies are
characteristic of many acute crisis, acute miasms, zymotic diseases,
parasitical, and worm diseases. Such remedies are antiviral, antibiotic,
antiseptic and anhelmithic. The Compositae are insect resistant as is
demonstrated by Calendula and Chrysanium.

The plants have delicate root systems, longish stems, and larger flower
heads. Sometimes the roots are too weak to hold their flower heads up just
like the way the patient feels dizzy and must lie down because of great
weakness. The Compositae produce prostration of the brain, spasms of the
nervous system, with aching muscles with deep bones.

The Compositae remedies have particular seasons, periodicity, and
epidemics. Compositae flowers grows in fields and areas with access to
sunlight and they change their position with the sun and the patient is <
cold, excitability, restlessness, changeable, and subject to mood swings.
Most of the Compositae are < cloudy, damp weather. Many flowers are
brightly colored, yellow, orange, and red colors while others are lighter
colors. These colors are found in the symptoms of various remedies. Many of
these flowers act on the brain and nervous elements, bilious humour, the
digestive system and the sanguine humor, heart and blood, lungs and breathing.

The small inner flowers that make up the ray of small flowers that
move out from a navel and these remedies are known for the pains of the
umbilical region. The umbilicus represents instinctive nourishment, as this
is the source of the cord that feeds the fetus in with womb. Many of these
remedies are known for strong effect on the abdominal organs, mal
nourishment, bilious states, abdominal pains, and digestive upsets. The
spleen, the filter of melan-choler, adds symptoms of melancholia and
hypochondria as well as decomposed discharges. Some of the Compositae tend
to become very BILIOUS, irritable, angry, defensive, morose, and sometimes
are offensive and abusive when ill. These remedies easily loss mental
control during crisis or illnesses and have fear death. In general, they
are more morose then melancholic.

Many of the Compositae remedies have an effect on CONVULSIONS,
spasmodic diseases and digestive complaints, sometimes as reflex symptoms
of worms. This tendency is found in a particular group of Compositae. Some
of the Compositae flowers are known for their strong smell as well as power
to produce allergenic diseases, hay fever, sneezing, asthma, yawning, and
fainting. As decorative flowers they give off pleasant odors as well as
pollen that causes HAY FEVER, allergies, and other idiosyncratic reactions.
These are disease of the air, nervous system, and respiratory system.

The emotional disposition suffers from mood changes and feelings of
being venerable, delicate, and sensitive with fear of being hurt, touched
or approached physically as well as mentally. The sensitivity of these
plants is shown in the symptoms of excitable but worse < excitement. In the
beginning the flowers in bloom stimulate the mind, emotion and senses but
in the end they produce the state of sensory depression, dullness, and
forgetfulness.

The Compositae temperament is moody, changeable, fearful, nervous, and
restlessness alternating with contradictory states, irritability, anger and
moroseness. At the same time, they are < change and motion which leaves
them frustrated. They are troublesome patients in that they do not answer
questions well either of out dullness, denial, and/or irritability. They
are very contrary, act as if they can stand it no longer it, and lose
control of their mind and senses. These flowers are associated with profuse
dreaming of complex subjects that are not well remembered in the morning.
At night the sensorium is vividly active but in the daytime it is
depressed. The Compositae yawn when tired, under stress, and even when
sleeping! In some of these plants this causes < aggravation.

In reviewing the Compositae symptoms there is plethora, cardiovascular,
rheumatic, and arthritic diathesis with soreness, stitching, aching,
bruised feelings, hard bed sensations, inflamed tissue, AS IF BEATEN OR
BROKEN IN PIECES. Many of these remedies have strong sanguine tendencies.
There are also rheumatic-like conditions with concomitant heart, liver and
kidney diseases, arthritis, urinary cystitis, urethral discharges,
gonorrhea and sycosis. These flowers feel as if the mind, head, temples,
eyes, forehead, muscles, organs, bones have been traumatized. They are
always trying to release stress and stiffness by stretching but there is
much lassitude, and they must lie down because of weakness, often
associated with trembling.

The cholero bilious elements of these flowers elements are a choleric
disposition in which they are very defensive, morose, angry, cross,
contrary, and so touchy that they wants to be left alone but are still
demanding of attention at the same time. A bilious mentality thinks the
best defense is a good offense and they can be quite abusive. This group
can be quite domineering and seek to take control by a combination of
sullen, antisocial moodiness, irritability and anger. These remedies have
bilious indigestion, liver and gall bladder complaints with temple
headaches, yellow eyes, photophobia, yellow coating on the tongue, slimy,
bitter, yellow discharges, bitter and sour eructation, vomiting, diarrhea,
dysentery, bleeding, constipation, and parasites.

Sanguine elements of the Compositae are demonstrated by plethora, heart
problems, strokes, hemorrhagic diathesis, bloody discharges, dysmennorhea,
metorrhagia, and miscarriages, sometimes from injuring or exertion. There
is also easy bruising and internal bleeding. Many of these remedies
demonstrate rheumatic and arthritic state with concomitant heart, kidney,
liver and circulatory problems. Remember these remedies in external and
internal bleeding.

The nervous elements include epilepsy, chorea, convulsions, tremor,
cramping pains, trembling, and spasmodic diseases. They patients are prone
to parasites and reflex symptoms of worms and parasites. A fourth aspect of
Compositae has strong respiratory idiosyncrasies with catarrh, sneezing,
yawning, and asthma. Here there is profuse discharge from the mucus
membranes with pain in the frontal bones and sinuses < on motion. These
remedies have sudden, periodic, or seasonal attacks when the flowers bloom.

MODALITIES

Times; < Morning 5 am-9am, 9pm-5am.
< eating. < Open air, < cold. < Motion and Sudden motion. < Grief and
strong emotions. < Touch. < Approach. < Jar. < Hard bed. < Periodically. <
Seasonally. < Rainy, cloudy weather.

Next- Part 2, The Four Major Subcategories of the Compositae Family
I hope this study is found of use.

Similia Minimus
Sincerely, David Little

---------------
"It is the life-force which cures diseases because a dead man needs no more
medicines."

Samuel Hahnemann

Visit our website on Hahnemannian Homoeopathy and Cyberspace Homoeopathic
Academy at
http://www.simillimum.com
David Little © 2000

[Paul Booyse]

Hi David,

As usual, many thanks again for this valuable insight.

Regards,
Paul