Also called birthroot (lochia). Very much a hormone remedy, an imbalance, (so an obvious comparison can be made with Sepia) and this shows in the menses and menopause primarily but it has a wider application than this. Not only is there pre-menstrual tension but post menstrual as well, so the only real comfort time is during the menses, so you can also see why the menopause will present a problem as well, like it does in Lachesis, where the 'flow' has stopped, so much better when everything is 'flowing'. Sepia has the more typical << before menses and virtually every possible menstrual disturbance but you'd almost always get that bearing down feeling with Sepia, absent in Arist but another comparison is during puberty or NBWS then.
Both Arist and Sepia have a worn out feeling but with Sepia it is either from overwork/underpaid syndrome
or because of the stasis that is well known with Sepia. With Arist, they get worn out because they are of a nervous type, getting easily upset and depressed (hormones again?). They cannot deal with people, want to be alone, won't eat (sometimes they over eat as compensation).I used it in a case of a teenager who was having terrible problems with periods but also wouldn't eat, very depressed state - the worse her eating got the << were the menses and they became more and more irregular until they virtually stopped - so I think this is an important application, where there is this combination of deep moods, menstrual problems and anorexia - again, maybe anorexia is linked with hormone disturbance?
I have not seen the irritability or anger that you typically get with Sepia, I think Arist is much more depressed or sad. They cry a lot and you might think of Pulsatilla, except much much chillier. In older women who are having or had problems since menopause, especially when a rheumatic state sets in, then think of Arist. It is as if they stiffen up when the flow of menses is stopped.
I think there is a real connection between growing up, puberty, the responsibility of giving birth (it being birth root) and all that this might represent to a teenager, for example, who cannot or is not ready to deal with it all, hence the sad and depressed state that accompanies the disturbed hormonal state that can stay with them for many years until treated.
There are other applications of this rx but I know it mainly in this way. There is some newer information here, which I think contains some dream proving data - make of that what you will
http://www.homoeopathie-wichmann.de/pro ... lochia.htm
Hope useful.
Joy
http://www.joylucashomeopathy.com
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/homeopathystudy/