The Genus Materia Medica/The Compositae/Part 2

[David Little]

The Four Major Subcategories of the Compositae

As a family group the Compositae has the potential to treat the wide
variety of signs, befallments, and symptoms. Within the major Compositae
there are subgroups that circle around particular cardinal remedies and
their symptoms. These remedies hold the template for each subcategory that
has a number of lesser-known remedies. For example, the first group of
Compositae has a special relationship to traumas, hemorrhages, septic
states, and arthritic and rheumatic diathesis and urinary concomitants.

These remedies share the shocked, bruised, broken, wounded sensations
of Arnica as well as it hard bed sensations, tendency toward hemorrhage,
blood poisoning, pus formations, remittent and continued fevers with heat,
chill, and sweat and strong bone pains. These remedies tend to be worse when
still or with moderate or controlled motion but are decidedly < worse from
any kind of strain.

These remedies are useful in rheumatic diathesis, heart disorders,
circulatory problems, with aching, sore, beaten muscle pains. Noted for
arthritic diathesis or gouty-like states with stitching joints, deep aching
bone pains < sudden shock, emotional stress, motion, jar, and touch. There
is a disposition to genitourinary affections, cystitis, gonorrhea and sycosis.

Many of these remedies are suited to sanguine temperaments or those
with plethoric tendencies, hemorrhagic diathesis and ecchymosis. There are
many red, purple, blue, and black discolorations. Suited to traumatic
diathesis and never well since injury syndromes. Veins varicose, veins
distended, engorged, hemorrhoids and plethoric states. The patient is prone
to copious menses and metorrhagia. Hemorrhages in TB cases.

Study the individual remedies in this group in the materia medica and
note their similar and differential symptoms.

2. The Nervous, Bilious Digestive Compositae, The Chamomilla Group

Anth., anth-c., CHAM., Card-m., card-p., cent., cich., chrysan., Grin.,
heli., panth., Tarax., Grin., heli., Nabal.

The Group 2 Compositae works in the regions of liver, gal bladder,
spleen, eyes, temples, digestive complaints, malnutrition, mal
assimilation, and bilious and hypochondriacal states. Complaints of babies,
dentition, and young children. This state characterized by a choleric
temper, critical nature, anger, bitterness, crossness, with a touchy
disposition which is easily offend, irritable, forgetful, restlessness,
nervousness, sadness, forgetfulness, moroseness and melancholic.

The bilious Compositate treat congestion and constriction in the
forehead, heaviness of head, pressing in the forehead and occiput. The eyes
are painful, inflamed with the red lids with yellow whites. There is often
bleeding from the nose. The face is sallow, yellow with heat. Mouth has
much salivation, bitter taste. There is constriction of the throat with
reflux and difficult swallowing. There is eructation worse < after eating.

These remedies show heartburn, nausea, pain, pressing, distention as
well as liver and gall bladder ailments. In the abdomen there movements,
liver pain, colic, gallstones, cramping, gripping, drawing, pressing,
stitching, and rumblings. Most of the stools are bilious and yellow. There
is urging in the bladder, to urinate, with morbid desire and scanty
yellowish or dark urine.

The Compositae also produce irritation of the larynx, dry irritation of
the air passages. The expectoration is often yellowish, greenish and may be
bloody. Chest pains on inspiration, pain in the heart region, drawing,
stitching, stitching in the side of chest. Pain in the back, upper limb,
upper arm, forearm. The sleep is disturbed restlessness with frequent
waking, dreams, and yawning. Useful in bilious and gastric fevers. The skin
is yellow as in jaundice. Hemorrhage, jerking muscles, lassitude and
weakness. These remedies are < Motion. < Right side.

Study the individual remedies in this group in the materia medica and
note their similar and differential symptoms.

3. The Nervous, Spasmodic, Anthelminthics Compositae, The Cina Group

Art-v, Absin., CINA., lact., sant., tanac.,

The Spasmodic Anthelminthic Group is lead by the remedy, Cina, which
carries the template for the subgroup. The regions of Cina group are the
mind, NERVOUS SYSTEM, Brain, CEREBRO-SPINAL; senorium, circulation,
abdomen, bowels, mucus membranes. Complaints in children. The most common
conditions are violent symptoms, nervous excitement, spasms, epileptic
seizure, convulsions, somnambulism, chorea, catalepsy, nervous tremors,
twitching, and paralysis. These remedies have nervous elements and spasms.

Constitutions prone to worms and parasites and reflex symptoms of
parasites. Dark circles under the eye, pale face, itching of the nose and
anus, swallowing at night when asleep, grinding of the teeth in sleep,
twitching, jerking, restless sleep, worm colic, and a touchy, irritability
temper; the child wakes up frightened. Complaints of teething children,
childhood and puberty; Young people; nervousness, excitement, and
sleeplessness in children. Nervous temperaments with spasmodic diathesis,
chorea, or fits of unconsciousness.

There remedies produce an altered state of consciousness with
hallucination, exhalation of fancies, frightful visions, as if insane,
foolish, or idiotic. Plays antics, teases, jokes until it becomes unkind,
does not know when to quit. Kleptomania, a decided tendency to take that
which does not belonging to them; to be selfish, envious, and greedy. They
may not steal material objects but there always this tendency to take what
they want at the cost of others. Ill-humour, restless, fretful, peevish,
very cross, does not want to be touched, caressed, or interfered with in
any manner. Delusions that they can take what belongs to others, grotesque
animals, pursued by enemies, soldier, being murder, and killing. These
remedies are prone to yawning, which either aggravates or ameliorates.
Worse < excitement; DURING SLEEP; TOUCH; night; Vexation; Worms.

Study the individual remedies in this group in the materia medica and
note their similar and differential symptoms.

4. The Respiratory Allergic Compositae, The Wyethia Group

Ambo, silphu, solid, WYE.

The regions of the respiratory and allergy group are RESPIRATORY
SYSTEM, Lungs, Nose, MUCUS MEMBRANES, trachea and bronchial tubes;
digestion, and bowels. There are many respiratory complaints with urinary
concomitants such as asthma and nightly dysuria.. These remedies are useful
in HAY FEVER with seasonal attacks, the eyes smart with burning lachymation
with intolerable itching of the eyes, and nose bleeds. The nares of the
nose are irritated with abundant mucus secretion or painful dryness. There
are paroxysms of sneezing. Idiosyncrasies do to special sensitivities, over
reaction to non-threatening situations. .

Useful in Asthma, chronic bronchitis and catarrh of the lungs, bladder
and bowels. Suited to seasonal diarrhea, and dysenteries, esp. if
concomitant to respiratory allergies. These remedies are often nervous,
uneasy, depressed. There is over reactive anger, irascibility, GREAT
IMPATIENCE, irritability from the least exertion, quarrelsomeness, and
scolding nature. They can hardly stand their condition and which drives
them to distraction. The often feel as if they are falling down from a
height. They fear crashing down to reality. Fighting for the breath of
life. Feelings as if suffocating or being smothered.

Study the individual remedies in this group in the materia medica and
note their similar and differential symptoms.

On this basis it is easy to get an understanding of the Compositae as a
whole and the four major subgroups within the family. This makes it easier
to digest a large family of remedies in smaller easy to comprehend
packages. This information is based on group repertorisation, comparative
materia medica studies, and case histories. On this solid basis the shared
mental , general and particular symptoms can be collated and the redline
characteristics of the family and its subgroups can be developed. On this
basis it is then possible to develop the differential symptoms that makes
each subgroup and remedies unique in its own sphere. With this objective
scientific data in hand it is possible to utilize the more subjective
intuitive aspects of the material in a manner that balanced yet
progressive. I hope that this short study has given a glimpse into the
beneficial aspects of studying remedies in genus groups based on the signs
and symptoms.

Asclepius in the Balance

I support the work on the Three Kingdoms done by progressive
homoeopaths, but at the same time, I caution against over reliance on
essences, themes and concepts to the detriment of the a deeper study of the
material found in our traditional repertories and materia medica. When flow
charts and keynotes replace (rather than complement) the scientific
material found in our reference works the outcome is a retrograde movement
in homoeopathic education. Some people do not bother to study the
traditional material in any depth and have become one-sided mentalist and
so-called essence prescribers. I have heard some say that when they
practice the true Esse they do need all that other "stuff".

Much of essence work is so exclusively focused on amateurish
psychology that it trivializes the greater system of homoeopathy. If the
somatic generals and particulars are not developed hand in hand with the
deeper psychological aspects of our art it will fail to retain its rightful
place as a complete medical system. If the time honored medical aspects of
homoeopathic philosophy and pathology is ignored while the latest
revelations circulating the seminar circuit are highlighted with terms like
the "cut edge" the "highest essence" and "the best" we lose our heritage to
the latest craze. Too many individuals using homoeopathy do not know their
fundamentals well enough to be called real *homoeopathicians*.

If you take some of these individuals into a front line medical
institution they do not know how to tell an acute disorder from a chronic
disease, a functional disorder from a pathological state, or a dangerous
infectious miasm from a non infectious disorder. They don't know how layers
of dissimilar disease repel, suspend, or unit into complex diseases nor how
the true reversal of symptoms takes place. They can not tell the difference
between a constitutional expression, a miasmatic complex, or a one-sided
disease. They don't even know the four major types of remedy reactions or
the difference between the signs of a true simillimum, a partial simillimum
or a wrong remedy. They can not differentiate between a true healing crisis
and the symptoms caused by over medication or the a bad reaction. They
don't really know homoeopathic medicine yet they think they are already
practicing the highest method.

Some are so busy looking for transcendental core delusions, a clever
spin on the doctrine of signatures, or a fantastic new remedy essence that
they can not even see the characteristic symptoms of mistuned vital force
right in front of them. This is a hit or miss method. Sometimes they "hit"
at the wrong time in the wrong patient and they cause more trouble than
good because they do not take the time to understand the nature of the
disease state. Such failures are often blamed on some outside reason or the
patient. Please, dear colleagues, learn the fundamentals that make
homoeopathy a medical science very well and then you will be able to reach
for the stars without losing touch with the realities of the earth plane.
It is important to build one's practice on the bedrock of the Organon,
Chronic Diseases and Lesser Writings. If one's homoeopathic house is build
on proverbial sand the winds and rains of clinical realities will bring it
down sooner or later.

I apologize in advance to anyone who may think that I am speaking out
unfairly. I am not talking about any particular individual, group or school
of thought and I mean no harm. I am sharing my concern about the future of
the homoeopathic education and what will be passed on to the next
generation of practitioners. That is why I support the progressive areas of
study within our school, while at the same time, call for a maintenance of
the traditional roots and standards that have made homoeopathy a great
medical system.

Similia Minimus
Sincerely, David Little
---------------
"It is the life-force which cures diseases because a dead man needs no more
medicines."

Samuel Hahnemann

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Academy at
http://www.simillimum.com
David Little © 2000