Minutus

I have had 2 Drosera acute cases within the last 10 days and that is
interesting in itself but I have just been idly reading Sankaran's
write up of Drosera and he mentions that the potentised substances
could well have been made from plants that had an insect trapped inside
(Drosera being a carnivorous plant). If that is so it could provide a
very interesting 'slant' on the symptom picture and our understanding
of it.

I already know and understand the delusional aspect of this rx, i.e.
the theme of being trapped, persecuted, choked and killed etc but I am
purely wondering about the actuality.

Can anyone shed any light on this possibility? Best wishes, Joy

http://www.homeopathicmateriamedica.com
http://www.homeopathicmateriamedica.blogspot.com

Here's an article from Chris Kurz on Drosera

DROSERA
copyright by C. Kurz, 1996

Drosera rotundifolia (fam. nat. Droseracee), an insectivorous plant,
grows in swampy regions of Europe, Asia, and North America. From a
basal set of leaves, frequently overgrown by moss, it sprouts a stem
which grows a new set of leaves above the moss, thereby smothering
it. The obstinate and pertinacious character of this plant with which
it fights to survive, enables it to live in its swampy environment.
The rounded, stemmed leaves are covered with innumerous small
glandular hairs which exude a clear, sticky fluid. This fluid gathers
at the end of each hair and attracts small insects which mistake it
for a source of nectar. Once an insect touches a droplet, it is
caught by the sticky fluid. Neighboring glandular hairs curve toward
the insect and make escape impossible. A digestive enzyme in the
fluid slowly dissolves the insect body, and the plant eventually
absorbs it, leaving behind the empty chitinous hull. Drosera can
survive on an insect free diet but doesn't grow as tall nor develop
as many seeds. The entire plant is used for preparation of the
homeopathic remedy. Rajan Sankaran quotes Misha Norland (c.f. The
Substance of Homeopathy, page 92), who said that the remedy is
prepared from the entire plant including the trapped insects.

It may be interesting to note that all insectivorous plants I know
grow in or near the water. Certainly in the case of Drosera the
capture of an insect by the plant is in some way analogous to the
dangers a swamp poses to an unsuspecting wanderer. The pertinacious
and stubborn clinging to the intruder, which makes escape impossible,
is present in both cases. The engulfing nature of the surroundings
are reflected in the behavior of the plant.

Starting from the observation that the homeopathic remedy Drosera is
patterned by both the prey as well as the predator, let's look for
both expressions in its symptomology. In perceiving this picture I
found the article by Peter Andersch Hartner, Documenta Hoeoopathica,
Vol. 13, p65, helpful. In the following section I took rubrics from
the repertory (Synthesis) and original provers' language from Allen's
Encyclopedia.

The insect:
It is the morning of a bright and beautiful day. The little insect is
already thirsty (Stomach, thirst, morning; "He dreams of thirst and
drinking, wakes very thirsty and is obliged to drink."). The night before
it slept very restlessly and had many anxious dreams (Dreams, anxious;
Sleep, unrefreshing; Sleep, waking frequent; "Frequent starting at night
from sleep, as if from fright or fear, but without anxiety on waking."). It
is almost as if the night had been a foreboding of danger (Fear of hearing
bad news; Fear of misfortune; Suspicious, mistrustful). On the search for
something to drink, the little insect is drawn from one flower to the next
(Capriciousness; Inconstancy; Irresolution, indecision), when it notices a
plant whose leaves appear to be covered with nourishing nectar. An
irresistible attraction (Delusion, someone calls; Illusions of hearing)
which calls out to it! This sight is so gorgeous and mouth watering that
its fears are dispelled (Cheerful, gay, mirthful). Proceeding to this plant
it decides to land directly on one of the leaves covered with drops of
nectar. The little insect gets stuck in the resinous fluid and quickly
realizes that this was not such a good idea. What deceit (Delusion of being
deceived)! Kicking and screaming it tries to free itself (Courageous;
Restlessness, anxious; Violent, vehement; Rage, fury) to no avail. The
more it struggles the deeper it becomes entrapped, and the leaf seems to
turn inward on the poor little insect (Delusion, tall, things grow taller;
Delusion, persecuted; Delusion pursued by enemies). Movement becomes
increasingly more difficult ("All the limbs feel paralyzed."). The little
insect realizes that it is alone, nobody is coming to help (Anxiety, when
alone; Desire for company; Discouraged about future; Sadness, despondency,
dejection; Forsaken feeling). How much it wishes that it had stayed at home
(Homesickness)! Finally, as the digesting enzymes eat away, we are reminded
of the consumptive disease, tuberculosis, for which Drosera is an important
remedy.

The plant:
It is the morning of a bright and beautiful day. The sundew plant (Drosera)
enjoys the quiet and calmness which the early rays of sun bring
(Tranquility, serenity, calmness). Each of its hair like tentacles is
crowned by an enticing droplet, ready to deal with breakfast (Deceitful,
sly). There, as if out of nowhere, comes a little insect and lands squarely
on one of the sundew's leaves. The plant has never really gotten used to
the impertinence with which insects approach its seeming bountiful source
of food. Anger over this intrusion starts to well up (Mood, alternating,
changeable; Morose, cross, fretful; Offended easily, takes everything in
bad part). As the insect continues to fight and struggle, the sundew curves
its leaf inward to engulf the intruder (Extremities, stiffness, upper,
fingers; "The fingers are inclined to be spasmodically contracted, and, on
closing them, the joints of the middle finger to be stiff, as if the
tendons would not yield, now in the right, now in the left hand."). The
fighting of the insect tickles and stimulates more fluid to be exuded
(Sensitive, oversensitive). Now what is needed is perseverance and
patience. Very few insects have ever managed to free themselves, most
eventually tire and give up (Perseverance; Pertinacity; Plans, carrying
out, insists on; Obstinate, headstrong).

I hope that with this account I have shown that the remedy Drosera is
more than just the plant Drosera. We can clearly perceive the
situation of the struggling insect as well as the tenacious plant.
Many symptoms which I didn't mention here will fit either one or the
other element. The totality appears to comprise the interwoven fates
of the plant and the insect.

Of course, everyone knows that Drosera is a leading whooping cough
remedy with the typical barking sound and retching afterwards,
leading to vomiting in some cases. The obstinate laryngeal tickling
which provokes the cough is very characteristic of Drosera and fits
in nicely with the totality as described above. When one focuses on
the physical aspects of the cough, there are of course many remedies
that come close to Drosera (Corallium, Cuprum, Hyoscyamus, Kali c,
and many others). Margaret Tyler (in Homeopathic Drug Pictures) has
described it as belonging closely to the tubercular miasm and
therefore being similar to Tuberculinum. In this respect one has to
think also of Calc phos and Rhus tox as belonging to this group (also
Pulsatilla). Many Drosera cases have in common this feeling of
wanting to shake off something terribly annoying and harassing, which
clings to them obstinately. Sankaran mentions a very descriptive case
in The Substance of Homeopathy, page 89. It is of a school teacher
who feels constantly harassed by her principal yet feels trapped in
her job and does not want to give it up.
At 03:18 PM 8/29/2005, you wrote:
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Hi Joy,
Mangialavori's 5th session is about half insects. I haven't been able to read all of it, but the idea of distinguishing yourself from the group (Identity) is really strong for the insects.
Blessings,
Ellen

Many thanks Lynn and all, makes for good reading. But I was just
wondering what insects were trapped inside when making the remedy and
to what extent the different pharmacies would use original substances
that varied considerably, depending on what insects were trapped. Best
wishes, Joy
http://www.homeopathicmateriamedica.com
http://www.homeopathicmateriamedica.blogspot.com
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