Crocus sativus. Saffron. N.O. Liliaceae. Tincture of dried stigmas or fresh young shoots. PHARMACODYNAMICS. PATIENTS requiring crocus as a remedy are subject to sudden and extreme changes of disposition, from despondency to bright gaiety, with singing and hysterical laughing, a loss of balance and self-control. Or they may be at one moment demonstratively affectionate and the next in a rage-no sense of proportion; cannot control outbursts of rage, followed by abject repentance; loss of memory. Associated with want of mental equilibrium is marked physical weakness, with trembling and twitching of muscles in various parts. These local twitchings are somewhat characteristic and are described as a feeling as if something were alive and moving about, either in the muscular masses of the limbs or in cavities like the abdomen or chest (right side), or in the stomach. In the abdomen it may be interpreted as the movements of flatulence and be associated with distention, nausea, thirst for cold drinks, and heartburn after eating. It may be a mental symptom or delusion. Itching and crawling in the anus may also be present, and the stools contain dark, stringy blood. The passing or oozing of blood of this kind is a guiding feature, occurring as it may from the nose, the bowel, or from bleeding surfaces. In women it may be present with dysmenorrhoea, the flow being black, stringy, offensive, profuse and premature. In such patients intermittent shooting pains occur; extending from the anus to the vulva and being worse on taking a deep breath. There are few respiratory symptoms with drug, but a dry cough from tickling in the trachea is reported. It is relieved by supporting the epigastrium with the hand. A heavy feeling or sense of pressure in the chest is relieved by yawning or taking deep brea In the dark, from letting affected limb hang down (calc. the reverse), moving, walking, stooping.
LEADING INDICATIONS.
(1) The chief characteristic is sudden change of mood from grave to gay or vice versa.
(2) Another leading symptom, almost a general one, as it occurs in various parts of the body (either at one time or separately), is the feeling of something (as if alive) moving about in the abdomen and in many other localities.
(3) The type of haemorrhage is dark and stringy and, in addition, in the case of the menstrual flow, it is profuse, premature and offensive; epistaxis.
(4) Throbbing headache at the period or during the menopause.
(5) Yawning, drowsiness; singing and starting during sleep.
(6) Chorea and hysteria (either sex).
(7) Menorrhagia and dysmenia.
AGGRAVATION:
In a hot room and from hot weather, in evening and at night, from fasting, during pregnancy, on looking fixedly at an object.
AMELIORATION:
From yawning (cardiac), in open air, if mind occupied, supporting epigastrium (cough).
Edwin Awdas Neatby founded the Missionary School of Homeopathy and the London Homeopathic Hospital in 1903, and run by the British Homeopathic Association. He died in East Grinstead, Sussex, on the 1st December 1933. Edwin Awdas Neatby wrote The place of operation in the treatment of uterine fibroids, Modern developments in medicine, Pleural effusions in children, Manual of Homoeo Therapeutics,