STRYCHNOS IGNATIA, BEAN OF ST. IGNATIUS.
Introduction
(St. Ignatius a contemporary of the Apostles.)
We use the seeds of a tree, a native of the Philippines, which was first proved for us by Hahnemann.
The old school know of Ignatia from the fact that it contains more Strychnia than does Nux vomica and they claim that this is the only difference between the two drugs.
Hahnemann tells us that although the positive effects of Ignatia “have a great resemblance to those of Nux vomica (which indeed might be inferred from the botanical relationship of these two plants) yet there is a great difference in their therapeutic employment” (Mat. Medorrhinum Pura).
Dunham says: “We shall see that, however great the similarity, there are yet great, and to us, as therapeutists, most valuable differences between these drugs. This is not the first instance in which a superficial use of chemistry has led to error.”
Allen says: “It contains a large amount of strychnia, and most of its toxic properties are due to that alkaloid, but the other elements contained in it determine marked peculiarities, especially extreme sensitiveness of the nerves, symptoms of hysteria, neuralgia and a peculiar form of fever.”.
Symptoms
The chief characteristic of Ignatia is the unexpectedness of its conditions of amelioration and aggravation; when they are blue or in sorrow they want to be left alone (132); when they have a chill they have thirst (121), while with the fever they have none, but want to be covered up warmly (121); “there is great sensitiveness of the surface, which instead of being aggravated by contact and by pressure, is relieved by it. “This perversion of the co-ordination of functions” (Dunham), this contradiction of symptoms, the so-called “contrariness,” is a general characteristic of Ignatia both mentally and physically.
There is extreme sensitiveness to pain (148), a general tendency to faintness, hysterical debility and nervous prostration.
There are many conditions resulting from fright which call for Ignatia and it is to be thought of in epilepsy (67) and chorea from fright (32), as well as for convulsions in children from teething (36), convulsions from fright (36) or from worms.
Hahnemann after telling us that Ignatia “is particularly suitable for acute diseases,” says: “Epileptic attacks that come on in young persons after some great fright, before they become very numerous, may be cured by a few doses of Ignatia. But it is very improbable that chronic epileptic fits of other kinds can be cured, or have ever been cured, by this medicine” (Mat. Medorrhinum Pura).
It is a very useful remedy in hysteria, whether from anger, shock or pain and for hysterical paralysis (120); and as Dunham says, “of all our remedies none so completely corresponds to hysteria, and so often cures it as Ignatia.” In all the phases of hysteria requiring this remedy, there is a changeable mood, often flushing of one cheek or the other (27) and a tendency to scream, tear their clothing, and bite anyone who endeavors to restrain them.
Mentally Ignatia is indicated, when as the result of depressing emotions the patient refuses to be comforted; those cases where consolation cannot be given, as the cause seemed so unnecessary and the effect so overwhelming.
It is particularly useful in ailments resulting from griefs, family affections or financial misfortunes, “ailments of a nature which lead to concealment rather than publicity, and over which the patient broods in silence” (Talcott).
In sorrow or in anger the Ignatia patient will not share her troubles with anyone but wants to be alone with her thoughts (9) and preferably with the door locked. There may be alternations of laughing and crying, but despondency is the usual state, associated with frequent deep sighs (25), and it is especially to be thought of in suppressed grief when they do not or cannot cry, when they “weep tears inwardly;” they cannot become reconciled to what has happened and you will find it a valuable remedy whether the cause of the grief be near or remote. Talcott says, “the cases of melancholia in which Ignatia does not find a place during some period of their treatment are very few.”
Ill humor (184) is very pronounced in Ignatia; she is very sensitive to slight blame and she resents, with emphasis, any contradiction, and the mere fact that she has a feeling of anger towards one person leads her to feel the same way towards others, including herself. She does not make up readily for real or fancied wrongs, but rather nurses or broods over them.
In the head we find Ignatia useful for pains that are sharp and confined to one spot or point, as if some sharp instrument or a nail were being driven into the head (106), as in clavus hystericus, and in the throat we have a sensation as of a ball rising from the stomach half way up the oesophagus or to the throat (189), as in globus hystericus, which sensation is better from swallowing and returns when not swallowing.
It is useful in supraorbital neuralgia, with a pressing or boring pain (76) confined to one spot, and here as with the headache, relieved perhaps by lying on the spot or by pressure there.
The headache is “worse from talking or listening or paying close attention to anything, with a sensation of heaviness or congestion, but not a real congestion” (Dunham) because it presents the unexpected condition of being relieved by stooping forward (93).
In the eyes ciliary neuralgia (75), with spasms of the lids (nictitation) (79), “intense but frightful photophobia” (Hering) and in all conditions, general nervous or hysterical symptoms.
There is facial neuralgia after emotional excitement, convulsive twitchings of the muscles of the face or corners of the mouth whenever the patient attempts to speak, and “spasmodic closing of the jaws” (Lippe).
One symptom frequently found and for which we almost as frequently prescribe the remedy, is where one bites the side of the tongue or inside of the cheek when talking or chewing (27).
I can say nothing, personally, of the use of Ignatia in follicular tonsillitis or diphtheria, as I have never used it in either trouble. The reason for not using it is because I have never met the symptoms calling for it in either disease; others have, however, and think highly of it in both conditions.
The guiding throat symptoms are, to quote from the pathogenesis of the remedy, “sticking in throat when not swallowing, and even somewhat when swallowing, the more he swallows the more it disappears, entirely better swallowing anything solid,” or as the patient puts, there is more pain on empty swallowing (183) or on swallowing saliva than on swallowing a crust of bread. This is a condition frequently met with in throat conditions, especially nervous, and Ignatia is a valuable remedy for it.
In half of the cases coming to you because they think they have swallowed a fish-bone and can feel it sticking in their throat every time they swallow (190), it is a mistake for they have done no bone to be found; but in nine-tenths of all the case, Ignatia given internally will cure the cause of the irritation.
In the stomach, whatever the trouble, there is in general, relief from eating (174). We may have indigestion, with an aversion to the ordinary articles of diet and with a longing for all sorts of things that they know will not agree with them, or what is rather a common symptom, a weak, empty feeling in the stomach (179), a feeling as if they had been fasting, noticed especially in the middle of the night, with a longing for some unexpected article of food; twice I have seen it where a cold boiled potato was the only thing that would satisfy their desire and they would get out of bed and go to the ice-box for it.
During pregnancy this remedy is to be thought of when the nausea and vomiting (153) is relieved by eating.
The dyspepsia calling for Ignatia is frequently caused by depressing emotions, and while there is distention of the stomach and abdomen (13), there are but few eructations. There is, however, excessive flatulence (81) in hysterical conditions, the discharge, as one symptom reads, being “abrupt, offensive, not without exertion of abdominal muscles.”
Ignatia is to be thought of for fissure of the anus (159), without constipation, and in spasmodic contraction of the anus (158), worse after stool; and in both conditions, with pains shooting upward and aggravation “when walking and standing and relieved by sitting ” (Dunham). It is also to be thought of for bleeding haemorrhoids (85), with stabbing, shooting pains from below upward, “the pains worse with a soft stool” (Lilienthal).
An important symptom to keep in mind is the easy prolapse of the rectum (160) after a slight exertion at stool; there may even be no movement but the rectum will protrude.
There is great itching and creeping at the anus (159), producing most violent nervous symptoms, even convulsions, in children.
The constipation calling for Ignatia is very similar to that found under Nux vomica, where there is frequent or almost constant desire for stool, but the effort is ineffectual (34) resulting only in a prolapsus of the rectum.
