(Includes Cerebral Haemorrhage, Embolism and Thrombosis).
Opium. [Op]
The remedy undoubtedly most similar to the general symptoms of apoplexy is **opium. It has a dark red flushed face, and the darker the better the indication. It has rattling stertorous breathing and unconsciousness, with sometimes a tetanic rigidity of the body and paralysis. The pulse is exceedingly slow and full, and there is drooping of the lower jaw; apoplexy in drunkards suggests this remedy, **Nux vomica or Sepia. Marked venous congestion is a mores valuable symptom than profoundness of stupor.
**Ferrum phosphoricum. Dr.E.G.Jones uses this remedy in the 3x trituration in hot water when called during an apoplectic seizure, stating that it will usually restore the patient to consciousness in a short time and also control the haemorrhage. Here Aconite may be a better remedy if the mental anxiety is very prominent.
**Kali muriaticum. The same author uses this remedy to absorb the exudate and believes that many lives may be saved by its use.
Arnica [Arn]
Is the remedy where there is soreness and aching all over the body, paralysis, especially of left side, full, strong pulse and stertorous breathing. Bed sores form rapidly. It is a remedy to prevent threatened apoplexy.
Often attacks of apoplexy can be prevented by restoring the circulation to its equilibrium by means of such remedies as **Aconite, Belladonna, Glonoine and Arnica. Bayes attributes many cases of apoplexy in old people to the habit of taking medicines to keep their bowels open. This should lead us to treat carefully the constipation, and here **opium may perform a double action. Apoplexy due to external violence calls for **Arnica. It should be administered after acute symptoms have subsided to promote absorption of the clot, and here the 30th potency has acted very promptly. Dr.W.Morris Butler believes that we have in **Arnica 30 a sheet anchor for dissolving blood clots in our own hands it has worked most favorably in a number of cases.
Belladonna. [Bell]
Here we have red face, loss of consciousness, convulsive symptoms, dilated pupils, difficult deglutition, involuntary emission of urine, coma and sopor. **Hyoscyamus is similar, patients fall suddenly with a shriek and pass into a condition of sopor, with involuntary faeces. **Glonoine is indicated by high arterial tension and co-existing kidney disease. Severe and sudden congestion.
Laurocerasus. [Laur]
Hartmann claims that this is one of the most important remedies in treating apoplexy when it occurs suddenly without prodroma; the patient falls suddenly into a comatose state out of which he cannot be aroused; palpitation of heart, cold moist skin, convulsions of the muscles of the face are symptoms which should be present. The ensuing paralyses due to cerebral haemorrhage call for **Baryta carbonica as the most useful medicine.
Professor of Materia Medica in the University of Michigan Homeopathic Medical College. Member of American Institute of Homeopathy. In addition to his editoral work he authored or collaborated on: Boericke and Dewey's Twelve Tissue Remedies, Essentials of Homeopathic Materia Medica, Essentials of Homeopathic Therapeutics and Practical Homeopathic Therapeutics.