Cicuta virosa. [Cic]
The indications for **cicuta are sudden rigidity followed by jerks and violent distortions, and these followed by utter prostration. The prostration is characteristic, being equalled only by that of **Chininum arsenicosum. There is a tonic spasm renewed by touch simulating **Strychnia; but in **Cicuta there is loss of consciousness, thus resembling more the epileptiform. There is great oppression of breathing, lockjaw, face dark red, frothing at the mouth and opisthotonos. The reflex excitability under **Cicuta is much less than under Strychnia. Another characteristic of **Cicuta is fixed staring eyes; others are trembling before and after the spasm and strange feeling in the head preceding the attack. Bayes, however, regards muscular convulsions as a specially prominent symptom for **Cuprum.
Sulphur. [Sulph]
Like **Calcarea, Sulphur is a constitutional or basic remedy, and it will act well where there is a scrofulous taint. It is useful for the same class of cases as is **Calcarea; namely, those brought on by sexual excesses or the suppression of some eruption. The convulsions are attended with great exhaustion and it is suitable to the chronic form of epilepsy in children who are typical **Sulphur patients. There is perhaps a tendency to fall to the left side. **Sulphur is also a useful intercurrent remedy in the course of the treatment of an epilepsy. **Psorinum may also be needed as an intercurrent.
Hyoscyamus. [Hyos]
In epileptic convulsions **Hyoscyamus is a most valuable remedy. There is much twitching and jerking and hunger previous to the attack, there is frothing at the mouth and biting of the tongue. A violent fright will produce an attack that will call for **Hyoscyamus. The convulsions seem to have more of a hysterical nature, and there are illusions of sight and hearing.
**Stramonium has epilepsy from fright, sudden loss of consciousness and jerking of the head to the right, with rotary motion of the left arm. **Stramonium is the opposite of **Belladonna, for whereas the **Belladonna patient shuns light, fears noises and is sensitive in the highest degree, the **Stramonium patient fears darkness and hates to be alone; he acts like a coward and trembles and shakes.
**Agaricus 30 cured a case of epilepsy of 22 years’ standing for Dr.Winterburn. He was led to its prescription by the unusual symptom of “great flow of ideas and loquacity after the attack.”.
Belladonna. [Bell]
**Belladonna is especially a remedy for acute epilepsies, when the cerebral symptoms are prominent, where the face is flushed and the whole trouble seems to picture cerebral irritation, and more especially if the patient be young. There is an aura as if a mouse were running over an extremity, or of heat rising from the stomach. There are illusions of sight and hearing, and the convulsions are apt to commence in an upper extremity and extend to the mouth, face and eyes. The great irritability of the nervous system, the easily disturbed sleep, the startings, the tremors and twitching and the general **Belladonna symptoms will render the choice easy. **Atropine, the alkaloid of Belladonna, has also been used successfully in the treatment of epilepsy.
**Hydrocyanic acid. Another remedy is **Hydrocyanic acid, to which Hughes ascribes specific powers in the disease. In recent cases it perhaps our best remedy. the cases calling for it will be characterized by loss of consciousness, clenched hands, set jaws, frothing at the mouth, inability to swallow, and the attack is followed by great drowsiness and prostration. Children are disinclined to play and take but little interest in anything. It is one of our mainstays in epilepsy and its clinical record ranks it high.
Causticum. [Caust]
**Causticum is useful in Petit mal, also when the patient falls while walking in the open air, but soon recovers. It is said to be useful when the attacks occur at new moon. It menstrual epilepsy and that occurring at puberty **Causticum is the remedy. Kafka recommends **Hepar in nocturnal epilepsy. **Causticum is perhaps better suited to recent and light cases. Another preparation of potash, **Kali muriaticum, is a most useful remedy in epilepsy; it has an affinity for the nerve centers and it is a slow acting remedy.
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.