Cimicifuga. [Cimic]
In depressed states this is one of our best remedies. The patient is weak, depressed, “shrouded in a dark, heavy, mental atmosphere “; suspicions people and objects appear strange and unnatural, the brain feels too large. This sensation of a pall of gloom, or horrible sadness, settling over her is characteristic of the remedy. It is often expressed as a feeling as if something were about to happen, or as if they were going crazy. It thus becomes an important remedy in suicidal melancholia, melancholia of pregnancy in hysterical, rheumatic and neuralgic subjects, and especially in puerperal mania. Vision of rats and mice are sometimes seen, and the remedy has been successfully used in delirium tremens.
**Calcarea carbonica. The patient sees objects on closing the eyes which vanish when they are opened; like **Cimicifuga, it has an apprehensive state of the mind, the patient fearing she will go crazy, and that people will observe her.
**Alumina. Low spirited, apprehensive, fear of going crazy.
**Iodine. Fear of going crazy, shuns the doctor, has a dread of people, fears every occurrence will end seriously.
**Calcarea phosphorica. Dementia from masturbation in the young and senile dementia are often benefited by this remedy.
Delirium from drink or uterine troubles in rheumatic subjects will often suggest **Cimicifuga.
Natrum muriaticum. [Nat-m]
The patient requiring this remedy is melancholic, hypochondriacal, sad and hopeless about the future, easily angered, in fact, consolation aggravates. There is emaciation and a prematurely aged look. The periodic nature of the attacks may suggest a malarial basis. Overheating in the sun as a causal indication is a prominent symptom. Patient sheds floods of tears. With this remedy there is a persistent recalling of past unpleasantnesses and grievances. His memory is poor, conversation disconnected, has hallucinations of hearing and delusions. It has awkwardness, like **Bovista, Lachesis, Aethusa, Apis, Ignatia and Nux vomica.
**Pulsatilla. Mild, gentle and tearful, seeks consolation; not introspective like Ignatia.
**Natrum carbonicum. Hypochondriacal, dependent on gastric disturbances. The patient for whom **Natrum muriaticum is suitable is apt to have unjustifiable antipathy against certain people.
Sepia. [Sep]
Another melancholic remedy is **Sepia, which has dark forebodings about her disease, weak memory, sense of helplessness and great susceptibility to excitement, and still more to terror; despair; she dreads to be alone, wants company, but has an aversion to her own friends and is indifferent to her household affairs. It is especially useful in women with leucorrhoea and organic disease of the uterus or ovaries.
**Stannum. Low spirited in lung affections—an uncommon state; a tearful disposition; fears he will go into a decline.
**Thuja. Patient hurried; trifles make him angry; fixed idea of being brittle and will not permit anyone to approach, or that she is under the influence of mesmerists or spiritualists. Soul and body separated. Music causes weeping and trembling of feet.
Ignatia. [Ign]
Most cases of melancholia at some period of their treatment require **Ignatia; it suits women better, while **Arsenicum and Nux vomica are more suitable to men. The **Ignatia patient is melancholic, given to sighing, with a tendency to weep. she hides her grief, is introspective, changeable and silent. It is a remedy full of disappointments, and jealousy, and is most suitable to complaints arising from fear, grief, shock, or prolonged brooding over real or imaginary troubles. They refuse sympathy, but fancy themselves neglected by friends. The patient has a disposition to brood over her sorrows, has remorse about imaginary crimes, is intolerant to noise and tends to fixed ideas. Lasciviousness is a symptom that should not be overlooked.
Phosphoric acid. [Ph-ac]
This remedy suits conditions of long continued disquiet of the affections, the chronic and of long lasting effects of grief rather than the acute forms. A great characteristic is indifference, homesickness; is not irritable, but slow of comprehension; shows no interest in anything, a don’t care condition. Another characteristic is failure of memory.
**Picric acid is a rival of **Phosphoric acid in threatened dementia praecox, with utter prostration, burning in spine, weakness of legs, pains in back and occiput. Desire to sit still without taking interest in surrounding things.
Nux vomica. [Nux-v]
This remedy suits overworked fidgety business men of sedentary habits; they cannot bear to be opposed, are irritable and irascible, easily put out, quick to act; those of a fitful temper and where there is a great disinclination to mental work.
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.