Caladium is commonly used for the treatment of tobacco addiction and this
is what it is famous for. However, it is not just for this limited use. It has
many more prominent features. Its mental manifestations are unique. Caladium
poison adversely affects the memory
of a person. He forgets as soon as he has done something. Caladium could
be used for the treatment of epilepsy.
It is also related to the hardening
of the arteries (arteriosclerosis) but it is not a specific treatment
for arteriosclerosis.
After having done a task, a Caladium patient will
typically keep wondering whether he did it or not. He cannot recall if he said
what he had to, or did not say it, or in fact did write a letter to somebody,
or not. In short, he is very unsure in his day-to-day life, but this symptom
does not relate to his eating and drinking. For example, he will not forget
having taken breakfast. Routine things are forgotten because a person usually
remains lost in his own thoughts and cannot remember if he has done what he had
to. It is correct to think that a Caladium patient is under great mental
pressure. His mind is occupied by two kinds of activities. One is the routine activity
and the other is being mentally preoccupied. This is the reason why a Caladium patient
is absent-minded, like the philosophers who also tend to forget things. Such
patients get mentally fatigued and cannot perform any literary work.
Caladium is also the treatment for sexual weakness, secondary to tobacco
addiction. In this respect, it is similar to Picric Acid and Selenium.
The Caladium patient is in a state of constant
fear; fear of darkness, fear of future, so much so that he becomes
even scared of his own shadow.
The Caladium patient suffers from vertigo that worsens on
closing the eyes. In contrast, the vertigo gets in Conicum worse on opening the
eyes. The patient feels dizzy even on lying down and moving the eyes. In this
kind of vertigo, Conium alone is not effective, but becomes a powerful
treatment when given with Cocculus. In both Caladium and Conium, movement
intensifies the symptoms.
Caladium symptoms intensify with heat. Hot weather or a
heated room aggravate the symptoms, while cooling relieves them. Although the
stomach symptoms aggravate by taking cold things, it is the opposite of
Phosphorus. In Phosphorus, the stomach feels relief by taking cold drinks. A
Caladium patient’s sleep is disturbed even with the slightest noise. Once
awakened it is extremely difficult for him to go back to sleep.
In Caladium, the skin
feels a tingling sensation, as if some insect is creeping on it. The
sweat has a sweet smell that attracts flies. The skin is very itchy for no
specific reason. When the creeping sensation intensifies, the entire body
starts itching all the time. There is no rash or eczema. Some women may suffer
from internal itching which can cause severe irritability.
Caladium symptoms intensify on movement and are relieved
by sweating and with sleep.