Gelsemium symptoms do not appear until after two to three days after
exposure to the cold. Gelsemium would certainly be indicated if a child
contracts illness after having been exposed to the cold. If the illness comes
on suddenly and severely from exposure to cold, then Aconite and Belladonna
combined will be much more effective.
According to Dr. Kent, the symptoms of nasal catarrh set in a few
days after exposure to the cold. One might presume that being a coldnatured medicine,
Gelsemium’s illnesses would be more prevalent in the winter and similarly the
illnesses of Aconite would be more prevalent in the summer. In fact, the
situation is the exact opposite (Aconite is used more often in the winter and
Gelsemium more in the summertime). When one is exposed to cold in the
summertime, Gelsemium will be of greater benefit. Thus, Gelsemium is most commonly
used in dry, hot weather. However, when acute
dysentery (along with the passing of lot of blood) is contracted in
the drier part of the summer, Aconite will be the best treatment to work and
does so equally well in the dry months of summer as well as winter. Gelsemium is commonly used to treat
headaches and catarrhal illnesses but not for the treatment of diarrhoea.
However, it has been found to work extremely well for the chronic type of diarrhoea associated
with the body being cold, a heaviness of the head and a complete absence of
thirst in spite of the mouth being dry.
Thus, it is a treatment of diarrhoea as
well. In spite of the fact that the Gelsemium ailments progress
rather
slowly, it is rarely used in the treatment of chronic
diseases. Its use has been confined to treat diseases of limited duration.
In Gelsemium, the blood rushes towards the face and head. The face becomes warm
though the hands and the feet are cold. Similar is the case for Arnica. The calves feel cold or even ice cold. These
symptoms are also found in Glonoine. However, the difference between Gelsemium
and Glonoine is that in Gelsemium, the hands and feet become cold but there is
no sweating, while in Glonoine, there is profuse sweating in addition to the
hands and feet becoming cold. Due to the straining of the back muscles causing
severe stiffness and spasms, the pain spreads over the shoulders and up to the
back of the head. The stiffness
of the neck causes great difficulty in turning the neck. The
headache is mostly on the right side. Extreme spasm of the neck muscles (torticolis)
at night, is better treated with Gelsemium and Belladonna combined. In case the
rigidity of the neck resembles meningitis, the back does not feel cold but the
hands and feet become cold. In addition to the severe muscular stiffness, the
patient may become convulsive but there is no associated cyanosis. In this
condition, one should not forget to use Gelsemium.
In Gelsemium, the patient is restless before going to
sleep. He fears that he may not be able to sleep well. The head starts hurting,
while still, there is no headache, per se. The headache becomes worse on sleeping
(like Lachesis), though the overall picture of the patient is still Gelsemium.
He does not sleep well. By the time the patient has got up in the morning, his
headache has become very severe. The one difference between Gelsemium and
Lachesis is that the Gelsemium pain does not remain confined to the head;
instead, it radiates down the shoulders up to the back of the head and is most
often on the left side.
Gelsemium is the antidote of Glonoine. Combined with
Natrum Mur, it happens to become a complete immediate panacea.
Gelsemium is of great value for the treatment of women. It
will immediately relieve
the tightness of the cervix of the uterus as
well as the associated lightning type of labour pains radiating
to the back. The tightness of the
muscles of the back becomes released and the child is delivered smoothly. It is
also of significant use in relieving the severe backache accompanying the
menstrual period, as well as the chills and relentless fever due to infection.
A malarial
fever, which comes on every day with a tendency to be very high in
the afternoon, will respond well to Gelsemium.
Symptoms of Gelsemium become much worse in the evening. On the other
hand, the symptoms of Arsenic are at their peak at midday and midnight. The
pain of Kali Carb commences at about three o’ clock in the afternoon while the
symptoms of Gelsemium become worse between four and seven o’clock.
The heartbeat
is slow and weak. Typically, the patient thinks that his heart will
beat as long as he keeps walking and will stop as soon as he stops, as if the
functioning of the heart is being sustained by physical movement. Over the
heart area there is a feeling of vacuum and weakness. The patient believes that
moving around is a must to keep the heart functioning or it will stop as soon
as he sits down. Slow walking is good
to strengthen the heart gradually while sudden rapid movement can do harm to
it. The heart of a Gelsemium patient is weak and cannot bear sudden, severe
physical stress. He will either faint or may even die. Gentle physical exercise
gradually strengthens the heart muscle so that it may subsequently be able to
take relatively rapid physical movement
In Gelsemium, there is a feeling of weakness and emptiness at the stomach.
Gelsemium can be of use in treating the diarrhoea of psychogenic origin. The
stomach, like the heart, is subject to emotional stress. Fear, stress and bad
news are known to upset the stomach. This is also seen in Argentum Nitricum
although other symptoms are quite different. Gelsemium can be compared also to Natrum Mur in some ways.
The headache of Natrum Mur is as if being hammered, while the
Gelsemium headache generally begins as throbs over the nape of
the neck.
Gelsemium is very effective in treating the left-sided headache that becomes settled at the nape of neck or
radiates to the neck. In addition, Onosmodium may also be very useful. Both Gelsemium and Onsomodium combined can be used to treat migraine.
At times, the headache may just be due to excessive heat but this may not come to one’s mind, therefore all the
symptoms should be considered carefully. It is essential to have a
good working knowledge of the working of the disease as well as the
nature of the remedy. Whenever the correct Homoeopathic remedy is used,
the patient will have a good sleep or will start passing urine
freely. In the case of Gelsemium, the urination is free and clear like
water. Reduction in the severity of
symptoms shows that Gelsemium was certainly the right choice. Often in
Gelsemium, emotional stress and grief can induce physical illnesses.
Gelsemium is known for eye
troubles also, such as temporary blindness. This kind of blindness
is also found in other medicines, though not as commonly as in Gelsemium. If
one eye is affected, Rhus Tox will suffice. In some cases, Lachesis may also be
useful. In Gelsemium, there is drooping of the eyelids, which are difficult to keep
open (ptosis). If this condition becomes chronic Gelsemium will not be of much
use any more. It is useful in the beginning of the condition. The vision
becomes blurred. One pupil happens to be dilated and the other constricted i.e.
the pupils are unequal in size. The eye
becomes red and swollen. Vision is foggy or the field of vision becomes
occupied with spider webs. Gelsemium is also useful to treat the neurological
weakness of the eye muscles. Hands and feet become partially paralysed. The
limbs quiver and feel drawn. The patient does not wish to walk for want of
physical energy. Regarding the catarrhal diseases (affecting
the inner linings/mucous membranes), the symptoms of Gelsemium resemble those
of Natrum Mur. However, the patient of Natrum Mur is very thirsty and the patient
of Gelsemium not thirsty at all. In Gelsemium the patient sneezes repeatedly.
The tip of the nose becomes insensitive. Ears
may also become numb over the skin surface. The skin is warm, dry and
itchy. Gelsemium can prove effective immediately for these conditions.
Boils
form on the face and scalp. Blisters form over the nerve ends, which
can be very painful and even harmful. This is called Shingles (Herpes Zoster).
Gelsemium is also of significant advantage in treating this condition. I
usually prescribe a combination of Ledum, Arnica and Arsenic. Natrum Mur is
also useful. Generally, I prefer to suggest a combination of any three, which
proves very effective i.e. by substituting one of the first three with Natrum
Mur or Gelsemium as indicated. By the grace of Allah, in my experience, within
these five remedies (Ledium, Arnica, Arsenic, Natrum Mur and Gelsmium), most
cases of shingles come under control.
Sometimes, epilepsy-like
conditions can develop due to the disorder of the stomach. It is as if a flame or a flash erupts from
the stomach and rises up towards the head or the heart. The patient
may either become unconscious or very dizzy, losing balance. This is a symptom of
Gelsemium. It results from gastric hyperacidity often seen in sportsmen.
Gelsemium will be found very useful in treating this condition. Certainly, this
is not epilepsy as such.
The Gelsemium ailments become aggravated in humidity and
with emotional stress. Passing large amounts of urine freely and
constant light movement in open air give relief