Gratiola, though rarely used, is notably important in some
diseases. It is known for causing profound nervous, mental and physical weakness.
If there is nervous exhaustion, mental and physical weakness along with other
specific ailments, the administration of Gratiola in such cases will promptly
cure the symptoms. In Gratiola, there is a type of stinging irritation of the
eyes. The eyesight is hazy like looking through a cobweb. There is a peculiar
type of colour blindness, in which green appears to be white. The patient
complains that it is as if sand particles are irritating the eye. Melancholia in women is probably related to
Gratiola. Gratiola presents a unique paradox that women apparently feel weak,
but deep down they may experience passionate excitement of sexual organs. Young girls, if so afflicted, tend to be
immodest and shameless. They must be treated to control their passions and
desires. Gratiola will work if other associated symptoms are not very complex. In responding to heat and cold, the
constitution of Gratiola patient is like that of Pulsatilla. Gratiola works
better on left-sided ailments like Lachesis. Its sexual excitement resembles
that of Taraentula. However, Taraentula
is good for right-sided symptoms. Gratiola symptoms are mostly localised, while
in Lachesis symptoms shift from left to right.
Gratiola is useful in some kinds of colds. If nasal
secretions enter the stomach, it causes severe spasms, in the form of twisting
and curling of the stomach. Gratiola is useful in common stomach problems associated
with the swelling of the upper lip and this is true about Pulsatilla as well. Sometimes Gratiola annuls the effect of Coffea. Similarly,
Coffea works the same way against Gratiola. The symptoms of both
these
remedies are similar. Although the nervous infirmity
peculiar to Gratiola is not as pronounced in Coffea. Yet, it is said
that Gratiola resembles Coffea. One thing is clear that if one cannot
sleep in the early part of the night and other symptoms of Coffea are not
present, then this indicates Gratiola. In Gratiola, typically, swallowing relieves the throat’s discomfort. But in Gratiola, swallowing ameliorates the pain. Therefore, Gratiola patient drinks
fluids in sips so that the discomfort at the throat may be relieved. The Gratiola patient feels dizzy while
eating, more so after having finished eating. Closing the eyes, reading, and
getting up suddenly also produces dizziness, showing that the patient is
anaemic or has low blood pressure
Another type of stomach upset is associated with nausea
and distension of the stomach due to gas. In Gratiola nausea disappears as soon
as food is taken. Usually in nausea, one does not feel like eating, but in
Gratiola, strangely enough, the treatment for nausea is eating food. Acidity of
the stomach can be relieved by food intake, but returns after a short while.
Acidity of the stomach is not necessarily due to Hydrochloric acid (HCl). Very
often, due to a lack of hydrochloric acid, food remains undigested, producing
various other acids. In the case of hyperacidity of the stomach, nausea or
belching cause a reflux of the acidic contents of the stomach into the distal
part of the food pipe (oesophagus). The patient feels burning behind the breast
bone (sternum) and feels tightness of the chest, as in angina. In Gratiola, there is a feeling of burning all
over, but an inflammation and a burning sensation of the reproductive organs,
male and female both, can provoke unusual and unnatural physical reactions. In
the Gratiola patient, typically there is palpitation after passing stools. Homoeopathic physicians must prepare a
library of similarly acting remedies, store them in their memory and then
sub-classify them according to their peculiar, distinctive features. Then alone
will they be able to make proper diagnoses. If they do not do so, they will always
remain confused and find difficulty in treating their patients properly.