Homeopathic Gelsemium Sempervirens Prepared From Yellow Jessamine

Hi, I’m Dr Imran Ali, and welcome back to the Homeopathy Materia Medica series. Today I’ll be talking about Gelsemium Sempervirens, a homeopathic remedy made from the root of the yellow jasmine plant. Also known as yellow jessamine or Carolina jessamine. Once considered to be a member of the Loganiaceae family, it’s now botanically classified under the Gelsemiaceae family.

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Although Gelsemium is an invaluable remedy for many acute conditions, it’s sometimes overlooked for its role in treating chronic health problems, especially neurologic conditions. Gelsemium is primarily a nervous system remedy. All right, let’s get started.

Essence of Gelsemium Sempervirens

State of Fatigue, Weakness, Fear, Trembling

Okay. Now, if I had to summarise the essence of this remedy, I would say that it fits people who shrink back or recoil into a state of fatigue, weakness, fear, and trembling, especially after facing a challenging ordeal or frightening situation. Although this is somewhat of an overgeneralization, it does sum up many aspects of this remedy.

Frightened State of Sleepiness When Unable to Cope With a Challenge

Unable to cope with a challenge, Gelsemium instead collapses into a frightened state of sleepiness and or weakness. And this fatigue or weakness can be felt on any level, physical, mental or emotional. And the intensity of these symptoms can be anywhere from mild to severe.

Fatigue Leads to Exhaustion, Which Leads to Prostration & Trembling or Paralysis

So when fatigue worsens, it becomes exhaustion. And in more extreme cases, it can manifest as prostration. Likewise, when weakness intensifies, it can cause trembling of muscles and, in more severe cases, can manifest as partial paralysis or paresis and ultimately paralysis.

Drowsiness or Sleepiness

Similarly, one may experience mild drowsiness or moderate sleepiness and in more extreme cases, overpowering sleepiness. Gelsemium can be the remedy of choice for symptoms anywhere along this symptomatic spectrum.

In What Situations A Patient May Need Gelsemium

Condition After Fright or Too Much Stress

So we must think of Gelsemium when a person can no longer cope with a situation that either frightens him or is too stressful to face. Such situations can range from the mundane, like a school exam, to the profound, like a violent encounter on the battlefield of war.

Test Anxiety & Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Gelsemium is a remedy for both test anxiety and soldiers with PTSD. Although the two situations are vastly different, Gelsemium may be needed, especially when the response to the stressor is similar. In both cases, the person feels unequal to the challenge. He loses his courage or loses his confidence and becomes paralysed by fear.

Patient Loses His Nerves

He can no longer cope. He gives up and wilts under fire, so to speak. A good way to characterise it is that:

• He loses his nerve.
• His will to action fails him.
• And he instead trembles in fear.
• Becomes weak and tired.
• And wants to crawl into bed to avoid the reality of his circumstances.

A Remedy For Traumatised Soldiers

In earlier times, traumatised soldiers were said to have shell shock, battle fatigue, or combat fatigue. Such individuals would return home and have a hard time adjusting once again to civilian life. Some confined themselves to the home, and many had trouble keeping down a job.

A Case of a Professional Who Had Been Humiliated By His Colleagues

I once treated a very successful middle-aged professional who had been embarrassed and humiliated in front of a large group of his colleagues. He went home, climbed into bed, and never returned to his job. It wasn’t until a year later that he consulted me. He had spent most of that year lying in bed, feeling exhausted, and sleeping the hours away.

A few doses of Gelsemium got him quickly out of bed and on his way to recovery.

Gelsemium Patient is Described As Coward

The homeopathic literature often uses the words coward or cowardice to describe Gelsemium. And while I understand that these words are intended to be descriptive, they are a bit harsh.

One definition of the word cowardice is:

“A shamefully excessive fear of danger, difficulty, or suffering.”

For this reason, it can be interpreted as passing judgment, as if to say that the person should be ashamed of his affliction. And we as homeopaths should understand better than most that blaming, shaming, or passing judgment are absolutely incompatible with healing.

Gelsemium For Performance/Stage-Fright Anxiety

Gelsemium’s lack of courage or loss of nerve can manifest in a variety of different ways. It can take the form of a general lack of confidence, and some may describe themselves as:

• Shy
• Reserved
• Nervous
• Timid

Of course, Gelsemium is famous for its use as a performance anxiety or stage fright remedy.

A Case of Anxiety Before Lecture Cured With Gelsemium

I’ll never forget the time years ago when I was asked by my friend, a Jungian-oriented psychiatrist, to speak about homeopathy to his study group of fellow medical professionals. I was thrilled to have been asked, but as the date approached, I became increasingly anxious. About half an hour before the event was scheduled, I decided to take a single dose of Gelsemium.

I delivered my talk, which was very well received, and only when I was walking out to my car afterwards did it dawn on me that I had been calm as a cucumber. Not only did Gelsemium work, but I’d completely forgotten about myself and my own personal worries.

Works for Both Acute & Chronic Anxiety Cases

Gelsemium is a remedy for both acute and chronic cases of:

• Test anxiety,
• Interview anxiety,
• Stage fright and
• Performance anxiety.

Whatever the circumstance, if a person feels unable to face a challenge or paralysed by fear, then we must consider Gelsemium.

Anticipatory Anxiety or Nervous Dread

Some describe it as a feeling of nervous dread. Others characterise it as anticipatory anxiety. It often takes the form of a:

• Fear of appearing in public,
• Fear of new situations or
• A dread of having to face anything that is perceived as an unusual ordeal.

Caution For Practitioner While Interviewing A Gelsemium Patient

Furthermore, as a practitioner, it’s important not to be fooled. Some people are very good at concealing their vulnerabilities, while others are not. So for some, the Gelsemium fear and nervous dread is overt and obvious, but for others, it may be concealed and harder to detect.

Sometimes the interviewer uncovers a clear-cut etiology(cause) after which a person’s difficulties began. But it’s also not unusual for the patient’s history to reveal no such triggering event. Perhaps a case of stage fright developed after a particularly negative review from a critic. On the other hand, there are many performers who have always had stage fright from the beginning of their careers.

Important Rubrics Covering Gelsemium

The following rubrics, under which Gelsemium is listed prominently, give us a sense of the diverse circumstances that can bring about a Gelsemium state:

• Ailments from anguish (severe mental or physical pain or suffering).
• Ailments from anticipation.
• Ailments from the death of a loved one.
• Ailments from embarrassment.
• Ailments from fright.
• Ailments from grief.
• Ailments from mortification.
• Ailments from bad news.
• Ailments from shock.

And it’s not the triggering event itself as much as it is the response to the triggering event that points us to Gelsemium as a possible remedy.

A Case of Summer Flu Cured With Gelsemium

I once received a phone call from the mother of a patient who had come down with the flu. It struck me as a bit unusual because it was summertime. In addition to the fact that the daughter had symptoms that pointed to Gelsemium, I knew that Gelsemium had a reputation for fitting flu symptoms that occur in the summertime.

Nevertheless, it’s important to be thorough. So, I asked the mother if anything unusual had happened in the days leading up to the daughter’s illness. She confirmed that yes, the daughter had had a piano recital the night before her symptoms began. Not only that, but she’d been quite nervous about the recital.

So, in this case, it’s reasonable to conclude that the triggering event, the recital, had led directly to the young girl’s flu-like symptoms. Thankfully, a couple of doses of Gelsemium brought her right out of it.

Gelsemium Fears

Now, the repertory contains a good bit of crossover between Gelsemium’s ailments from rubrics and Gelsemium’s fears.

Gelsemium fears include the following.

• Fear of exams.
• Fear of failure.
• Fear of an ordeal.
• Fear of public places.
• Fear of appearing in public places.
• Fear of losing control.
• Fear with heart complaints.
• Fear that the heart will cease beating unless constantly in motion.
• Fear of heights.
• Fear of falling.

Apathy & Indifference of Gelsemium

Now, in addition to anticipation, fear and exhaustion, the Gelsemium type can sometimes become apathetic or indifferent to his own condition. This is often experienced as a type of depression. When grieving, Gelsemium may be unable to cry. It is listed prominently in repertories under:

• Silent grief.

More Mental Symptoms of Gelsemium

Desire or Aversion to Company

Sometimes there’s a desire for company and support, but in other cases there’s an aversion to company with a desire not to be disturbed.

Forgetful, Dull, Poor Concentration

When fatigue and weakness affect Gelsemium on the mental level, it can manifest as forgetfulness, dullness of thinking, or poor concentration.

Brain Weakness & Aversion to Mental Work

Likewise, there may be vanishing thoughts that are aggravated by mental exertion. The person may feel helpless due to his feeling of brain weakness, and this, in turn, can lead to a general aversion to mental work.

Modalities of Gelsemium

All right. Now let’s talk about the Gelsemium generals and modalities.

Symptoms Develop Gradually

Generally speaking, Gelsemium symptoms tend to develop gradually. It’s not a remedy for sudden paroxysmal symptoms,

Chilly Remedy

Generally speaking, Gelsemium tends to be on the chilly side, especially during acute illnesses.

Most Aggravated By Summer Heat & Hot Weather

Conversely, and somewhat surprisingly, Gelsemium is most aggravated by the summer heat and hot, humid weather. Recall that it is the main remedy for the summer flu. By the way, it’s worth noting that there are other remedies with this unusual combination of characteristics.

Additional chilly remedies that are noticeably aggravated by hot, humid weather include Carbo vegetabilis, Sepia, and Silica.

Lack of Thirst

In terms of food and drink, the only real standout characteristic is Gelsemium’s notorious lack of thirst. Thirstlessness is most apparent during acute illnesses. This is such an important clue that if an acutely sick person is thirsty, I hesitate to prescribe Gelsemium.

Aggravation Factors of Gelsemium

Now, as we’ve seen in terms of modalities, Gelsemium can be aggravated by:

• Fright,
• Bad news,
• Anticipation,
• Dread (great fear),
• Any kind of unusual ordeal.
• Anxiety,
• Anger,
• Shock,
• Excitement.

Worse From the Heat of the Sun

And as already noted, Gelsemium is worse from the heat of the sun and is worse in hot, humid weather.

Aggravation at 10 AM

In terms of time modalities, Gelsemium has an aggravation of symptoms at 10 a.m.

Better From Perspiration(Sweating)

On the flip side, Gelsemium is better for perspiring.

Amelioration from Profuse Urination

Gelsemium has a unique keynote amelioration of symptoms from profuse urination. For example, if a person notes that his migraine headaches improve when he begins to urinate a lot, then we must think of Gelsemium.

Physical Symptoms of Gelsemium

Fatigue

Okay. So on the physical level, Gelsemium conditions are often associated with a great deal of fatigue. In fact, it’s one of the main remedies for chronic fatigue, especially if the fatigue began with a case of the flu or some other viral illness.

Drowsiness and/or Sleepiness

And the Gelsemium fatigue is often accompanied by drowsiness and or sleepiness. If a person is sick and complains of feeling fatigued, I will ask if they’ve been sleeping during the daytime. If he admits that yes, in addition to sleeping at night, he’s also been sleeping during the daytime and not just napping, then I give strong consideration to Gelsemium.

Droopy Eyelids (Ptosis)

The homeopathic literature often emphasises Gelsemium’s droopy eyelids. And regardless of whether that droopiness is associated with a feeling of heaviness of the eyes or sleepiness or weakness or paralysis of the lids, we think of Gelsemium in all such cases. By the way, the medical term for a droopy eyelid is ptosis.

Trembling

Another symptom commonly associated with Gelsemium is trembling. Many Gelsemium symptoms tend to involve the nervous system, from fatigue to weakness to trembling to paralysis. Such symptoms are usually considered neurologic symptoms.

Gelsemium’s trembling is often accompanied by some degree of anxiety, fright, fatigue, weakness or paralysis. Gelsemium lists in the repertory under:

• Nervous trembling,
• Trembling with prostration of mind,
• Trembling with vertigo,
• Trembling of the face,
• Trembling of the tongue,
• Trembling of the extremities,
• Trembling with chill,
• Trembling from excitement,
• Trembling of the whole body.

Paralysis Of Gelsemium

Now remember that Gelsemium is a remedy for when a trying situation sets a person back on his heels, makes him weak, or causes him to tremble in fright. When we say that he becomes paralysed with fright, we’re speaking metaphorically.

Affecting Single Parts of the Body

However, it’s also true that Gelsemium can be a remedy for paresis or literal paralysis. Sometimes there’s weakness or trembling associated with incoordination of muscles. Gelsemium’s paralysis tends to involve localised groups of muscles or single parts of the body.

Gelsemium Paralysis Rubrics

Just a few of the paralysis rubrics where we find Gelsemium listed prominently include:

• Paralysis of eye muscles,
• Paralysis of the optic nerve with blindness,
• Paralysis of the eyelids,
• Facial paralysis,
• Paralysis of the tongue,
• Paralysis of the throat,
• Paralysis of the esophagus.
• Paralysis of the bladder with urinary retention.
• Paralysis of the bladder with incontinence.
• Paralysis of the larynx.
• Paralytic hoarseness.
• Paralysis of the extremities.
• One-sided paralysis.
• Paralysis in children.
• Paralysis after fever.
• Paralytic weakness.

More Neurologic Symptoms of Gelsemium

Additional neurologic symptoms and conditions that can indicate Gelsemium include:

• Neuralgic pains,
• Double vision with occipital headache,
• Vertigo,
• Occipital vertigo that emanates from the back of the head.
• Vertigo with dim or blurred vision.
• Visual blindness associated with headache.
• Slow accommodation or focusing of the vision.
• One-sided numbness of the tongue, especially the right side.
• Ataxia, which is difficulty in walking due to weak or incoordinated leg muscles.
• Multiple sclerosis (Multiple Sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks myelin, disrupting nerve signals and causing vision problems, weakness, numbness, balance, and cognitive or mood changes.)
• Myasthenia gravis (Myasthenia Gravis is a chronic autoimmune disorder causing variable weakness in voluntary muscles, often affecting the eyes, face, throat, arms, and legs, worsening with activity and easing with rest.)
• Guillain-Barré syndrome (Guillain-Barré Syndrome is a rare autoimmune disorder where the immune system attacks peripheral nerves, causing sudden numbness, tingling, and weakness that may spread upward, sometimes leading to paralysis or breathing problems.)

A Few Additional Keynote Physical Symptoms of Gelsemium

Sensation of Heaviness of Body Parts

Okay. Now, additional physical complaints associated with Gelsemium include a keynote sensation of heaviness of certain body parts, especially the legs, but also the head, tongue, or eyelids.

Diarrhea Due to Stage Fright or Bad News

Diarrhea triggered by stage fright, anticipation or bad news.

Insomnia

Insomnia from excitement or anticipation.

Hoarseness

Hoarseness of the voice from fright.

Occipital Headache

Occipital headache accompanied by soreness of the neck, with the keynote modality amelioration from profuse urination.

Chills Travel Up & Down the Back

Another keynote symptom is chilliness or chills that travel up and down the back.

Pain in/below the left scapula

Pain in or below the left scapula is another keynote clue.

Congestive Heart Failure

Gelsemium can also be a remedy for congestive heart failure. And don’t forget the keynote symptom of a sensation as if the heart will stop, causing the person to jump up from the bed. The heart symptoms may also be ameliorated by profuse urination.

Sleepiness

And one last keynote Gelsemium clue is sleepiness. Oftentimes, overpowering sleepiness regardless of the situation or condition. If the person sleeps all night and then sleeps for hours during the daytime, then we have to consider Gelsemium.

Acute Conditions Needing Gelsemium

And finally, so as not to overlook the obvious, let’s finish up with acute conditions. Gelsemium is very commonly indicated for a variety of fevers, colds, flu, and viral conditions.

Typical Symptom Picture in All Acute Cases

And the typical symptom picture in all such cases involves some combination of the following symptoms:

• Fatigue,
• Weakness,
• Drowsiness,
• Droopy eyelids,
• Excessive sleeping,
• Fever,
• Chilliness and or chills,
• And the all-important absence or lack of thirst.

In addition, there can be:

• Muscle aches,
• Trembling,
• Dizziness,
• And/or diarrhea.

In some cases, there’s an obvious trigger like:

• Stage fright,
• Anticipation,
• Or some difficult ordeal.

In other cases, there is no such discernible etiology.

Patient Never Well Since Flu or a viral illness

And lastly, Gelsemium is one of the main remedies for cases that have never been well since the flu or some other viral illness, especially when the main complaint is chronic fatigue.

Comparisons of Gelsemium With Other Remedies

All right, let’s finish up with remedy relationships.

Silicea

Okay. Now, remedies that we want to compare to Gelsemium include Silica, which is similarly lacking in confidence, can suffer from stage fright, is chilly and aggravated by hot, humid weather, and may complain of weakness or fatigue.

Kali Phos

Kali phosphoricum fits fatigue and exhaustion, nervous dread, feels unable to cope, is aggravated by bad news, and fits multiple sclerosis.

Acid Phos

Phosphoric acid is a remedy for mental weakness, fatigue after grief or illness, diarrhea, and a tendency to oversleep, especially in the mornings.

Argenticum Nitricum

Argentum nitricum has stage fright, test anxiety, anticipation anxiety, and is aggravated by heat and fits neurologic disorders such as vertigo, ataxia, and multiple sclerosis.

Bryonia Alba

Bryonia can look similar to Gelsemium during acutes. But while Bryonia lies on the couch all day because it is worse from motion, Gelsemium sleeps all day due to sheer exhaustion.

Opium

Opium also fits ailments from fright, neurologic conditions, and can be very sleepy.

Nux Moshata

Nux moschata fits vertigo and has many dysfunctional sleep symptoms, including overpowering sleepiness and even narcolepsy.

Natrum Mur

Natrum muriaticum is reserved, is aggravated by the sun, has a time modality of 10:00 a.m., and fits cases of multiple sclerosis.

Calcarea Carb

And finally, Calcarea Carbonica is nervous, anxious, and fits a variety of neurologic conditions such as vertigo, ataxia, weakness, trembling, and paralysis.

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