Drosera
Overview:
Drosera Rotundifolia is a cornerstone homeopathic remedy predominantly indicated for profound respiratory affections, particularly convulsive, spasmodic coughs akin to whooping cough (pertussis). Its hallmark is the violent, deep, barking paroxysms of coughing that occur in such rapid succession the patient can scarcely breathe, frequently culminating in gagging, retching, or vomiting. Key modalities include marked aggravation after midnight, upon lying down, from the warmth of bed, and also from talking or laughing, often compelling the individual to hold their chest for support.The symptom picture frequently aligns with a tubercular diathesis, and may be accompanied by underlying anxiety and suspicion.
D
R
O
S
E
R
A
D
D – Deep-hoarse vox
Description: Drosera is indicated for a cough that is remarkably deep and hoarse, often sounding hollow, barking, or like a trumpet. The voice itself can become deep, hoarse, toneless, or cracked, reflecting laryngeal involvement. This deepness is a keynote of its respiratory complaints, particularly in conditions like laryngitis or whooping cough.
Reference: [Boericke, William; Boericke’s New Manual of Homoeopathic Materia Medica with Repertory]
R
R – Rapid cough
Description: The cough in Drosera comes in violent, rapid paroxysms that follow each other so quickly the patient can barely catch a breath. These intense fits frequently culminate in gagging, retching, and often the vomiting of water, mucus, or food. This rapid, suffocative succession of coughs is a strong characteristic.
Reference: [Kent, James Tyler; Lectures on Homoeopathic Materia Medica]
O
O – Oppressed chest
Description: Patients needing Drosera often experience a distressing sensation of constriction or oppression in the chest, which can be particularly noticeable during coughing fits. It may feel as though the chest is being squeezed or as if something is preventing the expulsion of air. This symptom frequently accompanies the violent spasmodic coughs.
Reference: [Clarke, John Henry; A Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica]
S
S – Spasmodic cough
Description: The cough of Drosera is classically spasmodic and convulsive, occurring in distinct, violent fits or paroxysms rather than a loose or continuous cough. This spasmodic nature is a hallmark, especially in whooping cough (pertussis), where the patient may turn blue and struggle for breath during these attacks. These fits can be very distressing and exhausting.
Reference: [Nash, E.B.; Leaders in Homoeopathic Therapeutics]
E
E – Extreme fatigue
Description: The violent and frequent coughing spells characteristic of Drosera lead to profound exhaustion and general debility. Patients may feel completely prostrated, weak, and worn out after a bout of coughing. This debilitating effect on the patient’s energy is a significant guiding symptom, especially in protracted respiratory illnesses.
Reference: [Hering, Constantine; The Guiding Symptoms of Our Materia Medica]
R
R – Ribs pain
Description: Drosera patients often suffer from pain in the chest, specifically in the region of the ribs or hypochondria, when coughing or even when breathing deeply. This pain can be stitching or aching, compelling them to hold their chest or press on the painful part with their hands for support during the coughing paroxysms to lessen the pain.
Reference: [Hahnemann, Samuel; Materia Medica Pura]
A
A – Agg. from warm bed
Description: A very characteristic modality for Drosera is the significant aggravation of symptoms, especially the cough, from the warmth of the bed. The patient might be relatively comfortable during the day, but the coughing fits often begin or intensify shortly after getting warm in bed, typically after midnight. Lying down also aggravates.
Reference: [Allen, H.C.; Keynotes and Characteristics with Comparisons of Some of the Leading Remedies of the Materia Medica]
C
H
E
A
T
C
C – Cheated
Description: "Imagines he was being deceived by spiteful envious people."
Reference: [Concise Materia Medica Of Hom. Remedies By S.R. Phatak]
H
H – Harassed
Description: "Drosera feels harassed by others and let down by his own friends."
Reference: [soul of remedies by Dr.Rajan Sankaran]
E
E – Enmity imaginary
Description: "Mental dejection, caused by ideas of imaginary enmity."
Reference: [Dictionary Of Practical Materia Medica (All 3 Vol.) By Clarke J. H.]
A
A – Angry easily
Description: "Easily angered; a trifle makes him beside himself."
Reference: [Concise Materia Medica Of Hom. Remedies By S.R. Phatak]
T
T – Trust can not
Description: "Great mistrust."
Reference: [Dictionary Of Practical Materia Medica (All 3 Vol.) By Clarke J. H.]
Introduction of Drosera
Constitution
Clinical
Mental Symptoms
Guiding Symptoms
Characteristic
Therapeutic Value
Modality
Remedy Relationship
Dose
Terminologies
Reference
Also Search As
Introduction of Drosera
Introduction of Drosera
Common name:
Sundew[1]
Synonyms
Moor grass[2]
Family / Group / Class / Order
Droseraceae
Habit and habitat / Description
Sundew plants are small, carnivorous perennials, most recognized by their distinctive leaves covered in stalked glands, or "tentacles," each tipped with a glistening droplet of sticky mucilage that resembles dew. These often reddish tentacles attract and trap insects, which the plant then digests for nutrients, an adaptation to the poor soils of their typical bog and fen habitats. Their flowers, usually white or pink with five petals, bloom atop slender stalks held above the sticky foliage.
Name of prover
Dr Hahnemann
Introduction and history
It is a very useful remedy in materia medica. It is
a very good remedy for whooping cough. The name Drosera is derived form the
Greek word ‘drosarus’ meaning dewy (dew). It is a carnivorous plant.
Parts used
Mother tincture is prepared from the entire
fresh plant gathered at the time of flowering
Active principles
The main active principles
are alizarin, dioxyenthroquinon colouring matter.
Preparation
Mother tincture, of the entire fresh paint; and dilutions.[3]
Constitution
Introduction of Drosera
Temperament
Choleric 3 , Nervous 2 [4]
Diathesis
Tubercular and scrofulous
Relation with heat & cold
Very chilly
Miasm
Psora
Clinical
Clinical conditions of Drosera
Amblyopia. Asthma. Bronchitis. Catarrh. Consumption. Cough. Coxalgia. Epilepsy. Haemorrhage. Headache. Laryngitis. Measles. Nausea. Phthisis. Sciatica. Vomiting. Whooping-cough.[5]
Sites of action / Pharmacodynamics
Respiratory organs, bones, glands, larynx, chest, etc
Causation (Causes / Ailments from)
Physiological action
This agent is an antispasmodic, sedative and expectorant. Its action is upon the respiratory organs, where is produces a dry, irritating, spasmodic cough.[6]
Patho-physiological changes / Pathogenesis
1. It acts on respiratory organs by its influence on the pneumogastric nerve
producing spasmodic dry cough, stimulating whooping cough.
2. It acts on lungs, causing a tubercular tendency
Mental Symptoms
Characteristic Mental Symptoms (psychology) of Drosera
1. Mental restlessness when reading, cannot concentrate on one subject.
2. Very irritable, a trifle will disturb.
3. Anxiety with flushes of heat when alone, especially in the evening.
4. The least thing put the sufferer beside himself. Desire to drown himself.
5. Vertigo when walking in open air.
6. Imagines that he is constantly persecuted with anxiety.
Guiding Symptoms
Guiding Symptoms of Drosera
Generalities
Affects markedly the ***RESPIRATORY ORGANS, producing spasmodic, catarrhal and haemorrhagic effects. As it raises the resistance against tuberculosis; it is a useful remedy for *tuberculosis of the lungs, larynx and bones; of joints. Tubercular glands. Constrictive pains in the throat, larynx, stomach etc. Sticking lancinating pains. Convulsions, followed by haemoptysis and sleep. Haemorrhages of bright red blood, from nose, mouth, stools etc.[7]
Head
Heavy, pressing pain. Vertigo when walking in the open air.
Eye
Become prominent, from coughing, during measles, in convulsions.
Ears
Shootings and squeezing in the ears, especially on swallowing. Hardness of hearing, with buzzing and roaring in the ears. Humming and drumming in the ears.
Nose
Sensitive to sour smells. Painful sneezing. Bleeding; from coughing; stooping.
Face
Left side cold, right side hot; with stinging pain. Face hot, with cold hands.
Mouth
Putrid taste. Bloody saliva. Toothache from hot drinks. Small round painless swelling in middle of tongue.
Stomach
Nausea after fatty foods. Aversion to pork and sour foods; which disagree. Difficulty in swallowing solid foods.
Abdomen
Nausea after fatty foods. Aversion to pork and sour foods; which disagree. Difficulty in swallowing solid foods.
Rectum & Anus
Frequent evacuations of sanguineous mucus, with cutting pains, after the stool, pain in abdomen and small of the back.
Urinary Organ
Frequent want to make water, with scanty emission, often drop by drop. Emission of urine at night. Brownish urine of a strong smell. Watery, inodorous urine (with fetid stool of white mucus).
Sexual Organ
Leucorrhoea, with labour-like pains.
Respiratory System
***PERIODICAL FITS OF RAPID, ***DEEP BARKING or ***CHOKING PROLONGED AND INCESSANT COUGH. Cough seems to come *from the abdomen; *takes the breath away; *compel holding the sides followed by *retching, *vomiting, first of ingesta then of mucus; *nose bleed; *cold sweat and loquacity. Whooping cough. Tickling like a feather or crumb in larynx. *Deep hoarse voice requires exertion to speak. *Voice hollow, *toneless. Bloody, yellow purulent expectoration. *Constriction of chest worse talking, singing. Asthma when talking, with contraction of throat with every word uttered. Stitches below axillae. Haemoptysis after convulsions. Concomitants to coughing. Scraping in larynx and cough, after eating. Stitching pains in chest when sneezing or coughing. Harassing cough, as soon as head touches the pillow at night not during day. Cough worse singing, talking.
Neck & Back
Stiffness at the nape of the neck, with pains during movement. Bruise-like pains in the back, particularly early in the morning.
Extremities
Fingers contract spasmodically with rigidity when grasping anything. Writer’s cramp. Laming pain in right hip joint and thigh with pain in ankle; must limp when walking. Limbs feel sore; bed feels too hard. Pain in the long bones. Pain in humerus at night only.
Skin
Itching better by rubbing or wiping with hand worse undressing.
Sleep
Snoring during sleep, and when lying on the back. Frequent starts with fright, during sleep. Nocturnal waking, on the breaking out of perspiration. Frequent waking with perspiration, or as it too wakeful. Sleep at noon and in the evening at sunset.
Fever
Always too cold even in bed. Fever with whooping cough. Shivers when at rest better moving. Face becomes hot and hands become cold, with shivering. Measles.
Characteristic
Important characteristic features of Drosera
Keynotes / Redline
1. Delusion of persecution.
2. Cough as soon as head touches to pillow on lying down.
3. Sensation of feather in larynx exciting cough.
Guiding
-Violent, spasmodic effects in larynx and chest.
-Bleeding from various orifices, especially when coughing.
-Phthisical patients, young consumptives who suffer from spasmodic coughs, WHOOPING COUGHS.
–Cough-(Cina) SPASMODIC, DEEP SOUNDING, HOARSE, BARKING (VERB) < after MIDNIGHT. NOCTURNAL COUGH.
-Prolonged PERIODICAL FITS OF CHOKING COUGH – Compels him to hold sides of chest.
–Cough with gagging, retching and vomiting (Kali-c, Bry). Cold and sweating.
–COUGH BEGINS AS SOON AS HEAD TOUCHES PILLOW AT NIGHT (Bell, Hyos, Rumx, Croto-t) < after midnight from laughing, singing, drinking, talking.
-Sensation of constriction in chest while coughing.
-Respiratory system-Clergy man’s sore throat with rough scraping sensation, voice deep, toneless, cracked.
PQRS
Violent Cough Paroxysms (after midnight, lying down)
Laryngeal Feather Sensation (provoking cough)
Must Hold Chest/Abdomen When Coughing (due to pain)
Cough Terminates in Gagging/Retching/Vomiting
Suspicious Anxiety/Fear When Alone (delusion of persecution)
Confirmatory
1. Paroxysms of cough follow each other rapidly with bleeding from nose and mouth.
2. Deep hoarse voice and cough.
3. Cough as soon as head touches the pillow at night.
4. < after midnight; from singing, laughing, drinking, warm things.
Nucleus symptoms
-One of the effective remedies in whopping cough, in patients with tubercular diathesis.
-Useful in cough after measles and in all types of tuberculosis – Chest, larynx, bones and joints.
Therapeutic Value
Therapeutic Value
Asthma, Goitre, Insanity, Joint pains, Pulmonary
tuberculosis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Spinal caries, Tuberculosis of larynx,
Tuberculous bone, Whooping cough.
Modality
Modality of Drosera
Aggravation
Singing, drinking, laughing, lying down, after midnight, getting warm in bed, rest, acids, lying on left side.
Amelioraion
Scratching, open air, walking, motion.
Remedy Relationship
Remedy Relationship of Drosera
Complimentary
Nux-v
Follows Well
Calc, Gnaph, Puls, Verat
Antidoted By
Camph
Comparison
Bell, Coc-c, Coral, Cupr, Hyos, Ip, Meph, Op, Sambu
Dose
Dose of Drosera
1-12th attentuation
Potency
30,200th C
Duration of Action
20-30 Days
Terminologies
Terminologies of Drosera
Materia Medica:
Meaning: A collection of detailed descriptions of substances used as homeopathic medicines, like Drosera. It includes the symptoms these substances produce in healthy individuals (provings) and the symptoms they are known to cure in the sick, forming the basis for remedy selection.
Guiding Symptoms (Physical/PQRS):
Meaning: These are the most important, characteristic, and often peculiar, queer, rare, or strange (PQRS) symptoms presented by a patient that specifically point to Drosera over other remedies. For Drosera, these often relate to its distinctive cough and its modalities.
Keynote Symptoms:
Meaning: Highly characteristic or unique symptoms of Drosera that are considered strong indicators for its use. For example, "cough worse after midnight and from warmth of bed" or "sensation of a feather in the larynx" are keynotes for Drosera.
Modalities:
Meaning: These are the circumstances or conditions that make Drosera’s symptoms (especially the cough) better (amelioration) or worse (aggravation). Key modalities for Drosera include aggravation after midnight, when lying down, from warmth (especially of the bed), talking, or laughing.
Spasmodic Cough:
Meaning: A defining characteristic of the Drosera cough, referring to sudden, forceful, and often uncontrollable fits or spells of coughing, rather than a continuous or loose cough.
Whooping Cough (Pertussis):
Meaning: A specific infectious respiratory illness for which Drosera is a primary and classic homeopathic indication, especially when the cough is violent, paroxysmal, and fits Drosera’s symptom picture.
Diathesis (specifically Tubercular Diathesis for Drosera):
Meaning: An underlying constitutional predisposition or susceptibility. Drosera is often associated with a tubercular diathesis, indicating a tendency towards intense respiratory illnesses, rapid development of symptoms, restlessness, and sometimes a history of tuberculosis in the family.
Paroxysms:
Meaning: This term describes the way Drosera’s cough often manifests – in sudden, intense, recurring fits or attacks, with periods of relative calm in between.
Laryngeal Affection:
Meaning: Refers to Drosera’s strong impact on the larynx (voice box), leading to symptoms like hoarseness, a deep or barking cough, and peculiar sensations like a feather or crumb in the larynx provoking the cough.
Aggravation:
Meaning: A specific type of modality indicating a worsening of symptoms under certain conditions. For Drosera, common aggravations include the cough getting worse after midnight, from lying down, or from the warmth of the bed.
Miasm:
Meaning: In homeopathy, a miasm is understood as an underlying chronic disease disposition or taint, often inherited, that influences an individual’s susceptibility to certain types of illnesses and shapes their overall health patterns. Drosera is often linked to the Tubercular Miasm, characterized by intense, rapidly changing symptoms, restlessness, a desire for change, and a tendency towards respiratory weakness and wasting conditions. An article might delve into how this miasmatic background influences the presentation of Drosera symptoms.
Totality of Symptoms:
Meaning: This refers to the complete collection of all significant and characteristic symptoms experienced by the patient – mental, emotional, and physical, including their modalities and any peculiar sensations. Homeopathic prescription, including for Drosera, is ideally based on matching the remedy to this totality, not just one or two isolated symptoms.
Potentization (also includes Dilution and Succussion):
Meaning: The specific pharmaceutical process in homeopathy used to prepare remedies like Drosera from their original substance (e.g., the Sundew plant). It involves serial dilution (making the substance progressively less concentrated) and succussion (vigorous shaking at each stage of dilution). This process is believed to activate or enhance the medicinal properties of the substance while reducing toxicity.
Proving (Homeopathic Proving):
Meaning: A systematic investigation where a substance (like Drosera) is administered to healthy volunteers (provers) to observe and meticulously record all the physical, mental, and emotional symptoms it produces. The collection of these observed symptoms forms the primary basis of that remedy’s Materia Medica entry and defines its therapeutic indications.
Simillimum:
Meaning: (Latin for "most similar") This term refers to the one homeopathic remedy whose known symptom picture (from provings and clinical use) most closely matches the complete and unique symptom picture of the individual patient. Prescribing the simillimum is the ideal goal in classical homeopathy for achieving a deep and lasting cure. An article might discuss finding the simillimum when Drosera is considered.
Constitutional Remedy:
Meaning: A homeopathic remedy selected based on a person’s overall physical, mental, and emotional makeup, including their inherent predispositions (diathesis), personality, and chronic patterns of illness, rather than just acute symptoms. While Drosera is famous for acute coughs, an article might discuss its constitutional picture if certain chronic traits and susceptibilities align with its deeper profile.
Reference
Reference of Drosera
[1] Allen’s keynotes
[2] Gems textbook of materia medica by Dr.Patil
[3] A Manual Of Materia Medica, Therapeutics And Pharmacology By Blackwood, Alexander Leslie
[4] Zomeo
[5] Dictionary Of Practical Materia Medica (All 3 Vol.) By Clarke J. H.
[6] A Manual Of Materia Medica, Therapeutics And Pharmacology By Blackwood, Alexander Leslie
[7] Concise Materia Medica Of Hom. Remedies By S.R. Phatak
Also Search As
Also Search As of Drosera
1. Using Specific Search Terms (Keywords):
When using search engines like Google, Bing, or specialized academic search engines, using precise keywords is crucial. Here are some examples:
General Information:
"Drosera rotundifolia homeopathy"
"Uses of Drosera in homeopathy"
"Drosera materia medica"
"Homeopathic remedy Drosera"
"Drosera homeopathic profile"
For Specific Symptoms/Conditions:
"Drosera spasmodic cough"
"Drosera mental symptoms"
"Whooping Drosera cough" (or "Drosera pertussis")
"Drosera physical guiding symptoms"
To Find Classical Literature:
"Drosera Boericke"
"Drosera Clarke dictionary"
"Hahnemann Drosera Materia Medica Pura"
"Drosera Allen’s Keynotes"
"Drosera Nash Leaders"
For Research or In-depth Articles:
"Drosera homeopathic research"
"Drosera clinical trials homeopathy"
"Homeopathic journals Drosera"
"Scholarly articles Drosera homeopathy"
2. Utilizing Online Homeopathic Resources:
Many websites are dedicated to homeopathy and offer extensive Materia Medica information. Some popular ones include:
Websites of Homeopathic Pharmacies and Manufacturers:
These often have Materia Medica sections (e.g., websites for Boiron, SBL, Dr. Reckeweg, Schwabe).
Dedicated Homeopathic Portals:
https://www.google.com/search?q=HomeopathyPNC.com (HomeoPNC): Often has detailed remedy information.
Hpathy.com:
A comprehensive resource with articles, Materia Medica, and forums.
Similima.com: Another resource for homeopathic information.
Websites of Homeopathic Colleges and Organizations: These may publish articles or provide links to resources.
Digital Libraries and Archives:
Homeoint.org (Hahnemann Instituut Nederland): A valuable resource for classical homeopathic texts.
Archive.org: You can often find digitized old homeopathic books here.
3. Accessing Homeopathic Books and Materia Medicas:
Classical Materia Medicas:
These are the foundational texts in homeopathy. Key authors to look for include:
Samuel Hahnemann (Materia Medica Pura, The Chronic Diseases)
James Tyler Kent (Lectures on Homoeopathic Materia Medica, Repertory of the Homoeopathic Materia Medica)
William Boericke (Pocket Manual of Homoeopathic Materia Medica and Repertory)
John Henry Clarke (A Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica)
Constantine Hering (The Guiding Symptoms of Our Materia Medica)
E.B. Nash (Leaders in Homoeopathic Therapeutics)
H.C. Allen (Keynotes and Characteristics with Comparisons)
S.R. Phatak (Materia Medica of Homoeopathic Medicines)
Modern Materia Medicas:
Contemporary authors have also published valuable Materia Medicas that incorporate modern understandings and clinical experience.
4. Searching Homeopathic Journals and Research Databases:
For more academic or research-oriented articles:
PubMed (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov):
While mainstream, you can find some homeopathic research here, especially if it involves clinical trials or specific phytochemical aspects of the source plant.
ResearchGate.net and Academia.edu:
Researchers often share their papers on these platforms.
Specific Homeopathic Journals:
Search for journals like:
Homeopathy (published by Thieme)
Indian Journal of Research in Homoeopathy (IJRH)
American Journal of Homeopathic Medicine
Other national or international homeopathic journals.
Google Scholar (scholar.google.com):
A good starting point for finding academic articles and citations.
5. Consulting with Homeopathic Practitioners or Students:
Experienced homeopaths and students often have access to extensive libraries and can recommend good resources or articles on Drosera.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is Drosera in homeopathy ?
Drosera Rotundifolia
commonly known as Sundew, is a homeopathic medicine prepared from a carnivorous plant. It is well-regarded in homeopathy primarily for treating various types of coughs, especially those that are deep, spasmodic, and violent.
What are the main uses of homeopathic Drosera?
What are the key symptoms that indicate Drosera?
Key guiding symptoms
for Drosera include a deep, hoarse, barking, or spasmodic cough. Coughs often come in violent paroxysms, may be worse after midnight and from lying down or warmth of bed, and can be accompanied by gagging, retching, vomiting, and a feeling of suffocation. The patient may need to hold their chest or abdomen during coughs due to pain.
