Physostigma Venenosum: Homeopathic Medicine – Its Use, Indications And Dosage

Physostigma Venenosum is a natural homeopathic medicine derived from plant Calabar bean also known as ‘ordeal-bean’. It belongs to family Leguminosae. This medicine is prepared from the beans of this plant through potentization (A process of preparing homeopathic medicines that arouses medicinal properties of a crude substance). It is one of the best homeopathic medicine to manage certain eyes complaints. These majorly includes myopia, glaucoma, astigmatism and blepharospasm.

Drug Action

The foremost action of this medicine is on the eyes. It also acts well on the head, ears, nose and gastric system.

Clinical Indications

Eye disorders, myopia, astigmatism, glaucoma, blepharospasm, eye floaters, headache, diarrhea, constipation, piles

Scope As A Homeopathic Remedy

1.Eye Complaints (Myopia, Glaucoma, Eye Floaters, Astigmatism, Blepharospasm, Photophobia, Night Blindness, Lagophthalmos, Exophthalmos)

Among various actions of Physostigma, if we have to pick the most prominent one then that would be on the eyes. It acts magnificently on the eyes and deals effectively with numerous eye-related problems. To begin with, it is a highly beneficial medicine for cases of myopia. Myopia, also known as near sightedness and short-sightedness, is a vision condition in which the sufferer can see near objects clearly but farther objects are blurry. It can be of great help in cases where myopia is increasing. Secondly, it is a well-indicated medicine for cases of glaucoma (a condition that causes damage to the eye’s optic nerve). It is prominently indicated for glaucoma that follows after an eye injury. It is useful to manage cases of muscae volitantes (eye floaters). Here its use is primarily considered when there occur black spots or flashes of light before eyes.

This medicine can further help in symptom management of astigmatism cases. Astigmatism is a vision problem that arises from an error in shape of cornea or lens. Physostigma can also be given in cases of twitching of eyelid muscles medically known as blepharospasm. It is also effective in managing eye pain felt after eyeball movement. It can be used for sharp shooting or drawing pain in eyes. There is pain as well as soreness in eyes when eyeballs are moved from side to side. This medicine’s other action is to help cases of photophobia (sensitivity to bright light) and profuse lachrymation (eye-watering). Besides these, it is indicated for managing cases of night blindness (inability to see well at night or in poor light). Rest of its indications include lagophthalmos (inability to fully close the eyelids) and exophthalmos (bulging or protruding eyeballs).

Key Indicating Features

Increasing myopia (a vision condition in which the sufferer can see near objects clearly but the farther objects are blurry)

Glaucoma after an eye injury

Eye floaters with black spots or flashes of light before eyes

Astigmatism (a vision problem that arises from error in shape of cornea of lens)

Twitching of eyelid muscles (blepharospasm)

Night blindness (inability to see well at night or in poor light)

Lagophthalmos (inability to fully close the eyelids)

Exophthalmos (bulging or protruding eyeballs)

2. Head (Headache)

The action of Physostigma is also well marked on the head. It is of great help in managing headache. The guiding feature to use it is headache that worsens from the least mental exertion. It also gets worse at night. Along with pain, there is sleeplessness. There is no headache in the morning. The pain is marked over both the eyes. With this there is great difficulty in raising the eyelids. The headache can begin from the back of the head (occiput) and pass forward or vice versa. This medicine can be given to manage a pressure sensation on the top and the temples of the head. The pressure from the top of the head extends to the back of head.

Key Indicating Features

Headache worsens from the least mental exertion

Headache worsens at night along with sleeplessness

Headache is marked over both eyes with great difficulty in raising eyelids

3. Ear Problems (Earache, Tinnitus)

Physostigma acts well on the ears. Firstly, it helps to relieve earache. It works well in cases of sharp, shooting ear pain. A crawling sensation may be felt in the left ear. Secondly, it is a suitable medicine for cases of tinnitus (noises in ear without any external source of sound). Its use is recommended for ringing, buzzing or hissing noises in the ears. The ears feel blocked and stuffed up too. In some cases, there is sensitivity to every sound.

Key Indicating Features

Sharp, shooting pain in ears

Ringing, buzzing or hissing noises in ears

4. Nose (Cold, Fever Blisters, Twitching)

For treating nasal complaints, this medicine is mainly applicable to manage cold. The guiding feature to use it is easy–flowing nasal discharge attended with burning, smarting, itching, tingling in the nostrils. Nasal stuffiness is present. It suits well cases of fever blisters (fluid-filled bumps that arise due to an infection from herpes simplex virus) around the nose. Twitching of muscles of nose is yet another indication for using this remedy.

Key Indicating Features

Nasal discharge along with burning, smarting, itching, tingling in the nostrils

Fever blisters around the nose

Twitching of muscles of nose

5. Gastric Issues (Stomach Pain, Diarrhea, Constipation, Piles)

Physostigma is suitable for managing some gastric concerns too. It can effectively help cases of stomach pain that is felt after eating. The stomach is sensitive to pressure as well. It is beneficial for soreness and bloating in navel region. It is also a good medicine to relieve colicky pain in abdomen during loose motion which gets better by extending legs. This medicine can be given in cases of loose motion. Here its use is considered for soft, thin, profuse, yellowish stool or lumpy stool mixed with watery discharge. Its use can be done in constipation cases also arising from lack of tonicity of intestines. Lastly, a prominent indication for using it is piles (swollen, inflamed veins in the anus or the lower rectum) occurring in women after childbirth.

Key Indicating Features

Stomach pain felt after eating

Soreness and bloating in navel region

Colicky pain in abdomen during loose motion better by extending legs

Piles in women after childbirth

Modalities

Worsening factors: Complaints get worse from motion, jar, falls, misstep, pressure, heat and cold, lying on left side and change of temperature

Relieving factors: Complaints get relieved by closing eyes, from sleep, lying on right side or on abdomen and in cool open air

Dosage                                                                         

One may use this medicine in low as well as high potencies, depending on case presentation. The general rule to be followed is that low potencies can be repeated often while higher potencies should not be repeated frequently.

Relationship with Other Remedies

It can be compared with some other homeopathic remedies including Agaricus, Belladonna, Curare, Conium, Gelsemium, Passiflora and Solanum