Gelsemium sempervirens appears in 11 of the 13 classic books on Similia. Each was written to do a different job — here is what each adds on this remedy, with the opening of its entry.
- Allen HC — The keynotes that separate this remedy from its nearest neighbours.
“Yellow Jasmine. (Loganiaceae) For children, young people, especially women of a nervous, hysterical temperament (Croc., Ign.). Complete relaxation and prostration of whole muscular system with entire motor paralysis. Excitable, irritable, sensitive; for the nervous affections of onanists of both sexes (Kali p.). Bad…”
- Allen TF — The raw proving record — symptoms as the provers reported them, unedited.
“[Not Gelseminum.] Gelsemium sempervirens, Ait. (Gelsemium lucidem, Poir.; G. nitidum, Michx.; Bignonia sempervirens, Linn; Lisianthus sempervirens. Mill.). Natural order , Loganiaceæ. Common name , Yellow Jessamine. Preparation , Tincture of the bark of the root. Authorities.”
- Boericke — The quick clinical read — keynotes, modalities and the conditions it is actually prescribed in.
“Yellow Jasmine (GELSEMIUM) Centers its action upon the nervous system, causing various degrees of motor paralysis . General prostration. Dizziness , drowsiness, dullness, and trembling . Slow pulse, tired feeling, mental apathy. Paralysis of various groups of muscles about the eyes, throat, chest, larynx, sphincter…”
- Boger (Syn) — Generals and modalities in a short analytical portrait rather than a symptom list.
“CIRCULATION. BRAIN CORD: OCCIPUT. Base. Neck. MOTOR NERVES: MUSCLES. Knees. EYES (LIDS. VISION.) MUCOUS MEMBRANES: Nose. Gall-ducts. Right side. EMOTIONS; DREAD. Surprise. Shock. Ordeals. Motion. Weather: SPRING. Foggy. HUMID. Muggy. Heat of summer. Periodically. Dentition. Tobacco. Gas. Profuse urination. Sweating…”
- Clarke — The widest entry — sources, provings, clinical uses, relationships and antidotes in one place.
“sempervirens. G. Lucidum. G. Nitidum. Bignonia sempervirens. Yellow jessamine. N. O. Loganiaceæ. Tincture of the bark of the root. Amaurosis / Anterior crural neuralgia / Aphonia / Astigmatism / Bilious fever / Brain, affections of / Cerebro-spinal meningitis / Choroiditis / Colds / Constipation / Convulsions /…”
- Hering — Graded symptoms, each weighted by how often provers and practice confirmed it.
“Yellow Jasmine. Loganiaceæ. A climbing plant native to the Southern States ; flowers in early Spring. Tincture prepared from the root. Introduced by John H. Henry, in 1852, proved by Douglas, Payne, Hering, Kemper, Morgan, Hare and others. See Allen's Encyclopædia, vol. 4, p. 385 . CLINICAL AUTHORITIES. Acute mania …”
- Kent — The mental and general picture — who the patient is, before what the remedy cures.
“Weather: If you will observe the weather conditions in sharp climates, such as Minnesota, Massachusetts and Canada, you will find that the cold spells are very intense and that people when exposed, come down with complaints very rapidly and violently. That is the way the Bell . and Acon . cases come on, but Gelsemium…”
- Lippe (MM) — The strict Hahnemannian reading — the symptom picture without clinical interpretation.
“Great irritability, does not wish to be spoken to. Vivacity, carelessness, followed by depression of spirits. Unconnected ideas; cannot follow an idea for any length of time; if he attempts to think consecutively he is attacked by a painful vacant feeling of the mind. Stupor, cannot open the eyes. Sensation of…”
- Lippe (Red) — Keynotes with the most-trusted ones marked as red-line symptoms.
“Common name: yellow jasmine. Adapted for children and young people, especially women of a nervous, hysterical temperament (Croc., Ign., Lyc., Nat-M.) (A.). CONFUSION OF THE MIND (Calc., Cann-I., Carb-V., Glon., Lach., Merc., Nat-M., Nux-M., Op., Petr., Rhus-T., Sep., Strych.) (Bt.). Mental faculties dull, cannot…”
- Nash — The comparisons — the remedy set beside the ones it is most often confused with.
“Complete relaxation and prostration of the whole muscular system, with almost or entire motor paralysis. Eyelids droop; muscles refuse to obey the will. Trembling of hands or lower extremities if he attempts to move; must lie still. Mental faculties dull, cannot think; drowsy, with dull red face. Susceptibility to…”
