Hyoscyamus niger appears in 12 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.
“Henbane (Solanaceae.) Persons of sanguine temperament; who are irritable, nervous, hysterical. Convulsions: of children, from fright or the irritation of intestinal worms (Cina); during labor; during the peurperal state; after meals, child vomits, sudden shriek, then insensible. Diseases with increased cerebral…”
- Allen TF — The raw proving record — symptoms as the provers reported them, unedited.
“Hyoscyamus niger, Linn. Natural order , Solanaceæ. Common names , Henbane; (G.) Bilsenkraut. Preparation , Tincture of the fresh herb. Authorities. Nos. 1 to 49 , from Hahnemann, R. A. M. L., 4.”
- Boericke — The quick clinical read — keynotes, modalities and the conditions it is actually prescribed in.
“Henbane (HYOSCYAMUS) Disturbs the nervous system profoundly. It is as if some diabolical force took possession of the brain and prevented its functions. It causes a perfect picture of mania of a quarrelsome and obscene character . Inclined to be unseemly and immodest in acts, gestures and expressions. Very talkative…”
- Boger (Syn) — Generals and modalities in a short analytical portrait rather than a symptom list.
“MIND. Brain. Nerves. Muscles: Face. Eyes. EMOTIONS: Fright. Jealousy. TOUCH. Lying. Cold. Sleep. Sitting up. Congested nerve centers; with pale face. Spasm, tremor, jerks, cramps, etc., or active mania; alternating with, or ending in depressive narcosis, with angular or clutching motions, CARPHOLOGY, subsultus, etc…”
- Clarke — The widest entry — sources, provings, clinical uses, relationships and antidotes in one place.
“Hyoscamus niger. Henbane. N. O. Solanaceæ. Tincture of fresh plant. Amaurosis / Angina pectoris / Bladder, paralysis of / Bronchitis / Chorea / Coma vigil / Cough / Delirium tremens / Diarrhœa / Dysmenorrhœa / Enteric fever / Epilepsy / Epistaxis / Erotomania / Eyes, affections of / Hæmoptysis / Hæmorrhages / Hiccough…”
- Hering — Graded symptoms, each weighted by how often provers and practice confirmed it.
“Henbane. Solonaceæ. Provings by Hahnemann and his provers. See Allen's Encyclopædia, vol. 5, p. 25 . CLINICAL AUTHORITIES. Affections of mind , Gauwerky, Woost, Bathmann, Rück. Kl. Erf., vol. 5, p. 4 ; (2 cases) von Störk, N. A. J. H., vol. 3, p. 547 ; Effects of jealousy , Stapf, Analytic Therap., vol. 1, p. 86 …”
- Kent — The mental and general picture — who the patient is, before what the remedy cures.
“Nervous system: Hyoscyamus is hill of convulsions, contractions, trembling, quivering and jerkings of the muscles. Convulsions in vigorous people, coming on with great violence. Convulsions that involve the whole economy, with unconsciousness, coming on in the night. Convulsions in women at the menstrual period; and…”
- Lippe (KN) — Only the symptoms Lippe considered reliable enough to prescribe on.
“Great sinking of strength. Interanl inflammatory states with nervous symptoms. Bad effects from catching cold and cold air. Spasms and convulsions. Spasms during pregnancy, during parturition, when trying to swallow fluids, and from worms. Epileptic attacks, ending in sleep and snoring. St. Vitus's dance. Cold and…”
- Lippe (MM) — The strict Hahnemannian reading — the symptom picture without clinical interpretation.
“Jealousy, with rage and delirium. Fright, followed by convulsions; and starts from sleep. Unfortunate love with jealousy, with rage and incoherent speech. Delirium without consciousness; does not know any body and has no wants (except thirst). Unconscious delirium, with closed eyes;; talks of business; fears to be…”
- Lippe (Red) — Keynotes with the most-trusted ones marked as red-line symptoms.
“Common name: henbane. Bad effects from catching cold and cold air. Bad effects from jealousy-(a mental modality). Internal inflammatory states with nervous symptoms. Great sinking of strength. Spasms and convulsions (Bell., Cic., Cupr., Gels., Kali-P., Lach., Lyc., Mosch., Nux-V., Op., Sec., Tarant., Verat.)…”
- Nash — The comparisons — the remedy set beside the ones it is most often confused with.
“High-grade delirium, similar to that of Stramonium and Belladonna; alternating with low-grade delirium, with stupor, equal to that of Opium. Face pale. Grasping at flocks, picking the bed clothes and subsultus tendinum. Persistent cough, worse lying down, relieved on sitting up, especially in elderly people. Dementia…”
