Stramonium 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.
“Thron Apple (Solanaceae.) Adapted to: ailments of young plethoric persons (Acon., Bell.); especially children in chorea; mania and fever delirium. Delirium: loquacious, talks all the time, sings, makes verses, raves; simulates Bell. and Hyos., yet differs in degree. The delirium is more furious, the mania more acute…”
- Allen TF — The raw proving record — symptoms as the provers reported them, unedited.
“Datura stramonium, L. Natural order , Solanaceæ. Common names , Thorn-apple, Jamestown-weed, Stink-weed; (G.), Stechapfel; (F.), Pomme épineuse. Preparation , Tincture of herb in flower and fruit. Authorities. ( 1 to 30 , from Hahnemann, R. A. M. L.)”
- Boericke — The quick clinical read — keynotes, modalities and the conditions it is actually prescribed in.
“Thorn-apple The entire force of this drug seems to be expended on the brain, through the skin and throat show some disturbance. Suppressed secretions and excretions. Sensation as if limbs were separated from body. Delirium tremens. Absence of pain and muscular mobility especially of muscles of expression and of…”
- Boger (Syn) — Generals and modalities in a short analytical portrait rather than a symptom list.
“BRAIN. Circulation: Throat. Skin. Spinal nerves: Arms. Hip (L). Genitals. Glistening objects. Fright. AFTER SLEEP. Dark, cloudy days. Suppression. Intemperance. LIGHT. Company. Warmth. A remedy of TERRORS, BUT LACKING IN PAIN; with suppressed excretions (Ver-a.), passing neither urine nor stool (Led.). Very mobile…”
- Clarke — The widest entry — sources, provings, clinical uses, relationships and antidotes in one place.
“Datura stramonium. Thorn-apple. Jamestown-weed. Stink-weed. (Grows in vicinity of cultivation on rank soil where refuse is deposited in all parts of the world.) N. O. Solanaceæ. Tincture of fresh plant in flower and fruit. Anasarca (after scarlatina) / Aphasia / Apoplexy / Burns / Catalepsy / Chordee / Chorea /…”
- Hering — Graded symptoms, each weighted by how often provers and practice confirmed it.
“Jamestown Weed, Thorn Apple. Solonaceæ. The plant is found in vicinity of cultivation, on rank soil, where refuse is deposited, in all parts of the world. The alcoholic tincture is prepared from the ripe seed, finely powdered. Introduced by Hahnemann, proved by himself, Fr. Hahnemann and Franz, Reine Arzneimittelehre…”
- Kent — The mental and general picture — who the patient is, before what the remedy cures.
“When considering Stram. the idea of violence comes into mind. One cannot look upon a patient who needs Stram., or who has been poisoned with it, without wondering at the tremendous turmoil, the great upheaval taking place in mind and body. Full of excitement, rage, everything is tumultuous, violent; the face looks…”
- Lippe (KN) — Only the symptoms Lippe considered reliable enough to prescribe on.
“Trembling of the limbs (in drunkards). Increased and easy movability of the muscles subservient to the will (voluntary musculature) and slowness of the muscles not subject to the will (involuntary musclature). Suppression of all secretions and excretions. Twitching in the limbs. Sensation as if the limbs were…”
- Lippe (MM) — The strict Hahnemannian reading — the symptom picture without clinical interpretation.
“Mental derangement especially in drunkards. Loquacious delirium and mania. Attacks of rage with beating and striking persons. Desire for company and light. Very changeable disposition; alternate; anticipation of death and rage; laughable gestures and melancholy deportment; affected haughtiness and inconsolableness…”
- Lippe (Red) — Keynotes with the most-trusted ones marked as red-line symptoms.
“Common name: thorn apple. St. Vitus's dance (Agar., Kali-Br., Merc., Nat-M., Sulph., Zinc.) Of use in certain forms of epilepsy (Calc., Cupr., Hyos., Lach.). Tingling in the limbs (Acon.). Trembling of the limbs (in drunkards) (Hyos.). Increased and easy movability of the muscles subservient to the will (voluntary…”
- Nash — The comparisons — the remedy set beside the ones it is most often confused with.
“Wildly delirious, with red face and great loquacity. LOQUACITY. Pupils widely dilated; wants light and company; fears to be alone; wants hand held. One side paralyzed, the other convulsed. Awakens with a shrinking look; frightened; afraid of the first object seen. Painlessness with most complaints (Opium). Jerks the…”
