Gelsemium sempervirens
作者：E. B. Nash — Leaders in Typhoid Fever
Historical reference for practitioners and students. The statements below reflect the named author’s homeopathic teaching and do not establish treatment effectiveness. This text is not medical advice and must not replace appropriate diagnosis or care.
REMEDIES IN THE BEGINNING OF A CASE
INDICATIONS FOR BRYONIA, GELSEMIUM AND BAPTISIA
Now the indications for Gelsemium: Extreme muscular and nervous prostration, with general trembling as a consequence. He wants to lie down, he feels so weak. If he attempts to walk the legs tremble, or the hands tremble if he attempts to lift them; the tongue trembles when he attempts to protrude it; the pulse becomes weak and slow, but is accelerated on the least motion; there is some chilliness, hands and feet cool, while there is crimson flushing of the face; inclination to drowsiness, or sleeps frequently, with incoherent muttering; head feels “big as a bushel,” with vertigo and dimness of vision; tongue slightly coated, or not at all; speech thick, because the tongue, like all the rest of the muscles, “refuses to obey the will” from sheer inability, or from weakness, to do so. There is generally little or no thirst, no constipation or diarrhœa, and at this early stage, no stomach or bowel symptoms, unless it be, in some cases, the same sense of weakness (sometimes expressed as goneness) which is felt in general. Drooping of the eyelids is very characteristic and in keeping with the general prostration. Now this is the picture of a case which, if not helped out with Gelsemium, will surely go on to the lowest form of typhoid fever, and many are the cases that have been relieved and cured by me. Many patients have told me voluntarily that the effect of that medicine was wonderful. It sent a pleasureable thrill through their whole system and seemed to lift them right out of that prostration. This may seem to some like painting it too strongly, but having felt the same sensation in myself I cannot doubt it.
As to dose, I have received the same testimonial from the use of the 200th, 30th and the tincture, the latter two drops in the usual two-thirds glass cold water, dessert-spoonful doses. When the effect is apparent always stop the remedy and give sac. lac. as long as re-action continues.
PREMONITORY SYMPTOMS AND CONVALESCENCE
If nothing much is complained of but great weakness or prostration, can hardly move because so weak, and when does move trembles all over from weakness, Gelsemium nitidum 30th. I have never received more hearty expressions of gratitude for sensible relief than from patients who have experienced the effects of this remedy in such cases.