Repertory › Remedies in the repertory

Alcoholus (Alco.)

Alcoholus (Alco.) appears in the repertory in 260 rubrics. Of these, 20 are single-remedy rubrics in which only this remedy is listed, and 23 are small rubrics with at most two other remedies. The emphasis is on Delusions, Gestures, Affability, Singing, Joking, Jealousy, and Coma. The picture resembles that of a person in intoxication: disinhibition and sociability on one side, fear of persecution and violence on the other.

Disinhibited sociability

At first, intoxication opens the door to everyone. The repertory lists affability, silliness when talking while drunk, boisterous, exuberant singing, and a joking that becomes unrestrained and uninhibited; the last two expressions are single-remedy rubrics. The desire for company knows no limit, for the person "fraternizes – with the whole world," and wins over even his enemies: "Affability, geniality – enemies, toward." Beside this openness stands a mockery that turns against one's own friends, and an enterprising nature that is always ready. This can be read as a self-assurance for a limited time: one rubric records that lack of self-confidence is ameliorated by beer.

Persecution and threat

Beneath this sociability lies another layer. The delusions revolve around persecution: murderers, burglars, and robbers are after the person, and an enemy is constantly lying in wait, as in the single-remedy rubric "Delusions – enemy – injure him, an enemy is constantly lying in wait to." Beside these stand the idea of being on a ship in a storm and the fear of falling into an abyss. The anxiety is not admitted but covered up, which the single-remedy rubric "Anxiety – conceals, hides, which he vainly tries to" expresses. The threat seems to settle into the delusion just as the friendliness settles into the intoxication; both belong to the same state.

Jealousy and violence against those closest

The quarrel finds its occasion. The person is quarrelsome and contentious when drunk, and the rubrics on jealousy accuse the spouse of infidelity. From this grows violence in the closest circle: "Threatening, threatens – kill, to – wife and children," supplemented by the desire to kill wife and children. Impatience flares up at the slightest contradiction. The switch from fraternizing with the world to threatening those closest is the field of tension of this remedy.

Restlessness of the hands

The restlessness shows in the body. Listed are involuntary movements of the hands at rest, also grasping ones, both as single-remedy rubrics, and the restlessness that the person vainly tries to conceal. An uncontrollable desire belongs in the same direction. From here it is a short way to errors in handling objects and to absurd fancies.

Coma and collapse

At the end stands the collapse. Coma appears with drooping eyelids and with contracted pupils. The repertory also knows weeping from alcohol, insanity after head injuries, and bipolar disorder in alcoholics. Intoxication thus leads through cheerfulness, suspicion, and anger into unconsciousness.

Summary

The remedy picture follows the course of an intoxication. At the beginning stands an exuberant, boundless sociability; beneath it lurk fear of persecution and hidden anxiety, and in the closest relationships they turn into jealousy and threats. Where moderation is lost, only unconsciousness remains in the end.

A reference work for professionals; it does not replace diagnosis or treatment.