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China officinalis (Chin.)

China officinalis (Chin.) appears in 1,202 rubrics in the Repertory. Of these, 58 are single-remedy rubrics in which only this remedy is listed, and 78 are small rubrics with at most two other remedies. The emphasis lies on Children, Fear, Delusions, Anxiety, Thoughts and Delirium, plus Cheerfulness, Hysteria and Forgetfulness. The picture is that of a person with a very active mind, especially fertile at night, whose reality nevertheless becomes fragile through inhibition, devaluation and loss of fluids, and whose feelings swing between exuberant cheerfulness and inconsolability.

The Mind in Bed

A striking number of rubrics tie the wealth of thoughts to night and to bed. Single-remedy rubrics describe a rush of thoughts in the morning in bed, clearness of thoughts and a wealth of ideas at night in bed, exaggerated, high-flown fancies in the morning in bed, and the making of many plans in bed. Smaller rubrics place the plans in the evening and at night, and list a tendency toward silly thoughts at night and a desire to think. In addition there are obsession with philosophy, brooding over metaphysical questions, inventive genius, talent for painting and talent in children. The perception of beautiful things is more distinct. The mind works best where the body rests, and it works unchecked. Opposed to this is a periodic disappearance of thoughts and a periodic dullness, as if the energy were available only at times.

Loss of Fluids and Its Consequences

A constant feature is the dependence of the mind on losses. Several small rubrics link weak memory, loss of memory, forgetfulness, dullness and hysteria with loss of fluids, body fluids and blood. Hemorrhage leads to excitement, to delirium in threatened abortion after profuse hemorrhage, to apparent death and to the sensation of losing consciousness, also in childbed. Delirium occurs after bloodletting and loss of fluids. Studying produces weakness, nervous exhaustion makes the person inactive, sexual excesses lead to catalepsy, and a single-remedy rubric lists the feeling of being drained by the child. The mind is regarded here as dependent on the bodily economy: what is withdrawn from the body is missing in the mind.

Cheerfulness and Inconsolability

The mood moves between opposites that are described with unusual precision. Cheerfulness alternates with shrieking, with screaming and shouting, and with melancholy, and a single-remedy rubric lists screaming without cause in a cheerful, joyful mood. Cheerfulness appears at night until two o'clock, from midnight until two o'clock, and in the morning on waking; there is a desire to be cheerful, but also cheerfulness with seriousness. On the other side stands the person who is inconsolable, even to the point of suicide, and who weeps in imaginary distress. To this belong jumping out of bed and running about, in one rubric with the wish to kill oneself but lacking the courage. Indifference alternates with anger, irritability with anxiety, and weeping occurs from caresses, while morose mood increases from caresses.

Devaluation of Things

A group of rubrics describes a revaluation of the surroundings. Single-remedy rubrics list things that appear unattractive and unappealing, seem worthless and appear contemptible, as well as contempt for generally recognized values. Corresponding to this are aversion to superficial conversation, laconic speech and indifference to drinking. Abusing the surroundings and the feeling that one's own needs are not respected complete the picture. At the same time the Repertory records an orientation toward duty: the person thinks only of duties. Devaluation and sense of duty thus stand side by side.

Inhibition and Hindrance

A further theme is hindrance by others. Listed are the delusions of being hindered in work, of being blocked and inhibited, of being hindered by everyone, and that everyone is against the person and opposes them. Connected with this are the delusion of vexation from insults, a lack of demarcation, fear of being pitied and dread of pity as small rubrics. Difficulty in making decisions goes with irritability. During parturition touch is refused, as it is during labor. The person experiences themselves as hemmed in by a world that stands in their way, and fends off help that might look like pity.

Fear, Anxiety and Animals

Fear relates to animals. Listed are fear of dogs at night, of domestic animals, of animals at night, of creeping and crawling things, and of chickens. In addition there are fear of catching cold in the head and fear of being pitied or commiserated. Anxiety is combined with chill, with waking in the morning in children, with two o'clock at night and with a drawing across the lower chest. Delusions appear in the dark: faces seen on closing the eyes, figures seen on falling asleep. Also listed is delirium in erysipelas of the face and scalp, quiet and still.

Speech, Sucking and Children

The rubrics on the mouth are peculiar: sucking objects into the mouth occurs as a single-remedy rubric in adults, otherwise in a small rubric in general. Slips of the tongue and wrong use of words are listed, aphonia with shuddering, silly talk in intermittent fever. Among Children (80 rubrics) the following stand out: anger at the parents to the point of being beside themselves, snoring, anxiety on waking in the morning and the talent already mentioned. The remedy shows a mixture of talent and irritability that announces itself in childhood.

Summary

China officinalis appears in the Repertory as a remedy of the exhaustible but fertile mind. It plans, invents and philosophizes in bed at night, but loses memory and strength when fluids are drawn from the body. The feelings alternate between exuberance and inconsolability, the world seems devalued and obstructive, and the fear concerns animals and the pity of others. The picture is that of a person whose inner wealth remains dependent on a supply of bodily strength.

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