Repertory › Remedies in the repertory

Cicuta virosa (Cic.)

Cicuta virosa (Cic.) appears in 685 rubrics in the Repertory. Of these, 51 are single-remedy rubrics in which only this remedy is listed, and 54 are small rubrics with at most two other remedies. The emphasis lies on Delusions, Aversion to people, Anxiety and Fear, Children, Unconsciousness and Delirium. From them emerges the picture of a person whose perception of the surroundings begins to waver, who turns away disappointed from the world of adults and who becomes childlike in attack-like states.

A Moving Environment

Delusions form the largest block. Here the world is not reliable: everything moves from side to side, objects approach and recede, the person themselves sways. This remedy alone lists the delusion that everything would approach and recede, "Delusions – approach and recede, everything would". Objects appear changed and strange, one's own voice seems strange, the body enormously enlarged. A single-remedy rubric records that the person is not living in orderly circumstances. To this belong images of drunkards who want to lie down beside them, of dancing in a cemetery and of buffoonery.

Turning Away from People

A large group of single-remedy rubrics is directed against others. The person abhors the follies of people and of men, feels contempt for them and has lost confidence, so "Aversion – people, to all – confidence in them lost, has". The thoughts circle around the faults of others; at the same time the person overrates themselves. Fear of people feeds from the same source, from contempt and disappointed confidence.

Attack and Ecstasy

A second feature concerns the attack. Anxiety, fear, grimaces, sighing and clinging announce convulsions, and between the attacks mildness or irritability prevails. Rapture occurs periodically, the person seems to die twice daily: "Ecstasy, rapture – periodic – dying twice a day, seems". In delirium the person dances and makes strange gestures, climbs up walls, and the face is distorted. With open eyes they remain unconscious but answer correctly when spoken to, and yet recognize no one.

The Childlike Side

The children's rubrics carry out the trend toward the childlike. After head injuries development and intellect remain behind, and older children behave childishly, "Children, general – childish behavior in older children – head injury, from or after". The person plays with children's toys, and objects appear as attractive as toys. Childishness returns even in delirium: the person jumps out of bed like a child in a happy state. Past and present blur, and the present is taken for the past.

Body and Fear

The bodily breaks through into emotions. Irritability arises from flatulence, anxiety from injury to the esophagus, screaming from hiccough or splinters, speech becomes difficult through jerking of the head and swallows words. Fear concerns the door and its opening, as well as noises at the door.

Confusion, Speech and Time

Consciousness is available in sections. Brief attacks of unconsciousness leave the person absent-minded for a long time, and after the attack the recovery phase is very weak, with the limbs unable to be moved. The voice sounds dull, voices appear odd. The mood changes at night, silliness occurs at night and in fever. Distrust and suspicion combine with dullness; the person avoids the follies of men and tries to escape from company. During the menses they desire to be left alone, and sad stories make them sad.

Summary

The Repertory suggests a figure that oscillates between two worlds: a despised, disappointing world of adults and a moving, playful state into which they sink back in attack and delirium. People are abhorred, things on the other hand lure like toys.

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