Repertory › Remedies in the repertory

Ledum palustre (Led.)

Ledum palustre (Led.) appears in 216 rubrics in the Repertory. Of these, 1 is a single-remedy rubric in which only this remedy is listed, and 10 are small rubrics with at most two other remedies. The emphasis lies on Delusions with 16 rubrics, on Fear, Starting, Dullness and Hatred. From these emerges the picture of a person whose fear of death attaches to falling asleep and to the nightmare, and who at the same time is dissatisfied, quarrelsome and hostile in mood.

Fear of death in sleep

The clearest trait is the fear of dying in sleep. Three small rubrics link the fear of death with falling asleep and with a nightmare; in one version it says the person fears dying when falling asleep after a nightmare. The delusion confirms this: on falling asleep one will die at once. Sleep thus becomes the place of threat, falling asleep a venture.

Closing the eyes

A second motif is the closing of the eyes. Small rubrics record clearness of thought and abundance of ideas on closing the eyes, as well as fancies at the same moment. The darkness behind the lids thus brings wakefulness and images instead of rest, which fits the difficulty of falling asleep.

Quarrel and dissatisfaction

The only single-remedy rubric concerns the quarrelsome person among alcoholics. In addition there is a small rubric on dissatisfaction during the day. Hatred stands out with six rubrics, along with Company with five rubrics. The mood is on the whole irritable and without contentment.

Physical matters at the margin

A small rubric names coma with ecchymosis behind the ear, another covering the head, which aggravates the complaints. Delirium and Thoughts are represented with five rubrics each. These marginal rubrics show the closeness of mind and body without carrying a picture of their own.

Summary

Led. appears as the picture of a person whose rest is disturbed at night: nightmare, fear of death and wakefulness with closed eyes combine with a mood that is dissatisfied and contentious by day. The data are thin with eleven specific rubrics, but the line between sleep and fear of death is unmistakable.

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