Repertory › Remedies in the repertory

Opium (Op.)

Opium (Op.) appears in the repertory in 1,731 rubrics. Of these, 126 are single-remedy rubrics in which only this remedy appears, and 162 are small rubrics with at most two other remedies. The emphasis is on Delusions, Delirium, Fear, Unconsciousness, and Coma. From these rubrics emerges the picture of a person overwhelmed by a fright who since then alternates between two states: a deep stupefaction into which nothing penetrates any more, and an over-awake excitement in which images and fears flood him.

Fright and after-effects

Fright is the continuous theme. Opium stands where a fright does not subside: "Ailments from – fright, impression of fright remains", "Ailments from – fright – long past fright, from", "Anxiety – fright, after – remains (persists), when the fear after a fright". What the fright does is tangible. It leads to unconsciousness and howling, it drives the person about as if frightened, it causes a stupor with suppressed menses and triggers premature delivery. Shock after an injury and agonizing anxiety in injury shock also belong here, as does grief that follows fright. In the vicinity of violence and sexuality the repertory lists complaints in which the image of the rapist keeps recurring.

Fear

The fear of Opium has particular addressees: scorpions, sleeplessness, waste, and, as a king-pin symptom, extravagance, whose rubric is at the same time a single-remedy rubric. It does not remain in the mind but reaches into the body: retention of urine, constipation, and absence of menses arise from fear, and anxiety about miscarriage in the second half of pregnancy is listed separately. Beside these stand rubrics in which fear is absent or turns into its opposite: contempt of death, a freedom to do what must be done, and a courage that pairs with silliness or with discouragement.

The stupefaction

Opposite lies the shutting down. The repertory knows an indifference in which nothing is noticed and nothing perceived and the person remains stoical toward what happens. It knows dullness from heaviness in the head or from drunkenness and a dazedness "smoke in the brain, as from". The spectrum extends over stupor, even one in which questions are answered correctly before it returns at once, to deep unconsciousness and coma. There the rubrics list snoring, a drooping jaw, glassy or half-open eyes, and cold skin. Contentment, a quiet nature, and the feeling of rest and stillness when sitting quietly also belong to this area. One can see in this a calm that stems not from relaxation but from being cut off from what has happened.

Delusions and delirium

Where the stupefaction tears, a stream of images breaks in. In delirium Opium sees spirits, ghosts, and devils. The delusions present scorpions, dragons, masks, and skeletons, old men with long beards and distorted features, the certainty that everyone in the surroundings is a murderer, and the idea that people are fighting each other. Again and again it is about threat and punishment: one fears being executed or punished or that someone wants to stab. The bed becomes the scene of the deception, it is too hot or surrounded by devils. Added are delusions of separation and doubling: of being separated from surrounding objects, of not being in one's own house, three hours away from home, of having no weight, of carrying a second self within or talking with oneself. The rubrics on the body point in the same direction: the sensation that the legs belong to someone else, the sensation of dissolving, and the sensation of overly large eyes.

Self-reproach and delirium tremens

The delirium bears a trace of self-reproach. A whole group of single-remedy rubrics describes how the delirious person scolds, reproaches, and blames himself for his foolishness or stupidity. Delirium tremens stands close to this; with Opium even a small amount of alcohol can trigger it, it can run a chronic course or appear after epileptiform attacks. The rubrics name old, emaciated persons and dulled senses with snoring.

Alternation of mood

The mood changes quickly. The repertory lists foolish behavior with boisterous hilarity followed by angry wildness or tearful sadness, clowning that tips into anger or whining lamentation, anger that contains buffoonery, cheerfulness in grief and sadness in buffoonery, besides excitement with depression or with simultaneous sedation, and cares with elation. Jealousy of the people in the surroundings is also assigned to Opium alone.

Speech and thinking

The rubrics on speech draw a line of their own: convincing, concise, monotonous singsong, also talking in comatose sleep. Beside these stand a talent for fluent writing and acute thoughts, and beside both a forgetfulness that concerns above all connecting coherent thoughts.

Summary

The repertory draws a picture of tension in which being overwhelmed and shutting down relieve each other: a person pursued by a fright, who withdraws into stupefaction and whose experience, as soon as it lets up, turns into images, fear, and rapidly changing mood.

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