Aquilegia coerulea
(Aquil-coer)
Vergleich: Siehe: Ranunculacae
[Barbara Seideneck]
Awe-inspiring
to visitors of the Rocky Mountains, the alpine Columbine ‘s pristine beauty
catches everyone’s attention from June through August. The intense blue of the
flower’s outer petals resembles
the color of a glacier lake or a clear Colorado sky on a summer
morning. And skies hardly get any bluer than that. Its inner white concentric
sepals summon images of sheer purity, and the fine gold
colored
stamens add to the flower’s delicacy. With admiration, hikers and mountaineers
alike watch the delicate Colorado State flower dance in the slightest breeze.
The
taxonomic name for the Colorado Columbine is Aquilegia coerulea
o. caerula.
• Aquilegia - Latin for eagle, the flower’s
spurs resemble an eagle’s talon.
• Coerulea - Latin
for blue
• Columba – Latin for dove or pigeon (the
flower resembling the flight of these birds).
Columbines
belong to the Ranunculaceae.
The Rocky
Mountain Columbine grows app. 30 to 75 cm (1 - 3 feet) high and about 45 cm (1½
feet) wide. In the wild, the flower is usually of an intense blue color (or white); variations of pink, yellow,
orange, red
or dark purple flowers are mostly found in gardens. The blossom is arranged
into two concentric circles; the inner five sepals assembled around gold-colored multiple stamens, the outer five
petals
tapering into narrowing trailing spurs. The rolled spurs at the back of the
flower reach upward, resembling an eagle’s talons. The flower is much liked by
butterflies that uncoil their long tongues to
reach the
very bottom of the narrow canal of each spur.
The
contrasting sepals and petals of the Columbines give them a pixie-like look as
they sit gracefully atop erect wiry branches. A bluish-green color is characteristic of the plant’s leaves. The leaves
grow
on long
stems and are divided into three parts, each forming a scalloped three-petal
leaf with a slight resemblance to cloverleaves. The species of Aquilegia coerulea (Aquil-coer) will turn
its flowers
partially
upward to face the sun, while hybrids growing in gardens frequently hang their
flowers downward.
Though the sun sheds golden glory
O’er the far-flung hills at dawn,
From a world azure and silver
Are your lovely colors
drawn
From the great white peaks that tower
And the glacial lakes below;
From the deep blue sky above you
And the pearly clouds aglow.
Sweet columbine, sweet columbine
Beneath the aspen and the pine
You seem a gift from heav’n
above;
How fair you blow, like sky and snow,
The spirit of the land I love,
The flower of the State of mine,
Sweet columbine, sweet columbine.
- From a
lyric by Edgar MacMechen, 1922
The Rocky
Mountain Columbine is native to Western North America including Arizona,
Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, Wyoming and Utah. In the mountains, the exotic
flower has a broad habitat
range,
thriving in Aspen groves, along streams, in open woodlands and even on hot, dry
talus slopes. It can be found on alpine meadows at elevations of 5000 to just
above 10.000 feet (app. 3600m). The
flower used
for the proving was picked on July 20th at Rocky Mountain National Park, at an
elevation of 9000 feet in a mossy spot along a stream, just below a group of
pine trees.
History
In 1820
Edwin James, a brave mountaineer and his climbing party first climbed Pikes
Peak, the most famous mountain peak in Colorado. Little did Edwin James know
that the delicate blue and white
flower he
found on his climb would be adopted to be Colorado’s State flower in April of
1899 (exactly one hundred years before the tragedy at the Columbine High School
in Littleton, Colorado). Laws
passed in
1925 prohibited removing any Columbines from public land. Additionally, it was
declared illegal to pick Columbines from private land without the owner’s
consent and the number of flowers
picked was
legally limited to 25. Praising the Rocky Mountain Columbine, the Colorado
State song’s last verse reads as follows:
“ Tis the land where
the Columbines grow,
Overlooking the plains far below,
While the cool summer breeze in the evergreen
trees,
Softly sings where the Columbine grows.”
- A.J.
Flynn 1915
Very little
is recorded about Aquilegia coerulea (Rocky Mountain Columbine)
being a fairly recent discovery of the New World, while the history of
Aquilegia vulgaris (Common Columbine) it’s
European
sister, reaches back into the 16th century. We do know, that some Native
American cultures used the seeds of the Rocky Mountain Columbine in a love
potion.
Symbolism
Originally,
the European Common Columbine (German: Akelei,
Swedish: Akileija) was dedicated to the Norse goddess
Freya, the goddess of love and fertility, crops and birth. Freya was the symbol
of
sensuality
called upon in matters of love. She loved music, spring, flowers, and elves and
was the most gracious and beautiful of all the goddesses. Old symbolism
relating the plant to love and fertility has
been
preserved in paintings exhibiting sexual imagery, secret love and seduction,
inconsistency and fickleness. Over time, Christianity transferred elements of
the plant’s original mythical symbolism
related to
the goddess Freya to the Virgin Mary (Details see AH, Volume 11, 2005).
Toxicity
Despite the
fact that Columbines have been ingested as tea and in salads, Columbines are
considered poisonous plants. The consumption of approximately 20 grams of
Common Columbine leaves (Aquil-vulg)
has caused
poisoning symptoms of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea,
breathing difficulties, heart pains, absent-mindedness, stupefaction, and
confusion. Its toxins, however, are destroyed by heat and drying.
Although
records of toxicity are not available for the species of the Rocky Mountain
Columbine (Aquil-coer), it belongs to a family that contains
a number of mildly toxic plants. According to
information
on botanical website’s the flowers are most likely perfectly safe to eat, are
rich in nectar and taste sweet. The plant is not toxic to livestock.
Herbal
Applications of Aquilegia Coerulea
Several
North American Indian tribes have used the Rocky Mountain Columbine for a
variety of
purposes:
As love medicine to attract the girl of their
dreams
Gosiute Indians (Great Salt Lake, Utah)
used the plant as an analgesic
Meskwaki Indians chewed the root for stomach
and bowel problems
Meskwaki Indians combined Columbine with
Prickly Ash to treat “thick urine”
Milk that had been boiled with leaves was
ingested to cure sore throats
A decoction of the root, sometimes combined with
leaves to cure diarrhea
Used to treat the pain of rheumatism, plant
parts unknown
North Western Natives mixed the ripe seed into
tobacco for sweet smell
Mental
Themes
Increased
energy was reported as a jittery, buzzing state and was reflected in mental and
physical symptoms alike. The deep calmness many provers
felt, reached nuances from being less bothered, to a
feeling of
sedation and laziness, dullness, indifference and heavy sluggishness. On the
opposite site of this scale anxiousness and irritation were experienced, most
likely related to increased
mental/emotional
sensitivity. Following is a list of mental states experienced during the
proving:
Increased
energy
Increased
focus
Unusual
calmness
Spacey,
dull, dream-like
Difficulty
concentrating
Forgetfulness
Sadness
Lazy
Indifference
Averse to
company
Easy to
anger
Increased
emotions
Anxious,
impatient and irritated
For the
first 1½ weeks of the proving I had horrible agitation, was much less patient.
I was anxious, fidgety and flustered. I couldn’t focus or remember what I was
just looking at.
- Prover 1506
MENTAL
SYMPTOMS:
High
energy, more motivated, more cheerful
Restless,
fidgety, jittery
Unusual internal
calmness, mind quiet, no need to rush
Unusually
relaxed, less hurried
Feels like
taken a mini Valium, pleasant sedated feeling
Depressed,
melancholic, unhappy
Crying for
no reason
Moved to
tears by music, thoughts, stories, movies
Forgetful
Difficulty
concentrating
Leaving
out, transposing letters, horrible handwriting
Irritable
and impatient
Anxiety
Lazy
Less
sympathetic, less patient with family
Wants to be
alone, averse to company
Emotionally
agitated, angry, throwing things, short fuse
Hit friend (very mild mannered person)
Increased
confidence to speak up, ask
Mentally
focused, efficient, organized
Topics in
Dreams:
Of the 176
dreams recorded during the proving, 58 dreams started with threatening or
violent situations that turned into dreams with benign or happy endings. It
seems remarkable that 1/3 of the dreams followed this pattern.
Prover
708 had frightful dreams, something she had never experienced before. Prover 1006 was cured from violent dreams suffered since
serving during operation Desert Storm in Iraq in 1990 (1006). It is
suggested,
that Aquil-coer could help with nightmares. Following
is a list dream topics:
Happy
endings - threatening dreams end positive
Water
related dreams
Attire and
looks
White,
yellow and blue/turquoise color
Helping
others and rescuing
Forces of
nature
Gatherings
and food
Birth and
death
Pregnancy and
birth
Narrow
places (Prover had 12 dreams about this topic)
Erotic and
sexual dreams
DREAMS
Live in
house with cannibals and murderers; talk them out of killing me
At a party
for child, men with machine guns enter, everything goes dark, calmly I am
waiting for the
opportunity
to escape
Followed by
someone, but tricked the person who was following
Joyfully
watching divers while snorkeling
Laughing at
two guys with canoes heaped with luggage for a 4-hour trip
Someone
falls into a creek, gets up and laughs
Dangerous
surfing turns out to be in a swimming pool
Cross-dressing
party, bow ties, top hats, jewelry, silk crimson
dress
Ladies
wearing shimmering dresses, one peach one turquoise
Yellow,
blue, and white
Swept away
by strong current when kayaking, rescued two girls
Child at
pool, dead, she is receiving CPR, I speak to her; she becomes alive
Driving a
Jeep across a river water pouring in, have to protect daughter
Prescient
dream about pregnancy
Gave birth
to a baby girl
Sea
creature gives birth
Dog that
died of cancer
Hugged dead
aunt
Funeral/wake
Spaghetti
Bright,
yellow banana bread
Party with
lots of food ,
Listening to
music in a mountainous field, talking to female musician, nice experience
Grateful
Dead concert
Saw Phil Lesh of Grateful Dead at a concert
Friend
fighting with her boyfriend turned into a wedding and a concert
Long,
narrow river with long skinny piers
Long skinny
passage from barn to corral
Crawled
under an upholstered chair, to get away from rattlesnake
Vans,
passenger vans, semis, big trucks, different colors
Fitting new
carpet in blue car
Prolonged
erotic dreams (several)
General
Symptoms
Marked
symptoms for this area included an intense sensation of heat, tingling and
buzzing sensations in various parts of the system, sensitivity to warmth and
heat, weakness like being sedated, craving
dairy and >
from eating.
Increased
energy
High energy
morning, low 12 h. – 16 h., high again in evening
Woke up
ready to go with lots of energy
Tingling,
buzzing sensation, erector muscles of spine, upper face, L top of head
Tingling
experienced by many provers in different parts of the
body
Sensation
of heat
Sensation
of heat in core
Hot,
especially face, hands, feet, > drinking cool water
Woke very
hot, hot all day
Chilled
Chilly on a
warm day
Very cold,
want to get into bed and cover up
Cold,
almost like flue, > anything warm, warm drinks and heater
Weakness
Sedated
feeling, feel like a rest, feel like taken a mini Valium
Craving
diary
Desire
milky, creamy things, cheese and juicy fruit
Craving
cheese
Craving
dairy, milk, ice cream
Craving
cold milk (doesn’t drink milk)
Desires
cold food, drinks
Better
eating
Irritability
> eating
Anxiety
> eating
Weak and
strained, winded going up-stairs, > eating a big meal
Miscellaneous
Pains
moving from left to right
Foot sweats
ameliorates all symptoms
Symptoms
begin with tingling, move to itching and then into pain
Physical
Symptoms
Most
remarkable during the proving were the sensations of heat, tingling, itching
and redness (head/face/limbs/chest/stomach). Pains were generally experienced
as sharp,
stinging
and pressing, and appeared in the head, eyes, ear, face, mouth, throat,
abdomen, stomach and female organs. A large number of provers
experienced nausea and vertigo, some with headaches as concomitant.
Immediately
after taking the first dose of the remedy, my face felt hot. The sensation
gradually intensified. I felt nauseous, had a hot sensation in my stomach, and
my lips were buzzing. I wanted
to take my clothes
off and roll in the snow.
- Prover
HEAD
Sharp,
stinging pain, forehead < lying down
Stabbing
pain L temple
Quick,
pulsating pain in R temple
Light
headed, frontal headache with vertigo ; < standing, walking > eating
Outward
pressure on top of head moving L to R, itchy
Pressure on
both sides of head as if being squeezed with two hands
Strong headache
over forehead and eyes with loss peripheral vision and nausea
Tingling up
back of head, waking from nap
Tingling as
if hair is standing on end, L Vertex
Sensation
hair is standing straight up at occiput and vertex
Sensation
as if hair is being pulled at crown of head
Itching on
Vertex > scratching (lasted 4 - 5
days)
Formication
L side vertex intensifying to pain
Sensation
of heat in head
Hot
sensation
VERTIGO
Dizziness (<
standing, < bending)
Sensation
as is would fall to left
Heaviness
in head felt like falling forward > moving slowly > fresh air
Wave-like
sensation in forehead, < movement
EYES
Stabbing
pain L eye
Pain R
temple and R eye socket
Eyes red-rimmed,
swollen
Dry,
irritated
Droopy,
heavy eyelids
Lachrymation
VISION
Blurry
vision
Flash of
light
Peripheral
vision foggy around the edges
Reduced
peripheral vision, top down < reading > looking out window
Trouble
focusing close but not distance
Photophobia
EAR
Pain, L ear
canal, > pressure > cold
Pressing
pain in L ear radiating to temple, L jaw joint and L molars
Intense
sharp pain in outer L earlobe
Left ear
feels fuzzy, asleep feeling extending to chin
Shooting,
stabbing pain R ear
Plugged,
pressure in R ear canal
Sensitive
to noise, had to turn down headphones
Sounds keep
shifting from R to L ear
NOSE
Watery,
clear runny nose (salty),
L nostril,
clear, thin mucus
Paroxysms
of sneezing
Congestion,
,
Clumpy
mucous
Very dry ,
Chemical odor in nose
Nail polish
odor in nose, very strong
Smelling
bad odor with bad taste in mouth
Itching and
tingling nostrils
Nostrils
tender, sore
FACE
Pain jaw as
if had been clenching/grinding teeth
Throbbing,
pulsating pain jaw joint
Tingles
Itchy
cheeks
Itchy,
stinging rash under chin
Red,
flushed, hot
Numbness
MOUTH
Apthae,
stinging, tip of tongue,
Apthae,
inside cheek
Extremely
dry mouth
Mouth dry,
need to lick lips, swallowing difficult
Lips dry (splitting),
0108
Swelling of
lips 0508
Woke with
lemon taste in mouth (several days)
THROAT
Stabbing
pain at back of neck on swallowing, > pressure on R neck muscles
Stinging
pain L side extending to L ear
Hot,
burning both sides with congestion
Swollen,
raw, aching pain on L tonsil
Sore throat
(< inhaling), (splinter-like)
Dry, sore
top back of mouth, craved cold water, > cold water
Scraping,
scratchy sensation in throat with mucous
Sensation
of lump (with choking sensation),
NECK
Chill from
neck to feet
Flushes of
heat, sides of neck
Flushing
red stripe up L side of neck
STOMACH
Cramps
After
eating, sharp pains gas and cramps, > laying down, < sitting
Severe,
violent abdominal cramping with sudden urge for stool; foul smelling diarrhea, feel drained
after diarrhea, but mental physical stamina OK
Intense
nausea, excruciating stomach pain > cool, followed by several bouts of diarrhea, body hot, > cool/laying still, < getting up
Nausea
Nausea with
sensation of heat (roasting from the inside out), but body is cold
Nausea,
belching with lemon taste
Eructations
tasting of alcohol (no alcohol ingested)
Thirsty
Thirsty for
cool water
Intense
hunger, appetite (> eating),
Decrease in
appetite
ABDOMEN
Sharp pain
L side
Dull,
cramping pain, waist
Pressing
pain lower abdomen
Heat
sensation, spleen area
RECTUM
Several
bouts of painless, gushing diarrhea
Frequent
bowel movements
Constipation
with dizziness, nausea, headache
BLADDER
Decrease in
urination (thick urine)
L-sided
back spasm and increased urination
FEMALE
Nosebleed before
rising from bed day of menses onset
Menses 4
days late
Menses
started 5 days early
Painful
cramps, nauseated, difficult to get ready for work with pain
Intense
itch and small bump, > warm shower, compress
Stinging,
biting pain upward inside vagina
Sexual
desire decreased, not as proactive, orgasm not a priority
COUGH
Paroxysms
of cough, > head elevated
Tickling at
roof of mouth and back of tongue causes cough
CHEST
Hot, as if
burning, skin hot to touch, red-hot splotches, > cool
Chest pain ,
Heart
palpitations
Fluttery
feeling in chest
Itching, L
nipple
BACK
Bubbling
sensation radiating from scapula to crown of head
Chilly
shivering, tingling up and down spine while urinating
Left side
intense pulsating pain
EXTREMITIES
Arthritis-like
pain and stiffness
Stiffness,
couldn’t type, write
Hand feels
stiff, like a glove, < morning, < cold, < before storm
Heat
sensation
Heat in
both hands
Hands red
Hands hot,
clammy, sweating
Sudden,
burning, sore, upper arms, < touch, < movement
Soles of feet
burning
Soles of my
feet were burning. I had a hot feeling extending to arms, hands, face, my chest
being
very hot,
burning, and turning red > fanning, drinking cold water. On the next day the
heat
stopped, I
felt cold and chilled, chills starting on my neck, running down entire body.
- Prover
Sharp pains
Awakened 4
times by painful electric shock to base of palm
Sharp pain
middle two fingers of L hand
Shooting
pain in L hamstring area, < flexing
Sharp cramp
in bottom of foot arch of foot
Itching and
tingling
Hands
itching and arms (< night)
Chill,
goose bumps down arms with tingling, shoulders prickly
Tingling in
elbow with numbness in fingers
SLEEP
Light sleep
Waking from
anxiety and restlessness
Waking,
jittery, but easily back to sleep
Sleepiness
but unable to sleep
PERSPIRATION
Acrid
smelling
Breasts to
neckline
Profuse R
side
Perspiring
on waking ,
SKIN
Old moles,
upper arms, became raised, round, and red
Red,
spotty, irregular rash on front of neck after bathing
Itching
trunk, legs, neck
Itching
face, soles of feet, palms of hands
Skin warm,
chilled internally, not quite sweating > indoors
Curative Effects
Twelve provers highly impressed by the curative effects of Aquil-coer experienced improvements in dreams, energy and
concentration, blood sugar levels, nose congestion and inflammation, stomach
problems,
menstrual cramping and acne.
• Prover 1006: History of violent dreams (result from being a
soldier/PTSD). During the proving, dreams lose their violent aspect. Locations
and persons in the dreams are
similar,
but no violence occurs. The prover continues to have
less violent dreams as of May 2008 (proving 2006).
• Prover 0508: Overall energy much improved; thinking more
clearly, better memory and improved concentration. Not cranky although didn’t
sleep well. Happy, refreshed throughout day. Feeling more energetic and able to
do
more things.
Less irritated with people; not getting upset with anyone; clear focus all day.
Duration 23 days.
• Prover 1206: I have been congested for a long time. After two
days of the remedy it’s gone. My energy level is higher than ever. I also have
been dealing with runner’s stitch on the left, nothing has helped. Since the
proving I have had it very infrequently. But I have been very sad in the
mornings and evenings.
• Prover 1406: Nose congestion, present for six months cured
by the remedy on Day 4.
• Prover 0707: Red, swollen inflammation on tip of left nostril
for 6 months, no treatment helped, < on day 3 of the proving. The right
septum became red and inflamed for a day. By evening only dry and crusty;
the
inflammation went down by 80%. On day 7 of the proving the inflammation was
completely gone, not to return.
• Prover 0807: Suffers from sinus congestion. Left sinus opened
up on day 1. Both sides open during the whole proving.
• Prover 0707: Stomach seems to assimilate food better, no gas
after meals.
• Prover 0707: Experienced a noteworthy drop of blood sugar
levels. Fasting blood sugar levels were taken between 7.30 – 8 h. every day,
reading 138 on the first day, 120 on day 14 and 116 on day 21 of the proving.
• Prover 0406: Menstrual cramps less intense than usual. No
blood clots, no cramping after 1st day, less profuse, less tired, able to stay
active.
• Prover 1108: Overall menses better, cramps much less
intense than usual, no vomiting.
• Prover 307: Acne I had my entire lifetime seems noticeably cleared
up, fungal rash on upper arms since July 2006 is gone.
• Prover 0508: Fell asleep easier, slept through whole night,
woke refreshed, happy all day.
• Slept
through the night for 22 days (highly unusual).
Summary and Conclusion
Most mental
states experienced during the proving of the Rocky Mountain Columbine (Aquil-coer) also appeared previously in the Common
Columbine (Aquil-vulg) proving: Exuberance, high
energy,
hypersensitivity
(especially heat, light and noise), slowness, calmness, sedation and
relaxation, forgetfulness, indifference to other’s feelings, easily angered and
excited, weeping easily, and aversion to company.
Every one
of these mental states is contained in the list of sensations of the Rananculacea family compiled by R. Sankaran
in his book Schema, and clearly part of the family picture. A number of symptoms
of Aconitum, Cimicifuga, Clematis, Helleboris, Hydrastis and Pulsatilla were also part of both Columbine provings.
The amount
of violent dreams with benign outcomes and seems an impressive result of the
proving.
Aquil-vulg
did not influences dreams in this way or produce similar dreams. Dreams
occurring during both provings include: Colorfull dresses, gatherings, mountainous areas, animals,
sexual dreams,
pregnancy,
water and colorful cars.
Physical
symptoms experienced by a majority of Aquil-coer - provers clearly point to the use of the remedy to treat
nausea and vertigo, stitching pains of the GI-tract (especially with diarrhea) and the
extremities
(especially with heat and tingling), headaches (especially with heat and
vertigo), menstrual problems including thick bland discharge and rash-like skin
conditions.
Finally,
how do themes of a substances appearance, or behavior
transcend a proving? Shouldn’t two gorgeous flowers equally yield themes of
beauty and grace? In the earlier proving of the Common Columbine (Aquil-v.)
these
topics surfaced in dreams. Amazing dreams of nature, landscapes, an “unworldly”
garden, beautiful flowers, and a palace satisfied this expectation. The Rocky
Mountain Columbine (Aquil-coer) did not offer
anything
along these
lines. Its beauty was revealed by its capacity of pacifying violent dreams and
an impressive amount of curative effects during the proving.