Drosera Anhang
[C. Kurz]
Insectivorous
plant, grows in swampy regions of Europe, Asia, and
The
rounded, stemmed leaves are covered with inumerous small glandular hairs which
exude a clear, sticky fluid. This fluid gathers at the end of each hair and
attracts small insects which mistake it for a source of nectar. Once an insect
touches a droplet, it is caught by the sticky fluid. Neighboring glandular
hairs curve toward the insect and make escape impossible. A digestive enzyme in
the fluid slowly dissolves the insect body, and the plant eventually absorbs
it, leaving behind the empty chitinous hull. Dros. can survive on an
insect-free diet but doesn't grow as tall nor develop as many seeds.
It may be
interesting to note that all insectivorous plants I know grow in or near the
water. Certainly in the case of Dros. the capture of an insect by the plant is
in some way analogous to the dangers a swamp poses to an unsuspecting wanderer.
The pertinacious and stubborn clinging to the intruder, which makes escape
impossible, is present in both cases. The engulfing nature of the surroundings
are reflected in the behavior of the plant.
The Insect
It is the
morning of a bright and beautiful day. The little insect is already thirsty
(Stomach, thirst, morning; "He dreams of thirst and drinking, wakes very
thirsty and is obliged to drink."). The night before it slept very
restlessly and had many anxious dreams (Dreams, anxious; Sleep: unrefreshing/waking
frequent; "Frequent starting at night from sleep, “As if from fright or
fear”, but without anxiety on waking."). It is almost as if the night had
been a foreboding of danger (Fear of hearing bad news; Fear of misfortune;
Suspicious, mistrustful). On the search for something to drink, the little
insect is drawn from one flower to the next
(capricious/inconstant/irresolute/indecision), when it notices a plant whose
leaves appear to be covered with nourishing nectar. An irresistible attraction
(Delusion, someone calls; Illusions of hearing) which calls out to it! This
sight is so gorgeous and mouth watering that its fears are dispelled (Cheerful,
gay, mirthful). Proceeding to this plant it decides to land directly on one of
the leaves covered with drops of nectar. The little insect gets stuck in the
resinous fluid and quickly realizes that this was not such a good idea. What
deceit (Delusion of being deceived)! Kicking and screaming it tries to free
itself (Courageous; Restlessness, anxious; Violent, vehement; Rage, fury) - to
no avail. The more it struggles the deeper it becomes entrapped, and the leaf
seems to turn inward on the poor little insect (Delusion, tall, things grow
taller; Delusion, persecuted; Delusion pursued by enemies). Movement becomes
increasingly more difficult ("All the limbs feel paralyzed."). The
little insect realizes that it is alone; nobody is coming to help (Anxiety,
when alone; Desire for company; Discouraged about future; Sadness, despondency,
dejection; Forsaken feeling). How much it wishes that it had stayed at home
(Homesickness)! Finally, as the digesting enzymes eat away, we are reminded of
the consumptive disease, tuberculosis, for which Dros. is an important remedy.
The Plant
It is the
morning of a bright and beautiful day. The sundew plant (Dros.) enjoys the
quiet and calmness which the early rays of sun bring (Tranquility, serenity,
calmness). Each of its hair-like tentacles is crowned by an enticing droplet,
ready to deal with breakfast (Deceitful, sly). There, as if out of nowhere,
comes a little insect and lands squarely on one of the sundew's leaves. The
plant has never really gotten used to the impertinence with which insects
approach its seeming bountiful source of food. Anger over this intrusion starts
to well up (Mood, alternating, changeable; Morose, cross, fretful; Offended
easily, takes everything in bad part). As the insect continues to fight and
struggle, the sundew curves its leaf inward to engulf the intruder
(Extremities, stiffness, upper, fingers; "The fingers are inclined to be
spasmodically contracted, and, on closing them, the joints of the middle finger
to be stiff, as if the tendons would not yield, now in the right, now in the
left hand."). The fighting of the insect tickles and stimulates more fluid
to be exuded (Sensitive, oversensitive). Now what is needed is perseverance and
patience. Very few insects have ever managed to free themselves, most
eventually tire and give up (Perseverance; Pertinacity; Plans, carrying out,
insists on; Obstinate, headstrong).
I hope that
with this account I have shown that the remedy Dros. is more than just the
plant Dros.. We can clearly perceive the situation of the struggling insect as
well as the tenacious plant. Many symptoms which I didn't mention here will fit
either one or the other element. The totality appears to comprise the
interwoven fates of the plant and the insect.
Of course,
everyone knows that Dros. is a leading whooping cough remedy with the typical
barking sound and retching afterwards, leading to vomiting in some cases. The
obstinate laryngeal tickling which provokes the cough is very characteristic of
Dros. and fits in nicely with the totality as described above. When one focuses
on the physical aspects of the cough, there are of course many remedies that come
close to Dros. (Corallium, Cuprum, Hyoscyamus, Kali-c, and many others).
Margaret Tyler (in Homeopathic Drug Pictures) has described it as belonging
closely to the tubercular miasm and therefore being similar to Tuberculinum. In
this respect one has to think also of Calc-p. and Rhus-t. as belonging to this
group (Puls.). Many Dros. cases have in common this feeling of wanting to shake
off something terribly annoying and harassing, which clings to them
obstinately. Sankaran mentions a very descriptive case in The Substance of
Homeopathy, page 89. It is of a school teacher who feels constantly harassed by
her principal yet feels trapped in her job and does not want to give it up.
Drosera:
Keynotes:
- Whooping cough with retching and vomiting.
- Vertigo when walking in fresh air with
tendency to fall to the left.
- Coldness of left side of face with hotness
and stitching pains of the right side.
- Worse at night, with restless sleep and
anxious dreams
Mind:
. Anxiety and fear at night, starting from
sleep
. Obstinate
. Feeling of being persecuted and harassed
. Easily angered
Generals:
. Weakness of entire body.
. Oversensitive to noise and smells.
<:
. Being alone
. After midnight
. On lying down
>:
. Company
. Sitting up in bed
Face:
. Left side cold, right side hot.
Head:
. Heavy, pressing headache from cheekbones
extending downward.
Throat:
. Persistent tickling in larynx, “As if from a
bread crumb”.
. Difficulty swallowing solid food
. Low and weakened voice from tenacious mucus.
. Difficulty exhaling.
Chest:
. Spasmodic, dry, irritating cough in paroxysms
. Barking noise when coughing
. Cough starts as soon as head hits the pillow.
Extremities:
. Paralytic pains, stiffness, and weakness in
joints
. Bed feels too hard
. Stitching pains in muscles and joints
Nandita
Shaw was in
Dros.:
skinny, eats a lot - tubercular
delusions - imaginations, enemy, rest allows
him no
enemies surrounded by
is persectuted
that
he is deceived (Dros, Ruta)
obstinate, headstrong, execution of matured
plans in
pertinacity
rage, fury, violence
suspicious, mistrustful
"As if had to do with none but false
people" -
"As if enemies would not leave him quiet -
envied & persecuted him" - MM Pura the sx's of Dros. are the sx's of
the plant with the insect inside.
Vorwort/Suchen Zeichen/Abkürzungen Impressums