Sophora
japonica = Japanese
pagoda tree/= honigboom
[D. Fuller]
May 21/99
In the fall of 1998, it was suggested that I try using the homeopathic
remedy Sophora japonica for a 15 year old girI C., for her anger. I tried
several homeopathic pharmacies, but none had the remedy. Luckily, I found
Remedia Pharmacy on the internet and Mag. pharm. Robert Müntz KG found the
plant and made the remedy for me.
I have used the Sophora japonica (Japanese pagoda tree) on two children,
both adopted, both of mixed nationalities, and it seems to have made a
difference with both of them, especially D. Both children have lots of anger
and feelings of not belonging. I was hopeful that Sophora japonica, because of
its image of strength and association with protection and family, could help
these children feel more at home with their sad histories and open them to
experience more joy and love in their lives.
C´s Quick, violent temper has been one of the major issues of her life. She
is an adopted child, part Native Indian with fetal alcohol syndrome (damage due
to the mother drinking alcohol and taking drugs while pregnant). In the past C.
has had many remedies and over the years she has improved immensely.
Sophora japonica seemed to help C.s anger to some degree, but it is
still her greatest problem. However, another adopted child, D., with similar
problems with anger seems
to have been helped significantly with Sophora japonica, the Japanese
pagoda tree.
The word pagoda means idol + house. A temple in the Far East usually in
the form of a pyramid or a tower with the roof over each story designed to turn
upward.
Vergiftung: Die Fruchtschale soll stark giftig sein. Eine subkutane Injektion des Extraktes wirkt tödlich auf Frosch, Eidechse und weiße Maus. Die Injektion ruft am Warmblütler eine kurzdauernde Blutzuckererhöhung und Glucosurie hervor, gefolgt von Dyspnoe und Verminderung der roten Blutkörperchen. Das Samenmehl soll, regelmäßig genossen, Gesichts-Ödeme und selbst den Tod verursachen.
Phytologie: Alle Pflanzenteile außer den Blüten (siehe Abschnitt „Verwendung“) werden als stark giftig bezeichnet; es werden Rinde und Samen, besonders aber die Fruchtschale erwähnt.
Hauptwirkstoffe sind in den
Früchten 0,08 % Sophorabiosid, Rutin u.a., in unreifen Früchten 2%
Sophoricosid, in den Samen Cytisin, Toxalbumine und Sophoramin.
Because C. is adopted, the idea of a remedy made from the pagoda tree
seemed very fitting. As an adopted child, she wonders about her roots and her
family tree is a mystery to her. She longs to belong and although she loves her
adopted parents, she regrets that she will never grow up with her real mother. Her
grief and anger at being abandoned
by her mother, and being hurt by her mother´s addictions while in the
womb, have affected her to her very core. Something has been passed on to her
from past generations that has made her very angry and frustrated.
She has learning difficulties, and great difficulties socially. She just
doesn´t fit in and she is angry and resentful and she is afraid to express
feelings of love and joy because
of her low sense of self worth as a result of being pushed out of her
family tree.
When D. was brought to me by his adopted mother, there was much about
him that reminded me of C. and made me think of the Japanese Pagoda Tree as well.
I later discovered that Sophora japonica is native to Vietnam which is
the country where D. was born. Sophora japonica has been very beneficial to him
and I have included
his case.
The Japanese Pagoda tree, also called the Chinese Scholar tree is native
to Korea, China and Vietnam. It is the "Tree of Success in Life" in
China and is often planted on the graves of high officials. It is a good city
tree, most tolerant of poor soil, drought and heat and cold. Sophora japonica
is a deciduous tree with large divided, dark, green, shiny leaves, which have
downy or glaucous undersides. Creamy white, fragrant flowers appear in long
panicles in late summer, followed by attractive, fleshy seed pods 2-3 inches
long. It can reach a height of 80 ft, with a span of 70 ft. The fruits yield a
yellow dye.
The Flowers, buds, and fruits are dried and used medicinally in
decoctions. It is a bitter, cooling antibacterial herb that controls bleeding. It
also lowers blood pressure and cholesterol levels, strengthens capillaries,
reduces inflammation and relaxes spasms (flowers); soothes irritated and
damaged tissues, increases blood sugar levels, expels intestinal parasites and
improves liver function (fruits).
Sophora japonica is used for internal hemorrhage, hypertension and poor
peripheral circulation; intestinal worms; and liver energy imbalance with
symptoms such as tight chest, dizziness, headaches, red eyes and hypertension. It
is not prescribed during pregnancy.
Sophora is a cosmopolitan genus of about 50 species of deciduous and
evergreen trees, shrubs and subshrubs. It is in the Leguminosae family.
Leguminosae
In a seminar given by Jan Scholten M.D. in Los Angeles California in
November 1998, Dr. Scholten spoke about plant families in homeopathy. Because
there is little information on Sophora japonica as a homeopathic remedy, I
found his information on the Leguminosae family very helpful.
Dr. Scholten discovered a strong connection between the leguminosae
family and nitrics,
amino acids
and proteins. A poisoning with amino acids results in weakness.
There are two sides to this family - Very hard working, perfectionistic
and later on completely exhausted and not being able to do anything.
DD.: Nitrics, Psorinum, Iron series and Manganum.
Sophora japonica Case
Oct.15/98 - Male, 9 years old.
Adopted child from Vietnam. Complaining of sharp stomach pains,
sometimes below sternum, on left side and sometimes right across abdomen at the
waist for the past
few weeks. Similar pains when 2 years old, which doctor said were due to
an undeveloped bowel.
He has had constant stomach
problems since he was very young. Pain is better rubbing it or crouching up in
a little ball. Pain sometimes comes after stool.
Pain in left chest when
running. Many chest infections when younger - croup, bronchitis, epiglottitis.
Convulsions with high fever.
Very hot blooded. Perspiration
drips from entire head when running. Doesn´t like hot weather, sauna. Kicks
covers off at night, doesn´t like many clothes on in summer.
to take a bath and will go to
great lengths to avoid it - hides the plug etc.
Can’t stand loud noises.
After fish and oranges,
sweets, ice cream.
Favorite foods are meat and
eggs.
Great aversion to peas and
beans.
Doesn´t like milk.
Burning on urination.
Dreams of falling off a cliff;
jumping while being chased by animals.
Fear of snakes and spiders,
monsters, heights, haunted houses, dark.
Wakes at night and comes into
parent´s room. Cant do his homework - plays games instead. Can quote movies by heart
but can’t remember spelling words for school.
When he gets frustrated with
his school work he tears the books.
He says of himself I am very
violent. I can play fight but it will get out of hand. If my parents are angry
at me I would throw something across the room and smash
something.
He doesn’t cry much except
when he is really angry. Then he cries his frustration out.
„I know not to chuck the stool
through the window. I don´t like to destroy my things but I could walk out of
my room and rip the water tank out of the wall and throw it".
„I am sad and angry if I am
corrected by my parents or teacher. If I am not perfect, I am no good".
When I asked him to describe
himself he said „I am cheerful, playful, hyperactive, always hungry, sometimes
dangerous, sometimes cranky (irritable). I am not sure, but
I think I am sensitive".
His mother described him as
„Definitely a little boy, loves to play. Lazy, won´t do chores, but works hard
at what he likes to do. Fussy about what he eats, friendly and
outgoing, a very good
vocabulary. Bites his nails and sucks his thumb. Perfectionist".
I use kinesiology to discover the weak areas
of the body. D. had weak areas in his right lung area, spleen, left kidney,
small bowel, colon, solar plexus and in the abdominal
area of the pain.
I usually give an herbal tincture (1-3 drops, 1-3x daily) to aid in
healing the weak organ(s). I also give a nosode once a week to address the
underlying inherited tendencies. Using kinesiology, I test the remedies on the
weak spots, and only give a remedy if it tests strong on all the weak areas of
the body. After finding a homeopathic remedy, tincture and nosode, I test them
all together to make sure they will be compatible.
I tested D. on sulphur, thuja, stramonium, nat-m and aurum. The only
remedy that tested strong on all his weak areas was Sulphur. He tested weak on
the herbal remedy ceanothus and strong on hydrastis. He was weak on
medorrhinum, but strong on syphillinum.
Sulphur 12C (in liquid) to take daily for 10 days.
Syph. 200C - one dose weekly for 4 weeks.
Hydrastis tincture 1-3 drops, 1-3 times daily..
Nov. 6/98 -
Stomach got better within a few days. Still has stomach pain when
overeats. More angry lately, difficulty stopping anger once he starts getting
angry. Daydreaming and fiddling around in class - looks around, slightest sound
distracts him. weak on other potencies of Sulphur. of his adoption and anger
which reminded me of C., and
since I had recently received the remedy Sophora japonica from Robert
Müntz, I decided to test him on this remedy. He tested very strong on all areas
and so I gave him:
Sophora j. 12C (in vodka) to inhale for 14 days
Syph. 30C to inhale weekly for 5 weeks.
Nov. 26/ 98 -
Doing fine. School is fine. Stomach fine unless he is hungry or
overeats, gets a pain but it doesn´t last long. No problems with diarrhea.
Mother said he hasn´t been complaining about stomach as before. Anger is still
about the same, but he is a bit calmer most of the time - loses his temper
about once a week now. Better concentration. Can sit through things longer,
doing homework better. Had two big rages. Upset but restrains himself more.
Still as upset and sad as before - moody in past few days.
Sophora j. LM1 to inhale for 14 days.
Syph. 30C continued weekly.
Skullcap tr. 1-3 gtts 1-3 times daily.
Decembre 19/98 -
Fine. Stomach fine. Much better with anger. A few rages in the first
couple of weeks when he was angrier than usual but then got better. He is more
controlled.
Upset when pressured. Better overall - more aware and more in control of
what he is doing. Not fidgeting as much. Not having scary dreams but worried
they might come back. His father is trying to teach him to be more aware of
what he is feeling. D. said he doesn´t want to name his feelings and gets angry
when his father talks about that. Taking consequences with a better attitude.
Sophora j. LM2
Syph. LM2.
Jan. 14/99 -
Getting better control of anger - more awareness about what is happening.
Before I threw a fit every day but don´t any more. Sometimes he smiles instead
of getting angry lately. Not fidgeting as much. Stomach is fine. I think this
will be our last visit.
Sophora j. LM3
Syph. LM3
April 30/99 -
Telephone Follow up:
Mother: D. has had lots of anger for a long time. He was filled with
rage that he didn´t know what to do about. After the remedy he started to
develop more control without being so aggressive and violent. Now when he is
angry he knows to go outside or punch the bed. There is not the feeling of just
not knowing what to do. The intensity is less and he is more sensible about
handling it. He is still contrary, but not as bad - sometimes he laughs when he
is being contrary as if he is just doing it for fun.
He seems to have grown up a bit and is more mature. Since the remedy he
can admit he is wrong and apologise. He couldn´t do that before the remedy. The
remedy seems to have helped him to get more control and become more aware of
the feelings of others.
His concentration is better
but could still improve. While on the remedy he was less fidgety (restless) but
lately he is having a harder time with fidgeting.
He is less of a perfectionist
since the remedy. He doesn´t give up as easily when trying something new. Before
the remedy he would say he couldn´t do something without
even trying. He was very hard
on himself when he made a mistake, but lately this is very short lived and it
doesn´t seem to bother him as much.
Bowels are normal and not as
foul smelling as before the remedy.
He never has enough food and
is always hungry.
He is a ´pack rat´ and wants
to save everything.
He has been much healthier
since the remedies and has had only one cold which he recovered from very
quickly. He normally gets many colds and fevers over the winter.
Doesn´t have bad dreams
anymore. Fear of the dark not as bad.
Doesn´t like roast beef which
used to be his favorite, and he prefers chicken.
He still doesn´t like baths,
hates peas, gets headaches from fish and ice cream. Ocassional burning with
urination. Still wakes up in the night and comes into parents room.
Mother: The remedy certainly
seems to have changed his anger. His concentration is better, but the greatest
improvement is in his anger. He has had stomach problems
since he was very young but
that has gone now. Maybe the anger was related to his stomach. He had
uncontrolled anger and we didn´t know where it was coming from.