The influence
of Homœopathic remedies on dreams.
By Dr Devrient
Presented by Sylvain CazaletDreams :
1. Dreams of Fortune.
2. Dreams which exhaust.
3. Dreams of emotion.
4. Dreams of anxiety (nightmare).
5. Dreams of different ages.
I. Dreams of Fortune.
Here the prominent
remedies are : Sulphur, Anhalonium and
Opium. It may be considered superfluous to think of
influencing these charming occupations of the night, but in some
instances these symptoms may become so overwhelming that they must be
looked upon as pathological. The homœopathic treatment of the two
prominent dreams of fortune reduces the magnified symptoms to the normal
level. The well known figure of the Sulphur Patient appeals to us first.
We meet here the dilapidated, untidy philosopher, in whom vision takes
the place of reality, whose rags he considers the finest raiments, and
to whom real life is stranger. Of course, we do not want to rob him of
his pleasant dreams, but when they, in connection with other somatic
symptoms demand Sulphur, then we must not remain inactive, especially if
these patients become the worry of their families and a menace to
society.
Anhalonium,
also called Peyotl and Mescal, is a drink much used by Mexican Indians
to produce pleasurable dreams. Hence, according to the law of similars
it should be indicated where dream are varicolored, constantly changing
and picturesque. Such dreams are like kaleidoscopic visions, which
change quickly, are spun in sequences and are always pleasant. Sometimes
we find real hallucinations and wonderfully fantastic pictures.
Reversely we find capricious forms of grotesque monsters. In such
patients often an auditory condition, which, when a note is struck on
the piano, can visualize an entire melody, accompanied by a wonderfully
colored harmony and musical rhythm. At the same time there may be a
weakened heart action, diminished motor action even leading to
paraplegia ; increase of reflexes. Due to these characteristics
Anhalonium may become valuable in maniacal conditions.
Opium
is
indicated in fantastic visions and pleasant dreams if other symptoms
point to it.
II. Dreams which Exhaust.
Physical exhaustion and
work are often the subject of dreams. Such symptom pictures are found in
Rhus toxicodendron, Bryonia, Nux vomica and
Pulsatilla. The most prominent remedy in this series is Rhus
toxidodendron, which dreams of all kinds of gymnastics, especially of
riding, rowing, sawing, etc., accompanied during the dream by a feeling,
of physical exhaustion. Psychical exhaustion on the contrary demands
selenium, which dreams especially of the little things forgotten during
the day. This remedy causes a nervous depression and has the remarkable
character that it deals especially with the manifold happenings and
small particulars of the patient’s daily life. That, which he forgot in
his daily routine, pops up in his dreams, disturbs him terribly and
causes insomnia and tires his soul. For the feeling of physical and
psychical exhaustion, and lost strength, we have the following
remedies : Arnica, Arsenicum, Cimicifuga,
Gelsemium, Nux vomica, Phosphorus, etc.
If the exhausting
dreams are accompanied by the sensation of surging ideas constantly
crashing upon the brain, then Coffea, Nux
vomica, China, Cocculus, Hyoscyamus and Lachesis
should be consulted. Such dreams are very torturing and reducing.Then we have to mention
such dreams, which persist even after awakening, and which tire the
patient out. The remedies are : Calcarea
carbonica, China, Lachesis, Natrum muriaticum. Closely allied
to these symptom pictures are the so-called wake-dreams, which
constitute the bridge to the next group.
III. Dreams of Emotion.
The patient dreams that
he is so thirsty that he must drink constantly. Here are
indicated : Arsenicum, Medorrhinum, Natrum
muriaticum. Phosphorus. Dreams of hunger aid eating :
Abies nigra. China, Psorinum. The Psorinum patient is much
weekend, and the sensation of hunger awakens him from sleep. Dreams of
flying occur often. The patient is floating over houses and towers, and
is gliding slowly and gracefully up and down. Her ; Rhus glabra.
Apis and Sticta are useful. Voluptuous dreams demand : Cannabis
Indica. Phosphorus, Staphisagria, Dioscorea, Hyoscyamus, Cantharis,
Opium, Phosphoric acid and Thuja.
Cannabis indica
deserves
special mention. From reading about the action Hashish one can readily
understand why the Orient clings to this drug in spite of prohibiting
laws. Fantastic pictures of voluptiousness and sensualities are
prominent symptoms. The Historical fact is interesting, that young Islam
warriors during the eighth century’ were supplied with Hashish in order
to give them a view of their paradise, thus to spar on their love of
combat to highest extreme. According to Mohammed’s promise, the fallen
hero would find everlasting pleasures of love in paradise. To give the
sons of the desert a foretaste, notorious “Old Man of the
Mountain” in change of the young troops, dispensed to them
carefully weighed doses of Hashish. Thus transported to paradise, they
became confirmed in the existence of the houri ; they awoke with
unquenchable desire to seek death as a real hero.Dreams of rape demand
Sepia. These patients experience rape in their dreams. But
also other remedies must be considered in excessive impressions from
dreams of rape. For hypersensitive sensorium in general consult :
Belladonna, Coffea, Opium, Chamomilla, Nux vomica, Cocculus, Tarentula and
Zincum.
IV. Dreams of Anxiety nightmare.
These dreams make a
large and extensively ramified chapter, From which I shall mention only
a few characteristics.Generally suitable
are : Aconite, Aurum, Argentum, nitricum,
apis, Chamomilla, China, Colchicum, Hyoscyamus, Lilium tigrinum,
Mercurius corrosivus, Rhus toxicodendron, Silicea, Sulphur and
Zincum.
Dreams of accidents,
falling, crashing interest us especially, because they are met so often
in heart diseases, and Digitalis is prominently indicated, but also Arnica,
Belladonna, Lycopodium, Veratrum album, Silicea. Calcarea carbonica and
Acidum nitricum.
Natrum muriaticum
has especially fear before falling asleep. These patients cannot go to
sleep because they fear burglars, hence they move furniture against the
doors, and dream of thieves. Such dreams are also found in Belladonna,
Psorinum and Veratrum album. The
fear of Opium concerns especially
dogs, black animals, mainly black cats. Further remedies having dreams
of fear concerning animals (especially snakes) are ; Argentum
nitricum. Lac caninum. Opium, Daphne indica, Ranunculus sceleratus.
Dreams of death and
dead persons are found under : Arsenicum,
Lachesis, Arnica, Calcarea carbonica, Cannabis indica, Crotalus. Dreams
of sickness and patients we meet in Arsenicum album, Lachesis dreams
principally of his own demise and fears it. The Lachesis patient sees
himself either lying in bed in his shroud, or in the grave itself.
Frequently his dreams lead him to his own funeral, or he dreams of
secrets which takes place on the cemetery. Dreams of fire and flames
correspond to the symptoms of Belladonna,
Phosphorus, Lachesis, Euphrasia. It is interesting to note
that Belladonna, this polychrest in
fevers, has dreams of fire and flames.Dreams of hæmorrhages
and especially hæmoptysis, are found under
Phosphorus, and we remember well its value in bleeding.
V. Dreams of Different Ages.
Rapturous dreams of
older people : Aconitum, Phosphorus,
Apis, Opium, Passiflora.Anxious dreams of
children : Absinthium, Aconite, Belladonna, Chamomilla, China,
Cypripedium, Passiflora. Also : Arsenicum, Calcarea bromata,
Hyoscyamus, Kali bromatum, Phosphorus, Pulsatilla, Sulphur.Source :
Pacific Coast Journal
of Homœopathy, January, 1936.Copyright © Sylvain
Cazalet 2001