Orchids Revealed: a New Family of Homeopathic Remedies Orchidaceae Is the Largest Plant Family in the World with Over 30,000 Species
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Orchids Revealed: A New Family of Homeopathic Remedies Orchidaceae is the largest plant family in the world with over 30,000 species. Orchids were considered elegantly mysterious and valuable, even causing what was known as “orchid fever” or “orchid delirium.” • In spite of Orchids being the largest plant family in the world, only 4 orchids were partially described and indicated in the classical homeopathic literature. Orchid Remedies in Classical Texts • Corallorrhiza odontorhiza – Allen has a very brief description • Cypripedium pubescens – introduced by Hale • Spiranthes autumnalis – more information on this orchid, various classical materia medicas • Vanilla Aromatica – Boericke describes the effect of smelling the extract The Orchid Project- Led by Louis Klein Homeopaths internationally working together to introduce, collate and understand Orchid Homeopathic Remedies. • With this modern introduction of more homeopathically prepared Orchids, they have become important remedies for homeopaths treating individuals with various problems. The History of Modern Use of Many New Orchid Remedies Discovery of Orchids Usefulness in Autism and Neuro- behavioral Disorders by Louis Klein FSHom • Case of a 4 year old child • In 2003 Cypripedium pubescens, described in the classical literature, was successfully given for a 4 year old child with autism. Prior to age 2 she was progressing very well but then: • The child’s condition started after frequent episodes of waking at night wanting to play and being joyful with active laughing • After a period of months the child’s speech stopped developing and she began to stim, be out of touch with those around her and stopped developing mentally/emotionally • She came into the interview and stood off by herself, she would at times squeal and have a blissful expression while shaking her hands She is very sensitive to certain foods like milk and wheat • She hit her chin with a strong bruise a few weeks prior. • After Cyprepidium 200c a number of doses over a period of times she started to progress to the point where she would have a conversation Cypripedium pubescens Cypripedium pubescens • Abbreviation: Cypr. Common Names: a) Small Yellow Lady’s Slipper, Small Slipper Orchid, Small • Moccasin Flower b) Large or Great Yellow Lady’s Slipper, Large Slipper Orchid, Large Moccasin Flower Older common names include Our Lady’s Shoe or Slipper, Calceolus Mariae (Mary’s Slipper) and in French, Sabot de Vénus (Venus Sabot or Shoe) • Scientific Names: a) Cypripedium parvi orum Salisb. var. parvi orum b) Cypripedium parvi orum var. pubescens (Willd.) O.W. Knight Cypripedium pubescens- Classical Literature Quotes • Clarke Materia Medica: “It is indicated in the brain- hyperesthesia of children who wake in the night lively and full of play.” • Choudhuri: “Little babies are often seen to wake up in the middle of the night and laugh and gambol in the bright light; if this continues night after night, the parents should take warning, as often such functional irritability and cerebral hyperaesthesia end in convulsions…In respect of sleeplessness it compares well with Coffee and Scutellaria.” • Hale: “Profound indifference to everything, even to his studies duties, and the common courtesies of life.” Cypripedium Symptom Synopsis • Excessive Cerebral Activity • various stages and worst is autism • Choudhuri: “Temporary Exhilaration”• Hilarious dreams • Sleepless at night • hilarious pleasant disposition, • child or adult wakes happy and giggling easily exhilarated and joyful • laughing in sleep • “rush of thoughts” • Squealing • wakes laughing and giggling • fear at night; shrieking (can alternate • desire to play at night with laughing) • cerebral activity • sensitive to touch- impelled to touch • pleasant ideas and disposition- • desire to touch, sensual touch, soft; overcrowd and lead to sleeplessness • sensitive to things not feeling good; • rush of thoughts at night has to have things feel right • cerebral inflammation • encephalitis • viral encephalitis Cypripedium Synopsis Cont… • anxiety from slight discomfort • happy children who masturbate • needs everything comfortable and constantly (oreganon, bufo) joyful • sexual eroticism • Distraught- Severe anxiety from slight • may be in a profession where helping stomach upset people with sexual problems • Rhus poisoning • Aggravation 9PM- 5AM • Convulsions, laughing before or after • Drinking ameliorates • ailments from teething; convulsions • Skin: Lipoma • cerebral inflammation during teething• Sleeplessness • post influenza prostration • Weakness from sleeplessness • severe weakness after influenza • Pain stomach after eating small • weakness from slight cause amounts • high blood pressure • Tickling cough at 3AM • attraction through sensuality • over affectionate The Orchid Project • As a result of this Rx with Cypripedium in 2003, I decided to expand the Materia Medica of Orchids • “The Orchid Project” was initiated. Students, colleagues and other homeopaths contributed to building a materia medica of orchids and a deeper understanding. • Over 60 orchids have been elucidated with various kinds of provings and clinical experience- many having a full Hahnemannian proving. • It was discovered that Orchids can be used for a wide range of problems and pathologies. Many more provings and Orchid remedies introduced led to a book: More on Orchidaceae Distinctive Elements of Plants in Orchidaceae- (Orchid Plant Family) • 1. The presence of a gynostemium. (The central reproductive stalk which consists of a stamen and pistil fused together). • 2. The flower is bilaterally symmetric. • 3. The pollen is glued together on filaments. • 4. The seeds of most orchids are microscopic and lacking food reserves (endosperm). The most exceptional is the seeds of the Vanilla orchid. • 5. The seeds under natural circumstances can only germinate in symbiosis with a certain fungi. Asparagales Order and Orchidaceae Family First Full Orchid Proving: Vanilla planifolia Vanilla planifolia- Vanilla was chosen first because it is the most used orchid because of its use as an extract in flavoring … Hahnemannian Proving of Vanilla Planifolia • Whole plant acquired from Madagascar and prepared by Robert Muntz of Remedia Homeopathic Pharmacy in Austria • Master Prover Louis Klein • Provers took a single dose of 30c potency and carefully recorded their symptoms with a supervisor • Proving was collated and some of the symptoms are recorded in repertories world wide • Download the proving for free from http://www.homeopathycourses.com/provings/ • The proving is also included in the book Orchids in Homeopathy by Louis Klein Hahnemannian Proving of Vanilla Planifolia • Provers and supervisors did not know what the remedy was until after the proving was over • In spite of that, they demonstrated some elements of what you might expect from an orchid such as elegance, materialism and other symptoms Main Mind Theme from the Proving of Vanilla Planifolia: – Intoxication by sensuality texture, color, bathing, sexuality, luxury, – Material world and struggle with it-being specific (perfect) about the kind of material things- gentle, soft, perfectly elegant – Wanting to shop for clothing, shoes and material goods – Cashmere, new dishrags become beautiful, making home beautiful, design, renovations and a specific weakness or material craving was accentuated; (fetishes for shoes, expensive materials and clothing etc.) – Bringing elegant order to disorder – Protecting others – Cleansing evil – making things “vanilla”, faceless silhouettes – Bees and wasps – Blue and orange colors – Time goes slowly – Strong dreams and many more mental/emotional symptoms- see full proving Some quotes from the Vanilla Provers: • “feet planted on the ground” • “clay feet” • “While shopping had to exercise great restraint to keep from buying pottery that was a beautiful teal blue contrasting with the warm orange-redness of the terracotta. I had a very intense feeling of attraction to these colors.” • A different prover: “I spend my time looking at dishcloths instead of buying the things I need. I examine each of the colors and the different types and marvel at the texture of the weave of the cloth. Physical • Apis-like symptoms (melipona bee pollinates the Vanilla plant)-such as reddish swellings • Hormonal issues, cramping during menses • Many symptoms related to flushes of heat - especially in the face • Also hypotension and faintness • Headaches with pressing and shooting pains • Foot, ankle and hand pains and symptoms- sprains, fractures, stitching pains, feet problems A Case of a Severe Foot Injury A Letter from a Prover with a history of a severe foot injury: “Lou, I want to thank you for the proving that our class did in Toronto over 2 years ago. It was Vanilla and I was reluctant to do the proving because I thought my injuries of broken bones and fatigue from a previous car accident would interfere with the data. I chose to do the proving out of curiosity for the experience and a huge desire to participate in a proving. My recollection of the first two days after taking the remedy are indelible. I got headaches when going into the hot tub and at night my right foot which had 5 pins to hold the calcaneum together (from the accident) hurt like hell. My foot hurt so much the first 2 nights. I experienced shooting pain, spasms and sharp, boring pain where the drill had made the hole in my ankle. I was accustomed to pain at night especially if the weather changed. In some ways, my foot pain was my weather barometer and I could predict rain and snow with precision. When the docs at the hospital, in Toronto, look at my X-rays of my right ankle, I can hear an audible whistle from their reactions. They become a little more kinder because they are expecting me to be begging for pain killers and anything to address the damage seen on the films. It’s been 3 years now since the Vanilla proving and I have not had another single episode of pain since the proving. The weather does not affect my foot anymore and I am virtually pain-free (if I take care in walking on flat surfaces). Lou, I am so grateful. When we did the meeting to discuss the proving in class, it was too soon to know how the remedy would be for me.