The Homeopathic remedy Digitalis is obtained from the juice extracted from the fresh leaves of Digitalis purpurea harvested in spring, before the plant blooms. This plant, also called “opium of the heart”, both in traditional allopathic medicine and in homeopathy is used to soothe heart disease.
Digitalis purpurea
Digitalis purpurea is a herbaceous plant native to central and southern Europe. It grows spontaneously both in the woods and in arid areas and owes the origin of its scientific name to the particular characteristics of its flower. In fact, Digitalis stands for “fingers” alluding to the shape of the corolla of flowers, collected in hanging clusters, reminiscent of elongated bells; purple derives instead from the color of the purple petals on the inside and purple red on the outside. The stem of the plant is covered with a slight down and is about one or two meters high with roots well branched to the ground and adorned with oblong gray-green leaves and spirally arranged.
The digitalis is a plant that in folk medicine was used to treat wounds, but in classical times, in the times of the ancient Greeks and Romans, the graceful appearance of Digitalis has conditioned its use for purely ornamental purposes. Digitalis purpurea was counted as a plant with cardioactive virtues. This quality was confirmed by some clinical research also discovered a further diuretic effect.
In 1785, the English physician William Withering, in addition to discovering its properties for the treatment of dropsy (abnormal accumulation of interstitial fluids in tissues and serous cavities), scientifically first defined the cardiokinetic activity of Digitalis, or the ability to slow down the heartbeat, regularizing it. From this discovery, further clinical studies were started that led to the isolation of the active ingredient of the plant. This is glycosidic, also called digitalis, a cardioactive molecule to be taken under strict medical supervision because it is potentially toxic if you do not really need to regulate the heartbeat.
In herbal medicine Digitalis was also used to treat various diseases, including epilepsy and other seizure disorders. Both in allopathic medicine and in homeopathy Digitalis is a key remedy for heart diseases such as heart failure and beat irregularities with symptoms such as hepatomegaly, dyspnea, edema and peripheral cyanosis.
Digitalis homeopathic remedy and benefits
The Digitalis remedy in homeopathy acts on the slow, weak pulse or when the frequency is irregular with the following symptoms:
- heart failure;
- weakness and fainting;
- palpitations at the slightest movement;
- hepatic hypertrophy;
- feeling that the heart stops;
- need to remain immobile;
- sense of emptiness in the stomach and nausea at the mere sight of the smell of food.
The feeling you feel is as if your heart should stop beating at the slightest movement. You can add liver problems, such as hepatitis.
General information
The Digitalis remedy is indicated in acute and chronic cases: it is especially beneficial for the elderly, women, infants and children with cardiorespiratory disorders. It is also useful for heart patients with symptoms such as arrhythmias, bradycardia, anginal crises, dyspnea, cardiac asthma, left ventricular failure or global decompensation with edema and oliguria.
Generally, the therapeutic action of the remedy has an effect on:
- the cardiovascular system;
- the digestive system in case of vomiting, diarrhea, liver congestion and jaundice;
- the nervous system with respect to symptoms such as dizziness, headache, feeling of heaviness in the head, buzzing and visual disturbances.
MODALITY
Improvement: with fresh air, when the stomach is empty, at rest, lying on the ground on your back, sitting straight.
Aggravation: sitting, eating, under physical exertion, getting up, smelling food, in the cold, drinking.
Constitutional type digitalis
The constitutional type Digitalis is a subject with an anxious and apathetic personality, who fears dying, with a tendency to depression, irritable in character and led to feel strong feelings of guilt. The intense anxious states are also intensified by the symptoms caused by cardiorespiratory disorders, which can also induce insomnia and restlessness, in a sort of vicious circle in which the aggravation of physical and mental disorders gives rise to further concerns for the state of health.
