Taraxacum/ Dandelion/ 蒲公英
Taraxacum (/təˈræksəkʊm/) is a large genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae, which consists of species commonly known as dandelions. The genus is native to Eurasia and North America, but the two commonplace species worldwide, T. officinale and T. erythrospermum, were introduced from Europe and now propagate as wildflowers. Both species are edible in their entirety. The common name dandelion (/ˈdændɪlaɪ.ən/ DAN-di-ly-ən, from French dent-de-lion, meaning "lion's tooth") is given to members of the genus. Like other members of the family Asteraceae, they have very small flowers collected together into a composite flower head. Each single flower in a head is called a floret. In part due to their abundance along with being a generalist species, dandelions are one of the most vital early spring nectar sources for a wide host of pollinators. Many Taraxacum species produce seeds asexually by apomixis, where the seeds are produced without pollination, resulting in offspring that are genetically identical to the parent plant.
Natural History.
Leontodum taraxacum.
Taraxacum Dens-leonis. N.O. Compositæ.
Tincture of whole plant just before the perfection of the flower.
Clinical.
Ague.
Bilious attacks.
Debility.
Diabetes.
Gall-stones.
Headache, gastric.
Jaundice.
Liver, affections of.
Neuralgia.
Night-sweats.
Rheumatism.
Tongue, mapped.
Typhoid fever.
Characteristics.
The young leaves of the Dandelion are sometimes eaten in salads.
They have a bitter chicory-like taste, as also has the root.
Children eat the flowers, although they are supposed by them to cause bed-wetting.
This has given rise to one of the popular names of the plant.
Its chief traditional uses are as a remedy for jaundice, liver obstruction, in dysentery, involuntary emissions, and in difficulties in passing water.
Hahnemann's provings brought out these leading symptoms: "Painless urging to urinate," and "frequent urging to urinate with copious discharge of urine." Hahnemann points out that this, with the thirst, may indicate Trx. in some cases of diabetes.
Trx. has caused pains in both splenic and liver regions, and has cured jaundice with enlarged indurated liver.
Cooper gives me the following case: An old Indian officer, when in India, suffered much from gall-stones, and was advised to take dandelion infusion every day.
This he did, and soon the symptoms left him, and he remained free from them for over twenty years.
A symptom in connection with disordered digestion, which has proved a good guide for Trx. in some cases, is the "mapped tongue." The tongue is coated white, and clears off in patches, leaving dark red very sensitive spots.
Treas. of Bot. points out that "the bright-yellow flowers of Trx. open in the morning between 5 and 6 o'clock and close in the evening between 8 and 9.
Hence this was one of the plants selected by Linneus to form his floral clock." The symptoms of Trx. are worse at night.
Hands and nose cold at eight PM
"Cold finger-tips" is a guiding symptom.
Peculiar Sensations are: As if brain was constricted.
As if teeth were set on edge.
As if larynx were compressed.
As if bubbles were forming and bursting in abdomen.
As of rolling and gurgling in right scapula.
As if limbs were bound or powerless.
Some leading indications are: Gastric and bilious attacks, especially gastric headaches, the headaches are generally pressive.
Pressure in lower occiput after lying down is characteristic.
Debility, loss of appetite, profuse night-sweats, especially when convalescing from bilious or typhoid fever.
Restlessness of limbs in typhoid.
Sweat between toes.
The symptoms are: better By touch (jerking in right calf).
Rest aggravates.
(Almost all symptoms appear when sitting, lying down, resting.) Motion improves. Better in open air.
Burning in throat is better by drinking.
Hahnemann's dosage was a single drop of the tincture (M. M. P.).
Relations.
Compatible: Ars. (night-sweats).
Compare: In gastric and bilious affections, Bry., Chel., Hydr., Nux-v. Mapped tongue, Ars., Nat-m., Ran-s. Restlessness of limbs with tearing pains, Rhus-t.
Mind.
Irresolution and dislike to labor.
Loquacity and inclination to laugh.
Head.
Vertigo, with giddiness and staggering when walking in the open air.
Drawing pain in left temple while sitting, ceasing when walking or standing.
Tearing pain in occiput.
Pressure and heaviness in lower part of occiput, after lying down.
Headache, as from contraction or expansion of brain.
Heaviness and pressure in head.
Lancinations in forehead and temples.
Violent headache, felt only when standing or walking.
Tension of scalp.
Eyes.
Pain in eyes, as if a grain of sand were in internal canthus.
(Aversion to light) burning sensation, and burning shootings in eyes.
Burning left eyeball.
Inflammation of eyes with lachrymation and photophobia.
Nocturnal agglutination of lids.
Ears.
Shootings in ears.
Drawing pain in external ear.
Dysecoia in evening.
Face.
Purulent pimples on face, cheeks, alae nasi, and (right) commissures of lips.
Sensation of heat and redness in face.
Shootings and pressure in cheeks.
Upper lip cracked.
Teeth.
Toothache, with drawing pain in carious teeth, extending to eyebrows.
Pressive pains in teeth.
Teeth set on edge as from acids.
Flow of acid blood from carious teeth.
Bluntness of teeth.
Hawking up of sour mucus, causing teeth to feel dull.
Mouth.
Accumulation of acid saliva in mouth (with sensation as if the larynx were compressed).
Tongue loaded with a white coating, with exfoliation (it cleans off in patches, dark red, and they are very sensitive).
Tongue dry, loaded with a brown coating on waking in morning.
Throat.
Sore throat, with pressive pain, as from internal swelling.
Dryness, shootings, and bitter mucus in the throat.
Hawking up of acid mucus.
Appetite.
Bitter taste in mouth, with natural taste of food.
Salt or acid taste of food, principally of butter and of meat.
Tobacco-smoke is disagreeable, causes pyrosis, and interrupts respiration.
Great chilliness after drinking, or eating.
Stomach.
Bitter risings (eructations and hiccough).
Empty risings, especially after drinking.
Nausea (with inclination to vomit or vomiting) from very fat food, with anxiety and pressive headache, better in open air.
Abdomen.
Pinching in abdomen.
Pressive shootings in abdomen, and sides of abdomen, chiefly in left side, in hypogastrium.
Grumbling and movements (sudden sensation) in abdomen, as if bubbles were bursting in it.
Stool and Anus.
Inefficient urging to go to stool.
-_Evacuations several times a day, but accomplished with difficulty (even if stool is not hard).
Feces of the consistence of pap, followed by tenesmus.
Voluptuous itching in perineum (compelling one to scratch).
Urinary Organs.
Frequent want to urinate (pressure without pain), with profuse emission.
Enuresis somni (?).
Male Sexual Organs.
Pain in testes.
Permanent erections.
Frequent pollutions, on alternate nights.
Female Sexual Organs.
Suppressed menses.
Respiratory Organs.
Sensation as if the larynx were pressed together.
Chest.
Pressure at chest.
Shootings in chest and sides of chest.
Jerkings in muscles of sides.
Neck and Back.
Pressive jerkings and shootings in muscles of neck, (throat), and nape.
Tearing from ear downward to the neck.
Pressive pains in loins.
Pressive and tensive shootings in back and loins, when lying down, with obstructed respiration.
Pressing-stinging in spine and sacrum with dyspnoea.
Gurgling and swelling in shoulder-blades and shoulders, with shivering over whole body.
Vibration and quivering in right scapula.
Upper Limbs.
Pulsative throbbing and jerking in shoulders and arms.
Jerkings of muscles of arms.
Twitching in muscles of left forearm.
Shootings in arms and elbows.
-_Drawings and tearings in forearm and wrist.
Eruptions of pimples on hands and fingers.
Icy coldness of ends of fingers.
Pressive pain in three last fingers of right hand.
Lower Limbs.
Shootings in thighs, knees, calves, soles, and toes.
Stitching pain in left thigh.
Pressive pain in left calf.
Jerking pain in right calf, ceasing quickly when touched.
Drawing pain in dorsum of right foot, when standing, stitches when sitting.
Severe or fine stitching pains in right sole.
Burning sensation in knees, legs and toes.
Profuse perspiration between toes.
Generalities.
This remedy acts well in all affections of the liver, sour taste, darting pains in outer parts.
Affections in left upper side, right lower side, back of foot, sole of foot.
Worse while lying down, from fat food, while resting.
Better from moving, when walking.
Painful tenderness of all limbs, especially when touched, and when they are in a false position.
The limbs are movable, but it feels as if the power to move them were impeded.
Sensation of weakness and uneasiness throughout body, with constant necessity to lie down or to sit.
Almost all symptoms appear while the patient is seated, and are dissipated by walking.
Skin.
Unhealthy, pimply, sycotic skins.
Stinging on skin.
Eruption over body and limbs itching severely, and appears to be a mixture of lichen and urticaria.
Biting in skin with sweat.
Sleep.
Sleepiness, and going to sleep while listening to a scientific discourse.
Sleepiness in daytime, and yawning while sitting.
Vivid unremembered dreams, frequent waking and tossing.
Fever.
Chilliness, especially after eating and drinking.
Chilliness, shiverings, all over, with pressive headache.
Chill in open air.
Heat at night on waking, especially on face and hands.
Violent night-sweats, mostly before midnight, when just going to sleep.
Very debilitating perspiration, causing biting on the skin.
https://www.homeopathycenter.org/remedy/taraxacum
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Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
In springtime, my heart rejoices when I see a golden field of blooming dandelions. The bright, sunny-yellow flowers are a herald of the coming of summer’s warmth. They are delightful and refreshing to behold. My father shared my love of these humble flowers. He took the photo and wrote the poem “Dandelions” which are found on page two of this article.
The common name, dandelion, comes from the French, dent de lion, which means “lion’s teeth.” The original Latin (Dens leonis) and Greek (Leontodon) names for this plant bear the same meaning. These all refer to the familiar toothed appearance of the leaves.
The modern Latin or scientific name, Taraxacum officinale, has reference to the plant’s use as a healing herb. The genus name comes from the Greek taraxos—a disorder—and akos—a remedy. The species name, officinale, means it is the official species for use in medicine.
As widespread as this yellow-flowered “weed” is, it’s hard to believe it is not native to North America. It was introduced from Europe, where it has actually been cultivated as a vegetable. Like several other medicinal herbs, it has followed the progress of the white man in settling this continent.
Liver and Digestive Tonic
Dandelions assist us with some pretty common ailments. When I started using applied kinesiology (muscle response testing) to isolate primary organ weaknesses, I quickly learned that the three most common root causes of people’s ill health were weakness of the stomach, liver, and kidneys (in that order). Dandelion helps all three of these organs.
This bitter, salty tasting herb has a digestive tonic effect, meaning it stimulates the production of digestive secretions. It has been historically used to relieve indigestion characterized by lack of appetite with a bloated, gassy feeling. David Winston recommends it as part of a basic digestive tonic he calls DOPA—Dandelion, Orange Peel and Angelica. It's also found in NSP's Digestive Bitters blend. Formulas like this, composed of dandelion along with other bitters and aromatics (like gentian, ginger, horseradish, cardamon, peppermint, etc.) can be taken in liquid form about 15-20 minutes prior to meals to stimulate secretions and tone-up digestive function. NSP also adds dandelion to three of their enzyme formulas, Lactase Plus, Proactazyme Plus and Nattozymes.
Dandelion, especially the root, has a powerful affinity for the liver. The yellow color of the plant (found both in the flower and the root) is a traditional signature for the liver and gall bladder. Research confirms the hepatic benefits of this herb. An alcohol extract of the root was shown to increase the flow of bile in rats by 40%. The plant stimulates the liver to cleanse itself and aids in the digestion of fats by stimulating bile function. Because it increases bile output, it is contraindicated where the bile ducts are obstructed.
Because of its hepatic and detoxifying properties, dandelion root is found in most blood purifier and hepatic formulas, including All Cell Detox, BP-X, Enviro-Detox, Liver Cleanse Formula, LIV-J, Liquid Cleanse, Milk Thistle Combination, SF, Skin Detox and VS-C. It is one of the milder cleansing herbs and is suitable for long term use.
The leaves have the strongest effect on the kidneys. They are a very mild, but effective, diuretic. Because they are high in potassium, they do not have the side effects of many diuretic drugs (which flush potassium from the body). Hence, dandelion is often included in formulas which aid urinary function. Dandelion root (not the leaf) is found in Kidney Activator and Urinary Maintenance.
Since dandelion gently assists the body in removing toxins through the liver and kidneys, it has been traditionally used in rheumatism, which is often accompanied by a buildup of waste acids in the blood, and skin diseases. Dandelion may also be useful with hypoglycemia and diabetes, which is why it is found in HY-
A (for hypoglycemia) and Pro-Pancreas and Target P-14 (for diabetes).
Other Uses
Although a different species is used (Taraxacum mongolicum), Chinese medicine agrees with Western tradition about the healing qualities of dandelion. It has a bitter, sweet flavor with a cold (or cooling) energy. It affects the stomach and liver meridians and removes toxic heat, disperses accumulations (cleanses the body), and promotes urination. It has been used for excess spleen and stomach fire (symptoms of heat in the digestive tract), acute mastitis, scrofula, and urinary disturbances due to damp heat. The Chinese plant is also used to promote lactation.
Dandelion has been used homeopathically. Homeopathic provings suggest that the remedy is useful for headaches associated with indigestion, gas and bloating (“bilious attacks”), jaundiced (yellow) skin, and even cancer of the bladder. Other indications for dandelion homeopathic are: a sensation of great heat on the top of the head; a bitter taste in the mouth and a loss of appetite; restless limbs; neuralgia of the knee (which feels better with pressure); cold finger tips; and profuse night sweats. Remember that these indications are for the homeopathic dandelion, although they would also apply to small doses of the herb itself.
Flower Essence
But dandelion’s medicinal power extends beyond what it is currently used for. Only when we look at the indications for dandelion flower essence do we begin to capture the “heart and soul” of this plant.
As a flower essence, dandelion is indicated for hyperachievers. These busy people have a zest and love for life, but they tend to strive too hard to achieve things and often overplan their lives. As a result they are often tense and stressed. Dandelion flower essence helps these people relax and go with the flow of life, instead of struggling to go faster than life.
Think of dandelion this way—the flowers have a playful, childlike innocence. Not only do their bright, sunny faces announce the spring, their seed-heads are a delight to every child at heart who blows the seeds and scatters them to the wind.
Yet, with all its sunny playfulness, the dandelion is a very hardy plant. Year after year people get out the poisons and the digging tools to try to get rid of these prolific plants. In spite of all our efforts, they pop up their yellow heads each spring as if to say, “We’re still here!” Perhaps they are even trying to detox the soil from all our chemicals.
The difficulty we have in killing them shows their ability to resist chemical poisoning, which matches their blood purifying or detoxifying qualities. Their playful flowers and seed-heads tell us we don’t have to struggle so hard to survive. We can go with the flow (as their seeds are carried on the wind) and still survive.
Hiatal Hernia
I have used dandelion flower essence with numerous people to help bring down a hiatal hernia by relaxing the stomach. Often individuals can breath deeper and more noticeably from the diaphragm within minutes of taking a single dose. Since the herb has a reputation for aiding stomach troubles (which are often caused by excessive nervous tension), we have a physical and emotional match here.
Furthermore, a hiatal hernia is a blockage of the solar plexus energy. Yellow is the color traditionally associated with this energy center, which is thought to be the nucleus of our ability to stay calm and centered. Dandelions are also a member of the composite or sunflower family, which I feel has a strong affinity for the solar plexus energy.
The flowers in this family (which includes daisies, sunflowers, echinacea, etc.) are not actually flowers at all. They are flower heads. That is, the flowers are actually many tiny flowers joined together to look like one flower. (For example, each seed in a dandelion seed head was formed from a single flower.) This signature represents many individuals working together as one, and symbolizes the lessons of harmony, integration, balance, and unity. These are all characteristics which can be associated with solar plexus energy.
Muscle Relaxant
The flower essence also has a powerful relaxing effect on muscles in general. One time, some of my staff were experimenting with flower essences. They would give them to people without telling them what they were or what they were used for. The UPS driver always seemed stressed and uptight, so they started giving him a dose of dandelion flower essence when he came to pick up the packages. They did not tell him what they were giving him or what it was supposed to do, they just talked him into participating in their little experiment. After several days of this, he asked if they would let him have a bottle of that “stuff” because he felt so much more relaxed after he left.
Dandelion flower essence is found in a massage oil, which I have found to work wonderfully for stiff muscles. I’m certain, that if the muscle relaxing effect is present in the flower essence, then it must be a signature for the herb itself.
Dandelion Profile
This brings us to the profile of the person who really needs dandelion. This is a stressed and uptight individual because of an overly regimented life. They don’t set aside enough time to relax and contemplate. This inner tension and drive leads to muscle stiffness, digestive upset, and perhaps some water retention. They may even need to let go of some bitterness (bile) in her life. Dandelion can help the liver clear itself, the kidneys function properly, and the digestion relax and work properly. In short, it helps one go with the flow rather than struggle so much.
This remedy is almost universally needed in modern society. Most of us live fast-paced lives, eat on the run, and hammer our stomach, liver and kidneys with toxins and a poor diet. Maybe the dandelions follow us around to let us know we need them.
Eat Up!
By the way, dandelion is a good food herb, too. The leaves contain more vitamin A per gram than carrots (14,000 IU per 100 grams of dandelion compared to 11,000 IU per 100 grams of carrots). When they are young and tender, the leaves may be harvested for salad greens. As they get older they become more bitter, but they can still be boiled in water to remove the bitterness and eaten. The roots have been used to make an herbal coffee and the flowers for making wine.
Just a parting thought—how many of us poison dandelions in our lawns (which costs time and money) and then pay for dandelion herb in capsules? What strange, uptight people we are.
Next time you see the cheerful dandelion popping its head up, take its medicine to heart—slow down, relax, and go with the flow. See the poem my dad wrote on page two.
Selected References
The Comprehensive Guide to Nature's Sunshine Products by Tree of Light
Flower Essence Repertory by Patricia Kaminski and Richard Katz
Back to Eden by Jethro Kloss
Magic and Medicine of Plants by The Reader’s Digest
Nutritional Herbology by Mark Pedersen
http://treelite.com/articles/articles/dandelion-(taraxacum-officinale).html
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Dandelion—Weed or Wonder?
蒲公英-雜草還是奇蹟？
蒲公英通常被低估了。多數情況下，它不被視為花園中的雜草或枯萎病。要擺脫的東西。但是蒲公英確實是草本王國的王子。它隨處可見，用途廣泛，例如可以在新鮮的春綠色沙拉中使用葉子。新鮮的蒲公英蔬菜是春季排毒中最成功的蔬菜之一。黃色的花朵可以變成蒲公英酒，並且其根在整個歷史上都被用作肝臟的絕妙療法。
The dandelion is commonly under-estimated. More often then not it is regarded as a weed or blight in the garden. Something to be gotten rid of. But the dandelion is really a Prince of the herb kingdom. It grows everywhere and is incredibly versatile, it’s leaves for example can be used in a salad of fresh spring greens. Fresh dandelion greens are one of the most successful greens used in a spring detox. The yellow flowers can be turned into dandelion wine, and the roots have been used throughout history as a wonderful remedy for the liver.
蒲公英通常被低估了。多數情況下，它不被視為花園中的雜草或枯萎病。要擺脫的東西。但是蒲公英確實是草本王國的王子。它隨處可見，用途廣泛，例如可以在新鮮的春綠色沙拉中使用葉子。新鮮的蒲公英蔬菜是春季排毒中最成功的蔬菜之一。黃色的花朵可以變成蒲公英酒，並且其根在整個歷史上都被用作肝臟的絕妙療法。
Its chief constituents are taraxacin a bitter substance and taraxacerin which is an acid resin with inulin which is a sugar that can replace a starch. It combines easily with other remedies as an adaptogenic herb i.e. a herb that adapts and combines well with others This remarkable root is a diuretic, tonic and stimulant to the system especially the urinary organs, kidney and liver. Dandelion has been used historically in complaints of the liver, dyspepsia, as a laxative in constipation, irritated stomachs, and chronic liver congestion, as well as indurations of the liver and even certain skin conditions like eczema. A strong infusion of dandelion tea is wonderful for nausea and dizziness and in the long term is very helpful for a sluggish liver. Dandelion in conjunction with other herbs can be used for treating things like jaundice, Gaul stones, and many other liver related issues.
它的主要成分是苦味酸苦味糖和苦味酸，其是一種酸性樹脂，菊粉是一種可以代替澱粉的糖。它可以很容易地與其他藥物結合成適應性草藥，即能與其他植物很好地適應和結合的草藥。這種非凡的根是利尿，滋補和刺激系統，尤其是泌尿器官，腎臟和肝臟。蒲公英在歷史上曾被用於治療肝，消化不良，便秘，腸胃不適，慢性肝充血，肝硬結甚至某些皮膚疾病（如濕疹）。大量注入蒲公英茶可緩解噁心和頭昏眼花，從長遠來看，對緩解肝臟功能低下非常有幫助。蒲公英結合其他草藥可用於治療黃疸，高盧結石和許多其他肝臟相關問題。
Homoeopathically dandelion treats bilious conditions, Gaul stones, and liver disorders. Weakness, involuntary admissions involving the passing of water. A key note symptom for dandelion is a mapped tongue and generalised weakness and fatigue.
順勢療法的蒲公英可以治療膽道疾病，高盧結石和肝臟疾病。虛弱，涉及流水的非自願入場。蒲公英的主要症狀是舌頭映射，全身無力和疲勞。
Considering all this, perhaps we should leave the dandelions in that garden and consider them more wonder then weed.
考慮到所有這些，也許我們應該把蒲公英留在那個花園裡，並讓他們比雜草更神奇。
Alexis Touyz, Bowen Therapist
Check out part 1 of this blog post here.
References:
Mrs. M Greve, A modern Herbal Vol.1. Published 1971 dover publications inc.
Robin Murphy ND, Natures Materia Medica 3rd edition, 2006 RR Donnelley and Sons Company.
https://www.riverdalehomeopathy.com/blog/post/dandelionweed-or-wonder/
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Everything I touch hurts: a case of Taraxacum
by Dinesh Chauhan, Pallavi Nar, Devang Shah
A four-year-old male child came to us with chief complaints of recurrent cold, coryza, abdominal pain and tooth decay.
He entered the consulting room with his mother and grandmother. When his mother started narrating his complaints, the patient interrupted and said, “Mumma, allow me to speak, I want to talk.” So, we allow the patient to speak.
He tells us that every day he gets stomach pain. His stomach hurts when he is in the house and also when he is outside. Then, he repeatedly told us that many parts of his body are hurting. Whenever he talked about the pain, he made a hand gesture of continuous hitting. This gesture was repeated at least six times.
He further tells us that when he wakes up in the morning he has a headache, and when he touches anyone, he gets pain. He vividly describes that on touching many things he feels pain. It is interesting that he has come because of recurrent colds and coryza, but when we listen to him, we find this problem, that whatever he touches, he feels pain!
He is a very expressive child, and very loquacious. He says he talks so much that he gets pain! And he talked constantly, till the end of the case.
As we move further in the case, he tells us that he touched his toy penguin and he got pain. Then, he spoke about a monster coming at night - he touches the monster and it hits him, and he gets pain. By this point his loquacity was very clear. Then, he said there are worms in his stomach and they throw stones at his throat. He says that his whole body is hurting and when there is pain, he hits the table. Then, he said that he, his dad and mom were getting smaller, and that he falls out of bed and he applies calendula.
Then, he went to a different area, and said when a robber hits, that is also painful. He said that everyone hit him here and there, and as he talked about hitting and getting beaten, he was making the same hand gesture of hitting. At this point, he connects this story to his chief complaint, saying that when the robber hit him he got pain in his abdomen. Thus, at this point in the case, he has connected one of his chief complaints with hitting, injury, and pain. With this, we see the loquacity which is also running through the case. He says that when he talks his mouth hurts, so here his symptom of loquacity also becomes connected with the pain.
He then tells us that when he goes into water, or when he uses a computer, or if he touches photos or wire, he gets pain. So, here again, he is relating touch with pain. Then, he talked about being on a mountain and throwing stones - and there also he got pain. Then, he says that it hurts tightly, like a jelly getting hard; his stomach and legs get hard, the way it hurts when a robber hits, and at this point, he shows the same hand gesture of hitting. Then, he said he has a hunter and the hunter hits the robber, then the robber has a sword but his sword is sharper. He talks again about a monster who comes – he throws stones at the monster and it bleeds. Then, he says that worms are throwing stones in his throat and his throat swells, and they are also throwing stones at his teeth, so that his one tooth broke – here, he connects to his third complaint, tooth decay.
Then, he goes into different areas: he said he went into a lift and fell down and bled. Then, he described touching a light bulb and getting burnt; as he tells about this, he hits his legs.
He gets dreams of ghosts and monsters, and they come and start fires which burn him, and when they touch him he gets pain. He has a fear of skeletons and of fire, of getting burnt.
His mother says he is aggravated by touch, and that when he was four months old, he kicked his grandmother as she was wrapping him in a cloth. When he falls down, he never cries, he just gets up and says: “I am strong.”
Analysis and understanding of the case
The child was very loquacious. This gave us an excellent opportunity to allow him a free-floating, non-judgmental space, in which he would feel completely safe to express his distress.
The first peculiar thing in this case is the child’s behavior. As he came into the consulting room and his mother started narrating the chief complaint, the child insisted on relating his complaints on his own. In a country like India, it is very strange for a four-year-old child to wish to speak for himself. I have observed that approximately eight out of ten children allow the parents to do the talking, and they just sit clinging to mother or father. Since he wished to speak for himself, it was the right time to request the mother to sit outside in the waiting room.
The child was given a free space to talk and express himself. He talked continuously for almost an hour, hardly needing to be asked any questions. He is extremely loquacious; one cannot afford to miss this aspect of his individuality. For a child of four years to talk for so long, alone in front of the doctor, is very, very strange. What made this loquacity even more characteristic is the manner in which he was talking. It was not the kind of talk which makes the listener feel irritated or bored; rather, his talk was pleasant. He is a cheerful child. One can enjoy his company; one would love to spend time in his presence.
Then, comes the other significant aspect of his case: the narration of his complaints. He has come for the main problems of stomach pain and recurrent colds. The most troubling for him is the stomach pain. He describes his stomach pain in a very peculiar way – he says that when he touches something, it hurts. Not only does his stomach hurt, but his being is so much occupied with pain that whatever object he touches gives him pain. If he touches a television, a remote control, a video game, a pen, a piece of paper, a pencil – all of these things give him pain. Now, this is completely absurd! One cannot make any logical reasoning out of this; it is complete nonsense.
As we move further into the case, he creates a fantasy where a monster comes, telling how the monster injures him, and there is bleeding. He fantasizes that there are worms in his throat and they hit his throat by throwing stones. He is completely into the nonsense world.
By this time it was already one hour into the case-taking, and we could understand that his complaint, his talk and his fantasies all have a pattern, and that pattern is that he is very sensitive to pain. Whatever he touches gives him pain.
Once we have established this as the most striking, peculiar, singular and rare feature of his individuality, coupled with the cheerful nature of his loquacity, our next aim is to understand the exact nature of the pain. This will clearly give us the kingdom and subkingdom, taking us close to the remedy.
Thus, the second part of the interview was directed towards understanding the full nature of this pattern of pain on touching things. In this part of the case, he will give us the exact description. As we inquire about the pain, he gives multiple images: being injured with a huge stone; a hunter; a sword; a fall; being hit by a robber; touching a bulb and getting burnt. All these images, when we look at them as a group, convey an experience of being injured. This is the deepest level of his experience - his Sensation. The main theme running through all his fears, delusions, and chief complaints is ‘getting injured’.
He spontaneously went into another area of delusion - his dreams. Here, we saw that his major concern was that ghosts will set things on fire. Even this is a kind of absurdity in a four-year-old boy. At such a tender age, ghosts are normally scary in themselves, and the fear is simply of a ghost appearing, but his peculiar worry is that they will set things on fire. This again confirms that his pattern is about being injured or burned, whether in his stomach pain, his fantasies, his fears or his dreams. The main thing that is running through his physical complaints and his mental state is the theme of injury.
This common point where the body (physical complaints) and the mind (fears, dreams and fantasies) both reflect the same phenomenon is the Vital Sensation. When we see that a specific pattern is running through both the physical symptoms and the mental aspects of a case, we are seeing the Vital Sensation.
For example, we know that in the remedy Bryonia, at the physical level, there is aggravation from least motion, and at the level of mind it has an aversion to being disturbed. A little close attention to these two apparently different aspects allows us to see that aversion to being disturbed and aggravation from the least motion both convey a sensitivity to disturbance. The commonality between mind and body shows us that this sensitivity to disturbance is the Vital Sensation of Bryonia. The level of Vital Sensation is beyond mind and body, beyond emotions and situations; it is the meeting point of mind and body.
Similarly, in this case we see that the chief complaint and the mental state are both speaking the language of ‘pain from injury’. This ‘pain from injury’ is the Vital Sensation of the case.
Vital Sensation can be classified, at the most basic level, into plant, mineral and animal kingdoms. Each kingdom has its own characteristic kind of sensation.
A Mineral Sensation has to do with structure. The patient feels something lacking in himself, or that he will lose something of himself. Thus, a mineral person sees the problem as being within himself - either as a lack, or as a potential loss. For example: ‘I may lose my money’ or ‘I may lose my voice’ are typical mineral expressions. (Note: one does not conclude the kingdom from one or two lines – the same sensation has to run through all the different aspects of his life.) Everywhere in a case needing a mineral remedy, the Vital Sensation, the common phenomenon, would be ‘I lack’, or ‘I will lose’.
An Animal Sensation has to do with survival. An animal patient has the issue of ‘me versus you’. The problem is seen as ‘someone is doing something to me’; the problem is personified as someone who is attacking, or who is in competition. For example: “The pain is killing me”; or “My mother in law is stronger and I am weaker.” The entire pattern of his life will be experienced in the form of ‘me versus you’; victim versus aggressor, strong versus weak.
A Plant Sensation has to do with sensitivity. Sensitivity means that things affect him/her. For example: “My husband’s screaming affects me.” We see here that the husband is not the problem; rather she is affected by a quality or a behavior in her husband. She is sensitive to his screaming and shouting. In the plant kingdom, there is a stimulus and a reaction, and this reactivity comes from an underlying sensitivity.
In this case, we see that when the patient touches anything at all, he gets pain. This is plant sensitivity. This child is very sensitive to things happening around him, and he immediately reacts to the things to which he is sensitive. Whatever he touches produces an instant reaction. This kind of reactivity is a characteristic feature of the plant kingdom. In this case, the Sensation is of being injured, and the reaction is to injure in return.
Once the kingdom is clear, then, we need to understand the subkingdom. The nature of his pain will give us the idea of the subkingdom.
Consider once more the images he has given: pain as if injured with stone; a hunter; a sword; falling from height; being hit by a robber; getting burnt on touching a bulb. Along with this, you have his experience in the pain of ‘hard and swollen, like jelly’, and aggravation from touch. This sensation of injury and this kind of sensitivity to touch is seen in the Compositae family.
We need to find a remedy from the Compositae which is loquacious, since the loquacity is a strongly evident, objective observation, and prominent in his personality. This child spoke continuously for about an hour! Further, it is a pleasant kind of loquacity. He is a happy, joyful kid.
So, the remedy must have this joyous kind of loquacity, along with the theme of injury of the Compositae family. After a thorough study of all the remedies from this family, we found that the following references regarding Taraxacum resonated with the disposition of the patient:
From Allen’s Encyclopedia, “Generalities”: “Inner feeling as if very sick, all limbs painful on touch or when in an uncomfortable position.”
From Hahnemann’s Materia Medica Pura: Very much inclined to laugh. Loquacity and CONSTANT CHATTERING…. Religious, CHEERFUL DISPOSITION, HAPPINESS, contented with himself and his position.From Lippe’s Keynotes: Painfulness of all the limbs by touch.From Phatak’s Materia Medica: Inclined to talk, laugh and be merry.
Prescription: the remedy selected was Taraxacum. His level of experience is that of delusion, thus the potency we chose was 1M.
Comments: in this case, the miasm did not stand out very clearly. One, however, should not feel handicapped because of not being sure of the miasm. One has to see what is characteristic in each case. In this case, it was his joyful, happy loquacity that stood out, along with the theme of injury. Here, the sensation method took us as far as the plant kingdom and the Compositae subkingdom. The remedy could not be concluded on just the sensation approach; we needed to go to the materia medica. This is an example of how the sensation approach is a tool to be included within the methodology of classical homoeopathy, and is not something detrimental to it.
Follow-up after 6 months:
D: Since the treatment started till right now, what changes have you seen in him?
Grandmother (GM): Now, he has become a little loving.
D: He has become loving?
Mother (M): I think, I have mentioned also that with my mother-in-law and my husband, basically he used to be like, you know… since childhood, very angry. Once, he even raised a hand to her, and that time, he got lot of beating from me. I had mentioned it at that time…
D: Yes…yes…
M: Now, that problem is not there.
D: Good…What else? What other changes?
M: His height has increased.
D: ha…ha…
M: I told you that his concentration has increased.
D: His concentration increased?
M: Yeah, now, he can sit in one place. And your suggestion of putting him into karate class also has helped, because his energies are diverted.
D: He is watching less cartoons now, no?
M: I can’t say less cartoons, but I would say that when he comes from school, for one hour he is watching cartoons, but when I tell him, ‘Now, let’s switch off the TV’, he switches it off without throwing so many tantrums. Before, he used to throw a lot of tantrums. And sometimes he will get bored and go to another room, and he will get out his toys to play with. And some more change: he has become a little organized… like one day, he was playing with his toys and afterwards, he arranged all the toys.
Follow-up after one year:
For the initial six months, the patient received Taraxacum 1M once every month, and in the next six months, he received only two doses.
After one year of treatment, his frequency of colds has decreased by almost 100%, with only two attacks in the past year. The stomach pain seems to have vanished like magic, as he does not complain of it at all.
The most significant change is that he has become more loving. Previously, he was not so comfortable with his father or paternal grandmother. He has now become very loving towards them. There were times when he used to hit his grandmother; this behavior has disappeared. He has become more organized now; after playing with his toys, he tidies up his things instead of leaving them strewn about. His concentration has improved; before he was very restless and would do things only half way, whereas now, he can sit in one place and finish the work at hand.
The whole sensation of being injured has been very much diminished. He no longer complains of pain on touching things; his violent dreams have reduced, as well as his fantasies. His talk is now more appropriate to the situation. Overall, there is a significant improvement at the physical, mental/emotional and holistic levels.
Comments
It is fascinating to see that the child has developed feelings of love towards his father and grandmother; this is the beauty of homoeopathy. The energy of the medicine marvelously corrects the altered state (what we call the other song), and brings back the original song of human being, which is to share love for his fellow humans, and to spread love in society.
This case also demonstrates beautifully the way in which, when the child is allowed a free-floating space, he comes out with his whole individuality. This case needed very little of doing and much more of being. I had to be patient and simply witness what was happening, while holding on to my deep belief that in the end, everything would connect at one point. My role was that of catalyst – all that the patient needed was a space of his own, in which to be his own self, not judged and not analyzed, but purely heard and observed. It reminds me of a saying by Lao Tzu: “Do you have the patience to wait until your mud settles and the water is clear?” This case was all about waiting and listening to the pure expressions of this innocent, cheerful child, and in the end everything got connected to the kingdom, subkingdom and source, and to the rubrics and the materia medica.
Such cases give me more and more encouragement to be just a witness and to see the whole pattern emerging, simply by Being.
This case has been previously published in VOICE: e magazine of the other song http://theothersong.wordpress.com/
Photos
Flickr; Viet Kong hazards; Oakley originals; Attibution 2.0 Generic
Wikimedia Commons; Dandelion; Lisa Jarvis; Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic
Categories: Cases
Keywords: stomach pain, sensitive to pain, fear of being hurt, cheerful nature, loquacity
Remedies: Taraxacum
http://www.interhomeopathy.org/everything-i-touch-hurts-a-case-of-taraxacum
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蒲公英屬（學名：Taraxacum）植物通稱蒲公英、黃花地丁、婆婆丁，華花郎、蒲公草、食用蒲公英、尿床草、西洋蒲公英，為菊目菊科的一屬，是溫帶至亞熱帶常見的一種植物。蒲公英採孤雌生殖，葉邊的形狀像獅子的尖牙。其英文名字Dandelion來自法語dent-de-lion，正是獅子牙齒之意，蒲公英花語為我在遠處為你的幸福而祈禱。
Natural History.
Leontodum taraxacum.
Taraxacum Dens-leonis. N.O. Compositæ.
Tincture of whole plant just before the perfection of the flower.
Clinical.
Ague.
Bilious attacks.
Debility.
Diabetes.
Gall-stones.
Headache, gastric.
Jaundice.
Liver, affections of.
Neuralgia.
Night-sweats.
Rheumatism.
Tongue, mapped.
Typhoid fever.
Characteristics.
The young leaves of the Dandelion are sometimes eaten in salads.
They have a bitter chicory-like taste, as also has the root.
Children eat the flowers, although they are supposed by them to cause bed-wetting.
This has given rise to one of the popular names of the plant.
Its chief traditional uses are as a remedy for jaundice, liver obstruction, in dysentery, involuntary emissions, and in difficulties in passing water.
Hahnemann's provings brought out these leading symptoms: "Painless urging to urinate," and "frequent urging to urinate with copious discharge of urine." Hahnemann points out that this, with the thirst, may indicate Trx. in some cases of diabetes.
Trx. has caused pains in both splenic and liver regions, and has cured jaundice with enlarged indurated liver.
Cooper gives me the following case: An old Indian officer, when in India, suffered much from gall-stones, and was advised to take dandelion infusion every day.
This he did, and soon the symptoms left him, and he remained free from them for over twenty years.
A symptom in connection with disordered digestion, which has proved a good guide for Trx. in some cases, is the "mapped tongue." The tongue is coated white, and clears off in patches, leaving dark red very sensitive spots.
Treas. of Bot. points out that "the bright-yellow flowers of Trx. open in the morning between 5 and 6 o'clock and close in the evening between 8 and 9.
Hence this was one of the plants selected by Linneus to form his floral clock." The symptoms of Trx. are worse at night.
Hands and nose cold at eight PM
"Cold finger-tips" is a guiding symptom.
Peculiar Sensations are: As if brain was constricted.
As if teeth were set on edge.
As if larynx were compressed.
As if bubbles were forming and bursting in abdomen.
As of rolling and gurgling in right scapula.
As if limbs were bound or powerless.
Some leading indications are: Gastric and bilious attacks, especially gastric headaches, the headaches are generally pressive.
Pressure in lower occiput after lying down is characteristic.
Debility, loss of appetite, profuse night-sweats, especially when convalescing from bilious or typhoid fever.
Restlessness of limbs in typhoid.
Sweat between toes.
The symptoms are: better By touch (jerking in right calf).
Rest aggravates.
(Almost all symptoms appear when sitting, lying down, resting.) Motion improves. Better in open air.
Burning in throat is better by drinking.
Hahnemann's dosage was a single drop of the tincture (M. M. P.).
Relations.
Compatible: Ars. (night-sweats).
Compare: In gastric and bilious affections, Bry., Chel., Hydr., Nux-v. Mapped tongue, Ars., Nat-m., Ran-s. Restlessness of limbs with tearing pains, Rhus-t.
Mind.
Irresolution and dislike to labor.
Loquacity and inclination to laugh.
Head.
Vertigo, with giddiness and staggering when walking in the open air.
Drawing pain in left temple while sitting, ceasing when walking or standing.
Tearing pain in occiput.
Pressure and heaviness in lower part of occiput, after lying down.
Headache, as from contraction or expansion of brain.
Heaviness and pressure in head.
Lancinations in forehead and temples.
Violent headache, felt only when standing or walking.
Tension of scalp.
Eyes.
Pain in eyes, as if a grain of sand were in internal canthus.
(Aversion to light) burning sensation, and burning shootings in eyes.
Burning left eyeball.
Inflammation of eyes with lachrymation and photophobia.
Nocturnal agglutination of lids.
Ears.
Shootings in ears.
Drawing pain in external ear.
Dysecoia in evening.
Face.
Purulent pimples on face, cheeks, alae nasi, and (right) commissures of lips.
Sensation of heat and redness in face.
Shootings and pressure in cheeks.
Upper lip cracked.
Teeth.
Toothache, with drawing pain in carious teeth, extending to eyebrows.
Pressive pains in teeth.
Teeth set on edge as from acids.
Flow of acid blood from carious teeth.
Bluntness of teeth.
Hawking up of sour mucus, causing teeth to feel dull.
Mouth.
Accumulation of acid saliva in mouth (with sensation as if the larynx were compressed).
Tongue loaded with a white coating, with exfoliation (it cleans off in patches, dark red, and they are very sensitive).
Tongue dry, loaded with a brown coating on waking in morning.
Throat.
Sore throat, with pressive pain, as from internal swelling.
Dryness, shootings, and bitter mucus in the throat.
Hawking up of acid mucus.
Appetite.
Bitter taste in mouth, with natural taste of food.
Salt or acid taste of food, principally of butter and of meat.
Tobacco-smoke is disagreeable, causes pyrosis, and interrupts respiration.
Great chilliness after drinking, or eating.
Stomach.
Bitter risings (eructations and hiccough).
Empty risings, especially after drinking.
Nausea (with inclination to vomit or vomiting) from very fat food, with anxiety and pressive headache, better in open air.
Abdomen.
Pinching in abdomen.
Pressive shootings in abdomen, and sides of abdomen, chiefly in left side, in hypogastrium.
Grumbling and movements (sudden sensation) in abdomen, as if bubbles were bursting in it.
Stool and Anus.
Inefficient urging to go to stool.
-_Evacuations several times a day, but accomplished with difficulty (even if stool is not hard).
Feces of the consistence of pap, followed by tenesmus.
Voluptuous itching in perineum (compelling one to scratch).
Urinary Organs.
Frequent want to urinate (pressure without pain), with profuse emission.
Enuresis somni (?).
Male Sexual Organs.
Pain in testes.
Permanent erections.
Frequent pollutions, on alternate nights.
Female Sexual Organs.
Suppressed menses.
Respiratory Organs.
Sensation as if the larynx were pressed together.
Chest.
Pressure at chest.
Shootings in chest and sides of chest.
Jerkings in muscles of sides.
Neck and Back.
Pressive jerkings and shootings in muscles of neck, (throat), and nape.
Tearing from ear downward to the neck.
Pressive pains in loins.
Pressive and tensive shootings in back and loins, when lying down, with obstructed respiration.
Pressing-stinging in spine and sacrum with dyspnoea.
Gurgling and swelling in shoulder-blades and shoulders, with shivering over whole body.
Vibration and quivering in right scapula.
Upper Limbs.
Pulsative throbbing and jerking in shoulders and arms.
Jerkings of muscles of arms.
Twitching in muscles of left forearm.
Shootings in arms and elbows.
-_Drawings and tearings in forearm and wrist.
Eruptions of pimples on hands and fingers.
Icy coldness of ends of fingers.
Pressive pain in three last fingers of right hand.
Lower Limbs.
Shootings in thighs, knees, calves, soles, and toes.
Stitching pain in left thigh.
Pressive pain in left calf.
Jerking pain in right calf, ceasing quickly when touched.
Drawing pain in dorsum of right foot, when standing, stitches when sitting.
Severe or fine stitching pains in right sole.
Burning sensation in knees, legs and toes.
Profuse perspiration between toes.
Generalities.
This remedy acts well in all affections of the liver, sour taste, darting pains in outer parts.
Affections in left upper side, right lower side, back of foot, sole of foot.
Worse while lying down, from fat food, while resting.
Better from moving, when walking.
Painful tenderness of all limbs, especially when touched, and when they are in a false position.
The limbs are movable, but it feels as if the power to move them were impeded.
Sensation of weakness and uneasiness throughout body, with constant necessity to lie down or to sit.
Almost all symptoms appear while the patient is seated, and are dissipated by walking.
Skin.
Unhealthy, pimply, sycotic skins.
Stinging on skin.
Eruption over body and limbs itching severely, and appears to be a mixture of lichen and urticaria.
Biting in skin with sweat.
Sleep.
Sleepiness, and going to sleep while listening to a scientific discourse.
Sleepiness in daytime, and yawning while sitting.
Vivid unremembered dreams, frequent waking and tossing.
Fever.
Chilliness, especially after eating and drinking.
Chilliness, shiverings, all over, with pressive headache.
Chill in open air.
Heat at night on waking, especially on face and hands.
Violent night-sweats, mostly before midnight, when just going to sleep.
Very debilitating perspiration, causing biting on the skin.
https://www.homeopathycenter.org/remedy/taraxacum
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Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
In springtime, my heart rejoices when I see a golden field of blooming dandelions. The bright, sunny-yellow flowers are a herald of the coming of summer’s warmth. They are delightful and refreshing to behold. My father shared my love of these humble flowers. He took the photo and wrote the poem “Dandelions” which are found on page two of this article.
The common name, dandelion, comes from the French, dent de lion, which means “lion’s teeth.” The original Latin (Dens leonis) and Greek (Leontodon) names for this plant bear the same meaning. These all refer to the familiar toothed appearance of the leaves.
The modern Latin or scientific name, Taraxacum officinale, has reference to the plant’s use as a healing herb. The genus name comes from the Greek taraxos—a disorder—and akos—a remedy. The species name, officinale, means it is the official species for use in medicine.
As widespread as this yellow-flowered “weed” is, it’s hard to believe it is not native to North America. It was introduced from Europe, where it has actually been cultivated as a vegetable. Like several other medicinal herbs, it has followed the progress of the white man in settling this continent.
Liver and Digestive Tonic
Dandelions assist us with some pretty common ailments. When I started using applied kinesiology (muscle response testing) to isolate primary organ weaknesses, I quickly learned that the three most common root causes of people’s ill health were weakness of the stomach, liver, and kidneys (in that order). Dandelion helps all three of these organs.
This bitter, salty tasting herb has a digestive tonic effect, meaning it stimulates the production of digestive secretions. It has been historically used to relieve indigestion characterized by lack of appetite with a bloated, gassy feeling. David Winston recommends it as part of a basic digestive tonic he calls DOPA—Dandelion, Orange Peel and Angelica. It's also found in NSP's Digestive Bitters blend. Formulas like this, composed of dandelion along with other bitters and aromatics (like gentian, ginger, horseradish, cardamon, peppermint, etc.) can be taken in liquid form about 15-20 minutes prior to meals to stimulate secretions and tone-up digestive function. NSP also adds dandelion to three of their enzyme formulas, Lactase Plus, Proactazyme Plus and Nattozymes.
Dandelion, especially the root, has a powerful affinity for the liver. The yellow color of the plant (found both in the flower and the root) is a traditional signature for the liver and gall bladder. Research confirms the hepatic benefits of this herb. An alcohol extract of the root was shown to increase the flow of bile in rats by 40%. The plant stimulates the liver to cleanse itself and aids in the digestion of fats by stimulating bile function. Because it increases bile output, it is contraindicated where the bile ducts are obstructed.
Because of its hepatic and detoxifying properties, dandelion root is found in most blood purifier and hepatic formulas, including All Cell Detox, BP-X, Enviro-Detox, Liver Cleanse Formula, LIV-J, Liquid Cleanse, Milk Thistle Combination, SF, Skin Detox and VS-C. It is one of the milder cleansing herbs and is suitable for long term use.
The leaves have the strongest effect on the kidneys. They are a very mild, but effective, diuretic. Because they are high in potassium, they do not have the side effects of many diuretic drugs (which flush potassium from the body). Hence, dandelion is often included in formulas which aid urinary function. Dandelion root (not the leaf) is found in Kidney Activator and Urinary Maintenance.
Since dandelion gently assists the body in removing toxins through the liver and kidneys, it has been traditionally used in rheumatism, which is often accompanied by a buildup of waste acids in the blood, and skin diseases. Dandelion may also be useful with hypoglycemia and diabetes, which is why it is found in HY-
A (for hypoglycemia) and Pro-Pancreas and Target P-14 (for diabetes).
Other Uses
Although a different species is used (Taraxacum mongolicum), Chinese medicine agrees with Western tradition about the healing qualities of dandelion. It has a bitter, sweet flavor with a cold (or cooling) energy. It affects the stomach and liver meridians and removes toxic heat, disperses accumulations (cleanses the body), and promotes urination. It has been used for excess spleen and stomach fire (symptoms of heat in the digestive tract), acute mastitis, scrofula, and urinary disturbances due to damp heat. The Chinese plant is also used to promote lactation.
Dandelion has been used homeopathically. Homeopathic provings suggest that the remedy is useful for headaches associated with indigestion, gas and bloating (“bilious attacks”), jaundiced (yellow) skin, and even cancer of the bladder. Other indications for dandelion homeopathic are: a sensation of great heat on the top of the head; a bitter taste in the mouth and a loss of appetite; restless limbs; neuralgia of the knee (which feels better with pressure); cold finger tips; and profuse night sweats. Remember that these indications are for the homeopathic dandelion, although they would also apply to small doses of the herb itself.
Flower Essence
But dandelion’s medicinal power extends beyond what it is currently used for. Only when we look at the indications for dandelion flower essence do we begin to capture the “heart and soul” of this plant.
As a flower essence, dandelion is indicated for hyperachievers. These busy people have a zest and love for life, but they tend to strive too hard to achieve things and often overplan their lives. As a result they are often tense and stressed. Dandelion flower essence helps these people relax and go with the flow of life, instead of struggling to go faster than life.
Think of dandelion this way—the flowers have a playful, childlike innocence. Not only do their bright, sunny faces announce the spring, their seed-heads are a delight to every child at heart who blows the seeds and scatters them to the wind.
Yet, with all its sunny playfulness, the dandelion is a very hardy plant. Year after year people get out the poisons and the digging tools to try to get rid of these prolific plants. In spite of all our efforts, they pop up their yellow heads each spring as if to say, “We’re still here!” Perhaps they are even trying to detox the soil from all our chemicals.
The difficulty we have in killing them shows their ability to resist chemical poisoning, which matches their blood purifying or detoxifying qualities. Their playful flowers and seed-heads tell us we don’t have to struggle so hard to survive. We can go with the flow (as their seeds are carried on the wind) and still survive.
Hiatal Hernia
I have used dandelion flower essence with numerous people to help bring down a hiatal hernia by relaxing the stomach. Often individuals can breath deeper and more noticeably from the diaphragm within minutes of taking a single dose. Since the herb has a reputation for aiding stomach troubles (which are often caused by excessive nervous tension), we have a physical and emotional match here.
Furthermore, a hiatal hernia is a blockage of the solar plexus energy. Yellow is the color traditionally associated with this energy center, which is thought to be the nucleus of our ability to stay calm and centered. Dandelions are also a member of the composite or sunflower family, which I feel has a strong affinity for the solar plexus energy.
The flowers in this family (which includes daisies, sunflowers, echinacea, etc.) are not actually flowers at all. They are flower heads. That is, the flowers are actually many tiny flowers joined together to look like one flower. (For example, each seed in a dandelion seed head was formed from a single flower.) This signature represents many individuals working together as one, and symbolizes the lessons of harmony, integration, balance, and unity. These are all characteristics which can be associated with solar plexus energy.
Muscle Relaxant
The flower essence also has a powerful relaxing effect on muscles in general. One time, some of my staff were experimenting with flower essences. They would give them to people without telling them what they were or what they were used for. The UPS driver always seemed stressed and uptight, so they started giving him a dose of dandelion flower essence when he came to pick up the packages. They did not tell him what they were giving him or what it was supposed to do, they just talked him into participating in their little experiment. After several days of this, he asked if they would let him have a bottle of that “stuff” because he felt so much more relaxed after he left.
Dandelion flower essence is found in a massage oil, which I have found to work wonderfully for stiff muscles. I’m certain, that if the muscle relaxing effect is present in the flower essence, then it must be a signature for the herb itself.
Dandelion Profile
This brings us to the profile of the person who really needs dandelion. This is a stressed and uptight individual because of an overly regimented life. They don’t set aside enough time to relax and contemplate. This inner tension and drive leads to muscle stiffness, digestive upset, and perhaps some water retention. They may even need to let go of some bitterness (bile) in her life. Dandelion can help the liver clear itself, the kidneys function properly, and the digestion relax and work properly. In short, it helps one go with the flow rather than struggle so much.
This remedy is almost universally needed in modern society. Most of us live fast-paced lives, eat on the run, and hammer our stomach, liver and kidneys with toxins and a poor diet. Maybe the dandelions follow us around to let us know we need them.
Eat Up!
By the way, dandelion is a good food herb, too. The leaves contain more vitamin A per gram than carrots (14,000 IU per 100 grams of dandelion compared to 11,000 IU per 100 grams of carrots). When they are young and tender, the leaves may be harvested for salad greens. As they get older they become more bitter, but they can still be boiled in water to remove the bitterness and eaten. The roots have been used to make an herbal coffee and the flowers for making wine.
Just a parting thought—how many of us poison dandelions in our lawns (which costs time and money) and then pay for dandelion herb in capsules? What strange, uptight people we are.
Next time you see the cheerful dandelion popping its head up, take its medicine to heart—slow down, relax, and go with the flow. See the poem my dad wrote on page two.
Selected References
The Comprehensive Guide to Nature's Sunshine Products by Tree of Light
Flower Essence Repertory by Patricia Kaminski and Richard Katz
Back to Eden by Jethro Kloss
Magic and Medicine of Plants by The Reader’s Digest
Nutritional Herbology by Mark Pedersen
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Dandelion—Weed or Wonder?
蒲公英-雜草還是奇蹟？
蒲公英通常被低估了。多數情況下，它不被視為花園中的雜草或枯萎病。要擺脫的東西。但是蒲公英確實是草本王國的王子。它隨處可見，用途廣泛，例如可以在新鮮的春綠色沙拉中使用葉子。新鮮的蒲公英蔬菜是春季排毒中最成功的蔬菜之一。黃色的花朵可以變成蒲公英酒，並且其根在整個歷史上都被用作肝臟的絕妙療法。
The dandelion is commonly under-estimated. More often then not it is regarded as a weed or blight in the garden. Something to be gotten rid of. But the dandelion is really a Prince of the herb kingdom. It grows everywhere and is incredibly versatile, it’s leaves for example can be used in a salad of fresh spring greens. Fresh dandelion greens are one of the most successful greens used in a spring detox. The yellow flowers can be turned into dandelion wine, and the roots have been used throughout history as a wonderful remedy for the liver.
蒲公英通常被低估了。多數情況下，它不被視為花園中的雜草或枯萎病。要擺脫的東西。但是蒲公英確實是草本王國的王子。它隨處可見，用途廣泛，例如可以在新鮮的春綠色沙拉中使用葉子。新鮮的蒲公英蔬菜是春季排毒中最成功的蔬菜之一。黃色的花朵可以變成蒲公英酒，並且其根在整個歷史上都被用作肝臟的絕妙療法。
Its chief constituents are taraxacin a bitter substance and taraxacerin which is an acid resin with inulin which is a sugar that can replace a starch. It combines easily with other remedies as an adaptogenic herb i.e. a herb that adapts and combines well with others This remarkable root is a diuretic, tonic and stimulant to the system especially the urinary organs, kidney and liver. Dandelion has been used historically in complaints of the liver, dyspepsia, as a laxative in constipation, irritated stomachs, and chronic liver congestion, as well as indurations of the liver and even certain skin conditions like eczema. A strong infusion of dandelion tea is wonderful for nausea and dizziness and in the long term is very helpful for a sluggish liver. Dandelion in conjunction with other herbs can be used for treating things like jaundice, Gaul stones, and many other liver related issues.
它的主要成分是苦味酸苦味糖和苦味酸，其是一種酸性樹脂，菊粉是一種可以代替澱粉的糖。它可以很容易地與其他藥物結合成適應性草藥，即能與其他植物很好地適應和結合的草藥。這種非凡的根是利尿，滋補和刺激系統，尤其是泌尿器官，腎臟和肝臟。蒲公英在歷史上曾被用於治療肝，消化不良，便秘，腸胃不適，慢性肝充血，肝硬結甚至某些皮膚疾病（如濕疹）。大量注入蒲公英茶可緩解噁心和頭昏眼花，從長遠來看，對緩解肝臟功能低下非常有幫助。蒲公英結合其他草藥可用於治療黃疸，高盧結石和許多其他肝臟相關問題。
Homoeopathically dandelion treats bilious conditions, Gaul stones, and liver disorders. Weakness, involuntary admissions involving the passing of water. A key note symptom for dandelion is a mapped tongue and generalised weakness and fatigue.
順勢療法的蒲公英可以治療膽道疾病，高盧結石和肝臟疾病。虛弱，涉及流水的非自願入場。蒲公英的主要症狀是舌頭映射，全身無力和疲勞。
Considering all this, perhaps we should leave the dandelions in that garden and consider them more wonder then weed.
考慮到所有這些，也許我們應該把蒲公英留在那個花園裡，並讓他們比雜草更神奇。
Alexis Touyz, Bowen Therapist
Check out part 1 of this blog post here.
References:
Mrs. M Greve, A modern Herbal Vol.1. Published 1971 dover publications inc.
Robin Murphy ND, Natures Materia Medica 3rd edition, 2006 RR Donnelley and Sons Company.
https://www.riverdalehomeopathy.com/blog/post/dandelionweed-or-wonder/
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Everything I touch hurts: a case of Taraxacum
by Dinesh Chauhan, Pallavi Nar, Devang Shah
A four-year-old male child came to us with chief complaints of recurrent cold, coryza, abdominal pain and tooth decay.
He entered the consulting room with his mother and grandmother. When his mother started narrating his complaints, the patient interrupted and said, “Mumma, allow me to speak, I want to talk.” So, we allow the patient to speak.
He tells us that every day he gets stomach pain. His stomach hurts when he is in the house and also when he is outside. Then, he repeatedly told us that many parts of his body are hurting. Whenever he talked about the pain, he made a hand gesture of continuous hitting. This gesture was repeated at least six times.
He further tells us that when he wakes up in the morning he has a headache, and when he touches anyone, he gets pain. He vividly describes that on touching many things he feels pain. It is interesting that he has come because of recurrent colds and coryza, but when we listen to him, we find this problem, that whatever he touches, he feels pain!
He is a very expressive child, and very loquacious. He says he talks so much that he gets pain! And he talked constantly, till the end of the case.
As we move further in the case, he tells us that he touched his toy penguin and he got pain. Then, he spoke about a monster coming at night - he touches the monster and it hits him, and he gets pain. By this point his loquacity was very clear. Then, he said there are worms in his stomach and they throw stones at his throat. He says that his whole body is hurting and when there is pain, he hits the table. Then, he said that he, his dad and mom were getting smaller, and that he falls out of bed and he applies calendula.
Then, he went to a different area, and said when a robber hits, that is also painful. He said that everyone hit him here and there, and as he talked about hitting and getting beaten, he was making the same hand gesture of hitting. At this point, he connects this story to his chief complaint, saying that when the robber hit him he got pain in his abdomen. Thus, at this point in the case, he has connected one of his chief complaints with hitting, injury, and pain. With this, we see the loquacity which is also running through the case. He says that when he talks his mouth hurts, so here his symptom of loquacity also becomes connected with the pain.
He then tells us that when he goes into water, or when he uses a computer, or if he touches photos or wire, he gets pain. So, here again, he is relating touch with pain. Then, he talked about being on a mountain and throwing stones - and there also he got pain. Then, he says that it hurts tightly, like a jelly getting hard; his stomach and legs get hard, the way it hurts when a robber hits, and at this point, he shows the same hand gesture of hitting. Then, he said he has a hunter and the hunter hits the robber, then the robber has a sword but his sword is sharper. He talks again about a monster who comes – he throws stones at the monster and it bleeds. Then, he says that worms are throwing stones in his throat and his throat swells, and they are also throwing stones at his teeth, so that his one tooth broke – here, he connects to his third complaint, tooth decay.
Then, he goes into different areas: he said he went into a lift and fell down and bled. Then, he described touching a light bulb and getting burnt; as he tells about this, he hits his legs.
He gets dreams of ghosts and monsters, and they come and start fires which burn him, and when they touch him he gets pain. He has a fear of skeletons and of fire, of getting burnt.
His mother says he is aggravated by touch, and that when he was four months old, he kicked his grandmother as she was wrapping him in a cloth. When he falls down, he never cries, he just gets up and says: “I am strong.”
Analysis and understanding of the case
The child was very loquacious. This gave us an excellent opportunity to allow him a free-floating, non-judgmental space, in which he would feel completely safe to express his distress.
The first peculiar thing in this case is the child’s behavior. As he came into the consulting room and his mother started narrating the chief complaint, the child insisted on relating his complaints on his own. In a country like India, it is very strange for a four-year-old child to wish to speak for himself. I have observed that approximately eight out of ten children allow the parents to do the talking, and they just sit clinging to mother or father. Since he wished to speak for himself, it was the right time to request the mother to sit outside in the waiting room.
The child was given a free space to talk and express himself. He talked continuously for almost an hour, hardly needing to be asked any questions. He is extremely loquacious; one cannot afford to miss this aspect of his individuality. For a child of four years to talk for so long, alone in front of the doctor, is very, very strange. What made this loquacity even more characteristic is the manner in which he was talking. It was not the kind of talk which makes the listener feel irritated or bored; rather, his talk was pleasant. He is a cheerful child. One can enjoy his company; one would love to spend time in his presence.
Then, comes the other significant aspect of his case: the narration of his complaints. He has come for the main problems of stomach pain and recurrent colds. The most troubling for him is the stomach pain. He describes his stomach pain in a very peculiar way – he says that when he touches something, it hurts. Not only does his stomach hurt, but his being is so much occupied with pain that whatever object he touches gives him pain. If he touches a television, a remote control, a video game, a pen, a piece of paper, a pencil – all of these things give him pain. Now, this is completely absurd! One cannot make any logical reasoning out of this; it is complete nonsense.
As we move further into the case, he creates a fantasy where a monster comes, telling how the monster injures him, and there is bleeding. He fantasizes that there are worms in his throat and they hit his throat by throwing stones. He is completely into the nonsense world.
By this time it was already one hour into the case-taking, and we could understand that his complaint, his talk and his fantasies all have a pattern, and that pattern is that he is very sensitive to pain. Whatever he touches gives him pain.
Once we have established this as the most striking, peculiar, singular and rare feature of his individuality, coupled with the cheerful nature of his loquacity, our next aim is to understand the exact nature of the pain. This will clearly give us the kingdom and subkingdom, taking us close to the remedy.
Thus, the second part of the interview was directed towards understanding the full nature of this pattern of pain on touching things. In this part of the case, he will give us the exact description. As we inquire about the pain, he gives multiple images: being injured with a huge stone; a hunter; a sword; a fall; being hit by a robber; touching a bulb and getting burnt. All these images, when we look at them as a group, convey an experience of being injured. This is the deepest level of his experience - his Sensation. The main theme running through all his fears, delusions, and chief complaints is ‘getting injured’.
He spontaneously went into another area of delusion - his dreams. Here, we saw that his major concern was that ghosts will set things on fire. Even this is a kind of absurdity in a four-year-old boy. At such a tender age, ghosts are normally scary in themselves, and the fear is simply of a ghost appearing, but his peculiar worry is that they will set things on fire. This again confirms that his pattern is about being injured or burned, whether in his stomach pain, his fantasies, his fears or his dreams. The main thing that is running through his physical complaints and his mental state is the theme of injury.
This common point where the body (physical complaints) and the mind (fears, dreams and fantasies) both reflect the same phenomenon is the Vital Sensation. When we see that a specific pattern is running through both the physical symptoms and the mental aspects of a case, we are seeing the Vital Sensation.
For example, we know that in the remedy Bryonia, at the physical level, there is aggravation from least motion, and at the level of mind it has an aversion to being disturbed. A little close attention to these two apparently different aspects allows us to see that aversion to being disturbed and aggravation from the least motion both convey a sensitivity to disturbance. The commonality between mind and body shows us that this sensitivity to disturbance is the Vital Sensation of Bryonia. The level of Vital Sensation is beyond mind and body, beyond emotions and situations; it is the meeting point of mind and body.
Similarly, in this case we see that the chief complaint and the mental state are both speaking the language of ‘pain from injury’. This ‘pain from injury’ is the Vital Sensation of the case.
Vital Sensation can be classified, at the most basic level, into plant, mineral and animal kingdoms. Each kingdom has its own characteristic kind of sensation.
A Mineral Sensation has to do with structure. The patient feels something lacking in himself, or that he will lose something of himself. Thus, a mineral person sees the problem as being within himself - either as a lack, or as a potential loss. For example: ‘I may lose my money’ or ‘I may lose my voice’ are typical mineral expressions. (Note: one does not conclude the kingdom from one or two lines – the same sensation has to run through all the different aspects of his life.) Everywhere in a case needing a mineral remedy, the Vital Sensation, the common phenomenon, would be ‘I lack’, or ‘I will lose’.
An Animal Sensation has to do with survival. An animal patient has the issue of ‘me versus you’. The problem is seen as ‘someone is doing something to me’; the problem is personified as someone who is attacking, or who is in competition. For example: “The pain is killing me”; or “My mother in law is stronger and I am weaker.” The entire pattern of his life will be experienced in the form of ‘me versus you’; victim versus aggressor, strong versus weak.
A Plant Sensation has to do with sensitivity. Sensitivity means that things affect him/her. For example: “My husband’s screaming affects me.” We see here that the husband is not the problem; rather she is affected by a quality or a behavior in her husband. She is sensitive to his screaming and shouting. In the plant kingdom, there is a stimulus and a reaction, and this reactivity comes from an underlying sensitivity.
In this case, we see that when the patient touches anything at all, he gets pain. This is plant sensitivity. This child is very sensitive to things happening around him, and he immediately reacts to the things to which he is sensitive. Whatever he touches produces an instant reaction. This kind of reactivity is a characteristic feature of the plant kingdom. In this case, the Sensation is of being injured, and the reaction is to injure in return.
Once the kingdom is clear, then, we need to understand the subkingdom. The nature of his pain will give us the idea of the subkingdom.
Consider once more the images he has given: pain as if injured with stone; a hunter; a sword; falling from height; being hit by a robber; getting burnt on touching a bulb. Along with this, you have his experience in the pain of ‘hard and swollen, like jelly’, and aggravation from touch. This sensation of injury and this kind of sensitivity to touch is seen in the Compositae family.
We need to find a remedy from the Compositae which is loquacious, since the loquacity is a strongly evident, objective observation, and prominent in his personality. This child spoke continuously for about an hour! Further, it is a pleasant kind of loquacity. He is a happy, joyful kid.
So, the remedy must have this joyous kind of loquacity, along with the theme of injury of the Compositae family. After a thorough study of all the remedies from this family, we found that the following references regarding Taraxacum resonated with the disposition of the patient:
From Allen’s Encyclopedia, “Generalities”: “Inner feeling as if very sick, all limbs painful on touch or when in an uncomfortable position.”
From Hahnemann’s Materia Medica Pura: Very much inclined to laugh. Loquacity and CONSTANT CHATTERING…. Religious, CHEERFUL DISPOSITION, HAPPINESS, contented with himself and his position.From Lippe’s Keynotes: Painfulness of all the limbs by touch.From Phatak’s Materia Medica: Inclined to talk, laugh and be merry.
Prescription: the remedy selected was Taraxacum. His level of experience is that of delusion, thus the potency we chose was 1M.
Comments: in this case, the miasm did not stand out very clearly. One, however, should not feel handicapped because of not being sure of the miasm. One has to see what is characteristic in each case. In this case, it was his joyful, happy loquacity that stood out, along with the theme of injury. Here, the sensation method took us as far as the plant kingdom and the Compositae subkingdom. The remedy could not be concluded on just the sensation approach; we needed to go to the materia medica. This is an example of how the sensation approach is a tool to be included within the methodology of classical homoeopathy, and is not something detrimental to it.
Follow-up after 6 months:
D: Since the treatment started till right now, what changes have you seen in him?
Grandmother (GM): Now, he has become a little loving.
D: He has become loving?
Mother (M): I think, I have mentioned also that with my mother-in-law and my husband, basically he used to be like, you know… since childhood, very angry. Once, he even raised a hand to her, and that time, he got lot of beating from me. I had mentioned it at that time…
D: Yes…yes…
M: Now, that problem is not there.
D: Good…What else? What other changes?
M: His height has increased.
D: ha…ha…
M: I told you that his concentration has increased.
D: His concentration increased?
M: Yeah, now, he can sit in one place. And your suggestion of putting him into karate class also has helped, because his energies are diverted.
D: He is watching less cartoons now, no?
M: I can’t say less cartoons, but I would say that when he comes from school, for one hour he is watching cartoons, but when I tell him, ‘Now, let’s switch off the TV’, he switches it off without throwing so many tantrums. Before, he used to throw a lot of tantrums. And sometimes he will get bored and go to another room, and he will get out his toys to play with. And some more change: he has become a little organized… like one day, he was playing with his toys and afterwards, he arranged all the toys.
Follow-up after one year:
For the initial six months, the patient received Taraxacum 1M once every month, and in the next six months, he received only two doses.
After one year of treatment, his frequency of colds has decreased by almost 100%, with only two attacks in the past year. The stomach pain seems to have vanished like magic, as he does not complain of it at all.
The most significant change is that he has become more loving. Previously, he was not so comfortable with his father or paternal grandmother. He has now become very loving towards them. There were times when he used to hit his grandmother; this behavior has disappeared. He has become more organized now; after playing with his toys, he tidies up his things instead of leaving them strewn about. His concentration has improved; before he was very restless and would do things only half way, whereas now, he can sit in one place and finish the work at hand.
The whole sensation of being injured has been very much diminished. He no longer complains of pain on touching things; his violent dreams have reduced, as well as his fantasies. His talk is now more appropriate to the situation. Overall, there is a significant improvement at the physical, mental/emotional and holistic levels.
Comments
It is fascinating to see that the child has developed feelings of love towards his father and grandmother; this is the beauty of homoeopathy. The energy of the medicine marvelously corrects the altered state (what we call the other song), and brings back the original song of human being, which is to share love for his fellow humans, and to spread love in society.
This case also demonstrates beautifully the way in which, when the child is allowed a free-floating space, he comes out with his whole individuality. This case needed very little of doing and much more of being. I had to be patient and simply witness what was happening, while holding on to my deep belief that in the end, everything would connect at one point. My role was that of catalyst – all that the patient needed was a space of his own, in which to be his own self, not judged and not analyzed, but purely heard and observed. It reminds me of a saying by Lao Tzu: “Do you have the patience to wait until your mud settles and the water is clear?” This case was all about waiting and listening to the pure expressions of this innocent, cheerful child, and in the end everything got connected to the kingdom, subkingdom and source, and to the rubrics and the materia medica.
Such cases give me more and more encouragement to be just a witness and to see the whole pattern emerging, simply by Being.
This case has been previously published in VOICE: e magazine of the other song http://theothersong.wordpress.com/
Photos
Flickr; Viet Kong hazards; Oakley originals; Attibution 2.0 Generic
Wikimedia Commons; Dandelion; Lisa Jarvis; Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic
Categories: Cases
Keywords: stomach pain, sensitive to pain, fear of being hurt, cheerful nature, loquacity
Remedies: Taraxacum
http://www.interhomeopathy.org/everything-i-touch-hurts-a-case-of-taraxacum
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