Homoeopathy — Page 141
Bryonia Alba 141 Bryonia Alba Bryonia Alba is a wild creeper plant, found on forest trees and bushes. Its root is very poisonous and bitter. The root is ground in the form of a powder and then homoeopathic potencies are made from it. Bryonia is related to most of the vital organs of the body including the lungs, liver and heart. It acts more effectively over the outer linings of these organs (pleura and pericardium) but its effect on the liver is much more pronounced. Similarly, it proves very effective in the treatment of deep-seated illnesses of the lungs like pneumonia and its aftereffects. Although it is not of much use in the treatment of tuberculosis and other chronic illnesses of the lungs, it enhances the action of other profoundly acting remedies. In addition to its effects on the muscles, it also works on the lining of the intestines. A Bryonia patient is generally constipated , but sometimes blood-mixed dysentery also occurs. Due to the dryness of the intestines, the lining ulcerates leading to a painful type of severe dysentery. Bryonia will be immediately effective in this type of dysentery, provided other signs and symptoms of Bryonia are present. Some homoeopathic doctors believe that Bryonia Alba is the homoeopathic remedy of flail, flaccid and easily fatigable muscles, but this is not right. In fact, Bryonia is also the best remedy for strong and toned-up muscles. For the proper functioning of Bryonia, the weakness of the muscle fibres is not a precondition. In Bryonia, generalised body ache is, as in malaria, a salient feature. Some people are afflicted with such illnesses that as a result they do not have the strength to move around. The weakness is not generalised. But after walking for some time, the body starts feeling heavy and this heaviness turns into severe pain. The legs become lifeless. Bryonia is very useful in such patients, but it has to be given over a long period. Before going for a long walk or resorting to intense physical activity, administration of Bryonia 200 combined with Arnica proves to be very beneficial. Some women develop swelling of the leg after childbirth called white leg. This is probably due to clotting of the blood and slowing down of the circulation. When the condition becomes chronic and disables