Homoeopathy — Page 369
Helleborus Niger 369 HELLEBORUS NIGER (Snow Rose) Helleborus Niger is prepared from a flowering plant called Snow Rose. It is prepared by grinding the roots of the plant. The most important characteristic of a Helleborus Niger patient is that of becoming disorientated and being out of his mind. This results in a lack of coordination of the functions of the body. Moreover, the inflammation of the membranes of the brain and the spinal cord (the meninges) leads to the dysfunction of the nervous system and then insanity. Helleborus Niger is that medicine which, by the grace of God, relieves all these symptoms and restores the person to mental health once again. In the diseases of Helleborus Niger there is no voluntary control over the functioning of the limbs and the muscles, and their response to the message from the brain is delayed. The mind is clear and active, but the muscles do not respond properly in time because the basic nervous system has been affected. When something is said to a patient he does not react to it at all. It becomes necessary to jolt him in order to make him aware. His thoughts are scattered and he needs to be reminded again and again to make him do something or he will simply do nothing. The patient exhibits a strange type of drowsiness and insensitivity, which may lead to unconsciousness. Sometimes, the Helleborus Niger patient starts viewing Satan and evil spirits. He becomes fearful of having committed an unforgiveable sin. Such scary ideas are also noticed in Aurum, Lachesis and Stramonium. Several remedies may be used in the treatment of hydrocephalus, which means an increase in the size of the head due to build up of pressure inside the skull (secondary to excessive accumulation of cerbro-spinal fluid). The most effective, of course, is Silicea. Helleborus is also useful in treating this condition. When the head of the child becomes enlarged and the eyes apparently sink, the child may suddenly make dreadful screams. This symptom is distinctively present in Apis. In Apis, the headache is of a stinging nature. Apis would make the child feel better in this kind of pain associated with hydrocephalus, but Apis is relatively slow acting medicine. In