Homoeopathy — Page 542
Opium 542 As already mentioned, Opium is a strong hypnotic. The patient of Opium remains either asleep or drowsy. On the other hand, he may sometimes be unable to sleep altogether. In Coffea also the patient loses sleep and becomes hypersensitive. When unable to sleep, the Opium patient becomes hypersensitive, restless and confused. If the patient loses sleep due to Opium, then Coffea will induce sleep. If the patient loses sleep after drinking coffee, then Nux Vomica as well as Opium will help the patient go to sleep. People suffering from severe constipation with the dried up intestines and who have no feeling for opening the bowels, can be treated with Opium. Sometimes, the Opium patients can suffer from dysentery associated with severe gripes. The stools are very soft. A typical patient of Opium is a complete coward. He is scared of the dark. His thoughts are fearful. He lacks comprehension so much so that he cannot even understand his own disease. He remains drowsy or semi-conscious. On beings startled, he feels dizzy. Opium resembles Sulphur also. Sulphur stimulates the natural percepivity of the patient. Sometimes, even the true homoeopathic remedies fail to work as expected; a dose or two of Sulphur makes them effective once again. Opium also, reactivates the suppressed and inactive body defences. Moreover, a typical Sulphur patient also happens to be extremely lazy and a philosopher. In Opium, the muscles at the upper end of the throat become weak. They cannot direct the food to the gullet, which may then enter the nose or the windpipe and cause severe choking. The person can even die. Opium plays a significant role in averting this tendency. The Opium addict can be extremely insensitive and unresponsive to his own sickness. His mind remains preoccupied with all kinds of fears. He has to be subjected to treatment under duress. Similarly, Opium produces dryness in the body. However, during a fever, the patient may sweat profusely, yet the fever does not subside. This is peculiar for Opium. There is frequent hot sweating as during the summer rains. It does not lower the body temperature. Rather, it makes the patient feel hotter.