Absinthium

Artemisia absinthium is a perennial aromatic herb of the Asteraceae family, native to temperate regions of Europe, Asia, and North Africa, and now naturalised in parts of North America. The plant is characterised by its silver-green foliage and intensely bitter taste. Its essential oil contains thujone, a neurotoxic ketone that, in large doses, can provoke convulsions and hallucinations. Historically, wormwood formed the principal ingredient of the alcoholic spirit Absinthe, notorious in 19th-century Europe for its supposed artistic inspiration and its dangers. In homeopathy, the fresh, flowering tops are macerated in alcohol to prepare the mother tincture. The remedy acts profoundly on the brain and nervous system, producing both mental and physical excitation, spasmodic activity, and a peculiar state of half-consciousness marked by vivid hallucinations and loss of memory.

Introduced into homeopathic use by Dr. W. E. Payne in the mid-19th century [Allen]. The proving elicited states of delirium, hallucination, tremors, and spasms. Clinical use soon confirmed its value in certain epileptiform states and delirium tremens.

A state of sensorial and motor derangement marked by amnesia, hallucinations, tremors, and convulsions, often precipitated by toxic, parasitic, or alcoholic influences. The keynote is the obliteration of recent memory in the midst of nervous excitement. The patient alternates between states of wild mental activity and dull stupor.

• Cerebro-spinal nervous system – Spasms, epileptiform seizures, tremors [Clarke].
• Mind and intellect – Sudden loss of memory, confusion, hallucinations [Allen].
• Special senses – Hyperaesthesia, visual disturbances.
• Muscles – Trembling, convulsive movements.
• Digestive organs – Irritation from its intensely bitter principle.

Marked by sudden and profound loss of memory — the patient may be unable to recall familiar names, recognise friends, or remember recent events [Allen]. There is often a dream-like state in which external impressions seem unreal or distant. Hallucinations may be vivid, grotesque, or terrifying; objects may appear multiplied or distorted in form [Clarke]. The mental state alternates between periods of excitement — talkativeness, restlessness, and impatience — and intervals of dull, vacant staring, with muttering incoherently. In acute states, there may be furious delirium with attempts to escape, combined with suspicion or terror. These mental phenomena are often linked to epileptiform activity or toxic states from alcohol, worm infestation, or fevers.

Disturbed, restless, with vivid dreams. Night terrors in children linked to worm infestation.

Dreams are vivid, often frightful or bizarre.

Acts predominantly on the sensorium and motor nervous system. Produces states of both mental excitation and motor convulsion. Periodicity in nervous symptoms may be marked. Particularly suited to post-epileptic confusion, worm-induced nervous states, and delirium tremens [Clarke].

Low-grade fever may accompany toxic or worm-related states.

Sweating may accompany nervous attacks; chilliness in collapse states.

Vertigo, often with a sensation of turning or of the ground heaving [Hering]. Head feels heavy, with a dull, stupefied sensation. Pain may be frontal or occipital, worse from mental exertion or noise. The scalp may be hypersensitive to touch.

Pupils may be dilated during nervous attacks. Vision blurred, dim, or flickering. In hallucinatory states, colours may appear unusually vivid or objects strangely altered in size [Clarke].

Noises may seem exaggerated; sudden loud sounds can precipitate nervous agitation.

No significant proving symptoms recorded.

Face alternately flushed or pale; in convulsive states, there may be twitching of facial muscles. Expression may be wild, staring, or vacant.

Dryness of mouth and throat during nervous excitement. Speech may be incoherent or rapid.

Occasional dryness or choking sensation in delirious states.

Oppression and hurried breathing before or during spasmodic episodes.

Palpitation before seizures, sometimes with faintness.

Breathing may be irregular during fits; sighing respiration in the postictal period.

Anorexia or, conversely, an unnatural craving for strongly flavoured or stimulating food. Nausea with faintness may occur after mental strain or before seizures.

Flatulent distension and discomfort; may accompany worm infestation in children.

Occasional diarrhoea of nervous origin.

Aggravated by alcohol and strong stimulants; aversion to plain food in excited states.

Tremors, jerking, and spasms of limbs [Hale]. In epileptiform seizures, convulsions may be violent, with clenching of jaws and foaming at the mouth.

• Cicuta virosa – More violent opisthotonos; less memory loss between seizures.
• Hyoscyamus – Loquacious delirium with lasciviousness; more fear of being poisoned.
• Artemisia vulgaris – More chronic epileptic tendency, less acute hallucination.
• Belladonna – Red, hot face and violent delirium; more congestion to head.
• Stramonium – Intense fear, violent mania; less amnesia.

• Complementary: Cina (in worm-related convulsions), Nux vomica (in alcoholics).
• Antidotes: Nux vomica, Camphora (for toxic overdoses).
• Inimical: Avoid repetition alongside strong cerebral stimulants.

Particularly useful in post-epileptic states where the patient cannot recall the seizure or events preceding it [Clarke]. Valuable in delirium tremens when hallucinations are less terrifying than those of Stramonium but accompanied by profound memory loss. Low potencies (1x–3x) often used in acute nervous states; higher potencies for chronic epileptiform tendencies.

Mind

• Memory, loss of recent events
• Delirium, alternating with stupor
• Hallucinations, visual
• Confusion of mind, cannot recognise friends

Head

• Vertigo, objects turn in a circle
• Heaviness of head with dullness

Eyes

• Vision, objects appear multiplied
• Pupils dilated, during convulsions

Stomach

• Appetite lost, with faintness
• Nausea, with nervous excitement

Extremities

• Trembling of hands
• Convulsions, epileptiform

Generalities

• Convulsions, from alcohol
• Epileptic fits, with loss of memory afterwards

Allen, T. F., Encyclopaedia of Pure Materia Medica – First proving records; memory loss; hallucinations; convulsions.

Clarke, J. H., A Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica – Hallucinatory states, worm-related nervous symptoms, post-epileptic confusion, delirium tremens indications.

Hering, C., Guiding Symptoms of Our Materia Medica – Description of vertigo, motor spasms, alternations of excitement and stupor.

Kent, J. T., Lectures on Homeopathic Materia Medica – Modalities; aggravations from alcohol and exertion.

Hale, E. M., New Remedies – Nervous states from worm infestation; tremors; spasmodic conditions.