Aloe socotrina

Aloe socotrina is a succulent plant of the Asphodelaceae family, native to the island of Socotra and other arid regions of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. The remedy is prepared from the dried juice (latex) obtained from the cut leaves, which contains anthraquinone glycosides, notably aloin. In crude form, it is a strong purgative. In homeopathy, Aloe is prepared from the resin, triturated and potentised to reveal a wide range of action, chiefly on the lower bowel, producing characteristic symptoms of diarrhoea, congestion of the pelvic organs, haemorrhoids, and portal congestion. It also acts on the mucous membranes, liver, and to a lesser extent the urinary and reproductive organs.

Proved by Helbig and confirmed clinically by Hering, Allen, and others. The proving demonstrates strong action on the rectum and lower bowel, with secondary liver and pelvic organ involvement. Characteristic weakness of the sphincters and urgency of stool are marked [Hering].

Aloe is the rectal and portal congestion remedy par excellence — urgency of stool with insecurity, large hot haemorrhoids, abdominal fullness and heat, and aggravation in warm weather. The mental picture is irritable and dissatisfied, reflecting the physical discomfort.

• Rectum and lower bowel – Diarrhoea, tenesmus, haemorrhoids [Clarke, Hering].
• Liver and portal circulation – Congestion, sluggish metabolism.
• Pelvic organs – Congestion in both sexes, especially in women during menses.
• Mucous membranes – Increased secretion, catarrhal discharges.
• Venous system – Portal engorgement and haemorrhoidal dilatations.

Irritable, discontented, and dissatisfied with self and others [Hering]. Easily angered, especially during abdominal discomfort. Mental state fluctuates between sluggishness and restless irritability. Difficulty concentrating when abdominal symptoms are marked. A tendency to anxiety about health, particularly bowel function.

Restless from abdominal distension or rectal urging. Frequent waking early with urge for stool.

Vivid, anxious dreams before early morning diarrhoea.

Acts on portal system and rectum; produces venous congestion, relaxed sphincters, and urgency of stool. Indicated in hot weather, sedentary habits, and those prone to haemorrhoids and abdominal plethora.

No characteristic fever pattern; heat in face and head during abdominal congestion.

Flushes of heat during attacks; sweating relieves head symptoms.

Fullness and heaviness in forehead, worse in warm room and better in open air. Dull headache with congestion, associated with portal stasis. Headache often accompanies abdominal symptoms; pressing pain over eyes or temples, sometimes pulsating. Vertigo on rising, with faintness, especially in hot rooms.

Congestion of conjunctiva with feeling of heat and fullness, associated with portal engorgement. Lids heavy; eyes ache and burn, worse in heat.

Fullness or pulsation in ears during bowel congestion.

No specific proving nasal symptoms except occasional catarrh with profuse morning discharge during abdominal congestion.

Flushed, hot, and congested during abdominal complaints; at other times pale and sallow. Expression often anxious or irritable.

Taste bitter or pasty; mouth dry on waking. Tongue coated yellowish-white, especially at back, in bilious states.

No proving symptoms recorded beyond occasional toothache during head congestion.

Dryness and rawness in fauces; sensation of heat extending down oesophagus after wine or rich food.

Oppression with fullness in abdomen; breathing shallow during abdominal distension.

Full, slow pulse during portal congestion; occasional palpitation after exertion in heat.

Shortness of breath when abdominal congestion is marked. Inclination to sigh.

Appetite variable; desire for juicy fruit. Nausea before stool; feeling of weight and fullness after meals. Sour or bitter eructations. Heat and discomfort in stomach after wine or beer. Tendency to heartburn in hot weather.

Key sphere of action. Fullness, heaviness, and tension, particularly in lower abdomen. Distension with rumbling, worse after eating. Sensation of heat and congestion in hypogastrium. Painful dragging towards rectum and anus. Portal congestion produces fullness in right hypochondrium, with tender liver region [Clarke].

Most characteristic action. Constant sense of insecurity of rectum; must hurry to toilet on slightest urge. Urgent, sudden stool on rising in the morning. Stool may be mushy, watery, or contain jelly-like mucus. After stool, feeling of weakness in rectum and sphincter. Haemorrhoids large, hot, swollen, protruding; relieved by cold applications. Constant sensation as if stool would escape at any moment, even with flatus [Hering].

Increased frequency of urination during diarrhoea. Scanty, high-coloured urine in bilious states.

Worse after beer, wine, or rich food. Desire for fruits, which may aggravate diarrhoea.

Pelvic congestion may cause dragging in perineum. Occasional sexual excitement during bowel congestion.

Menses early, dark, and clotted; may be preceded or accompanied by diarrhoea [Clarke]. Pelvic heaviness and fullness, worse standing.

Dull, aching pain in lumbosacral region during or after stool; worse standing.

Weakness in lower limbs after stool; heaviness in legs from venous congestion.

Flabby, sometimes sallow, in chronic states. Tendency to itching and burning eruptions in haemorrhoidal subjects.

• Sulphur – Haemorrhoids and early morning stool, but more heat, itching, and burning in anus.
• Podophyllum peltatum – Early morning diarrhoea, but more gushing and painless.
• Muriatic acid – Haemorrhoids with extreme weakness; more prostration.
• Nux vomica – Ineffectual urging with small stools; more nervous irritability.

• Complementary: Sulphur, Nux vomica.
• Follows well: Sulphur in chronic haemorrhoidal states.
• Antidotes: Camphora for medicinal overdose.

Useful in summer diarrhoea of the aged or phlegmatic, in haemorrhoids of sedentary people, and in portal congestion from rich diet. Low potencies (3x–6x) for acute bowel conditions; higher potencies for chronic constitutional use.

Mind

• Irritability with abdominal complaints
• Dissatisfaction with self and others

Head

• Headache, congestive, worse warm room
• Heaviness in forehead with abdominal symptoms

Abdomen

• Fullness and heat in hypogastrium
• Distension with rumbling after eating

Rectum

• Diarrhoea, early morning, driving out of bed
• Haemorrhoids, large, hot, protruding
• Insecurity of rectum; must hurry to toilet

Female

• Menses, early, dark, clotted, with diarrhoea

Generalities

• Worse heat, warm room
• Worse morning; better open air

1. Hering, C., Guiding Symptoms of Our Materia Medica – Core rectal symptoms; modalities; mental picture.
2. Clarke, J. H., A Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica – Liver and portal congestion; menses with diarrhoea.
3. Allen, T. F., Encyclopaedia of Pure Materia Medica – Proving details; urgency and insecurity of stool; haemorrhoidal symptoms.
4. Kent, J. T., Lectures on Homeopathic Materia Medica – Modalities; portal system action.
5. Boericke, W., Pocket Manual of Homeopathic Materia Medica – Keynotes and general uses in haemorrhoids and diarrhoea.