Artemisia vulgaris

Artemisia vulgaris is a perennial plant of the Asteraceae family, native to Europe, Asia, and North America. It has been used for centuries in herbal medicine and folklore for its reputed emmenagogue, digestive, and nervine properties. In homeopathy, it is prepared from the fresh flowering plant, gathered just before full bloom, and tinctured according to the methods outlined in the Homœopathic Pharmacopœia.

Recorded chiefly through clinical use, with early symptoms noted by Hahnemann’s contemporaries, and detailed in the works of Hering, Clarke, and Hale, based largely on observed epileptic and hysterical cases rather than formal pathogenetic provings.

A remedy for nervous system instability in sensitive, often female constitutions, where shocks to the emotions or suppression of natural functions precipitate epileptic or hysterical attacks. The combination of nervous hyper-excitability before fits and deep sleep after them is a keynote, especially when linked to menstrual irregularity.

• Nervous system (epilepsy, chorea, hysteria, nervous shock).
• Female reproductive system (amenorrhoea, dysmenorrhoea, hysteria linked to menses).
• Digestive organs (weak digestion, nausea).
• Senses and coordination (vertigo, tremors).
• Sleep and mental balance (post-convulsion states).

Artemisia vulgaris has a marked influence on the nervous and emotional sphere, particularly in women and children of delicate constitution. There is great excitability of mind preceding epileptic attacks, often manifesting as irritability, hysterical weeping, or sudden laughter. Memory may be impaired after a fit, with dullness and inability to concentrate. The hysterical state is marked by sudden alternations between emotional extremes – gaiety followed by deep depression. Anxiety about impending attacks is common, often accompanied by restlessness and a desire for solitude [Hering, Clarke].

Great drowsiness follows convulsions, often deep and prolonged, from which the patient wakes refreshed but weak. Dreams are often vivid, sometimes of a distressing character.

Disturbing dreams, particularly before fits.

The grand keynote is epilepsy and convulsions in delicate, nervous persons, especially women, linked to menstrual suppression, fright, or overwork. Aurae are often present. Fits are followed by deep sleep. Choreic movements and hysteria are allied indications.

Low-grade fever or warmth of skin before menstrual period or during nervous excitement.

Perspiration during the post-convulsive sleep; otherwise, little characteristic alternation.

A sensation of fulness and heaviness in the head often precedes convulsions. Some patients experience a peculiar aura, described as a creeping or tingling from the extremities upward, sometimes starting in the stomach and rising to the head before loss of consciousness. After fits, the head feels bruised, with dull headache and mental confusion. Vertigo is frequent, especially on rising from bed, sometimes accompanied by black spots before the eyes.

Sight becomes dim or blurred before attacks, sometimes with flashes of light or coloured rings. Eyelids may twitch during the convulsive stage. After fits, eyes appear dull and sunken, with dark circles underneath. In choreic states, irregular eye movements may occur with facial spasms.

Ringing in the ears or sudden deafness may precede convulsions. Some experience a sensation of pressure or throbbing deep within the ear during nervous excitement.

No direct proving symptoms recorded, though nervous congestion may produce temporary obstruction.

During fits, the face may become pale or livid, distorted by muscular contractions, with frothing at the mouth in epileptic attacks. After attacks, there is a sunken, worn expression with drawn lips. In hysteria, the face may flush suddenly with emotional change [Hale].

Biting of the tongue during convulsions is not uncommon. There may be dryness of the mouth before attacks, with a metallic taste after recovery. Saliva can be increased during the fit.

Grinding of teeth (bruxism) may occur during sleep or in the convulsive stage.

Spasmodic constriction of the throat during hysterical episodes, producing a sensation of choking or difficulty in swallowing.

Oppression of breathing before convulsions. Spasmodic cough in hysterical states. After fits, the breathing is laboured and slow.

Palpitations before menses, from fright, or during nervous attacks.

Irregular breathing during epileptic paroxysms, sometimes with temporary cessation.

Nausea and faintness precede some attacks. Appetite is capricious, often diminished after fits. Weak digestion is a common complaint in nervous patients requiring Artemisia vulgaris.

In women, abdominal discomfort and a feeling of pelvic congestion often occur before the menses and before convulsions.

Constipation is common in the nervous, hysterical type needing this remedy.

No characteristic proving symptoms beyond occasional involuntary micturition during convulsions.

Desire for light, easily digested foods after illness; aversion to heavy meals.

Rarely indicated for male reproductive complaints except when nervous exhaustion affects libido.

This remedy’s sphere in women is significant. It is often indicated for epilepsy connected to suppression or irregularity of menses. There may be amenorrhoea from fright, grief, or shock, followed by nervous symptoms. Dysmenorrhoea with hysterical manifestations is characteristic. Menses, when present, may be scanty, pale, and delayed, with a tendency for fits to occur just before the flow begins.

A peculiar creeping sensation up the spine is sometimes reported as an aura before convulsions. Back feels weak and strained after prolonged fits.

Trembling of limbs, especially hands, during nervous excitement. Convulsions often begin in one extremity and spread. Weakness follows the spasmodic stage, with heaviness and aching in muscles.

No prominent cutaneous symptoms beyond pallor or transient flushing during nervous attacks.

• Cicuta virosa – More violent convulsions with opisthotonos and frothing.
• Hyoscyamus niger – More marked delirium, lasciviousness, and erratic movements.
• Ignatia amara – Emotional hysterical attacks without full convulsions.
• Cuprum metallicum – Aura in abdomen, violent spasms, cramps in calves.

• Complementary: Ignatia, Sepia.
• Antidotes: Nux vomica, Coffea.
• Follows well: Cicuta, Hyoscyamus.

Indispensable in menstrual epilepsy. Suited to girls approaching puberty with delayed menses and tendency to fainting or spasms. Also valuable in chorea following fright or grief. The tincture is sometimes used externally in traditional medicine for insect bites, though this is outside homeopathic usage. Potencies from 3x to 200C have been employed, higher potencies for constitutional cases.

Mind

• Hysteria from fright.
• Memory loss after fits.

Head

• Aura preceding epilepsy.
• Vertigo before menses.

Eyes

• Dim vision before attacks.
• Twitching of eyelids in chorea.

Stomach

• Nausea before convulsions.
• Appetite loss after fits.

Extremities

• Trembling in excitement.
• Weakness post-convulsion.

Generalities

• Epilepsy after fright.
• Worse before menses.

Hering – The Guiding Symptoms of Our Materia Medica: Notes on epilepsy and hysteria with menses.
Clarke – A Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica: Aura descriptions, menstrual links.
Hale – New Remedies: Clinical notes on epilepsy after fright, amenorrhoea.
Boericke – Pocket Manual: Key indications for convulsions, hysterical states.