Stramonium

A poisonous nightshade plant containing potent tropane alkaloids such as atropine, hyoscyamine, and scopolamine. Native to temperate and subtropical regions. Known for its anticholinergic, hallucinogenic, and deliriant effects.

Proved by Hahnemann and later extensively confirmed by Allen, Hering, and Kent. Most symptoms stem from toxicological reports and provings.

Stramonium embodies the pure terror of the subconscious, the soul thrust into chaos after shock, fright, or spiritual rupture. The child screaming in darkness, the lunatic who sees demons in mirrors, the fevered patient clawing at invisible foes—all wear the mask of Stramonium. It is a remedy of acute fragmentation, where light becomes horror, sleep becomes death, and the psyche runs from itself. It restores the fractured self by guiding the patient back through the corridor of darkness into coherence. Especially suited to post-trauma states, night terrors, mania, and suppressed eruptions.

• Central nervous system – especially cerebral cortex, speech centres, motor and sensory functions
• Mind and emotions – fear, violence, terror, hallucinations
• Eyes and pupils – extreme dilation, light sensitivity
• Throat and larynx – dryness, spasm
• Bladder and rectum – spasmodic retention or incontinence
• Skin – burning, dryness, feverish heat
• Right side – symptoms often right-sided or radiating rightwards

A Stramonium state is one of intense, unrestrained disturbance. The mind is dominated by terror, delirium, and violent fear—particularly fear of darkness, death, water, or being alone. Hallucinations are vivid: sees devils, animals, monsters; experiences religious ecstasy or persecution [Hering]. Alternates between laughing and weeping, praying and cursing. Speech is rapid, loud, disconnected, often obscene or nonsensical. There is violent loquacity, then stupor. The patient may be destructive, strike others, or attempt to escape. Convulsions often follow mental excitement. In children, Stramonium suits post-febrile delirium or behavioural disorders marked by extreme fear, aggression, or night terrors. They cling to people and cannot be left alone [Kent].

Cannot sleep due to fear. Shrinks from sleep as from death. Starts up suddenly. Night terrors—screaming, clinging, eyes wide. Sleep restless, full of nightmares. Moaning, talking, or praying in sleep.

Horrific dreams of being murdered, pursued, attacked. Sees demons, black dogs, monsters. Dreams of falling into darkness. Screams and talks in sleep. Nightmares especially after fright or suppression of rash.

Sudden, violent, and overwhelming states. Patient is oversensitive to stimuli: light, noise, touch. Extreme contrast between violence and stupor. Suited to children with night terrors, febrile seizures, and fear of darkness. Many complaints follow fright, shock, or suppression of eruptions. Often used for acute neurological disturbances, particularly post-infectious or post-vaccine.

High, burning fever with delirium, especially in children. Face red and hot. Skin dry, hot, with internal chill. No perspiration. Fever alternates with convulsions. Face and limbs twitch.

Chill with shaking, followed by violent heat. No sweat. Dry, burning heat with flushed face and hallucinations. Skin hot but extremities cold.

Heat and congestion. Head feels full, with throbbing temples and carotids. Painful pressure at the forehead. Involuntary head movements. Rocking of head on pillow. In delirium, head is thrown back. Complaints worse from light or after fright. Hair may stand on end. Sensation as if the brain is swelling or floating.

Wild, staring, or fixed. Pupils greatly dilated, often unequal. Eyes sensitive to light, yet paradoxically better in bright light (unlike Belladonna). Vision disturbed by hallucinations. Sees hideous faces, insects, or objects moving. Eyes rolling or squinting. Conjunctiva dry and glassy. Blinking absent. Sudden blindness or photophobia after fright.

Auditory hallucinations—hears voices, music, screaming. Sensitivity to noise. May cover ears or scream from imaginary sounds. Ears red and hot. Sudden deafness from fright or congestion.

Dryness and obstruction. Epistaxis from congestion or heat. Smell perverted or lost. Craving or aversion to strong smells. Nasal picking and twitching in children during fever.

Dryness and obstruction. Epistaxis from congestion or heat. Smell perverted or lost. Craving or aversion to strong smells. Nasal picking and twitching in children during fever.

Extreme dryness of mouth and throat, without thirst. Tongue swollen, paralysed, or protruding. Stammering or incoherent speech. Involuntary mumbling or shouting. Grinding of teeth. Biting of tongue or lips during convulsions.

Gnashing or grinding of teeth during sleep or fever. Clenched jaws during convulsions. Toothache worse from cold or from emotional excitement.

Marked dryness, with difficulty swallowing liquids (hydrophobia-like symptoms). Choking sensation. Laryngeal spasm. Aversion to water—not from taste but from fear. Throat stiff, painful, or paralysed. Can swallow solids but not liquids.

Oppression and dyspnoea. Gasping for air during excitement. Dry, spasmodic cough. Chest jerks during sleep. Voice hoarse, broken, or wild. In children, suffocative attacks with fear.

Pulse rapid, bounding, or intermittent. Palpitations from fright or excitement. Heart may feel enlarged or fluttering. Collapse with feeble pulse. Cyanosis during spasms.

Quick, sighing, or spasmodic breathing. Asthmatic episodes from emotion. Child gasps and clings to mother. Breath hot and dry. Suspended breathing during fits.

Nausea with dry heaves. Craving for vinegar, lemon, or cold drinks. Aversion to water. Gastric derangement with mental disturbance. Vomiting in spasms. Hunger with inability to eat.

Tympanitic, sensitive. Spasmodic colic with shrieking or contortions. Children press belly with hands. Twitching of abdominal muscles. Diarrhoea or constipation with alternating flaccidity and spasm.

Involuntary stools, often during convulsions or sleep. Sudden diarrhoea after fright. Stool may be greenish, watery, or offensive. Loss of sphincter control. Spasms during defecation.

Retention or incontinence. Involuntary urination during fits, sleep, or excitement. Paralysis of bladder post-scarlatina or meningitis. Urine scanty, dark, or bloody. Enuresis in children with night terrors.

Aversion to water, especially sight or sound of it. Craves acids, vinegar. Refuses food during delirium. Unable to swallow liquids. Thirstless despite dry mouth.

Erections violent, painful, or long-lasting during delirium. Sexual mania with obscene talk or actions. Genitals manipulated during delirium. Seminal emissions with exhaustion. Sexual aggression in insanity.

Menstruation suppressed from fright. Hysterical symptoms with sexual overtones. Erotic dreams, gestures, or hallucinations. Acts of immodesty. Threatened abortion from shock. Labor-like spasms or cramps.

Stiffness of neck and spine. Convulsive jerking of limbs or back. Spine curved backward (opisthotonos). Pain along vertebrae. Involuntary movements during delirium.

Trembling, jerking, or dancing of limbs. Chorea-like movements. One arm or leg paralysed (often right-sided). Hands clenched. Spasms extend from periphery inward. Cold limbs with hot face. Involuntary grasping or gesturing. Walks or runs uncontrollably.

Dry, hot, burning. Eruptions suppressed cause mental symptoms. Itching or crawling sensations. Urticaria or miliary rash. Sensitivity to touch. Post-scarlatinal eruptions. Skin pale but burns to touch.

• Belladonna – Similar delirium and congestion, but worse in light; more inflammatory than psychotic
• Hyoscyamus – More lasciviousness and jealousy; less fear and violence
• Veratrum album – Mania with religious delusions, but more diarrhoea and collapse
• Opium – Coma, sluggishness, and suppression rather than excitation
• Aconite – Acute fear and restlessness, but more aware and without hallucinations

• Complementary: Belladonna, Aconite, Cuprum
• Antidotes: Camphora, Nux vomica
• Follows well: Aconite (after fright), Belladonna (if delirium worsens)
• Precedes well: Hyoscyamus in chronic mania
• Inimical: Stramonium and Phosphorus may not follow well in hypersensitive states

• Top remedy for night terrors in children, especially with screaming and clinging
• Indicated in post-scarlet fever neurological complications
• Helpful in post-traumatic psychosis, especially if triggered by fright
• Excellent for chorea, epilepsy, or convulsions after vaccination or suppressed rash
• A remedy of choice in acute mania, with violence, fear, and hallucinations

Mind

• Fear of darkness
• Delusions, devils
• Hallucinations, terrifying
• Night terrors, children
• Talks, prays, sings
• Mania with violence

Sleep

• Screaming during sleep
• Nightmare from fright
• Clings to person in bed

Convulsions

• From fright
• After suppression of eruptions
• Epilepsy, with shrieks

Eyes

• Pupils dilated
• Hallucinations, visual
• Eyes staring

Skin

• Suppressed eruptions
• Dry, hot skin
• Sensitive to touch

• Samuel Hahnemann – Materia Medica Pura: Original proving and guiding mental symptoms
• C. Hering – Guiding Symptoms: Comprehensive mental and neurological indications, hallucinations
• J.T. Kent – Lectures on Homoeopathic Materia Medica: Thematic focus on fear, violence, and mania
• William Boericke – Pocket Manual: Clinical applications for mania, fever, epilepsy
• John Henry Clarke – Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica: Delirium, convulsions, and febrile states in children
• T.F. Allen – Encyclopedia of Pure Materia Medica: Proving symptoms including hallucinations, chorea, and fright