Ignatia

Ignatia amara is prepared from the seeds of Strychnos ignatii, a plant native to the Philippines and parts of Southeast Asia. The seeds are extremely bitter and contain the alkaloids strychnine and brucine. In homeopathy, the seeds are pulverised and prepared through trituration and dilution.

Proved by Samuel Hahnemann in the early 1800s. The proving was detailed in Materia Medica Pura, and the remedy was described extensively by Kent, Allen, and Clarke.

Ignatia captures the drama of suppressed sorrow—a theatrical inner world behind a stoic or polite mask. The patient suffers acutely, internally, often without external signs. It suits high-strung, sensitive individuals, especially women, artists, intellectuals, or those in emotional crisis. It’s a remedy of contradiction—laughing through tears, hunger with aversion, relief from pressure but intolerance to touch. Its action is fast, expressive, and dynamic.

Ignatia acts prominently on the nervous system, particularly the cerebrospinal axis and emotional centres. It is renowned for its profound effect on the mind, especially in situations involving grief, disappointment, emotional repression, and inner conflict. The remedy has marked action on the throat, causing globus hystericus (sensation of a lump), and the digestive tract, producing spasmodic symptoms such as hiccups, cramps, and erratic peristalsis. It also acts on the respiratory system, with spasmodic coughs and sighing respiration, and the female reproductive organs, especially where menses are altered by emotional shock. The whole system is marked by inconsistency, contradiction, and hypersensitivity, particularly to emotions, odours, and touch.

Ignatia is the great remedy for acute grief, hidden sorrow, and emotional suppression. The patient weeps silently, sighs deeply, and hides suffering from others [Kent]. There is a marked tendency to contradictions—laughing while grieving, sobbing with no tears, hysterical laughter in solemn moments. Mood is changeable, often swinging from elation to sadness. Highly idealistic, refined, romantic personalities—often young women or those who have suffered from love disappointment or bereavement. Oversensitive to pain, odours, sounds, reprimand. The remedy is often described as “grief bottled up”—the emotions turn inward, creating nervous tics, headaches, spasms, or digestive issues. Emotional tension is somatised.

Disturbed by grief, disappointment, or suppressed emotions. Frequent waking with a sigh. Dreams vivid, emotional, and distressing. Sleeplessness from inability to let go mentally.

Dreams of falling, sorrow, loss, or loved ones. Crying in sleep. Dreams alternate between intense joy and crushing sadness. Dreams feel very real and linger after waking.

All symptoms tend to be contradictory: pain better from pressure yet worse from touch; better lying on painful side; sensation of lump but no obstruction. Ignatia is often a remedy of acute emotional conflict, particularly grief, romantic disappointment, or shock. Sensitivity and spasmodicity are hallmark traits. Suited to delicate, nervous, refined people, often women, with a high emotional intelligence but poor emotional outlet.

Fever from suppressed emotions, particularly grief or anxiety. Chilly despite feeling internally hot. Face may be flushed during emotional spikes.

Chilliness without thirst. Heat flushes to face. Profuse sweating, especially at night, without relief. Sweating may alternate with chills.

Headaches are intense and pressing, often like a nail driven into the head [Hering]. Pain may be localised above the root of the nose or in the occiput. Worse from stooping, coughing, or after emotions. The scalp may be sensitive to touch. Twitching of facial muscles or head tremor may accompany emotional excitement.

Dryness, burning, or spasmodic twitching of eyelids. Sudden blurred vision in grief. Tearfulness that doesn’t relieve. Pressure sensation deep in the eyes. Oversensitivity to light and odours.

Roaring, buzzing, and hypersensitivity to noise. Stitching pain extending into the ear. Hearing may fluctuate with emotional state. Ears feel blocked during grief or after weeping.

Spasmodic sneezing, often alternating sides. Coryza from suppressed emotions. Nosebleeds from strong emotions or exposure to tobacco smoke. Oversensitive to odours.

Pale, drawn, or flushed during emotional excitement. Twitching or trembling of facial muscles. Lips dry, quivering, or bitten from nervousness. Facial expression may appear contradictory—smiling while sad.

Bitter taste. Tongue may be clean but trembles when protruded. Ulcers from biting the inside of the cheeks. Dry mouth with normal thirst. Speech may be quick, stammering, or interrupted by sighs.

Toothache from cold or emotional tension. Pain may shift from one tooth to another. Involuntary grinding of teeth at night or during tension.

Globus hystericus—sensation of a lump in the throat that cannot be swallowed, worse with emotion [Boericke]. Stitching pain when swallowing, but swallowing solids is easier than liquids (a keynote). Spasms of the pharynx.

Spasmodic cough, worse from talking or emotional upset. Sighing respiration. Constriction around the heart or sternum. Sensation of a heavy weight on the chest. Palpitations during grief or suppressed weeping.

Palpitations from excitement, worry, or grief. Irregular pulse with emotional suppression. Sensation of a fluttering heart with breathlessness. Heart feels too large or full.

Sighing is frequent and involuntary. Breathlessness with lump in throat sensation. Desire for deep breathing but inability to satisfy it. Cough dry, hacking, worse lying down.

Empty sinking sensation in the epigastrium, worse from emotions. Hiccups, nausea, and retching without vomiting. Craving for indigestible things during grief. Aversion to food yet hunger pangs persist. Sharp gastralgia relieved by eating.

Spasmodic colic, flatulence, and rumbling. Stitching pain extending to the groin. Tension and distension after grief. Abdomen feels hard and tight. Pain shifts location.

Sudden urging, alternating with spasmodic constipation. Sharp pains in anus, worse during stool. Haemorrhoids with shooting pains. Stool may be passed with sighing or emotional tension.

Irritable bladder, frequent desire to urinate. Involuntary urination with sudden emotion. Burning pain before and after urination. Urine scanty, high coloured.

Desire for acidic things, sour fruit. Aversion to meat and stimulants. Symptoms may worsen after eating. Craves indigestibles in grief.

Impotence from grief or embarrassment. Emissions without satisfaction. Testicular pain with emotional suppression.

Menses irregular, suppressed by grief or shock. Cramping pains extending to thighs. Leucorrhoea clear, watery, and worse after emotions. Silent weeping during menses. Hysteria before menstruation. Spasmodic uterine contractions.

Neck stiffness after grief or emotion. Pain between the shoulder blades. Trembling or twitching of the dorsal muscles.

Twitching of arms and legs. Weakness from emotional strain. Numbness in fingers or toes. Cramps in calves, especially at night. Jerking in limbs during sleep.

Sensitive skin, prone to itching without eruption. Hives from emotional suppression. Skin pale and clammy during hysterical attacks.

• Natrum muriaticum – Also suited to grief, but Nat-m. is more reserved, closed, and bitter. Ignatia weeps easily, though silently, and is more changeable.
• Pulsatilla – Changeable moods, but is more yielding and seeks comfort; Ignatia is more internalised, proud, and independent.
• Phosphoric acid – Grief with collapse, apathy, and fatigue; Ignatia is full of conflict and spasmodic expressions.
• Nux vomica – Also from Loganiaceae, but more irritable and aggressive. Ignatia is sensitive and inward.
• Aurum metallicum – Grief with suicidal thoughts, but deeper and more melancholic; Ignatia is more acute and hysterical.

• Complementary: Natrum mur., Sepia, Pulsatilla
• Antidotes: Camphora, Coffea, Chamomilla
• Inimical: Nux vomica (may antidote Ignatia)
• Follows Well: Aconite, Belladonna
• Precedes Well: Natrum mur.

Indispensable in acute grief or disappointment—loss of a loved one, break-up, death, or failure. Use in acute emotional states and early stages of psychosomatic disorders. Typically given in low or medium potencies (30C–200C) for emotional crises. In chronic cases, alternate with Natrum mur. as layers unfold.

Mind

• Ailments from grief
• Contradictory states, mental
• Sighing, frequent
• Weeping, silent
• Hysteria, emotional

Throat

• Lump, sensation of
• Swallowing, solids easier than liquids
• Spasms, hysterical

Generalities

• Pain, better lying on painful side
• Modalities contradictory
• Hypersensitive to odours, noise
• Sudden onset and change of symptoms

Sleep & Dreams

• Sleeplessness, from grief
• Dreams, vivid, emotional
• Waking, frequent sighing

Extremities

• Twitching, emotional
• Jerking in sleep
• Cramps, calves, night

Samuel Hahnemann – Materia Medica Pura: Original proving with emphasis on emotional, contradictory, and psychosomatic symptoms.
James Kent – Lectures on Homoeopathic Materia Medica: Deep insight into mental-emotional state, especially grief and hysteria.
William Boericke – Pocket Manual: Clinical applications, modalities, and globus hystericus.
John Henry Clarke – Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica: Description of hysterical manifestations and alternating mental states.
Hering – Guiding Symptoms: Confirmed spasmodic and contradictory expressions in acute grief and emotional trauma.
F. Allen – Encyclopaedia of Pure Materia Medica: Expanded proving data, especially for digestive and respiratory system.