Opium

Opium is the dried latex obtained from the seed capsule of the Papaver somniferum plant, a native of Western Asia and the Mediterranean. It contains alkaloids such as morphine, codeine, and thebaine, which act powerfully on the central nervous system. In homeopathy, Opium acts as a remedy of suppression, torpor, and insensibility, yet paradoxically capable of violent excitement and delirium. Its action is centric, spiritual, and dream-like.

Proved by Hahnemann and colleagues; toxicological and historical data from centuries of opium use were also utilised

Opium is the remedy of insensibility, of life paused in its flow. Ailments arise from shock, grief, or fear, where the soul retreats, and the body follows in sleep or silence. There is no complaint, even when destruction is imminent. It is a picture of suspended life, where function ceases but the form remains. In paradox, it may produce ecstasy, visions, and exalted states—especially in the weak, aged, or children. It is a sacred, dangerous, powerful medicine when the vital force is silent.

• Central nervous system – stupor, paralysis, convulsions
• Mind – ecstasy, unconsciousness, delusions
• Gastrointestinal tract – constipation, atony
• Respiratory system – suppression, slow breathing
• Pupils and eyes – contracted, fixed pupils
• Circulation – congestive states, venous stasis
• Skin – insensitivity, mottling, lack of reactivity
• Senses – dulled or distorted perception

The mind under Opium is marked by torpor, stupor, and blissful unconsciousness. The patient may appear serene, even euphoric, while completely unaware of surroundings. There is absence of pain, absence of complaint, even in grave conditions [Kent]. Profound indifference to all. Eyes half closed, face flushed, smile vacant. In some cases, mental excitement replaces dullness: hallucinations, visions of glory, religious ecstasy, or terrifying phantasms. Dreams spill into waking life. The mind may alternate between violent delirium and death-like sleep. Delusions include seeing ghosts, imagining people on fire, or hearing celestial music. Disobedient children who become insensible and sleep with flushed face and snoring respiration. Old people and drunkards in whom brain function fails gradually. Ailments from fright, especially when fright remains in the system and is not expressed. Convulsions from suppressed grief or shock.

Profound sleep, stupor-like, with stertorous breathing. No response to name or touch. Lies in same position for hours. Sleep unrefreshing, feels more tired. Children sleep heavily after fright. Somnambulism. Dreams vivid, prophetic, or terrifying.

Fantastic, ecstatic, or horrifying. Dreams of falling, flying, being suffocated. Dreams of fire, ghosts, or dead relatives. Often remembered in detail. May produce daytime hallucinations.

Complete absence of reactivity is keynote. Symptoms vanish after fright or shock. Coma, convulsions, and collapse define its sphere. No pain where pain should be. All discharges are suppressed. Great for ailments from fright, trauma, or suppression. Apoplexy, paralysis, constipation, unconsciousness, snoring coma, and ecstasy. Suited to newborns, infants, the aged, and alcoholics.

Heat with deep stupor, no thirst, no sweat. Congestion to head and face. Cold extremities. Fever with absent symptoms—no complaint. Pulse slow. Delirium or deep coma.

Chill with trembling. Heat with no sweat. Sweat cold, clammy, on forehead. Sweat may be absent even in high fever. Alternate chill and heat with stupor.

Congestion of head with red, bloated face and hot skin. Sensation of pressure outward, as though skull would burst. Head feels empty and hollow, yet heavy and full. Brain seems asleep. Head rolls from side to side involuntarily. Vertigo with blackness before eyes. Nodding of head during sleep. Sensation of flying or rising. Heat in head with coldness in extremities. Apoplexy with coma, stertorous breathing, and open eyes. No pain even in acute conditions—true analgesia.

Pupils contracted, fixed, and insensible to light [Hering]. Eyelids half closed, upper lids droop. Eyes stare blankly, or appear ecstatic. Lachrymation absent. Eyeballs protrude in convulsions or during fevers. Vision dim or lost; objects appear golden or too bright. Diplopia, flickering, flashes. Insensibility to bright light or painful stimuli.

Hearing diminished or entirely lost during stupor. In hallucinated states, hears divine music or thunder. Ears red, hot, or cold. Roaring, rushing sounds in ears. Earache with little complaint.

Dryness, nostrils do not move during respiration. Nose pinched, blue during collapse. Bleeding from nose during congestion. Offensive odour unnoticed. Tip cold, especially in infants. Snoring through nose in sleep.

Face deeply congested, dark red, bloated, or blue. Facial muscles twitch or hang. Expression idiotic or vacant. Jaw dropped. Cold sweat on forehead. One side red, the other pale. Convulsions distort face. Face remains red even in coma. Eyes fixed, lips dry and black. Features immobile.

Dryness extreme, yet no thirst. Tongue trembles, is dry, black, and lies motionless. Speech incoherent or lost. Jaw clenched or dropped. Taste bitter, metallic, or absent. Frothing at mouth in seizures. Inability to articulate. Cheeks puff out on exhaling.

Teeth clenched in spasms or convulsions. Grinding during sleep. Mouth may remain open for hours. No reaction to dental pain.

Swallowing nearly impossible in stupor. Food or drink rolls around mouth without being swallowed. Sensation of lump or paralysis. Cough reflex absent. Ulceration may go unnoticed. Tonsils enlarged with no complaint.

Menses suppressed after fright or grief. Labour pains cease suddenly. Threatened abortion with torpor. Puerperal convulsions with coma. Lochia suppressed. Vulva dry, cold. No sexual desire or response. Involuntary urination during sleep.

Pulse slow, full, and bounding—or weak and intermittent. Palpitations after fright. Cyanosis in collapse. Heart may seem to stop. Cold extremities with hot chest. Fainting from shock. Apoplexy with suppressed circulation.

Breathing slow, laboured, stertorous, with deep snoring. Stops entirely for moments. No awareness of air hunger. Breathing quiet in dangerous states. Lungs congested. Cannot take deep breath. Expiration passive.

No appetite. Complete inaction of stomach. Vomiting rare but may contain undigested food. Nausea without sensation. Craves strange things in delirium. Sensation of weight like a stone. After fright: complete arrest of digestion. Stomach insensitive to pressure.

Tympanitic, distended, insensitive. No awareness of gas or movement. Constipation from paralytic inactivity. Incarcerated hernia with no pain. Flatulence accumulates silently. Colic suppressed or unnoticed. Blue discoloration during collapse.

Constipation is keynote—no urging, no sensation, even with full rectum. Stool hard, dry, black, in balls like sheep dung [Clarke]. Rectum seems paralysed. In children and the aged. Paralysis of sphincters. Involuntary stool in coma. Offensive odour but no reaction. Haemorrhoids purple, insensible.

Suppression or complete retention of urine. Bladder full but no urge. Urine passed involuntarily during coma. Urine dark, offensive, or entirely absent. No burning or discomfort felt. Enuresis in unconscious or deeply sleeping children. Spasm of bladder. Renal failure without pain.

No appetite. No thirst. Cannot swallow. Craves nothing. Total inactivity of digestion. Food remains in stomach undigested. Aversion to food or drink.

Genitals relaxed, cold, insensible. Erections absent or involuntary emissions during sleep. Impotence from mental causes. Spermatorrhoea without awareness. Scrotum cold, flaccid. Genital neuralgia with no complaint.

Menses suppressed after fright or grief. Labour pains cease suddenly. Threatened abortion with torpor. Puerperal convulsions with coma. Lochia suppressed. Vulva dry, cold. No sexual desire or response. Involuntary urination during sleep.

Spine feels heavy, inert. Back bends backward in spasms. Soreness without complaint. Coldness along spine. Paralysis after fright. Jerking of limbs from spinal irritation. No reaction to pressure.

Tremors, twitching, or complete relaxation. Paralysis with no awareness. Convulsions alternate with stupor. Feet cold, blue, mottled. Arms drop limply. No control over limbs. Numbness, deadness, or tremors. Infantile convulsions after fright.

Insensibility is keynote. Skin cold, blue, mottled, or red and congested. Perspiration scant or absent. Eruptions suppressed. Bedsores form unnoticed. Skin dry, hot during fever, clammy in collapse. Skin hangs flaccid. Old wounds do not heal. Urticaria after fright.

• Gelsemium – Drowsy and weak, but more tremulous and fearful
• Hyoscyamus – Delirium, but more loquacious and erotic
• Stramonium – Night terrors, but more violent and fearful
• Belladonna – Congestion and ecstasy, but more reactive and painful
• Aconitum – Sudden onset from fright, but with fear and restlessness
• Carbo vegetabilis – Collapse, but with air hunger and flatulence

• Complementary: Aconitum, Belladonna
• Antidotes: Nux vomica, Coffea
• Follows well: Aconitum (shock), Arnica (injury)
• Inimical: Sulphur (in deep stupor or collapse)

• After fright: convulsions, coma, or loss of function
• Newborns who don’t cry after birth
• Apoplexy, shock, stupor, and snoring coma
• Retention of urine or faeces after surgery or injury
• Useful in surgical shock, stroke, deep sleep, or fever without complaint

Mind

• Ailments from fright
• Delusion: glorious visions
• Ecstasy, blissful
• Unconsciousness with open eyes
• Indifference to pain

Stool

• Constipation, no urging
• Stools hard, black balls
• Paralysis of rectum

Sleep

• Snoring
• Stupor with open eyes
• Somnambulism

Generalities

• Lack of reaction
• Shock, collapse
• Heat with cold extremities

• Samuel Hahnemann – Materia Medica Pura: Original proving symptoms, particularly stupor, ecstasy, and constipation
• J.T. Kent – Lectures on Homoeopathic Materia Medica: Core essence and mind state
• Clarke – Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica: Expanded mind, sleep, and paralysis descriptions
• Boericke – Pocket Manual: Clinical indications and modalities
• Hering – Guiding Symptoms: Coma, convulsions, and keynote differentials
• Allen – Encyclopaedia of Pure Materia Medica: Rich proving material and collapse details