Sumbul

Ferula sumbul is an umbelliferous plant native to Central Asia whose aromatic root was introduced to nineteenth-century medicine as a cheaper substitute for animal musk. Its resinous/rhizomal material yields a tincture from which triturations and dilutions are prepared. The odour and physiological action suggested a sphere akin to Moschus—on the nervous system, circulation, and sexual organs—producing hysteriform states, palpitation, and vaso-motor instability [Hughes], [Hale], [Clarke]. Toxicological data are slight; the homeopathic picture rests on provings and clinical confirmations compiled by Hale and Allen and subsequently integrated by Hering and Clarke [Hale], [Allen], [Hering], [Clarke].

Introduced to the American school; provings and clinical notes are chiefly from Hale’s New Remedies and Burt, collated by Allen; later confirmations by Hering and Clarke emphasised hysterical phenomena (globus, sighing, syncope), sexual excitability, palpitation, and pruritic/vascular skin sensations [Hale], [Allen], [Hering], [Clarke].

Sumbul centres on suggestible neuro-vascular storms: trifling stimuli—music, odours, talk—unleash a chain of palpitation → flush → globus → sighing dyspnoea → tremor/pruritus → emptiness and faintness. The patient lives close to the surface of sensation: emotionally and sexually excitable, warm-flushed rather than collapsed, and keenly aware of precordial and epigastric sensations that oscillate between hot fulness and empty sinking [Hale], [Clarke], [Hering]. This polarity distinguishes Sumb. from the cold, dramatic collapse of Moschus and from the grief-centric contradictions of Ignatia. Its sphere is functional yet intense—vaso-motor lability in heart and skin; autonomic volatility in stomach and larynx; and erethistic sexuality colouring mind and pelvic organs [Clarke], [Farrington], [Boericke]. The attack is peculiarly social: it loves warm, crowded rooms and hates them—worse in heated salons, churches, theatres, carriages—better outside in the night air, walking slowly, breathing deeply, and talking of anything but the symptoms (for suggestion aggravates them) [Clarke], [Boger]. Women at puberty or the climacteric, and men or women with aromatic-odour sensitivity, illustrate its reach; in both, pruritus and urticarial blotching may herald or follow the palpitation and sighing [Clarke], [Boericke].

Therapeutically, Sumb. is not Moschus lite; it is Musk-root: warmer in surface, more erotic, more pruritic, and more empty at the pit and precordia. Prescribe it when empty-sinking and sighing are as conspicuous as the fluttering heart, when globus and flatulent eructation bridge stomach and larynx, and when the room itself (perfume, heat, crowd) is half the disease. Its essence is suggestible heat with empty centre, clarified by the consistent amelioration from cool air and gentle motion, and by the de-escalation that follows a good sigh and a relieving eructation [Hale], [Clarke], [Allen].

• Cerebro-spinal and autonomic nervous systems — hysteriform states, emotional hyperaesthesia, tendency to syncope; alternations of exaltation and depression [Hale], [Clarke]. See Mind, Sleep.
• Heart and great vessels — tumultuous palpitation, vaso-motor flushes, precordial “emptiness,” faintness from trifling excitement [Hale], [Boericke]. See Heart, Generalities.
• Female sexual sphere — voluptuous sensations, ovarian/pelvic congestion, dysmenorrhoea of nervous type; sexual thoughts intrusive [Clarke], [Farrington]. See Female.
• Upper air-passages and larynx — hysterical dyspnoea, suffocative “sighing,” globus rising from epigastrium to throat [Hering], [Clarke]. See Throat, Respiration.
• Stomach and bowels — flatulent distension with nervous eructation and emptiness; “windy” dyspepsia from emotions [Hale], [Allen]. See Stomach, Abdomen.
• Skin and peripheral circulation — pruritus, urticarial flushes, formication with emotional triggers; sweat of peculiar odour [Clarke], [Boericke]. See Skin, Fever.
• Ears (neuro-vascular) — sudden roaring or fulness with palpitation/flushes; hysterical hyperacusis to music [Clarke], [Boger]. See Ears.

An irritable, exalted nervous state alternates with depression and weariness: laugh, chatter, sing, then collapse into tearfulness and discouragement—a hysteriform polarity that is central to Sumbul [Hale], [Clarke]. The emotions are excessively suggestible; slight music, religious reading, or conversation awakens trembling, flushes, palpitations, and even syncope [Clarke], [Hering]. Voluptuous thoughts intrude, with increased self-awareness of the genital sphere and a mixture of shame and excitation [Clarke], [Farrington]. Anxiety is bodily—“as if something were rising from stomach to throat” (globus), forcing sighs and deep breaths; fear of fainting rather than fear of death is common [Hering], [Hale]. Oversensitivity to odours and sounds (especially music) precipitates or heightens the storm, a point that differentiates Sumb. from Ign., which centres more in grief and contradictory spasms [Clarke], [Farrington]. After each paroxysm the patient is dull, inert, and indifferent, with an empty, sinking feeling at the epigastrium and precordia [Hale], [Allen]. Micro-comparison: Mosch. has more theatrical collapse with coldness and a need for stimulants; Sumb. is warmer, more pruritic and sexually coloured, with a peculiar “empty-but-excited” polarity [Clarke], [Boericke].

Sleepless from exaltation; ideas crowd, sexual thoughts intrude; wakes with palpitation and sighing [Clarke], [Allen]. Dreams vivid, amorous or religiously tinted; broken sleep with sudden starting and sense of falling/fainting [Hering]. Better after a short morning sleep when the storm has passed (clinical note) [Clarke].

Lascivious, excited, or devotional dreams; waking with palpitation, heat, and sighing [Allen], [Clarke].

Marked neuro-vascular lability: trifling impressions (music, odours, talk) trigger storms of palpitation, flush, globus, sighing, pruritus, and tremor, ending in emptiness and prostration [Clarke], [Hale]. Warm rooms, evening, crowds, and emotional topics aggravate; open, cool air and gentle movement relieve [Clarke], [Boericke]. Sexual and devotional colouring shades many complaints (puberty, climacteric); the bodily “centre” is epigastrium/precordia with empty-sinking and need to sigh [Hale], [Farrington].

Flushes of heat with throbbing, hot face and pruritus; alternations with chilliness on slight exposure after excitement; sweat relieves in part [Clarke], [Allen].

Chill from slight draft following warm flush; heat in waves with odorous perspiration; sweat clammy after syncope [Clarke], [Hering].

Congestive fulness with throbbing temples and hot face accompanies palpitation and flushes, worse evening, warm rooms, emotions; better in cool air and by gentle movement [Clarke], [Hale]. Dull frontal pressure alternates with lightness and giddiness during hysterical breathing; head “goes light” before fainting [Hering], [Allen]. Noise and music aggravate; the patient may stop ears yet is drawn to the stimulus—a hallmark suggestibility of the hysteric field [Clarke]. Headache eases after free eructations or when the nervous “storm” subsides (cross-reference Stomach, Generalities) [Hale], [Allen]. Micro-comparison: Valer. also has congestive headaches with erratic nervousness, but Sumb. carries stronger cardiac/sexual colouring and globus [Farrington].

Flushed conjunctiva with heat and smarting during flushes; pupils may dilate with palpitation and anxiety [Clarke], [Allen]. Sight blurs transiently on rising or during threatened faint; black specks or darkness before eyes precede syncope [Hering]. Lachrymation from emotion rather than catarrh; sensitivity to light during congestive phase [Allen].

Roaring or rush of blood synchronous with palpitation; noises and music excite or aggravate symptoms out of proportion to their intensity [Clarke]. Hyperacusis to music specifically is noted, precipitating sighing, tremor, and precordial distress [Clarke], [Boger]. Passing of wind or calming the heart diminishes the tinnitus, linking to the vaso-motor/autonomic sphere (cross-reference Heart, Stomach) [Hale].

Little structural catarrh. Odours are keenly perceived and disliked; musk-like scents, perfumes, or cooking smells can precipitate nausea, palpitations, or hysterical spells [Clarke]. Sneezing during flushes is occasional [Allen].

Flushed, hot, sometimes blotchy; alternates with pallor after excitement or standing [Clarke]. The expression is animated, then blank and weary; lips dry in heated rooms [Hering], [Boericke].

Dry mouth with a sense of heat; thirst not prominent unless during flushes [Allen]. Tongue sometimes coated white with nervous dyspepsia; taste flat after paroxysms [Hale]. Teeth and gums not characteristic.

A globus hystericus rises from epigastrium to throat causing choking, frequent swallowing, and compulsive sighing; slight touch or speaking of the sensation aggravates (suggestibility) [Hering], [Clarke]. The fauces feel dry with a need to clear, yet there is no true inflammation; pressure at the epigastrium or eructations relieve [Hale], [Allen]. Differential: Ign. has more spasmodic constriction with paradoxes; Asaf. more wind and offensive eructations; Sumb. blends the “ball” with palpitation and sexual excitement [Farrington], [Clarke].

Oppression with a necessity to take deep breaths and sigh; chest feels hot and full, then empty and weak after the paroxysm [Hering], [Clarke]. Dry, teasing cough from laryngeal tickle during emotional strain; not a true bronchial catarrh [Allen]. Warm rooms and crowds aggravate; cool air and moving gently relieve (echo of modalities) [Clarke], [Hale].

Key sphere. Palpitations violent, tumultuous, audible, with fluttering and precordial anxiety; slightest excitement, music, conversation, or odours induce attacks [Hale], [Clarke]. A peculiar “emptiness,” “vacancy,” or sinking at the precordia accompanies or follows the palpitation, often with light-headedness and threatened syncope—characteristic of Sumb. [Hale], [Allen]. Flushes mount to face and head; pulse quick, sometimes irregular, with vaso-motor waves [Clarke]. Better cool air, gentle walking, and pressure at epigastrium; worse warm rooms and after rich food or coffee (cross-reference Modalities, Stomach) [Hale]. Micro-comparison: Cactus has constrictive “iron band” and true cardiac pathology; Sumb. is functional, neuro-vascular, erotic-suggestible, with globus and pruritus [Farrington], [Clarke].

Sighing respiration is constant; feels he cannot get enough air though lungs are free—hysterical dyspnoea [Hering], [Clarke]. Suffocative sensations during globus episodes, worse speaking about them (suggestibility), better by pressure and eructations [Hale].

Empty, sinking sensation at epigastrium accompanying palpitations and faintness—an emblematic Sumbul concomitant [Hale], [Clarke]. Nausea from odours or emotions; eructations relieve head and chest symptoms (cross-reference Head, Heart) [Hale], [Allen]. Flatulent distension worse after rich food, coffee, excitement; better from passing wind and cool air [Hale], [Allen]. Appetite capricious; craving stimulants may appear, but aggravation often follows [Clarke].

Windy distension, upward pressure producing globus and sighing; colicky flatus in hypogastrium with ovarian fulness in women [Hale], [Farrington]. Bearing-down pelvic sensations may accompany abdominal gas, worse standing, better lying with slight pressure (cross-reference Female) [Clarke].

Irregular stool from nervous instability; diarrhoea or ineffectual urging under emotional stress, with relief after evacuation [Allen], [Hale]. Pruritus ani and sweating during flushes have been noted in a few cases [Clarke].

Frequent, small urinations during nervous excitement and after palpitation; urine often pale [Allen], [Hale]. Urging may accompany pelvic congestion in women [Clarke].

Aversion to rich foods during attacks; coffee, stimulants, and perfumes aggravate palpitation and nausea [Hale], [Clarke]. Flatulent dyspepsia after dinner; relief by eructation [Hale], [Allen].

Amorous dreams; emissions with voluptuous ideas; over-excitability with subsequent depression and prostration [Allen], [Clarke]. Functional palpitations and emptiness may accompany sexual erethism [Hale]. Differential: Mosch. collapses and faints with coldness; Sumb. remains warm, flushed, pruritic, excited [Clarke].

Sexual excitement heightened; voluptuous tingling and pelvic fulness, especially around menses; dysmenorrhoea of nervous/vascular type with palpitations and sighing [Clarke], [Farrington]. Ovarian aching (often left in some reports) with bearing-down and a need to support parts when walking; worse warm rooms, emotions; better cool air and lying with slight pressure [Clarke], [Hale]. Leucorrhoea may increase with excitement; pruritus vulvae in hysterical subjects is recorded [Clarke]. The remedy suits puberty and climacteric when heart-flushes, globus, pruritus, and emotional storms combine [Farrington], [Boericke].

Weakness between shoulders after palpitations; sacral aching with pelvic fulness in women, worse standing [Clarke], [Allen].

Trembling, quivering, choreic jerkings under excitement; hands hot, then clammy after faintness [Hale], [Allen]. Numbness/tingling during flushes; better cool air [Clarke].

Pruritus and creeping/ formication that rise with the “nervous storm,” especially in warm rooms and at night; urticarial wheals or blotches may accompany flushes [Clarke], [Boericke]. Sweat has a noticeable odour and may be profuse during or after palpitations [Clarke].

Aetiology / Triggers (emotions, music, odours)

• Mosch. — Hysterical syncope with coldness and dramatic collapse; Sumb. is warmer, pruritic, and more sexually excitable [Clarke], [Farrington].
• Ign. — Grief, paradoxical spasms, globus; less sexual/vaso-motor flush than Sumb. [Farrington].
• Valer. — Erratic nervousness with congestive head; Sumb. adds palpitation + sexual and pruritic colouring [Farrington], [Clarke].

Cardio-vaso-motor

• Cact. — Iron-band constriction and organic tendency; Sumb. is functional, suggestible, with “empty-sinking” [Clarke], [Farrington].
• Gels. — Stage-fright tremor with weakness and drowsiness, not erotic; Sumb. is more flushed, excitable, and sighing [Kent], [Clarke].

Globus / Larynx

• Asaf. — Globus with offensive wind and hysterical tympanites; Sumb. less fetor, more palpitation/sexuality [Farrington], [Clarke].
• Lach. — Sensation of constriction worse slightest touch; more left-sided sepsis/loquacity; Sumb. gentler, with sighing and pruritus [Clarke], [Boger].

Female sphere

• Lil-t. — Pelvic bearing-down with cardiac hurry and moral conflict; Sumb. more voluptuous, pruritic, with empty-sinking [Farrington].
• Puls. — Mild changeable temperament, bland discharges; Sumb. more hysterical flush and sexual excitability [Clarke].

Skin / Pruritus

• Urt-u. — Urticaria after shell-fish, external aetiology; Sumb. pruritus is neuro-vaso-motor, emotion-linked [Clarke], [Boericke].
• Sulph. — Chronic itch with heat at vertex and offensive sweat; Sumb. is paroxysmal, flush-driven, and suggestible [Clarke].

• Complementary: Ign., Asaf., Valer. — allied hysteriform sphere from different angles; may follow Sumb. when the “storm centre” shifts (grief; flatulent globus; erratic nerves) [Farrington], [Clarke].
• Follows well: Gels. (stage-fright tremor) when excitability remains with palpitation and sighing [Clarke].
• Precedes well: Puls. or Sep. when neuro-sexual storms resolve into lasting pelvic disorders [Farrington].
• Related: Mosch. (animal musk) — closer aromatic analogue but colder, more syncopal; compare in perfume-triggered attacks [Clarke].
• Antidotes (clinical): Fresh cool air, removal of perfumes/close room, gentle movement; Coff. often aggravates and should be avoided in the acute state [Hale], [Clarke].

• Functional palpitation with empty-sinking and sighing: 6C–30C in acute paroxysms; repeat while excitability and globus persist, then space as stability returns [Hale], [Clarke].
• Puberty/climacteric neuro-storms (flush, pruritus, palpitation, erotic ideas): 30C once or twice daily for several days; consider Sep. or Puls. subsequently if pelvic pathology declares [Farrington], [Clarke].
• Hysterical globus with flatulent dyspepsia: 6C t.d.s. for 24–72 h alongside diet/light aeration; compare Asaf. if offensive wind dominates [Hale], [Farrington].
• Odour- or music-triggered episodes: strict environmental management (fresh air, avoid perfumes/crowds, gentle walking) is part of the prescription—mirrors core modalities and often prevents recurrence [Clarke], [Boger].
• Case pearl: “Palpitation from music in a crowded salon; sighing with globus; relief by cool air at the balcony—Sumb. 30C” [Clarke].
• Case pearl: “Dysmenorrhoeal palpitation with voluptuous unrest and pruritus vulvae—Sumb. 30C p.r.n., later Sep.” [Farrington].

Mind

• Mind—excitement—trifles, from—worse. (Storms from slight impressions.) [Clarke].
• Mind—lascivious—thoughts—intrusive. (Voluptuous ideas with shame.) [Clarke], [Allen].
• Mind—hysteria—sighing; globus hystericus. (Core field.) [Hering], [Farrington].
• Mind—music—aggravates complaints. (Trigger for palpitation/syncope.) [Clarke].
• Mind—alternating states—exaltation and depression. (Polarity.) [Hale], [Clarke].
• Mind—fear—fainting, of. (Bodily anxiety.) [Hering].

Head

• Head—congestion—flushes—evening, in warm room. [Clarke].
• Head—giddiness—before syncope. [Hering].
• Head—pain—frontal—better eructations. (Gastro-cardiac link.) [Hale].
• Head—throbbing—temples—with palpitation. [Clarke], [Allen].
• Head—lightness—with sighing respiration. [Allen].

Throat / Larynx

• Throat—globus—rising from stomach to throat—hysterical. [Hering], [Clarke].
• Throat—sensation—choking—talking of it aggravates. (Suggestibility.) [Clarke].
• Larynx—tickling—dry—cough—emotions, from. [Allen].
• Voice—weak—after emotional excitement. [Clarke].

Stomach / Abdomen

• Stomach—sinking—epigastrium—palpitation, with. (Keynote.) [Hale], [Clarke].
• Stomach—eructations—relieve head/chest. [Hale], [Allen].
• Abdomen—flatulence—nervous; after coffee/rich food—worse. [Hale].
• Abdomen—bearing-down—pelvic—walking—worse. [Clarke].

Heart / Chest / Respiration

• Heart—palpitation—emotions, from—music, odours—worse. [Clarke], [Hale].
• Heart—anxiety—precordial—emptiness, with. [Hale], [Allen].
• Respiration—sighing—constant—hysterical. [Hering], [Clarke].
• Chest—oppression—warm room—worse; open air—better. [Clarke].
• Pulse—irregular—excitement, on. [Allen].

Female

• Genitals—sexual desire—increased—nervous women. [Clarke].
• Menses—painful—nervous, with palpitation and sighing. [Farrington].
• Ovaries—pain—fulness—walking—worse; pressure—better. [Clarke].
• Pruritus—vulvae—emotions—worse. [Clarke].

Skin / Generalities

• Skin—itching—warm room—worse—emotions—worse. [Clarke], [Boericke].
• Urticaria—flushes—with nervous excitement. [Clarke].
• Generalities—warm room—worse; open air—better. (Modal core.) [Clarke].
• Faintness—standing—in close room—worse. [Hering], [Clarke].
• Odours—sensitivity to—perfumes aggravate complaints. [Clarke].

Hale, E. M. — New Remedies (var. eds., 1864–1891): provings and clinical sphere (nervous palpitation, globus, sexual erethism).
Allen, T. F. — Encyclopaedia of Pure Materia Medica (1874–79): proving symptoms (mind, heart, stomach), modalities.
Hering, C. — The Guiding Symptoms of Our Materia Medica (1879–91): hysterical globus, sighing, syncope tendencies.
Clarke, J. H. — A Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica (1900): keynote triggers (music, odours), sexual and vaso-motor colouring, differentials.
Boericke, W. — Pocket Manual of Homoeopathic Materia Medica (1901): clinical notes (pruritus, flushes, palpitation).
Hughes, R. — A Manual of Pharmacodynamics (1880): substance background, comparison with Moschus and antispasmodics.
Boger, C. M. — Synoptic Key of the Materia Medica (1915): generalities and environmental modalities.
Farrington, E. A. — Clinical Materia Medica (1887): female sphere, differentials (Ign., Valer., Asaf., Cact.).
Phatak, S. R. — Materia Medica of Homoeopathic Medicines (1977): terse keynotes (palpitation, globus, suggestibility).
Tyler, M. L. — Homoeopathic Drug Pictures (1942): portraits emphasising hysteriform remedies (comparisons).
Dunham, C. — Lectures on Materia Medica (1878): autonomic/functional angles in nervous remedies (comparative hints).
Nash, E. B. — Leaders in Homoeopathic Therapeutics (1907): comparative insights for neuro-cardiac remedies (context).