Teucrium marum verum

Teucrium marum verum is a fragrant, grey-green herb belonging to the Lamiaceae (mint) family. It is native to the Mediterranean region and was historically employed in traditional medicine for nasal obstructions, polyps, and catarrhal affections. Homeopathically, it is most famed for its action in nasal polyps, worms, and hypersensitivity, especially in individuals with nervous overactivity and erratic, twitchy behaviour.

Originally proved by Hahnemann and later confirmed by Allen and others. Clinical confirmations dominate the remedy’s current use.

Teucrium marum verum is a remedy of blocked passages and hyperactive nerves. Its leading indications are nasal polyps, chronic catarrh, and worms—especially in children who are restless, irritable, and hypersensitive. The essence of the remedy is overstimulation with obstruction: sensory overload, crawling skin, obsessive irritability, and blocked airways or rectum. It is suited to neurotic, excitable constitutions and to those whose symptoms worsen with suppression—be it skin eruptions, nasal discharge, or parasites.

• Nasal mucosa – particularly polyps, obstruction, and chronic catarrh
• Rectum and intestines – especially in worms and itching
• Nervous system – for nervous twitching, restlessness, and overexcitement
• Vagus nerve and respiratory tract – for reflex coughs and throat tickling
• Ears and Eustachian tubes – for blocked sensation, itching, and sensitivity
• Scalp and skin – for crawling sensations and formication

Extremely nervous, sensitive, and overexcitable. Restlessness that borders on the twitchy and compulsive. Oversensitive to smells, sounds, or even the idea of illness. Complaints often arise or worsen when thinking about them—a keynote of the remedy. Irritability and fidgetiness, often in children who are plagued by worms. Prone to obsessive tendencies or neurotic overfocus on physical sensations [Kent].

Restless, interrupted by itching or worms. Light sleepers; slightest sound wakes them. Sleep talking or groaning. Worse after midnight. Teeth grinding disturbs sleep.

Dreams of snakes, worms, or insects. Frightening dreams with sudden waking. Children cry out. Dreams of suffocation or being buried alive.

Marked sensitivity, both physical and mental. Crawling, formication, itching, and twitching. Symptoms aggravated by suppressed discharges, touch, or strong odours. Strong indications in nasal polyps, worms, and nervous irritability. Left-sided predominance. Worse at night, better in fresh air and with motion.

Low-grade fever in worm cases. Chilliness with nasal congestion. Fluctuating temperature in chronic catarrh. Night sweats in polyps or suppressed eruptions.

Coldness of extremities. Heat of face with cold hands. Sweats at night, especially head and neck. Sweating after scratching.

Frontal headache, often associated with nasal congestion or sinus blockage. Feeling of fullness or pressure in the forehead. Sensation as if the head were expanding. Crawling or tingling in the scalp. Aggravation from tobacco smoke is marked. Vertigo when blowing the nose or after nasal obstruction.

Dryness and burning in the eyes. Lachrymation in open air. Twitching of eyelids in nervous states. Irritation when nasal symptoms are prominent. Light sensitivity in oversensitive individuals.

Tickling and itching deep in the ears. Eustachian tube obstruction sensation, as if something were blocking the passage. Better from yawning or swallowing. Crackling sounds when swallowing or chewing. Often accompanies nasal catarrh or polyps.

Tickling and itching deep in the ears. Eustachian tube obstruction sensation, as if something were blocking the passage. Better from yawning or swallowing. Crackling sounds when swallowing or chewing. Often accompanies nasal catarrh or polyps.

Pale, sunken, and drawn in chronic states. Itching around the nostrils and lips. Facial muscles twitch in nervous children. Perspiration of face in nervous attacks or worm infestation. Haggard expression in chronic catarrh sufferers.

Foul breath, particularly in morning or with catarrh. Tongue coated white or yellowish. Salivation increases in worm cases. Itching of palate or uvula, causing constant throat-clearing or hawking. Dry mouth with bitter taste.

Grinding of teeth at night—classic worm symptom. Sensitive teeth from nervous excitement. Children with bruxism and restlessness.

Throat tickling, worse at night or on lying down. Reflex cough triggered by irritation at the root of the uvula. Constant need to swallow. Feeling of hair or thread in throat. Voice may be hoarse from postnasal catarrh.

Tightness with catarrhal obstruction. Dry, hacking cough from throat tickling. Breathing through mouth due to nasal polyps. Reflex cough from postnasal drip. Coldness in chest alternating with heat in head.

Palpitation in nervous individuals. Fluttering with excitement. Sudden flushing or anxiety from suppressed discharges. Worse lying down.

Obstructed through nose, must breathe through mouth. Dyspnoea from nasal blockage or polypi. Better in cool air. Reflex sneezing and cough.

Appetite variable. Hunger soon after eating. Nausea in the morning. Sensation of worms crawling in stomach. Aversion to fat or rich food. Aggravation from sugar and milk in wormy children.

Distension, bloating, and gurgling. Sensation as if something alive were moving in abdomen—strong keynote for worm infestations. Colic with twitching. Itching around umbilicus. Cutting pain, worse at night.

Intense itching and crawling in anus, especially at night. Children wake crying and restless. Pinworms (oxyuriasis) and threadworms are key indications [Clarke]. Constant rubbing or scratching. Worms cause reflex symptoms—irritability, grinding of teeth, insomnia. Rectal tenesmus with mucus.

Irritation of bladder with frequent urging. Itching of urethra. Cloudy urine in worm cases. Retention in children with intestinal parasites.

Craves sweet and salty things. Aversion to fat, milk, and heavy food. Hunger soon after eating. Disgust for food during catarrh. Worse from overindulgence.

Itching of scrotum and anus. Spermatorrhoea with extreme nervousness. Overstimulation from suppressed catarrh. Erections at night in children with worms.

Itching of vulva with reflex symptoms. Leucorrhoea with nasal obstruction. Menses irregular from chronic catarrhal conditions. Vaginal sensitivity and crawling sensations.

Crawling sensations along spine. Sensitive to touch between scapulae. Restlessness compels movement. Dull ache in lumbar region from nerve irritation.

Twitching, trembling, and restlessness. Cramping of calves in nervous children. Itching of soles and palms. Limbs feel numb or crawling. Weakness during digestive complaints.

Itching with crawling or formication. Worse at night or thinking about it. Skin feels “alive”. Urticarial eruptions from suppressed nasal or rectal symptoms. Oversensitive to touch.

• Santoninum – Specific for roundworms, but less nasal involvement
• Calcarea carbonica – Worms with coldness and delayed development
• China officinalis – Worm symptoms with bloating and debility
• Silicea – Nasal polyps with sinus pain, but more chilly and obstinate
• Lemna minor – Nasal polyps with musty smell, worse in damp places
• Arundo – Nasal itching and catarrh, but less affinity to polyps or worms

• Complementary: Cina, Santoninum, Silicea
• Antidotes: Nux vomica, Pulsatilla
• Follows well: Cina, Mercurius, Calc. carb.
• Inimical: Tabacum (aggravates nervous system)

• Excellent for nasal polyps—use in low potencies over long term
• Valuable in threadworm infestations with rectal itching
• Useful for chronic catarrh where other remedies fail
• Consider in sensitive children with restlessness, sleep disturbance, and twitching
• Use 6C or 30C for daily use in worm cases; higher for nervous hypersensitivity

Nose

• Polyps, chronic
• Obstruction, night
• Itching, inside
• Must breathe through mouth

Rectum

• Worms, ascarides
• Itching, anus
• Crawling sensation

Mind

• Irritability, from worms
• Oversensitive, touch, smell
• Thinking aggravates symptoms

Sleep

• Restless, wakes from itching
• Grinding teeth
• Dreams, worms

Skin

• Crawling
• Itching, worse night
• Sensation, something alive

Generalities

• Worse touch
• Worse suppression
• Left-sided symptoms

• Samuel Hahnemann – Materia Medica Pura: Original proving observations, especially on nasal and nervous effects
• William Boericke – Pocket Manual of Homoeopathic Materia Medica: Core indications for polyps and worms
• John Henry Clarke – Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica: Detailed notes on rectal and catarrhal action
• T.F. Allen – Encyclopedia of Pure Materia Medica: Full proving records and lesser-known modalities
• James Kent – Lectures on Homoeopathic Materia Medica: Psychological insights and nervous oversensitivity