Caladium seguinum

Caladium seguinum belongs to the Araceae family, native to tropical America. The plant contains acrid, needle-like calcium oxalate crystals and an irritating juice that can cause intense burning and swelling of mucous membranes when chewed. In crude form, ingestion can lead to salivation, swelling of the tongue and throat, inability to articulate, and severe gastric distress. Homeopathically, the tincture is prepared from the fresh root and leaves, potentised to remove toxicity. It is especially noted for its action on the sexual sphere, pruritus of the genitalia, mental states linked to sexual weakness, and peculiar gastric disturbances.

Ornamental foliage plant in horticulture; in crude form, used traditionally by Caribbean tribes as a deterrent plant due to its acridity.

First proving conducted under the direction of Dr. C. Hering in the mid-19th century, with further clinical confirmations by Allen and others, especially in male impotence and genital itching.

• Male genital organs: Impotence, sexual weakness, and genital pruritus [Hering].
• Nervous system: Mental prostration linked to sexual exhaustion.
• Skin and mucous membranes: Itching, burning, and irritation of genitals; erythematous patches.
• Stomach: Nausea and loss of appetite; craving for tobacco despite aversion to food.
• Respiratory tract: Occasional hoarseness, dryness of larynx.

• Rest in bed.
• Mental diversion from sexual thoughts.
• Cool applications to itching parts.
• After passing urine, in certain genital symptoms

• Touch of affected genital parts [Allen].
• Thinking about sexual matters.
• Warmth, especially of bed.
• After coitus or sexual excitement.

• Agnus castus – Also has impotence and low desire, but with total absence of mental sexual excitement. Caladium retains desire in the mind.
• Selenium – Impotence after sexual excess, but with excessive emissions and more general debility.
• Lycopodium – Impotence from fear of failure, with strong desire but failure at the act; more bloating and right-sided complaints.
• Nux vomica – Sexual weakness in irritable, over-stimulated patients with gastric disturbance.

• Complementary: Selenium, Lycopodium.
• Antidotes: Camphor, Nux vomica (for overaction).
• Follows well: After Agnus castus or Selenium in chronic sexual debility.

Caladium seguinum centres on sexual weakness with preserved desire, genital itching, and a craving for tobacco. The mental depression is tied to a deep sense of inadequacy, particularly in men, and the physical impotence is accompanied by nervous exhaustion. The itching of genitals, worse warmth of bed, is a keynote.

• Excellent in cases of impotence where the patient still has mental sexual desire but cannot achieve erection [Hering].
• Noteworthy for treating genital itching of both sexes when worse in bed warmth.
• Craving for tobacco is a peculiar confirmatory symptom.
• Can follow Agnus castus or Selenium in chronic sexual debility cases.

Mind:

• Sadness from sexual weakness.
• Anxiety about sexual failure.

Male:

• Impotence with mental desire intact.
• Genital itching, worse warmth of bed.
• Emissions without dreams.

Generalities:

• Weakness from sexual excess.
• Aggravation from warmth of bed.

Stomach:

• Aversion to food, desire for tobacco.

1. Hering, C. – The Guiding Symptoms: Core symptoms in genital sphere and craving for tobacco.
2. Allen, T.F. – Encyclopaedia: Proving records, modalities.
3. Clarke, J.H. – Dictionary: Clinical confirmations in impotence and genital itching.
4. Boericke, W. – Pocket Manual: Summary of keynotes.
5. Hughes, R. – Pharmacodynamics: Discussion of crude toxicology.
6. Farrington, E.A. – Clinical Materia Medica: Comparative study with Selenium and Agnus castus.
7. Boger, C.M. – Synoptic Key: Condensed keynote list.
8. Nash, E.B. – Leaders: Clinical indications.
9. Kent, J.T. – Lectures: Emphasis on the mind–sexual connection.
10. Dewey, W.A. – Practical Therapeutics: Grouping with other impotence remedies.