Lycopodium clavatum

Lycopodium clavatum is a spore-producing, creeping evergreen plant native to the forests of Europe, Asia, and North America. The yellow spores are collected from the cones and are extremely fine and hydrophobic. These spores are the part used in homeopathic preparation, prepared by trituration and then potentised. The plant is classified under the Lycopodiaceae family and represents one of the oldest vascular plants on Earth, with fossil records dating back over 300 million years.

Before homeopathy, Lycopodium spores were used in pharmacy as a dusting powder for pills and inflamed skin due to their water-repellent properties. They were also used in photography and pyrotechnics, as the spores are highly flammable. In folk medicine, the spores were believed to have diuretic and antispasmodic properties.

Lycopodium was proved by Hahnemann and published in his Materia Medica Pura. Later expanded upon by Hering, Allen, and others. Symptoms primarily derived from trituration of the dried spores and administered tincture.

Lycopodium has a deep and wide range of action, with profound affinity for the digestive system, particularly the liver, gallbladder, and intestines, often producing flatulence, bloating, and sluggish digestion. It acts strongly on the urinary organs, respiratory system, and genitalia. It also affects the mind, especially in relation to confidence, anticipatory anxiety, and self-esteem. The right side of the body is notably affected, with complaints often beginning on the right and moving to the left. Lycopodium is also a key remedy for chronic complaints, particularly in the elderly, children with premature intellectual development, and menopausal women. It influences circulation, hair and skin, and is deeply active on glandular function and metabolism, including the thyroid.

• Warm food and drinks (despite aggravation from heat)
• Uncovering (especially head and abdomen)
• After midnight
• Cold applications (in skin and joint symptoms)
• Motion (in some complaints, particularly abdominal distension)
• Eructation and passing flatus

• Between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.
• Warm rooms and warm bed
• Lying on the right side
• Tight clothing, especially around the waist
• Mental exertion or anticipation
• Eating even a small amount
• Bread, cabbage, onions, oysters, and cold food
• Suppressed discharges

Lycopodium is often compared with Nux vomica, as both exhibit gastrointestinal disturbance, irritability, and business-related stress. However, Lycopodium’s complaints are generally right-sided, marked by lack of confidence, and tend to worsen between 4–8 p.m., while Nux is more impulsive, aggressive, and worsens in the morning.

It also closely resembles Sulphur in digestive sluggishness and skin conditions, but Sulphur is more neglectful of hygiene, more intellectualised in pride, and worse from bathing, while Lycopodium is more reserved, with internalised fear of failure.

With Argentum nitricum, both may suffer anticipatory anxiety and digestive upset. Yet Lycopodium’s anxiety tends to be silent and internalised, while Argent-n. is hurried, impulsive, and extroverted.

In female complaints, it may be confused with Sepia, especially in hormonal and menopausal complaints. Lycopodium is more intellectual, withdrawn, and right-sided, whereas Sepia is colder, indifferent, and more focused on disconnection from loved ones.

• Complementary remedies: Carbo vegetabilis, Graphites, Sulphur, Calcarea carbonica
• Antidotes: Camphora, Pulsatilla, Coffea
• Inimical to: Nux vomica (should not follow it immediately)
• Follows well after: Calcarea, Sepia, Sulphur
• Precedes well before: Pulsatilla, Silicea, Sulphur

At the heart of Lycopodium clavatum lies the conflict between inner weakness and outer performance. It suits individuals—children and adults alike—who feel deep internal uncertainty or failure but project a confident exterior. There is an intense fear of not being good enough, of being seen to fail, or of being overwhelmed by responsibility. Yet these individuals are often intellectually sharp, precociously clever, and naturally suited to leadership roles once self-trust is restored. Physical pathology is marked by fermentation, distension, and obstruction—mirroring the emotional blockage within. The right-sided action, anticipation anxiety, and aggravation from 4 to 8 p.m. form the keynotes of this deeply constitutional plant remedy.

Lycopodium is indispensable in cases of bloating and flatulence where even a small quantity of food causes discomfort. It is a first-line remedy for anticipatory anxiety, especially where fear disappears as the event begins. In children, it is helpful when they are bright but lack confidence, or where there is right-sided otitis, tonsillitis, or constipation. It shines in the management of chronic liver, gallbladder, and gastric complaints, particularly when right-sided and worse late afternoon. Men with impotence from performance anxiety, or women with difficult menopause marked by digestive and urinary issues, benefit greatly from this remedy. Lycopodium is also useful in chronic fatigue states, urinary retention, and eczema with crusty eruptions. When selected on clear keynote symptoms, its depth of action is remarkable.

Mind

• Anticipation, ailments from
• Anxiety, evening, 4–8 p.m.
• Fear, undertaking new things
• Dictatorial, commanding disposition
• Weeps from music
• Timidity, appearing confident
• Fear of being alone, yet avoids company

Head

• Headache, right-sided, evening
• Hair, premature greying
• Vertigo on rising or turning

Eyes

• Vision blurred after mental exertion
• Lachrymation in open air
• Pupils unequal

Ears

• Earache, right side
• Roaring, buzzing
• Hearing, impaired during cold

Nose

• Coryza with crusts and dryness
• Obstruction alternating sides
• Nosebleeds, morning, right side

Mouth & Throat

• Dryness without thirst
• Taste bitter or metallic
• Throat, sensation of plug
• Tonsillitis, right to left

Stomach & Abdomen

• Appetite, ravenous yet emaciates
• Bloating, after small quantity
• Rumbling, flatulence
• Craves sweets, warm drinks
• Liver, congestion, right-sided

Rectum & Stool

• Constipation, ineffectual urging
• Haemorrhoids, protruding, painful
• Diarrhoea, alternating with constipation

Urinary

• Hesitant urination
• Retention after delivery
• Urine, red sediment

Male

• Impotence from anxiety
• Emissions without erections
• Prostatitis, right side

Female

• Menses, late and scanty
• Menopause, bloating and heat
• Dryness, vagina

Chest & Heart

• Palpitations with anxiety
• Cough, dry, worse 4–8 p.m.
• Dyspnoea, lying down

Extremities

• Cold feet
• One foot hot, the other cold
• Gouty joints, right-sided

Skin

• Eczema, crusty, offensive
• Ulcers, slow healing
• Cracks, hands, feet

Sleep & Dreams

• Wakes unrefreshed
• Dreams, falling, humiliation
• Sleep disturbed by bloating

Generalities

• Right-sided complaints
• Aggravation 4–8 p.m.
• Worse from warmth, tight clothes
• Better for uncovering abdomen

Hahnemann, S. Materia Medica Pura
Kent, J.T. Lectures on Homœopathic Materia Medica
Hering, C. Guiding Symptoms of Our Materia Medica
Allen, T.F. Encyclopedia of Pure Materia Medica
Clarke, J.H. A Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica
Boericke, W. Pocket Manual of Homœopathic Materia Medica
Nash, E.B. Leaders in Homœopathic Therapeutics
Farrington, E.A. Clinical Materia Medica