Gelsemium Sempervirens- The Homeopathic Remedy

General description and domicile:
Gelsemium Sempervirens is native to North and Central America and can be found in coastal regions in moist woodlands from Virginia to Mexico. It is a very attractive creeper that can climb up host trees to a great height, often hanging in tresses from one to the other.
It is an evergreen creeper with opposite deep green leaves and clusters of fragrant tubular, yellow flowers in early spring. The roots form runners that can extend great distances underground before shooting up another plant.

Warning: Extreme care must be taken with this plant as it is poisonous in significant doses.

Part used and extraction:
The fresh root and/or runners are used in the homeopathic remedy.

Remedy preparation:
Chopped and steeped in alcohol to obtain mother tincture

History:
The root of the plant has been used since the days of the early settlers in America as a cure for fevers.

How to use these pages:
What follows below is a profile of the homeopathic remedy. This profile must be compared with the profile of the person to be treated in great detail before treatment can be commenced. See How to Use these Pages

Remedy profile:
Dull, slow people who resent being disturbed. Gelsemium people do not like the limelight and can be paralyzed with anxiety before exams or a public performance.
When ill they become lethargic and reclusive, not wanting attention and being fussed over. They prefer to be left alone and although they suffer from depression will totally avoid company. Physically they become very fatigued and droops at the shoulders feeling as if they are walking through molasses.
The illness takes long to develop and deterioration is gradual accompanied with a sense of increasing malaise and almost despair. Conditions normally associated with winter may take until early spring to develop. Patients become sedentary, preferring to move as little as possible.

Key Symptoms:
Fatigue, weighed down lethargy, wants to be left alone, fear of public performances and exams.

Used for treatment of:

Exam nerves

Stage fright

Phobias

Exhaustion/Fatigue

Paralysis

Fevers

Influenza

Colds

Sore throat

Measles

Headaches (accompanied by fatigue)

Diarrhea

General Symptoms Worse for: Factors/Conditions that make the symptoms worse
Late winter and spring
Humid weather
Afternoons
Emotional upsets
Exams
Public speaking

General Symptoms Better for: Factors/Conditions that improve symptoms
Sweating
Urinating

 

See also our Herbal page on Gelsemium.