Anacardium Orientale – Marking Nut

The mother tincture is prepared from the dried ripe fruits of the tree Semecarpus anacardium L., which is native to the East Indies. N.O. Anacardiaceae.

According to Nash the tincture of the fruits of this tree, Semecarpus anacardium, used for the homoeopathic attenuations, is a valuable remedy which is generally un- dervalued. In many cases of so-called dyspepsia, where otherwise Nux Vomica is prescribed indiscriminately, Anacardium is better indicated, since it has a typical stomach-ache, which always occurs with an empty stomach and is ameliorated by eating, whereas the distinctive stomach-ache of Nux Vomica is ameliorated when the digestive process is finished. This distinguishing symptom has led to the prescription of Anacardium in cases of duodenal ulcer and duodenal catarrh, in which of course such hunger-pain sensations are characteristic.

Like Nux Vomica, Anacardium also has the symptom of frequent unsuccessful urging to pass stool, but in Anacardium there is the additional sensation of a plug or lump in the rectum, which cannot be squeezed out. This symptom does not occur in the picture of Nux Vomica.

A. v. Fellenberg-Ziegler characterises the action of Anacardium as bearing partic- ularly on the skin and brain, and draws attention to the periodicity of the complaints which are typical in cases of duodenal ulcer. The sensation of a plug is not restricted to the rectum, but may occur in a variety of parts of the body, linked with weakness in the limbs, especially the knees.

Cramps in the calves may also occur while walking or on risig from sitting. There may also be an anaesthesia of the skin or a great sensitivity to draughts and cold, linked with a burning itching of the skin, urticarial vesicles and wart-like excres- cences. Also characteristic of Anacardium are retoxic impregnations after sup- pressed skin-eruptions, in particular cerebral and emotional symptoms with hypochondriacal irritability, timidity and fearfulness of misfortune and danger.

Such irritative symptoms of the central nervous system may also occur after ex- hausting mental work, with brain-fag and tearing pains in the forehead, temples and occiput; here again there may be the sensation of a plug in the head, or as of a tight band placed around the forehead.

In many cases there is also extraordinary weakness of memory, such as may occur after recovery from serious illnesses, possibly associated with a feeling of pressure or swimming in the head. This may be accompanied by a fear of company or out- right agoraphobia, linked with hard-heartedness, inhumanity and a tendency to use

bad language. Precisely this last symptom may provide a characteristic pointer to Anacardium. If a patient incessantly swears about everything (including the political situation etc.) one should cast about for Anacardium symptoms, and not infrequent- ly such symptoms will be found. In such cases Anacardium is capable of curing the whole condition.

Nash also draws attention to a further symptom: the patient has a feeling as if he had two wills, each driving him to do opposing things. Here then we are dealing with a symptom such as is found in schizophrenia.

If we sum up the most essential symptoms of Anacardium, the following picture emerges:

1. Periodicity of complaints and pains, stomach ulcers aggravated in spring.
2. Itching, burning and sensation of heat in the skin. Formation of vesicles, pustules and warts. Urticaria with a yellowish fluid exuded.
3. Anxious and worried mood. Timidity, sensitivity. Tendency to cursing and swear- ing.
4. Sensation of a plug in various places in the body, e.g. in the head, the lower ab- domen, in the rectum or anus, associated with constipation, (even a soft stool can only be passed with difficulty).
5. Typical hunger-pains with empty stomach, ameliorated by eating.
6. Marked weakness of memory in old people, linked with nervous breakdown, weakness in the limbs (especially the knees), and possibly headache (with plug sensation). Cramps in the calf-muscles when walking.

The German Monograph-Preparation Commission for the Homoeopathic Field of Therapy has, under the Preparation-Monograph for Semecarpus anacardium, pub- lished the following indication(s) in the German Bundesanzeiger (German Federal Gazette) for anacardium: skin rashes; gastric digestive insufficiency; gastric and duodenal ulcers; mental exhaustion; emotional discord or upset; delusions.