Digitalis – Foxglove

The mother tincture is prepared from the fresh leaves, gathered at the commence- ment of flowering, of the one or two years old plant Digitalis purpurea L., which oc- curs, often in massive quantities, in upland woods of Europe where trees have been cleared. N.O. Scrophulariaceae.

The main indications and symptoms are:

Deathly nausea with clean tongue. Vomiting. Uninterrupted urging to urinate. Irri- tation of the neck of the bladder. Scanty urine with albumin, dark and cloudy. Hy- drocoele. Hypertrophy of the prostate. Hyperemesis gravidarum. Dreams of falling. Weakness of the heart muscle. Sensation as if the heart stood still. Can lie neither on the left nor the right side; best lying flat on the back. Dilated veins. Cold limbs. Pains and swelling of the liver with heart pains. Heart failure. Oedema.

In the case of Digitalis it is usually forgotten that, apart from the circulatory symp- toms, other symptoms may also constitute an indication.

Thus gastro intestinal symptoms – albeit largely of circulatory origin – point to Digitalis, particularly a sensation of pressure and cramp in the left hypochondrium, possibly moving to the heart and mimicking the symptoms of infarction, or leading into them. In this case, in order to prevent the infarction, it is absolutely necessary to use Digitalis tincture, which is best mixed with Crataegus tincture. Restless sleep, interrupted by many dreams and by nocturia, and by frequent waking (on account of fear, restlessness and fear of dying), is typical of Digitalis, particularly dreams of falling.

Digitalis is also indicated for stabbing pains in the renal area with urging towards the bladder and symptoms of bladder irritation, desire to urinate but with retention of urine, and frequent strangury, the urine possibly containing blood. These symptoms are found in hypertrophy of the prostate.

The German Monograph-Preparation Commission for the Homoeopathic Field of Therapy has, under the Preparation Monograph for Digitalis purpurea, published the following indication(s) in the German Bundesanzeiger (German Federal Gazette) for digitalis: cardiac insufficiency; migraine.