Hyoscyamus – Henbane

The mother tincture is prepared from the whole fresh plant in flower of hyoscya- mus niger L. N.O. Solanaceae.

There is a close relationship between the three Solanaceae: Hyoscyamus, Bel- ladonna and Stramonium. The main active ingredient of Hyoscyamus is the alkaloid, hyoscyamine.

The three related alkaloids, hyoscyamine, atropine (Belladonna) and daturine (Stramonium) enlarge the pupils constantly, and cause great dryness of the mouth and pharynx, larynx and bronchi, and external skin, as well as difficulty in swallow- ing and hoarseness. In larger doses they bring about swimming in the head, with ver- tigo, hallucinations and delirium. In smaller doses they depress the heart function and slow the pulse rate, whereas after a large dose an immediate initial slowing of the pulse rate is followed by an equally rapid compensatory increase above the nor- mal.

Whereas atropine in large doses almost always causes an erythema of the skin, a flushing similar to that of scarlet fever, this is only exceptionally noticed with hyoscyamine.

As a rule, atropine causes an ecstatic delirium with a tendency towards wrestling, scuffling, laughing and all sorts of unconventional behaviour, although on the other hand there may also be unusual unsteadiness and great muscular weakness. With hyoscyamine neither is the case; on the contrary there is a tendency towards sleep and rest. On odd occasions when too high a dose has been taken, atropine-like symptoms of excitement may be noticed.

Atropine also causes paralysis of the sphincters of anus and bladder, in contrast to hyoscyamine, which has a more paralytic effect on the sphincters of the iris than does atropine. Hyoscyamine is not identical to atropine.

With long-term use, hyoscyamine is followed by heavy haemorrhage from the womb, as well as sweats and peculiar skin eruptions.

Hyoscyamus has a characteristic aggravation of complaints in the evening-time, with an irresistible urge to sleep and to day-dream predominating, with a long, deep sleep as if drugged, characterised by grindling of the teeth (!).

Apart from states of excitement with great restlessness, mobility and loquacity, there are passionate vehemence, jealousy, raving and attacks of fury. At the other end of the scale there may also be depression to the point of melancholia, and dull apathy (in chronic poisoning).

The skin symptoms are itching and redness. Brown patches appear here and there and disappear again. The typical facial appearance is puffed up and dark red with purulent vesicles on the lips and pustular conditions on the chin and cheeks; these may also occur around the hips and knees.

The picture of Hyoscyamus also includes parotitis and tonsillitis.

Particularly typical are, however, disorders of the intellectual functions, with ex- citement and possible subsequent weakening; there is inane chatter and foolish ges-

tures and actions, betraying a confusion of ideas, as also in delirium, weakness of thinking and memory and finally characterised by a dulling of the powers of com- prehension.

Attacks of epileptic spasms with tetany, convulsions, trismus, congestion of blood in the head and headaches are also typical.

The eyes have a glazed stare and an unusual sheen, and there may be protrusion, distortion and spasms of the eye muscles.

Further indications are conjunctival discharge, and marked pupil-enlargement, dullness of vision, weakness of vision and myopia – for Hyoscyamus and for Bel- ladonna (Atropinum Sulphuricum).

There may also be amaurosis, with flickering and dark spots in the field of vision and abnormal refraction of the light-rays, so that objects appear smaller, change po- sition, or their outlines are blurred. Objects may also appear in a scarlet light, or shining like gold. Double vision may also occur.

There may also be disturbances in the hearing, with complete deafness, pains in the cartilage of the ear, and tearing pains, especially in the evenings.

In the provings there also occurred spasmodic tension and painful stiffness of the neck- and shoulder-muscles, with tearing pains in the back and loins and swelling of the ankle. There was also trembling of the arm and rheumatic pains in the elbows and wrists, with swelling and stiffness of the hands, and diminished feeling or “pins and needles” in the arms and hands.

As with Belladonna there can be a paralysis and coldness of the lower limbs, with pains in the hip-joints, knees or ankles, weakness of the legs, swelling of the feet and tearing pains in the soles. According to the dose, there may be a stronger and irregu- lar heart contraction and an accelerated, full, strong pulse, with pulsation of the ar- teries, or else a smaller, slower or more rapid, scarcely detectable, failing pulse.

The respiratory symptoms are characterised by catarrhs of the larynx, nasal mu- cosa and bronchi, with greenish mucous expectoration on coughing, constriction of the chest and shortness of breath. On inspiration stitching pains are felt in the chest (cf. Bryonia). The spasmodic, dry cough shows a marked nightly aggravation, espe- cially when lying, which fades on sitting up: a guiding symptom which should lead to the prescription of Hyoscyamus.

Hyoscyamus should also always be indicated by the symptom of grinding the teeth in sleep, bearing in mind Ignatia and Cina also.

Acute tonsillitis reacts mostly not only to Belladonna, but also to Hyoscyamus, when there is the sensation of great dryness, scratching and burning in the palate and the oesophagus, with swallowing difficulties on account of the inflamed swelling of the tonsils.

There may also be a loathing for drinks. After drinking there are convulsive move- ments with disordered consciousness, and there may also be retching with nausea but not vomiting, stomach pains with severe distension, flatulence and violent colics, constipation and evacuation of firm faeces or else loose stools with abdominal rum- blings and cutting pains. Frequent passing of threadworms is also said to be typical, as is discharge from the haemorrhoids.

Inflammatory symptoms and paralytic weakness are also found in the bladder, with frequent urging and painful, scanty urination, possibly associated with erec- tions and sexual phantasizing to the point of priapism, linked with temporary impo- tence; in the female sex there are inflammatory conditions of the vaginal mucosa, with intensified desire and violent phantasizing to the point of nymphomania, also hysterical moods ands menses beginning 14 days too early with copious bleeding.

If the main symptoms of Hyoscyamus are summed up, we have the following typ- ical remedy-picture:

1. Symptoms of cerebral irritation with convulsions, muscle-twitching, catalepsy and epileptiform spasms. Mental disorders, characterised by silliness and uncon- ventional behaviour, or erotic states of ecstasy.
   1. Eye-conditions. Conjunctivitis. Double vision. Objects seen appear red.
   1. Tearing pains in the ears at night. Hearing impairment and facial pain. Delusions of jealousy.
   1. Spasmodic nocturnal attacks of tickling cough, ameliorated by sittig up. Expecto- ration of green muscus on coughing. Dryness in the throat, larynx and lungs.
   1. 5.   Nose-bleeds. Stomach pains. Inflammations of the gastric mucosa and intestines with retching, vomiting, colic and diarrhoea.
   1. 6.   Spasms of the bladder. Paralysis of the bladder with arousal in the sexual sphere. Menses too early and too heavy.
   1. 7.   Rheumatism or gouty conditions in nervous tracts and joints.

The German Monograph-Preparation Commission for the Homoeopathic Field of Therapy has, under the Preparation Monograph for Hyoscyamus niger, published the following indication(s) in the German Bundesanzeiger (German Federal Gazette) for hyoscyamus: restlessness and conditions of excessive excitement; in- somnia; spastic conditions of the respiratory passages and of the alimentary tract.