Lycopodium – Club Moss

The attenuations are prepared from the dried ripe spores of Lycopodium clavatum

L. N.O. Lycopodiaceae.

Lycopodium clavatum, club moss, is one of the most important polychrests in ho- moeopathy. In the last few years it has been gaining in importance, probably be- cause, as a specific liver remedy, Lycopodium is able to bring significant relief, and even cure, in liver damage, liver dysfunctions, and even in serious degenerative symptoms. This weakness of the liver function runs through the whole remedy.

It must also be borne in mind that a wide variety of symptoms depend on liver function, or else provide a false outlet for the elimination of homotoxins which, be- cause of disordered liver function, are not being adequately eliminated otherwise. These include, e.g., skin diseases such as urticaria or ulcers like boils with a bluish appearance, or also pityriasis associated with falling out of hair in patches, and erysipelas, scrofulous skin conditions with moist eczemas, otorrhoea, tonsillitis, in- flammations of the nipples or eyelids, sciatica, haemorrhoids and other intestinal problems, and particularly flatulence with spastic constipation and violent pains in the anus obliging the patient to interrupt defaecation. These secondary symptoms are mostly reaction phases.

This is especially true of right-sided sore throats which will not clear up under otherwise well indicated remedies, such as Belladonna, Mercurius Iodatus Flavus and others. In these cases the liver must be treated with Lycopodium, or with a bio- therapeutic remedy which contains it.

An important indication for Lycopodium came to light shortly after the currency- reform, when cream was once again widely available, and numerous patients be- lieved that they should undertake so-called cream-treatments to improve their weight. This, however, obviously placed a considerable strain upon their liver func- tion, resulting not in an increase in weight, but in a loss of weight with absolute loss of appetite. In these cases Lycopodium, given by injection, provided a permanent cure after a few weeks. It should be mentioned that states of this kind did not nor- mally respond to any medication.

Lycopodium patients are thin, especially in the upper part of the body, whilst the abdomen and legs are frequently swollen. There may also be ascites. There may be ulcers on the lower legs as well, exuding serous fluid.

The Lycopodium patient also tends strongly towards states of weakness and ex- haustion, and also to depression, the mental functions slowing down considerably, especially in old people, in whom the weakness of memory is particularly pro- nounced. The children too are weak, with well-formed heads but weak, sickly bod- ies. (Nash)

One of the most importants symptoms of Lycopodium is the tendency towards flatulence, with discharge of odourless wind, which collects particularly in the lower abdomen and also the left hypochondrium and the sigmoid flexure of the colon (cf. Lachesis).

Lycopodium is also said to work well in right-sided inguinal hernia. (Nash)

An important symptom of Lycopodium is red sediment in the urine, often a pre- cursor of renal colic.

Lycopodium can also be very effective in impotence, especially following mastur- bation and sexual deviations, when the libido is not reduced.

One thinks of Lycopodium for nasal catarrh with the nose completely obstructed, so that the patient has to breathe through the mouth, above all during the night; in young children, possibly Sambucus.

If cases of pneumonia reach a dangerous stage, especially during the resolution following the crisis, and the expectoration is difficult to expel, being possibly puru- lent and yellow or greenish-yellow and offensive and tasting salty, then Lycopodium in many cases is the remedy, since all right-sided conditions point to Lycopodium, and in many cases are attributable to a liver dysfunction. The right-sidedness applies to all symptoms: right-sided varicose veins, right-sided inguinal hernia, right-sided tonsillitis, (but left-sided spasms in the hypochondrium, like Lachesis), and the right foot is cold.

The aggravation of all complaints between 16:00 hours and 20:00 hours must es- pecially be emphasized, this modality often leading us to Lycopodium in symptoms which obviously have nothing to do with the liver or the symptomatology of Ly- copodium; nevertheless, they react well if this typical aggravation-time is present.

We may just refer also to a recommendation regarding Lycopodium in ileus and intussusception. Here Papaver Somniferum may at times be a life-saver, but it can develop an even better action in combination with Lycopodium or when followed by Lycopodium.

In such cases, where there is usually a chronic tendency to spastic constipation and a tendency towards symptoms of ileus, Lycopodium will normally thoroughly remove not only this tendency towards ileus but also the spastic constipation.

If we summarise the most important symptoms of Lycopodium, the following typ- ical remedy-picture is the result:

1. Weakness and exhaustion. Tendency to depression. Greyish-yellow complexion. Yellowish patches on the skin. Weak muscle development. Weak, sickly children with well-formed heads.
2. Uric acid diathesis. Red sand in the urine, (brick-dust sediment.) Tendency to gravel and renal colic.
3. Tendency to flatulence, especially in the lower abdomen, with cramping com- plaints in the left hypogastrium. Haemorrhoidal complaints. Spasm of the anal sphincter. Want of appetite. Feels full after the first mouthful.
4. Right-sided inguinal hernia. Lycopodium is a predominantly right-sided remedy. Right-sided tonsillitis. Liver problems with jaundice, hepatic enlargement, and greenish, bitter vomiting. Spastic constipation. Tendency to ileus.
5. Typical aggravation from 16:00 to 20:00 for all complaints.
6. Bronchitis with accumulation of mucus, rales, and dyspnoea, as well as pneumo- nia with difficult expulsion of expectoration. Chronic nasal catarrh with obstruc- tion of the nose and acrid, excoriating discharge.

• 7.   Moist eczema. Dandruff. Urticaria. Pityriasis versicolor. Erysipelas. Tubercular skin-diseases. Nipples inflamed, sore and bleeding.
• Right foot cold, left foot warm. Varicose veins on the right lower leg.

The German Monograph-Preparation Commission for the Homoeopathic Field of Therapy has, under the Preparation Monograph for Lycopodium clavatum, pub- lished the following indication(s) in the German Bundesanzeiger (German Federal Gazette) for lycopodium: inflammations of the respiratory organs; general blood poisoning; sequelae of infectious diseases; inflammations and disorders of the hepa- tobiliary system; digestive disorders; metabolic disorders; inflammations of the uri- nary organs; nephrolithiasis; varicose veins; various chronic and acute dermal dis- eases; paramenia and inflammations of the female reproductive organs; other age-re- lated illnesses; behavioural disorders; emotional discord or upset.