Gelsemium

Gelsemium is one of my favorite homeopathic remedies. It is made from Gelsemium sempervirens plant, (also known as Caroline yellow jasmine or false jasmine) that grows as an evergreen twining vine and produces beautiful yellow fragrant flowers in early spring. Gelsemium should not be consumed as a plant because it contains toxic strychnine related alkaloids, but as a homeopathic remedy it is safe and is used to help in many conditions, especially, for flu.

When flu season comes, many people can be affected. Homeopaths give homeopathic remedies to help with flu based on symptoms. After a while, they sometimes see a symptoms pattern emerge for most people affected by the flu. Usually, each person that has flu, cold or any other problem will get a different homeopathic
remedy to get better. When many people are affected by flu, a group of people might produce the same symptoms in response to the flu. In that case, the same remedy is used for the group to help with the flu. Homeopaths call such a remedy genus epidemicus. It sounds mysterious in Latin, but basically, it is just a remedy that is the most helpful in the particular epidemic. For example, in the flu pandemic called Spanish flu, that happened in 1918 and took many lives, the genus epidemicus was Gelsemium.

As a homeopathic remedy Gelsemium presents a picture that is more typical of influenza than any other remedy. Homeopaths call Gelsemium a “four D” remedy: Drowsy, Dull, Droopy and Dizzy. If that’s how you feel when you get flu, or know someone that does, the remedy may be of interest to you.

Gelsemium flu has a slow onset with dizziness, weakness, and chills running up and down the spine, and great lethargy. Extreme muscle weakness, trembling and body ache all over. Vision is blurry and eyelids are heavy. Complete apathy and indifference about the illness. Dull pain on the back of the head, the face feels dump; chills and heat flushes but no thirst. Do not wish to speak with anyone; do not want anyone near, desire solitude and to be quiet. The remedy can also be used to counteract cowardice at the battlefield, for stage fright and anxiety before tests and interviews.

For acute conditions (short leaved, just happened) a good potency to use is 30C. If you have tried 3-7 doses of the remedy and did not get relief for your symptoms, call your homeopathic practitioner for advice and suggestions for another remedy.

Be well!

Source: New feed