A proving of mimosa pudica

A PROVING

OF

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PUDICA

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Similia, in 1970, but I am sorry to read in his tenth, October issue, t h a t he is thinking of giving up the editorship due to lack of support and time. This would be a misfortune for Homoeopathy, for it is the only new homceopathic magazine to be published in a decade, and every one of us should make an effort to get into the cold finality of print, ff only to give others the benefit of our experience and to keep our interest in the subject alive for the next generation growing up. These random thoughts on "Tools of the trade" do not exhaust b y any means the books available for the library of the young homoeopathic doctor beginning his career. The British Homceopathic Association carry a book list of reasonably priced books on the last page of their monthly journal

Homt~opathy. Of these I would recommend as a start, Elements of Hom~xrpathy b y Dr. D. N[. Gibson, Children's Types b y Dr. D. M. Borland, Principles and Art of Cure b y Dr. H. A. Roberts. All of the books given in this book list are useful in their own field, but the ones I have mentioned are, in m y opinion, the ones likely to be of most use to the beginner. Dr. W. A. Dewey of the University of Michigan, U.S.A., published his Practical Homceopathic Therapeutics in 1900, the first Indian edition was produced by M. B h a t t a c h a r y y a and Company Private Limited, in J a n u a r y 1960, and the second came out in 1962. The fa~t t h a t a second edition was called for so soon after the first speaks for the high quality of this book, which is useful as a memory refresher, but is not a book for the beginner. I n using these tools of the trade, experience is the best teacher, and the beginner will gain confidence in his drugs by taking careful notes and learning what they can do to alleviate the ills t h a t flesh is heir to. He should keep a record of the letters he gets from grateful patients, for by them I can convince others of the truth of Homceopathy.

A proving of Mimosa pudica J. R. RAESIDE,

M.R., c r ~ . n . , M.F. HOM.

I t was at the request of Dr. Gutman t h a t we conducted this drug proving, as part of an international trial of a very interesting little plant. The specimen was obtained from France, although the bush is actually a tropical one, and Nelson's prepared the potencies from the whole flowering plant. Due to the smaller number of provers it was decided to repeat the proving a second year, so in all we had 21 provers, i.e. 12 and 9, and a total of 53 terms or trials, i.e. 28 ~- 25, as follows:

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1967-68 Potency No. of provers

Nov. 1967 6c 10

Feb. 1967 6x 8

May 1968 3@ 10 -~ 28 trials

1968-69 Potency No. of provers

Nov. 1968 6x 8

Feb. 1969 9c 9

May 1969 12c 8 ~ 25 trials

A single trial or experiment consists in the student taking 28 powders of the potency of Mimosa pudica over a period of 14 days, i.e. one powder night and morning, unless the symptoms justify stopping. As not all provers take part in all three trial terms, we had only 28 experiments instead of 36 from our 12 provers in 196748, and similarly 25 trials from 9 provers in 1968-69. This gave us altogether 53 separate trials of two weeks each over the two years, with 21 provers taking part and five different potencies used. As we have found in previous years, it was again the third term which produced most marked symptoms, i.e. in May 1968 the 30c, and in May 1969 the 12c. This does not necessarily mean that 30e and 12c are the most effective potencies of Mimosa, but probably that those who went through the three trials were more sensitive by the time of the third experiment. I t did seem, however, t h a t 6x was the least effective potency in this series, whereas 6e was a more effective potency. During the course of the tests, six of the students had to stop taking the powders for a time due to the severity of the reactions. This was caused by such symptoms as insomnia, premenstrual tension, skin irritation and digestive disturbance. None of these effects lasted long and the students were able to return to the experiment after a few days when the symptoms disappeared. NATURAL

HISTORY

Mimosa pudica L., the humble plant or the sensitive plant, is a small perennial shrub belonging to the pea family, the Leguminosae, sub-family Mimosidcae, of which there are several hundred species. I t grows all over the world in tropical and subtropical climates, favouring warmth and humidity, as it is a native of South America. I t is described as a shrub 2-3 feet high clothed with prickles. The leaves are compound, made up of four bipinnate leaflets meeting at a common foot stalk. I t slightly resembles the leaf of acacia to which it is related. The flower is a pinkish or purple globose head like a dandelion. The pods when they form are small and fiat, covered with bristles and contain 3-5 seeds. Mimosa pudica closely resembles M. sensitiva, and both species are m i m i c s - which is what the name mimosa implies--they make certain movements which mimic animal sensitivity. Quite a number of plants demonstrate this tropism or movement suggesting sensitivity. Usually it is to light or time of day or gravity, or like the sundew Drosera which reacts to the contact of insects. Mimosa pudica, however, reveals a remarkable reaction to rough t~)uching: its leaves collapse and fold up in a matter of seconds, then gradually, in ten minutes or so, regain their former shape. The drooping attitude which they adopt when touched is the same as their night or "sleep" position. Normally the leaves and leaf stalk fold together in the evening and hang or bend some 30-50 ~ in towards the stem of the plant. In the morning the leaves gradually

A

PROVING

OP

MIMOSA

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PUDICA

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Mimosa pudica, before and after being touched unfold and open out again. This same "turgor movement" takes place rapidly when the leaf is struck or when it is subjected to various chemical and electrical stimuli or to radiation. Needless to say, numerous investigations have been carried out in the name of science over the years, subjecting the poor mimosa to a great variety of shocks, cuts and assaults in an endeavour to understand this remarkable phenomenon! The sensitive movements were apparently recorded by the Greeks some 300 B.C. and have been studied carefully in the past few centuries since the plant was introduced into Europe from America in the mid-seventeenth century. The mechanism of the sensitive movements is very complex and not entirely explained in any reference which I could find. The most recent work seems to be that carried out by Weintraub at Toronto University in 1950. He describes three separate hut usually combined movements of the leaflets, leaf, and leaf stalk base, due to an unknown stimulating hormone which causes certain sensitive cells to lose fluid rapidly into the intracellular spaces, thus losing turgidity and altering shape. Although contractility of the cells may also play a part in the whole phenomenon, each hypothesis concerning the mechanism is unsatisfactory in some respect.

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Mimosa pudica contains a toxic alkaloid, mimosine, which has the formula CsH1004N2. This substance m a y account for its toxic effect on horses and other animals. Whereas cattle m a y eat the shrub with impunity, horses and pigs lose hair and chickens are stunted in their growth. Some workers believe t h a t this depilatory effect is produced b y selenium which is absorbed b y mimosa in toxic amounts from the soil. Some of the toxic selenium absorbers are leguminous plants like the vetch. The medicinal effects attributed to Mimosa pudiea are varied, as one would expect with the native use of the herb. I n India, where it is a weed in some d a m p hot areas, mimosa has been used to cure urinary gravel, piles, hydrocele, sores and glands. I n Nigeria it is used for worms, dysentery and gravel. BOTANICALLT

RELATED

REMEDIES

Although there are no other homceopathie remedies belonging to the sub-family Mimosideae, there are a few in the Leguminosae family, notably Baptisia, Lathyrus and Melilotus, as well as several fittle-known plants. REVIEW

OF

THE

PROVING

The largest group of symptoms in our proving of Mimosa occurred in the digestive system, where 20 of the 21 people who took p a r t in these experiments recorded some disturbances. Nausea was prominent, also abdominal distension with flatulence and various pains with either constipation or diarrhoea. One student who was normally constipated had loose bowels indicating a therapeutic effect rather than a proving. Another girl had to stop the drug because of "belching p.c., < evening, with hunger, distension of stomach, heaviness, constipation and later loose bowels". Secondly the mind symptoms showed t h a t a large number were stimulated to the extent of irritability,~ excitement, tension, restlessness and inability to concentrate. Very few were depressed b y the drug, which is unusual in our provings, and one who was drowsy to begin with later became alert, indicating a possible primary depression and secondary stimulation effect of Mimosa. N e x t in order of importance came the symptoms produced in the head, where the pains were mainly frontal, more common on the left side, and more often on waking or in the evening. All of these symptoms, except < left side, are frequently seen in our provings. The skin symptoms were quite marked, occurring in 12 of the 21 students. They were: dryness of the skin, with irritation and itching but no definite rash, involving the whole body, more common on the left side. Several h a d sensitivity of the skin to touch, one had irritation of the right arm with redness which developed on touching. Examples: "itching of toes and heels in the afternoon, also legs itching and stinging. Lasted two weeks after stopping powders". : Or "marked scaling of skin of face and arms, with cracks and weeping slightly, very itchy". This was a return of an old symptom. I n the second trial her menstruation came on one week early and no skin symptoms appeared! I n her third term the skin was less affected. Lastly the eyes in 10 provers were affected with sensitivity to fight and sight, redness, inflammation, itching, or pain, most were < fight, > eyes closed. No other group of symptoms seems to me to be of any importance, as they all turn up in most of our drug provings. I n the generals, two things seemed certain: < left side and < 6-10 a.m. or p.m.

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I t is interesting to note how some provers become more sensitive to the drug with each term's experiment and record better symptoms. I_~ss often the reverse is the case. Again the primary stimulation and secondary reaction can usually be seen in some, showing t h a t we are not just dealing with drug effects, but with the body's vital reactions to the drug stimulus, which m a y manifest in opposite directions at different times. An interesting example is the young m a n who had severe backache (old symptom) caused by the first powder. He stopped for two weeks and began a g a i n - - t h e back pain returned but he persisted with the powders this time. After four days the ache disappeared! The individual nature of the response makes the assessment of the drug picture always a difficult task. AN

EARLIER

PROVING

Allen's Encyclopedia records a drug proving of Mimosa humilis, which m a y be the same plant or a related species. A tincture of the leaves was used, but no details of the method are given. I t is interesting to note t h a t in the 52 symptoms recorded there are a number of similarities to ours, especially in the region of the eyes, the abdomen and the skin. Without more details of the number of provers and method employed, there is no point in making a more exact comparison of the two provings. SUMMARY"

AND

CONCLUSIONS

These drug provings of Mimosa pudic~ which we conducted between 1967 and 1969 produced a moderately good result in four regions or systems of the body, namely the gastrointestinal system, skin, mind and eyes. However, Mimosa is not a very poisonous plant, and I could find no mention of a toxicology in any of the works which I consulted. I t is reputed to have irritant effects on humans, and to have depilatory effects on some animals. The pne report of a toxic alkaloid, mimosine, mentioned b y Renz in South Africa, is not very detailed and does not mention t h a t humans are affected. The main interest of the sensitive mimosa is in the extraordinary leaf movements which are likened b y some to animal reactions, such as the snake feigning death, or animals fainting from fear. Sir Jagodir Chundra Bose carried out m a n y interesting experiments with mimosa in India. He found t h a t the leaves "fall asleep" from about 6 p.m. till 8 a.m., then very slowly "awake" to a normal position. Our time aggravation at 6 to 10 a.m. or p.m. suggests this r h y t h m . Bose also found that the plant fatigued from frequent stimulation, but recovered with rest; again some of the provers demonstrated a similar reaction. The leftsidedness of the proving symptoms plus the yielding nature of the plant itself m a y point to its being a remedy for females. But what of the sensitive leaves b y which the mimosa attains so unique a position among plants? Is this its signature, and if so, what does it tell us about its remedial powers? A drug proving can be nothing more t h a n a sketch of the range of medicinal effects, but the real clue could lie in the plant itself if we can but "grasp its inwardness", to quote Margaret Tyler. The phenomenon of the turgor movements seems to be one of chaos in the water metabolism, although all factors controlling it are not thoroughly understood. Seen from another standpoint the response of the leaves to touch is like a reflex spinal reaction or perhaps an allergy reaction, since it is not a neurological but a chemical reaction in the plant.

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Our proving symptoms showed firstly a sensitivity----of mind, of eyes, and of skin; secondly they showed a turmoil in the metabolic system if not in the water metabolism. Then in the skin the commonest symptom was dryness--exactly the opposite of fluid e x t r a v a s a t i o n - - b u t at least a water displacement. Perhaps a poisoning might reveal an oedema or an urticaria, but a proving is a gentle experiment and not a toxicological study in the ordinary sense. My feeling about Mimosa pudica is t h a t we will find t h a t it has its realm of use as a homceopathic remedy in such conditions as urticaria, angioneurotic oedema and allergic diseases of the skin and other tissues, where there is manifest a turmoil in the fluid metabolism. Thanks are due not only to the group of people who experimented with Mimosa, but also to Messrs. Nelson for supplying the powders, and to the Lawson Tait Trust for paying the provers. BIBLIOGRAPHY Weintraub, M. (Dept. of Botany, Toronto, Nov. 1950), " L e a f Movements in Mimosa pudica L." New Phytologist 1991.

MIMOSA P U D I C A - THE PROVING SYMPTOMS MIND

(16 out of 21 provers) Irritable and easily annoyed Irritated b y small things Tense and nervous Excited in evening, nervous and worried Easily worried, disconcerted and nervous Mind restless, can't concentrate on studies Mind restless but clear Concentration difficult in conversation Can't study or think Apprehensive and weepy with premenstrual depression Melancholic and depressed Drowsy on first day, alert on third day Forgetful

H E A D AND VERTIGO

(14 provers) Dull frontal headache on waking or in evening Dull frontal headache and on temples, < left, < evening, < movement Frontal headache one hour after powder Throbbing frontal headache, > l y i n g down Headache behind eyes Headache over left eye H o t congested head with vertigo Stabbing headache on rising H e a v y head, > open Headache < morning or evening, esp. 6-8 p.m.

EYES

(10 provers) Eyelids heavy, eyes hot, sensitive to light, > closed, > pressure on eyeballs

A PROVING

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Ache over eyes, pressure in eyeballs Eyes sore and tired, ~ closed Eyes bloodshot, red, itching and heavy Photophobia with redness of eyes Eyelids burn EARS

Nil

FACE

(5 provers) Rash on face, red and itching Rough skin on left nostril. Itch of skin of face Dry skin of face Small pink pimples on face Blotchy redness of face with spots on right cheek

MOUTH

(7 provers) Ulcers in mouth, on tongue and lip Herpes on lip and ulcer on tongue Dry mouth with great thirst all day Offensive breath, coated tongue and excessive saliva

THROAT

(13 provers) Sore throat, difficult to swallow Sore throat on left Sore throat, coated tongue and dry mouth Dry burning throat Sharp pain in left tonsil at night

STOM~KCH~

(20 provers) Nausea with a feeling of a stone in the stomach Nausea while travelling on a bus Nausea with loose stools Nausea after meals with stomach ache Nausea on waking, ~ lying down Acute nausea with stomach ache one hour after powder Nausea in a taxi or a bus Fullness of abdomen, not relieved by eructation Flatulence with belching p.e. in evening Distension of abdomen with intolerance of tight clothing Flatulence and flatus with abdominal discomfort Pain in left side of abdomen Stabbing pain in right abdomen Sudden severe throbbing pain in lower abdomen Stitching pains in right abdomen, with tenderness to touch Pain in left lower abdomen, ~ pressure, > doubled up Pain in liver region Cramping indigestion pains behind the sternum Constipation with hard dry stools Hard dry stools with flatus Constipation with tenderness of abdomen Hard stools difficult to pass

ABDOMEN~ ETC.

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Constipation, later bowels became loose Loose stools (normally constipated) Examination nerves cause loose stools Urge to evacuate bowels often Diarrhoea with soft stools, full of wind, pains in abdomen Loose stools and flatus UROGENITAL

(5 provers) Frequency of urination Menstruation early

CHEST

Pain on waking in left chest, breast and heart region Pain across back of chest and shoulders

BACK

Lumbar backache and stiffness in morning Dull lumbar ache Severe backache caused by first powder. Left lumbar region, < bending back, > rest, > walking

EXTREMI-

Weakness of arms and legs Cold hands and feet Cramp in left leg with numbness of left arm and left leg

TIES

SLEEP

(13 provers) Sleep disturbed by frightening dreams Alarming dreams Restless sleep Wakened at 3 a.m. with mixed-up dreams

SKIN

(12 provers) Dry scaly eruption of face and arms, cracks, weeps, itching Dry skin round nails and fingers Small pimples on arms, shoulders and right buttock Itching rash on left ankle and left wrist Itching of left forearm. Skin is sensitive Dryness of hands and face, with a few spots on left forearm Irritation of right arm, with redness on touching Irritation round trunk, back and limbs Dryness of trunk, arms, with itching small white spots or heat bumps

GENERALS

Tiredness and aching of body on rising 6 a.m.-10 a.m. or 6 p.m.-10 p.m. < left side.