Anacardium Orientale : Homeopathic medicine – Its Use, Indications And Dosage

This homeopathic medicine is derived from the plant ‘marking nut’ or ‘Malacca bean’. It belongs to family Anacardiaceae. For preparing homeopathic medicine Anacardium Orientale, the layer between the shell and kernel of the heart-shaped nut of this plant undergoes potentization (a process to prepare homeopathic medicines by arousing medicinal properties of a crude substance). In homeopathy, Anacardium is extensively used for treating cases of schizophrenia, weak memory and forgetfulness.

 The ‘Anacardium Orientale’ Constitution

It is prominently recommended to people who have delusions and hallucinations. This medicine also suits persons suffering from mental and physical exhaustion, and depression. It also suits elderly people mainly those having memory issues.

Drug Action

It acts best on medical problems related with the mind, especially schizophrenia. Apart from the head, it works on the head, gastric system, skin, muscles, nerves and limbs.

Clinical Indications

Schizophrenia, delusions, hallucinations, weak memory, fears, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, stomach pain, nausea, headache, skin diseases, warts, eczema, lichen planus, writer’s cramp

Scope As A Homeopathic Remedy

1. Mind Complaints (Schizophrenia, Delusions, Hallucinations, Weak Memory, Fears, Alzheimer’s Disease)

This medicine has broad action on problems related to the mind. The complaint for which it is the most frequently used and effective is schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia is a mental health condition affecting thinking, emotions, behaviour and decision-making ability of a person. In this condition, various kind of hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that do not exist in reality) or delusions (fixed, false beliefs not based on reality) occur. The main symptom that guides use of this medicine for schizophrenia is auditory hallucinations. A person hears voices of persons faraway, dead people or of spirits. A specific voice may be heard that says that the sufferer is going to die. There are some specific delusions that guide its use. It firstly includes delusion that on one shoulder an angel is sitting and on another a demon is sitting telling good and bad things respectively. A person feels as if he has two wills among which one orders him to do something what other refuses to do. Another delusion is that of being under superhuman control. Anacardium can be given for delusions as if everything is a dream and a feeling that the mind and body are separate. Those needing it are very suspicious. They may also indulge in senseless talk. They can show strange behaviour. They may laugh at serious matters and become serious when there is something to laugh about.

Other than schizophrenia, it is one of the best homeopathic medicines to deal with cases of memory weakness and forgetfulness. Here a person forgets names of those around him, forgets what has been seen. Absent-mindedness is also there. It is well-indicated for management of cases of senile dementia (memory loss in elderly people). Another use of this medicine is management of Alzheimer’s disease. It is a brain disorder in which the death of brain cells results in memory loss and gradually destroys thinking, behaviour and social skills to an extent to interfere with daily life.

Another sphere where it shows excellent results is different kind of phobias (fears). Among these, it is a top most medicine to deal with fear of examinations in students. Also it can help cases of fear that some misfortune is about to happen, fear of future and fear of being poisoned. A particular fear of paralysis also indicates its use.

Other than the above, persons having brain fatigue (tiredness) may find this medicine quite useful. For example, students who feel nervous after over-study and exhaustion benefit greatly from its use. Those needing it, do not wish to work, they just want to lie down or sit.

Lastly, it is indicated for cases of depression. People needing it are anxious and worried that they may suffer from a serious disease. They have a feeling of being forsaken and feel helpless. They get offended easily and become angry about little things and get violent. They may use bad language too. Persons having a history of having suffered humiliation, abuse either physical or verbal or sexual abuse can find this medicine very effective.

Key Indicating Features

Schizophrenia with auditory hallucinations when person hears voices of persons faraway, dead people or of spirits

Delusion that on one shoulder an angel is sitting telling good things and on another a demon is sitting telling bad things

Delusion of having two wills among which one orders him to do something while the other refuses

Delusion of being under superhuman control

Memory weakness and forgetfulness, Alzheimer’s disease

Fear of examinations in student

Brain fatigue (tiredness), nervous exhaustion after over study

2. Gastric Issues (Stomach Pain, Nausea, Difficulty in passing Stool)

Anacardium is capable of resolving gastric issues wonderfully. It is well-indicated for stomach pain which gets better from eating. Those needing it have weak digestion. They feel fullness and distension in the abdomen. It can alleviate pain around navel area with sensation of a dull plug being pressed in the intestine. Rumbling in abdomen in the navel area is present. It helps in managing nausea especially in the morning. There is an empty feeling in the stomach. Vomiting and belching accompanies nausea. It also acts well on rectum. There is difficulty in passing stool even when it is soft. There is ineffectual desire to pass stool. Rectum feels powerless. A plug sensation in rectum is felt. It can also be given for relieving anal itching. Bleeding with stool may occur in some cases needing it.

Key Indicating Features

Stomach pain that gets better from eating

Pain around navel region with sensation of a dull plug being pressed in the intestines

Difficulty in passing stool even when soft

A plug sensation in rectum

3. Head (Headache)

With its action on head, it gives substantial relief in headache. There is a pressing sensation as from a plug in head. Foremost indication for its use is headache worse from mental exertion. There is relief in headache by eating. It gets better by taking some sleep. There is heat in head accompanied by icy coldness of hands and feet. Another notable indication is headache that occurs from strong smell.

Key Indicating Features

Headache from mental exertion

Headache better by eating

Headache better from falling asleep

Headache from strong smells

4. Skin Complaints (Eczema, Blisters, Warts)

It is mainly recommended for treating eczema, particularly when attended with mental irritability. There is violent itching and scratching worsens it. It can deal with skin blisters (fluid-filled bumps on skin) effectively, when they discharge a yellow transparent fluid. It is a well-known medicine to treat warts (rough, hard bumps on skin causes by human papilloma virus). It is specifically indicated for warts on palms of hands. Lastly, its use is considered in cases of lichen planus (an autoimmune inflammatory skin condition characterized by small flat topped purple-colored bumps on skin).

Key Indicating Features

Eczema with mental irritability

Blisters that discharge yellow transparent fluid

Warts on palms of hands

5. Limbs (Cramps, Writer’s Cramps)

Anacardium also acts on limbs to deal with certain issues. Firstly it is an important medicine for cramps in calf muscles. Persons needing it feel pain in the calf muscles when rising up from a seat and also from walking. They may have cramps in toes as well that extend to the heel and calf muscles. Secondly, it is also indicated for writer’s cramp (disorder in which there occurs muscle spasm or contraction in hands when writing) cases. Thirdly, it is known to be helpful in relieving stiffness of legs with a feeling that they are bandaged. There may be burning sensation in the soles of feet and legs where it is required.

Key Indicating Features

Cramps in calf muscles when rising from a seat and also from walking

Writer’s cramp

Stiff legs with sensation as if they are bandaged

Modalities

Worsening factors: Complaints get worse from mental exertion, anger, fright, from motion, in open air and from talking

Relieving factors: Complaints get better from eating, rubbing, heat and in the sun

Dosage

Its use is recommended from 6C to 200 C potency. The potency selection varies from case to case. As a general rule it can be repeated frequently in low potency but in high potency should not be taken frequently.

Relationship with Other Remedies

Antidoted by: Clematis, Croton Tiglium, Coffea Cruda, Juglans Cinerea, Ranunculus Bulbosus and Rhus Tox

Followed well by: Lycopodium, Pulsatilla and Platina