CLASSIFICATION The genus Asarum comprises 75 species of perennial

herbs, distributed throughout northern temperate areas of the world. Along

with 7 other genera, it belongs to the Aristolochiaceae, a family of mostly
warm-temperate to tropical herbs, shrubs and lianas.
FEATURES Most of them are shade-loving plants, forming dense ground
cover in summer, particularly in leafy soil underneath tall trees and shrubs.
Dried or cooked with sugar, the aromatic rootstock makes a spicy substitute
for Ginger. The shining dark-green [evergreen] leaves of A. europaeum are
kidney-shaped; the bell-shaped drooping flowers, hidden beneath the
leaves, are purplish brown and bear stumpy appendages; the rhizomes are
spreading and frequently bunched up above the soil. Its "odd unlovely flower
seeks protection beneath its long-stemmed fuzzy leaves, and hides its head
upon the ground as if unwilling to challenge comparison with its more
brilliant brethren."1 The plant's posture is for mundane reasons rather than
eschewing competition, for the ground is the source of insects that visit and
pollinate it.
CONSTITUENTS Asarum contains aristolochic acid, geraniol, limonene,
methyl-eugenol, and asarone [also known as asarum camphor or asarabacca
camphor]. The ash is rich in potassium. Chemically and pharmacologically,
asarone is similar to reserpine [found in Rauwolfia and used as an
antihypertensive and tranquilizer] and chlorpromazine [used as an
antiemetic, antipsychotic and tranquilizer]. In experiments on rats, cats and
rabbits in a wide range of tests, a Russian study was conducted of the
biological properties of alpha-asarone, isolated from the roots of Asarum
europaeum. The preparation turned out to have quite diverse biological
activity: tranquilizing, sedative, antiulcer, spasmolytic and antisclerosing.
According to Evans Schultes, asarone shows a structural resemblance to
mescaline. Their pharmacological properties, however, are somewhat
opposite, and hallucinogenic properties have never been associated with
asarone. According to other pharmacological studies, asarone is similar to
papaverin. Roth states that high doses of asarone induce visual
hallucinations and psychedelic effects similar to those of LSD.
USES The plant has been used as a purgative and as an ingredient for snuff.
"The dried and powdered leaves of Asarabacca are used in the preparation of
cephalic snuffs, exciting sneezing and giving relief to headache and weak
eyes."2 "It has been used as a substitute for Ipecac for producing vomiting;
the French use it for this purpose after drinking too much wine. ... Although
the leaves are used as an emetic, human experiments have shown that the
effect is not as pronounced as that of other, more effective drugs. On the
other hand, the expectorant properties of infusions and decoctions of both
the roots and leaves of A. europaeum are quite good, based on experiments
on humans."3 North American Indians a decoction of the boiled root and
rhizome of Asarum canadense as a oral contraceptive to induce temporary

sterility.
MEDICINE Asarum canadense has virtually the same pharmacological
properties as A. europaeum; morphologically it differs from it in having
heart-shaped leaves instead of the reniform ones of its European brother.
The powdered root was widely used in North America as a flavouring
substitute for real ginger in the late 1700s and early 1800s. Among the
Meskwaki Indians the root was chewed and "the fisherman uses the spittle
on the bait, it enables him to catch catfish. ... A good many mud catfish are
caught in the Iowa River which flows through their reservation and the use
of wild ginger in cooking them destroys the mud taste and renders them
palatable. It is also used to cook some animal that has died, such as a hog
or a cow, and has been given them by some farmer. When used in this way,
they claim there is no danger of ptomaine poisoning."4 In its topical use by
the Meskwakis for external ear infections, wild ginger owes its activity to
aristolochic acid, which is known to have antimicrobial properties. The leaves
of various Asarum species reportedly cause dermatitis.
PROVINGS [1] Hahnemann - 5 provers; method: unknown.
[2] Mezger - 18 provers [16 males, 2 females], 1950; method: 1x, 2x, or
6x, three times daily 5 drops for periods ranging from 13 to 46 days.
[1] Sanders, Hedgemaids and Fairy Candles. [2] Grieve, A Modern Herbal.
[3] Weiner's Herbal. [4] Erichsen-Brown, Medicinal and Other Uses of North
American Plants.
Affinity
NERVES. Mucous membranes. Female organs. * LEFT SIDE.
Modalities
Worse: PENETRATING SOUNDS. Dry, cold weather; icy cold or clear fine
weather. Emotions.
Better: Cold bathing; of face; eyes. Damp, wet weather. Open air.
Main symptoms
M EXCESSIVE NERVOUSNESS.
Lightness, as if floating. Sense of levitation.
NERVOUS SENSIBILITY; scratching on silk, rattle of paper, etc. is
unbearable.
OVEREXCITABILITY of SENSES [hearing, smell, eyes].
Sensibility increased, even from mere imagination.
Starting from sudden noises.
Tremendous erethism; NERVES ON EDGE.
Overworked women.
Mental breakdown from stress [= dulness].
And Nervous deafness and asthenopia.
And Feeling as if parts were pressed together.
And Tension and contractive sensations.
"Very competitive, 'pressure-cooker' education for gifted children. Brilliant
yet brittle, like a crystal glass that eventually shatters." [Vithoulkas]

 "Several years ago I attempted to prove the effect of the A. canadense on

some women students, but the daily records were not properly written up,
and the following fragmentary observations are all I have. ... During the
proving [which was continued over a period of about two months] most of
the experimenters were excessively nervous, with dull stupid feeling during
day, and restless sleep at night. After a few days they suffered much from
chilliness, as if insufficiently clothed, but did not seem to have any fever or
any unusual thirst. There was muscular twitching in various parts of the
body, as if cramps were setting in; but this did not occasion much
inconvenience." [Winterburn, cited in Hughes]
M Wrings hands. Involuntary motions of the hands.
Very sensitive to violence.
Cold shivers from any emotion, noise.
M Mental DULNESS and sluggishness.
"Mental condition as if just falling asleep; a gradual vanishing of the
thought."
"Thoughts so overstrained that they vanish completely." [Hahnemann]
And Pressing frontal headache.
M Aversion to COITION [as strong as in Sep.], kissing and embracing.
"In some cases total revulsion to sex, even in thoughts and speech. Will
leave the room when a sex joke is being told. Aversion to a kiss from
grandparents, child will go and wash his mouth." [Vithoulkas]
G Of use in abuse of alcohol and psychotropic drugs where a hysterical
reaction sets in.
G Ailments and great faintness and constant yawning.
G Weakness; exhaustion.
< Warm room; > open air.
G CHILLY persons who are worse in cold, dry weather and feel better in
damp wet weather [Caust.]; ALWAYS FEEL COLD.
Chilliness and cold feeling after eating or drinking.
G Unconquerable LONGING for ALCOHOL.
G Desire for refreshing things [sour; salads; fruits].
Aversion to meat and cooked food.
In particular during gastritis.
G Pain: PRESSING TOGETHER.
P Darting pain in eyes after operations.
Eye troubles > bathing eyes in COLD water.
"When reading, sensation in eyes as if they would be pressed asunder or
outward, > bathing them in cold water." [Mathur]
Sunshine, light and wind are intolerable.
P PAINFULLY SENSITIVE HEARING.
Pain in teeth or vertigo from noise.
P The scars of life do not show on the Asarum face. They may have a
harrowing emotional history but present a smooth, young complexion.

[Springer]
P Asthmatic breathing < odours or cold.
Rubrics
Mind
Aversion to everything [2]. Cheerful, alternating with sadness [1]; with
taciturnity [1/1]. Confusion in morning after rising [1]. Delusions, as if she
didn't touch the bed when lying [1]; one would die from weakness [1];
floating in air while walking [1/1]. Deficiency of ideas > vomiting [1/1].
Desire for light [1]. Sensitive to slightest noise [3]. Starting from sudden
noise in the street [1*]. Vanishing of thoughts on mental exertion [2].
Vertigo
During anxiety [1]. From noise [1].
Head
Sensation of being headless [1]. Pain, in dry, cold weather, [2]; pressing in
temples when shaking head [2; Chin.].
Eye
Lachrymation during headache [1]. Pain, from strong light [2].
Vision
Dim, > cold bathing [1], during headache [1], < sunlight [1].
Face
Desire to wash face in cold water [2].
Stomach
Eructations, like spoiled eggs, after eating [1*]. Nausea from mental
exertion [1], from pressure on abdomen [1].
Abdomen
Sensation of fulness during hunger [1/1].
Rectum
Diarrhoea, > damp weather [1], during dry weather [1].
Larynx
Constriction larynx > during cough [1/1].
Chest
Constriction lungs as with a wire [1/1]. Sour smelling perspiration in axillae
[1].
Back
Pain as if dislocated, cervical region, extending over head and shoulders
[1/1]; pressing, as from a tight collar, cervical region [1/1]. Sensation as if
cool wind were blowing on back [1].
Limbs
Coldness of hands, knees, feet, in hottest weather [2/1]. Pain lower limbs,
sciatica, < cold [1], > wet weather [1/1]; needle-like stitches in fingertips
[1*]. Weakness upper limbs, > hanging down [1/1].
Sleep
Sleeplessness from slight noise [2].
Dreams

Of humiliation [2].
Generals
Bathing affected part > [3], cold bathing > [2], bathing face > [2].
* Repertory additions [Mezger].
Food
Aversion: [1]: Cooked food; fat; fish; garlic; meat; onions; smoking.
Desire: [3]: Alcohol. [1]: Beer; fruit; milk; nuts; salads [*]; sour [*];
tobacco; vinegar.
Worse: [3]: Alcohol. [2]: Hot food.
Better: [2]: Cold drinks [during heat]; cold water; vinegar. [1]: Warm food.
* Repertory additions [Mezger].