HEROINUM

HOMOEOPATHIC PROVING BY SNOWDON J.

Heroin is a powerful analgesic and narcotic. It is a diacetyl derivative of

morphine which is the most important alkaloid in opium.

In 1874 CR Adler Wright, a pharmacist at St. Mary's Hospital in

Paddington boiled morphine with acetic anhydride and created dia-
morphine. Dia-morphine is more lipid soluble than Morphine and so
delivers the drug across the blood brain barrier more quickly and
efficiently. Although dia-morphine itself does not attach to the opiate
receptors in the brain, it quickly breaks down to Morphine and other
metabolites that do.

Heroin was named from the German Heroisch (heroic, powerful), like
laudanum (laudare, to praise) it was given a name promising greatness
that was not to materialize. It was assumed to be non-addictive and
was promoted as a treatment for morphine addiction as well as a cough
suppressant. Its addictive nature was soon recognized. In the US it was
restricted in 1914 and prohibited in 1924. However, Heroin was fast
becoming an important recreational drug and through the thirties it
was in widespread use, both by the poor and by Hollywood celebrities.
Supplies dried up in the US during the War, but in the fifties it
resurfaced associated with the Beat poets, particularly Kerouac and
Burroughs, but also as part of the gang culture in the cities.

The Vietnam War, like the wars before it, produced a vast number of
soldier addicts, and the tragic deaths of rock giants like Jimi Hendrix
and Janis Joplin gave it a particular image that included danger,
glamour and despair. For many it generated an excitement, a dicing
with death. It always represented the darker side of drug-taking. In
more recent years those addicted to heroin tend to be people who
feel no hope in their lives and no means of sharing in the prosperity
enjoyed by society at large. For them it can act as an anaesthetic,
blunting the pain of exclusion, of homelessness, abuse and poverty.
Dia- morphine is used to ease severe pain in hospital and hospices.

The short term effects of Heroin are to reduce pain, to depress many
nervous reactions. It suppresses the cough reflex and also suppresses
appetite, libido, energy, circulation, and respiration. Most overdose
deaths are caused by respiration becoming so depressed it stops
completely. It effects the Locus coeruleus in the brain, reducing fear
and anxiety. A sense of well being may replace depression and low self
esteem. Inhibitions may be removed.

Themes:
Isolation

Heroin is part of the Papaveraceae family. It has been

difficult to distinguish it from Opium. It would seem
that the main difference is that in Heroin there is the
feeling of an outcast, being despised by society and in
many instances hunted down by the forces of law and
order.
Shame

Fear of social position/ reputation /insulted/ wounded honor:

ailments from mortification with anger

Self contempt: angry and critical about oneself

‘Unusually frustrated, angry and unforgiving with myself when things

go wrong’.

‘I felt big today, as if I had totally overeaten, gained weight,

unpleasant.’

‘I doubt everything about myself. My very sanity’

Contradiction of will: the individual cannot be himself. He is not

approved by society. His creativity suffers due to lack of understanding
and cooperation from others. Not allowed to follow your nature.

Violence:

Violence towards himself or others when his individual dignity is not

accepted by society. Addictions are also a form of violence towards
himself.

ADDICTIVE BEHAVIOR – alcoholism, narcotic abuse, sexual addiction,

eating disorders.

Sexuality:

Violence/ rage/ desire to bite and scratch during sex – violence during
the sexual act is a sign of excessive passions which when repressed turn
into perversions. Sexual mania especially in women
EFFEMINATE – confusion of sexual identity – “not feeling man
enough”

Apathy: They face great difficulty in concentrating on any subject with

lack of enthusiasm. They are disinclined to do anything for themselves
or others.

Dreams:

Fear and danger/ accidents/ crashes – feeling threatened by the

environment, authorities, police, etc

Foundering boats/ difficulties in journeys – unable to find the way in

life. Travelling through life without any goal or destination.

Trapped – Unable to find the courage to move out of abusive

relationships, addictions, etc.

Water flooding – Overwhelming surge of subconscious contents that

the individual escapes during conscious moments.

Sexual conflicts:

Just before waking - sexual dream. No foreplay , kissing or anything -

straight into intercourse and wanting instant gratification without
having to do anything for it. Contrast of intensity of passion against
numbness and lack of feeling that I've been experiencing.

With an old friend in a room - he grabs hold of me and wants to kiss

me. I can't push him away. I don't want to hurt him and end the
friendship. He gets very passionate, I sit on top of him and behave sexy
but I don't want it-he tells me we could move in together, have a
brilliant life etc. In the dream I think to myself: he's deluded, but how
the hell am I going to explain it to him.

Was lying in bed with another woman. I started to stroke her arm and
wanted her to reciprocate. Then a lot of others got into bed between
us.

Dirt:

I was in a muddy swamp. It was quite yucky and I didn't know how to
get out of it