Loleum temulentum
Lolium temulentum · Plant · Poaceae
Lolium temulentum is suited to individuals with marked trembling, muscular weakness, and ataxia affecting the extremities. It is indicated in paralytic and tremulous states such as paralysis agitans and writer's cramp, as well as delirium tremens, where prostration and restlessness are prominent.
Key symptoms
- Trembling of all limbs; general tremors; unable to hold a glass of water
- Violent pain in calves as if bound with cords; legs excessively tight and painful
- Gait unsteady; staggering when attempting to rise or walk
- Paralysis with writer's cramp; hand refuses service when writing
- Confusion, slight delirium, great depression, and stupefaction
- Vertigo better by closing eyes with shaking in head
- Nausea and vomiting of bread and colourless mucus all night
- Pupils widely dilated; vision dim with scintillation before eyes
Worse (aggravation)
- Wet season; wet weather
- Morning (trembling of hands worse)
Better (amelioration)
- Closing eyes (vertigo)
Darnel (LOLIUM TUMULENTUM)
Has been made use of in cephalalgia, sciatica, paralysis. Prostration and restlessness.
Head
Anxious and depressed, confused. Vertigo; must close eyes. Head heavy. Noises in ears.
Stomach
Nausea, vomiting. Pain in pit of stomach and abdomen. Severe purging.
Extremities
Gait unsteady. Trembling of all limbs. Loss of power in extremities. Violent pain in calves, as if bound with cords. Cold extremities. Spasmodic motions of arms and legs. Cannot write; cannot hold a glass of water. Trembling of hands in paralysis.
Relationship
Compare: Secale; Lathyr; Astrag.
Dose
Sixth potency.
Lolium temulentum. Darnel. N. O. Gramineæ. Trituration of seeds. Tincture of ripe spikelets. Tincture of ripe seeds.
Clinical
Delirium tremens. Paralysis. Paralysis agitans. Tremor. Writer's cramp.
Characteristics
The name Darnel means stupefied, and the plant's evil reputation is of very ancient date. The symptoms are the result of observations made on persons poisoned by eating meal containing an admixture of Lol. tem. Allen mentions an assertion that Lolium is much infested with ergot, and that it is to this that the poisoning symptoms are due, the unaffected grain being inert; and Allen notes in support of this that the poisonings have been most frequently observed in low, wet districts, and during wet seasons. Provings are needed to decide this. The chief symptoms are: Confusion of mind, at times delirium; very great depression. Nausea and vomiting of the bread containing it and mucus with it. Paralysis, tremors, and convulsions. Cold rigors, internal chilliness; cold sweat. A very characteristic …
Phatak's chapter on Loleum temulentum is available in the app.
Read Phatak in the appClassical texts are in the public domain. Educational reference only — not medical advice.
