- Written By: Helen Krasner
- Edited By: J.T. Gale
- Last Modified Date: 27 February 2012
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2003-2012 Conjecture Corporation
Ignatia amara, more commonly known as ignatia, is a homeopathic remedy which primarily is used for treating intense grief, bereavement, and emotional shock. It is obtained from a tree that grows in China and the Philippines. The tree has large, smooth fruits which contain seed pods; the seed pod is what is used to make homeopathic ignatia amara.
The seed pods of ignatia amara contain strychnine, which is a deadly poison if ingested in large amounts. In smaller amounts it can cause unpleasant symptoms. It has a bitter taste and can produce shaking, trembling, and bad dreams. Ignatia is not used as an orthodox medicine in modern times. In the past, it was taken by Philippine natives to protect them from various diseases; in some parts of the world it was used as a cure for complaints as diverse as cholera, gout, epilepsy, and asthma.
As with all homeopathic medicines, potencies of ignatia contain only a microscopic amount of the original substance. The fact that strychnine is poisonous, therefore, is not an issue. In fact, nux vomica – another well known homeopathic remedy – also contains strychnine, but the two remedies work on different symptoms.
Ignatia is considered by homeopaths to be the number one remedy for grief. In the case of bereavement or a similar intense mental shock or loss, the remedy is often prescribed by professional homeopaths in fairly high potencies, such as 200C or even 1M. The lower potencies, such as 30C and 6c, are easily obtained over the counter in many countries. People who have taken high doses of ignatia amara have described its effect as being quick, sometimes immediate. Supporters of homeopathic ignatia amara claim that it does not eliminate grief but enables a person to feel mentally stronger and better equipped to cope with his or her loss.
The remedy is also occasionally helpful for other complaints such as moodiness, extreme sensitivity to pain, nausea, and vomiting. Some people have used it for symptoms as diverse as a sore throat, the croup, piercing headaches, and insomnia. As with many homeopathic remedies, the physical and mental constitution of the sufferer can play a major role in how ignatia affects a person.
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anon250944
Post 6 |
I have had many bouts with panic/anxiety attacks. I have been to the hospital and spent the night several times with no diagnosis and a large bill to pay. After a paramedic once mentioned a panic attack, I searched and found this to be a remedy for it. I have since carried Ignatia Amara 30c. There have been recurrences, but I have found when I take Ignatia Amara, the attacks subside very quickly. I no longer fear having an attack and will recommend it every chance I get. I am not joking in any form or by any means. If you suffer from panic/anxiety attacks, please try Ignatia Amara. |
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anon226944
Post 5 |
I was given this to help my body better absorb nutrients from food. I am utterly confused. |
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anon217584
Post 4 |
I have been giving this remedy to my daughter and cannot explain the difference it has made. Her ability to communicate and reason has just amazed me as prior to Ignatia, there was so much anger and an inability to confront her own emotions. |
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anon169027
Post 3 |
Ignatia Amara is/has been a life saver for me. I've suffered great loss/death/trauma more than the average person, and discovering this homeopathic with the help of a store clerk changed my life forever. I am one of the lucky people who experiences the effect of it immediately. I can find myself in grief induced hysterics (loss/memory of a loved one via death/end of relationship) and within a few seconds of putting the homeopathic under my tongue be able to breathe/stop crying/and have a clear mind. It is a godsend to me. |
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sherlock87
Post 2 |
This is not the only instance of people consuming what is believed to be a poisonous substance and surviving. Perhaps the best known occurrence of this in the history of the United States is the consumption of arsenic by some evangelical Christians in the Appalachian mountains, specifically those who believe in serpent handling. In this part of Christianity, people actually drink amounts of arsenic while handling rattle snakes, in response to the Bible passage that "they shall take up serpents". While it's not always clear whether these people develop an immunity to the poison or are able to handle it under the circumstance, they don't die from the arsenic. However, many people do die from complications due to the rare occasions when the "serpents" bite. |
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afterall
Post 1 |
I feel skeptical of this, but I imagine if I had suffered a great loss in my life I would be willing to try almost anything to overcome the pain. I imagine it is also better, at least, than things like drinking and drugs, which too many people fall prey to doing to alleviate grief. |
