# Digitalis (HMT)

## Remedy Classification
- **Type:** Remedy
- **Miasm:** Tubercular Miasm
- **Temperament:** Neutral
- **Aggravation Time:** Neutral/Anytime

## Keynote Indications
Digitalis is a renowned form of treatment used frequently in the
diseases of the heart.  In allopathy, it is used to control rapid heartbeat
(tachychardia), as well as an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia).  It slows
down the pulse rate and controls its irregularity.  However, it has to be
used for longer periods with incr easing dosage, but its beneficial
effects last only for a s hort period.  Since it needs to be given in more
and more amounts, it can accumulate in the body and cause an
injurious effect.  Under these circum stances, all allopathic doctors are
compelled to stop this medication.  As soon as it is stopped, the
beating of the heart becomes extremel y fast and uncontrollable again.
The power of the heart muscles be comes like an ineffective flutter
after which the heart starts to fail.  In fact, the slowing of the heart is a
temporary effect.  It does not incr ease the strength of the muscles of
the heart.  It only restricts the heartbeat to a certain limit.  The result is
that these muscles, gradually, fail completely.  Fluid starts
accumulating in the lungs due to the backlog of blood that cannot be
satisfactorily pumped through the valv es of the heart.  The obvious
result is that the person cannot  breathe (cardiac dyspnoea). The
homoeopathic use of Digitalis, howev er, is without these dangers.  In
fact, it is a very useful and good cardiac tonic.

The homoeopathic form of Digitalis works in every heart patient in
whom the liver function has also been deranged and the pulse has
become light and weak.  It also ha s a beneficial effect on the function
of the liver, spleen, as well as the lungs.  Homoeopathic use of
Digitalis should not be abandoned for the reason that its allopathic use
is not completely successful.  It must always be remembered in the
treatment of heart diseases .  According to Dr. Kent, who has been
practising allopathy for a long time , the misuse of Digitalis has
resulted in more deaths than savi ng lives.  Its action is very short-
lived.  It deteriorates the heart muscles and knocks out the conducting
system of the heart.  This comme nt of his does not apply to the
homoeopathic use of Digitalis but unfortunately, some homoeopathic
doctors are still very fearful of using it.

One thing to remember is that in Digitalis, the patient does not have a
fever, except occasionally.  The pulse is slow; the liver is enlarged and
tender to touch.  Once the liver dysfunction has set in, the stools

become either light-coloured or cl ay-coloured.  The patient may have
jaundice.  There is a feeling of emptiness and a sinking sensation over
the stomach.  This particular symptom is noted only in a few
remedies. The patient of Sulphur also feels weakness however, he will
find relief on taking food.  But in Digitalis, food does not relieve the
symptoms.  This particular sensation is not due to a stomach upset, but
it is due to the weakness of the hear t (sinking of the heart).  It is an
established fact that sometimes the pain due to the heart is perceived
over the stomach or in the left, upper part of the abdomen, so much so
that even the expert cardiologist may not be able to diagnose it in
time.  Similarly, some stomach problems may be referred to the heart
and will not respond to treatment with cardiac medication.

If the food increases rather than  decreases the discomfort at the
stomach and the blood pressure rise s, this is a symptom of a heart
problem and of Digitalis.

In Digitalis, the patient is very restless during his sleep .  He
experiences nightmares in which he  observes many frightful scenes, a
sensation of falling down and a desi re to run.  He dreams of falling
from heights.  In fact, it is the sinking of the heart that results in the
dreams of falling down.  During his sleep, the patient may feel jolted
due to the weakness of his heart an d nervous system.  As soon as he
goes to sleep, sudden jolting wakes him up (similar to Grindelia).

In Digitalis, there is bluish di scoloration on the face due to the
disturbance of the blood circulation.  The hands and feet also become
cyanotic, while in Grindelia, there is no such symptom.  However,
blue coloration is found in Cuprum also, which is due to the other
ailments rather than due to the weakness of the heart.

In Digitalis, the pulse is slow at  the onset of disease, but later on
becomes fast.  If the basic symptoms of Digitalis are present it will be
the most appropriate medication, even if the pulse is very rapid to start
with.  Its use should not be discarded due to the rapidity of the pulse.
In general, the pulse is weak in Di gitalis, yet it may be fast at times.
In Arsenic, the pulse is rapid but thready and tense.

Digitalis is also useful in the treatment of heart problems arising out of
grief.  The heart flutters or may even  be felt to be stopping altogether.
There is intense restlessness.  The feeling that the heart is going to

stop is typical of Digitalis. Digitalis would cure the cough due to heart
failure (cardiac dyspnoea).  It doe s not work on the cough arising
primarily from lung diseases.  Some times, the patient wakes up from
sleep due to the feeling of su ffocation even without any obvious
jerking.  This means that the sensat ion of the breathing being about to
stop was due to the disturbance of the automatic system of breathing
(Herring Breaur reflex).  When the respiration rate starts decreasing
progressively, the patient must be awakened periodically or he may
die in the state of sleep.  A progres sive slowing down of the breathing
is also a sign of the gastric patient.  This is due to the build-up of
pressure in the stomach, pressing on the diaphragm.  The difference is
that in a heart patient this conditio n is constant, while in a gastric
patient the condition is occasional and noticed during gastric upset.  A
feeling of suffocation or choking is also seen in Lachesis, Phosphorus
and Carbo Vegetabilis.

Unfortunately, the use of Digitalis has been attached to heart disease
only, so most physicians do not consid er using it for any other kind of
ailment.  Yet, it is a strong and effective treatment for an enlarged
prostate in older age.  The enlargement of the prostate at any age has
been found to respond well to Saba l Serrulata and Chimaphila in
Mother Tincture form.  However, this form of treatment should be
continued for a long period.  Also , Belladonna, Arseni c and Thuja in
high potency have also proved to be useful.  However, if the prostatic
problem is associated with a heart ailment then Digitalis should be the
first choice.  It makes the prostate  gland gradually shrink back to
normal size.  In fact, very few medicines have the capability of
reducing the size of enlarged glands.  So, Digitalis should be used in
low potency of 30 over a long period.  Such conditions that establish
and progress gradually will not re spond to the high potency but will
respond well to lower potency used over a longer period.  The potency
may, however, be increased later o n.  In my practice, I have used
Digitalis in potency 30.  I have not  found it necessary to use a higher
potency.  But, if the original relief offered by Digitalis 30 has stopped,
it should be tried in higher potency.

Loss of appetite and intense thirst  are peculiar to Digitalis.
Sometimes, as in Colchicum, even the smell of food may suppress the
appetite altogether, yet in Digitali s, unlike Colchicum, there is no
vomiting or tendency to become unc onscious.  The thirst flares up
while the appetite gradually disappears.  This symptom is common in

the liver diseases and jaundice.  If the constitutional symptoms of
Digitalis are found in the patient, Digitalis alone may be curative.

The restlessness of Digita lis is even worse than that of Arsenic.  The
restlessness of Arsenic intensifies on lying down or remaining still in
one position, while the restlessness of Digitalis is constant.  It does not
decrease by taking rest  or by physical movement .  If restlessness is
due to the progressive weakness of the heart muscles, Digitalis alone
should be administered.  I am of the opinion that the deleterious
effects on the heart resulting from excessive prolonged allopathic use
of Digitalis may be treatable w ith high potency like Digitalis CM,
although I have not experimented this in my practice.  I suggest that if
at all a homoeopathic doctor wants to try this, he may do so only on a
patient in moribund state with no apparent hope of  survival, and that
too, after getting permission from the patient and his relatives.

Itching is also found in Digitalis.   Red spots appear on the back.
Symptoms are made worse on sitting tiptoes after food or listening
to music , whereas the open air and empty stomach ameliorate the
symptoms.  Camphor relieves the ill effects of Digitalis.  China is not
compatible with Digitalis.  So China and Digitalis should only be used
one after the other with utmost ca re.  Crataegus happens to be an
important adjuvant medicine.

Potency: 30

## Symptoms by System