Aristolochia is a plant in the family which are known as Birthworts. It has yellow trumpet like flowers with a very narrow part opening into a wider bulb at the bottom. Insects are attracted into the trumpet-like opening and crawl down the narrow tube to the bulb. Once the insect gets trapped in the bulb and spine-like hairs come spring out and trap it there so it can’t escape. The insects are imprisoned and throw themselves about inside the bulb ensuring that they are brushed by the stamens of the plant. Eventually the hairs wither and the insect is released having been used for it’s purpose.
Trapped and used and abused
The theme of feeling used and being chewed up and spat out comes out strongly on the mental picture of the homeopathic remedy made from the Aristolochia plant. People who need this remedy may feel trapped by their children when they are young but with the empty nest they feel abandoned and resentful that their children don’t need them anymore. It maybe that after the children have moved out they have an elderly mother who starts to trap them by needing lots of attention
Depression
Aristolochia is especially useful for depression with hormonal imbalance in the menopause due to this feeling of no longer being wanted or needed. The sense of depression and unfulfillment may be characterised by thoughts such as: ‘What is the point of me?’ And “What use am I now?’. A person who needs this remedy may feel like they no longer know what they need to do.
Low self esteem – feeling ugly and overweight
Feelings of low self-esteem are often expressed by a person who needs Aristolochia as feeling ugly or invisible. They can feel that their own sense of sexual allure has vanished leaving them feeling washed up, used and unattractive. This remedy can help with weight gain. There may be a tendency to weight gain and obesity which is either real or imaginary and this adds to the sense of inadequacy – especially if the woman does not have a loving partner.
Feeling Outcast
Feelings of loneliness may be experienced but the person will reject company and becomes increasingly solitary. They may be afraid of future and have feelings of despair.
Adrenal exhaustion
When hormone production goes into decline during the menopause the body may appropriate oestriogen and progesterone from the Adrenal Glands (by breaking down corticosteroids) causing them to become depleted. The main food cravings of this remedy are tea, coffee, orange juice and chocolate – four of the most adrenally stimulating foods. (Not so much cheeses (asterias) craved because of needing adrenal energy. Like many of the menopausal remedies there is an adrenal push/pull of tired and wired; exhausted to anxious. There can be hot flushes with perspiration.
Problems with memory
One of the features of Aristolochia is a tendency to a bad memory. The women who need it tend end to be list-makers because they need to write everything down in order to remember it. Making mistakes with dates and times is a characteristic and they often turn up at the wrong time.
Never been well since hormonal interference
This remedy has proved itself to be very useful in girls who have been on the pill and cannot establish a menstrual cycle again. It will often help with amenorrhoea from taking the birth control pill. It can also help menopausal women struggling to regain hormonal balance after coming off HRT.
Cystitis and nocturnal urinary frequency
Aristolochia is a big remedy for cystitis. One of the first signs that a woman has reached menopause may be a tendency to get cystitis. It can also be helpful for women who have disturbed sleep due to having to get up constantly at night to pass urine.