Anacardium orientale, commonly known as the Marking Nut, is a valuable homeopathic remedy derived from the layer of the nut between its shell and kernel. Historically, it was used by Arabs and was celebrated as a remedy for weakness of mind, memory, and senses. It is a powerful remedy, but its effects can be harmful if used improperly or too frequently, highlighting the homeopathic principle that “that which can cause, can cure“.
The essence of Anacardium is rooted in deep inner conflict and mental schism, often manifesting as a struggle between two wills, a “good” and an “evil” side. This conflict stems from a profound lack of self-confidence and an inferiority complex, coupled with an intense desire to prove oneself. When suppressed or humiliated, this internal suffering can lead to hardness, cruelty, and maliciousness.
Mental and Emotional Picture:
• Duality and Conflict: Patients often feel as if they have two wills, one commanding them to do something, and the other forbidding it. This can manifest as an extreme conflict between internal and external will, good and evil, or a desire for malicious acts countered by a sense of wrongness. This concept is central, even if not explicitly stated as “angel and devil” by the patient.
• Lack of Self-Confidence and Inferiority: A core symptom is a great lack of self-confidence, progressing to paranoia. They may feel timid, that everyone is looking at them, or that they are stupid and dense compared to others. This feeling can lead them to stubbornly try to prove themselves, even in losing arguments or against critical authority figures.
• Cruelty and Malice: Anacardium is a leading remedy for cruelty, which can be directed towards people or animals. This ranges from mischievous and malicious acts to violent thoughts and actions, sometimes even enjoying the suffering of others. This cruelty often emerges when they are given authority.
• Irresolution and Indecision: There is a significant sense of irresolution and indecision, making it difficult to make choices, even minor ones. This can lead to paralysis in important life decisions.
• Memory Loss and Brain Fag: A prominent symptom is loss of memory, especially for recent events, or a feeling as if the mind is paralyzed or empty. This can be brought on by over-study or intense mental exertion and anxiety.
• Propensity to Curse and Swear: An irresistible desire to curse and swear is a peculiar and characteristic symptom, often occurring in individuals not usually prone to such language.
• Delusions and Hallucinations: Patients may experience various fixed ideas, delusions, or hallucinations, such as feeling separated from their body or the world, feeling double, seeing demons or angels, or feeling pursued. They may feel as if in a dream, where reality and dreams are confused.
• Irritability and Anger: Patients are prone to excessive anger at slight offense, taking everything in bad part and becoming violent. This irritability can stem from a loss of control due to constant suffering and inner conflict.
• Other Peculiarities: Laughing at serious matters and being serious over laughable things, suspicion, internal anxiety, aversion to company, and a general hardness of emotions, leading to indifference and a diminished capacity for tenderness, love, and sympathy. They may appear outwardly soft or nice, but hide their cruelty.
Physical Symptoms:
• Gastric Pains:
A highly characteristic symptom is pain in the stomach when it is empty, which is ameliorated by eating. The pain often returns two to three hours after eating, which is when the stomach is empty again. This distinguishes it from Nux vomica, which is relieved after digestion.
• Rectal/Bowel Issues:
Frequent ineffectual desire for stool due to an insufficiency or paralytic state of the rectum. There is often a sensation of a lump or plug in the anus that ought to come away.
• Peculiar Sensations:
◦ Plug Sensation: A pressing or penetrating pain as from a blunt plug in different parts of the body, including the head, eyes, abdomen, anus, and spine.
◦ Band or Hoop Sensation: A sensation of a hoop or band around parts of the body, head, limbs, or organs. This feeling is often described as an elastic band, tight but not like steel.
• Skin Eruptions:
Various eruptions are seen, including pustular, erysipelatous, and neurodermatitis (small vesicles with watery fluid). These are often intensely itchy, especially at night, and scratching aggravates them, leading to bleeding. It has been noted as a useful antidote for Rhus poisoning, presenting similar symptoms but with different modalities. Warts on the palms of hands are also characteristic.
• Headaches:
Headaches are often pressing, worse from motion, mental exertion, and work, but relieved by eating, lying down, or falling asleep. They can be gastric or nervous in origin.
• Other Physical Symptoms:
Trembling debility and paralytic weakness, particularly in the lower extremities and knees. Stiffness, especially in the nape of the neck. Vomiting of pregnancy, ameliorated by eating. Palpitations of the heart, sometimes with stitching pains. Aversion or lowering of sexual interest.
Modalities:
• Aggravation: From an empty stomach, two to three hours after eating, mental occupation/exertion, motion/work, scratching, night (itching), and remaining without food.
• Amelioration: From eating (especially stomach pain, headache, cough, morning sickness), by moving about slowly, and sometimes by lying down (headache). Hot applications can ameliorate itching.
