Hysteria- the woman's disease

This is an affectation peculiar to women of a nervous or nervouse-sanguine temperament, with cheerful, lively, and ardent dispositions and vivid imaginations. It takes its name from the Greek work meaning the womb,  and was supposed to be caused by some irritation arising from diseases of the generative system.

Causes- Delicate, nervous temperament, confinement in close and over-heated apartments, the reading of exciting works of fiction, and attending theatrical exhibitions, tight lacing, want of exercise, want of sleep, excessive fatigue, luxurious living. The exciting causes may be violent mental emotion, such as anger, rage, grief, fright, disappointed love, the sight of disagreeable objects, or the smell of disagreeable odors, indigestion.

Symptoms-An attack of hysteria is generally preceded by low spirits and it occurs in paroxysms of greater or less duration. It is found more commonly aomong widows and the unmarried than the married, and the paroxysms are more likely to occur  about the period of menstruation than at any other time. Generally, preceeding or during the attack, there is a sensation as of a ball ascending from the left side of the abdomen to the throat, causing a sensation of strangulation. The patient cries and laughs alternately, or gives vent to sobs and floods of tears, wringing the hands and tearing the hair. Sometimes the body and limbs are violently convulsed, and the patient may struggle, so as to require the strength of several persons to hold her. The head is thrown back, and there is delerium and loss of conciousness. These are afew of the symptoms which occur in this disease.

Treatment- The patient should be placed in a draught of fresh air, and the dress loosened, so as to allow free circulation and breathing. The head and face should be washed freely with cold water, and sometimes a bucket of cold water thrown over the patient will bring the spasm to an end.

When the attack arises from costivness *, and is attended with bitter or sour taste in the mouth, fullness and pain in the stomach, nausea, weakness, headache, dizziness, Nux Vomica and Sulphur should be given - Nux Vomica at night, and Sulphur in the morning.

If the attack is caused by the derangement of the generative organs use Pulsatilla, Sabina, and Silicea.

If caused by any violent mental excitement, as anger or fright use Ignatia, Hyoscyamus, Belladonna, Coffea.

Administration of remedies- During the paroxysms, of the selected remedy, give a solution of twelve globules in twelve teaspoonfuls of water. Dose a teaspoonful every ten or fifteen minutes.

In the intervals of paroxysms, six globules every twelve hours will be sufficient.

                                                                                                                                    *constipation

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Edited by Sharon Saracino. ©2003 Granny’s Closet /Sharon Saracino

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