Cryptogams (non-flowering plants) are often overlooked because they are less conspicuous than flowering plants; nevertheless they are vitally important in many different ecosystems.
The Cryptogams are again subdivided into:

A) Thallophyta: Plants that possess a thallus or plant-body that is not differentiated into stem and leaves. Algae, Diatoms, Fungi and Lichens – all belong to Thallophyta.

B) Bryophyta: Plants that are frequently differentiated into stem and leaves and also possess female reproductive organs, known as archegonia. Bryophyta includes Liverworts and True Mosses.

C) Pteridophyta: These are fern-like plants that possess vascular strands and there is often a marked differentiation into stem and leaves. The female reproductive organs, the archegonia, are similar to those developed in Bryophyta. Apart from True Ferns, this group also includes the horsetails (Equisetum) and the clubmosses (Lycopodium).

Amongst all the Homeopathic remedies that belong to Cryptogams, most of them are included in the following sub-groups:

Algae: (Subgroup of Thallophyta)

Algae are simple plants that may be unicellular or multicellular and their body is not differentiated into stems or leaves. However, they do perform photosynthesis and they are mainly aquatic plants such as seaweed and spirogyra (pond slime).

Homeopathic drugs prepared from this group: Fucus Vesiculosus, Oleum succinum

Lichens: (Subgroup of Thallophyta)

Lichens are a symbiotic association of a Fungus with a Photosynthetic partner which in most cases is an Algae. Majority of these are long-lived and slow-growing; they are extremely sensitive to pollution, thus they indicate air and water quality.

Homeopathic drugs prepared from this group:Sticta pulmonaria, Usnea Barbata, Cetrararia islandica.

Fungi: (Subgroup of Thallophyta)

Fungi are spore-producing organisms and they feed on organic matter. They include moulds, yeasts, mushrooms and toadstools. Fungi perform an essential role in all ecosystems in decomposing matter and are indispensable in nutrient cycling and exchange.

Homeopathic drugs prepared from this group:
Agaricus campanulatus, Agaricus campestris, Agaricus citrinus, Agaricus emeticus, Agaricus muscaricus, Agaricus pantherinus, Agaricus phalloides, Agaricus procerus, Agaricus semiglobatus, Agaricus strecoranius, Agaricus vernus, Agaricinum, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus niger, Boletus laricis, Boletus luridus, Boletus satanus, Bovista nigrescens, Candida albicans, Candida parapsilosis, Cordyceps militaris, Cladonia pyxidata, Dematium petraeum, Ergotinum, Furfur iritici, Mucor mucedo, Muscarinum, Phallus impudicus, Polyporus nigricans, Polyporus pinicola, Psilocybe caerulescens, Russula foetens, Secale cornutum, Solanum tuberosum aegrotans, Torula cerevisiae, Ustilago maydis

Mosses: (Subgroup of Bryophyta)

Mosses are a very simple type of plants that lack conventional roots, stems and leaves and their growth is limited to moist locations. Some unrelated plants can share the name ‘moss’ (such as Clubmoss).

Homeopathic drug prepared from this group: Polytrichum juniperinum

Ferns and Fern Allies: (Subgroup of Pteridophyta)

Ferns are flowerless, vascular plants that have a feathery appearance and they reproduce by spores that are released from the underside of the leaves.

Homeopathic drugs prepared from this group: Filix-mas, Lycopodium, Equisetum hyemale

STUDY OF FUNGI

Amongst the Cryptogams, the largest number of drugs belong to the sub-group Fungi and the Homeopathic aspect of Fungi have be elaborated below:

Fungi belong to the kingdom of lower plants. Since they lack chlorophyll, leaves, true stems and roots, they live as parasites. They play a major role in decomposing organic matter to inorganic and cause diseases in plants, animals and humans.

The chief action of Fungi group of remedies is seen on:

Let us gain some insight into few of the important Group Symptoms of Fungi:

Mind

1. One of the main features that we see in Fungi remedies is ‘Awkwardness’. The person is very clumsy and keeps dropping things from hands – as seen in remedies like Agaricus and Bovista.

2. There is a perception and sensation of ‘Enlargement’ (Agaricus, Bovista, Psilocybe, Secale cornutum) where one feels that he is double, body parts are enlarged, objects are enlarged and distances are enlarged. This enlarged sensation is also very well depicted as puffed-up Ego in the remedy ‘Agaricus’ where they boast and brag a lot and constantly talk about themselves and their achievements. The other side that we see in Agaricus is of being diminished and being small. In Bovista too, we see this sensation of enlargement running through the entire remedy. An inference that can be drawn from this is that there is a feeling of being small and hence wanting to be big. This is confirmed in the well-known remedy Lycopodium where they are highly ambitious and want to be on the top. The sense of enlargement also contributes to becoming Courageous whereby the person develops a lot of courage to do things since he feels himself to be big (enlarged).

3. Attention seeking attitude: These people are very vivacious and desire attention, which they get by jesting, joking and singing.

4. Amorous disposition: There is an increased sexual desire and these people are very lustful and lascivious. (Agaricus, Candida albicans, Secale cornutum, Bovista, Psilocybe)

5. There is a sense of fear and danger where they fear to be alone, fear robbers; they get dreams of drowning and of pools of blood.

6. There is a lot of Destructiveness seen in people needing remedies from Fungi group. These individuals are very malicious and vindictive and have impulses to kill others.

Central Nervous System

There is affection of the entire cerebro-spinal axis producing inflammation and degeneration. Hence, one finds involuntary movements like twitching & jerking, chorea, tingling numbness and convulsions in most of the remedies (e.g. Agaricus, Bovista and Secale cornutum). The convulsions are usually brought on from fear, fright and excitement.

Paraesthesias like tingling numbness with or without pain

Blood Vessels and Circulation

Fungi affect the circulation producing either dilatation or spasms of the blood vessels.

Dilatation of blood vessels

Due to the dilatation of the blood vessels there is a tendency to Hemorrhages that is commonly seen in remedies like Agaricus, Bovista, Secale cornutum, Ustilago, etc.
The bleeding is passive where the blood oozes slowly and is either clotted or thin and watery. When the blood is thin and does not coagulate, it reminds us of its use in bleeding disorders like Hemophilia, where the wounds bleed freely. (Bovista, Ergotinum, Secale cornutum, Ustilago)

Spasm of blood vessels

Spasms of blood vessels leads to ischemia and lack of oxygenation that causes blackness of external parts eventually leading to ‘Gangrene’. (Agaricus, Secale cornutum, Ergotinum)

Female Genitalia

Fungi are indicated in Abortion and Miscarriage and especially that occur during the 3rd month. (Secale cornutum, Ustilago).

Symptoms chiefly occur during the climacteric period. (Agaricus, Secale cornutum, Ustilago)

Menses are profuse, black, clotted and very early and most of the symptoms are aggravated during menses.

Leucorrhoea is acrid and excoriating.

Bearing down pains in the uterus (Agaricus, Bovista, Secale cornutum, Ustilago)

The study of Fungi will not be complete until we have discussed some of the general indications of this group, the Constitution, Diathesis and the Miasmatic Classification of Fungi.

General Indications Of Fungi

1. Ailments from injuries, blows, falls, sprains and bruises.(Agaricus, Bovista, Secale cornutum). This gives rise to pain that is sore, bruised and stitching.

2. Pains that are boring, grinding, burrowing, digging, dragging, bearing down, constricting and cramping.

3. Skin affections: The remedies which form the fungi group are very useful in following kinds of skin affections:

4. Benign tumors: Fungi are indicated in benign tumors like Fibroids, Cystic tumors and Noma (gangrene of mouth and genitals)

5. Desire for Cold drinks is prominent (Agaricus, Bovista, Secale cornutum)

6. Modalities: < Cold, Tight clothing around the waist, Tobacco

Constitution

Suited to people with lax fiber, thin scrawny and cachetic persons

Diathesis

Indicated in Hemorrhagic, Herpetic and Tubercular diathesis.

Miasmatic Classification

Predominantly Sycotic and Tubercular

Psora

Sycosis

Tubercular

Syphilitic

In case you have any queries feel free to contact Dr. J. Shah at info@hompath.com

Website www.specialityclinic.com

About the Author

Dr. Jawahar Shah, M.D. (Hom.) is a teacher, author and a leading practitioner of Classical Homoeopathy since last 30 years. He has organized more than 500 seminars in 32 countries across the globe. Dr. Shah has been an active contributor to various National and International Scientific Journals in the form of various articles and is the guiding force behind development of leading Homoeopathic software, HOMPATH.

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