PULSATILLA: AS MOODY AS THE WINDFLOWER

The homeopathic remedy, Pulsatilla, is prepared from the windflower — or, pasque flower plants. It connects well with fair-complexioned individuals with a mild and timid temperament, who cry easily and are prone to sudden mood swings. Or, go rapidly from happiness to despondence and vice versa in all that they do. Like the windflower, swaying ‘in tune’ with the changing direction of the wind.

Pulsatilla is predominantly a women’s remedy. It connects, as already cited, positively with gentle, timid women, who are prone to tears — at the drop of a thought. In other words, temperamental women who have mood swings, veering from cheerfulness to grief, in every area of life, are likely to benefit from this remedy.

Interestingly though, Pulsatilla women also have the ability to contain their emotional canvas and put a latch on their feelings, pretending as if nothing happened. What may reveal their emotional upheaval is their weepiness in the wake of a marginally stressful occurrence.

Pulsatillas make the best story-tellers, embellishing their experiences with physical and emotional nuances and other details. They are likely to well up their tears while listening to music, or watching a film, or distressing news on TV. Pulsatillas are also impossible romantics — they love gifts and presents. They may be moved to tears by a thoughtful gift, or an act of kindness, or words of sympathy. Yet, deep down, they are not entirely as they appear on the surface. They hold and preserve negative emotions for far too long — they nurse feelings of rancour and bitterness, or feel peeved for eternity. They neither forgive nor forget. Often, and for no real reason, they feel envious, distressed, dejected and nervous.

Think of Pulsatilla, when someone catches a cold, or presents with chillblains after getting their feet wet in a downpour. Pulsatilla is apparently a useful remedy for coryza (colds) with a blocked right nostril, alongside a pressing pain at root of nose. There is often loss of smell. There may also be large green, fetid scales in the nose with stoppage in evening. There may be a yellow mucous, which tends to be more profuse in morning. The individual may report of a bad smell in the nose — as of old catarrh. The inference is obvious: Pulsatilla is often prescribed for a ripe cold, chronic sinusitis, and other upper respiratory tract infections, such as bronchitis.

It is also useful for thick mucous discharges that can occur for any reason including conjunctivitis, stye, and blocked tear ducts. Some clinicians suggest that Pulsatilla may be a useful remedy for dry eyes, or what is called Sjögren’s syndrome.

For a classical woman’s remedy, Pulsatilla is indicated for amenorrhœa (lack of menses), or suppressed menses, from ‘wet feet,’ and nervous weakness. It is, likewise, useful for tardy menses — periods which are too late, scanty, thick, dark, clotted, changeable, and intermittent. The complaints may be accompanied by chilliness, nausea, downward pressure with pain. Leucorrhœa (white discharge) is often acrid, burning, and creamy, with pain in the back, followed by a tired feeling. There may be diarrhoea, during or after menses. Pulsatilla also makes a truly effective remedy for painful periods — right from menarche to menopausal syndromes — that cause spasms and emotional upheaval.

Pulsatillas are most likely dogmatic with a strong, inflexible outlook. They tend to be somewhat straitlaced and can take recourse in religion. They are judgmental and intolerant of minor personal misdemeanour, especially of a sexual nature. The offender may, in all probability, be ‘crossed off’ their list.

Nervous and fearful, Pulsatillas suffer from a dread of the dark, ghosts, physical illness, medical treatment and death. Prone to nightmares — of vivid dreams that can result in bouts of screaming, Pulsatillas can become so anxious that they will try to avoid going to sleep. They may demand leaving the lights on, or having something solid to hold on to — be it a stick, or teddy bear. 

A smile, a gift or even a warm hug quells their fears, dispels their qualms and they settle down happily. They relish a calm environment, a cozy home and dollops of kindness all around. They enjoy fresh air — so much so, be it rain or shine, they prefer to keep the windows open. They detest stuffy, closed, air-conditioned spaces. They are fond of dry cold air, not wet cold weather; they hate getting wet in the rain.

Although often plump, Pulsatillas have an aversion to rich foods like clarified butter. They prefer cold to hot food, believing it to be better for health. So, when you see a fair, overweight lady munching on burgers, and seemingly and overtly moody, verging on tearfulness, think of Pulsatilla. A homeopathic remedy for grief or bereavement, Pulsatilla is often prescribed when someone, especially a woman describes ‘never feeling well’ after such and such incident, or event, and after menopause.

The essence of Pulsatilla is its ‘quiet’ unpredictability. While Pulsatillas take pride in their own identity, they can be influenced to shape themselves in tune with what others want of them or from them and fulfil their roles the best they can.

They function best in the presence of kind-hearted support, or encouragement. Their trademark of blushing easily is an unspoken, yet heartfelt appeal for unconditional affection and sympathy.