Remedy spotlight – Pulsatilla

Pulsatilla is one of the most important homeopathic remedies for women.
For puberty, pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause, Pulsatilla, where indicated, can bring balance and harmony and ease the passage through these hormonal milestones.

The remedy is made from the blossoms of the windflower, a purple bell-shaped flower that grows abundantly on hillsides in Northern Europe. According to Roman myth, the flower originated from the tears of the goddess Venus and one of the main keynotes of this remedy is tearfullness.

Another key indicator for Pulsatilla is ‘changeability‘. There can be changing moods – maybe from happy to sad, or a sudden flaring up of anger – or changing physical symptoms – a pain that comes and goes, switches from dull to aching or from one side to another.

Other personality characteristics of Pulsatilla are softness, yielding, a need for company, and a desire to be out in the open air. It is a good remedy for children who cling to their mothers and want to be carried, and are prone to ear infections.

At night, they will often sleep with an arm under their head.

Pulsatilla is often indicated for catarrh, hay fever, and sinus infections, and the changeability is seen here too, with a discharge that changes from green to yellow, or from dry to fluent. There is often a loss of taste and smell and a lack of thirst, even though the throat is dry.

On the digestive front, they are easily aggravated by rich food, especially pastries, butter and pork, and they are prone to heartburn and indigestion.

The homeopathic master William Boericke (1849-1929) described Pulsatilla as “mentally, an April day”

“O, how this spring of love resembleth
The uncertain glory of an April day,
Which now shows all the beauty of the sun,
And by and by a cloud takes all away!”

Shakespeare — Two Gentlemen of Verona