Helleborus niger (Christmas Rose).
The homeopathic medicine is potentized from the tincture of either the dry or fresh root1 dug out at Christmas time.2 The main active ingredient of the Helleborus niger rhizomes is the bufadienolide hellebrin, a steroidal cardiac diglycoside with utility in heart failure treatment. Hellebrin and its aglycon hellebrigenin have been patented as lead compounds in cancer treatment.3
Helleborus niger was used by the ancients in the treatment of insanity, of epilepsy and of dropsy. Proved by Hahnemann who wrote "I conclude, from various observations, that stupor, blunting of the general sensibility, a condition in which, with unimpaired vision, the patient, nevertheless, sees imperfectly and does not regard the objects he sees; with the apparatus of hearing intact yet hears nothing distinctly nor comprehends, with his organs of taste in working order, yet finds not the proper taste in anything is always or often distraught, hardly remembers, if at all, the past or what has but just happened; has no pleasure in anything; slumbers but lightly, without a sound or refreshing sleep; undertakes to work without having power or strength to attend to his work,-these are characteristic primary effects of Hellebore." 4
Helleborus niger produces a condition of SENSORIAL DEPRESSION. Sees, hears, tastes imperfectly, and general MUSCULAR WEAKNESS, which may go on to complete paralysis, accompanied by dropsical effusions. Hence, a remedy in low states of vitality and serious disease. Characteristic aggravation from 4 to 8 p.m. (LYCOP.) SINKING SENSATION. State of effusion in hydrocephalus. Mania of a melancholy type.5
Bellis perennis (Christmas flower6)
Bellis perennis is native to England and also referred to as the English daisy. The mother tincture is prepared from the entire plant. First mentioned in homeopathic literature by Dr. Henry Thomas, whose auto-experiment with the mother tincture was published by the British Journal of Homoeopathy, Vol. 16, 1856, it was not until 1915 that the first homeopathic pathogenetic trial was conducted by the Department of Materia Medica of the College of Homoeopathic Medicine in the Ohio State University, Columbus upon six subjects for 23 days using only the mother tincture; followed in 1937 elsewhere by Haehl & Mezger upon 21 experimenters - the 6 DH potency produced most of the collated symptoms.7
Dr. J. Compton Burnett regarded Bellis perennis as a remedy for sudden chills, as from falling in water and its after effects - not for "chills and fever" but for the effects of sudden chills.8 Burnett also called Bellis perennis English bruisewort,9 which he considered as curative of complaints due to drinking cold drinks when the body is heated, and sudden chill from wet cold when one is hot.10 Burnett almost lamented Bellis perennis to be a very grand remedy, but, being only a common weed, one which is unknown, or condemned, or despised.11
Dewey noted Bellis perennis in soreness all through the pelvis after labor; the patient cannot walk or stand; bones seem to be giving away;12 sprains and contusions; railway spine; it has many symptoms similar to Arnica, but seems also similar to Echinacea for it is an excellent remedy in boils, acne, etc.13 Burnett termed it useful in cases of "fagged womb;" and the overworked in general where "stasis" underlies their complaint.14 Tyler wrote "a battered, bruised uterus yields quickly to anti-traumatics such as Bellis perennis.15
Two small placebo controlled studies using the homeopathic mixture of Arnica montana + Bellis perennis found the 30C potency reduced seroma formation and opioid intake following mastectomy and reconstruction,16 and the 6C and the 30C potency both have shown reduced postpartum blood loss.17
Bellis perennis extracts have been tested for their biological activity in numerous vitro, in ovo, and in vivo studies - with the exception of the two above homeopathic studies, no others investigated the human effects.18
Clarke Dictionary. Helleborus. Miccant, 2015. Isis Vision [computer program]. Nottingham.
Hamilton. Flora Homeopathica. Helleborus. Miccant, 2015. Isis Vision [computer program]. Nottingham.
Cuny. 2023. Bioactive Ingredients of Helleborus niger L. (Christmas Rose): The Renaissance of an Old Medicinal Herb—A Review. Sage. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/373892055_Bioactive_Ingredients_of_Helleborus_niger_L_Christmas_Rose_The_Renaissance_of_an_Old_Medicinal_Herb-A_Review
Dunham Lectures on Materia medica. Helleborus. Miccant, 2015. Isis Vision [computer program]. Nottingham.
Boericke. Pocket Book of Materia Medica. Helleborus. Miccant, 2015. Isis Vision [computer program]. Nottingham.
Julian. Homeopathic Materia medica. Bellis perennis. Miccant, 2015. Isis Vision [computer program]. Nottingham.
Julian. Homeopathic Materia medica. Bellis perennis. Miccant, 2015. Isis Vision [computer program]. Nottingham.
Anschutz. Therapeutic Byways. Miccant, 2015. Isis Vision [computer program]. Nottingham.
Burnett. Fifty Reasons for being a homeopath. Miccant, 2015. Isis Vision [computer program]. Nottingham.
Burnett. Disease of the Skin. Miccant, 2015. Isis Vision [computer program]. Nottingham.
Burnett. Collected Writings of. Remedies Useful. Miccant, 2015. Isis Vision [computer program]. Nottingham.
Dewey. Practical Materia medica. After pains. Miccant, 2015. Isis Vision [computer program]. Nottingham.
Dewey. Practical Materia medica. Injuries. Miccant, 2015. Isis Vision [computer program]. Nottingham.
Dewey. Practical Materia medica. Women, complaints of. Miccant, 2015. Isis Vision [computer program]. Nottingham.
Tyler. Drug Pictures. Bellis perennis. Miccant, 2015. Isis Vision [computer program]. Nottingham.
Lotan et al., 2020.Arnica montana and Bellis perennis for seroma reduction following mastectomy and immediate breast reconstruction: randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. European Journal of Plastic Surgery. 43(6). Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/338457901_Arnica_montana_and_Bellis_perennis_for_seroma_reduction_following_mastectomy_and_immediate_breast_reconstruction_randomized_double-blind_placebo-_controlled_trial
Oberbaum 2005. The effect of the homeopathic remedies Arnica montana and Bellis perennis on mild postpartum bleeding--a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study--preliminary results. Complement Ther Med. Jun;13(2):87-90. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16036165/
Albien & Stark, 2023. TD. (Bio)active Compounds in Daisy Flower (Bellis perennis). Molecules. Nov 22;28(23):7716. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10707873/