Introduction to the Lamiaceae family

Lamiaceae, or Lamiales, also known as the mint family, is a family of flowering plants. The original family name is Labiatae, so given because the flowers typically have petals fused into an upper lip and a lower lip. Although this is still considered an acceptable alternative name, most botanists now refer to Lamiaceae, a name we will stick to in this issue.

The most important representatives of this family or their derivatives in Homeopathy are: Collinsonia canadensis, Glechoma hederacea, Hedeoma, Lamium album, Lycopus virginicus, Melisse officinale, Mentha pelegium, Ocimum canum, Ocimum sanctum, Origanum, Satureia hortensis, Rosmarinus, Scuttelaria, Thymolum, Thymus serpullum, Teucrium mare verum, Teucrium scorodonia and others. 

The following is additional information on the Lamiaceae gathered by the Dutch Masi-group and by Jan Scholten.

Applications of the Lamiaceae

The Lamiaceae belong to a large family and are found growing over the entire planet. For their habitat, they prefer the open fields. Because of their lovely smell and delicious taste many species of this family are used in the kitchen to the great joy and satisfaction of the cook and the gourmet. We are all acquainted with the merits of basil, oregano, thyme, and rosemary as smell- and taste-enhancers in the various Mediterranean dishes. The relief-bringing quality of thyme, as mucous dissolvent in a common cold, is well known to most of us.

In Anthroposophical medicine, the warming qualities of the Lamiaceae are praised and because of these qualities the ethereal oils are used internally as well as externally; the ethereal oil of Rosemary, for example, is used as additional therapy in diabetes. According to the Anthroposophists the Lamiaceae have an incarnating effect on the psyche because of their warming quality.

Chemistry

The Lamiaceae contain aromatic carbohydrates in the form of phenols, which have an antiseptic as well as an aromatic action. With the aid of the Terpenes, which the plants contain, they protect themselves against insects, fungi, and bacteria. Other constituents are: Phosphorus, Vanadium, Magnesium, Calcium, Potassium, Lithium, and Molybdenum. The themes of these elements are well described by Jan Scholten in his books: ‘Homeopathy and the Minerals’ and ’Homeopathy and the Elements’.

MAIN THEMES OF THE LAMIACEAE

Acknowledgement

The patients are full of emotions but cannot express them adequately; they find it hard to put their feelings into words. They are ambitious and have a great need of acknowledgement. When this need is distorted and is a main issue in the case history, it becomes a theme. This theme, together with the holding-on to and bottling-up of feelings, brings the Lamiaceae into the picture. The lack of acknowledgement is felt in all kinds of settings: at work, at home, in the family, and with friends, but most of all, the lack is felt in relation to the father, who is often very authoritarian.

Patients who need a remedy from the Lamiaceae suffer from the fact that they are not recognized for their own qualities by their parents or partner. The lack of acknowledgement is very strong in the prototype of the orphan (proving Wad-stories 2): no parents and thus no recognition of his biological descent. All members of this family probably need acknowledgement but each in their own specific way. The following presumptions need to be confirmed in daily practice:

-        Teucrium wants to be acknowledged in his work.

-        Oreganum tries to find acknowledgment/gratification in the sexual field.

-        For Ocimum basilica, the field of acknowledgment lies in the religious sector.

-        The tender point of Collinsonia is the pregnancy. She does not recognize her own pregnancy!!

-        Patients who need Melissa officinalis feel powerless when not acknowledged and become  

         angry.

-        Ocimum sanctum patients are afraid of accidents (dream of accidents) and try to find acknowledgement in managing or joining a first- aid-group.

We can see that these patients look for gratification of their deep need for acknowledgement from those around them.

Ambition

To get recognition the Lamiaceae throw themselves with much ambition into their work (Potassium) and try to make a good impression (Calcium). They do their best but that is never good enough.

Massimo Mangialavori has added the following Lamiaceae to the rubric ‘Ambition’: Mentha piperita, Oreganum, Thyme, and Scuttelaria.

In the Lamiaceae’s context, ambition has the connotation of: “It is my duty to do my best.” We also find this theme in the iron-group: Kalium, Vanadium, Ferrum, Manganum, Cuprum and Chromium which, like Phosporus, are important constituents of the Lamiaceae.

Bottling-up

Despite being talkative, Lamiaceae express themselves insufficiently and do not show their vulnerability or express their true feelings. The cause of this situation can often be found in their youth: parents who do not show their own feelings, who do not tell the truth, etc.

RUBRICS

Throat, speech:

- Loquacity: oci., teucr., thymol

- Indisposed to talk: lycps., orig.

- Quiet disposition: scut.

- Aphasia: oci.c

- Desire salt: lycps., teucr., (nat-m)

- Thyroid problems: in Dutch opkroppen means bottling up, holding on; crop = goiter

- Goiter: lam., lycps,. scut.

- Pain throat: menth., oci-s.

Spasms:

- Restrain, retain (Cuprum)

- Head, pain, cramping: teucr.,

 - Head, temples, cramping: rosm.,

- Stomach, pain, cramping: coll., teucr.,

- Abdomen, pain, cramping: coll., lycps.,teucr., 

Congestion:

- Nose obstruction: menthol., teucr.,

- Hemorrhoids: coll., lam., lycps.

- Abdomen, distention: coll., lam.

- Constipation: coll., hedeo., lam., lycps.

Hemorrhage:

- Hemorrhage: coll., lycps., hedeo.,

- Metrorrhagia: coll., lycps., oci-s., rosm.

- Chest, hemorrhage: coll., lam., lycps.,

- Anus, hemorrhage: coll., glech., lycps.                     

Sedative, tranquillizing and sleep-inducer:

- Restlessness: coll., lam., menth-pu., menthol., oci-c., orig., scut., thymol.,

- Irritability: lycps., oci-c., orig., teucr., thymol.

- Sleeplessness: lam., lycps., teucr.,

Antiseptic:

- Inflammation: lycps., teucr.

- Sinusitis: menth., teucr.,

- Inflammation kidney: coll., lycps., oci-c.,

- Bladder, morbid urging: hedeo., lycps., oci-c., scut.

Photos: Wikimedia Commons
Ocinum basilicum; Frank Vincentz
Glechoma hederaceae; IJmuiden, the Netherlands