Brooding: Sits, wrapped deep in thoughts; as if notices nothing.
A person is besieged with ideas that give them no peace. It is a state of sycotic instability with respect to a problem, or something else.
The homeopathic Materia Medica contains medicines, or remedies, that exhibit symptoms of what is called brooding. Each remedy broods in its unique way and in accordance with its unique profile. The following collation presents the state of brooding in Aurum metallicum, Pulsatilla nigricans, Veratrum album, Natrum muriaticum and Ignatia amara.
Aurum Metallicum
No drug produces a more acute depression than Aurum. The Aurum state is one of hopelessness that makes the patient oblivious to everything around them. Aurums are full of melancholy, long for death and show a tendency towards suicide.
The Aurum patient has overinvested in something in their life — job, love, business, religion; or, given their all and lost.
And, so as a result, the Aurum patient sits wrapped in deep thought, numbed and not able to respond to their surroundings. They notice nothing.
In the Aurum state, the spirit is so depressed that there is a loss of enjoyment in everything. Aurums believe they have greatly neglected their duty and friends. They feel themselves unworthy of salivation and all these thoughts are uncontrollable, and also constantly preoccupying their minds. Aurum sits and broods over these imaginings saying nothing, and as the brooding intensifies, new grievances are born.
Pulsatilla Nigricans
The Pulsatilla patient can be sad, tearful and despondent. And, when in a deep state of depression will sit in a state of profound sadness, staring and wrapped in deep thought. Pulsatillas may isolate themselves in a room and sulk. There is a tendency in Pulsatilla to sit day after day in a taciturn way and they may remain in a chair all day without answering. The Pulsatilla patient can be self-pitying, morose, peevish, and as inflexible as they are changeable. They can become catatonic-like.
Veratrum Album
Veratrum album produces alternating states of brooding, screaming and screeching. The remedy is full of hopelessness, especially despair of recovery. We can see melancholy with the head hanging down. The Veratrum sits brooding in silence and the brooding is pronounced in the evening. The patient may brood, or sulk, over their own state, or over the state of the world. They are tired of life and suffer great grief. They are inconsolable over their misfortune — as they sit and brood.
Igniatia Amara & Natrum Muriaticum
Ignatia is a sulker, also perfectionist and romantic, conflicted, constantly frustrated and disappointed. They are people who redo arguments and dislike consolation. In the acute state, they sulk which, thereafter, blossoms into resentment. There is silent grief.
Natrum muriaticum, often prescribed for more chronic states that have been given Ignatia, is a remedy that has a tendency to erect walls to protect emotions and become silent and brooding. They are worse for consolation, preferring to be left alone with their strong emotions. There is a strong tendency towards dwelling on past disagreeable issues.
As the success of the prescription depends on adeptly matching the symptom-picture produced in the provings of the remedy to that which the patient presents with, it is imperative that the patient be carefully observed and treated by a professional homeopathic physician.
