3. LOGANIACEAE
A. Leupen
Botanical
This plant family supplies homeopathic remedies such as Nux vomica, Ignatia, Gelsemium, Spigelia. Curare used to be part of this family, nowadays this plant is classified in the family of Menispermaceae (just like Cocculus).
The Loganiaceae family consists mainly of trees, shrubs and climbing plants. There are 29 genera and 470 species. Geographic distribution: tropics, subtropics and temperate climate, rarely above 3000 meters. In the Netherlands there are no representatives of this family in nature. Usually one does not find them in large numbers, usually individually or in a small group.
Mostly woody crops without latex and with opposite, single, pinnate leaves usually with reduced buttress leaves and regular, hermaphroditic flowers in terminal umbrellas, seldom isolated; 4-5 roof tile-shaped last sepals and the 4-5, maximum to lobes of the tubular crown sometimes also valvewise placed; 4-5 stamens (rarely) arranged in a ring with the crown; the superior, 2-5 pigeon-shaped ovary with many angular ovules consists of 2 fused fruit leaves and is sunk in a disc in some genera; fruit: a box fruit or a berry with seeds with fleshy germinated white and a straight, often winged keel.
These plants contain toxic substances that either paralyze (Gelsemium and Curare) or disinhibitory and convulsive (Nux and Ignatia). Nux vomica and Ignatia both contain strychnine (has a strong cramping effect). The nervous system is the organ that is affected in this plant family.
Mind
We know the mental image of Nux vomica: irritated and performance-oriented, efficient and combative. Ambitious. The themes are COMPETITION and PERFECTIONISM. These themes apply to the whole plant family.
- Nux vomica is the manager who wants to keep everything under control, can hardly delegate. - Gelsemium has stage fright, wants to make a perfect presentation on stage.
- Spigelia wants to cross swords, tends to discuss and argue (mnemonic: fear of pins, stabbing pains).
- Ignatia is sensitive to punishment and emotional disappointments, her pride gets a big dent. Ailments from wounded honour.