The inky secretion of the cuttle fish, termed Sepia, is a preparation peculiar to homeopathy, finding no place in the therapy of other schools of medicine. All that is known concerning its action comes from the homeopathic provings. It is a rather inert and inactive substance, yet it is capable of causing reactions in the human organism when taken for a sufficient length of time.

In this discussion, by its physiological action, are meant the more prominent symptoms as produced in the provings. Sepia in this manner has been found to produce a venous plethora, most pronounced in the portal system. Later, this condition becomes more generalized. The female sexual organs are affected; presumably, the uterus is prolapsed; weakness and a bearing down sensation are present. The individual's normal mental condition becomes one of despondency and an indifference to her accustomed, necessary duties. The menses are scanty, herpetic eruptions appear upon the skin; "liver spots" show upon the abdomen and chest, and the face becomes earthy yellow and cachectic in appearance. Many of the disturbances caused by Sepia are relieved by violent motion, this acting as a stimulant to the sluggish circulation.

Sepia is a valuable therapeutic agent in spite of the fact that it does not possess toxic properties or have a sudden, pronounced, physiological action.

Therapeutics

Sepia is a remedy more often related to chronic diseases, particularly those of women and has certain well marked characteristics, which make its recognition easy.

In a general way, it may be said that weakness and relaxation of tissues or organs are guiding symptoms of this medicine, hence ptosis falls within its curative sphere. Women who need Sepia are physically weak, tired and worn out, often as the result of too frequent child bearing, particularly when the latter has been followed by damage to the pelvic organs, such as partial uterine prolapse and subinvolution, together with endometritis and vaginitis. Under these circumstances, bearing down sensations, as though everything were dropping out of the pelvis, are complained of, especially when the woman is standing. On lying down, she is, of course, relieved, and while sitting, feels as though she is obliged to cross her limbs for support. An offensive, milky, yellow leucorrhea adds to her discomfort and is especially troublesome before the menses. The latter are either early and scanty or usually delayed and scanty and of short duration.

Accompanying these pelvic troubles is a severe lumbosacral backache, relieved by firm pressure, as in sitting well back in a chair, or by lying on something hard. Undoubtedly this pain in the back is caused by uterine retroversion, a condition often present, when Sepia is required.

The facial appearance of the Sepia patient is noteworthy and is marked by a yellow color, or sallowness about the mouth or across the bridge of the nose. The eyes are often yellow, with dark rings under them. Venous congestion is a feature of Sepia and probably explains the fact that many symptoms, such as the headache, are relieved by vigorous exercise, which no doubt stimulates and tones the circulation.

Mentally Sepia patients are very much inclined to be depressed, discouraged and apathetic, particularly toward members of the immediate family and to the ordinary household duties. This sadness and melancholy is, of course, especially to be found in women with pelvic disorders and is marked before the onset of the menses.

In pregnancy, nausea and vomiting will often be greatly modified by this remedy, which is specifically indicated when the nausea occurs before breakfast and is relieved for a time at least, by eating and when a sensation of epigastric sinking or goneness is complained of. The nausea is much aggravated by the odors of food and of cooking, to which the patient is decidedly sensitive. Irritability of the bladder with frequent micturition, is quite commonly present and the urine is reddish and cloudy from the presence of large amounts of sodium urate.

Sepia is left-sided in many of its symptoms, a fact which is characteristic and useful. Left-sided headaches are, therefore, common; likewise attacks of left supraorbital pain. Such headaches assume the migraine type and are common to women in whom the pelvic disorders already described, are present.

Another valuable indication for Sepia is a morning and evening aggravation of its symptoms, with comparative freedom or relief after the mid-day meal. Sepia patients are usually constipated, with difficult stools requiring much straining, even though these may at times be soft. Occasionally a sensation of a lump in the rectum is complained of, which stool does not seem to relieve.

During the climacteric period in women, the remedy is of great benefit when, together with frequent hot flushes and goneness at the stomach, the other characteristic symptoms, above pictured, are present.

In the treatment of skin diseases, Sepia holds an important place and often cures herpetic eruptions, especially about the bends of the joints and about the lips. Ringworm is frequently dissipated by Sepia and chloasma, as well as chronic urticaria, aggravated by milk drinking or by eating pork, will be benefited or cured by it. This intolerance of milk is another peculiar characteristic of the remedy as is shown by the fact, that milk will cause diarrhea in the patient who needs Sepia.

In certain mild cases of pharyngitis, which are located in or commence on the left side of the throat and in which dryness of the throat is present, Sepia will be found a satisfactory remedy.

Chronic nasal catarrh, with thick, yellowish-green, mucous discharge; also the formation of tough, leathery, greenish scabs, which are drawn through the posterior nares and hawked out.

Characteristic Symptoms Of Sepia

1. Yellow saddle across the nose; also yellow spots on the face.

2. Brown liver spots on the skin, especially on the chest and abdomen.

3. Sensation as if everything would come out of the vagina; she has to cross her limbs to prevent it.

4. Leucorrhea; yellow, like milk or pus; foul odor; excoriating.

5. Weakness and pain in the back; grows worse on sitting still.

6. Especially suited to persons with dark hair; for women, and particularly during pregnancy, in child-bed and while nursing.

7. The left-sidedness of many of its symptoms.

8. A morning and evening aggravation.

9. Nausea aggravated by odors, but relieved by eating.

10. Sensation of goneness or emptiness, especially referred to the epigastrium.

11. Melancholy tearfulness, together with indifference.

12. Migraine, usually left-sided.