Bryonia Alba

"The typical Bryonia personality is not the artist or scientist or philosopher, the explorer of beauty or the unknown, who disregards the material basis of his existing a safe basis for his economic existence he becomes irritable, angry, anxious, depressed, always on the lookout for something which promises a hold to provide stability and security. ...Worried about his security, he holds on to his back, he holds on to his belly, he holds on to his pocket-book."

"Rich and competent though he is, he fears poverty, he may be slow on the uptake but how persistent; he can follow through with large projects, his obstinacy is an aid, his choleric disposition an added strength. The Bryonia types are not negative; they are a bursting people which their pains symbolize. They are better under pressure, in mind as in body. They are a mighty folk and can produce real end results in the world."

"His depression started after he stopped working. He cannot accept the fact that he is unable to work anymore. His work was his hobby and now he feels he is a misfit. 'I sit behind the window, and other people see me walking around and I have less income than them.' Regarding his income he says he had always tried to improve his turnover. He had changed his job several times in order to make more money."

= FEAR OF POVERTY. 

TALKS CONTINUOUSLY ABOUT HIS BUSINESS. 

Constant worrying about money.

• "Dreams all night very vividly of anxious and careful attention to his business."

• "In his dreams he is occupied with household affairs." [Hahnemann]

= Irritability when disturbed; wants to be let alone.

• "Cross; imagined she could not finish her work." "Too busy; she wishes to undertake and to work at too many things." [Hahnemann]

• "Bryonia patients are withdrawn into themselves, purposely isolated from social contact. Always in the background is a deep feeling of insecurity, a sense of vulnerability and weakness. It is this that leads them to seek isolation. They do not want to be intruded upon, and they are quite content to live alone. ... It seems to me that the insecurity arises out of the lack of social contact in Bryonia patients. They do not allow themselves the sense of security that can be derived from family, friends, community, etc. Bryonia patients are responsible people; they usually take the greatest share of responsibility for their families, for instance, but then they wonder who will take care of them in case of financial disaster. They feel unsupported and insecure." [Vithoulkas]