Often the source from which the remedy is taken tells us a lot about its uses. This is certainly the case for Sepia, made from the ink of the cuttlefish (also called the giant squid). The cuttlefish has the shape and form of a uterus, while Sepia is used for many disorders of the female reproductive system. The constant twitching and jerking of its head and body remind us of the Sepia patient's constant desire to move. The shades of brown and yellow which are part of the squid's astonishing camouflage system remind us of the Sepia woman's wardrobe as well as her typical pigmentation: sallow skin, a brownish mottling of the face, or the “mask of pregnancy”. The cuttlefish is a master of escape (excreting a cloud of black ink to confuse the pursuer), and escape is exactly what the Sepia woman wants when she feels totally overwhelmed. Finally, the female cuttlefish is said to have total disregard and indifference for her eggs once laid, like the exhausted Sepia woman's indifference to her family. It is also said that the male fish loses his special copulatory tentacle during intercourse-which is reflected in the depression following intercourse in the (less frequently encountered) male Sepia patient.
How does one get into a Sepia state? Many women could answer that. Typically it reflects 4 overwork and over-responsibility. The exhaustion can easily stem from childbirth, especially if the pregnancy was hard (with Sepia being a great remedy for morning sickness), or if the delivery was difficult and/or rushed (with suction or pitocin). It is unfortunate that gynecologists don't know the power of Sepia for "postpartum blues"! Women who have had several pregnancies, miscarriages or abortions can also get into this debilitated Sepia state, drained not only of their physical energy but of their emotional energy as well. However, I have also seen women get into a Sepia state after only one pregnancy. If the baby is a screamer (a typical colicky baby) and does not want to sleep for the first three months, the mother almost inevitably will slide into this state of fatigue.
A woman in a Sepia state will say, "I am depressed" or “I am on the verge of a nervous breakdown." Indeed, she wakes up in the morning and feels there is nothing to look forward to: nothing but chores which can't wait, so overwhelming that she can't imagine being able to finish them, yet she will have to start the housework all over the next day. She never seems to get a few minutes just for herself where she can simply rest, exercise a little, read, anything put her body and mind at peace. No wonder such a woman does not want to get out of bed. She will spend the whole day driving the kids to school and their activities, cooking, shopping, washing… the list seems endless, and by the late afternoon, she is ready to collapse. All she wants is a little nap - but this is just the moment the children come back from school, and then the "big boy," her husband, demands his dinner. He even adds insult to injury by talking about how much work he did that day (and implying that housework isn't "real work").
A Sepia woman feels pushed relentlessly with no end in sight. It is only her sense of duty that keeps her going. But there will come a time when she runs out of energy and her patience comes to an end. Trapped in her situation, feeling utterly exhausted, she tells everyone to go away and leave her alone. She will even slap her whining children without feeling a bit sorry. She is just too tired to care.
And beware of the husband asking, for sex! That is just another task for her to avoid. Nor should he complain about a bad day at work. One of my patients said to her husband, "A bad day? I'll give you a bad day! I'll take out my pistols and bang! You're dead!" Another of my patients just got to the breaking point with her husband who came home from work, plopped in front of the TV and demanded that she make him a big bowl of popcorn. She took the popcorn and dumped it on his head, then got in the car and drove away for a few hours, just to be by herself-leaving her husband and kids in a panic, because they had never seen her act like this!
A Sepia woman will snap if anything extra gets added to her overloaded routine. She has to shut off he has to shut off or she feels she will die. She will even want to run away from this situation where she feels trapped. She may tell her husband, "You are in charge of the kids," and flee in desperation to the mall, or pack her suitcase and announce: "I am off on a little vacation and I don't want anyone coming along!"
A woman in a Sepia state may seem unsociable, but that's only because she is too tired to follow a conversation. She just wants to lie in bed with a book. Under severe stress, she may appear frozen, no longer showing emotion.
Sad to say, this Sepia state can be forced on a young girl if she has to fill her mom's shoes in the family, perhaps due to her mother's illness, absence or death. Being given so much responsibility at such a young age can mark her for the rest of her life. She may want to stay unmarried in order to avoid taking care of anyone else, or she may absolutely refuse to have children, preferring to be a successful career woman with no strings attached.
In the doctor's office she can be very critical, trying to hide the real reason of her visit: her emotional exhaustion. Often she only talks about her physical complaints, which are numerous (especially menstrual, menopausal or other hormonal symptoms).
But more often a woman in a Sepia state will burst into tears while telling her story, as crying is her only way of communicating. A Sepia will cry even more than a Pulsatilla, but her grief stems from exhaustion rather than the Pulsatilla's neediness for attention. She can have a sharp tongue; how can she feel any sympathy when she feels she can "lose it any minute"? As you can see, many women are in this unfortunate situation. I hope they will turn for help to Sepia, ready to give them a new lease on life!
A Sepia woman is likely to need these acute remedies:
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The main thing a woman in a Sepia state needs is help from a homeopath, who can prescribe remedies in the right professional potencies. She can also benefit by using Sepia acutely in situations such as these:
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Many women, and especially women in a Sepia state, are likely to need Sepia for dysmenorrhea (with the typical Sepia symptom of a bearing down feeling in the uterus, as though it might slide out through the vagina!)
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Sepia is also good for morning sickness, vomiting during pregnancy, and hot flashes during menopause.
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It can also be used acutely for PMS symptoms such as irritability, weepiness and depression.
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I often tell my women patients to protect themselves against exhaustion during the Thanksgiving - Christmas season by taking Sepia 200C (3 pellets, dry in the mouth, as needed).
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Copyright by Luc De Schepper, MD, PhD, DI Hom., CHom., Lic.Ac
from his book, "The People's Repertory". Reprinted by permission.
Dr. Luc is the author of excellent books on Classical Homeopathy.
