Fungi are a very large group of Thallophytes without chlorophyll. They reproduce by means of spores. They may occur in water, in the soil, on other living organisms etc. There are harmful and useful fungi. Some fungi like mushrooms are edible. Fungi are widely used in certain industries. Antibiotic Penicillin is produced from the fungus Pencillium. Fungi cause disease in human beings, animals and plants. The reason why some fungi are so dangerous is that unlike any other living thing, fungi are able to assimilate extremely complicated organic compounds which attack common organs.

The most dangerous of fungal poisons are
1) α – amanitin – It leads to the destruction of liver.
2) Orellanin – Causes permanent kidney damage.
3) Gyromitrin – Acts similar to α – amanitin.
4) Muscarin – Acts as a nerve poison and affects the heart and blood circulation.

Classification
There are different systems of classification of Fungi. Engler classified True Fungi in to classes Phycomycetes, Ascomycetes, Basidiomycetes and Deuteromycetes.

Important Homeopathic Medicines Prepared from fungi are
1) Agaricus emeticus
2) Agaricus muscarius
3) Agaricus Phalloides
4) Boletus laricis
5) Boletus luridus
6) Boletus satanas
7) Bovista
8) Phallus impudicus
9) Polyporus Pinicola
10) Secale cor
11) Ustilago

Other rare Homeopathic Medicines prepared from fungi are
1) Agaricus Campestris
2) Agaricus Citrinus
3) Agaricus Pantherinus
4) Agaricus Procerns
5) Agaricus Semiglobatus
6) Agaricus Strecoranius
7) Psilocybe Caecrulescens
8) Turula Cerevisiae

Also added should be
Solanum tuberosum aegrotans
Thalaspi Bursa Pastoris
The drug picture is contributed by the fungi invading these plants also.

AGARICUS
This is commonly known as Mushroom. Agaricus comes under the order Agaricales of the Basidiomycetes class. This is a Saprophytic fungus growing on damp rotten logs of wood, trunks of trees and in damp soil rich in organic matter.
Some types of Agaricus are edible. Others are Poisonous. The edible mushrooms are cultivated and these are white in Colour. The coloured types are usually poisonous.

AGARICUS MUSCARIUS
Common Name - Bug Agaric
Habitat - Europe & America
Preparation: Trituration of the carefully dried-up cap or of the fresh fungus

It contains 3 toxic principles
(1) Muscarine - A parasympathomimetic alkaloid
(2) A neutro toxic substance
(3) An alkaloid with atropine like action

Characteristics
This agent produces a state of intoxication and is used in many parts for making an intoxicating drink, thus we find in alcoholism a Sphere of its action & also in all states of delirium. Mania and even idiocy.
The peculiarity of delirium is to make verses and prophesy, also silly merriness, and incoherent talk, with mania; Kisses companions.
There are exalted notions of grandeur and power, hilarity excitement followed by depression, confusion and imbecility.- Accompanying Physical Symptoms are
Vertigo, with Constant impulse to fall backward
Twitching about eyes & face
Redness without heat
Puffy & distorted appearance
Ravenous Appetite with bolting of food
Sexual appetite enormous & enthusiastic with relaxed penis and impotence.
There is involvement of motor nerves.Spasmodic twitching, throughout the body, tremors, Choreiform movements & Convulsions of the epilepti form type. Finally there is relaxation and exhaustion. Twitching is marked in eyes, eyelids, and facial muscles.

Rolling of the head is a leading indication of Agaricus in brain affections and fever.
Peculiar headaches are “ Throbbing headache, with Sensation of stiffness of muscles of face ”
“Dull drawing headache in the morning, extending in to root of nose, with nose bleed or thick mucous discharge.”
“ Pain as from a nail in right side of head ’’.
Pain as if pierced by needles of ice is very characteristic.
Sweat - May be Oily, but is not offensive.
It is a spleen medicine, causing stitch in the left side.
The Symptoms are apt to appear at the same time on opposite sides of the body but diagonally.
Highly sensitive to cold & damp
Many Symptoms appear when walking in the open air- Conversely to sensitiveness to cold, there is Sensitiveness to the rays of the sun & sunstroke is within the Curative range of Agaricus.
There is Symptoms of gastro- enteric irritation.

With these indications, Agaricus is of use in - Epilepsy.
Chorea
Frostbite
Sunburn
Typhoid fever
Alcoholism

AGARICUS EMETICUS
A small acrid species found in woods in Europe
Preparations - Mother tincture from the fresh mushrooms
The Symptoms of Agaricus Emeticus resembles those of  other Agaricus, but they have this characteristic that while cold water < the symptoms of Agaricus Muscarius, it speedily and permanently relieves those of Agaricus Emeticus
There is violent longing for ice-cold water
Most marked is the vertigo, which is so severe one must be carried to bed; he is not able to sit or stand.

AGARICUS PHALLOIDES
A small stinking fungus it is a poison of great intensity & fatality. Toxins are cytotoxic alpha amanitine & Phalloidine. These toxins inhibit protein syntheses it causes Necrosis, Oedema and haemorrhage in liver, kidney, GIT and brain.... Symptoms observed in poisoning give a complete picture of Asiatic cholera
Extreme prostration with cold sweat, chilliness thirst, cold extremities etc.
Crampy pain in abdomen
Small intermittent pulse:
Finally - Circulatory collapse, hepatic and Renal failure:

BOLETUS LARICIS
Synonym - Polyporus officinalis
White Agaric
Its active principle is Agaric Acid or Agaricin
Tinctureis prepared from the dried fungus
Characteristic
 Symptoms of gastro- intestinal irritation (Chronic diarrhoea.)
 Periodical neuralgia.

BOLETUS LURIDUS
Characteristics
  Poisoning effects show delirium
  Sunken features
  Violet colour of nose & lips
  Intense thirst
  Violent pain in epigastrium
  Urticaria

BOLETUS SATANAS
It produces gastro intestinal disturbances.

BOVISTA
Common Name - Warted Puff-ball
Bovista comes under Basidiomycetes
The entire fungus is used to prepare the

Characteristics
Bloatedness, Puffy condition of body surface
A sense of “Enlargement”
Flatulent distention & noisy passage of flatus are leading features of the Bovista Pathogenesis.
This agent has an action on the circulation, predisposing to relaxation and haemorrhages - haemorrhages from menstrual irregularities, from traumatism etc.
Menstrual flow occurring only or chiefly at night, haemorrhage between the periods
Menses preceded & followed by diarrhoea.
Acrid corrosive leucorrhoea, following at night only, follows menses
With these symptoms it can be of use in ovarian cyst.
There is stammering speech.
Awkwardness, misapplies words in speaking & writing.
The puffy, expanding properties of the remedy are shown as a puffy condition of the body surface; instrument indents the fingers in an unusual degree.

Useful in colic causing the patient to bend double.
Action up on the skin producing an eruption similar to eczema
Itching at tip of coccyx is another characteristics symptom
Useful in c/c urticaria
Sweat in axilla smelling like onions
 “We may always think of Bovista when we see a use very ‘tettery’ person, one who has tetters here & there , all over the body. There utters may be either moist or dry”.
Symptoms generally are < Morning ,cold food. . Hot weather

Next Page