Cactus grandiflorus, also known as large-flowered cactus or Queen of the Night, is a climbing cactus with large white flowers. Indigenous to the Antilles, Mexico and Central America it has been used as a health tonic for centuries by those living with it.

Cactus grandiflorus entered the homeopathic materia medica in the 1800s after it was found in homeopathic potencies to help painful constrictions and spasms from restricted blood flow, especially of the heart. The pain, whether of the heart of elsewhere is often severe and described as band-like, as if “grabbed by an iron fist”, like digging wire.

Common Uses

When the remedy matches the symptom profile, Cactus grandiflorus has the ability to treat conditions such as angina, arrhythmia, headache, colic, coughing or vomiting of blood, myocarial infarct, neuralgia, valvular disease.

From the Old Masters

Lippe says:

MIND AND DISPOSITION

Sadness and bad humor ; taciturnity, melancholy, hypochondriasis.

GENERALITIES.

General weakness and prostration of strength.
Sensation of constriction in the throat ; chest ; heart ; bladder ; rectum.
Hæmorrhages, nose ; lungs ; rectum ; stomach.

CONDITIONS.
The intermittent fever attacks recur at the same hour.
Aggravation in the forenoon (diarrhœa).
At night (palpitation of the heart ; headache).
When lying on the left side (palpitation of the heart).
After eating (weight in the stomach).
From noise and light (headache).

Important

While the above self-limiting, acute complaints are suitable for home treatment, see your healthcare provider if symptoms worsen or fail to improve. Chronic or persistent complaints, which may or may not be mentioned, require a different treatment and dosage protocol so are best managed by a qualified homeopath for good results.

Hering says:

MIND.
Taciturn, unwilling to speak a word, or to answer.
Cries, knows not why ; consolation aggravates.
Unconquerable sadness.
Fear of death ; he believes his disease incurable.
Hypochondriacal.

SENSATIONS.
Whole body feels as if caged, each wire being twisted tighter and tighter.

TISSUES.
Organic diseases of the heart.
Dropsical affections.
Constriction of the heart, as if an iron band prevented its normal movement; < lying on left side.

Nash says:

Constriction, general; of heart, chest, bladder, rectum, uterus, vagina, etc.
Hæmorrhages in connection with heart troubles; nose, lungs, stomach, rectum, bladder.
Palpitation; day or night; worse when walking and lying on left side, approach of menses.
Fear of death; believes the disease incurable.