The Ideogenic Realm : Cannabis Indica
I’ll begin our exploration of some of the ideogenic remedies with the widely known recreational drug cannabis indica. It is one of a few remedies which address a basic ideogenic theme, which is the split which we all feel in one way or another — whether between mind and body, or our self and the world, the structure of modern consciousness is built on such a fundamental split.
In the Cannabis state of mind, the meaning of this split is one of escaping the perceived dangers of the outer world, and retreating into a safe inner world of one’s own construction. On this point, there are some autism cases which respond positively to this remedy as part of their overall Heilkunst treatment. Threat and danger is a theme which runs through this remedy, with forms of anxiety or even panic attack as part of its picture.
The symptoms of Cannabis are predominantly in the mental sphere, where incredible alternate realities or enticing visions are constructed like “sandcastles in the sky”. This is a very common state of mind within modern consciousness, where our brain-mind largely predominates over our body-mind, and most people live in a very abstracted world, disconnected from their own bodily sensations or emotions. As Sir Ken Robinson once said [in paraphrase] : “He considers his body as a convenient vehicle to carry his head around”. Various forms of theorizing and idealistic philosophies emerge from the root of this type of split.
Cannabis Indica is in widespread use as a recreational drug, and any time something exists at a mass scale like that, I wonder from a Heilkunst perspective what the underlying phenomenon is which is unconsciously driving it. The split from reality into a “head consciousness” is the origin of this ideogenic disease state. There is also a very weakened sense of identity as well as a weak sense of connection with others.
The cultural phenomenon of the Hippies is a very vivid illustration of the Cannabis state of mind. It is definitely no accident that Cannabis was one of the primary drugs of choice during the Hippie movement, which was a very strong manifestation of this underlying state of mind. A movement full of theoretical constructs (about ideal social structures, and the truth of Eastern religions, etc.) as a means of buffering against some of the harsh realities of the time (such as the Vietnam war), and also replaced with visions of bright colours (Hippie clothing, flowers, etc.) are all perfect characterizations of this state of mind. Also, the commune-style of living further speaks to the breakdown of the individual identity in Cannabis. The promiscuity of the ‘Free Love’ movement is also characteristic of this remedy.
Time magazine featured a cover story in July 1967 called “The Hippies: The Philosophy of a Subculture.” The article described the guidelines of the hippie code: “Do your own thing, wherever you have to do it and whenever you want. Drop out. Leave society as you have known it. Leave it utterly. Blow the mind of every straight person you can reach. Turn them on, if not to drugs, then to beauty, love, honesty, fun.”
As I’ve said a number of times, I do not condone the use of “medical marijuana”, whether prescribed by a doctor, or self-prescribed, as it is generally used to suppress rather than cure a disease. However, the use of the potentized form of this substance prescribed homeopathically for this particular state of mind can work wonders at relieving a patient from this state of mind, as well as any chronic physical symptoms which are connected to it for them.