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This essay is about the characteristics of Agaricus and the similarities between Agaricus and the tale of Alice’s adventure in the story Alice’s Adventure in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is a story of a rather “curious” dream had by Alice when she falls asleep one hot afternoon. In Alice’s dream she shrinks to ten inches tall, and then grows to more than nine feet high; she follows a White Rabbit in a waistcoat, down a Rabbit-hole; she nearly drowns in her own tears; she seeks guidance from a Caterpillar sitting on a mushroom; a Cat assures her everyone is mad; and the Queen and King from her pack of cards become real and she nearly looses her head. We all have a peculiar dream from time to time; that is after all the nature of dreaming, however, the uncanny resemblance of this dream to the effects of taking Magic Mushrooms1 and the homoeopathic remedy Agaricus is unsettling in its accuracy.
To consider that the rather conservative, mathematically orientated author of the story, Lewis Carroll, had indulged in the hallucinogenic qualities of Magic Mushrooms is somewhat inconceivable. However, the uncanny resemblance of Alice’s dream to the characteristics of the constitutional remedy picture of Agaricus and to the effects of consuming Magic Mushrooms cannot be just a bizarre coincidence. It is conceivable however to consider that the author Lewis Carroll was an Agaricus constitutional, and that he wrote from his own fantastic Agaricus imagination. Lewis Carroll is noted for his nonsense stories and poems, of which Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is one. He is also noted as being eccentric and emotionally withdrawn; a characteristic which could suggest that he suffered from nervousness. He also supposedly only felt comfortable with children, especially little girls, in whose company his usual stammer apparently disappeared. His stammer must have been quite noticeable because it prevented him from fulfilling his spiritual aspirations to become a preacher until he was much older. “The mental state of Agaricus is characterized by both anxiety and excitement. The patient may be dependent and fearful.” [Morrison] Agaricus is also a noted remedy for stammering and is characterized by “Grimacing of the mouth, especially on beginning to speak.” [Morrison] As to the supposition of Lewis Carroll being Agaricus is of course impossible to prove; but it must be noted that Agaricus has some notable characteristics that could support my proposal that he wrote Alice’s dream fantasy from his own extraordinary experiences of the “excited and ecstatic” [ Morrison] fantasy world of Agaricus.
As all good homoeopaths know even with further delving into the personal life of Lewis Carroll it would still not be clear unless you could take his case, as to whether Lewis Carroll was Agaricus; so the most important proposition of this essay is to concentrate on the parallel consciousness between Agaricus and the fantasy world of Alice in her dream. The fact that Alice repertorised so wonderfully as Agaricus is what continually stimulates the minds and passions of all homoeopaths.
“One Side Will Make you Grow Taller, and the Other Side will Make you Grow Shorter.”
“In a minute or two the Caterpillar took the hookah out of its mouth and yawned once or twice, and shook itself. Then it got down off the mushroom, and crawled away into the grass, merely remarking as it went, “One side will make you grow taller, and the other side will make you grow shorter.” “One side of what? The other side of what?” thought Alice to herself. “Of the mushroom,” said the Caterpillar, just as if she had asked it aloud; and in another moment it was out of sight. [P.53 Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Lewis Carroll.]
Alice discovered that the Caterpillar was indeed right, one nibble from the right-hand side of the mushroom and she shrunk and one nibble from the left-hand side of the mushroom and she grew. The homoeopathic remedy Agaricus is derived from a dilution of the Fly Agaric fungi Agaricaceae family. Frans Vermeulen in Prisma writes a detailed account of the history of the fungi as an intoxicant and hallucinogenic narcotic. The resounding parallel between the hallucinogenic qualities of the narcotic and the constitution is that Agaricus experiences the same confusion over size that Alice experiences after she eats some of the mushroom.
The Delusions and Rubrics that cover the confusion as to size in Agaricus are numerous.
● Rubric; Size: incorrect judgement of: [Synthesis]
● Rubric; Confusion of mind: [Synthesis]
● Rubric; Delusion: great person is a: [Synthesis]
● Rubric; Distances: inaccurate judgment of: [Synthesis]
● Rubric; Ecstasy: [Synthesis]
● Rubric; Fancies: exaltation of: [Synthesis]
● Rubric; Exhilaration: [Synthesis]
● Rubric; Dream; as if in a: [Synthesis]
● Rubric; Dream; as if in a: [Synthesis]
● Rubric; Dreams: vivid: [Synthesis]
● Rubric; Delusion: small: body is smaller: [Synthesis]
● Rubric; Delusion: objects are: (size-incorrect) [Synthesis]
After Alice eats the cake she grows into a rather large telescope-like form. “Now I’m opening out like the largest telescope that ever was! Good-bye, feet!” (for when she looked down at her feet, they seemed to be almost out of sight, they were getting so far off). [P.24 Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Lewis Carroll.]
● Rubric; Delusion: enlarged: [Synthesis]
● Rubric; Delusion: fancy, illusions of: [Synthesis]
● Rubric; Delusion: seeing figures: [Synthesis]
● Rubric; Delusion: light=low weight: is light; he: [Synthesis]
● Rubric; Delusion: legs: belong to her; her legs don’t: [Synthesis]
● Rubric; Delusion: water: spoonful of water seems like a lake; a: [Synthesis]
Agaricus is the only remedy listed in this Rubric, and the continual symbiosis between the Rubrics of Agaricus (especially this particular Rubric,) and the adventures of Alice are reflective of a parallel consciousness between the writer Lewis Carroll and the constitutional picture of Agaricus. This delusion reflects the narcotic exaggerations of the remedy picture and Agaricus is also listed in the Rubric for “Hydrophobia.” In the story Alice finds herself in the extremely unusual predicament of nearly being drowned in the “gallons of tears” she shed when she grew as large as a telescope; she laments, “I wish I hadn’t cried so much!” “I shall be punished for it now, I suppose, by being drowned in my own tears!” P.28. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
Alice definitely has the propensity to burst into floods (literally,) of tears but she also has an amazing spirit for adventure. Vermeulen in his Synoptic Materia medica explains this dichotomy, “Intoxication with fly-agaric is characterized by cheerfulness and loss of self-control, which is followed by lassitude and depression.”
● Rubric; Delirium: alternating with: excitement: crying with: [Synthesis]
● Rubric; Childish behavior: [Synthesis]
● Rubric; Hysteria: [Synthesis]
● Rubric; Cheerful: [Synthesis]
● Rubric; Cheerful; alternating with sadness: [Synthesis]
● Rubric; Despair: [Synthesis]
● Rubric; Unfortunate, feels: [Synthesis]
● Rubric; Pities herself: [Synthesis]
“Come, there is no use in crying like that!” said Alice to herself, rather sharply. “I advise you to leave off this minute!” She generally gave herself good advice (though she very seldom followed it), and sometimes she scolded herself so severely as to bring tears into her eyes; and once she remembered trying to box her own ears for having cheated herself in a game of croquet she was playing against herself, for this curious child was very fond of pretending to be two people.” P.23. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Even allowing for the fact that Alice does check the bottle for the words “Poison;” her willingness to drink from the bottle that says “DRINK ME” and eat the cake that says “EAT ME” as well as her lack of hesitancy in following the Rabbit down the hole certainly does markedly note an important Rubric of Agaricus which is Heedless. [Synthesis] “Fearless; thoughtless; reckless.” “NO fear.” [Vermeulen] Synoptic Materia medica. “Nosy, inquisitive, curious. [Vermeulen] Prisma
● Rubric; Generals: Contradictory and alternating states: [Synthesis]
Vermeulen in Prisma explains Agaricus as having a “DISTURBED SENSE OF PERSPECTIVE. [every little problem is exaggerated; small holes appear like frightful chasms; self-esteem, reciting his exploits; delusions of grandeur; exalted strength].” Agaricus can literally go from one extreme to another and all their emotional feelings or experiences in life are very intense, and very changeable. Every potential conflict is also exaggerated, and they get very caught up in the lives of their family and friends. The “DISTURBED SENSE OF PERSPECTIVE,” also translates into out of proportion, bizarre and often contradictory physical symptoms, that are not able to be confirmed by any form of conventional pathology. The Agaricus constitutions in my practice are highly strung about their health precisely because they often suffer from these extreme unexplainable pathologies with all their physical complaints. The Rubric, “Delusion: legs: belong to her; her legs don’t:” [Synthesis] is not only reflected in the story of Alice but is a common feeling expressed by my Agaricus patients. Invariably the sensations and disconnections to their feet or legs are confirming of the muscular spasmodic nature of the physical effects of the narcotic as well as the ludicrous mental intoxications of the narcotic.
Morrison lists the Mentals of this remedy as:
“Anxiety about health; insignificant health problems are exaggerated, causing great fear and despair.
Excited and ecstatic states.
Dependency and frequent calls to the physician.
Many bizarre forms of delusions have been cured with this remedy.
Morrison also lists in the Generals that Agaricus has “Pain out of proportion to the pathology; unexplained by objective measurements or tests.” Desktop Guide.
The Cheshire Cat points out to Alice that she is not that unique in her confusion, “We’re all mad here. I’m mad. You’re mad.” P.64. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Agaricus is a narcotic and the adventures of Alice do reflect the absurd nature of a journey on Magic Mushrooms.
● Rubric; Generals: Narcotics: agg: [Synthesis]
● Rubric; Morphinism: [Synthesis]
● Rubric; Chaotic: [Synthesis]
● Rubric; Memory: weakness of memory: expressing oneself, for: [Synthesis]
● Rubric; Concentration: difficult: [Synthesis]
Alice answers the Caterpillar, “I know who I was when I got up this morning, but I think I must have been changed several times since then.” “I can’t[2] remember things as I used-and I don’t keep the same size for ten minutes together!”
The Caterpillar calls out to Alice that he has something important to tell her. “Keep your temper,” said the Caterpillar. “Is that all?” said Alice, swallowing down her anger as well as she could.” P.49. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Alice does have a rather “thoughtless; reckless” [Vermeulen] side to her. Agaricus is highly spirited and easily “excited” [Morrison] and Alice is particularly adept at “putting her foot in her mouth,” especially with the Queen who, after this interchange, threatens Alice with her head being chopped off. “Stuff and nonsense!” said Alice loudly. “The idea of having the sentence first!” “Hold your tongue!” said the Queen, turning purple. “I won’t!” said Alice. P.112. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. It also has to be noted that Alice’s tendency “to put her foot in it,” or her ability to “talks without listening,” [Vermeulen] pivots on a fine line between “unrestrained” [Vermeulen] and the Rubric “speech wandering” and “mischievous” or nervous anxiety. Continually throughout the story Alice has a tendency to mention to the poor mouse that saved her from drowning in her own tears, how wonderful her cat Dinah was because she caught a good many mice! At the Caucus-race she upsets all the birds with the same comments about her cat and at the Mad-Hatter’s tea party she offended the Dormouse and Hatter. Alice equally is easily upset and frequently comments “I wish the creatures wouldn’t be so easily offended!” P.53. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
● Rubric; Mischievous: [Synthesis]
● Rubric; Capriciousness: [Synthesis]
● Rubric; Irritability: [Synthesis]
● Rubric; Obstinate, headstrong: [Synthesis]
● Rubric; Offended, easily: [Synthesis]
● Rubric; Sulky: [Synthesis]
● Rubric; Taciturn: [Synthesis]
● Rubric; Rage, fury: [Synthesis]
Agaricus are extreme, and the highs and lows for Agaricus can be very confusing; they can literally be expanding and blowing up with “self-esteem, reciting his exploits; delusions of grandeur; exalted strength” [Vermeulen] and shrinking in size and bursting into tears with the next breath. The “excited and ecstatic states” [Morrison] of Agaricus also are able to fuel a personality picture that is also brimming with “exalted strength” [Vermeulen] and “fearless” passion for adventure. The effects of taking Magic Mushrooms as reported by Vermeulen; “rapturous visionary ecstasy,” and “a feeling of well-being and enjoyment,” are personality traits that I have seen in my Agaricus patients which endowers them with an attractive “cheerfulness of spirit,” [Vermeulen] and love of the extreme in life.
Alice is also not able to resist the temptation for adventure; she “was just going to leave the room, when her eyes fell upon a little bottle that stood near the looking glass. There was no label this time with the words “DRINK ME,” but nevertheless she uncorked it and put it to her lips….before she had drunk half the bottle she found her head pressing against the ceiling, and had to stoop to save her neck from being broken. She hastily put down the bottle. Saying to herself “That’s quite enough – I hope I shan’t grow any more – As it is, I can’t get out at the door – I do wish I hadn’t drunk quite so much!” P. 39. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
Bibliography Carroll, Lewis, The Complete Illustrated Works of Lewis Carroll. London, Chancellor Press, 1986.Morrison, Roger, M.D. Desktop Guide. Nevada City, CA, Hahnemann Clinic Publishing. 1993.Schroyens, Frederik, M.D. Synthesis, London, Homoeopathic Book Publishers, 1997.Vermeulen, Frans, Synoptic Materia Medica. The Netherlands, Merlijn Publishers, 1992.Vermeulen, Frans, Prisma. The Netherlands, Emryss bv Publishers, 2002.
[1[1]Magic Mushrooms is the common name used to describe the psychedelic effects of consuming hallucinogenic mushrooms.
[1[2]Throughout the text of Alice’s speech is a continual hesitation or stammer. Alice frequently says “can’t” and “shan’t.” AAgaricus is noted as an excellent remedy for stammering. As already mentioned above the author Lewis Carroll suffered with a sstammer which was severe enough to prevent him from becoming a preacher in his younger years.
“Agaricus is mainly a neurological remedy with twitching, spasms, and even convulsions.” “Grimacing of the mouth, especially on beginning to speak.”[ Morrison]
● Rubric; Mouth: Trembling of tongue: [Synthesis]
● Rubric; Mouth: Stammering: [Synthesis]
● Rubric; Mouth: speech difficult: [Synthesis]
Liz Liz Lalor is the author of A Homeopathic Guide to Partnership and Compatibility (published by North Atlantic Books) which is an innovative analysis of constitutional types using examples in over 50 different romantic films to help explain relationship compatibility and Materia medica. A review of her book is in the spring edition 2005 of the British Homeopathic Association magazine, Health and Homeopathy, and the autumn edition of Homeopathy in Practice UK. Liz Lalor has published extracts of her book in Links, Homeopathy in Practice, UK; Homeopathy International, UK; the American Journal of Homeopathic Medicine and Similia, Australia. Aside from working as a homoeopath Liz also uses constitutional homoeopathy within a conventional counselling practice to help her patients understand more about themselves as a particular ‘homoeopathic constitutional type.’ In this case Liz is able to draw upon her experience of counselling the more ‘unusual’ constitutional remedy pictures. Liz has previously explored the remedy picture of Agaricus and Alice in Alice’s Adventure in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll; published in Homeopathy in Practice UK. Links magazine have accepted for publication later in 2005, Liz’s essay on the characters Frodo and Gollum, and the remedy pictures of Anacardium and Mancinella, in Tolkien’s tale of The Lord of the Rings. Homeopathy in Practice UK have accepted for publication later in 2005 Liz’s essay on the character of Hamlet as the remedy picture of Muriaticum acidum. Links, spring edition 2005, also published an article on Liz’s updated Fertility Program; which is also an innovative program currently used by homoeopaths world-wide. Liz practices homoeopathy in Melbourne, Australia.
Liz Lalor
192 Glen Eira Rd
Elsternwick 3185 Victoria
Australia
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