Sepia

Cuttlefish

Sepia officinalis

The cuttlefish is a soft-bodied mollusk with eight arms that is closely related to the squid and octopus; it propels itself by squirting jets of water from special organs in its body. When threatened, it releases spurts of dark ink called sepia that cloud the water and camouflage its retreat. Sepia has been used for artistic purposes, although its ingestion, such as when a painter licks the brush, can bring about unpleasant side effects. Homeopathic physicians prescribe Sepia to patients with conditions whose symptoms include apathy, moodiness, and weakness. The cuttlefish ink is collected for the homeopathic preparation and diluted with large quantities of milk sugar for final use.

Parts Used

Pure pigments in the ink.

Uses

Sepia acts on the uterus, ovaries, and vagina and is mainly used for gynecological complaints, for example, PMS, painful or heavy menstruation, hot flashes during menopause, emotional and physical symptoms during and after pregnancy, candidiasis, and a sagging or prolapsed uterus. It is an excellent remedy for women who are averse to, or suffer pain during sexual intercourse and feel exhausted afterward. Women who dislike being touched either premenstrually, during menopause, or as a result of emotional problems are also helped by this remedy.

Sepia is effective for complaints accompanied by exhaustion, such as an aching back and sides due to muscle weakness. It is also good for the following: indigestion from milk and fatty foods, with gas and tenderness in the abdomen; headaches with nausea; dizziness; hair loss; salty-tasting mucus due to a cold or allergy; brownish yellow, itchy, discolored patches of skin; profuse sweating; and sweaty feet.

This remedy is also good for circulatory problems, for example, hot and cold flashes, and varicose veins.

Source

Found mainly in the Mediterranean Sea.

Personality profile

Sepia is a predominantly female type, and like Ignatia, Pulsatilla and Natrum Muriaticum, it constitutes its own unique 'version' of woman. One could say that each of these types represents a different 'archetype' (literally, ancient impression) of the feminine, and when combined their collective attributes and essences constitute the whole realm of woman.

Sepia's natural independence sets her apart from other women. She seeks to be herself, unfettered by the expectations of others, especially those of men. In this she differs from Natrum women, who generally seek independence as a reaction against the hurt they have received, a protective mechanism. Sepia is naturally independent. She is not running away from anything like Natrum-she is just being herself, and refusing to let other people mould her personality to their own ends. This independence of Sepia sometimes gives her a certain masculine appearance to others, since we expect men to be more independent than women, but it is not really masculinity. The hardened exterior of a defensive Ignatia or Natrum woman is masculine-an efficient, aggressive front which protects the sensitivity beneath. The average Sepia woman has less of a front, and her independence results from her celebration of her own uniqueness, and the sense of power she receives from her own connection with her body and the Earth. This sense of power is feminine, since it depends upon being sensitive to one's body, and centered in it, and upon a natural wisdom which has little to do with the intellect. Masculine power, in contrast, is more dependent upon aggression, brute force, and intellect. The difference is like that between karate, which is an extremely offensive, 'cutting' martial art, which can cause a great deal of harm to an opponent, and aikido, the 'soft' martial art which is entirely defensive, and depends upon flexibility and the ability of the practitioner to 'go with the flow' of his opponent's movements.