Digitalis Purpurea

The purple foxglove of European woodland, traditionally used in homoeopathy for a slow, weak or uneven pulse with faintness and tiredness on slight effort.

Digitalis purpurea is the common foxglove, a tall plant of European woods and hedgerows with spires of purple, bell-shaped flowers, spotted inside. A well-known heart medicine was first drawn from its leaves. The whole plant is highly poisonous; homoeopathy uses its leaves only in specially prepared form.

Homoeopaths traditionally turn to it for the heart and pulse. Its picture is a pulse that is slow, weak or uneven, a feeling that the heart would stop at any movement, faintness and sinking of strength on slight effort, and low, anxious spirits.

• Slow or uneven pulse
• Faintness on effort
• Weakness and tiredness
• Low, anxious spirits