Iris Versicolor

A North American wild iris, traditionally used in homoeopathy for sick headaches that start with blurred vision and come with nausea and sour, burning acidity.

Iris versicolor, the blue flag, is a wild iris of marshes and wet meadows in eastern North America, with violet-blue flowers and sword-shaped leaves. Its thick underground stem is the part used. The raw root is irritant and was once called poison flag; homoeopathy uses it only in specially prepared form.

Homoeopaths traditionally use it for the classic sick headache. It may begin with a blur before the eyes, often once a spell of mental strain has eased, and it comes with nausea. Burning along the whole digestive tract, sour or bitter vomiting and a flow of ropy saliva complete the picture.

• Sick headache
• Headache with nausea
• Sour acidity
• Burning in the stomach