Thea Chinensis

Thea.

Thea chinensis. Tea. N. O. Ternströmiaceae (Genus, Camellia). Infusion. Tincture. Trituration of Theine.

Delirium; tremens. Mania; suicidal; homicidal. Megrim. Nervousness. Neuralgia. Paralysis. Sleeplessness.

The use of Tea has spread from the older civilisations of the East to the newer ones of the West. Tea contains an alkaloid, Thein, which is by some considered identical with Coffein, and both tea and coffee are used to stimulate jaded faculties and enable persons to endure fatigue, and get more enjoyment out of themselves than they could obtain by mere food. But coffee and tea are different in their effects though they may be alike in their chemistry. The after-effect of all stimulation is reaction; unless it is kept off by a repetition of the stimulant as the effect of the last dose wears off.

The sign that the last dose of Tea is wearing off is a nervous, restless, depressed, ill-tempered state, which is visible in persons who rely on tea, at about 5 p.m. Another symptom is an all-gone, sinking sensation at the epigastrium. Excessive tea-drinking is a fruitful source of neuralgia and insomnia. It is often noticed in persons who have sensitive kidneys that they can never take tea when they are going anywhere, because they are compelled to pass water almost immediately after.

The symptoms of the Schema are made up of observed effects of overdosing and some direct provings. In a woman who was addicted to eating tea, very pronounced delirium tremens resulted, indistinguishable from that caused by alcohol, though there was no alcoholism in the case. A woman who kept a pot of tea boiling on the stove and drank several bowlfuls every day developed both suicidal and homicidal mania; impulse to jump out of the window; to cut her baby's throat and throw it downstairs (Thea cm, Fincke, cured).

A friend of mine who had been many years in the East and was used to one-storey houses, on his return to this country had a curious impulse to jump out of the window, which he traced to tea-drinking, and which disappeared when he left it off. The homicidal impulse appeared in the dreams of one prover (Teste), who was so far from being horrified by his dream-murders that he even took pleasure in them after awaking. The talkativeness of Thea is one of its chief allurements. Among tea-tasters, who do not drink the tea they taste, but only hold it in the mouth a short time, yet long enough for the mouth to absorb some, there is sometimes developed what is known as tea-tasters' paralysis, affecting mostly the lower limbs, with loss of sensation of both upper and lower.

This case has been recorded: A man after drinking tea had pain in epigastrium going through to back, with feeling as if he wanted to be sick and could not, > sitting down and stretching himself out. Thuja 30 cured. Guernsey gives these as indications for Thea: "Nervous sleeplessness; heart troubles, &c., of old tea-drinkers; palpitation of the heart, can't lie down." Peculiar Sensations of Thea are: As if a foreign body in throat. As if on the verge of fainting.

As if the stomach hung down relaxed in the body like an empty bag. As if the weight of a sheet on the feet would crush the toes. Cold sensations are prominent; cold, damp feeling at back of head; with pain spreading thence to eyes; also dryness; and swelling of mucous membrane. The symptoms are: < At night; on walking in open air; after meals.

> Warmth, external (applying hand or warm clothes to occiput). < By cold water. > Warm bath.

Antidoted by: Thuj., Fer., Beer. Hering says Coffee-drinkers should drink wine, tea-drinkers should drink beer. Beer caused in one tea-drinker relaxation of bowels which was > by Port wine. But Beer relieved in others nausea; irregularity of pulse; weakness; sleeplessness; nervousness and want of confidence.

Compare: Gone, faint feeling; sick-headache radiating from one point and pain in left ovary, Sep. Averse to work, especially writing, Hydrast. Relaxed feeling in stomach, Ipec. Desire for acids, Ver., Sul., Ant. c., Phos., Sbi.

Eyes: unusually bright, with dilated pupils; glittering; dry, with neuralgia of eyes.—Sight: dim; dark before eyes; fiery lines; sparks.

Wild, distressed expression.—Face: pale; with congested redness; flushed.

Very marked increase of urine.—Must pass water immediately after drinking tea.

Erections.—Unnatural excitement.

Soreness and tenderness of r. ovary.—Menses delayed, scanty, with severe cramp-like, uterine bearing down from beginning to end of period.

Chest: oppressed; constricted; fluttering in l. side with fulness about clavicles, and feeling, of suffocation; tight across upper part compelling her to sit up in bed.

Violent pains inside arms under elbow wake her after half an hour.—Hand trembled violently, could not be held still more than a few seconds; regular writing impossible (Thein, gr. 12).

Enormous indolent swellings or tumours appear successively on back, thighs, hands, scrotum and penis, each lasting two days (Teste).—Trembling.—Epilepsy (in a child from swallowing a concentrated infusion).—Convulsions.—Languor.—Faintness.—< Afternoon.