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Colocynthinum

Clarke - Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica · John Henry Clarke · 4,268 chars · source ↗

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General

Colocynthinum.

An active principle (glucoside) of Citrullus colocynthis. C56 H84 O23. Dilutions in alcohol.

Clinical

Colic. Cough. Debility. Diarrhoea. Feet, burning in. Genitals (male), congestion of; pain in. Headache. Neuralgia. Spinal pains. Travelling, effects of.

Characteristics

Having had a separate proving, Colocynthinum must be considered apart from Colocynth., from which it is derived, although the symptoms of the two bear a close resemblance. Neuralgic symptoms are prominent. Stitches and sensations of heat are found in many parts. Pulsation in the pit of the stomach, with prickling stitches on back in neighbourhood of middle thoracic vertebrae.

Diarrhoea and colic > bending forward. Congestion to male genital organs and pain in them. Burning pains in soles of the feet. < Evening; by motion; riding in cars.

> By rest; bending over; black coffee. < By motion; > by rest:—herein appears the relationship of the glucoside to Bryonia, the botanic relative of Colocynthis.

Mind

Depression.

Head

Painfulness of whole head, esp. temporal and frontal regions, scalp, and eyeballs, < moving eyes, straining sight, or bending forwards

Headache < by riding in railway cars, obliging to move slowly, and tread softly, otherwise the brain seems to shake about as if loose against the skull (in the median vertical region); accompanied by very sore pain and causing very bad humour

Stitches in brain; through occiput on heavy treading; through cerebellum, like lightning, on coughing

Sensitiveness of cerebellum on turning head.

Eyes

Vision sharper.—Painfulness and aching in eyeballs < straining sight, moving eyes rapidly, or turning head.

Face

Pressure in left cheek-bone.

Mouth

Pain in hollow molar and drawing in incisors, with sensation of swelling of l. cheek

Persistent, disgusting, bitter taste

Prickling and metallic taste on tip of tongue.

Stomach

Continual burning pressure in stomach up into oesophagus

Sticking in epigastrium; which was tense and inflated

Pulsation in epigastrium accompanied by pricking stitches on back near middle thoracic vertebrae.

Abdomen

Warm feeling followed by copious discharge of flatus

Colic with inflation in umbilical region; colic below umbilicus

Slight colic drawing from hypogastrium to hepatic region, with shuddering in scrotum, erections, and pain in buttock

Tension in r. groin and drawing along spermatic cord into r. testis, which was somewhat sensitive towards evening;

< next morning, and < walking, bending over, and going upstairs

Stitches from small of back to groin when walking.

Stool And Anus

Tickling in rectum

Feeling of moisture at anus

Irresistible inclination to stool; scanty brownish-red evacuation with painful tenesmus lasting ten minutes

Brown pappy evacuations, rapidly and easily discharged in quick succession, without tenesmus.

Urinary Organs

Tenesmus in urethra and rectum after urinating.

Male Sexual Organs

Congestion towards genital organs, esp. scrotum, with feeling of heat and burning in small spot on same, without erections

Cramp-like pain in penis with sensation as if it were bent double

Dark redness and painfulness of frenum

Crawling on penis with sexual desire

R. testis swollen and painful to touch

A pollution at night (very unusual with him).

Respiratory Organs

Short hacking cough excited by tickling in throat; whitish yellow mucus.—Frequent cough in early morning.

Neck And Back

Sharp in-pressing pain in some spots on nape, as if from a sprain < by movement; sensitive to pressure

Painfulness and feeling of heat along whole spine

Stitches in region of lowest dorsal vertebrae.

Upper Limbs

Tearing in l. shoulder

Frequently repeated stitches from l. axilla down to l. elbow

Paralytic weakness of r. forearm while writing

Cramp-like pain in muscles of l. wrist.

Lower Limbs

Stiffness and heaviness in tibiae

Burning, sticking, and sensation of warmth in dorsum of r. foot; pressing digging pain in external side of second toe of l. foot

Burning pain in both soles with feeling as if they were swollen.

Generalities

Great desire to lie down; which relieves.—Unusual debility towards evening.

Sleep

Restless sleep with vivid dreams.