Opuntia Ficus
Opuntia · Clarke - Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica · John Henry Clarke · 4,113 chars · source ↗
General
Opuntia.
Opuntia Vulgaris
CACTUS OPUNTIA. (Prickly Pear.)
Opuntia Alba Spina
(Prickly Pear.) N.
O.
Cactaceae.
Tincture of flowers of O. vulg.
Tincture of stems of O. s. a.
Clinical
Diarrhoea, Nausea. Priapism. Spleen, pains in.
Characteristics
Two kinds of "Prickly pear" have been proved—Opun. vulg. and Opun. alba spina. Burdick took one or two deep inhalations of the tincture of the flowers of the former. J. H.
Fitch (who proved many of the Cactaceae) took ten drops of the tincture of the second. The bulk of the symptoms of the proving are Fitch's; but the most peculiar symptom (which has also been verified) is Burdick's: "Nausea extending from stomach down into bowels, with sensation as if diarrhoea would set in." Also "feeling as if bowels had settled down into lower abdomen." Fitch had actual diarrhoea. All the urinary and genital symptoms were his except "Bloody urine," which is an effect of O. vulg., but not Burdick's.
Coldness was observed by both provers. The peculiar mental symptoms recalling the swearing tendency of Anac., are Fitch's. Sticking and pricking pains predominate, also numbness and tension.
Relations
Compare: Cact., Cer. b., Anhal. In nausea and sinking-down sensation in stomach and abdomen, Ipec. Blasphemy, Anac.
Mind
Aberrations of mind; not entirely conscious of it
Blasphemous mood
Alternately busy and wanting to pray
Alternately praying and swearing; fit of rage on thwarting of plans
Petulant; irritable; vindictive
Omits and transposes letters in writing.
Head
Tensive feeling in brain.—Sensation as if head transfixed with a lance.
Eyes
Pain in globe of r. eye.—Burning smarting in margin of lids, with feeling of contractions in line of lashes.
Nose
L. nostril bleeds on picking; a little blood and watery mucus.
Face
Pale face.
Mouth
Bites inside of (r.) cheek on chewing
Teeth sensitive
Tea tasting insipid
Saliva in mouth.
Throat
Much mucus rises from throat
Throat feels sore, afternoon; choked or pinching feeling round top of larynx
Shuddering on swallowing.
Stomach
Poor appetite for breakfast
Went without dinner
Nausea extending from stomach down into bowels, with sensation as if diarrhoea would set in
Nausea with dull, heavy pain in stomach, with feeling as if cramps would set in
Alternate nausea of stomach and bowels.
Abdomen
Bloated abdomen
Pain through spleen and heart
Sensation as if contents of bowels in lower abdomen were very acrid;
< in median line
Excoriating, sick feeling in lower third of abdomen, with sensation as if bowels had all settled down into lower abdomen.
Stool And Anus
Urgent desire; stools rather loose
Stool: loose 4 p.m.; evening stool easy at first, afterwards hard; soft, but difficult, with urging in morning; smelling like strong drugs
In straining at stool varicose veins on l. side enlarged very greatly.
Urinary Organs
Not able to wait.—Urine: increased frequency and quantity; increased quantity, but not frequency; bloody.
Male Sexual Organs
Pain in r. testicle; priapism, with lascivious desire; drawing pains in r. testicle
Emissions
Atrophied appearance of genitals.
Respiratory Organs
Heaving respiration, which does not > oppression at chest
Oppression of chest > by a single heaving respiration
Cold shudders right through chest.
Heart
Sticking pains through heart.
Neck
Pain in muscles of neck, l. side anteriorly, 12.25 p.m., later of r. side anteriorly below ear; pain and ache in both sides below ears, coming and going.
Upper Limbs
Pain in proximal ends of first and second metacarpal bones of l. hand.—Pain in l. arm, just below elbow, palmar aspect.
Lower Limbs
After kneeling or resting on lower limbs they become numb, with tingling and pricking.—Pain: in muscles of inner side of l. leg; head of fibula; r. little toe.
Generalities
Prostration.
Skin
Eruption of pimples on neck and behind l. ear, bleeding easily.
Sleep
At night dream of women.
Fever
Cold, chilly.—Cold feet; very chilly in the cold room; coldness of body.