Colocynthis - General symptoms - Clarke

GENERAL

General

Citrullus colocynthis. Cucumis colocynthis. Bitter Apple. N. O. Cucurbitaceae. Native of Turkey. Tincture of pulp of fruit.

"The strongest characteristic calling for the use of Colocynthis is an agonising pain in the abdomen causing the patient to bend over double. Relief is obtained by motion, such as twisting, turning and wriggling around, and the motion is kept up steadily while the pain lasts.

the pain is agg. by eating or drinking the least amount. This pain may occur alone, or in the dysentery, cholera, &c. The doubling over of the patient is the chief characteristic" (Guernsey). The patient bends double or presses something hard against the abdomen. He leans over chairs, the table, or bedposts to get relief. According to Nash Magnesia Phosphorica ^{Mag. Phos}. comes nearest to it in colic and neuralgic affections. Chamomilla ^Cham. is also very close, both having colic from disturbing emotions, but the Chamomilla ^Cham. child does not double up, it tosses about. The Staphysagria ^Staph. patient is likely to have black or decayed teeth and sore eyelids, and there is chronic tendency to colic. Veratrum Album ^Verat. has colic amel. bending double, but it has also cold sweat. Dioscorea Villosa ^Dioscorea has wind colic, but is amel. by stretching out. The Stan. child wants to be carried with the abdomen on the mother's shoulder. The nearest analogue to Colocynthis in its entire action on the human body is its botanical congener Bryonia ^Bryonia, with which it should be compared. Both have the same general features.

if a stool occurs it gives immediate relief (Nux Vomica ^Nux the opposite).

any attempt to eat or drink agg. Cramps occur in the legs, uterus, and ovaries. A sensation as if clamped with iron bands is very characteristic in (coxalgia; dysmenia, &c.). Dragging in uterus and vagina. Griping, cutting, tearing, and spasmodic pains in the body.

burning pains. pulsations through the body.

sensation as of hard stones or potatoes in the body. Easily intoxicated by stimulants. Affections of right side generally. The pains are often accompanied by stiffness and retarded motion of the affected parts.

often affect the hip-joints.

pains affecting joints are much agg. by motion.

many neuralgic pains are amel. by rest. Abdominal pains are amel. by violent exertion. amel. Lying with head bent forward. Rheumatic pain in the limbs is amel. by discharge of flatus. Touch agg., and pressure amel. many of the pains. Warmth amel. most pains. agg. Evening and night. Coloc. has, like Lycopodium ^Lyc., Helleborus Niger ^Helleb., and Causticum ^Caust., a 4 p.m. aggravation. One prover had "At 4 p.m. the colic came on, six days in succession." This has been verified clinically. Coloc. is suited to blondes.

persons of choleric temperament.

and those liable to cramps and colic, from fruit, lead-poisoning, or excessive venery.