Colocynthis

"The strongest characteristic calling for the use of this remedy 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 < 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 Mag.
• ▸Phos.
• ▸comes nearest to it in colic and

neuralgic affections. Cham. is also very close, both having colic from disturbing emotions, but

• ▸the Cham.
• ▸child does not double up, it tosses about.
• ▸The Staph.
• ▸patient is likely to have black or

decayed teeth and sore eyelids, and there is chronic tendency to colic. Verat. has colic > bending

double, but it has also cold sweat. Dioscorea has wind colic, but is > 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, with which it should be compared. Both have the same general features—pain

in muscles, nerves, and joints, gastro-enteric disturbance, and the same condition in regard to

rheumatic joints, < by movement. Both have great irritability and ailments from mental emotion,

though the latter feature is more marked in Colocynth. Arthritis and gouty headaches with

ophthalmia, facial neuralgic pains extending to eye.

Coloc. has diarrhoea from grief, indignation or chagrin. Suppressed lochia from indignation.

Diabetes with milky, gelatinous, or colloid urine. The characteristic griping of Co/oc., forcing the

patient to bend double, may be accompanied by cramps in other parts, which may occur with or

without stool; if a stool occurs it gives immediate relief (Nux the opposite); any attempt to eat or

drink <. 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 < by motion; many

neuralgic pains are > by rest. Abdominal pains are > by violent exertion. > Lying with head bent

forward. Rheumatic pain in the limbs is > by discharge of flatus. Touch <, and pressure > many

• ▸of the pains.
• ▸Warmth > most pains.
• ▸< Evening and night.
• ▸Coloc.
• ▸has, like Lyc.
• ▸, Helleb.
• ▸, and

• ▸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.
• ▸Co/oc.
• ▸is suited to blondes; persons of choleric

temperament; and those liable to cramps and colic, from fruit, lead-poisoning, or excessive

venery.

• ▸Extremely irritable.
• ▸Becomes angry when questioned.
• ▸Mortification caused by offense.
• ▸Anger, with indignation (Cham; Bry; Nux).

Mental dejection with taciturnity—A version to talk; disinclined to answer

questions.—Inclined to be angry and indignant—Lachrymose humour.—Anxiety and inquietude,

with an inclination to run away.—Want of religious feeling.—Disinclined to occupy oneself, even

averse to visit his otherwise well-liked friends.

• ▸Vertigo when turning head to the left.
• ▸Lateral cutting headache, with nausea, vomiting.
• ▸Pains (better pressure and heat), with soreness of scalp.
• ▸Burning pains, digging, rending, and tearing.
• ▸Frontal headache; worse, stooping, lying on back, and moving eyelids.

Easy intoxication (from drinking beer).—Vertigo, which occasions falling, on turning

the head quickly, with tottering of the knees.—Headache, as from a draught of air, which is

dissipated by walking in the open air—Compressive pain in the sinciput, aggravated by stooping,

or lying on the back.—Pressing pain in the forehead and root of the nose, as if a coryza would

appear.—Attacks of semi-lateral headache, drawing and cramp like, or pressive, with nausea and

vomiting, sometimes daily, towards five o'clock in the afternoon.—Pain in the forehead and in the

eyes, as if proceeding from the outside inwards.—Headache with violent pains, which do not

permit a recumbent posture, and occasion cries or weeping.—Attacks of headache, followed by

suffocation.—Congestion in the head.—Burning pain in the skin of the forehead, and the

scalp.—Heat in the head.—Profuse perspiration on the head, itching, smelling like urine (also on

the hands, thighs, and feet); worse at night in bed; relieved after rising and walking in the warm

room.

• ▸Pains sharp, boring, better pressure.
• ▸Sensation on stooping, as if eye would fall out.
• ▸Gouty affections of eyes.
• ▸Violent pain in eyeballs which precede the development of glaucoma.

Sensitive pressure in the eyes, esp. when stooping.—Obscuration of the sight —Great

white light at side of and below r. eye-—Shimmering circle with rays before r.

eye.—Inflammation of the eyes—Burning and incisive pains, and shootings in the eyes (and

forehead).—Eyes feel hard—Aching in upper and outer portions of r. eyeball in evening, < by

rubbing it with finger; it feels harder than usual there; this aching lasted some days.—Smarting in

eyes; painfulness of eyeballs.—Pressive feeling in orbits, towards root of nose.—Painful pressure

• ▸in eyeballs, esp.
• ▸on stooping.
• ▸—Pains in eyes, sharp cutting in r.
• ▸eyeball.
• ▸—Stitches as with knives

in r. eyeball, extending to root of nose.—Pain as from pressure on both eyelids from above

downward.—External strabismus of r. eye, with smarting lachrymation—Dryness; burning;

smarting; lachrymation.—Discharge of acrid serum from the eyes.

• ▸Warmth in r.
• ▸ear—Obstruction before |.
• ▸ear.
• ▸—Itching, sticking deep in ear, extending

from Eustachian tube to tympanum; > by boring in ear with finger —Crawling within ear > by

boring.—Difficult hearing; everything heard is accompanied by a roaring noise.—Constant

roaring and throbbing in both ears, esp. 1.

Fluent coryza.—Severe burning above the nose.—Throbbing burrowing pain in nose

extending from |. side to root.

• ▸Tearing, shooting, and swelling of face; left side great soreness.
• ▸Get relief from pressure (China).
• ▸Neuralgia, with chilliness; teeth seem too long.
• ▸Sounds re-echo in ears.
• ▸Pain in stomach, always with pain of teeth or head.

Pale and wasted face, with downcast (sunken) eyes.—Tensive, tearing, burning or

shooting pains (prosopalgia) in the face, often on |. side only, and extending to the ears and into

• ▸the head.
• ▸—Cramp-like sensation in the 1.
• ▸malar bone, extending into 1.
• ▸eye.
• ▸—Scabs on the

face.—Face of a deep red colour (during the fever).—Face puffed, with heat and redness of I.

cheek, and tearing pains.

Pains in the teeth, as if the nerve were pulled or stretched. —Pulsative pains in the

• ▸teeth on |.
• ▸side.
• ▸—Burning at the tip of the tongue.
• ▸—Sensation as if the tongue had been scalded by

some hot fluid.—Roughness of the tongue.—Tongue loaded with a white or yellow

coating.—Cramps in the gullet, with empty eructations and palpitations of the heart.

• ▸Very bitter taste.
• ▸Tongue rough, as from sand, and feels scalded.
• ▸Canine hunger.
• ▸Feeling in stomach as if something would not yield; drawing pain.

Diminished appetite, without thirst, though accompanied by a strong desire for

drink, with a sickly taste in the mouth.—Constant nausea with risings.—Bitter taste in the mouth,

and of all food and drink.—Colic and diarrhoea, however little is eaten.—Pains in the stomach

sometimes after a meal—Vomiting of food, or of greenish matter—Vomiting, with

diarrhoea —Painful sensitiveness of the epigastrium to the touch.—Violent pressure on the

stomach (with sensation of hunger), and in the precordial region.

• ▸Agonizing cutting pain in abdomen causing patient to end over double, and pressing on the abdomen.
• ▸Sensation as if stones were being ground together in the abdomen, and would burst.
• ▸Intestines feel as if bruised.
• ▸Colic with cramps in calves.
• ▸Cutting in abdomen, especially after anger.
• ▸Each paroxysm is attended with general agitation and a chill over the cheeks, ascending from the hypogastrium.
• ▸Pain in small spot below navel.
• ▸Dysenteric stool renewed each time by the least food or drink. Jelly-like stools.
• ▸Musty odor.
• ▸Distention.

Inflation of the abdomen, as from tympanitis.—Feeling in the whole abdomen as

if the intestines were being squeezed between stones.—Cramp-like pain and constriction in the

intestines, esp. after a fit of anger —Excessively violent colic, with incisive, cramp-like, or

contractive pains, which compel the patient to bend double (< in any other position), with

restlessness in the whole body, and with a sensation of shuddering in the face, which seems to

proceed from the abdomen.—Pain in the abdomen when walking (navel).—Colic, with cramps in

the calves of the legs.—Colic, as if from a chill—Colic after a meal.—The colic and abdominal

pains are relieved by bending double, by violent exercise, by coffee and tobacco-smoke; every

other food or drink causes an aggravation.—Pinching, and sensation of clawing in the abdomen,

mitigated by violent exertion —Cuttings and shootings in the abdomen, as from knives, with

shiverings and tearings along the legs.—Great sensibility, soreness, and sensation of emptiness in

the abdomen.—Grumbling in the abdomen.—Inguinal hernia.

Constipation.—Constipation, and evacuations retarded (during

pregnancy).—Loose evacuations of a greenish yellow, frothy and of a sour smell, putrid or

• ▸mouldy.
• ▸—Slimy diarrhcea.
• ▸—Sanguineous evacuations.
• ▸—Dysenterical evacuations, with

colic.—During the evacuation, contraction in the rectum.—Painful swelling of the hemorrhoidal

tumours of the anus, and of the rectum.—Discharge of blood from the rectum, with stinging,

burning pain in the small of the back and anus (daily).—Hzemorrhage from the anus.—Paralysis of

the sphincter ani.

Tenesmus of the bladder, with but small discharges.—Diminished

secretion of urine.—Abundant discharge of urine of a bright colour, during the pains.—Urine (like

that in dropsy after scarlet fever) of a faint flesh colour, with a white-brown flocculent,

transparent sediment, depositing on the chamber small, red, hard, solid crystals, which adhere

firmly to the vessel.—Fetid urine, which soon becomes thick, gelatinous, and glutinous.—Itching

at the orifice of the urethra, with desire to urinate—Burning in the urethra after micturition.

• ▸Intense burning along urethra during stool.
• ▸Vesical catarrh, discharge like fresh white of egg.
• ▸Viscid (Phos acid) fetid; small quantities, with frequent urging.
• ▸Itching at orifice.
• ▸Red, hard crystals, adhering firmly to vessel.
• ▸Tenesmus of bladder.
• ▸Pains on urinating over whole abdomen.

• ▸Boring pain in ovary. Must draw up double, with great restlessness.
• ▸Round, small cystic tumors in ovaries or broad ligaments.
• ▸Wants abdomen supported by pressure.
• ▸Bearing-down cramps, causing her to bend double (Opium).

Cramp-like pain in 1. ovary; in uterus; as if parts were squeezed in

a vice.—Ovarian cyst, paroxysm of acute pain in abdomen, sacrum, and hip, > by flexing thigh

on pelvis.—Metritis; metrorrhagia; suppressed catamenia, with cramping pains > by bending

double; or caused by indignation or chagrin.—Stitches in the ovaries.—Lochia suppressed;

puerperal fever after vexation.—Painful nodosities in the mamme.

Sensation as if everything were flowing towards the genital parts,

from both sides of the abdomen, occasioning a discharge of semen.—Excitement of sexual desire,

as in priapism.—Complete impotence.—Retraction of the prepuce behind the glans.

Small dry cough, excited by irritation in the larynx, or by tobacco

smoke.—Constriction in the larynx, which induces frequent deglutition with oppressed breathing;

> in the open air.—Fits of asthma at night.

Tension in the neck and shoulder-blades.—Drawing pains in the back, as if

the muscles were stretched.—Great weakness in the back, esp. in the small of the back, with

pressing headache (morning).—Congestion and suppuration of the axillary glands; subsultus of

muscles.

Bruise-like pain in the joint of the shoulder, esp. after a fit of

passion.—Aching, pressive, and shooting pain in the arms.—Cramp-like pain in the hands, which

with difficulty suffers the fingers to be opened; < when at rest.—Pulling in the tendons of the

thumbs.

Pain in the coxo-femoral joint, as if it were fastened with an iron clasp, the

pelvis and sacral region, with pains extending from the lumbar region to the legs.—Tensive

lancination, in the lumbar region and of the hips, esp. when lying on the back.—Pain (in the r.

thigh) while walking, as if the psoas muscles were too short; on stooping it ceased, but began

again when he commenced to walk.—(Spontaneous dislocation of the coxo-femoral

• ▸joint.
• ▸).
• ▸—Want of flexibility in the knee, which prevents the bending of it.
• ▸—Cramps in the

• ▸legs.
• ▸—Shootings in the legs, esp.
• ▸during repose.
• ▸—Stitches in the knee-joints.
• ▸—Sensation of

coldness in the knees (in the morning).—Great heaviness and trembling of the legs.—The feet go

• ▸to sleep (first the 1.
• ▸, then the r.
• ▸foot).
• ▸—Swelling of the feet—Tearing in the soles of the feet

during repose.

24. Generalities—Semi-lateral pains.—Painful cramps, and cramp-like contractions, in the

internal or external parts.—Sensation as though stones were being ground together in the

abdomen, working upon the soft parts—Contraction of the tendons in some parts only, or

throughout the body, with a drawing up of all the limbs.—T witching of the muscles.—Stiffness in

all the joints.—Tearing shootings, traversing the whole body longitudinally.—Physical depression

while walking in the open air.—Fainting, with coldness of the external parts —Swelling of various

parts, with oppression of breathing.—Pulsations through the body.—Burning pains.

Contraction of muscles. All the limbs are drawn together. Pain in right deltoid (Guaco).

• ▸Cramp-like pain in hip; lies on affected side; pain from hip to knee.
• ▸Spontaneous luxation of the hip-joints.
• ▸Stiffness of joints and shortening of tendons.
• ▸Sciatic pain, left side, drawing, tearing; better, pressure and heat; worse, gentle touch.
• ▸Contraction of the muscles.
• ▸Pain down right thigh; muscles and tendons feel too short; numbness with pains (Gnaphal).
• ▸Pain in left knee joint.

Troublesome itching, with great restlessness in the whole body, esp. in the evening in

bed, followed by perspiration.—Desquamation of the skin over the whole body.—Carbuncles,

with continuous burning pain.—Small ulcers, with itching and burning.—Eruptions which

resemble scabies.—Skin hot and dry.

Disturbed sleep at night (by dreams).—Sleepiness, alternately with delirium, with the

eyes open.—Sleeplessness following a fit of indigestion —Very wakeful and sleepless.—Lying on

the back when asleep, with one hand under the occiput.—Frequent vivid and lascivious dreams.

Cold and shivering, with heat in the face, without thirst—Coldness of the hands and

soles of the feet, while the rest of the body is warm.—Pulse hard, full and quick.—Strong

pulsation in the arteries.—External dry heat.—Internal heat, with attacks of flushes of

heat.—Nocturnal sweat, of the smell of urine, on the head, hands, legs, and feet, causing itching

of the skin.—Perspiration principally on the head and on the extremities.

• ▸Cataract.
• ▸Ciliary neuralgia.
• ▸Colic.
• ▸Coxalgia.
• ▸Diabetes.
• ▸Diarrhea.
• ▸Dysentery.

• ▸Dysmenorrhcea.
• ▸Glaucoma.
• ▸Headache.
• ▸Hoarseness.
• ▸Menstrual colic.
• ▸Neuralgia.
• ▸Ovaries,

• ▸affections of.
• ▸Paraphimosis.
• ▸Peritonitis.
• ▸Rheumatism.
• ▸Sciatica.
• ▸Toothache.
• ▸Tumours.
• ▸Uterus,

pains in. Vagina, pains in.

• ▸Coloc.
• ▸is antidoted by: Camph.
• ▸, Caust.
• ▸, Cham.
• ▸, Coff.
• ▸, Op.
• ▸, Staph.
• ▸Large doses are

• ▸counteracted by tepid milk, infusion of galls, Camph.
• ▸, and Op.
• ▸/¢ antidotes: Caust.
• ▸, Magnes.

• ▸Compatible: Staph.
• ▸, Cham.
• ▸Complementary: Merc.
• ▸(dysentery) with much tenesmus).
• ▸Compare:

• ▸Bry.
• ▸(nearest analogue), Elater.
• ▸, Cucurbita pepo.
• ▸Diosc.
• ▸(griping, tearing, cutting, spasmodic

pains in body, but > stretching body and motion); Dig. (paraphimosis); Caust. (Joint rheumatism;

• ▸follows Coloc.
• ▸in colic); eyes feel hard, Can.
• ▸ind.
• ▸; Canth.
• ▸, Cham.
• ▸, Chel.
• ▸; Chi.
• ▸(beer intoxicates

• ▸easily); Coccul.
• ▸, Gamb.
• ▸, Lyc.
• ▸, Merc.
• ▸; Nux; Plumb.
• ▸(inclination to assume strange attitudes in

bed). Staph. (anger with vexation, abdominal pains, neuralgia—they follow one another well);

• ▸Verat.
• ▸; Pul.
• ▸(hoarseness 4 p.
• ▸m.
• ▸).
• ▸From emotions, Cham.
• ▸, Bry.
• ▸, Gels.
• ▸, Pho.
• ▸ac.
• ▸Ign.
• ▸; stiffness of

knee-joints and all joints, Colch.; stiffness after acute rheumatism, hinders squatting, Graph.

Compare also Guaiac.; Crot. tig.

Antidote: Coffea; Staphis; Cham. Colocynth is the best antidote to lead poisoning (Royal).

• ▸Compare: Lobelia erinus (violent cork-screw-like pains in abdomen).
• ▸Dipodium punctatum (Writhing.
• ▸Twisting like a dying snake.
• ▸Intractable insomnia).
• ▸Dioscor; Chamom; Coccul; Merc; Plum; Magn phos.

Sixth to thirtieth potency.

The principal feature of Colocyiith is its severe, tearing, neuralgic

pains ; so severe that the patient is unable to keep still. Sometimes

they are > by motion — at least it appears that they are worse during

rest — > by pressure and sometimes > by heat. Pains occur in the

face, abdomen, along the course of the nerves.

These pains are often due to a very singular cause, namely, anger

with indignation. Hence persons who are haughty and easily offended

or chagrined have Colocynth complaints. Anger will be followed by

violent neuralgia in the head, eyes, down the spine and in the intestines.

In spite of extreme restlessness there is great weakness with the

pains. A patient suffering with chronic diarrhoea, with severe colic,

will sometimes become so weak that he can hardly speak. A feeling

of faintness, or even fainting, is by no means an unusual concomitant

of the pains. Griping occurs along the course of nerves, and in some

cases numbness, pricking and tingling, like the crawling of ants in

the part affected.

With many doctors Colocynth is a routine remedy for sciatica ; and

only when it fails to do they take the symptoms of the case in order to

find the remedy that is indicated. There is no excuse for such practice. Where the pain is better from hard pressure and from heat,

where it is worse during repose and drives the patient to despair,

Colocynth will generally cure. But it is not indicated in all cases.

Some remedies select the muscles and tendons, some the bones and

periosteum, while others select the great nerve trunks in which to

manifest their symptoms. The pains of Colocynth appear, as a rule,

in the larger nerves.

The mental symptoms are not very striking. As soon as the prover

of Colocynth begins to have pains along the course of nerves he

becomes irritable ; everything vexes him ; he is worse from vexation.

Screams with the pains. Walks about the room and becomes increasingly anxious as the pain goes on. Disinclined to talk or to

answer, or to see friends.

His friends irritate him and he wants to be alone.

He has all he can do to stand those terrible pains.

Vomiting and diarrhoea frequently come with the pains, especially

if tliey are in the abdomen.

CQLQCYNra

Colic comes on in paroxysms that grow in intensity.

The patient becomes increasingly nauseated until finally he vomits

and he continues to retch after the stomach is empty.

Colocynth produces a state in the nervous system like that found

in individuals who have for years been laboring under annoyances and

vexations. A man whose business affairs have been going wrong

becomes irritable and nervous exhaustion follows. A woman who

must watch her unfaithful husband night and day to keep him away

from other women gradually assumes a sensitive irritable state of mind

and is upset by the least provocation. This is the state of the Colocynth prover.

You will seldom find this medicine indicated in strong, vigorous,

healthy people who have suddenly become sick. It is more likely to be

in the constitution just described, and those who are in the habit of

overeating.

We find tearing pains in the scalp, brought on by anger ; exhaustion;

pains that are better from pressure and heat, and worse when not in

motion.

Constant, gnawing pains in the head.

Painful, tearing, digging through the whole brain, becoming unbear:

able when moving the eyelids.

Intense pain through the whole head ; worse from moving the eyes.

Severe, pressing, tearing headache, causing her to cry out.

Intermittent headache in those of^ a rheumatic, gouty or nervous

diathesis.

Pain tearing and screwing together.

Violent periodical or intermittent headache.

Such are some of the expressions in the text. But the particular

character of the pain is not as important as the circumstances that are

likely to cause it and the conditions in which the patient has been

living. Knowing the life of a patient affords much knowledge of the

patient himself.

The same violent neuralgic pains are found in the eye.

. .Rheumatic iritis, worse in the evening and night.

Severe, burning, cutting and sticking pains in the eye.

Burning is more characteristic of the pains of the eyes than -of other

parts of the head and face.

Sharp, cutting stabs ; pressing pains.

The faceache is especially important, because Colocynth is one ot

the most frequently indicated remedies for neuralgia of this region.

Thcrfe are three remedies which are indicated in faceache more often

than any others, Belladonna , Magnesia phosphorica and Colocynth.

The Belladonna pains arc as violent as any, and are accompanied

by red face, flashing eyes, hot head, and great sensitiveness of the

4o8

COLOCYNIH

part to touch.

In Colocynth the pains come in waves, are better from heat^ from

pressure, worse if anything during rest, and are brought on by excitement or vexation. They are generally on the left side ; while those

of Belladonna are on the right, and arc caused by cold^

Magnesia phospliorica has tearing and pains that shoot like

lightning along the nerves and are relieved by heat and pressure.

The expression of the Colocynth face is one of anxiety from the

severity of the suffering. No matter where the pain is the face is

distorted. Finally, it becomes pale and the cheeks become blue.

Tearing pains in the cheek-bones, or more correctly, in the infraorbital nerve where it emerges from the foramen. Sometimes this

pain feels like a hot wire, sometimes like a cold nail, and sometimes

it is rearing, burning or stinging. Frequently it spreads over the face,

following the ramifications of the small branches of the nerve, usually

on the left side. The patient cries out and is very restless.

Tearing or burning pain extending to the ear and head.

All pains are better from pressure, but this is in the beginning.

After the pain has been going for several days with increasing severity,

the part becomes very sensitive and pressure cannot be endured.

Aversion to food.

Violent thirst.

Colic brought on from drinking while overheated ; from eating indigestible things, from high living ; colic from eating potatoes.

Potatoes and starchy foods disagree with the Colocynth patient like

Ahtmina.

The vomiting of Colocynth is different from that of most other

remedies. Nausea does not appear at first, but when the pain becomes

sufficiently intense nausea and vomiting begin, the contents of the

stomach are ejected, and the patient continues to retch until the

severity of the suffering decreases.

The stomach pains are clutching, cramping and digging, as if grasped

by the fingers.

Similar pains occur lower down in the abdomen, but they arc still

better from hard pressure, and from doubling up — which amounts to

pressure — come on in paroxysms of increasing severity, until the

patient is nauseated and vomits, and are associated with great restlessness and faint, sinking feeling at the pit of the stomach. The

victim bends down over the back of a chair, or over the foot-board

if unable to get out of bed.

In the Guiding Symptoms we find several pages of repetitions, show^

ing how extensively this medicine is applicable in abdominal complaints where these symptoms are present. It would be well to read

th^m, ' .