Colocynthinum

Common name: bitter cucumber.

Colocynth develops most of its symptoms in the abdomen and head, causing neuralgias. The nerves around the hip-joint are also a marked centre of action (D.).

All the limbs are drawn together.

Shortening of the muscles (Am-M., Cup., Mag-P., Rhus-T.).

Twitching of the muscles (Bell., Cupr., Hyos., Ign., Mag-P., Stram.).

Stiffness of the joints (Calc., Calc-F., Caust., Kali-C, Lach., Nat-S., Rhus-T.).

Tearing pains longitudinally.

Constrictions and contraction of internal and external parts.

Pain in the hip, and when walking a sensation as if the psoas muscle was too short.

Affections of the right upper extremity; also right lower extremity, right eye, right side of the chest, etc. (G.).

Inclination to become angry and indignant (Cham., Ign., Nux-V., Staph.).

Bad effects, either from mortification caused by an offence, or else from anger with indignation (Staph.).

Does not like to talk, to answer, or to see friends, or anybody (Bry., Ign., Staph.) (N.).

Extremely irritable; becomes angry when questioned (Bry.) (Br.).

Irritable; throws things out of his hands (Ars., Bry., Cham., Cina, Kreos., Staph., Stram.) (A.).

Sleeplessness after anger (Nux-V.).

It is to be remembered for articular rheumatism, when the joints remain stiff and unwieldly, and the pains in the affected parts are of a boring character (F.).

COLICKY PAINS IN THE ABDOMEN COMPELLING ONE TO BEND DOUBLE (Caust., Cham., Mag-P., Plb., Puls., Sep.), WITH GREAT ANGUISH AND RESTLESS CONSTRICTION IN THE BOWELS, OR PAIN AS IF CUTTING WITH KNIVES, OR PAIN AS THOUGH THE BOWEL WAS PRESSED BETWEEN TWO STONES (Cocc.).

A VIOLENT, AGONIZING ABDOMINAL COLIC, RELIEVED BY BENDING DOUBLE AND BY PRESSING SOMETHING HARD INTO THE ABDOMEN (D.).

COLIC, BETTER FROM LYING ON THE ABDOMEN (Aloe, Am-C., Bell., Bry., Ind., Phos., Plb., Rhus-T., Stann.) (K.).

Vomiting and diarrhœa, with colic (Acon., Cupr., Nux-V., Sec.); doubling up; from anger with indignation (N.).

Colic so distressing, that they seek relief by pressing corners of tables or heads of bed-posts against the abdomen (Hr.).

Severe colicky pains, mostly around the navel; has to bend double, being worse in any other posture; with great restlessness and loud screaming on changing position; worse at intervals of five or ten minutes (N.).

Colicky pain, worse after eating or drinking the least amount (G.).

Rumbling in the bowels (Podo.).

Dysentery-like diarrhœa, renewed each time after taking the least food or drink (Arg-N., Colch., Crot-T., Ferr., Sulph.) (N.).

It has been of service in mucous colitis when there were griping and cutting pains that caused the patient to writhe and bend double, press upon the abdomen and ask for hot applications.

Chronic watery diarrhœa in the morning, with pain in the sides of the abdomen (Ra.).

Ovarian neuralgia: sharp pain in the ovarian regions, relieved by bending double and by pressure (Mag-P.) (D.).

Sciatica: Sharp, spasmodic attacks of pain shoot down the sciatic nerve to the feet; crampy pains, as if the parts were screwed in a vise; it is worse on the right side and tends to be paroxysmal; relieved by warmth and rest (D.).

Crampy pain in the hip-joint, as though the parts were screwed in a vise; lies on the painful side with knees bent up (N.).

Vertigo when turning the head to the left (Calc-P.) (Br.).

Frequent urging to urinate (Nux-V.), with scanty urine, and sometimes thick, fetid, viscid, or jelly-like urine (N.).

Persistent bitter taste in the mouth (Bry., Chin., Nat-S., Nux-V., Sep.) (B).

Dysuria: straining ineffectual; worse before, during and after urination, which is scanty (Hm.).

It cures diarrhœa caused from anger, from eating fruit, from drinking ice-water or lemonade (R.).

Griping in the epigastrium after each meal; worse towards evening (C.).

AGGRAVATION: In the evening; from anger; after eating; in repose; and from motion.

AMELIORATION: From bending double; from hard pressure; from coffee; from heat; from discharge of flatus; and from lying upon the abdomen.

RELATIONSHIP: Complementary: Merc. in dysentery, with great tenesmus, and Caust. in colic, etc.

Compare: GNAPH. in intense pain along the right sciatic nerve; darting, cutting, from the right hip-joint down to the foot, alternating with numbness.

Compare also Staph. in abdominal pains, etc., from anger, reserved indignation or silent grief.

Antidotes: Camph., Coff., Op. and Staph.