Schwabe News Volume 4 | Issue 8 | August 2013
Colocynthis
Introduction
Colocynthis was proved by Hahnemann himself. It is covered by almost all materia medica like Allen TF, Blackwood, Boericke, Boger, Clarke, Hering, Phatak, etc. Its main sphere of action includes abdomen, neuralgias and female complaints. With the support from homoeopathic division of Dr. Willmar Schwabe, Germany, called Deutsche Homöopathie-Union (DHU), a placebo controlled pathogenetic trial was conducted by David Riley to re-establish its curative efficacy in homoeopathic doses,  using 12CH with 22 female provers. Important symptoms found during proving are reported here along with old symptoms. For the complete details of the proving, readers are requested to refer the original proving.
Main sphere of action: irritability, headaches, abdominal cramping and distension, diarrhoea, and painful menses with cramping, menstrual bleeding, etc.
Mind
Extremely irritable. Becomes angry when questioned. Disinclined to talk the whole day. Anger that is easy, causeless, before menses, or on waking. Extreme anxiety. Aversion to company, especially before menses. Concentration difficult during headache. Obsessive sexual thoughts while daydreaming. Dreams of buildings or water. Fear one has forgotten something important or of narrow places. Irritability before menses or during menses or improvement of irritability. Changeable moods, especially before menses. Self-reproach. Rudeness. Sadness before menses. Emotional sensitivity during menstrual cycle. Persistent amorous thoughts or thoughts that make the person anxious. Weeping before menses or during menses. Like an emotional roller coaster.
Head
Confusion of the head, in the frontal region. Heaviness and stupefaction of the forehead. Vertigo when turning head to the left. Pains (better pressure and heat), with soreness of scalp. Stinging eruptions on the forehead. Greasy hair or perspiration in hair. Head pains; at the base extending to the left temple; in the forehead behind the eyes or on waking; on the temple. Pressing pain at the occiput and temples. Throbbing or pulsating pain in the forehead behind the eyes or at the occiput and extending upward. Head pain associated with the neck ache. Headaches that are worse and then better with the menstrual cycle.
Eye
Sensitive pressure in the eyes, esp. when stooping. Obscuration of the sight. Great white light at side of and below right eye. Shimmering circle with rays before right eye. Inflammation of the eyes. Burning pain in the orbits of the eyes during headache.
Nose
Fluent coryza. Throbbing burrowing pain in nose extending from left side to root. Burning pain in the nostril.
Face
Aphthae on the lips that appears monthly. Face puffed, with heat and redness of left cheek, and tearing pains. Eruptions of pimples, pustules, or acne on the chin or cheeks. Greasy and shiny skin early in the menstrual cycle.
Mouth
Pains in the teeth, as if the nerve were pulled or stretched. Painful eruptions on right side of tongue that make swallowing painful.
Throat
Pain that is sore or scratching. Loss of voice and can only speak in a whisper.
Stomach
Diminished appetite, without thirst, though accompanied by a strong desire for drink, with a sickly taste in the mouth. Painful sensitiveness of the epigastrium to the touch. Anxiety like butterflies in stomach. Decreased appetite that is satisfied after a few bites. Heartburn that extends upward. Nausea. Pain that is sharp or occurs after eating.
Abdomen
Agonizing cutting pain in abdomen causing patient to bend over double, and pressing on the abdomen. Dysenteric stool renewed each time by the least food or drink. Jelly-like stools. Abdominal distention after eating, with a sensation of hardness. Abdominal distention during menses. Abdominal bloating, as well as the sensation of hardness. Cramping pain with diarrhea, before stool, during menses; lying on either side ameliorates the pain. Pinching pain with uterinecontractions and pulsations. Pain that extends to the thigh.
Rectum
Constipation with hard stool. Diarrhea that is sudden, or in the morning. Strong urge wit cramping at stool. Frequent stool. Loose, soft, or watery stools.
Stool
Hard stool during menses. Stool with urination.
Bladder
Pressing pain on beginning to urinate. Frequent urination in the evening and at night.
Urethra
Sharp pain during urination. Clear discharge after urinating.
Female
Boring pain in ovary. Must draw up double, with great restlessness. Ovarian cyst, paroxysm of acute pain in abdomen, sacrum, and hip, >> by flexing thigh on pelvis. Heaviness, during menses. Menses late. Pain as if the menses would appear. Menses bleeding that is clotted, brown, or bright red. Increased and heavy menstrual flow. Early menses or sudden onset of menses. Painful menses better lying down. Menstrual cramps that are usually experienced during the menstrual cycle. Cramping pain with increased sexual thoughts and desire. Drawing-down or throbbing pain in the uterus. Menstrual flow that stops and then restarts, or cures that. Unusually short menstrual cycle. After standing, sensation that the »insides« are falling out.
Chest
Sore and swollen breasts before menses.
Back
Pain before or during menses. No back pain during the menses. Painful cramp in lower back better on leaning forward. Cervical stiffness extending down the center of back after sleep.
Extremities
Cramps in the right thigh during menses but not, as usual, in the left thigh. Restlessness of legs and feet ameliorated when lying down. Ingrown hair on the thigh. Sharp pain in the right buttock.
Sleep
Cannot fall back to sleep. Sleep position on abdomen that is uncomfortable on waking, or on the left side. Waking with desire to urinate. Waking from warmth.
Fever
Fever with chills as if a cold is coming on.
Generalities
Tendency to take cold during menses. Food and drink desires for milk, corn, meat, nuts, peanut butter, fried potatoes, and sweets. Flushes of heat or sensation of heat. Worse before menses. Restlessness and must sway from side to side when standing. Aching pain, especially in the joints. Weariness or lassitude, especially before menses. Decreased energy before the onset of menses.
Bibliography
- Riley, David S. Materia Medica of New and Old Homoeopathic Medicines, Springer-Verlag GmbH, 2012.
- Boericke, W., New Manual of Homoeopathic Materia Medica & Repertory [with Relationship of Remedies], Second Re-Augmented & Revised Edition Based on Ninth Edition, Reprint Edition 2002, B. Jain Publishers, New Delhi.
- Clarcke, J. H., Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica, Reprint Edition 1992, B. Jain Publishers, New Delhi.
- Allen, T. F., Encyclopaedia of Pure Materia Medica, B. Jain Publishers, New Delhi.