Caulophyllum thalictroides
Blue cohosh, squaw root, papoose root. · Plant · Berberidaceae
This remedy is exclusively prescribed for symptoms in women who tend to be prone to restlessness, nervousness, and insomnia, if they have drunk too much coffee. In severe cases they may be unable to speak.
Caulophyllum is used primarily for problems of the uterus, such as excessive bleeding and lack of tone in the uterine muscles. There may be erratic or absent uterine muscle action during menstruation or during or following labor. Inner trembling may also occur.
The remedy is also used for rheumatic joint pains affecting the small joints, particularly if they occur in conjunction with menstruation or uterine problems. The fingers, toes, and ankles may be stiff, and the wrists may ache.
Key symptoms
- Spasmodic, severe uterine pains flying in all directions
- Erratic pains in small joints changing place every few minutes
- Extraordinary rigidity of os during labor
- Habitual abortion from uterine debility
- Needle-like pains in cervix; dysmenorrhoea
- Leucorrhoea with moth-spots on forehead
- Cardialgia and spasms of stomach
Worse (aggravation)
Better (amelioration)
Blue Cohosh (CAULOPHYLLUM)
This is a woman's remedy. Want of tonicity of the womb. During labor, when the pains are deficient and the patient is exhausted and fretful. Besides, it has a special affinity for the smaller joints. Thrush, locally and internally.
Stomach
Cardialgia, spasms of stomach. Dyspepsia with spasmodic symptoms.
Female
Extraordinary rigidity of os (Bell; Gels; Ver v). Spasmodic and severe pains, which fly in all directions; shivering, without progress; false pains. Revives labor pains and furthers progress of labor. After pains. Leucorrhœa, with moth-spots on forehead. Habitual abortion from uterine debility (Helon; Puls; Sab). Needle-like pains in cervix. Dysmenorrhœa, with pains flying to other parts of body. Lochia protracted; great atony. Menses and leucorrhœa profuse.
Skin
Discoloration of skin in women with menstrual and uterine disorder.
Extremities
Severe drawing, erratic pain and stiffness in small joints, fingers, toes, ankles, etc. Aching in wrists. Cutting pains on closing hands. Erratic pains, changing place every few minutes.
Relationship
Incompatible: Coffea.
Compare: Viol. Odor (rheumatic carpal and metacarpal joints); Cimicif; Sepia; Pulsat; Gels.
Dose
Tincture to third attenuation.
Caulophyllum thalictroides. Blue Cohosh. Squaw Root. N. O. Berberidaceæ. Tincture or trituration of root.
Clinical
Abortion, threatened. After-pains. Amenorrhœa. Barrenness. Bearing-down pains. Chloasma. Cholera morbus. Dysmenorrhœa. False conception. Feet, affections of. Gonorrhœa. Hands, affections of. Inframammary pain. Labour, abnormal; false pains of. Leucorrhœa. Menstruation, disorders of. Ovarian neuralgia. Pityriasis. Pregnancy, disorders of. Rheumatic gout. Rheumatism. Uterine spasm. Uterine atony.
Characteristics
Caulophyllum, "the Blue Cohosh," is closely related to Actea racem., "the Black Cohosh," in its action, though belonging to a different family of plants. It acts most markedly on the female generative organs and on rheumatic states. It has only had one proving, that by Dr. Burt, the majority of the indications having been derived from tradition and clinical experience. It has been given with success for chloasma or pityriasis versicolor, curing incidentally dysmenia at the same …
Blue Cohosh (Berberidaceae)
Especially suited to women; ailments during pregnancy, parturition, lactation. Rheumatism of women, especially of small joints (Act. s.); errative pains changing place every few minutes (Puls.); painful stiffness of affected joints. Pains are intermittent, paroxysmal, spasmodic. Chorea, hysteria or epilepsy at puberty, during establishment of menstrual function (Actaea). Leucorrhoea: acrid, exhausting; upper eyelids heavy, has to raise them with fingers (Gels.); with "moth spots" on forehead (Sep.); in little girls (Calc.); preventing pregnancy. Habitual abortion from uterine debility (Alet. - from anaemia with profound melancholy, Helon.); Spasmodic rigid os, delays labor; needle-like pricking pains in cervix. Labor pains short, irregular, spasmodic; tormenting, useless pains in beginning of labor (Act.); no progress made. Will correct deranged vitality and produce efficient pains, if the symptoms agree. Haemorrhage, after hasty labor; want of tonicity; passive, after abortion (Sec., …
Female Sexual Organs
Passive haemorrhage; an oozing from lax uterine vessels with tremulous weakness of the whole body.
Extremities
Severe pains in joints of wrist and fingers; shutting the hands produces severe pains; swelling.
Generalities
Rheumatism of women, especially of small joints, painful stiffness, erratic pains.
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In dysmenorrhoea spasmodic pains in uterus and various portions of the hypogastric regions.
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Deficient spasmodic labour pains.
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Passive hemorrhage, after abortion or confinement, or protracted lochia, from atony of the uterus.
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Rheumatism of small joints, especially of the wrists and fingers.
Phatak's chapter on Caulophyllum thalictroides is available in the app.
Read Phatak in the appClassical texts are in the public domain. Educational reference only — not medical advice.
