Colchicinum
Colchicine · Human-made/chemical
Colchicinum suits patients with acute gastrointestinal inflammation characterised by shreddy membranous stools, tenesmus, and violent vomiting. The convulsive jerking of the right hand is considered a potential keynote symptom.
Key symptoms
- Intestinal catarrh with appearance of shreddy membranes in stool
- Convulsive jerkings of right hand (potential keynote)
- Pupils widely dilated
- Tearing pains in face
- Increased secretion of saliva
- Vomiting of undigested food then bitter greenish fluid, repeated in morning
- Pains and excessive sensitiveness in epigastrium
- Distension and sensitiveness of abdomen with frequent rumbling
- Copious pasty evacuations with excessive tenesmus repeated urgently
- Fever with prostration and sleeplessness
Alkaloid of Colchicum autumnale. C7 H23 NO6. Trituration.
Clinical
Diarrhœa. Fever. Intestinal catarrh. Prostration. Sleeplessness. Spasms.
Characteristics
This alkaloid has been proved and the symptoms are sufficiently distinctive, though I am not aware of any clinical experience with it. The symptoms point strongly to its use in that form of intestinal catarrh characterised by the appearance of shreddy membranes; and the symptom, "convulsive jerkings of right hand," should prove a valuable indication, if not a keynote.
Relations
Compare: Ars., Caust., Colch.
3. Eyes
Pupils widely dilated.
6. Face
Tearing pains in face.
9. Throat
Increased secretion of saliva.
Stomach
Aversion to food, and loathing, when merely looking at it; still worse when smelling it, which nauseates even to faintness.
Anus and Stool
Discharge from anus like gelatine or jelly-like mucus, with great tenesmus.
Female Sexual Organs
Intense boring or tensive pain in the ovary, causing her to draw up double, with great restlessness.
Classical texts are in the public domain. Educational reference only — not medical advice.
