Colocynthinum
Plant · Cucurbitaceae
Colocynthinum suits individuals with neuralgic conditions and colic better from bending forward and rest, and worse from motion and travelling in vehicles. There is congestion of the male genitalia and burning in the soles, alongside intense headache exacerbated by jarring or motion.
Key symptoms
- Diarrhoea and colic better bending forward
- Neuralgic symptoms prominent; stitches and sensations of heat in many parts
- Pulsation in pit of stomach with prickling stitches in back
- Congestion to male genital organs with pain in them
- Burning pains in soles of the feet
- Headache in temporal and frontal regions worse moving eyes, straining sight, or bending forward
- Headache worse riding in railway cars; brain seems to shake about loosely
- Stitches in brain through occiput on heavy treading
- Depression of mind
Worse (aggravation)
- Evening
- By motion
- Riding in cars or railway
- Heavy treading (brain stitches)
Better (amelioration)
- By rest
- Bending forward or over
- Black coffee
An active principle (glucoside) of Citrullus colocynthis. C56 H84 O23. Dilutions in alcohol.
Clinical
Colic. Cough. Debility. Diarrhœa. Feet, burning in. Genitals (male), congestion of; pain in. Headache. Neuralgia. Spinal pains. Travelling, effects of.
Characteristics
Having had a separate proving, Colocynthinum must be considered apart from Colocynth., from which it is derived, although the symptoms of the two bear a close resemblance. Neuralgic symptoms are prominent. Stitches and sensations of heat are found in many parts. Pulsation in the pit of the stomach, with prickling stitches on back in neighbourhood of middle thoracic vertebræ. Diarrhœa and colic > bending forward. Congestion to male genital organs and pain in them. Burning pains in soles of the feet. < Evening; by motion; riding in cars. > By rest; bending over; black coffee. < By motion; > by rest:─herein appears the relationship of the glucoside to Bryonia, the botanic relative of Colocynthis.
Classical texts are in the public domain. Educational reference only — not medical advice.
