Linum catharticum
Plant · Linaceae
Linum Catharticum suits patients with prominent bowel looseness, respiratory catarrh, and suppressed sexual function in both sexes. The combination of bright yellow loose stools with nasal stuffiness and frothy yellow expectoration is characteristic. Depression of mind accompanies the physical symptoms.
Key symptoms
- Colic and diarrhoea of loose, bright yellow stools
- Slender, feculent stools
- Sexual functions depressed; absence of desire in men; menses omitted or delayed in women
- Stuffed-up condition of nose and chest with nasal and respiratory catarrh
- Troublesome cough with difficult expectoration of frothy yellow mucus
- Severe frontal headache obliging to lie down after dinner
- Dulness, depression, and irritability of mind
- Vertigo on throwing head back
- Congestion of head worse from holding head back and after reading
Worse (aggravation)
- Walking in open air (cough worse)
- Holding head back (dull headache worse)
- After reading (headache worse)
Better (amelioration)
- Open air (headache better)
- After eating (headache better)
Linum catharticum. Purging-flax. N. O. Linaceæ. Tincture of whole plant.
Clinical
Amenorrhœa. Bronchitis. Cough. Diarrhœa. Hæmorrhoids. Laryngitis. Rheumatism.
Characteristics
The proving of L. cath. (by Stokes and Galston) shows that it deserves its name. Colic and diarrhœa of loose, bright yellow stools, and also of slender, feculent stools were most marked. The sexual functions were depressed; in men absence of desire; in women menses were omitted or delayed. There was much nasal and respiratory catarrh, stuffed-up condition of nose and chest, troublesome cough and difficult expectoration of frothy, yellow mucus. The cough was < walking in open air. Headache > in open air, and > by eating.
Classical texts are in the public domain. Educational reference only — not medical advice.
