Santoninum
Santonin · Human-made/chemical
Santoninum suits children and individuals with worm infestations manifesting as gastro-intestinal irritation, itching of the nose, restless sleep, and muscle twitching. The characteristic xanthopsia (seeing everything yellow) and colour blindness are pathognomonic. The remedy is also indicated in chronic cystitis, laryngeal crises, and the lightning pains of tabes dorsalis.
Key symptoms
- Worm complaints: gastro-intestinal irritation, itching of nose, restless sleep, twitching of muscles
- Occipital headache with chromatic hallucinations
- Xanthopsia and colour blindness; sudden dimness of sight
- Strabismus due to worms; dark rings about eyes
- Grinding of teeth; fetid breath; depraved appetite; tongue deep-red
- Urine greenish if acid, reddish-purple if alkaline
- Incontinence, dysuria, and enuresis; feeling of fullness in bladder
- Night cough of children; chronic cystitis
Better (amelioration)
- After eating (nausea better)
Santonin
Is the active principle of Santonica, the unexpanded flower heads of Artemisia Maritima-Cina, which see.
The eye symptoms and those of the urinary tract are most prominent. It is of unquestioned value in the treatment of worm diseases, as gastro-intestinal irritation, itching of nose, restless sleep, twitching of muscles. Ascaris lumbricoides, and thread worms, but not tapeworms. Night cough of children. Chronic cystitis. Laryngeal crises and lightning pains of tabes.
Head
Occipital headache, with chromatic hallucinations. Itching of nose. Bores into nostrils.
Eyes
Sudden dimness of sight. Color blindness; Xanthopsia. Strabismus due to worms. Dark rings about eyes.
Mouth
Fetid breath, depraved appetite; thirsty. Tongue deep-red. Grinding of teeth. Nausea; better after eating. Choking feeling.
Urinary
Urine greenish if acid and reddish purple if alkaline. Incontinence and dysuria. Enuresis. Feeling of fullness of bladder. Nephritis.
Relationship
Compare: Cina; Teucr; Napth; Nat phos; Spigel.
Dose
Second to third trituration. Lower preparations are often toxic. Do not give to a child with fever or constipation.
Santonine. A neutral active principle obtained from Cina (so-called "Semen Cinæ"). C15H18O3. (Colourless, lustrous, right rhombic prisms, odourless, and of a bitter taste. Become yellow by exposure to sunlight. Almost insoluble in cold, somewhat soluble in boiling water; fairly soluble in chloroform, boiling rectified spirit, and in strong acetic acid, volatile oils, warm olive oil.) Trituration.
Clinical
Amblyopia. Cataract. Convulsions. Cough. Cystitis, chronic. Diarrhœa. Dysuria. Eyes, paralysis of. Enteralgia. Enteritis. Enuresis. Epilepsy. Epistaxis. Gastro-enteritis. Giant urticaria. Hæmoglobinuria. Hemiplegia (l.). Infantile remittents. Strangury. Tetanus. Urination, frequent. Urticaria. Vision, yellow. Vomiting. Worms.
Phatak's chapter on Santoninum is available in the app.
Read Phatak in the appClassical texts are in the public domain. Educational reference only — not medical advice.
