: The principal
feature of Colocynth is its severe, tearing, neuralgic pains; so severe
that the patient is unable to keep still. Sometimes they are > by motion - at least it
appears that they are worse during rest- > by pressure and sometimes > by heat. Pains
occur in the face, abdomen, along the course of the nerves.
These pains are often due to a very singular cause, namely, anger with
indignation. Hence persons who are haughty and easily offended or chagrined have Colocynth complaints. Anger will be followed by violent neuralgia in the head, eyes,
down the spine and in the intestines.
In spite of extreme restlessness there is great weakness with the pains.
It patient suffering with chronic diarrhoea, with severe colic, will sometimes become so
weak that he can hardly speak. A feeling of faintness, or even fainting, is by no means an
unusual concomitant of the pains. Griping occurs along the course of nerves, and in some
cases numbness, pricking and tingling, like the crawling of ants in the part affected.
With many doctors Colocynth is a routine remedy for sciatica; and only when it
fails to do they take the symptoms of the case in order to find the remedy that is
indicated. There is no excuse for such practice. Where the pain is better from hard pressure
and from heat, where it is worse during repose and drives the patient to despair, Colocynth will generally cure.
But it is not indicated in all cases. Some remedies select the muscles
and tendons, some the bones and periosteum, while others select the great nerve trunks in
which to manifest their symptoms. The pains of Colocynth appear, as a
rule, in the larger nerves.
The mental symptoms are not very striking. As soon as the prover of Colocynth begins to have pains a long the course of nerves he becomes irritable;
everything vexes him; he is worse from vexation.
Screams with the pains. Walks about the room and becomes increasingly
anxious as the pain goes on. Disinclined to talk or to answer, or to see friends. His
friends irritate him and he wants to be alone. He has all he can do to stand those terrible
pains.
Vomiting and diarrhea frequently come with the pains, especially if they
are in the abdomen.
Colic comes on in paroxysms that grow in intensity. The patient becomes
increasingly nauseated until finally he vomits and he continues to retch after the stomach
is empty.
Colocynth produces a
state in the nervous system like that found in individuals who have for years been laboring
under annoyances and vexations. A man whose business affairs have been going wrong becomes
irritable and nervous exhaustion follows.
A woman who must watch her unfaithful husband night and day to keep him
away from other women gradually assumes a sensitive irritable state of mind and is upset by
the least provocation. This is the state of the Colocynth prover.
You will seldom find this medicine indicated in strong, vigorous, healthy
people who have suddenly become sick. It is more likely to be in the constitution just
described, and those who are in the habit of overeating.
We find tearing pains in the scalp, brought on by anger; exhaustion,
pains that are better from pressure and heat, and worse when not in motion. Constant,
gnawing pains in the head.