CAUSTICUM
Common Name:
Caustic Potash
Causticum is a very searching medicine,
suitable in old, broken down constitutions, suffering
from chronic diseases.
It acts and mainly indicated in chronic
rheumatic, arthritic and paralytic affections, indicated
by the tearing, drawing pains in the muscular and
fibrous tissues, with deformities about the joints;
progressive loss of muscular strength, tendinous
contractures. Broken down seniles. In catarrhal
affections of the air passages, and seems to choose
preferably dark-complexioned and rigid-fibered persons.
Restlessness at night, with tearing pains in joints and
bones, and faint-like sinking of strength. This weakness
progresses until we have gradually appearing paralysis.
Local paralysis, vocal cords, muscles of deglutition, of
tongue, eyelids, face, bladder and extremities. Children
are slow to walk. The skin of a Causticum person is of a
dirty white sallow, with warts, especially on the
face. Emaciation due to disease, worry, etc, and of long
standing. Burning, rawness, and soreness are
characteristic.
Mind.-Causticum
has cured insanity not acute mania with violent
delirium, but mental aberration of the passive kind,
where the brain has become tired. The constitution has
been broken down with long suffering and much trouble,
and finally the mind is in confusion.Sad,
hopeless. Intensely sympathetic. Ailments from
long-lasting grief, sudden emotions. Thinking of
complaints, aggravates, especially hæmorrhoids. Child
does not want to go to bed alone. Least thing makes it
cry.
Head.--Sensation
of empty space between forehead and brain. Pain in right
frontal eminence.
Face.--Paralysis
of right side. Warts. Pain in facial bones. Dental
fistula. Pain in jaws, with difficulty in opening mouth.
Eyes.--Cataract
with motor disturbances. Inflammation of eyelids;
ulceration. Sparks and dark spots before eyes Ptosis
(Gels). Vision impaired, as if film were before
eyes. Paralysis of ocular muscles after exposure to
cold.
Ears.--Ringing,
roaring, pulsating, with deafness; words and steps
re-echo; chronic middle-ear catarrh; accumulation of
ear-wax.
Nose.--Coryza,
with hoarseness.
Scaly nose. Nostrils ulcerated. Pimples and warts.
Mouth.--Bites
inside of cheek from chewing. Paralysis of tongue, with
indistinct speech. Rheumatism of articulation of lower
jaw. Gums bleed easily.
Stomach.--Greasy
taste. Aversion to sweets. Feels as if lime were burned
in stomach. Worse after eating fresh meat; smoked meat
agrees. Sensation of ball rising in throat. Acid
dyspepsia.
Stool.--Soft
and small, size of goose-quill (Phos). Hard,
tough, covered with mucus; shines like grease;
small-shaped; expelled with much straining, or only on
standing up. Pruritus. Partial paralysis of rectum.
Rectum sore and burns. Fistula and large piles.
Urine.--Involuntary
when coughing, sneezing (Puls). Expelled very
slowly, and sometimes retained. Involuntary during first
sleep at night; also from slightest excitement.
Retention after surgical operations. Loss of
sensibility on passing urine.
Female.--Uterine
inertia during labor.
Menses cease at night; flow only during day (Cycl;
Puls). Leucorrhoa at night, with great weakness (Nat
mur). Menses delay, late (Con. Graph; Puls).
Respiratory.--Hoarseness
with pain in chest; aphonia. Larynx sore.
Cough, with raw soreness of chest. Expectoration
scanty; must be swallowed. Cough with pain in
hip, especially left worse in evening; better,
drinking cold water; worse, warmth of bed. Sore
streak down trachea. Mucus under sternum, which he
cannot quite reach. Pain in chest, with
palpitation. Cannot lie down at night. Voice re-echoes.
Own voice roars in ears and distresses. Difficulty of
voice of singers and public speakers (Royal).
Back.--Stiffness
between shoulders. Dull pain in nape of neck.
Extremities.--Left-sided
sciatica, with numbness. Paralysis of single parts.
Dull, tearing pain in hands and arms. Heaviness and
weakness. Tearing joints. Unsteadiness of muscles of
forearm and hand. Numbness; loss of sensation in
hands. Contracted tendons. Weak ankles. Cannot
walk without suffering. Rheumatic tearing in limbs;
better by warmth, especially heat of bed. Burning in
joints. Slow in learning to walk. Unsteady walking and
easily falling. Restless legs at night. Cracking
and tension in knees; stiffness in hollow of knee.
Itching on dorsum of feet.
Skin.--Soreness
in folds of skin, back of ears, between thighs. Warts
large, jagged, bleeding easily, on tips of fingers and
nose. Old burns that do not get well, and ill effects
from burns. Pains of burns. Cicatrices freshen up; old
injuries reopen. Skin prone to intertrigo during
dentition.
Sleep.--Very
drowsy; can hardly keep awake. Nocturnal sleeplessness,
with dry heat, inquietude.
Relationship.--According
to the careful investigations of Dr. Wagner of Basel,
Causticum corresponds to Ammon causticum 4x.
Causticum does not agree with Phosphorus; the
remedies should not be used after each other.
Diphtherotoxin follows, causticum in chronic
bronchitis.
Antidote: Paralysis from lead-poisoning.
Complementary: Carbo; Petrosel.
Compare: Rhus; Arsenic; Amm phos
(facial paralysis).
Modalities.--Worse,
dry, cold winds, in clear fine weather, cold
air; from motion of carriage. Better, in damp,
wet weather; warmth. Heat of bed.
Dose.--Third
to thirtieth attenuation. In chronic ailments and
especially in paralytic states, the higher potencies
once or twice a week.
SUMMARY OF INDICTIONS:-DEPRESSION-RESPIRATORY
DISORDERS-CONSTIPATION-BURNS AND SCALDS-WARTS-PARALYSIS(USUALLY
RIGHT SIDE).
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