Colic is a condition which is referred as severe pain in abdomen, which can be caused due to spasm, distension, or obstruction of any of the hollow viscera present in the abdomen.

Causes of colic or pain in abdomen 

ü  Appendicitis

ü  Gastric ulcers

ü  Carcinoma stomach

ü  Chronic gastric impaction

ü  Meckel’s diverticulum

ü  Pyloric stenosis

ü  Mesenteric abscess condition

ü  Intestinal neoplasia

ü  illial hypertrophy

ü  Diaphragmatic hernia

ü  Bowel displacement

ü  Enteroliths

ü  Cecal mucosa hypertrophy

ü  Bowel displacement

ü  Intussusceptions

ü  Colitis

ü  Hepatitis

ü  Peritonitis

ü  Cholangitis

ü  Cholelithiasis

ü  Acute pancreatititis

ü  Chronic pancreatitis

ü  Testicular teratoma

ü  Ovulation

ü  Pancreatic neoplasia

ü  Hepatomegaly

ü  Spleenimegaly

ü  Midmenstrual rupture of ovarian follicle

ü  Torsion of undescended testis

ü  Salpingooophoritis

ü  Ruptures ectopic gestation

ü  Torsion of ovarian cyst

ü  Intraperitoneal neoplasia

ü  Cystitis

ü  Pericardial abscess

ü  Urolithiasis

ü  Splenic neoplasia

ü  Intraperitoneal abscess

ü  Intraperitoneal neoplasia

ü  Pleuritis

Investigations in case of colic or pain in abdomen 

History

Pain

• Duration
• Onset
• Frequency of pain
• Time interval between bouts

Medical history

• Previous history of colic
• History of abdominal surgery
• Previous drug intake
• Respiratory infections
• History of weight loss

Clinical examination

• Examination of gastro intestinal tract
• Examination of other body systems

Laboratory investigations            

• Hematology
• Biochemistry
• Monosaccharide absorption testes
• Fecal analysis

ü  Abdominocentesis

ü  Endoscopy

ü  Radiography

ü  Ultrasonography

ü  Biopsy

ü  Response to treatment

ü  Diagnostic laparoscopy

ü  Exploratory surgery

Homeopathic treatment of colic or pain in abdomen

Homeopathy is one of the most popular holistic systems of medicine. The selection of remedy is based upon the theory of individualization and symptoms similarity by using holistic approach. This is the only way through which a state of complete health can be regained by removing all the sign and symptoms from which the patient is suffering. The aim of homeopathy is not only to treat colic or pain in abdomen but to address its underlying cause and individual susceptibility. As far as therapeutic medication is concerned, several remedies are available to treat colic or pain in abdomen that can be selected on the basis of cause, sensations and modalities of the complaints.  For individualized remedy selection and treatment, the patient should consult a qualified homeopathic doctor in person. There are following remedies which are helpful in the treatment of colic or pain in abdomen:

 Aconite – Colic, in elderly people, with intense gripping pains across the lower portion of abdomen, with a preference for right side, before and during stool, which is windy and watery; after stool all pain ceases, leaving the patient bathed in sweat and extremely prostrated; painfulness over the whole abdomen, especially along the sides of the navel, which parts cannot endure being touched; on making a false step a pain in stomach; discharge of much flatus, burning, smelling offensive.

Alumina – lead colic; spasmodic pains in hypochondria and stomach, with dyspnoea almost to suffocation, worse when stooping; pressing in both groins towards sexual organs, like from hernia, with tension as far as the side of the abdomen; pains < sitting bent; > from warm applications.

Arsenicum – violent pains in abdomen, with great anguish, has no rest anywhere, rolls about on the floor and despairs of life; abdomen drawn in; colic day and night with but short remissions; constipation; vomiting of clear water or of mucus and bile with the colic; violent cutting or spasmodic tearing, gnawing pains, frequently with intolerable burning or with feeling of coldness in abdomen; terrible cutting bellyache with frequent thin stools, fainting and cold sweat, often with icy coldness of hands and feet, periodical colic; desire for cold water, but afraid to drink it. Caused by ice-water, ice-cream, bad sausages, cheese, and lead poisoning; Colic after severe burn.

Plumbum – abdominal pains radiating in all directions; stony hardness of abdomen; umbilical pains goes through the spine.

Belladonna – colic as if a spot in the abdomen were seized with the nails, a gripping, clutching, clawing; violent cutting pressure in the hypogastrium; now here and there; the pains come on suddenly and disappear just a suddenly, standing and walking aggravate the pain; tenderness to slight pressure, but relieved by hard pressure s the abdomen; pod shaped prostration of the colon, with abatement of the pain on bending backward, or making pressure; loud rumbling and pinching in the belly; congestion of blood to the head; thirst, but drinks but little, as drinking aggravates; copper colic.

Bryonia – rumbling and gurling in the abdomen, sudden painful cuttings in the intestines; with a feeling as if one were digging in with his fingers, compelling him to bend double, relieved by profuse pasty evacuations; foul flatulence; great sensitiveness of abdomen; has to keep quiet, most easy when lying on affected side or on abdomen; colic, especially during summer heat after a hot day.

Calcaria carb – frequent colic, with weariness and sickly look of face, fully relieved by cold water applications or bathing in cold water; severe spasms in abdomen, especially evenings and at night, with coldness of thighs; feeling of coldness in abdomen; enlargement and hardness of abdomen, particularly in teething children; diarrheic, clay like stools, smelling sour fetid.

Nux Vomica – great remedy for colic due to indigestion; the pain may be in any part of the abdomen, pains are aching cramping, worse after food, and attended with flatulence.

Carbo veg – colic from flatulence, abdomen full to bursting; pinching and pressive colic in lower abdomen; pain worse about bladder of left epigastrium; from least food, from riding in carriage or car, ameliorate from passing flatus or hard stool; sensation of constant downward pressure in abdomen, so that the patient tries to support it with hands or a bandage, relieved from passing flatus upward and downward; belching, tasting sour or rancid.

Dioscorea – pain in the umbilical region; which is continuous and constant; bilious rheumatic and neuralgic colic; regurgitations sour, and bitter belching

China – colic from gall-stones; pain in hepatic region, as from subcutaneous ulceration; worse from touch; violent colic, of pinching character, with nausea and thirst, relieved by bending double, returning every afternoon or at night; tympanitic distension of the abdomen or spasmodic constrictive pains with incarceration of flatulence and pressure towards the hypochondria; gastro-duodenal catarrh and pressure of fluids towards severe illness, brought on by eating fruit or drinking new beer.

Cuprum met -Cramps in the abdomen; violent, colicky, drawing-cutting pain in the abdomen; abdomen drawn in; colic not increased by pressure; violent spasms in abdomen and upper and lower limbs; with penetrating distressing screams; intussusceptions of the bowels;  violent colic, stercoraceous vomiting, and great agony; spasmodic movements of the abdominal muscles; cramps of the stomach and bowels, with vomiting and purging, and cutting pains in umbilical region as if a knife were thrust through to the back, with piercing screams; abdomen hard as a  stone; constipation succeeded by watery, greenish or bloody stool; spasmodic vomiting relieved by a drink of cold water; collapse with great prostration and lack of reaction; pulse soft, moderately frequent; skin warm and dry.

Colocynth- gripping; clutching, cramping, digging, and stabbing pain, as if grasped by the fingers, better by bending double or by hard pressure; against the abdominal wall; the colic is caused by flatus, anger, cold, undigested food.

Lycopodium – renal colic when right kidney is involved,

Ipecauc – flatulent colic from acids, with frequent loose stools; with every movement cutting almost constantly running from left to right; gripping, as from hand, each finger seemingly sharply pressing in to the intestines; much worse by motion, better during rest; colic of children.

Mag phos – pains are burning and throbbing and are relieved by pressure and warmth. The patient passes wind during the pain; baby folds his legs over his abdomen.

Pulsatilla – colic from cold; with diarrhea, from getting feet wet, from fruits, ices, pastry, flatulent colic evening, after supper, or at night; oppressive flatulence in upper abdomen and hypochondria; shifting of flatus; colic, with nausea, ceasing after vomiting; restlessness; heaviness and fullness of the abdomen, with unpleasant distension; the pains are worse when sitting or lying, with chills; relief by walking.