Synonym. Cocculus Indicus. Natural order. Meinspermaceae. Common names. Indian Cockle. Indian Berries. Habitat. A strong climbing shrub, found in the eastern parts of he Indian peninsula, in eastern Bengal, and in the Malay Islands. Preparation. Tincture from the coarsely powdered dried fruit.
GENERAL ANALYSIS
Acts pre-eminently upon the system of animal life, through the motor nervous tract, affecting first the voluntary muscular system, and then the sensorium; in he former producing paralysis and tetanic convulsions, in the latter vertigo and confusion. Through the nervous irritation there his also produce a peculiar nausea and faintness, and sense of general prostration, which, in connection with the vertigo, gives a condition quite similar to that of seasickness, and either with or without the vertigo assumes a similarity to many nervous and hysterical affections, which is the most essential feature of the drug’s action.
CHARACTERISTIC SYMPTOMS
Mind. Constant sad thoughts; takes no notice of anything but the self. Irresistible inclination to sing. distracted; forgets what he has just through;l memory lost. Anxiety. as if she had committed a great crime (Ign). Very sensitive mood; everything worries (Caps., Nux v.) and offends. Startles very easily (Sepia, Silicea)
Head. Vertigo, as from intoxication (cinch., led., Nux moschata, Pulsatilla, rhus tox.); or with inclination to vomit when rising up in a bed (Bry); must lie down, with dullness, a s if a board were across forehead. Sensation of emptiness and hollowness in. The head Confusion and stupefaction of the head, generally increased bye eating and drinking (Nux v.) Headache with inclination to vomit (ipec., Nux v.). Pressive headache, as if the head were compressed by a bandage, or as if screwed together (Mercurius, Nitr. ac.). Headache, as if the eyes were being torn out. Headache riding in a carriage (Kali carb., Petrol.); in the open air; better during rest and in a warm room. Convulsive trembling of the head from weakness of the muscles of the head from weakness of the muscles of the neck.
Eyes. Dimness of vision. Bruised pain in the eyes, with inability to open the lids at night. eyes close, d with balls constantly rolling about.
Ears. Noise in the ears like the rushing of waters (Chamomilla) with hardness of hearing.
Face. Heat in face, and redness of cheeks (Ferrum). Earthy countenance with painful expression.
Mouth. Swelling and induration of the Submaxillary glands (Calcarea, Iodi., Rhus tox.). Dryness of the mouth (Nux m). Dry tongue, with whitish-yellow coat, without thirst. Nux. m., Pulsatilla). Bitter taste at root of tongue. Metallic taste, with loss of appetite (AEsc., mercurius, Naja). Foamy phlegm before the mouth (cic., Cuprum).
Throat. Dryness of the throat. choking constriction in upper part of throat, which impedes breathing and provokes cough.
Stomach. Extreme aversion to food (ant. crud., Ipecac.), especially acids. Desire for cold drinks, especially beer. Eructations empty, offensive (Arnica, cham., Psorinum); bitter (Arnica, Nux v., Pulsatilla); ineffectual, instead of which there is hiccough. Attacks of nausea increasing to syncope (Tabac) Unusual nausea and inclination to vomit, while riding in a wagon (Nux moschata, Petrol). or from getting cold. Nausea in morning, so that she can scarcely rise. Inclination to vomit associated with headache, with pain in the intestines as it bruised. Violent cramp in stomach; griping, squeezing, lacerating sensation,. Sensation though at worm were moving in the stomach.
Abdomen. Great distention of the abdomen (Aloe., Chamomilla, Cicuta, Cinchona). Emptiness and sensation of hollowness in the abdomen. Constrictive pinching in epigastrium, taking away the breath Spasmodic flatulent colic about midnight; passing flatus without relief; aggravated when coughing. Painful inclination to inguinal hernia alum., Nux. v., Nitr. ac.
Stool and Anus. Counteractive pain in rectum, preventing sitting, afternoons, stool soft, thin, whitish-yellow; hard and difficult evacuations (Alumina, Bryonia, Sulphur).
Female Organs. Menses too early, with cramps in the abdomen, distention, and colic pains. Suppression of menses, with cramps in chest and fainting nausea.. During menses so weak that she can scarcely stand or talk (Ammonium carb., Hydras., Pulsatilla) in place of menses, like serum, mixed with a purulent ichorous liquid. Painful pressure in uterus, with camps in chest, nausea and fainting.
Respiratory Organs. Fatiguing cough from oppression of the chest. Contractive tension of right side of chest. taking the breath. Cramps in chest; also hysterical obstruction of breath at pit of throat, as from constriction (Asafoetida).
Heart. Nervous palpitation of the heat (Asafoetida).
Neck and Back. Weakness of the cervical muscles muscles; unable to support the head (Veratrum alb.). Pressure in scapulae and nape of neck. Painful stiffness in neck when morning in (Chelidonium, Rhus tox.). Paralytic pain in small of back; with spasmodic drawing across hips, preventing walking, with anxiety and fear. Trembling in the back.
Limbs. Painful stiffness in all joints. Paralytic drawing constant and paroxysmal, here and there in the bones. Trembling of a l the limbs (Coni., Gelsemium, Mercurius); worse evening with chilliness. Painful lameness in arms and legs, could scarcely rise from a seat. Feet and hands go to sleep alternately.
Upper Limbs,. Sticking in shoulder joints and muscles of upper arm during rest. forearm sleep and sensational s if he hands were swollen. Trembling of he hands when eating; worse the higher it is raised. ARthritic hot swelling of he hands. Hands numb and sleep; alternately hot and cold.
Lower Limbs. paralytic immobility o he lower limbs. Paralysis of lower limbs from loins down. Knees give way; totters while walking. Inflammatory swelling of the knee, with transient stitches Sole of feet go sleep while sitting.
Generalities. Great weakness so it was difficult to stand firmly;f from slightest exertion with exhausting sweat. Starts easily; inclination to tremble. Restlessness. Attacks of paralytic weakness, with pain in back. Intolerance of open air, whether cold or warm (am. carb., Aurum, Nux v., Petrol, rhus tox., rumex, Sepia Feels too weak to talk aloud (Stannum) Hemiplegia on left side. Paralytic tearing, digging pains in bones, as if beaten. Faintness; on motion, with distortion of facial muscles.
Sleep. Sleeplessness;from night watching;l from business thoughts; from anxiety and restlessness. Sleep unrefreshing (Arnica, Cinchona, Op).
Fever. Alteration of heat and chilliness (Calc c., Mercurius) Burning heat and redness of he cheeks (Aconite,Belladonna).
Aggravation. All the symptoms and pains especially in the head, are aggravated by drinking, eating, sleeping, talking, riding in a carriage, smoking exertion, and to cold.
Conditions. Most often indicted in women and children.
Compare. Antim crud., Argentum,.nit., Arsenicum, Belladonna, cham., Coff c., Pulsatilla, Rhus tox., Silicea, Veratrum alb., Zincum met.
Antidotes. Camph., Chamomilla, Cuprum, Ignatia, Nux-v.
Cocculus antidotes. Alcohol, cham., Cuprum, cupr., Ignatia, Nux v.; while coffee in noxious to it.
THERAPEUTICS.
Cocculus has found its chief sphere of usefulness in the treatment of functional neurosis, but it may be of value in troubles arising from organic changes in the spinal cord, as will be noted later on. Probably the greatest use in the hysterical, and is usually associated with menstrual irregularities, especially menorrhagia, with cramps and flatulent distention of he abdomen, the patient complaining of being so weak that she can warm. Frequently the hysterical is brought on by over-anxiety and night watching with consequent loss of sleep. the weakness referred to is very characteristic of Cocculus. It is not an nature, the being apparently a complete loss of lower in the speech, so that if the patient undertakes to walk the knees give way the she falls powerless, or if she attempts to speak she can barely utter a sound. With all this there is a sort of paralytic and not unusually a sensation of hollowness in one or more due to spinal weakness, and may indicate Cocculus in a variety of nervous troubles arising from spinal diseases, whether that be only spinal anaemia or the grave forms of spinal disease softening or sclerosis. hemiplegia on the left side has been directly produced by Cocculus, and the drug is a most efficient remedy in spinal paralysis if the proper symptoms are present. Neurasthenia or nervous exhaustion. It may also be useful in chorea, epilepsy and other spasmodic affections, arising either from functional or organic causes, and usually occurring in women of weak, nervous temperaments.
Spasms from suppressed menses or prolong loss of sleep. Also melancholia nd other mental disturbances from the same causes. general bad effects from long continued insomnia; often a remedy for nurses after prolonged night watching. Nausea and vomiting are quite characteristic and accompany to some extent almost any disturbance where the drug is indicate, and with he sick stomach there is usually a distressing vertigo. an excellent remedy for nausea accompanying the menses, or for the nausea and vomiting of pregnancy. Nausea and vertigo from the motion of a carriage, swing or ship probably our most valuable remedy for car-sickness and sea-sickness (petrol). sick headache in nervous women, especially when brought on by attempting to read while riding in the cars; pain from occiput down the spine, etc. An excellent remedy in flatulent cold of nervous women, especially when accompanying menstrual troubles, or drying pregnancy. the abdomen is greatly distended,. even tympanitic. This tympanitic may indicate cocculus, or during pregnancy. The abdomen is greatly distended, even tympanitic. This tympanitis may indicate cocculus in nervous types of fever, where there is also great prostration, tendency to faint, nausea, vertigo, etc. Cocculus is said to cure hernia, both inguinal and umbilical, and to prevent the same when a weak feeling in the abdomen indicates that a hernia may take place, through the symptom is probably of a purely nervous character. Dyspepsia. Gastralgia from suppression of the menses Menorrhagia; dysmenorrhoea; amenorrhoea, leucorrhoea in place of he menses. Other symptoms as already noted. Cocculus is also used in intermittent and other malarial fevers where the characteristic symptoms of weakness, vertigo, nausea, faintness, flatulence, etc., predominate and especially when the disease occurs in nervous subjects.
ALLEN CORSON COWPERTHWAITE was born at Cape May, New Jersey, May 3, 1848, son of Joseph C. and Deborah (Godfrey) Cowperthwaite. He attended medical lectures at the University of Iowa in 1867-1868, and was graduated from the Hahnemann Medical College of Philadelphia in 1869. He practiced his profession first in Illinois, and then in Nebraska. In 1877 he became Dean and Professor of Materia Medica in the recently organized Homeopathic Department of the State University of Iowa, holding the position till 1892. In 1884 he accepted the chair of Materia Medica, Pharmacology, and Clinical Medicine in the Homeopathic Medical College of the University of Michigan. He removed to Chicago in 1892, and became Professor of Materia Medica and Therapeutics in the Chicago Homeopathic Medical College. From 1901 he also served as president of that College. He is the author of various works, notably "Insanity in its Medico-Legal Relations" (1876), "A Textbook of Materia Medica and Therapeutics" (1880), of "Gynecology" (1888), and of "The Practice of Medicine " (1901).