SPHERE OF ACTION
This is a cerebro-spinal remedy, selecting for its special centre of action the motor tract of the spinal cord. Dr. Hughes says, the testimony of those who have experienced its effects, is that it influences the voluntary muscles, rather than the intellectual powers; with this Hahnemann’s provings entirely agree. I think that the whole range of its curative action becomes intelligible, if we suppose it to influence the motor tract of the cranio-spinal axis from the corpora striata to the cauda equina.
This ultimate effect of Cocculus upon the spinal cord, appears to diminish its irritability, so that while convulsions are produced in acute poisoning by the drug, paralytic symptoms abound in the continued experiments of the provers. Prof. Hempel says: Cocculus acts upon the spinal system of nerves, causing even paralysis of the motor nerves and tetanic convulsions.
Pereira says: It acts rather on the voluntary muscles than on the intellectual powers.
Through the spinal nerves it affects the genito-urinary organs, and skin.
In Uterine Affections, one of the most prominent symptoms is weakness, so called by the patient, but better expressed by the words languor, lassitude, inertness, or general sense of prostration, as if it were impossible to make any exertion. This is caused by nervous prostration, or paralysis of animal life, from its specific action upon the cerebro-spinal nervous system.
No remedy in the materia medica has this symptom more marked, and I would call particular attention to this fact, (see Stannum, and Carbo animalis).
GRAND CHARACTERISTICS.
She feels too weak to talk aloud.
Always worse for a while after eating, drinking, or talking,.
In the morning or during menstruation, she is scarcely able to raise herself in the bed, from nausea and an inclination to vomit, it makes her so faint,.
Adapted to hysterical and spasmodic diseases that have their origin in the motor tract of the cranio-spinal axis, from the corpora striata to; the cauda equina. Especially suited to women and nervous children, of lively turn of mind, troubled with imaginary fears.
Head.-Violent headache; unable to lie on the back of the head; is forced to lie on the side; unable to bear the least light; noise excites vomiting.
Head and face hot, feet cold.
Roaring in the ears, as though there were shells before them.
Sadness, irascibility, anxiety; tendency to start, especially at night.-TESTE.
Vertigo increased by sitting up in bed, or by the motion of a carriage.-MARCY AND HUNT.
Trembling of the head: very nervous.
Paroxysms of vertigo, with nausea.-TESTE.
Vertigo, as if from intoxication.-JAHR.
Painful concussion of the brain when walking, when moving the head, or when talking.-JAHR.
The symptoms of the head are all aggravated by talking, laughing, crying, walking, smoking, or drinking coffee.-DOUGLAS.
One of the best palliatives for the cerebral form of sick headache, where the vomiting is plainly secondary.
Digestive Organs.-Choking constriction in the fauces, with difficulty in breathing, and irritable cough.
Burning in the oesophagus extending into the fauces, with a taste of sulphur.
Nausea, even to faintness, with deprivation of nervous strength, with no disturbance of the vegetative sphere.
Sea-sickness, where the affection is from cerebral irritation.-TESTE.
Violent nausea during a ride in a carriage.
Nausea, resembling sea-sickness; as if the stomach heaved up and down; often brought on by looking at a vessel pitching up.
Nausea, and on sitting up the objects around seem to move up and down.
Flatulent colic at midnight.
Abdomen distended and feeling as if full of sharp stones when moving.
Diarrhoea only in the daytime.
Hard stool, expelled every other day with great difficulty.
Generative Organs of Women.-Profuse menses, with sensation of sharp stones in the abdomen on motion.
Menstrual colic; the pains are of a spasmodic, irregular character.
Dysmenorrhoea, always followed by hemorrhoids.
This is a trump card for dysmenorrhoea, with severe spasmodic pains in the neck of the uterus with great debility.
Labor pains are of a spasmodic, irregular, paralytic character; has one hard pain, then several light ones.
Spasms of pregnant women, with great weakness, so much so that she can hardly talk, with much flatulency.
The condition of the nervous system, set up by menstruation and pregnancy, appears especially favorable to the action of Cocculus.
Chest.-Irritation, and dryness of the larynx, with dry cough.
Dry, fatiguing cough, owing to the dyspnoea that accompanies it.-TESTE.
Generalities.-The arm and thigh cannot be moved in their joints on account of pain.
Paralysis from functional disorder of the cord on one side of the body.
Much paralytic pain in the small of the back.
Paralysis from diphtheria; in nervous, hysterical subjects.
In progressive locomotor ataxy, it is of great value.
Especially adapted to inflammation of the lumbar portion of the cord, less to such portion that are near the brain.-BAEHR.
Specific for body lice, used topically.
(1836-1897)
Characteristic materia medica Published 1873
Physiological materia medica, containing all that is known of the physiological action of our remedies; together with their characteristic indications and pharmacology. Published 1881