CAUSTICUM

  
CAUSTICUM
Hahnemann’s Tinctura acris sine Kali

Manifests its action mainly 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.–

Child does not want to go to bed alone. Least thing
makes it cry. Sad, hopeless. Intensely sympathetic.
Ailments from long-lasting grief, sudden emotions. Thinking of complaints, aggravates,
especially hćmorrhoids.

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). Leucorrhśa 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.