Caulophyllum.
Caulophyllum thalictroides. Blue Cohosh. Squaw Root. N. O. Berberidaceć.
Tincture or trituration of root.Clinical.─
Abortion, threatened. After-pains.
Amenorrhśa. Barrenness. Bearing-down pains. Chloasma. Cholera morbus. Dysmenorrhśa. False
conception. Feet, affections of. Gonorrhśa. Hands, affections of. Inframammary pain. Labour,
abnormal; false pains of. Leucorrhśa. Menstruation,
disorders of. Ovarian neuralgia. Pityriasis. Pregnancy,
disorders of. Rheumatic gout. Rheumatism. Uterine spasm. Uterine atony.
Characteristics.─
Caulophyllum,
“the Blue Cohosh,” is closely related to Actea racem.,
“the Black Cohosh,” in its action, though belonging to a different family of
plants. It acts most markedly on the female generative organs and on rheumatic states. It
has only had one proving, that by Dr. Burt, the majority of the indications having been
derived from tradition and clinical experience. It has been given with success for chloasma
or pityriasis versicolor, curing incidentally dysmenia at the same time. Reflex symptoms
having a uterine origin; headache; vomiting; hoarseness; rheumatism; cramps and spasms. No
other drug produces uterine spasms so markedly except Secale.
Bearing-down pains. Paraplegia from disorders of the uterus. Left ovarian and left
inframammary pains. Leucorrhśa in little girls. The pains are intermittent and paroxysmal,
and fly about from place to place; generally < at
night. Great nervous excitement; tremulous weakness over whole body. Can scarcely speak.
Sleepless, restless, nervous; recalling the effects of coffee, which is incompatible with
it. In rheumatic affections the special sphere of Caulo.
is the small joints and muscles. Its action on the muscular tissue of the uterus (whether
gravid or not) is to cause intermittent spasms or contractions (differing from the
continuous contractions of Secale). Its special sphere
in labour is: (1) when pains do not come regularly; (2) when they disappear from exhaustion; and (3) when they are too painful. Nash prescribed Caul. 3 for a lady of forty, seven months pregnant, who was
attacked with severe pain and swelling of all the finger-joints; wrapping them in mustard
was the only thing that relieved her sufficiently to allow her to get sleep. Caul. relieved
the finger pains, but caused such severe labour-like pains that it had to be discontinued
for fear of causing miscarriage. The bearing-down then ceased, and the finger pains returned
and continued till delivery, when they ceased for a few days. Then the lochia increased to a
flooding─passive, dark, liquid; with great weakness and internal trembling (not visible externally); and now the terrible
finger pains returned. Afraid to give Caulo., other
remedies were tried, but in vain. At last Nash gave Caulo.
200, which rapidly cleared up the whole case. Nash regards “internal trembling” as
a strong characteristic when associated with the weakness; he has cured long-continued
passive hćmorrhage associated with these symptoms.
Relations.─
Compare:
Gels. in dysmenia (it is like Gels., and follows it well); Puls. in labour-pains, but the
mental condition is opposite; Act. r.; Bell. in intermittent and paroxysmal pains; Calc.
(Leucorrhśa in little girls); Lil. t., Lach., Sul., Ustil., and Vib. o. in left ovarian and
inframammary pains; Mag. mur. in uterine spasms; Bry. in rheumatism; Secale, Sep., Gossyp.
SYMPTOMS.
1. Mind.─
Fretful; irritable; apprehensive.
2. Head.─
Headache; from uterine or spinal
troubles; over l. eye; pressure behind eye; severe by spells; <
stooping; from light; from noon till night.
6. Face.─
“Moth spots” on forehead; with
leucorrhśa.
11. Stomach.─
Frequent gulping of sour, bitter
fluid with vertigo; spasmodic vomiting.─Spasms of stomach from uterine
irritations.
13. Stool.─
Stool, soft white.─Watery
stools, great quantity, runs a perfect stream from bowels, but no pain; 1 a.m.
15. Male Sexual Organs.─
Every few minutes sharp,
stinging pains in glans penis.
16. Female Sexual Organs.─
Tension and fulness in
hypogastrium; sensation as if uterus congested.─Spasmodic pains in
uterus.─Painful menstruation; spasmodic, intermittent pains in bladder,
stomach, groins, even chest and limbs; congestion and irritability of uterus; scanty flow.─Before
menses: pain in small of back; great aching and soreness of lower limbs; bad breath; bitter
taste; vertigo; chilliness; flow very scanty; blood very light; with intense nausea and
vomiting of yellow bitter matter; pain unremitting for several hours; habitual cold feet
became warm under the remedy.─Amenorrhśa, spasms, cramps or great
atony.─Hysteric convulsions during dysmenorrhśa.─Leucorrhśa
sharp, acrid, very weakening; with heavy eyelids; of profuse bland mucus; in little girls;
with forcing-down pains; with sterility.─Threatened abortion; spasmodic
bearing-down; severe pain in back and loins, but uterine contractions feeble.─Habitual
abortion from uterine atony.─Spasmodic rigidity of os; pain like
pricking needles in cervix.─Labour-pains short, irregular, spasmodic,
patient very weak and irritable.─Weak labour-pains passing off with a
shiver.─After-pains.─False conception.─Hćmorrhage.
17. Respiratory Organs.─
Hoarseness and loss of
voice.─Panting breathing.
20, 21. Neck, Back, and Limbs.─
Rheumatic
stiffness of nape.─Severe drawing insterno-cleido-mastoid drawing head
to left.─Dull pains in lumbar region.─Rheumatic,
drawing, flying pains in limbs; in hands; thighs, knees, ankles, feet and toes.─Severe
drawing pain in wrists and fingers.─Cutting in joints when closing
hands.─Fingers very stiff.─Joints crack walking or
turning.─Paraplegia.® 2000
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