COLCHICUM AUTUMNALE

Action of Medicine:

Colchicum affects markedly muscles, fibrous tissue, serous membranes, joints, especially the small ones. Stitching, jerking, drawing pains in muscles, periosteum and joints. Colchicum has specific power of relieving the gouty paroxysms. The parts are red, hot, swollen. Tearing pains, worse in the evening and at night and from touch, stubbing the toes hurts exceedingly. Uric acid diathesis, the sediment being pale yellow and rather like fine flour than sand. Also, urine black as ink, urine loaded with albumen and casts. There is the irritability and aversion to touch so common in gout, pain in small joints and especially the great toes. Affects the periosteum and synovial membranes of joints. The stomach is acutely disordered, nausea and vomiting. Nausea at thought, sight or smell of food, especially of cooking is a characteristic symptom. It causes extreme relaxation of the muscular system, the head falls forward on the chest or falls back when the patient is raised from the pillow, arms fall helpless by the side. There is great prostration, internal coldness and a tendency to collapse. Effects of night watching and overstudy. Shocks as from electricity through one half of body. Bad effects from suppressed sweat. Dreams of mice. Dysentery. Many joints are affected at the same time. Small, rapidly shifting areas of severe pain, but little swelling. Tingling, crawling, Pains are tearing, digging, drawing. Pains, worse by mental exertion and emotions, slightest touch and vibrations.

References:Boericke’s New Manual of Homoeopathic Materia Medica with Repertory