📖 Cinchona Officinalis (HMT) Introduction

Cinchona 261 China is prepared from the Cinchona tree. The well-known anti- malarial medicine quinine is prepared from the bark of the same tree. In homoeopathy, this is called Ci nchona but it is more commonly known as China. An effective and useful medicine, it is extremely beneficial to annul the bad aftereffects of malaria. It is used in the majority of malaria cases. Cinchona overcomes the symptoms of malarial fever, which it suppresses. In most malarial patients, the symptoms continue to exist in a suppressed form. These after effects and suppressed symptoms of malaria are amenable to treatment with homoeopathic China. Sometimes, it can be useful in the treatment of malaria fever as such. Normally in the cold weather, one does not feel too thirsty. But when intense thirst is felt in cold weather and fever becomes high, the patient feels thirst y again. In this particular symptom, probably the best treatment would be China. It has been repeatedly said that in the case of mala ria, no medicine should be given when the fever is coming on. The best time to administer medicine is when the feve r is subsiding or has subsided or there is an onset of a new attack of fever. After the malarial attack, the malarial parasites settle in the liver. Thus the ideal time to administer medicine is when the ma larial parasites are on their way to settle in the liver. Most of them will be destroyed with treatment but if some happen to survive, they will definitely become weakened. Similarly, the treatment should be repeated after the next episode of fever. The statement I have made seems philosophical, but it is a hard fact that I have personally obser ved time and time again, and many other homoeopaths will agree with me. China is also very useful in curing the weakness and other side effects of malarial fever . Its patient is very sensitive to touch. Movement aggravates his condition. Cold air is unbearable. All the nerves happen to become very exc itable. Mental fatigue and physical weakness are typical signs of China. The patient becomes extremely irritable, careless, depressed and bad-tempered. He cannot concentrate. While talking to others, the conversation is often interrupted. The associated severe headache that spreads down the Cinchona 262 neck feels better by applying pressure and in a warm room. There is a feeling of throbbing over the forehe ad. The patient does not tolerate light pressure, yet at the same time he feels relief by deep pressure. Touch, a draft of air and a thump of anything aggravate the headache. Darkish blue rings form around the eyes. Due to the affliction of the liver, the eyes become yellow and f eel heavy. Vision becomes dim, and temporary blindness may also ensue. Digestion is slowed down . Fruit and sour food hurt the stomach. Food is not digested properly. Th e abdomen distends. China would be ideal to treat the inflammation of liver and spleen with jaundice and pain at the gall bladder area, if the patient’s constitution matches that of China. In this condition, Ch ina 30 should be used continuously over a long period. The China patient has a tendency to bleed. There is bleeding from the throat, nose and uterus , which is also associated with cramps. Periods start before their due time. Leucorrhoeal discharge is mixed with blood. China would be an important remedy during childbirth when labour pains stop due to blee ding and convulsions start, if the other symptoms of the patient are also of the nature of China. Post- partum bleeding continues for a longer period and smells foul. The arms and legs of a China patient hurt as if sprained and jolted. The tonic contractions of the mu scles, like epilepsy, and the paralytic weakness of the affected part is also a symptom of China. There is a rush of blood towards the head, ringing in the ears and blackout in the eyes. In the stat e of commotion, the patient becomes unconscious. The patient feels restle ss and sleepless due to weakness after losing blood. In women, afte r bleeding and due to nursing the child, anaemia develops. They sweat at night. The skin feels cold. One hand feels cold and the other wa rm. The hands and feet of China feel weak and shaky. The gums swell and the teeth become loose, resulting in a severe pain on chewing , as if the teeth have become too long. Taste is bitter. Food also feels bitter or ex tremely salty in taste. Thereby, the patient hates food. Milk upsets the stomach. The associated chronic form of diarrhoea is aggravated at night. Unlike China, the diarrhoea of Petroleum starts during the day and stops before the night sets in. Cinchona 263 In China, the abdomen becomes distended but the flatus does not smell. This particular symptom is saliently described in homoeopathic books. Adjuvants: Ferrum Phos, Calcaria Phos Antidotes: Arnica, Arsenic, Nux Vomica, Ipecac Potency: Generally 30; otherwise 200 or 1000