📖 Colchicum (HMT) Introduction

This medicine is prepared from th e flowers of wildly growing saffron (in the midst of green meadows). Its most salient effects are on a severe kind of gout associated wi th fleeting joint pains, a strong sensation of nausea from th e smell of food and severe abdominal cramps. The patient suffers from severe offensive diarrhoea. All the symptoms intensify on the stoppage of excretions from the body. The symptoms worsen in the cold and damp weather, especially if the urinary output decreases due to kidney dysfunction or when sweating stops due to some external causes. The symptoms also aggravate in very dry, hot weather. The sympto ms of gout may appear inside the eyes and on the teeth, more so wh en the deposits of gouty material settle on the gums. This in general is the introductio n of Colchicum. Now we will describe its symptoms related to th e individual organs of the body as follows: The face : The face becomes swollen, the skin feels tingly. The cheeks become red and sweaty. The temperament is of anger, like Chamomilla. The stomach: Regarding the disorder of the stomach, the tongue burns and the teeth ache. The mouth is dry with the feeling of intense thirst. The smell of food, especial ly that of fish being cooked can cause severe nausea, so much so that the patient becomes unconscious. The stomach either feels very hot or extremely cold. The abdomen: The abdomen becomes distended with wind due to severe intestinal cramping. The extreme type of distension in the abdomen is found in cattle like cows, buffalo, sheep and horses (after they have been fed fodder containing Hydrocyanic Acid). When a similarly severe distension is found in human bodies, a few pellets of Colchicum in homoeopathic from will actually work like magic. The effect is so apparent and certain that even the staunch opponent of homoeopathy cannot deny it. The kind of severe abdominal distension mentioned above compels the farmer to call for a veterinary surgeon to pierce the abdomen of the animal with a knife to let out the air, but most often the animal is alwa ys at the point of death. It has to be immediately slaughtered before it dies. Unfortunately, the scientists of today still cannot unde rstand the effec tiveness of this remedy in potency 200 or 100 which practically does not contain any material substance of the medicine, but produces an undeniably certain effect. The back: There is pain in the lower part of the back radiating down to both the hips. The pain feels be tter on resting or on applying local pressure. The skin: Rosy red spots form over th e skin and there is tendency towards urticaria. In addition to severe abdominal distension and cramping, the patient passes jelly-like discharge with the stools and this is associated with tenesmus. Such patients commonly suffer from dysentery in the autumn season. The stools contain large pieces of the broken down inner lining of the intestin es in the form of small pieces of tape. There is paralysis of the functio n of the large gut, which is of temporary nature. This results in th e inability to excrete in spite of feeling the urge. As the patient st rains himself without success, other physical means need be adopted to relieve the constipation. Rheumatic pains develop in the hands, feet, arms and the legs affecting mostly the joints. The rheumatic pains are fleeting in nature and become worse at night. The ty pical gout involves the big toe and the surrounding soft tissue. Th e overlying skin becomes wet, markedly swollen, shiny and hypersen sitive to touch, even the touch of cloth over it. Such patients cu t their shoes around the big toe to keep it exposed so that the pain does not aggravate too much while walking. The urine: When the urine becomes scan ty and is of deep brown colour mixed with blood, the joint pains become greatly aggravated. The heart: If the diarrhoea is attempted to be suppressed with strong allopathic medicines, the heart may be afflicted and difficulty in breathing will ensue. Potency: 30 or 200 but some homoeopaths use it in potency 3.