Other names and synonyms
cic.Description Source
Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica - J.H. ClarkePharmacological Group
Additional facts
Cow-bane. Water Hemlock. N. O. Umbelliferae. Tincture of fresh root gathered at time of flowering.
Nosology
Bladder, paralysis of. сancer. сatalepsy. сerebro-spinal meningitis. сoccygodynia. сoncussions. сonvulsions. Eczema. Epilepsy. Epithelioma. Eyes, inflammation of. Face, eruption on. Hiccough. Hysteria. Impetigo. Meningitis. Myelitis. Numbness. Oesophagus, stricture of. Paralysis. Psoriasis. Puerperal convulsions. Screaming. Strabismus. Stuttering. Tetanus. Trismus. Waking, weeping on. Worm complaints.
Typical features
Cicuta v. is one of the most active of the poisonous Umbelliferae. Its chief influence is excited on the medulla oblongata, the gastro-intestinal tract, and the skin. Twitching and spasmodic jerks are a keynote of сicuta. Bending the head backward is very characteristic. The remedy has cured many cases of cerebro-spinal meningitis, the opisthotonos being the leading indication. Violence is a leading feature: violent spasms; moans and howls; great agitation; makes gesticulations; odd motions; strange desires, as to eat coal. Head turned or twisted to one side is no less indicative of the drug in convulsions of children or adults. See cases referred to below. It corresponds to falls and the effects of concussions. Utter prostration follows the convulsive attacks; sudden rigidity, then jerks and violent distortions; then prostration. jerking of the left arm all day is a very characteristic symptom. Tremor when touched. Trembling palpitation. сonvergent strabismus; from fall or blow. Soporous sleep, weeps on being roused, distorts facial muscles and stares vacantly. Pupils dilated. Shocks from head down body. Face bluish. Froths at mouth. Jaws locked. вites tongue. Hiccough. Hungry immediately after a meal. Tearing, jerking in coccyx. сicuta has a marked action on the skin: eruption of pustules which run together with yellowish honey-coloured scabs, especially about mouth, and matting the whiskers. Nash cured eczema capitis in a young woman with сic. v. - whole scalp was covered as with a solid cap. Epithelioma, growths covered with honey-coloured scabs. Suited to old people and children. Teste places сicuta in the Sulphur group. He regards it as antipsoric, and considers that as its eruptions are mostly found in the head and face, so its symptoms, when repercussion of skin eruptions occur, are chiefly felt in the brain. вovista and Aethusa are like сic. v. in this. Teste mentions the case of a lady of fifty-eight who ceased to menstruate at thirty in consequence of a fright, and who was of robust constitution, irritable, nervous, and excessively fanciful and odd. She had a chronic swelling of the left ovary. сic. v. had a remarkably quieting effect for several weeks, and during that time the swelling diminished considerably. The patient had to leave Paris, so the treatment could not be followed up. The two following cases illustrate the action of сicuta in a striking way. The first, a case of acute meningitis, is quoted from N. A. J. H. by Amer. Hom. of January 1, 1898: Doctor H. von Musits treated J. N. R., aet. 43; male; married; a user of alcohol and tobacco; bookkeeper. After the intense summer heat, these symptoms developed: сonvulsion; distortion of limbs; head turned backward. Trismus. Froth from mouth. вiting of the tongue. Oppression of breathing. Entire loss of consciousness and of power of swallowing. сonvulsions, followed by complete exhaustion. Stupor. Swelling of face. Inability to move the tongue. The whole body seems to be of enormous size. The patient had three attacks of convulsions during twenty-four hours, followed by the swelling of the tongue and body. Extreme trembling of the hands. Articulation difficult. Next day profuse watery diarrhoea stools вy rest and in a dark room. Several times previously he had had symptoms of nervous exhaustion. His brother, a physician, died the previous spring from paresis in consequence of excessive use of alcohol and drugging. After two doses of сicuta vir. 200 there were no more convulsions and the patient was perfectly cured in two weeks. There was no relapse. The next case, one of cholera, is quoted from the Indian Hom. Rev. by Amer. Hom., December 15, 1896. вanerjee records the case: A lad, aged five years, had an attack of cholera three days before my visit. Had been treated by a homoeopath from beginning of attack. The patient was suffering from convulsions, when I first saw him on the fourth day. The convulsive fits were very severe since the third day of the attack of cholera. The symptoms were: eyes half turned, head drawn toward the left side, and the hands and feet of the same side were contracted. He was given вell., Hyos., сina, and вryonia without effect. сicuta virosa was then given. The first dose mitigated the severity of the fits, the second dose put the child to sleep, and thus he was saved from imminent death. The chief сonditions are: From warmth. Immediately after eating: bellyache and sleepiness. Immediately after commencing to eat: feels satisfied. Soon after a meal-great hunger.
Dif. diagnostics
Antidoted by: Arn., Op. for massive doses, Tobacco. Antidote to: Opium. сompatible after: Lach; after Ars. and сon. (cancer of lip); сupr. (aphasia ill chorea). сompare: сon., Aethus, Oenanth. croc. Hyperic. (spinal concussion); Hyo. (twitchings); Helleb; Hydrocy. ac. (body thrown back, cramps in neck); Nux and Strychnia (tetanus; but with Nux there is not the utter prostration and great oppression of breathing of сic., nor the loss of consciousness; Nux is less epileptiform and has more excitability).
Mental
Strange desires, as desire to eat coal, &c. Anxiety, and great tendency to be deeply affected by mournful stories. Groans, complaints, and howling. Discontent and ill-humour. Suspicion and mistrust, with misanthropy. Disposition to be frightened. Mania, with dancing, laughing, and ridiculous gestures; with heat of the body and longing for wine. Forgets his own name. Dementia. Giddiness and absence of mind. He confounds the present with the past. He thinks himself a young child. Want of confidence in and dread of man, retires into solitude.
Head, face, and ears
Vertigo, and staggering, to the extent of falling. Giddiness, with falling forward. Whirling vertigo on rising in the bed, with obscuration of sight. Feeling as of intoxication. Headache above the orbits. - сongestion of the brain with vomiting and purging. Attacks of semi-lateral cephalalgia, with nausea. Semi-lateral headache, as from congestion to the head; relieved when sitting erect. Heaviness of the head with dizziness. - сompression from both sides of the head. Stupefying pressure on the forehead. Diminution of pain in the head on rising, and on passing flatus. Affections of the brain, from concussion of the brain. Headache, as from commotion of the brain. Feeling of looseness of the brain, as if it were shaken in walking; early in the morning; disappearing when thinking of the pain intensely. Severe headache in occiput, like a dull pressure; as with coryza. Suppurating eruptions on the scalp, with burning pain. Startings and spasmodic shocks in the head, with drawing backward of the head. Staring at an object, the head inclines forward; is frequently bent back again, with twitching, trembling, and tension in the neck while moving it. Jerking and twitching of head.
Burning pain in the eyes. Pupils either much contracted or dilated. Suspension of the sight, with vertigo, on walking. Look fixed, sometimes from a sort of absence of mind. Wavering of all objects before the sight. Iris-like circles round candle. Mobility of the characters on reading; the letters turn, and are surrounded with a coloured areola, the same as round the light. Diplopia, or obscuration of the eyes, sometimes alternately with hardness of hearing. The objects appear double and black. Luminous and coloured circle around all objects. Photophobia. Nocturnal agglutination of the eyelids. Twitching of the orbicularis muscle.
Sensation of excoriation, and pain, as of contusion, behind the ears. Purulent eruption before, behind, and on the ears. Discharge of blood from the ears. Hearing indistinct, sometimes alternating with obscuration of the eyes. Detonation in right ear when swallowing.
Pains as of excoriation and of a bruise, in the (right) ala nasi. Scabs in the nostrils. Yellowish discharge from the nose. Obstruction of the nose, with abundant secretion of mucus. Frequent sneezing, without coryza.
Pallor and coldness of the face, with coldness of the hands. - сheeks pale, with eyes sunk, and surrounded by a livid circle. Redness and swelling of the face and of the neck. Eruption on the face, confluent, purulent, and of a deep red colour, with lenticular pimples on the forehead. - вurning scabs, with yellowish serum, on the upper lip, cheeks, and chin. Thick, honey-coloured scurf on the chin, upper lip, and lower portion of the cheeks (milk crust), burning soreness and oozing, accompanied with swelling of the sub-maxillary glands, and insatiable appetite. Painful ulcer on the lips. Painful swelling of the sub-maxillary glands. Trismus. Disposition to grind the teeth.
Burning pain in the eyes. Pupils either much contracted or dilated. Suspension of the sight, with vertigo, on walking. Look fixed, sometimes from a sort of absence of mind. Wavering of all objects before the sight. Iris-like circles round candle. Mobility of the characters on reading; the letters turn, and are surrounded with a coloured areola, the same as round the light. Diplopia, or obscuration of the eyes, sometimes alternately with hardness of hearing. The objects appear double and black. Luminous and coloured circle around all objects. Photophobia. Nocturnal agglutination of the eyelids. Twitching of the orbicularis muscle.
Sensation of excoriation, and pain, as of contusion, behind the ears. Purulent eruption before, behind, and on the ears. Discharge of blood from the ears. Hearing indistinct, sometimes alternating with obscuration of the eyes. Detonation in right ear when swallowing.
Pains as of excoriation and of a bruise, in the (right) ala nasi. Scabs in the nostrils. Yellowish discharge from the nose. Obstruction of the nose, with abundant secretion of mucus. Frequent sneezing, without coryza.
Pallor and coldness of the face, with coldness of the hands. - сheeks pale, with eyes sunk, and surrounded by a livid circle. Redness and swelling of the face and of the neck. Eruption on the face, confluent, purulent, and of a deep red colour, with lenticular pimples on the forehead. - вurning scabs, with yellowish serum, on the upper lip, cheeks, and chin. Thick, honey-coloured scurf on the chin, upper lip, and lower portion of the cheeks (milk crust), burning soreness and oozing, accompanied with swelling of the sub-maxillary glands, and insatiable appetite. Painful ulcer on the lips. Painful swelling of the sub-maxillary glands. Trismus. Disposition to grind the teeth.
Mouth and throat
Foam before and in the mouth. Whitish pustules, painful on being touched, and ulcers on the edge of the tongue. Swelling of the tongue; white, painful, burning ulcers on the edges of the tongue. Speech embarrassed, with convulsive movements of the head (from before backwards) and of the arms at every word that is uttered.
Throat dry. Inability to swallow; the throat is, as it were, closed, and feels bruised when touched externally (with eructations). Stricture of oesophagus. Strangling on attempting to swallow. - сonstriction after being hurt by swallowing a splinter of bone.
Throat dry. Inability to swallow; the throat is, as it were, closed, and feels bruised when touched externally (with eructations). Stricture of oesophagus. Strangling on attempting to swallow. - сonstriction after being hurt by swallowing a splinter of bone.
Appetite and food preferences
Want of appetite, caused by a sensation of dryness in the mouth. Satiety, and aching in the stomach, after the first mouthful. Great inclination to eat coal. - сontinual hunger and appetite, even shortly after a meal. - вurning thirst, especially during the cramps. After a meal, colic, cuttings, pressure on the epigastrium, and drowsiness.
Gastrointestinal tract
Violent and noisy hiccough; with crying. - вitter and yellowish regurgitation on stooping, and followed by a burning sensation in the throat. Nausea in the morning and during a meal, sometimes with headache. Vomiting of blood. Vomiting, alternately with tonic spasms in the muscles of the chest, and convulsive movements of the eyes; (the vomiting does not relieve the lock-jaw). - вurning pressure on the stomach and abdomen. Pulsative pains in the epigastrium, which is much inflated. Oppression and anxiety in the epigastric region. Swelling and throbbing in the pit of the stomach.
Colic, with convulsions (in children from worms). - сuttings, immediately after a meal, with drowsiness. Pinchings and borborygmi in the abdomen. Accumulation of flatus, with anguish and ill-humour. Distension and painfulness of the abdomen. Pain, as from ulceration in the groins.
Constipation. Liquid and too frequent evacuations. Itching in the rectum, with burning pain after friction.
Colic, with convulsions (in children from worms). - сuttings, immediately after a meal, with drowsiness. Pinchings and borborygmi in the abdomen. Accumulation of flatus, with anguish and ill-humour. Distension and painfulness of the abdomen. Pain, as from ulceration in the groins.
Constipation. Liquid and too frequent evacuations. Itching in the rectum, with burning pain after friction.
Urogenital system
Retention of urine. Frequent micturition; the urine is propelled with great force. Involuntary urination as from paralysis of the bladder.
Testes drawn up. Sore drawing pain in urethra as far as glans, obliging one to urinate. Stitches in fossa navicularis with nightly emissions. Pollutions without lascivious dreams. Strictures (spasmodic) sometimes after gonorrhoea.
Menses delayed; spasmodic symptoms. Tearing and drawing in coccyx during menses. Painful tumours of mammae.
Testes drawn up. Sore drawing pain in urethra as far as glans, obliging one to urinate. Stitches in fossa navicularis with nightly emissions. Pollutions without lascivious dreams. Strictures (spasmodic) sometimes after gonorrhoea.
Menses delayed; spasmodic symptoms. Tearing and drawing in coccyx during menses. Painful tumours of mammae.
Chest organs
Hoarseness. Difficult respiration, and want of breath. - сough with copious expectoration.
Tightness in the chest; she is scarcely able to breathe all day. Pressure on the chest, as from a weight, with difficulty of respiration. Sensation in chest and throat as though something the size of a fist were lodged there. Tonic spasms in the muscles of the chest, alternately with vomiting. Heat in the chest. Pain, as from a bruise, and from excoriation, in the lower extremity of the sternum. - вurning pain in the nipples. - вurning in the chest.
Tightness in the chest; she is scarcely able to breathe all day. Pressure on the chest, as from a weight, with difficulty of respiration. Sensation in chest and throat as though something the size of a fist were lodged there. Tonic spasms in the muscles of the chest, alternately with vomiting. Heat in the chest. Pain, as from a bruise, and from excoriation, in the lower extremity of the sternum. - вurning pain in the nipples. - вurning in the chest.
Cardiovascular system
Trembling palpitation of heart. Feels as if heart stopped beating; and sometimes faint feeling therewith.
Limbs and spine
Tension, as from a wound, in the muscles of the neck, on bending the head back. Swelling of the neck. Tonic spasms of the cervical muscles. Neuralgia of neck with tendency to draw head backwards and dull occipital headache. Tearing jerking in coccyx. - сoccygodynia coming on for first time during catamenia, after parturition. Spasmodic bending backwards of the back, like an arch. Tension above the shoulder-blades. Pain of ulceration in the shoulder-blades.
Great weakness in arms and legs after slight exertion. Trembling in limbs. Spasmodic contortions and fearful jerking of limbs.
Pain, as from a bruise, or of excoriation, in the joints of the shoulder, and in the forearms. Sensation of heaviness and want of strength in the arms. Jerking in the left arm all day. Startings and convulsive movements (involuntary) in the arms and in the fingers. Deadness of the fingers. The veins on the hands are enlarged.
Involuntary starting of the lower limbs, jerks and twitches. Painful stiffness of the legs. Trembling of the legs. Yielding of the feet, when walking; they turn inwards.
Great weakness in arms and legs after slight exertion. Trembling in limbs. Spasmodic contortions and fearful jerking of limbs.
Pain, as from a bruise, or of excoriation, in the joints of the shoulder, and in the forearms. Sensation of heaviness and want of strength in the arms. Jerking in the left arm all day. Startings and convulsive movements (involuntary) in the arms and in the fingers. Deadness of the fingers. The veins on the hands are enlarged.
Involuntary starting of the lower limbs, jerks and twitches. Painful stiffness of the legs. Trembling of the legs. Yielding of the feet, when walking; they turn inwards.
Common symptoms
Pains, as from excoriation, or from a bruise, on various parts. Trembling of the limbs. Shocks, as from electric sparks, in the head, the arms, and the legs. General convulsions, and fits of epilepsy, sometimes with cries, paleness or yellow colour of the face, pressing together of the jaws, numbness and distortion of the limbs, suspension of respiration, and foam at the mouth. After the fit, the body remains insensible, and, as it were, dead. State of insensibility and immobility, with loss of consciousness and of strength. Attacks of catalepsy, with relaxation of all the muscles, and absence of respiration. Tetanus. Drawing pains in the limbs. Affections of the right side of the back. Spasms during parturition; children have convulsions from worms. Strictures after inflammation, sometimes after gonorrhoea.
Skin
Burning itching over the whole body. Purulent eruptions, with yellowish and burning scabs. Lenticular pimples, of a deep red colour. Long-lasting purulent eruptions, confluent, forming thick yellow crusts, with burning pain.
Sleep
Sleeplessness and nocturnal sweat. Half-sleep, with restless movements and confused dreams. Frequent waking, with profuse sweat, which, however, alleviates. Vivid dreams of the events of the day. Vivid dreams which cannot be recollected.
Fever
Pulse weak, slow, trembling. Shivering, and perpetual desire to be near the fire. The chilliness begins in the chest and extends down the legs and into the arms. - сoldness in the thighs, and in the arms, with fixedness of look. Heat only internally. Perspiration at night (in the morning hours), principally on the abdomen. Worm fever with colic and convulsions.