COCCULUS INDICUS

Indian Cockle


  • Within the sphere of action of Cocculus are many spasmodic and paretic affections, notably those affecting one-half of the body. 
  • Affects the cerebrum, will not cure convulsive seizures proceeding from the spinal cord (A. E. Hinsdale). 
  • Painful contracture of limbs and trunk; tetanus. 
  • Many of the evil effects of night-watching are relieved by it. 
  • It shows a special, attraction for light-haired females, especially during pregnancy, causing much nausea and backache. 
  • Unmarried and childless women, sensitive and romantic girls, etc. 
  • All its symptoms are worse riding in a carriage or on shipboard; hence its use in seasickness. 
  • Sensation of hollowness, or emptiness, as if parts had gone to sleep. 
  • Feels too weak to talk loud.

Mind

  • Capricious. 
  • Heavy and stupid. 
  • Time passes too quickly; absorbed in reveries. 
  • Inclination to sing irresistible. 
  • Slow of comprehension. 
  • Mind benumbed. 
  • Profound sadness. 
  • Cannot bear contradiction. 
  • Speaks hastily. 
  • Very anxious about the health of others.

Head

  • Vertigo, nausea, especially when riding or sitting up. 
  • Sense of emptiness in head. 
  • Headache in occiput and nape; worse, lying on back of head. 
  • Sick headache from carriage riding, cannot lie on back part of head. 
  • Pupils contracted. 
  • Opening and shutting sensation, especially in occiput. 
  • Trembling of head. 
  • Pain in eyes as if torn out of head.

Face

  • Paralysis of facial nerve. 
  • Cramp-like pain in masseter muscle; worse, opening mouth. 
  • Prosopalgia in afternoon, with wide radiations of pain.

Stomach

  • Nausea from riding in cars, boat, etc, or looking at boat in motion; worse on becoming cold or taking cold. 
  • Nausea, with faintness and vomiting. 
  • Aversion to food, drink, tobacco. 
  • Metallic taste. 
  • Paralysis of muscles preventing deglutition. 
  • Dryness of esophagus. 
  • Seasickness (Resorcin. 1x). 
  • Cramp, in stomach during and after meal. 
  • Hiccough and spasmodic yawning. 
  • Loss of appetite. 
  • Desire for cold drinks, especially beer. 
  • Sensation in stomach as if one had been a long time without food until hunger was gone. 
  • Smell of food disgusts (Colch).

Abdomen

  • Distended, with wind, and feeling as if full of sharp stones when moving; better, lying on one side or the other. 
  • Pain in abdominal ring, as if something were forced through. 
  • Abdominal muscles weak; it seems as if a hernia would take place.

Female

  • Dysmenorrhea, with profuse dark menses. 
  • Too early menses, clotted, with spasmodic colic. 
  • Painful pressing in uterine region, followed by hemorrhoids. 
  • Purulent, gushing leucorrhea between menses; very weakening, can scarcely speak. 
  • So weak during menstruation, scarcely able to stand.

Respiratory

  • Sensation of emptiness and cramp in chest. 
  • Dyspnea as from constriction of trachea, as if irritated by smoke. 
  • Choking constriction in upper part of esophagus, oppressing breathing and inducing cough.

Back

  • Cracking of cervical vertebrae when moving head. 
  • Paralytic pain in small of the back. 
  • Pain in shoulder and arms as if bruised. 
  • Pressure in scapula and nape. 
  • Stiffness on moving shoulders.

Extremities

  • Lameness; worse by bending. 
  • Trembling and pain in limbs. 
  • Arms go to sleep. 
  • One-sided paralysis; worse after sleep. 
  • Hands are alternately hot and cold; numbness and cold sweat now of one, now of the other hand. 
  • Numb and unsteady. 
  • Knees crack on motion. 
  • Lower limbs very weak. 
  • Inflammatory swelling of knee. 
  • Intensely painful, paralytic drawing. 
  • Limbs straightened out, painful when flexed.

Sleep

  • Spasmodic yawning. 
  • Coma vigil. 
  • Constant drowsiness. 
  • After loss of sleep, night-watching, nursing.

Fever

  • Chill, with flatulent colic, nausea, vertigo, coldness of lower extremities, and heat of head. 
  • Sweat general. 
  • Nervous form of low fever. 
  • Chilliness, with perspiration, and heat of skin.

Modalities

  • Worse, eating, after loss of sleep, open air, smoking, riding, swimming, touch, noise, jar; afternoon. Menstrual period. After emotional disturbance.

Relationship

  • Antidotes:; Coffee; Nux.
  • Compare: 
    • Picrotoxin-alkaloid of Cocculus--(epilepsy, attacks in the morning on leaving horizontal position, hernia, locomotor ataxia, night-sweats); 
    • Symphoricarpus (morning sickness); 
    • Petrol; Puls; Ignat.

Dose

  • Third to thirtieth potency.