Colchicum – Meadow Saffron

The mother tincture is prepared from the fresh bulbs, dug in the Spring, of Colchicum autumnale L. N.O. Liliaceae.

According to Heinigke, the main action is on individual areas of the mucosa (stomach and small intestine), of the serous membranes (pleura, peritoneum and pericardium), of the fibrous tissues (ligaments and tendons, especially of the smaller joints) and of the muscle fibres (especially of the intercostal muscles and the di- aphragm), where inflammatory processes predominate.

In poisonings, violent gastro intestinal inflammations are observed, with sinking of all energies and death while fully conscious.

Pathological examination revealed: haemorrhage at the cardiac end of the stomach between the mucosa and the muscle, haemorrhage in the jejunum between the mu- cosa and the peritoneum, likewise beneath the pleura and the pericardium. The lungs, right side of the heart and the venae cavae were filled with thick, black blood.

In the homoeopathic provings the following observations were also made: pains in the muscles and joints with increased general irritability and aggravation at night, on movement of the body, or on touching the painful parts. There was a sensation of re- laxation and sinking of energy to the point of being unable to speak; also cramps in the flexors, coldness of hands and feet, and, after large doses, paralytic symptoms.

Typical of Colchicum is restless sleep, disturbed by pain, with frequent starting up. This is associted with an agitated mood and irritability, despondency, peevish- ness and melancholy depression.

Colchicum has a characteristically suffering facial expression, which indicates in- firmity, particularly in gynaecological conditions (neoplasms) with cool, pale skin and hollow eyes with a brown rim (encircled eyes showing over-loading of the im- mune system). There may also be twitching of the corners of the mouth and nervous pains of the cheek-bone and lower jaw, and spasms of the jaw muscles, associated with grinding of the teeth.

In the records of provings there is mention of the formation of glaucoma of the lens with swelling, protrusion of the iris and keratoconus, all these pathological processes then gradually subsiding (Heinigke).

Especially typical are the rheumatoid pains in the musculature and articulation of the back and of the upper and lower extremities, with sporadic loss of feeling. After an initial acceleration of the heart-beat, there often follows a sinking of the general energy. As the temperature rises there is an alternation between fever and chill, ac- companied by copious sweat with a strong sour smell, coldness of the face and ex- tremities, and stabbing pains in the pericardium.

In the alimentary tract there is burning in the mouth with great dryness of the mu- cosa, pains in the gums and teeth which hinder chewing. There may be heaviness and stiffness of the tongue, and also a constricted sensation with difficulty in swal- lowing in catarrhs of the mucosa, with increased production of mucus and pains  along the oesophagus, and violent thirst.

Typical are loss of appetite, disgust for food and nausea, especially at the smell of cooked food. The abdomen is distended (meteorism) with frequent eructations, bouts of hiccoughs, violent vomiting, intestinal colics and loose stools, and a sensa- tion of coldness in the pit of the stomach with pains and spasms. There is constipa- tion with urging for stool, or there is copious diarrhoea with passing of bile and membranous shreds, stools with blood or blood and mucus, and possible anal pro- lapse with colic and symptoms of dysentery.

Bladder and kidney conditions may also be present with much strangury and pains in the urethra.

Nash describes the case of a 75-year-old woman, who was suddenly overcome with nausea. This was followed by copious bloody stools, which then became less profuse, containing blood and mucus, with violent tenesmus and intestinal pain. No improvement occurred following the usual remedies such as Aconitum, Mercurius, Nux Vomica, Ipecacuanha, Hamamelis and Sulphur. On the contrary the patient’s conditions deteriorated so greatly after 12 days that she appeared moribund. She was so weak that she could not raise her head from the pillow. In the space of 24 hours

65 stools were counted, passed in the bed. The pains and the number of evacuations were increasing, and all the symptoms were worse from sunset to sunrise, a strik- ingly important characteristic of Colchicum.

In this case a characteristic symptom was disgust for the smell of food cooking, which prompted Nash to prescribe Colchicum 200, since he had no lower potency with him. By the rapid recovery of this patient owing to the high-potency dose of Colchicum 200, Nash, as he put it, was “convinced against my will but not of the same opinion still”.

Nash also mentions the violent burning and the icy coldness in the stomach. These opposite symptoms of Colchicum may be found in the abdomen also. Colchicum is particularly often indicated in autumnal dysentery with evacuations of white or bloody mucus, containing shreds as of mucous membrane. Cantharis has similar stools, which look like scrapings, with urinary tenesmus and pains in the bladder usually present too.

Colocynthis is also indicated for such stools, but it is distinguished from Can- tharis and Colchicum by the colicky pains which double the patient up. For the marked flatulent abdominal distention is characteristic of Colchicum, as are the pains and spasms possibly extending into the thighs.

In terms of differential diagnosis, one should also think of Carbo Vegetabilis,  China or Lycopodium when selecting the remedy.

Boericke draws attention to the great exhaustion and internal coldness, the sensi- tivity to touch and movement, the aggravation lasting from evening to morning, the gouty symptoms – especially gouty inflammation of the big toes and gout in the heels – and the typical pains in the front of the thighs.

Colchicum has also proved effective in neoplasm phases, especially when there is lack of appetite and possibly disgust for the smell of food cooking.

This action is supported by the results of pharmacological trials, where it was shown that colchicin, the active principle of the meadow saffron, is a typical mitosis poison, having a blocking effect which prevents cancer cells from further division.

In Germany, after the currency reform of 1948, ham and bacon were once more available, and numerous elderly people fell ill with cancer of the stomach. At that time the author was able to keep the condition of quite a number of such people sta- ble over a period of months and even years with Colchicum and Conium, injected subcutaneously and alternating every one or two days.

If the main symptoms of Colchicum are summarised, we have the following typi- cal remedy-picture:

1. Gouty illnesses with wandering complaints. Rheumatism, rheumatic polyarthritis with endocarditis and oedema (pleura, pericardium, peritoneum). Great exhaus- tion. Can hardly speak for weakness. Dark rings around the eyes.
2. Oedema with heart and kidney diseases. Nephritis after scarlet fever. Rheumatic iritis. Catarrhs of the mucosa, (mouth, tongue).
3. Autumnal diarrhoea with blood and/or mucus, like intestinal scrapings.
4. Hypersensitivity to smells. Just the smell of food cooking causes nausea, retching and vomiting.

• 5.   Pains extending into the thighs from the abdomen and the bladder.
• 6.   A wide variety of cancers and neoplasms, particularly with lack of appetite and disgust at the smell of food cooking.
• Aggravation from evening to morning, (at night). Increased irritability.

The German Monograph-Preparation Commission for the Homoeopathic Field of Therapy has, under the Preparation Monograph for Colchicum autumnale, pub- lished the following indication(s) in the German Bundesanzeiger (German Federal Gazette) for colchicum: acute and chronic gout; acute articular rheumatism; ten- dovaginitis; effusions in bodily cavities; renal inflammation; inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract.