Colocynthis – Bitter Cucumber

The mother tincture is prepared from the dried and peeled fruits, with pips re- moved, of the plant Citrullus colocynthis [L.] Schrad., which occurs in North Africa, Southern Arabia and the Near East. N.O. Cucurbitaceae.

Whereas Colocynthis has almost completely disappeared from normal allopathic therapy, it has an important part to play in homoeopathic therapy. Colocynthis is one of the best remedies for colics. These colics are ameliorated by doubling up, or by the pressure of hard objects against the abdomen or site of the pain, the patient lying across chairs, tables, bedposts etc. Colics associated with dysentery or acute intes- tinal catarrhs are also relieved by Colocynthis, and one could give Arsenicum,

Aconitum, Mercurius or Veratrum Album as additional supporting remedies. Colo- cynthis is also a good remedy for stabbing pains, e.g. in sciatica, and also in neural- gias in the area of the trigeminal nerve and other localisations. Colocynthis is always indicated when stabbing pains shoot through the body like lightning, independent of movement. Whilst Chamomilla often acts beneficially on flatulent colics in chil- dren, when they occur more strongly it is usually Colocynthis which is needed. Other remedies such as Magnesium Phosphoricum, Staphisagria, Dioscorea, Vera- trum Album, Stannum and Jalapa may also be effective in such colics. Colocynthis is able to provide rapid and lasting help when shooting pains and doubling up are prominent. Thus, if we give a table of symptoms, the following indications come within the domain of Colocynthis:

1. Flatulent colics in the whole abdomen with a tendency to bend double, drawing the knees up to the chin and pressing the arms into the abdomen. This may be as- sociated with diarrhoea, which recurs after every meal or drink and is relieved by hot compresses.
2. Neuralgias of various kinds, especially in the sciatic area, but also in others, such as the trigeminal area, or in the intercostal nerves (here possibly indicated in al- ternation with Ranunculus and Dulcamara), but also with stabbing pains in the joints, e.g. in the right knee, and in other sites.
3. Stabbing pains, shooting through as from a dagger-wound, independent of move- ment, touch or pressure, possibly associated with or followed by paraesthesias, crawling or a feeling of having “gone to sleep” (cf. Gnaphalium).
4. Great irritability, choleric temperament, the complaints often being triggered by anger or vexation.
5. 5.   Amelioration from warmth, and pressure of the lower arm.
6. The sweat smells of urine.
7. Periodicity of complaints.

The German Monograph-Preparation Commission for the Homoeopathic Field of Therapy has, under the Preparation Monograph for Citrullus colocynthis, published the following indication(s) in the German Bundesanzeiger (German Federal Gazette) for colocynthis: painful spasmoid conditions of the gastrointestinal tract, the biliary system, and of the urinary organs; neuritis and neuralgia, especially fa- cial; sciatica.