Causticum
Great remedy for slowly developing paralysis and contractures. Rawness, burning, soreness. Deep sympathy for suffering of others. Warts. Weakness after illness. Better from damp wet weather (unusual). Urinary incontinence on coughing or sneezing.
Source
Prepared from a distillation of slaked lime (calcium hydroxide) with potassium bisulphate, a compound unique to homeopathy devised by Hahnemann.
Available Potencies
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Keynote Symptoms
Gradual paralysis — vocal cords, bladder, extremities. Contractures of tendons and muscles. Rawness and soreness of mucous membranes. Sympathetic, idealistic, indignant at injustice. Better from damp wet weather, worse from dry cold wind. Urinary incontinence when coughing, sneezing, laughing.
Mind & Emotional Symptoms
Intensely sympathetic, feels the suffering of others deeply. Idealistic, fights for justice. Anxious forebodings, thinks something bad will happen. Indignant, angry at authority. Timid, nervous. Ailments from long-lasting grief or sorrow. Weeps easily from sympathy.
General Symptoms
Gradually developing paralysis and weakness. Better from warmth of bed and damp wet weather. Worse from dry cold or clear fine weather, wind, drafts. Right-sided or left-sided (no strong predilection). Burning, rawness. Tearing pains. Restlessness at night.
Physical Symptoms
Head
Dull, tearing pain. Sensation of empty space between brain and skull. Vertigo tendency to fall sideways.
Eyes
Paralysis of ocular muscles. Drooping eyelids (ptosis). Vision dim. Sparks and dark spots.
Ears
Ringing, roaring. Words and steps re-echo. Chronic otorrhoea.
Face
Facial paralysis from cold drafts. Prosopalgia with tearing. Stiffness of jaw.
Mouth
Bites inside of cheek when chewing. Tongue paralysed. Stuttering, difficulty articulating.
Throat
Rawness, scraping, burning. Chronic hoarseness, voice gives out. Laryngitis of singers. Difficulty swallowing liquids (paralysis of pharynx).
Stomach
Greasy taste. Aversion to sweets. Craves smoked food, beer. Pressure and fullness.
Abdomen
Colic with urging to stool. Distension. Undigested stool.
Rectum
Stool passes better standing. Tough, shining stool covered with mucus. Burning, itching anus. Fissure. Haemorrhoids.
Urinary
Involuntary urination on coughing, sneezing, laughing, walking, blowing nose. Retention after surgery. Paralysis of bladder. Urine expelled slowly, must wait.
Respiratory
Hoarseness worse in the morning. Laryngeal paralysis. Cough with rawness in chest, must sip cold water. Cough relieved by cold drinks. Cannot cough deep enough to raise mucus.
Extremities
Contractures of flexors, tendons shortened. Tearing pains in joints. Restless legs at night. Weakness, drops things. Unsteady walking.
Skin
Warts especially on face, nose tip, hands, fingers. Old burns that do not heal. Soreness in folds of skin. Intertrigo.
Sleep & Dreams
Restless at night. Talks in sleep. Jerks and starts.
Modalities
Better From
Warmth of bed, damp wet weather, warm applications, gentle motion, cold drinks (for cough)
Worse From
Dry cold wind, clear fine weather, cold air, drafts, coffee, 3-4 AM, evening, exertion, stooping
Constitutional Type
Dark-haired, dark-eyed, rigid fibre. Sympathetic idealists, sensitive to injustice. Gradually weakening, stiffening. Elderly with paralytic weakness.
Clinical Indications
Paralysis (Bell's palsy, vocal cord, bladder), urinary incontinence, contractures, warts, hoarseness, chronic cough, burns
Comparative Materia Medica
Gelsemium has paralytic weakness but more acute and with trembling. Rhus tox has stiffness but is better from continued motion; Causticum has contractures. Phosphorus has hoarseness but is more open and sociable.
Safety Information
Coffea, Colocynthis, Dulcamara, Guaiacum, Nux vomica, Phosphorus (inimical).
The Hahnemannian preparation is not found in nature. In crude form it is caustic and irritating. Potentised forms are safe.
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