Colchicum Autumnale
Overview:
Within the vast garden of homeopathic remedies, Colchicum Autumnale unfurls as a delicate yet potent presence, often called upon when sensitivity reigns supreme. Picture an individual whose senses are exquisitely heightened, particularly where the mere aroma of cooking food, especially fish or eggs, wafts not as an invitation but as a wave of profound nausea, sometimes even unto faintness. This heightened vulnerability often extends outwards, making light too bright, noise too jarring, and the slightest touch upon inflamed, gouty joints an almost unbearable torment. Alongside this rests a deep-seated weakness, a prostration that permeates body and mind, painting a picture of someone whose vital energies feel markedly depleted, yet whose pains and sensitivities burn brightly. Colchicum is thus known in homeopathy for addressing these states where extreme sensitivity, gastrointestinal aversion, painful rheumatic or gouty afflictions, and debilitating weakness converge.
Common names :
Middow saffron
Tuber root
C
O
L
C
H
I
C
U
M
C
C – Coldness stomach
Description: A characteristic physical symptom is an icy coldness felt internally, particularly in the stomach and abdomen. This sensation can be quite pronounced and may accompany digestive complaints or general prostration, pointing towards Colchicum in certain gastric or collapsed states.
Reference: [Boericke, William – Pocket Manual of Homoeopathic Materia Medica]
O
O – Odors
Description: One of the most prominent guiding symptoms of Colchicum is extreme nausea, often escalating to vomiting or even faintness, triggered specifically by the smell of cooking food. Even thinking about food can provoke this reaction, highlighting a profound olfactory sensitivity linked to the digestive system. This is a key indicator, especially if odours like fish, eggs, or meat are particularly offensive.
Reference: [Kent, James Tyler – Lectures on Homoeopathic Materia Medica]
L
L – Limbs joint pain
Description: Colchicum has a strong affinity for the fibrous tissues of the limbs, particularly manifesting as gout or rheumatism in the small joints like fingers and toes. The physical pain is often so intense that the person screams if the affected joint is even lightly touched or accidentally stubbed. This extreme tenderness in small joints is a significant physical guiding symptom.
Reference: [Nash, E.B. – Leaders in Homoeopathic Therapeutics]
C
C – Colic
Description: Physically, the abdomen can suffer greatly, exhibiting violent colic or burning pains. A key feature is extreme distension; the abdomen feels intensely bloated, often described as feeling like it might burst. This tympanitic state can accompany gastric coldness or other digestive upsets.
Reference: [Clarke, John Henry – A Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica]
H
H – Hydropericardium
Description: Physical symptoms may involve the heart, especially in rheumatic or gouty individuals. Patients might experience oppression in the chest, sharp stitches near the heart, or signs of pericardial effusion (hydropericardium). The pulse can become very weak and thin, often described as threadlike, reflecting cardiac weakness or distress associated with the remedy’s sphere.
Reference: [Hering, C. – The Guiding Symptoms of Our Materia Medica]
I
I – Inky urine
Description:Urine hot,bloody,cloudy,watery, almost like ink.
Reference:[ Materia medica of homoeopathic medicines by DrS.R.Phatak ]
C
C – Chilliness
Description: Beyond internal coldness, general chilliness is a noted physical symptom, sometimes felt distinctly running down the back. Accompanying this, or during periods of weakness or pain, a cold sweat may break out, particularly noticeable on the forehead.
Reference: [Phatak, S.R. – Concise Materia Medica of Homoeopathic Remedies]
U
U – Unsupportable
Description: The physical pains associated with Colchicum, particularly from gout or rheumatism, are often perceived by the patient as being utterly insupportable or unbearable. This extreme intolerance and the feeling that the suffering cannot be endured is itself a guiding physical characteristic, reflecting the intensity of the condition.
Reference: [Clarke, John Henry – A Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica]
M
M – Motion aggravation
Description: A paramount physical guiding symptom and modality for Colchicum is the extreme aggravation from the slightest motion. Patients often cannot bear to be moved. Even minimal movement of affected parts, like fingers or toes, can instantly excite or renew severe pains, highlighting an intense physical sensitivity to any disturbance.
Reference: [Murphy, Robin – Nature’s Materia Medica]
I
R
K
E
D
I
I – Irritability Extreme
Description: The patient exhibits a pronounced state of irritability, ill-humor, and impatience. They are easily angered or displeased by external stimuli (noises, smells, light, touch) or their own suffering, particularly pain. Contradiction or minor disturbances make them cross.
Reference: Pocket Manual of Homoeopathic Materia Medica & Repertory by W. Boericke
R
R – Reluctance
Description: The patient displays a significant disinclination towards any mental exertion. Activities like reading, sustained thinking, or even conversation feel burdensome or impossible due to mental fatigue, inability to connect thoughts, or the overwhelming nature of their suffering and sensitivity.
Reference: The Guiding Symptoms of our Materia Medica, Vol. IV by C. Hering
K
K – Keen Senses
Description: The senses are abnormally acute and sensitive, leading to intolerance. Bright lights, slight noises, strong odors (not just food), and even light touch are perceived intensely and are disagreeable or unbearable, worsening the mental distress and irritability. Reference: A Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica by J.H. Clarke
E
E – Easily Vexed
Description: The mental threshold for annoyance is very low. The patient is easily vexed, disturbed, and made unhappy by their environment, interactions, or their own physical discomfort. They find fault readily and lack mental tranquility.
Reference: Leaders in Homoeopathic Therapeutics by E.B. Nash
D
D – Discontent,Dullness
Description: A state of discontent prevails; nothing seems right or satisfactory. This is often accompanied by mental weakness or dullness; the mind feels prostrated, unable to concentrate or sustain thought, sometimes as a direct result of pain or overwhelming sensory input.
Reference: Materia Medica of Homoeopathic Medicines by S.R. Phatak
Introduction
Constitution
Clinical
Mental Symptoms
Guiding Symptoms
Characteristic
Therapeutic Value
Modality
Remedy Relationship
Dose
Terminologies
Reference
Also Search As
Introduction
Introduction of Colchicum Autumnale
Common name:
Middow saffron[1]
Synonyms
Tuber root, Upstart
Family / Group / Class / Order
Plant kingdom
Habit and habitat / Description
It is found in most parts of Europe, Asia Minor and North America. Flowers bloom from September to October.[2]
Name of prover
Dr Stapf
Introduction and history
The flowers of the plant appear in autumn, the
leaves not until the following spring. Colchicum is best known as a remedy in
gout and rheumatism and the proving shows its specific relation thereto.
Parts used
It is prepared from the tincture of the bulb, dug in spring.
Constitution
Constitution of Colchicum Autumnale
Physical make up
It is adapted to rheumatic and gouty
diathesis; persons of robust, vigorous constitution, and to diseases of old people.
Temperament
Rheumatic and melancholic, leucophlegmatic
Diathesis
Rheumatic
Relation with heat & cold
Chilly
Miasm
Psora
Clinical
Clinical conditions of Colchicum Autumnale
Appendicitis. Asthma. Cataract. Cholera. Colic. Cough. Cramp. Debility. Diabetes. Diarrhoea. Dropsy. Dysentery. Eye, affections of. Feet, painful. Gout. Heart, affections of. Ileus. Intermittent fever. Intestinal catarrh. Lumbago. Myalgia. Nephritis (rheumatic and gouty). Pericarditis. Proctalgia. Prostatitis, Rectum, prolapse of. Rheumatism. Stiff-neck. Tongue, sensibility lost. Typhlitis. Typhoid fever.[4]
Sites of action / Pharmacodynamics
Digestive tract, heart, pericardium,
kidneys and joints.
Causation (Causes / Ailments from)
From grief, misdeeds of others, night watching, bad effects of suppressed perspiration.
Patho-physiological changes / Pathogenesis
1. Acts especially upon the cerebospinal centres and terminates in a violent
inflammation of a choleric character.
2. Acts upon the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal canal causing all the
gastric symptoms.
3. Also affects the kidneys, liver, heart and salivary glands.
Mental Symptoms
Characteristic Mental Symptoms (psychology) of Colchicum Autumnale
1. Mind of the patient is beclounded, but answers correctly.
2. There is absence of apprehension, no fear of death.
3. Patient is depressed, irritable and sensitive.
4. Patient can read, but cannot understand a short sentence.
5. External impressions such as bright light, strong odours, contact, misdeeds
of others make him quite beside himself.
6. Patient has weak memory.
Guiding Symptoms
Guiding Symptoms of Colchicum Autumnale
Generalities
Affects markedly the muscular tissues, periosteum, and synovial membranes of joints. Has specific power of relieving the gouty paroxysms. It seems to be more beneficial in chronic affections of these parts. The parts are red, hot, swollen. Tearing pains; worse, in the evening and at night and from touch; stubbing the toes hurts exceedingly. THERE IS ALWAYS GREAT PROSTRATION, internal COLDNESS, and tendency to collapse. Effects of night watching and hard study.
Head
Creeping in forehead. Pressive headache better supper, warmth, lying quiet.
Eye
Pupils unequal. Pain in and around the eyeball, to occiput. Acrid tears. Variations in visual acuity. Eyes half open. Visible contraction in lower lid. Dim vision after reading.
Ears
Hearing very acute. Itching in ears. Feels stopped up.
Nose
Nostrils dry and black. ***SMELL MORBIDLY ACUTE; *odours nauseate even to fainting etc. Obstinate coryza.
Face
Pinched. Sunken. Tingling and oedematous swelling; cheek red, hot sweaty. Pain behind the angle of lower jaw.
Mouth
Tongue; bright red, heavy, stiff and numb, projected with difficulty. Glossitis. Taste; flat, bitterish. Mouth hangs open. Flow of saliva with a sense of dryness. Heat in the mouth with thirst. Toothache worse cold and warmth.
Throat
Much greenish, thin mucus in the throat; comes involuntarily in the mouth.
Stomach
Thirsty, but ***LOATHES THE SMELL OR SIGHT OF FOOD; better lying quietly. ***NAUSEA; retching. Burning or *icy coldness in stomach; with colic. Craving for various things but averse to them when smelling them. Wants aerated waters or effervescent drinks. Eggs disagree. Nausea and inclination to vomit, caused by swallowing saliva.
Abdomen
Distended; contracts when touched; with inability to stretch the legs. Ascites, with fold over the pubic region. Diarrhoea then gouty effects. Stools; very painful, offensive, choleric; of shreddy, bloody, gelatinous, mucus, then tenesmus or spasms of anus. Mucous colitis; after dysentery. Autumnal dysentery. Colicky pains. Agonizing pains remain long after stool.
Rectum & Anus
Constipation. Evacuations slow, difficult, scanty, with urging, even of the soft stool, with pain in the small of the back. Involuntary evacuation of faeces. Watery discharges, going off without sensation. Diarrhoea, consisting of mucus like rice- water. Dysenteric diarrhoea, of white, transparent, gelatinous mucus. Ineffectual pressing to stool, he feels the faeces in the rectum, but cannot expel them. Discharge of much mucus from the rectum. Extremely painful stools. Sanguineous evacuations, mixed, as it were, with false membranes. Prolapsus recti. Tingling itching, burning, and tearing in the anus. During stool sensation as if the sphincter ani were torn to pieces. Cramps in the sphincter ani.
Urinary Organ
More urging, more discharge of urine. Urine; hot, highly coloured, watery, frequent; bloody, black almost like ink; black sediment. Albuminuria, diabetes. Nephritis.
Sexual Organ
Oedema of scrotum.Coldness of thighs; after menses. Sensation of swelling in vulva and clitoris. Feverish restlessness in last month of pregnancy.
Respiratory System
Chest seems squeezed by a hand. Night cough, with involuntary spurting of urine. Great dyspnoea.
Heart & Pulse
Cutting or stinging at heart; weak heart. Heart disease; following rheumatism. Hydropericardium. Cardiac dyspnoea. Pericarditis. Pressure and oppression in the region of the heart better walking. Pulse, thready, imperceptible.
Neck & Back
Ache better pressure and rest. Tension in cervical muscles felt even on swallowing. Violent pain in region of kidneys better lying on back only.
Extremities
Limbs cold. Pins and needles in the hands and wrists; finger tips numb. Joints red hot swollen; stiff; shifting rheumatism; worse at night. Swelling of great toe. Cannot bear to have it touched. Tingling in finger nails. Finger joints distorted, fingers flexed but in constant motion. Knees knock together, can hardly walk. Oedematous swelling and coldness of feet and legs. Buttocks hot.
Skin
Itching, as from nettles. Tingling in different parts, as after being frozen. edematous swelling and anasarca. Suppressed perspiration.
Sleep
Falls asleep while reading. Lies on back.
Fever
Copious sour sweat suddenly coming and going rheumatism. Body hot, limbs cold. Sweat cold on face. Sour sweat; nightly.
Characteristic
Important characteristic features of Colchicum Autumnale
Keynotes / Redline
1. Ailments from grief, misdeeds of others (Staph).
2. Smell painfully acute, nausea with faintness from odour of cooking food, or thought of cooking especially fish eggs, fat, meat (Ars, Sep).
3. Meteorism. Trapped gas.
4. Dreams of mice.
5. Burning or icy coldness of stomach or abdomen.
6. Pains are superficial during warm weather; affect the deeper tissues when the air is cold.[5]
Guiding
-All functions mental and bodily are slow- nutrition, digestion, yet patient doesn’t emaciate rapidly.
-Sensitive to external impression light noise, odours, contact, bad manners.
-Tearing pains < in the evening and at night, from touch, stubbing the toes. Pains are superficial during warm weather; affect the deeper tissues when the air is cold.
-Tingling in many parts as if frost bitten, when the weather changes.
-Smell painfully acute- nausea and faintness from the odour of cooking food, especially fish, eggs, or fat, meat (Ars, Sep). Nausea at thought of cooking food. Craving for various things but averse to them when smelling them. Craves aerated drinks.
-Autumnal Dysentery– painful scanty, transparent, jelly like mucus, scraping of intestines (Canth; Carb-ac). Agonizing pain remain long after stools. Rice water stools, hippocratic face, coldness, cramps, prostration.
-Urine dark scanty or suppressed black, inky. Nephritis with great oedema.
-Urine sediment may alternate with the rheumatic or heart complaints.
-Shifting rheumatism, pains go from left to right (Lach), inflammation of great toe, heel. Cannot bear to be touched. Tingling in finger nails. Knees strike together. Powerlessness with oedematous swelling.
PQRS
Nausea/Faintness from smell or thought of food.
Extreme aggravation of pains from slightest motion.
Extreme sensitivity/tenderness of affected joints to touch.
Irritability/Distraction from external impressions (noise, light, odors, rudeness).
Icy coldness in the stomach or abdomen.
Confirmatory
1. Nausea and fainting due to smell, sight, even with the thought of food cooking > lying quietly.
2. Gout with painful joints, from left to right < stabbing toe
Nucleus symptoms
– For the gouty rheumatic diathesis patient.
– Icy coldness of the parts.
– Prostration with powerlessness.
– Sensitive to external impressions and restlessness.
– Extreme painfulness.
Therapeutic Value
Modality
Modalit of Colchicum Autumnale
Aggravation
Mental emotion or exhaustion, effects of hard study, odour
of cooking food, cold damp weather, smell of cooking food, motion, autumn,
exertion, night watching and overstudy.
Amelioration
Warmth, lying down quietly.
Remedy Relationship
Remedy Relationship
Complimentary
Follows Well
Carb-v, Merc, Nux-v, Puls, Sep, Rhus-t.
Antidoted By
Bell, Camph, Cocc, Nux-v, Puls, Spig
It Antidotes
Acet-ac, Acon, Cham, Chin, Grat, Merc, Puls, Staph.
Comparison
Ars, Colch, Sep.
Dose
Dose of Colchicum Autumnale
3rd to 30th
Potency
30.200,1M
Duration of Action
14-20 days
Terminologies
Terminologies
Main terms
Proving (or Homeopathic Pathogenetic Trial – HPT):
The process of giving a substance to healthy volunteers to discover the symptoms it produces.
Materia Medica:
collection of remedy descriptions, detailing the symptoms and characteristics of each homeopathic medicine.
Repertory:
An index of symptoms, listing remedies associated with each symptom.
Symptom Totality:
The complete picture of a patient’s physical, mental, and emotional symptoms, including modalities.
Characteristic Symptoms /
Keynote Symptoms:
Unique, peculiar, or strongly expressed symptoms that clearly indicate a specific remedy.
Modalities:
Factors or circumstances that make a symptom better (amelioration) or worse (aggravation).
Potency:
The level of dilution and succussion a remedy has undergone (e.g., 6C, 30C, 200C).
Potentization / Dynamization:
The specific homeopathic process of serial dilution and succussion used to prepare remedies.
Similia Similibus Curentur (Law of Similars):
The principle that "like cures like"; a substance causing symptoms in the healthy can cure similar symptoms in the sick.
Acute vs. Constitutional Prescribing:
Acute prescribing treats short-term illness; Constitutional prescribing treats the whole person and chronic tendencies.
Aggravation (Homeopathic Aggravation):
A temporary, slight worsening of symptoms after taking the correct remedy, potentially indicating a healing response.
Reference
Reference of Colchicum Autumnale
[1] Allen’s keynotes
[2] Gems materia medica of homoeopathic medicines by Dr.Patil
[3] Concise Materia Medica Of Hom. Remedies By S.R. Phatak
[4] Dictionary Of Practical Materia Medica (All 3 Vol.) By Clarke J. H.
[5] Zomeo
[6] MAteria medica by William boericke
Also Search As
Also Search As of Colchicum Autumnale
1.Academic and Medical Databases:
Google Scholar:
This is often a good starting point as it indexes scholarly literature across many disciplines. Use the search terms mentioned above.
PubMed (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov):
While primarily focused on conventional biomedical literature, you might find research articles, reviews, or comparative studies mentioning Colchicum in a homeopathic context, though dedicated homeopathic journal indexing can be limited.
Other databases like Scopus or Web of Science might also contain relevant articles, often accessible through university or institutional libraries.
2.Specialized Homeopathic Databases and Websites:
Many websites are dedicated to homeopathy and archive articles, case studies, and materia medica information. Examples include established portals like Hpathy, Interhomeopathy, and others. Search within these sites specifically for "Colchicum".
Look for online repositories of homeopathic literature or journals.
3.Homeopathic Journals:
Search the archives of specific homeopathic journals. Many established journals have online presences, though access might require a subscription or purchase. Examples include:
American Journal of Homeopathic Medicine
Homoeopathic Links
British Homoeopathic Journal (now ‘Homeopathy’ published by Thieme)
Indian Journal of Research in Homoeopathy (IJRH – relevant for India)
Use the journal websites’ search functions.
4.Digital Libraries and Archives:
Websites like Internet Archive (archive.org), HathiTrust Digital Library, and Google Books often have digitized versions of older homeopathic texts (like Materia Medicas by Clarke, Hering, Allen, Kent, Phatak, Murphy, etc.). These books contain extensive "articles" or monographs on remedies like Colchicum. Search for the specific remedy name within these archives.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What conditions is homeopathic Colchicum primarily used for?
Uses
Homeopathic Colchicum is often indicated for conditions involving gout, rheumatism (especially affecting small joints), specific types of extreme nausea and vomiting (particularly triggered by the smell of food), certain digestive complaints like bloating and colic, and states of profound weakness or prostration.
What are the key guiding symptoms of Colchicum in homeopathy?
Key guiding symptoms
include extreme sensitivity to external impressions (smell of food, light, noise, touch), nausea/vomiting/faintness from the smell or thought of food, tearing pains in joints (often small joints) intensely aggravated by motion or touch, abdominal bloating, and significant weakness or exhaustion.
What typically makes Colchicum symptoms worse (aggravations)?
Aggravation
Colchicum symptoms are characteristically worse from the slightest motion, touch, the smell or thought of cooking food (especially fish, eggs, meat), during the night, and often during the autumn season. Mental exertion or suppressed perspiration can also aggravate symptoms.
What are the main mental and emotional symptoms associated with Colchicum?
Mentally and emotionally
Colchicum is often associated with irritability, particularly triggered by pain or external impressions (like noise or others’ conduct). There can be an aversion to mental exertion, weakness of memory, difficulty concentrating, and sometimes a state of indifference or apathy in severe illness.
Can homeopathic Colchicum help with extreme nausea caused by the smell of food?
Yes, this is one of the most characteristic keynote symptoms indicating homeopathic Colchicum. Extreme nausea, gagging, vomiting, or even faintness triggered solely by the smell (or sometimes even the thought) of cooking food is a strong indication for this remedy.
Is Colchicum safe to use in homeopathic potency?
Safety
Homeopathic Colchicum, when prepared according to standard homeopathic pharmacopoeia (involving serial dilution and succussion), is considered safe. Homeopathic remedies use highly diluted substances, minimizing toxicity risk. However, like any homeopathic remedy, it should be used under the guidance of a qualified homeopathic practitioner. This is distinct from the crude Colchicum plant, which is toxic.
How does Colchicum differ from other homeopathic remedies for joint pain?
Differentiation
Colchicum is differentiated by its unique combination of symptoms: severe joint pain (often small joints) with extreme sensitivity to touch and the slightest motion, often accompanied by the characteristic profound nausea/vomiting from food odors, marked bloating, and significant prostration or weakness.
Can homeopathic Colchicum help with extreme nausea caused by the smell of food?
Yes, this is one of the most characteristic keynote symptoms indicating homeopathic Colchicum. Extreme nausea, gagging, vomiting, or even faintness triggered solely by the smell (or sometimes even the thought) of cooking food is a strong indication for this remedy.
