Coca


Dr. S.R. Phatak describes the clinically confirmed symptoms of the homeopathic remedy Coca in his Concise Materia Medica, published in 1977….


Generalities

      Coca is the source of alkaloid Cocaine, is a local anaesthesic. It is the remedy for the exhaustion of BRAIN and NERVOUS SYSTEM; from physical and mental strain, and for those who suffer from dizziness, dyspnoea and exhaustion on going to high altitudes, mountain climbing, aeroplane flying etc. A characteristic sensation as if a worm or small foreign bodies were under the skin, moving away when touched; if this symptom is associated with any diseased condition coca is indicated. Suitable to old people. Short breathed people, weakly, nervous, fat, plethoric people. Children with marasmus. Muscle exhaustion.

Better

      Rapid motion, riding in open air. After sunset. Lying on face.

Worse

      Ascending. High altitudes. Cold. Mental exertion. Walking. Sitting. Salty food.

Mind

      Mental prostration alternating with exhilaration. Timid, bashful, ill at ease in society; craves solitude and obscurity. Sense of impending death. Hallucinations of hearing; unpleasant about himself. Loquacious excitement with blissful visions. Exhilaration; before menses. Sense of right and wrong abolished. Personal appearance neglected.

Head

      Ache, with vertigo, preceded with flashes of light before the eyes. Shocks coming from occiput, with vertigo. Migraine, worse coughing better eating; sunset.

Eyes

      Flickering before the eyes. White, dark and fiery spots before the eyes. Pupils dilated. Diplopia.

Ears

      Noises in ears. Tinnitus.

Nose

      Sense of smell greatly diminished.

Mouth

      Caries of teeth. Tongue furred. Peppery sensation in the mouth.

Throat

      Eructations; rise with noise and violence, as if it would split the oesophagus.

Stomach

      Great satiety for long time. Retards hunger and thirst. Craving for alcohol and tobacco. No appetite but for sweets. Aversion to solid food.

Abdomen

      Dysentery of high altitudes. Abdomen distended.

Male

      Sensation as if penis were absent. Diabetes, with impotency.

Female

      Menses flow in gushes, waking her from sleep.

Respiratory organs

      Loss of voice (5 or 6 drops of every 2 hour before the expected demand on voice). Senile asthma. Emphysema. Want of breath short breath esp. in aged athletes. Hoarseness worse talking.

Heart

      Palpitation; with flushing, excessively rapid pulse; with violent sweating.

Extremities

      Crawling, numbness of arms. When walking takes involuntary quick steps, head inclined forward with vertigo.

Skin

      Like a worm under the skin moving away when touched.

Sleep

      Sleeplessness. Can find no rest anywhere but sleepy. Awaken with a shock in brain.

Related

      Cann.

S.R. Phatak
A pioneer of Homoeopathy in Maharashtra, Dr Shankar Raghunath Phatak was born on 6th September, 1896. He did his MBBS from Grant Medical College, in 1924. Started his practice but somehow not satisfied with Allopathic Treatment.

He was convinced about Homoeopathy while going through Sir William Osler's writings on 'History of Medicine' so switched over to an entirely Homoeopathic Practice in 1932. He also started working on Homoeopathic literature along with his Practice.

He has contributed immensely to homoeopathic literature. He was an ardent follower of Dr Boger. His Repertory is based on Boger's ''A Synoptic key to Materia Medica'.