Coccus Cacti


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


Generalities

      This is an insect infesting the cactus plant. The tincture is prepared from the dried bodies of the female insects. It affects the MUCOUS MEMBRANES, causing catarrhal condition and irritation of throat, respiratory and genito-urinary organs. DISCHARGES ARE STRINGY; including haemorrhages, which are apt to be in large black clots. Intolerable internal itchings, burning like pepper. Pulsation in different organs. Sensation as of a fluid forcing its way during pain. Spasms. Uric acid; gouty, rheumatic diathesis. Anuria. Anasarca. Ascites. General lassitude.

Worse

      Periodically. Heat. Lying. Cold exposure. Awakening. Touch. Pressure of clothing. Brushing teeth. Slightest exertion IRRITATION OF THROAT. Rinsing mouth.

Better

      Washing in cold water. Walking. Cold drinks.

Mind

      Sadness, early morning on waking or afternoon 2-3 p.m.

Head

      Throbbing pain with sensation as if fluid were forcing its way.

Eyes

      Sensation as of a foreign body between the upper lid and the eyeball.

Ears

      Cracking in ears, when swallowing.

Nose

      Burning as of pepper in nostrils. Accumulation of thick viscid mucus in naso-pharynx.

Face

      Crawling sensation. Becomes purple, red worse coughing.

Mouth

      Loud speaking or brushing of teeth causes cough. Tip of tongue burns like pepper. Sweetish, metallic taste. Salivation, constant desire to spit.

Throat

      Accumulation of much viscid mucus; hawking it, excites cough, retching and vomiting. Sensation as of a thread hanging down the back of the throat. Any irritation in throat causes cough, retching and vomiting. Constricted throat; or as of a plug lodged in it. Profuse post-nasal discharge. Sensation as if uvula is elongated, causing constant hawking.

Stomach

      Irritation of throat, hawking, brushing of the teeth causes retching and vomiting. Thirst; drinks water often and in large quantities.

Abdomen

      Excruciating pain from left iliac region, extending to the groins half way down the thighs; as if fluid were forcing its way there.

Urinary organs

      Lancinating, violent pain from kidneys to bladder; with dysuria. Nephritic colic. Constant urging to urinate, better after passing blood clots from the vagina in females. Sticking pain along ureters. Urine; scanty, thick, heavy, sour; sediment; sandy, dark red, brown or white; bloody mucus. Nephritis.

Male

      Pulsation in glans.

Female

      Vulva sensitive worse when urinating. Menses too early, profuse, black and thick, dark clots, with dysuria. Large clots escape from the vagina when passing urine, when quiet or when rising up. Menses; intermittent; flow only in the evening or at night.

Respiratory organs

      REGULAR PAROXYSMS OR VIOLENT TICKLING, RACKING COUGH ENDING IN VOMITING OR RAISING MUCH CLEAR ROPY MUCUS, hanging from mouth, with purple red face and internal heat. Chronic bronchitis complicated with gravel. Whooping cough. Cough; periodical slowly increasing then gradually decreasing in its intensity, better cold air or cold drinks. Walking against the wind takes the breath away. Soreness or stitches in apices of lungs. Shortness of breath. Cough of drunkards.

Heart

      Sensation as if everything were pressed towards the heart.

Back

      Coldness in. Region of kidneys painful to pressure.

Extremities

      Sensation as if a fine splinter were under the nails of fingers.

Fever

      Burning, as of pepper.

Related

      Apis; Berb; Lach; Phosphorus

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'.