Respiratory organs
Nux Vomica is another splendid remedy for the first stage of a “cold.” The nose is stopped, or stops at night and runs through the day. There is frontal headache. Throat sore and very sensitive to inhaled cold air. But the most characteristic indication is that the patient is chilly on the least motion or uncovering. Even during the fever, must be covered and keep quiet.
It continues dry and hard, and hurts the head and stomach or abdomen, is worse in the morning or after eating, Nux vomica is better. Belladonna and Nux vomica given early in the case will sometimes so modify it as to need very little medicine afterwards. Pertussis (Whooping Cough).
Cough character – Dry fatiguing cough, seldom loose.
Aggravations – worse after eating or drinking; mental or physical exertion; when lying on the back; when cold; early in the morning.
Cough ameliorated by – better in warmth or when quiet.
Concomitants_ Hoarseness with roughness or sense of rawness in the nose and throat worse inspiring cold air. Chilliness on the least motion, even when peevish. Pain in head or abdomen on coughing. Generally sensitive, irritable and ugly. Specially in literary subjects who lead a sedentary life.
This remedy like Mercurius is seldom of much use in chronic respiratory trouble, only as it may be called for in dietetic errors and sufferings therefrom. But it is often the best remedy in the acute stages of common colds, especially if Aconite or Bryonia have only half cured the case. It follows well, i.e. of course if indicated by the symptoms. The pain in head on coughing is found strong under Nux vomica, Bryonia, Lycopod. and Capsicum. The nervous constitution and disposition of Nux vomica are so patent that its success in our hands has led to its abuse (as usual) in the form of its alkaloid in old school hands. They never know when to stop with enough.
