Synonym – Cyclamen Europaeum. Natural order. – Primulaceae. Common name – Sow-bread. Habitat – A perennial herbaceous plant indigenous to Southern Europe. Preparation – Tincture from the fresh root.
GENERAL ANALYSIS
Acts especially upon the digestive and female generative functions, and through these affecting the sensorium and the vision in a characteristic manner. The general action of Cyclamen closely resembles that of Pulsatilla.
CHARACTERISTIC SYMPTOMS
Mind. Ill-humored, morose; easily offended (Caps., Coccul., Nux v.). Depression, weeping, desire to be alone, in suppressed menstruation. Disinclination for all kinds of work (Cinchona, Coni., Nux v., Phosphorus).
Head Great confusion of the head; in the evening with vertigo. Vertigo; with pain in the forehead, toward evening. Oppressive stupefaction with obscuration of vision, and sensation as if the eyes were about to close. Headaches associated with menstrual disturbances, or with anaemia, indigestion etc. Congestion of blood to the head. Violent headache, with flickering before the eyes, on rising in the morning (Phosphorus). Violent pressive frontal headache. Itching, sticking in scalp, changing place on scratching.
Eyes. Dimness of vision and spots before the eyes (Mercurius, Sulph)., especially on waking. Flickering before the eyes as of various colors; glittering needles, fiery specks and sparks (Agaricus, Causticum, Mercurius, Phosphorus, Sepia, Silicea, Sulphur, Thuja). Dimness of vision as of smoke or fog before the eyes (Phosphorus, Gelsemium) Burning of the eyes and flickering of the light on attempting to read. Diplopia (Aurum, Belladonna, Cicuta); swelling of the upper lids (Apis., Rhus tox., Sulphur)
Ears. Drawing pain in the inner passages of right ear.
Nose. Frequent sneezing (Aconite, Cina., Gelsemium)
Mouth. Saliva increased; tastes pasty. Saliva and food have a salty taste (ant. crud., Mercurius Cor., Sepia, Sulphur); food tastes flat, almost tasteless.
Stomach Little hunger or appetite; no desire for breakfast or supper. Entire loss of appetite. Aversion to bred (Natr. mur.) and butter. After eating but little, aversion to food, with nausea in throat. No thirst during day, but thirsty in evening. Eructations; with oppressive sensation in stomach; tasting sour with hiccough. Nausea with uneasiness and qualmishness as after eating too much fat food (Nux v., Pulsatilla). Nausea after eating fat food (Pulsatilla). Nausea in throat and palate on eating a little. Fullness and pressure in pit of stomach, as if overloaded.
Abdomen. Tearing, piercing through and through. Stitches in epigastrium when moving about. Rumbling in the abdomen immediately after eating, returning daily. Discomfort in lower abdomen, with some nausea in it.
Stool Diarrhoea, renewed after drinking coffee.
Female Organs. Menses too early and too profuse (Calcarea) Menstrual blood black (Kali nit.), clotted (Ammonium carb., Croc., Ignatia, Platina), and membranous (Bromium). Menses suppressed, scanty or painful (Cimic., Pulsatilla).
Respiratory Organs. Violent suffocative cough, from tickling and scraping in larynx, especially at night; worse during sleep.
Heart. Palpitation in the evening.
Upper Limbs. Paralyzed, hard pressure in right arm, as if in the periosteum and deep seated muscles; extending to fingers, impedes writing.
Lower Limbs. Cramp-like pain on right thigh above the popliteal space. Pain as from a sprain in the sole of the foot.
Generalities. Great weakness and prostration; on waking; also with clammy mouth and irritable mood; also with pallor, sunken eyes and rapid pulse. Enervation of whole body; burdensome to move even a limb. Great uneasiness and restlessness at night.
Sleep Restless, uneasy sleep; full of dreams. Great inclination to sleep mornings.
Compare Belladonna, Carb. v., Chamomilla, Croc., Crocus., Lycopodium, Rhus tox., Sepia, Sulphur, Pulsatilla, Ruta.
Antidote. Camph., Coffea, Pulsatilla
THERAPEUTICS.
Cyclamen is most useful in deranged digestion, and in menstrual derangements, when accompanied by the disturbances of vision above enumerated, and by vertigo and headache. The action is very similar to Pulsatilla. In digestive troubles there is a general aggravation from fat food. Menorrhagia, or amenorrhoea with gastric derangements, and usual disturbances. Chlorosis. Anaemia is usually present with constant chilliness and dread of fresh air. Membranous dysmenorrhoea with profuse flow.
ALLEN CORSON COWPERTHWAITE was born at Cape May, New Jersey, May 3, 1848, son of Joseph C. and Deborah (Godfrey) Cowperthwaite. He attended medical lectures at the University of Iowa in 1867-1868, and was graduated from the Hahnemann Medical College of Philadelphia in 1869. He practiced his profession first in Illinois, and then in Nebraska. In 1877 he became Dean and Professor of Materia Medica in the recently organized Homeopathic Department of the State University of Iowa, holding the position till 1892. In 1884 he accepted the chair of Materia Medica, Pharmacology, and Clinical Medicine in the Homeopathic Medical College of the University of Michigan. He removed to Chicago in 1892, and became Professor of Materia Medica and Therapeutics in the Chicago Homeopathic Medical College. From 1901 he also served as president of that College. He is the author of various works, notably "Insanity in its Medico-Legal Relations" (1876), "A Textbook of Materia Medica and Therapeutics" (1880), of "Gynecology" (1888), and of "The Practice of Medicine " (1901).