M.T. Ahmad J.T. Kent
Cicuta Virosa is one of the best treatments of convulsions. Convulsions and convulsive fits are its typical sign. When there is increased mental anguish, hypersensitivity and intolerance, where even the slightest pressure causes tingling of the muscles, then some patients may go into a convulsion which starts from the centre of the body and spreads towards the periphery. In Cicuta Virosa, this symptom is just the opposite of other remedies, where the state of convulsion generally starts in the periphery of the body, i.e. the fingers or soles of the feet, and then spreads towards the upper part of the body. But in Cicuta Virosa, if there is severe cramp and colic at the stomach, then it spreads into the other organs. There is tightness of the neck and a spasmodic convulsion which then shifts to the lower part of the body. The spread of the spasmodic condition, starting in the centre and spreading to the periphery, is the special feature of Cicuta Virosa.
In Cicuta Virosa, the convulsion generally starts at the stomach or heart, in the form of tingling. The patient is more sensitive than usual in reacting to an injury to sensitive areas or when a thorn pierces the body. If this leads to convulsions, then Cicuta Virosa is a useful remedy. Arnica and Ledum are also very effective remedies. Besides these, Hypericum, Staphysagria and Ruta are also useful in the treatment of injuries to the nerves and the resulting signs and symptoms.
Some symptoms of Cicuta Virosa resemble Catalepsy. In this condition, the mind becomes stunned temporarily. The patient forgets who he is and where he is. There is a wave of confusion starting in the head, resulting in the patient becoming completely unaware of his surroundings. Cicuta Virosa is very important in the treatment of this condition.
The difference between apoplexy and catalepsy is that in apoplexy, the brain becomes functionless as a result of clotting of the blood and the patient becomes paralysed and motionless. In catalepsy, the patient is apparently lethargic but when questioned, he can answer properly. After that, he does not remember what has happened. He confuses the present with the past. He is surprised at the sight of an old friend, wondering if he has seen him somewhere before.
Cicuta Virosa is very useful in treating the severe muscular spasm on the back of the head and the neck, resulting in the turning of the neck backward (opisthotonus). In Cicuta Virosa, the spasm is towards the back of the neck and the person becomes rigid backwards. In addition to this, Cicuta Virosa is very useful in the treatment of rigidity due to meningitis. In epilepsy, if the person falls backwards, Cicuta Virosa will be of use. In other words, the conditions resembling epilepsy and the ones resulting in head injury should be carefully studied regarding their special symptoms. It must be remembered that its convulsions spread from the centre towards the periphery.
Some of the mental symptoms of Cicuta Virosa resemble those of Natrum Mur. In old age, the arteries become narrow due to arteriosclerosis and blood flow to the brain is reduced. When such patients also develop stomach upset, they will suffer from amnesia (brainfag). Nux Vomica is useful for its treatment. The ailments of Cicuta Virosa are related to the nerves. When there is a severe spasm at the stomach, Cicuta Virosa will be useful, otherwise it will not be. One peculiar mental symptom of Cicuta Virosa is that a patient with an advanced disease cannot distinguish between the tastes of different items. The taste buds are afflicted; they become insensitive. The patient cannot distinguish between uncooked and cooked food. He will eagerly ingest both. Some children like to eat coal, clay, lime and paper. This is due to a lack of calcium. It has nothing to do with the nervous system.
The patient of Cicuta Virosa behaves in a childish way. He jumps over the bed, talks strangely, dances, sings and screams like a child. His thoughts are foolish. If he has a fit of epilepsy due to sudden fear, Aconite 1000 given promptly can be beneficial. However, it does not cure it. Cicuta Virosa is the ideal permanent curative medicine for the treatment of such convulsions or epileptic fits resulting from fear. When the intensity of the fit subsides, these patients become deeply downcast. This is an additional symptom peculiar to Cicuta Virosa.
Cicuta Virosa is good in the treatment of residual ill effects of old injuries, especially those from head injuries resulting in paralysis. Generally, Natrum Sulph and Arnica are quite useful, and after that is Opium and Plumbum. However, if convulsions or epilepsy develop after these injuries, Cicuta Virosa can treat these conditions. This is also the treatment of a squint resulting from the head injuries. However, before this, Arnica and Natrum Sulph should also be used. If due to fear, the eyes move upwards, the pupils dilate and a squint appears, then there is no better treatment for this condition than Cicuta Virosa.
The skin symptoms of Cicuta Virosa are related to the nerves, such as, a feeling of irritation after shaving. The movement of the razor on the skin causes tension in the underlying nerves and the roots of the hair become hypersensitive. The nerve symptoms usually direct themselves to the overlying skin. At this stage, the treatment becomes difficult. However, if the characteristic symptoms of Cicuta Virosa are present, this particular remedy would work. Small pea-size bumps also develop over the hands and the face. The associated eczema does not itch. Thick lemon coloured scabs develop over the bumps.
When a fish bone gets stuck in the throat, Silicia offers prompt relief. However if there is subsequent tightness and restlessness in the throat, Cicuta Virosa will offer relief.
In Cicuta Virosa, the entire body shakes. The arms and legs feel weak; sudden jerky movements are followed by a severe weakness of the legs, which feel unstable and cannot support the body weight. The patient feels dizzy and sweats on the head during sleep. A typical eye symptom relating to Cicuta Virosa is that the person feels the words are disappearing while reading. Things look as if they are moving closer and farther alternatively. Hearing decreases. Swallowing is difficult. The throat is dry. There is tightness in the upper food passage (oesophagus or gullet). Thirst is intense. There is burning, hiccupping, presence of gas and distension of the abdomen. These are all symptoms of Cicuta Virosa. There is morning diarrhoea and the desire to keep on passing urine. The chest feels tight with a feeling of suffocation. There is difficulty in breathing and the breathing organs, like the larynx and trachea, feel tight and constricted. There is a feeling of warmth inside the chest.
In women, during their periods, there is severe pain at the uterus and the coccyx. At the time of childbirth and afterwards convulsions occur.
In Cicuta Virosa, the symptoms get worse with touch, gusts of cold air, injury and tobacco smoke. Heat relieves the symptoms.
Antidotes: Opium, Arnica
Potency: 6 to 200
by Mirza Tahir Ahmad
CICUTA VIROSA
This remedy is of interest because of its convulsive tendency. It puts the whole nervous system in such a state of increased irritability that pressure on a part causes convulsions. The convulsions extend from center to circumference; the head, face and eyes are first affected.
Convulsions: An aura in the stomach gives warning of the convulsion. Some complaints spread from the chest, especially from the heart; the rigors and chills begin in the chest; and there is a sensation of coldness about the heart; and from there it extends to other parts.
Convulsions often begin about the head and throat and extend downward. The whole body is in such a state of tension that, after excitement, a fire rages throughout the economy and causes convulsions. Any irritation in the throat or oesophagus will cause violent convulsions in this region.
On swallowing a fish bone, instead of only a pricking sensation as would occur in phlegmatic individuals, the irritation is so great that a spasm commences and spreads to other parts. It was the old remedy for tetanus and spasms caused by splinters in the skin or under the nails, competing with Bell. At the present day we find the most frequently indicated remedies for injuries to nerves are Led. and Hyper.
Catalepsy: A peculiar feature about some of the symptoms is that they resemble catalepsy. The cataleptic condition may be present or a condition very similar to it. He recollects nothing that took place or that he said during a certain period. He knows nobody, and lies without recognizing anyone, but when asked questions he answers correctly, and subsequently he has no recollection of what took place.
It is a cerebo-spinal irritant; the head is drawn back opisthotonos all the limbs are convulsed and rigid. It has cured traumatic tetanus lockjaw, epilepsy, epileptiform convulsions.
With severe pains in the bowels come convulsive movements and convulsions. if the stomach is disordered or chilled, or if he has fear or other mental conditions, convulsions come on. He is extremely sensitive to touch, and touch arid drafts bring on convulsions.
The convulsions spread from above downwards, and thus it is the opposite of Cuprum. The convulsions of Cupr. spread from the extremities to the centre; i. e., the little convulsions, merely cramps, are first felt in the fingers and then in the hands and later in the chest and whole body.
In Cicuta the little convulsions of the head, eyes and throat spread down the back to the extremities with violent contortions. The convulsions of Secale sometimes begin in the face.
At times he knows no one, but when touched and spoken to he answers correctly. Suddenly consciousness returns and he remembers nothing of what has occurred. He confuses the present with the past. He imagines himself a young child. Everything is confused and strange. He does not know where he is.
The faces of old friends look strange; he looks at them and wonders if they are the same persons he used to know. His house and familiar places look strange. Voices sound strange. The senses of sight and smell and all the other special senses are disturbed and confused. He is confused as to himself, his age and circumstances. A woman on coming out of the cataleptic attacks often takes on childish behavior.
A man thinks that he is a child and acts like one; silly laughter, playing with toys, and other acts of childish behavior. He feels as if he were in a strange place, and this causes fear. Thinks of the future with anxiety. Mental torpor; loss of ideas and sensation extending over a certain period. Memory a blank for hours or days with or without convulsions.
Convulsions generally take the place of the ecstatic or cataleptic condition. Natr. m. is somewhat similar to the mental condition of this remedy, as the Natr. m. patient goes about doing all her household work and other functions and next day knows nothing about it. Nux mos. is another remedy that has such a complete blank when going about doing things, a complete abstraction of mind.
Desires: This patient has strange desires; desires to eat coal and many other strange articles, because he is unable to distinguish between things edible and things unfit to be eaten; eats coal and raw potatoes.
Mind: Wants to be alone; dislike to society. Singing, shouting, dancing; likes toys, jumps about like a child. Lies in bed lamenting and wailing. Great agitation; child grasps at one's clothing in a frightened manner.
This is likely to occur before the convulsion, great horror in the, countenance, yet he has no recollection of the horror when be comes out of the convulsion. That state of anxiety and fear comes after the attack has begun, though the convulsions have not yet come on.
Between the convulsions the patient is mild, gentle, placid and yielding, which distinguishes it from Strych. and Nux v. convulsions. The Nux convulsions are all over the body and are worse from touch and draft, blueness and purple color of the body, but between the convulsions the patient is very irritable.
Of course, when they go out of one convulsion into another you cannot see this, but when out of the convulsion the Nux patient is very irritable. The Cicuta patient, out of the convulsion, is full of sadness, anxiety, and darkness, borrows trouble from the future, is affected by sad stories, is pessimistic.
He is afraid of society, afraid of company, and wants to be alone. He is suspicious and shuns people; despises others; over-estimation of himself. In this it approximates Plat. but there is no further resemblance between the two remedies.
Full of fear; fright will bring on convulsions, like Op., Ign., and Acon.
Vertigo: Full of vertigo. The whole sensorium is violently excited. Things turn around in a circle. Vertigo on walking, glassy eyes, etc. Complaints brought on from injuries to the skull, from blows on the head. Many times there is no trouble in the region of the injury; there may be compression and yet all the pains be in distant parts; drawing of the muscles and cramps.
Concussion of the brain and chronic injuries therefrom, especially spasms. Semi-lateral headaches forcing the patient to sit still erect.
Head: Headache as if the brain were loose on walking. When thinking of the exact nature of the pain it ceased. It has cured cerebro-spinal meningitis when there were convulsions and the convulsions were aggravated from touch, with fever and even spotted mottled skin. Mind and head symptoms after injuries. On going into a cerebro-spinal meningitis the patient sits in a chair talking as if nothing were wrong, when, quick as a flash, he passes into another state in which be knows no one; he falls over limp, he is put to bed, and though he answers questions he remains in a semi conscious state, knowing no one.
This may change into a spasm. The head is bent back in spasms; jerking back of the head; spasms begin in the head and go downward. Violent shocks in the head, arms and legs. Head hot and extremities cold, like Bell. in its convulsions. Sweat on the scalp when sleeping. Child rolls head from side to side. Hot head.
Eyes: Convulsive action about the eyes; pupils dilated and insensible patient lies fixed in one place, with starting, fixed, glassy, upturned eyes, like Cupr.
Strabismus may be the only spasm the child is subject to from cerebral irritation. Every time the child is frightened it has strabismus; when touched or when it has cold, or after a fall biting the head, or coming periodically, it has strabismus.
Nose: The nose is sensitive to touch. Touch and jarring bring on complaints, and hence it was so useful in, and was the first remedy for, the result of injuries and irritability and over-sensibility.
It has troubles from shaving; it is useful in such eruptions as come in the whiskers; barber's itch; a solid crop of eruptions all over the face wherever the whiskers grow. Eruptions on the cheek like eczema. Swelling of the submaxillary glands. Erysipelatous eruptions.
It is closely related to Conium about the lips and lids, in that a small amount of pressure causes induration. It has cured epithelioma of the lips.
Throat: The throat troubles are mostly spasmodic. After swallowing a fish bone or stick which lodges in the throat a spasm comes on. After Cicuta the spasms will cease and it can be taken out. It is useful in cases of injury, accompanied with violent choking, so that be cannot allow an examination to be made.
Chest: Cold sensation in the chest. Spasms of the chest.
Feels as if the heart stopped beating. Spasmodic symptoms of the back.
Opisthotonos. All conditions of the limbs are of a spasmodic character.
by James Tyler Kent