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Cantharis Vesicatoria
Cantharis vesicator · CANTH
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Origin Animal · Insecta · Simple
ClarkePreparation Tincture or trituration of living insects.
Sources 13 entries across 11 books: Boericke, Kent, Clarke, Nash, Hering …

Dose Boericke
1X, 2X
Sixth to thirtieth potency. Bears repeated doses well. Locally, in burns and eczema, 1x and 2x, in water, or as cerate

Reason for useClarke

Cantharis belongs to the animal kingdom and finds its most prominent sphere of action in exciting the animal passions. There is anger in a very acute degree amounting to paroxysms of rage; and a corresponding condition of the bodily tissues. The word "irritation" best expresses the totality of the Cantharis effects. The pains are burning, and sharp, lancinating along the course of a nerve. Neuralgia of head and face from taking cold, with loud screams and jerking of muscles. The slightest touch or approach aggravates the mental symptoms. Violent spasms reproduced by touching larynx. There is also < from dazzling objects and by water—completing the hydrophobia picture. It may be well to remember in this connection the violent erotic action of Canth., for many have maintained that rabies only arises among domesticated animals where sexual functions are under more or less abnormal conditions. Guernsey gives as the special indications in hydrophobia: "Moaning and violent cries, interspersed with barking." Canth. produces amorous frenzy, unbounded sexual desire; also sexual erethism and excitability. It acts on the brain, producing inflammation of the tissues. The eyes are bright, pupils widely dilated. Erysipelas commencing in nose. The face is generally pale or yellowish, with an expression of deep-seated suffering. There is diphtheritic inflammation of throat, severe burning, constriction; thirst, with aversion to drinking. The stomach is inflamed. Pain in abdomen colic-like, doubling the patient up, cutting, burning, lancinating. Dysenteric stools with tenesmus. In the genito-urinary region the most intense action is developed. There is extreme superficial sensitiveness in hypogastrium (especially when the bladder is full), attended with unbearable tenesmus vesicae. Cutting, burning pains from the kidney down to urethra. Strangury. Can pass only a few drops, like molten lead. Irritation of all grades. The sexual appetite is aroused to the point of mania. Coitus does not always reduce it. On the skin and serous membranes the irritating effects of the remedy are equally pronounced. Pleurisy with effusion has been cured by the remedy given internally. Burning, stitches, shooting pains and exudation are the indications. So the fly-blister treatment of olden days had more to say for itself than those who used it knew. Vesication is the note of its effects on the skin and indicates its use in burns of the first degree, erysipelas, blisters. In burns the part may be treated with a lotion containing a few drops of the tincture to the ounce of water, a dilution being given internally. An ointment made with the 3x is a good application for herpes zoster. H. N. Guernsey observed that Canth. is almost always the remedy for whatever other sufferings there may be, when there is as well frequent micturition with burning, cutting pain; or if cutting burning pain attends the flow, even when micturition is not very frequent. Guernsey also pointed out that Canth. should be studied in treating affections of the air-passages when the mucus is tenacious. Nash records a case in which this observation led him to make a pretty cure. Kali bich. had completely failed to relieve a lady who had suffered long from bronchitis. The mucus was profuse, tenacious, and ropy. One day the patient mentioned that she had great cutting and burning on urinating, which she was obliged to do very frequently. Canth, made a rapid cure. Canth. has cured a case of malarial cachexia in which the symptoms were always < when the urine was scanty. "Burning" runs through the Canth. pathogeneses in a very striking way. Another marked feature of the remedy is its effect in increasing the secretions of membranes. Canth. "expels moles, dead fetus, placentae; promotes fecundity" (Guernsey). The < is: from drinking; from coffee; from drinking cold water; whilst urinating; after urinating; from touch. > From rubbing; from warm applications.


By regionClarke
Mind Dejected and lachrymose humour.—Anxious inquietude, with agitation, which necessitates constant motion.—Want of confidence in one's self.—Pusillanimity and timidity.—Disposition to be angry, and to fly into a rage.—Paroxysms of rage, with cries, blows, and barkings, renewed on feeling the gullet, and at the sight of water.—Delirium.—Insanity.—Mania, with extravagant acts and gestures.—Constantly attempting to do something, but accomplishing nothing.
Head Vertigo, with loss of consciousness, and mist before the sight, chiefly in the open air.—Headache, which interrupts sleep at night.—Pressive lancinations in the head, which disappear on walking.—Acute drawing pains in the head, with vertigo.—Congestion in the head.—Throbbing in the brain, and heat, which ascends to the head.—Sensation of burning in the head, as if the interior were raw, with inflammation of the brain.—Drawing, jerking, and gnawing in the bones of the head.—Headache, as if the hair were pulled.—Hair standing on end.—Headache, as if coming from the nape of the neck, and wishing to escape by the forehead.—Burning in the sides of the head, ascending from the neck, with soreness and giddiness; < in the morning and afternoon; when standing or sitting; > when walking or lying down.
Eyes Pain in the eyes, with sensation as if the eyelids were excoriated, chiefly when they are opened.—Inflammation of the eyes, with burning smarting.—Yellowish colour of the eyes.—Prominence, and convulsive movements of the eyes; fiery, sparkling, staring look.—Objects seemed to be tinged with a yellow hue.
Stomach Risings, with burning sensation, as if from pyrosis, aggravated by drinking.—Sob-like risings, which seem to take an inverse direction and to return towards the stomach.—Vomiting of undigested food.—Vomiting of bilious and slimy substances, or of blood.—Great sensitiveness of the precordial region.—Pressive fulness, with anxiety and inquietude in the stomach.—Smarting and burning pains in the stomach.—Inflammation of the stomach.
Female Sexual Organs Catamenia premature and too copious, with black blood and pains during the flow.—Voiding of moles, of foetus, and of placentae.—Inflammation of the ovaries.—Swelling of the cervix uteri.—Corrosive leucorrhoea, with burning sensation on making water, and excitement of sexual desire.
Respiratory Organs Hoarseness, with painful rattling of viscid mucus, copious, and coming from the chest, and with incisive shootings in the trachea.—Oppression of breathing, with sensation of constriction of the pharynx.—Stitches in the chest during air inspiration. …
Neck And Back Stiffness in the nape of the neck, with tension when bending it over.—Acute drawing pains in the back.—Tearing in the back (after rising from a seat).—Sensation of constriction in the spine.—Emprosthotonos and opisthotonos.
Limbs Weakness and swelling of limbs.—Dropsical swelling of hands and feet.—Cold sweat of hands and feet.
Skin Itching vesicles, with burning pain on being touched.—Blisters, from burns.—Erysipelatous inflammations.—Acute drawing pains in ulcers, with increased suppuration.
Sleep Great drowsiness, esp. in the afternoon, with yawnings and stretching.—Sleeplessness without apparent cause.—At night, half sleep, with frequent waking.
Fever Pulse hard, full and rapid.—Fever, which manifests itself only by cold.—Cold and shivering, with cutis anserina and paleness of the face.—Thirst only after the shivering.—Perspiration; cold, esp. on the hands and feet; on the genitals.—Sweat, of the smell of urine.—Pulsation through the trembling limbs.

Books*
Antidoted by Camphora 3, Aconitum Napellus 2, Pulsatilla Pratensis 2 +9
Complementary Camphora
Follows well —
Compare Arsenicum Album, Apis Mellifica, Mercurius Corrosivus +21

* Number of books that state the relation, where more than one. Historical text from the classical materia medica (1828–1950). Not medical advice, and not a claim that any remedy works.
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