Linum Catharticum

Purging-flax. N. O. Linaceæ. Tincture of whole plant.

Clinical

Amenorrhœa / Bronchitis / Cough / Diarrhœa / Hæmorrhoids / Laryngitis / Rheumatism

Characteristics

The proving of L. cath. (by Stokes and Galston) shows that it deserves its name. Colic and diarrhœa of loose, bright yellow stools, and also of slender, feculent stools were most marked. The sexual functions were depressed; in men absence of desire; in women menses were omitted or delayed. There was much nasal and respiratory catarrh, stuffed-up condition of nose and chest, troublesome cough and difficult expectoration of frothy, yellow mucus. The cough was < walking in open air. Headache > in open air, and > eating.

Relations

Antidoted by: Sul. (headache). Compare: Lin. usitatiss.

1. Mind

Dulness and depression. Irritable.

2. Head

After sleep, confusion of head; malaise as from cold. Congestion and vertigo on throwing head back. Headache: > open air; > after eating. Severe frontal headache, obliging to lie down after dinner (> by Sul. Ø). Dull headache, as of weight on brow, < holding head back and after reading.

4. Ears

Singing in l. ear for some hours in evening.

5. Nose

Sneezing; at night. Mucus from nose, occasionally rose colour. Fluent coryza. Nose stopped, and running a clear, profuse mucus from first one nostril for several days, then the other.

8. Mouth

Tongue: deeply furred; foul. Mouth dry without thirst. Taste: insipid; foul; bilious.

9. Throat

Much hawking of yellow mucus, sometimes tinged with blood. Rawness in throat when out in open air after breakfast.

11. Stomach

Eructations tasting of bile. Rising of food, evening. Repletion.

12. Abdomen

Rumbling and slight uneasiness. Colicky pains. Occasional griping and distension, < after food. Tormina and tenesmus. Abdomen tender on pressure.

13. Stool and Anus

At night pressing in rectum as if swollen. Smarting at anus after stool. Smarting stinging in anus as if piles were coming, in evening. Tenesmus. Several motions of small, slender-formed fæces. Stools free; urging compelling to obey instantly; rectum seemed to have little grasp of the fæces, which pass as if pushed out from the colon. Uneasiness in abdomen, followed by a very loose, bright yellow, mucous stool, with some urging, forenoon. Full, soft, formed stool. Feculent stool of slender coils, sinking to bottom of utensil. Difficult stool with pressing down in rectum; fæces covered with epithelial-like shreds resembling worms; gelatinous mucus in form of rolls; evening. Bowels continued costive several days, then relaxed with pressive force of rectum, then alternately costive and relaxed. Costive stool with much pressure. No stool for several days.

14. Urinary Organs

Itching at orifice of urethra. Frequent desire to urinate. Urine straw-coloured, strong-smelling.

15. Male Sexual Organs

Feeble erections; diminished desire.

16. Female Sexual Organs

Menses: delayed; missed.

17. Respiratory Organs

Voice hoarse. Cough: dry, hard; tickling teasing with frothy mucous sputa; < in, or returning from, open air. Expectoration, with much difficulty, of frothy, and some yellow, mucus.

18. Chest

Great pain in chest, < by any movement, on deep inspiration. Chest: much stuffed sore.

19. Heart

Pulse full and quickened.

22. Upper Limbs

Slight shooting down muscles of arms in evening. Slight shooting pains in l. and r. shoulder-joints.

24. Generalities

Languor towards night; on waking.

26. Sleep

Sleepy after dinner. Sleep profound. Insomnia. Dreams: lascivious; of travelling; of cholera.

27. Fever

A cold feeling in streets as from a blast of cold air. Much heat of body and moderate sweat. Sweats freely.