by C.M. Boger — General Analysis
Historical reference for practitioners and students. The statements below reflect the named author’s homeopathic teaching and do not establish treatment effectiveness. This text is not medical advice and must not replace appropriate diagnosis or care.
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Coccus cacti appears in 11 of the 21 classic books on Similia. Each was written to do a different job — here is what each adds on this remedy, with the opening of its entry.
“Coccus cacti, Linn. Class , Insecta; Nat. order , Hemiptera; Common name , Cochineal. Preparation , Tincture and triturations. Authorities. ( 1 to 28, Austrian provings, Oest. Zeit. f. Hom ., 4, 500)”
“Cochineal The clinical application of the symptoms of this remedy, place it among the medicines for spasmodic and whooping coughs, and catarrhal conditions of the bladder; spasmodic pains in kidneys, with visceral tenesmus. Anuria, anasarca, ascites. Early morning or afternoon sadness. Suboccipital soreness; worse…”
“MUCOUS MEMBRANES: FAUCES. Throat. Larynx. Chest. Genito-urinary. Left side. IRRITATING FAUCES. Periodically. Heat. Lying. Awaking. Cold exposure. Washing in cold water. Catarrh . Spasms. Hæmorrhage. Uric acid. Gouty-rheumatic. STRINGY DISCHARGES, EXPECTORATION, hanging from mouth, urine, feeling in throat, black…”
“Cochineal. N. O. Hemiptera. An insect infesting cactus plants. The dried bodies of the female insects are used for making a tincture or trituration. They also constitute a well-known dye. ( Coccus Cacti has sometimes been confounded with Coccinella septempunctata , both insects being known as "Cochenille" in French.)…”
“(Cochineal.) Pharmacology. — This insect is found wild in Mexico and Central America, inhabiting different species of Cactus, and allied genera of plants. It is also cultivated to some extent in Texas and New Mexico. The female insect is the one used in commerce, and the one we use in medicine. They are collected and…”
“Cochineal. Hemiptera. This insect is found wild in Mexico and Central America, inhabiting different species of cactus and allied genera of plants. It is also cultivated to some extent in Texas and New Mexico. The female insect is the one used in medicine and commerce. They are collected and killed either by immersing…”
“Cochineal. (The entire insect so named.) I. Provings.- 1 . Dr. CASPAR, æt. 30, in good health, took the 3rd dil. on 2 d. without result.-May 3rd, m., 10 dr. Ist dil. No effect. -4th, e., 10 dr. Ist dil. Woke early, then fell into a half sleep which was disturbed by frequent painful tearings in a r. carious molar. -5th…”
“There is a little remedy and will be a relief after the study of so many difficult ones. With fuller proving it will doubtless show itself a deep-acting constitutional remedy. Although it has cured some deep-seated chronic troubles, it has been used chiefly in acute affections. This is only because of the scantiness…”
“Ill-humored, irritable. Giddiness; the head feels dull, as if he had drank too much, with a white-coated tongue. Congestion of blood to the head when entering a warm room; better in the open air. Sensation as if a foreign body were lodged between the eyelid and the eye. Sensation as if the edges of the eyelids were…”
“We now leave the spider family, but as we are dealing with small fry of the insect order we will notice the Coccus cacti, a small bug or insect which infests the plants of the cactus species of Mexico and Central America. It has made its best record in curing affections of the respiratory organs. Whooping cough with…”
Kent's Repertory lists Coccus cacti in 1,378 rubrics. These are the ones where it carries the highest grade — the symptoms Kent treated as most characteristic. Most of them sit in EXTREMITIES (179), COUGH (133), HEAD (113), STOMACH (91), ABDOMEN (78).
