Cocculus appears in 12 of the 13 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.
- Allen HC — The keynotes that separate this remedy from its nearest neighbours.
“Cocculus Indicus (Menispermaccae) For women and children with light hair and eyes, who suffer severely during menstruation and pregnancy; unmarried and childless women. Adapted to book-worms; sensitive, romantic girls with irregular menstruation; rakes, onanists and persons debilitated by sexual excesses. Nausea or…”
- Allen TF — The raw proving record — symptoms as the provers reported them, unedited.
“Anamirta Cocculus, Wight and Arnott (Menispernum cocculus, Linn., Cocculus Indicus). Natural order , Menispermaceæ. Preparation , Tincture of the powdered seeds. Authorities.”
- Boericke — The quick clinical read — keynotes, modalities and the conditions it is actually prescribed in.
“Indian Cockle (COCCULUS) Within the sphere of action of Cocculus are many spasmodic and paretic affections, notably those affecting one-half of the body. Affects the cerebrum, will not cure convulsive seizures proceeding from the spinal cord (A. E. Hinsdale) Painful contracture of limbs and trunk; tetanus. Many of the…”
- Boger (Syn) — Generals and modalities in a short analytical portrait rather than a symptom list.
“SENSORIUM. Cerebro-spinal axis: OCCIPUT. Lumbar. Muscles. Female sexual organs. One side. Motion: BOAT. CARS. Carriage. Slight causes: Loss of sleep. Exertion. Pain. Noise. Touch. Emotions. Anxiety. Cold. Open air. Eating. During menses. Acute senses with heavy or paralytic, muscular relaxation. Too weak to hold up…”
- Clarke — The widest entry — sources, provings, clinical uses, relationships and antidotes in one place.
“Indicus. N. O. Menispermaceæ. A tincture is prepared from the powdered seeds, which contain a crystallisable principle Picrotoxine (which see), a powerful poison. Anger, effects of / Bones, affections of / Cerebro-spinal meningitis / Chorea / Colic / Convulsions / Debility / Faintness / Fear, effects of / Hæmorrhoids…”
- Hering — Graded symptoms, each weighted by how often provers and practice confirmed it.
“Cocculus Indicus. Menispermaceæ. Tincture of the powdered seeds, which contain a crystallizable principle, Picrotoxine, a powerful poison. Cocculus was used by the ancients as a poison for fish, stupefying them, and rendering it easy to catch them. It has been, and still is, extensively used for adulterating malt…”
- Kent — The mental and general picture — who the patient is, before what the remedy cures.
“We will study the general system and The mind as usual. Cocculus slows down all the activities of the body and mind, producing a sort of paralytic weakness. Behind time in all its actions. Slowly: All the nervous impressions are slow in reaching the centres. If you pinch this patient on the great toe he wants a minute…”
- Lippe (KN) — Only the symptoms Lippe considered reliable enough to prescribe on.
“One-sided paralysis with numbness of the limbs. Paralysis from the small of the back downward (bladder, rectum and legs). Disposition to tremble. Stiffness and crackling of the joints. Sensation in inner organs of emptiness or constriction. From little exercise be becomes very much fatigued, even to fainting. Bones…”
- Lippe (MM) — The strict Hahnemannian reading — the symptom picture without clinical interpretation.
“He sits as if wrapped in deep, sad thoughts, and does not take notice of any thing; anxiety. The time passes too quickly. Giddiness, with nausea, when raising himself up in bed. Vertigo, as from intoxication. Stupid feeling in the head (cold perspiration on forehead and hands). Cloudiness in the head, increased by…”
- Lippe (Red) — Keynotes with the most-trusted ones marked as red-line symptoms.
“Common name: indian cockle. Within the sphere of action of Cocculus are many spasmodic and paretic affections, notably those affecting one-half of the body (Br.). Often useful in those who nurse the sick (D.). Bad effects from anger (Bry., Ign. Nux-V., Staph.) or from Chamomilla (Coff., Nux-V.). Aversion to the open…”
- Nash — The comparisons — the remedy set beside the ones it is most often confused with.
“Weakness of cervical muscles, can hardly hold the head up. Weakness in small of back, as if paralyzed; gives out when walking; can hardly stand, walk or talk. Hands and feet get numb; asleep. Headache with nausea and vomiting; gets faint and sick on rising up, or riding in carriage or boat. General sensation of…”
