Colocynthis appears in 11 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.
“Squirting Cucumber. (Cucurbitaceae) Agonizing pain in abdomen causing patient to bend double , with restlessness, twisting and turning to obtain relief; > by hard pressure (> by heat, Mag. p.). Pains: are worse after eating or drinking; compel patient to bend double (Mag. p. - < by bending double, Dios.); menses…”
- Allen TF — The raw proving record — symptoms as the provers reported them, unedited.
“Citrullus colocynthis, Schrader (Cucumis colocynthis, L.). Natural order , Cucurbitaceæ. Common name , Bitter apple. Preparation , Tincture of the pulp of the fruit. Authorities.”
- Boericke — The quick clinical read — keynotes, modalities and the conditions it is actually prescribed in.
“Bitter Cucumber Often indicated in the transition season when the air is cold, but the sun is still powerful enough to heat the blood. Develops most of its symptoms in the abdomen and head, causing intense neuralgias. It is especially suitable for irritable persons easily angered, and ill effects therefrom. Women with…”
- Boger (Syn) — Generals and modalities in a short analytical portrait rather than a symptom list.
“NERVES (large): TRIFACIAL. ABDOMINAL. Spinal. SCIATIC. DIGESTIVE TRACT (NAVEL). INTESTINES. Ovaries. Kidneys. Left side. EMOTIONS. VEXATION. Chagrin. Anger. Lying on painless side. Night, in bed. Drafts. Taking cold. HARD PRESSURE. Coffee. Heat. Rest. Gentle motion. After stool or flatus. Acts on digestive tract, then…”
- Clarke — The widest entry — sources, provings, clinical uses, relationships and antidotes in one place.
“Citrullus colocynthis. Cucumis colocynthis. Bitter Apple. N. O. Cucurbitaceæ. Native of Turkey. Tincture of pulp of fruit. Cataract / Ciliary neuralgia / Colic / Coxalgia / Diabetes / Diarrhœa / Dysentery / Dysmenorrhœa / Glaucoma / Headache / Hoarseness / Menstrual colic / Neuralgia / Ovaries, affections of /…”
- Hering — Graded symptoms, each weighted by how often provers and practice confirmed it.
“Squirting Cucumber. Cucurbitaceæ. An annual resembling the common watermelon ; herbaceous stems with rough hairs, trail upon the ground, or climb ; flowers yellow ; fruit globular, of the size of a small orange, yellow and smooth when ripe, containing within a hard coriaceous rind, a white, spongy, medullary matter…”
- Kent — The mental and general picture — who the patient is, before what the remedy cures.
“Pains: The principal feature of Colocynth is its severe, tearing, neuralgic pains; so severe that the patient is unable to keep still. Sometimes they are > by motion - at least it appears that they are worse during rest- > by pressure and sometimes > by heat. Pains occur in the face, abdomen, along the course of the…”
- Lippe (KN) — Only the symptoms Lippe considered reliable enough to prescribe on.
“Inclination to become angry and indignant. Constrictions and contraction of internal and external parts. All the limbs are drawn together. Shortening of the muscles. Twitching of the muscles. Stiffness of the joints. Tearing pains longitudinally. Colicky pains in the abdomen compelling one to bend double with great…”
- Lippe (MM) — The strict Hahnemannian reading — the symptom picture without clinical interpretation.
“Aversion to talk; disinclined to answer questions. Inclined to be angry and indignant. Delirium, with eyes open and desire to flee. Disinclined to occupy oneself, even averse to visit his otherwise well-like friends. Easy intoxication (from drinking beer). One-sided headache, with nausea and vomiting, (5 P.M.)…”
- Nash — The comparisons — the remedy set beside the ones it is most often confused with.
“Disinclined to talk, to see friends, impatient, easily offended, anger with indignation; colic or other complaints as a consequence. Colic, terrible; they seek relief by bending double or pressing something hard against the abdomen. Dysentery-like diarrhœa; renewed after least food or drink, often with the…”
