Camphora officinalis
de Henry N. Guernsey — Key-Notes to the Materia Medica
Historical reference for practitioners and students.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.
Very strong characteristics of this drug are: coldness of the surface of the body to the touch, and in spite of this coldness, the patient throws off all covering, and will not remain covered; the face presents a bluish and pinched appearance.
In the autumn we frequently find patients suffering from the abuse of camphor during the summer for diarrhœa, etc.; stools smell of camphor, and other signs may be observed. The administration of Camphor, in a high potency, will very often effect a perfect cure in these cases.
Mental.--Anxiety.
Head.--Heaviness of; influenza; headache with catarrhal affections, brought on by change of the weather; sun-stroke, where there is restlessness and depression of spirits. Face pale. Eyes, sensation as if objects were too bright and shining; pupils contracted. Ears, ulcers in left. Mouth, saliva in; teeth feel too long; lock-jaw, with cold surface of the body.
Gastric.--Almost continual eructations after dinner; nausea relieved by eructation. Stomach, violent pressure in pit of; painful to touch.
Abdomen.--Burning in the.
Stool.--Asiatic cholera, with cramps in calves, coldness of body, anguish, burning in œsophagus and stomach. Stool blackish, involuntary.
Urine.--Burning: strangury.
Larynx.--Mucus in the air-passages with danger of suffocation.
Chest.--Stitches in left: oppression like suffocative catarrh.
Back.--Stitches from between the scapulæ through the chest.
Extremities.--Upper: Pain in elbow. Lower: Cracking of joints; tearing or cramp pains. Cramps in the calves of the legs; affections of the patella; back of the foot.
Fever.--Coldness of the body with paleness.
Generalities.--Diarrhœa with colic-like pains; pain in inner parts as if bruised. Sleeplessness; difficult motion of limbs. Great weakness. Sinking of vital forces with paleness.
Worse.--From cold air in general.
Better.--From warm air in general.
Remedies following well:--Arsen., Bellad., Coccul. ind., Nux vom., Rhus tox., and Veratr.
Antidotes:--Opium, Dulcam.