Conium Maculatum- The Essential Features

1. Conium Maculatum- The Essential Features

The following is a full and exact copy of Conium Maculatum contained
in Materia Medica Viva Volume !.
CONIUM MACULATUM
"oison #emloc$.
%.&. 'm(elliferae.
Tincture of fresh plant in flower.
THE ESSENTIAL FEATURES
The idea of paralysis in Conium is not so much the one we $now from )ocrates* death (y
the *noggin of hemloc$*+ real paralysis comes only as an end result and this may ta$e a
very long time twenty years thirty years or more. Conium suffers with a gradually
progressing wea$ness and paresis and gradual is the $ey word here.
The idea is much more that of sclerosis of (ecoming hard especially the glands which
(ecome sollen and indurated. A graduall! "rogressing ea#ness with the formation
of indurations during the decline is the picture of Conium pathology.
Mental $aral!sis and Induration
This process develops on all three levels. &n the mental level we o(serve a gradual
decline o% the intellectual ca"acities.
The patient (ecomes more and more dull+ he has more and more difficulty in
comprehension.
Thin$ing is slowed down memory (ecomes wea$ and the patient (ecomes forgetful. #is
five senses lose their acuity and his reserves slowly e(( away. , fre-uent and
characteristic symptom is an ina&ilit! to sustain mental e%%ort over any length of time.
,ll these symptoms can also (e found in other remedies+ (ut the characteristic here is the
snail*s pace of the progress. .t happens so gradually that the patient is not aware of the
process himself. ,fter some years he may go (ac$ in his memory and say */hat is
happening to me0* 1ut it ta$es him years to see the declining process. %or is this decline
o(served (y the people around him especially those who are in contact with him every
day. The process develops too slowly and undramatically.
Even when he finally feels that something serious and deeply distur(ing is going on he
will often say nothing to any(ody (ecause no one else seems to have noticed anything.
Finally a $ind of stupefaction ta$es over and now he feels that this state is definitely
leading him into a serious condition of degeneration of im(ecility and premature senility.
Conium produces as it were areas of sclerosis of callus in the (rain. .t seems to (e a
remedy that is very set in its thin$ing to the extent that it (ecomes su"erstitious.
Conium is the main remedy in superstition or *superstitious thoughts*. .t is li$e an
induration in a certain area of the (rain.
The patients tend to have com"ulsi'e thoughts and to execute com"ulsi'e actions (ut
only in a separate arena of their mental lives. The remainder of the (rain is wor$ing
(eautifully and they are otherwise normal people performing their tas$s holding their
2o(s and fulfilling all their social functions (ut in this separate mental arena they have
some fixed ideas which they cannot get rid of.
Those superstitious o(sessions may (e more or less harmless in themselves. They might
thin$ *.f . don*t touch the corner when . go around it something (ad is going to happen
to me*. &r *. mustn*t step on the crac$s (etween the sla(s of the pavement and if . do .
will suffer some misfortune*. These ideas may ma$e life intolera(le for the people around
them.
. remem(er a case in which the wife related that her hus(and would not ta$e off
his trousers to go to (ed until everything was a(solutely -uiet outside. .f he could
hear a car he was una(le to ta$e off his trousers. )o he waited until he couldn*t
hear the car any more and then he started pulling off his trousers.
1ut soon the noise of another car came and he couldn*t continue ta$ing off his
trousers3 he had to wait for a(solute -uiet. This man was a manager in a (an$ he
had a responsi(le position and he was normal in every other way (ut he could
not (e tal$ed out of this o(session.
&f course there was more to it that. #e admitted that his memory had (egun to
fail and that his concentration was not the same as it had (een. #e could not read
as much as he used to (ecause he was slower to comprehend. ,ll of these
functions came (ac$ after the remedy Conium 14M in a single dose and the
compulsive action has disappeared.
Conium*s fixed ideas often 5(ut not always6 centre around needing a(solute -uiet as in
the case a(ove and pro(lems with strangers. This is especially true regarding toilets.
They often cannot urinate or pass stool if there are people near the (athroom. ,nd they
can get terri(le constipation (ecause of that especially when they are travelling (ecause
there are nearly always people around. .t is (eautiful to see how such (ehaviour is ta$en
away (y the correct remedy.
Emotional $aral!sis and Induration
&n the emotional level we again witness this gradual paralysis with induration. The
emotions are gradually wea$ened and paraly7ed until it is impossi(le to (ring them to the
surface to *move* them. The final state is a condition of complete indifference and apathy
when they find no interest in anything. ,nd when they have gone so far they are no more
a(le to show emotion when it is needed or appropriate to the surroundings.
.f they get a present they cannot (e happy and they are also una(le to cry when they
would li$e to+ their feelings may still (e there (ut they are petrified and indurated they
cannot (e moved. Then they (ecome gloomy and unhappy+ they do not want company
and they feel una(le to communicate with any(ody.
1ut this indifference doesn*t develop -uic$ly and again it ta$es a long time until the
pathology has gone this far. 1efore that state of indifference there is a stage where
patients are worried (ecause they feel that something is happening with their mental
condition. They are worried a(out their health they wonder what is happening in their
mind how all this will end. They (ecome anxious and in this state they do not want to (e
alone. .n Conium the aversion to company is not a very strong feature.
#ow can we spea$ of induration presented on the emotional level0 .t manifests as a $ind
of insensitivity. Conium people are not sweet persons they are hard *down to earth*
materialistic and practical people. ,s the doctor you will see that they are demanding.
They will (e loyal to you as long as they feel you can help them and as you are not
hurting them. 1ut if there is a stage where in their opinion you are not helping them
enough they will immediately let you $now demanding their *rights*.
Conium people are materialists in a different fashion to $latina. They don*t have the
extreme egotism and haughtiness of $latina they don*t thin$ that they are *(ig*. 8ather
Conium*s attachment is to the material world around him his property his ha(its his
family.
Conium says3 *This is mine. This ta(le is mine. This is my house*. &nce any of this is
ta$en away from him there is a definite mor(id pathological reaction and this is often
accompanied (y an induration on the physical level a tumour which is usually
malignant.
These symptoms after a *material loss* can occur very suddenly even immediately at
-uite another speed compared to the slow and gradual paralysis of the remedy. .f for
instance the patient*s house (urns down and many valua(le things are lost he can
develop symptoms very -uic$ly especially hard tumours even cancer and in such a case
Conium will often (e indicated.
Su""ression o% Se(ualit!
The (iggest material loss for Conium is the de"ri'ation o% regular se(ual acti'it!. The
moment they lose regular sex with their partner pro(lems start. The (ody may function
well as long as there is a regular release on the sexual level a release of the hormones at
regular intervals with a specific partner.
This is what they need to feel in (alance otherwise the (alance is lost. Therefore you will
often see Conium indicated in women who have lost or separated from their partner and
do not have a new love affair.
Female Conium patients depend on the regular sexual activity they are used to and if the
hus(and dies the woman does not easily start a new affair. 1ecause of this failure to
release the hormones pro(lems will arise which can go from vertigo which is usually
the first to appear to trem(ling and wea$ness.
.t can go as far as developing severe pro(lems even cancer and especially cancer o% the
&reast or of the uterus. Cancer o% cer'i( uteri is also often seen. The idea is that a hard
tumour develops mostly of the glands (ut it can (e anywhere.
Conium is the main remedy for the gland that is affected greatly (y sexual activity in
man3 the "rostate. .f a suppression of sexual urge in a Conium man is present the first
gland that is affected is the prostate it can swell and even cause "rostate cancer.
Moreover Conium is an important remedy in indurated and malignant selling o% the
testes.
,lso we may see hypochondria in unmarried men with very strict principles of sexual
morality3 'Hypochondriacal complaints, especially in unmarried people who are strictly
abstinent in sexual matters'.
#ere the comparison with Platina is again very interesting. Conium people have a strong
sexual urge as do "latina (ut the difference is that Conium are not oversexed they are
more on the practical side. They don*t thin$ of sex day and night li$e "latina rather they
loo$ upon sex as something they 2ust need from time to time to release their hormones+
they are people without illusions matter of fact in their approach to sex.
9ou have to understand the mentality3 they feel that the good things which we can en2oy
in life are given to us it is our right to en2oy them. They do not tend to have (ad feelings
feelings of guilt or dou(t neither do they tend to hypersexual (ehaviour. /e can say they
$now exactly what they want3 sex and the release of orgasm is what they need to $eep
their organism functioning that is the idea and they ta$e it as a fact or as it were their
right.
1ut if this outlet stops suddenly once this *right* is ta$en away from them then there is a
$ind of di77iness which they constantly complain a(out they say that their head is never
clear. They start trem(ling sha$ing all over and a feeling of paralytic wea$ness
eventually ta$es them over. The di77iness can (ecome really severe and Meniere*s
)yndrome may develop. Things seem to (e turning around them.
The worst situation is when they lie in (ed and want to turn to the other side+ this
movement aggravates them terri(ly. 5This should (e differentiated from the similar
symptom in Silicea where the vertigo in (ed only arises from turning to the left.6
&n sudden motion for example on turning the head to loo$ (ehind them e'er!thing
seems to turn around them. They complain a(out the head pro(lem it is nearly
indescri(a(le for them3 they do not say vertigo instead they use words li$e a (u77ing
inside the head a noise a di77iness or similar terms.
.n a recent case from ,rgentina 5-uoted in :lassische #omoopathie ;<!=6 a ;>-year-old
man got )'ertigo* orse hen turning around in &ed* ith a %eeling as though the
&rain had gone to slee"). This came on after his wife had 5in his words6 *condemned
him to celi(acy*.
.n other cases patients start to trem(le and feel as if paraly7ed all over+ even mentally
paraly7ed una(le to perform any duties with pro(lems in concentrating+ una(le to stand
mental effort for any length of time.
Conium are also fixed on their sexual patterns not at all flexi(le. They are not oversexed
and they do not tend to promiscuity or extramarital relationships. &n the contrary when
they ma$e a decision to $eep with one partner they will stay together until the partner
dies.
Typical symptoms will (e3 complaints of swollen glands the head is not clear and there
are headaches even very severe headaches or headaches together with vertigo. The
patient starts trem(ling and feels wea$. /ith this picture you might prescri(e
+elsemium* Cocculus or Car&o 'egeta&ilis. 1ut once you have the information a(out
the loss of a partner and the a(rupt end to sexual activity then there is only one remedy
that will help and this is Conium.
&f course such a history also happens to other people who do not need a remedy (ut
where other organisms can manage this interruption and can (alance themselves it will
(e Conium who almost invaria(ly will develop pathological symptoms.
Further Mental S!m"toms
)ome proving symptoms to show how the Conium pathology affects the intellect3
'Dullness; difficulty in understanding what he is reading, with confusion of the head'.
'Dullness, like stupefaction; difficulty in understanding what he is reading'.
'Want of memory'.
)Forget%ulness and weakness in head*.
)Una&le to correctl! e("ress onesel% by talking, with difficulty of recollecting things'.
)Ina&ilit! to sustain an! mental e%%ort).
There are often states of difficulty in concentration and a(sence of mind even
insensi&ilit! and con%usion especially after aa#ing %rom a midda! na".
There are many emotional symptoms where an(iet!* gloom! thoughts* %ears and
"ee'ishness dominate. They correspond to the state where the patient (egins to feel his
decline 5see a(ove6 (ut they can also appear in other situations.
For instance3 'Deeply absorbed in thought, he meditates anxiously about present and
future, searching for solitude'. 'Hysterical anxiety'. 'll humour and gloom'. '!onstant ill
humour and pee"ishness'. 'Pee"ish mood; does not know what to do; time passes too
slowly'.
From a proving (y 8o(inson3 '#he feels pee"ish, "exed, and easil! "ut out a&out tri%les).
/here these symptoms dominate there may (e a rather contradictory attitude toward
human company as is manifested in this proving symptom3 '#huns people and their
approach, and at the same time dread to be alone'.
.n the context of the menses there are also states of sensitivity tearfulness and
restlessness. ),e%ore the menses aching in all limbs, with tear%ul mood* restlessness
and an(ious orr! about trifles'. $r% '#he is easily mo"ed by trifles, mo"ed to tears'.
.n the !hronic Diseases we even find a verita(le weeping fit which later transforms into
vertigo and wea$ness3 'Paroxysm% alone at home, she feels an inclination to weep; after
yielding to it, the weeping changes to a loud sobbing; afterwards flickering before the
eyes and indistinct "ision, so that she had to hold on to something when walking;
afterwards weariness in all limbs and a dull headache'.
, num(er of mental symptoms corresponds with the stage of indifference apathy
emotional paralysis and petrefaction3 '&ery ill'humoured, e"ery afternoon, from ( pm to )
pm, as though a great guilt weighed upon him, with "aral!sed %eeling in all the lim&s*
indi%%erence and taking no interest in anything'. '*orose mood; e"erything about him
makes an unpleasant impression upon him'. 'Disinclination for work'. )No "leasant
%eelings hatsoe'er).
Conium has successfully (een used in depressive states and it is easy to see that the
depressive element prevails in the remedy. There is on record a cured case of a woman
who fell into a *very unhappy mood* every 1? days. )he had no desire to dress to eat
anything to tal$ or to see her children.
The periodic recurrence of this unhappy state may (e a hint that Conium could also (e
indicated in cyclic manic-depressive states. ,nd though the depressive symptoms
preponderate we still see proving symptoms li$e this3 'He is a"erse to being near people,
and to the talk of those passing him; is inclined to sei+e hold of and abuse them'.
, cured case fragments of which are very often -uoted in literature shows that Conium
can (e useful when there is an alternation of mar$ed manic and depressive stages3
*, 1@-year-old (oy... (ecame mentally ill... .t was peculiar that he was alternatel! in a
de"ressed mood %or -. da!s and then again in an e(cited mood %or -. da!s. #e is
silent for 14 days sad and worried pic$s his fingers lies in (ed most of the time does
not li$e to answer -uestions with more fre-uent urination during the night. Confused
feeling in head often sits as if he were in a dream. Eats and drin$s (ut has a stool only
every third day+ wea$ memory. Timid cannot (e persuaded to any wor$. )leep very
restless. Then very excited for 14 days vehement domineering -uarrelsome tends to
scold. Ai$es to wear his (est clothes ma$es useless purchases and then cares very little
for them wastes or ruins them+ does not want to wor$ prefers to play+ pic$s -uarrels
does not tolerate contradiction. Continuously pic$s his nose which (leeds easily*.
Conditions o% /ea#ness
,s mentioned a(ove the Conium wea$ness increases very gradually year after year
finally amounting to complete paralysis and this process may ta$e many years. Conium
is an important remedy in chronic recreational drug users+ not for the acute conse-uences
of high doses of cocaine for instance (ut for people who are more careful with drugs.
They ta$e small doses of drugs they en2oy them little (y little for many years and very
gradually they $eep going into a state of loss of power on all levels mental emotional
and physical so slowly that it is hard to perceive. ,fter many years the mind is totally
paralysed they cannot thin$ any more imagination is exhausted all energy is lost. .n
chronic drug users who do not ta$e large or strong doses of narcotics Conium will (e
indicated if there is such a gradual loss of power.
. include alcohol as a recreational drug here+ Conium is in any case sensitive to alcohol
and is easily affected (y it. #ahnemann writes3 ',he least -uantity of spirituous drink
intoxicates him'. #eadaches are aggravated from alcohol and the characteristic process of
wea$ening and decline may (e sped up (y alcohol. 1ut we have to $now that underneath
there is a predisposition+ alcohol and drugs may cataly7e and intensify the process (ut
they are not the deepest reason for the pathology.
&n the physical plane the wea$ness of Conium especially manifests in the urinary and
genital systems. .n spite of the intensity of the sexual desire the sexual powers are wea$
and there is often impotence. Men tend to have e.aculatio praecox and women may also
get orgasms without even touching their partner. To -uote #ahnemann*s own delicate
phrase3 Emission e'en hile %rolic#ing ith a oman)0
. once treated a female patient who used to flirt with priests. )he li$ed to ma$e
them excited and she would have a complete orgasm while she was flirting with
them without ever touching them. This symptom made me thin$ of Conium. 9ou
may wonder why . call this a state of wea$ness. 1ut in fact this is how .
understand it3 the sexual organs are wea$ened almost paraly7ed and they are
una(le to hold (ac$ the release of the orgasm. , little stimulation then orgasm
happens and that is it.
, $eynote for Conium is interru"ted urination. "eople in a Conium state will (e
urinating and the urination suddenly stops in the middle of the flow. They wait a
moment and it starts again stops again and so on three four or five times (efore the
urinary tract is empty. ',he discharge of urine suddenly stops during urination and only
continues after a while'.
)uch a symptom may point to a wea$ness of the (ladder in expelling the urine (ut
sometimes also to a stenosis of the urethra or to the swelling of the prostate. .f the urethra
is narrowed (ecause of an enlargement of the prostate gland Conium may (e indicated as
well. .f the urethral stricture is caused (y inflammation and cicatri7ation you should also
thin$ of ,hu.a and *edorrhinum when other symptoms agree.
,n interesting modality3 complaints of the extremities which respond to Conium are
relie'ed &! letting the a%%ected lim& hang don. This modality is indeed a strange
rare and peculiar symptom that should call Conium to mind. ,s :ent puts it3 '!onium
differs from a great many medicines. t is common for pains and aches to be relie"ed by
putting the foot up on a chair; by putting them up in bed. /ut the patient with
rheumatism, with ulceration and the other strange sufferings of the legs, will lie down
and permits his legs to hang o"er the bed up as far as the knee'.
,n ulcer on the foot that is painful even when lying in (ed is ameliorated (y hanging the
legs down from the $nee. /e may comprehend this peculiar symptom (y $nowing the
pathology of the remedy especially from the case of )ocrates who o(served that its
actions started (y paraly7ing first the lower extremities. .t is therefore possi(le that
Conium restricts the (lood flow in the lower extremities causing pro(lems thereafter.
The Conium 1ertigo
Vertigo is one of the most prominent features of the remedy. .t may occur on rising from
(ed or from a seat or on wal$ing on going downstairs when lying etc. 1ut the most
characteristic modality is 'ertigo on turning in &ed. ,lso on mo'ing the e!es or the
head especially in sideways motion. .n this $ind of vertigo Conium is the main remedy
together with /elladonna especially when the vertigo occurs when turning around in
(ed. Clar$e mentions a case of lum(ago with the symptom *cannot turn over in (ed
without (eing di77y* that was cured with Conium.
9ou may also compare !occulus (ecause the Conium vertigo fre-uently has to do with
an accommodation wea$ness of the eyes as in Cocculus.
%ash reports a case where a patient seemed to have all the symptoms of locomotor
ataxia. The stri$ing symptom was that he could not when wal$ing turn the head or the
eyes the least (it sideways without staggering or falling. /hen he went out with his wife
he always wal$ed in front of her or (ehind her (ut never (y her sideB This strange
(ehaviour made %ash thin$ of Conium.
)ome more proving symptoms and cured symptoms relating to the Conium vertigo3
Vertigo in the morning on rising from (ed.
Very di77y while wal$ing.
1ertigo* li#e turning in a circle on rising from his seat.
Vertigo worse when lying down as though the (ed were turning in a circle.
Vertigo on (ecoming erect after stooping as if the head would (urst.
1ertigo on loo#ing around as though the patient were to fall sideways.
'$n raising my eyes from the ob.ect upon which they had been fixed to a more distant one
the "ision was confused, and a feeling of giddiness suddenly came o"er me. So long as
m! e!es ere %i(ed on a gi'en o&2ect the giddiness disa""eared000 *,nother prover
even staggered when wal$ing (ut as soon as he closed his eyes '... could now walk
straight and steady, and, what was more, without any feeling of giddiness'.
+eneralities
+landular induration as a result o% contusion. Conium has acted very well even in
mammary cancer which developed after a (low against the (reast in cancer of the lip
after long-time pressure (y a to(acco pipe etc.
Aassitude and wea$ness even amounting to fainting. , stri$ing symptom is a tremulous
ea#ness a%ter e'er! stool that ceases in the open air. '#udden relaxation 0a kind of
paralytic weakness1 while walking' has also (een cured (y Conium. 1ut usually the
wea$ness will develop very slowly and deeply as discussed a(ove. '#o weak that she has
to lie down; sick and weary in the morning in bed, with ill'humour, sleepiness and pains
in the stomach'.
The paralytic states of Conium usually &egin &elo and "roceed u"ards 5as in
)ocrates* death6+ this direction of development may also manifest in other Conium
symptoms.
The! are a%%ected &! cold and e(ertion.
Conium patients tend to have com"laints %rom o'er-li%ting.
They are particularly sensitive to complaints from wal$ing in the open air where exertion
and cold may com(ine3 *2reat liability to catch a cold, e"en in a room, after a walk in the
open air, during which he had perspired'. 'Walking in the open air makes her weary, and
the air affects her*. Extreme exhaustion sudden relaxation ill humour and other
complaints appear after wal$ing in the open air.
/armth will usually ameliorate particularly warmth of the sun. *Chilly with trem(ling in
all lim(s and therefore she has to remain constantly in the warmth of the sun*. 1right
light however will often distur( the patient very much and excessive photopho(ia is a
stri$ing symptom of Conium.
Two strange symptoms that can (e understood as $eynotes3
$ers"iration as soon as one closes the e!es. This symptom permitted Aippe to cure a
C4-year-old man who suffered from hemiplegia.
)The clothes lie u"on chest and shoulders li#e a load). Conium may (e indicated in
mononucleosis infectiosa especially in the glandular form 5if the symptoms agree of
course6. &ther remedies fre-uently indicated in this disease are .odium and Mercurius.
Head
)1iolent headache ith 'ertigo from which she suffered for three or four days+ she was
sad and silent 2ust sitting there the whole time*. )ic$ headaches with vertigo and an
ina&ilit! to urinate. There are also headaches with unsatis%actor! and too small stools0
Constant sensation of confusion and stupefaction in the head. *Constant dullness of the
forehead in the region of the eye(rows and the root of the nose*. ,lcohol aggravates
even when mixed with water and drun$ in very small -uantities. *Even watered wine rises
to his head*.
Dreat sensiti'it! of the (rain especially to 2ar. *&n sha$ing the head headache from the
forehead to the occiput as if something were loose in there*. *&n every step a snapping in
the vertex without pain*. *Forcing and griping in the forehead seemingly coming from
the stomach with much sensiti'eness o% the &rain3 the &rain is sha#en e'en &! a noise
or &! tal#ing). There are also headaches from over-study.
Sensations o% hea'iness in the head especially in the occiput arising when sitting (ent
forward and ceasing when raising the head.
)trange sensations3 )Num&ness* ith sensation o% coldness* o% one side o% the head)0
)ensation in the right half of the (rain as of a large foreign (ody. #ot spots on top or (ac$
of head worse from excitement or overwor$.
&ften there are severe headaches from within outward. 'Headache, as if the brain were
too full and the skull would burst, in the morning, on waking'.
)tic$ing pain in top of head and forehead from within outward. Very severe occipital
pains on every heart(eat )as though the occi"ut ere "ierced ith a #ni%e). Thro((ing
headache felt in the forehead.
&n the other hand there is also a sensation of )gidd! constriction o% the &rain) or a
headache )as i% e(ternall! contracted) a(ove the os frontale or else a headache )li#e a
com"ression %rom &oth tem"les after e"ery meal'.
Erawing in the head as soon as one goes out in the cold air+ relieved on closing the eyes.
/ith this there is a sensation of 'great weakness in the head and the whole body'.
Tearing pains in occiput and (ac$ of nec$ (ut also in the or(its with constant nausea
urging to lie down.
#eadaches with (lindness or distur(ances of vision also with a sensation as i%
something li#e a %ringe as %alling o'er e!es.
Falling hair.
E!es
The most important symptom is a ea#ness o% the e!e muscles* and "articularl! o% the
accommodation o% the e!es sometimes amounting to paralysis. The remedy may (e
indicated in "res&!o"ia as #ahnemann already presumed in the *ateria *edica Pura.
'3ar'sightedness; could distinctly see rather distant ob.ects'.
'4ffected with a weakness and dazzling of my eyes, together with a giddiness and
debility of my whole body, especially the muscles of my arms and legs, so that when
attempted to walk was apt to stagger like a person who had drunk too much li-uor'.
4ou&le 'ision occasionally occurs as well as s-uinting etc. Conium affects all the
muscles in the region of the eyes producing difficulties with every $ind of motion of the
eyes on loo$ing around or (ehind turning the head etc. *Eyes feel as if pulled outward
from nose*. ,nd3 )He could hardl! raise the e!elids* hich seemed "ressed don &! a
hea'! eight)0
/ea$ness of vision may (e cured with Conium (ut also many other distur(ances of
vision. For instance3 )ees (efore his eyes dar# s"ots and coloured stri"es or clouds and
(right spots or else &os* sometimes "la!ing in all rain&o colours+ red vision.
'3iery +ig+ags, mo"ing through each other before the sight, on closing the eyes at night'.
E(cessi'e "hoto"ho&ia fre-uently without any signs of inflammation in the eye.
Ea77ling of the eyes from light of day even in the room. "hotopho(ia may (e coupled
with lid spasms. From a classic case3 fre-uently saw the most excessi"e photophobia
with spasm of the lids. 4fter hard efforts to separate the lids it finally succeeded, and a
flood of hot tears spurted out, but cornea as well as sclerotica pro"ed free of any
inflammatory process'.
Eistur(ances of vision that are caused (y in2ury as for instance3 ophthalmia after in2ury
(y a wood-chip with dimness of cornea+ dimness o% the lens 5cataract6 a%ter a &lo
against the e!e etc.
Much and constant dilatation of the pupils.
,urning in the e!es* and es"eciall! o% the inner sur%ace o% the e!elids0 "ressure in
eyes worse when reading.
, (iting pain in the inner canthi as if something caustic had come in with lachrymation.
.tching (eneath the eyes ru((ing does not ameliorate (ut leads to a (urning (iting pain.
Re"eated mani%estation o% st!es especially if styes (ecame indurated , strange
symptom from 1onninghausen3 cold feeling in eyes when wal$ing in the open air.
Ears
.n Meniere)s disease it is the first remedy to (e thought of.
Much accumulation o% eara( even o(struction of the external meatus with "artial
dea%ness. Conium may act curatively especially when this complaint is coupled with
pain in the liver region.
)omething comes (efore the ears on (lowing the nose and they feel stopped.
&r else3 painful sensitivity of hearing noise startles him.
%oises in the ears3 ringing (u77ing humming thro((ing. Tinnitus.
Tearing and stinging pains in and around the ears.
&r else3 drawing stinging pain from within outward in the ear.
Selling and induration o% the "arotid gland with painful tension of the s$in.
Nose
Tendency to (ore or pic$ in the nose which (leeds easily.
Epistaxis when snee7ing.
Excessively acute sense of smell.
1urning at the nostrils.
)titching and sore pain in the nasal septum also on tip of nose.
Too fre-uent snee7ing or o&struction o% nose* hich ma! &ecome chronic. *&(structed
nose for years* 5#ahnemann6.
Eischarge of pus from the nose mingled with (lood.
1efore the menses pain inside in root of nose aggravated (y (lowing nose and pressure.
Face
Eruptions in face itching+ pustular or vesicular+ gnawing ulcers in face. 1listers at the
upper lip at the margin of the red portion painful. Indurated tumours on chee$s and
es"eciall! on li"s also as a conse-uence of pressure or contusion 5to(acco pipe6.
Malignant tumours of the lips. #ardening and enlargement of the su(mandi(ular glands.
Tearing stinging face-ache directly (efore the ear+ or a drawing pain from the 2aw to the
ear or else painful tension near the ear. Facial pains that mostly occur at night.
Mouth
Erawing toothache extending through the temples aggravated (y eating cold things (ut
not (y cold drin$ing.
Erawing 2er$ing or gnawing toothache with a sensation as if the teeth were loose
especially on mastication.
Tongue swollen stiff and painful with difficult speech and articulation. "aralysis of the
tongue.
)aliva tasting sour or (itter taste in mouth.
Throat
,itter taste in throat.
Constant inclination to swallow especially when wal$ing in the wind. )trange rising in
the throat with a sense of stuffing as if something were lodged there. This may (e a
hysterical symptom 5globus hystericu63 )$ressure %rom "it o% stomach u"ards into
oeso"hagus* as though a round &od! ere ascending). &r else3 '3ullness in pit of
throat, with fruitless efforts to belch'.
Res"iration* Chest and Cough
.rritation to cough in the larynx especially in this form3 dr! s"ot in the lar!n(* here
there is a craling* and almost constant irritation to dr! cough. There may also (e
itching tingling or scraping in throat provo$ing dry cough.
Conium cured a 1=-year-old (oy who had a *clapping noise* in the larynx with the act of
expiration. The noise was distinctly audi(le and was usually preceded (y mar$ed
spasmodic twitching of the right facial muscles.
Eifficult inspiration also with air hunger+ with a sensation as if the chest couldn*t expand
enough or else with a feeling of constriction of the chest+ especially in the morning on
wa$ing and in the evening in (ed.
Cough that occurs almost e(clusi'el! hen %irst l!ing don* immediatel! a%ter
assuming a l!ing "osition+ has to sit up and cough it out afterwards he has rest.
Cough hich is triggered &! l!ing don and dee" &reathing+ especially in the evening
and at night.
Loose cough* &ut nothing can &e e("ectorated+ has to swallow the mucus which is
detached (y the cough. Conium is often indicated in o(stinate dry cough remaining after
influen7a or a cold.
Cough which is followed (y vomiturition. *%ight cough continued without any
intermission until gagging and 'omiting occurred).
A shar" thrust directl! through the chest from the sternum to the spine.
)titching pains in the sternum and in the whole thorax are fre-uent with Conium.
)1iolent stitches in side* as i% a #ni%e ere "lunged into it* causing loud moaning)0
&r else3 violent stitches in the right side of the chest a(out the nipple on every inspiration
while wal$ing relieved (y hard pressure with the hand. Ery cough excited (y the
slightest exposure to cold air even (y putting arms out of (ed F#epar6.
Heart
$al"itation o% the heart a%ter stool with intermission of heart (eats. Violent palpitation3
after drin$ing when rising from (ed.
Stomach
/ith many Conium complaints there is loss of appetite. 1ut Conium has mar$ed
desires7 %or salt and salt! %ood+ for sour food+ %or co%%ee. Mil$ does not agree. 1read
tastes (ad and *does not go down*.
Em"t! eructations are fre-uent. They can start in the morning and continue all day.
'sually they are odourless and tasteless (ut there is also *putrid eructation*.
Much nausea a%ter e'er! meal with inclination to vomit and often enough with real
vomiting. Conium may (e indicated in 'omiting in "regnanc!.
1iolent s"asmodic "ains in the stomach* es"eciall! i% cou"led ith a tendenc! to
consti"ation. From a cured case3 '3eeling as though the stomach contracted, as though a
hea"y weight were pressing upon it; she thinks she cannot tighten her clothes, and
belie"es the stomach cramp would ne"er stop, it only remits sometimes but increases
again, making her sufferings intolerable'.
Contracting stomach "ains together with feeling of coldness in stomach and (ac$+
sensation o% soreness and raness in stomach.
In e(cessi'e stomach "ains e.g. in the context of a "er%orating ulcer or e'en cancer
Conium has (een given with good results+ the pains and the general state of the patients
were mar$edly ameliorated. .n one case the pains were gnawing and appeared mostly two
or three hours after a meal and during the night in another case they had a (urning and
cramping character and extended as far as the (ac$ and the shoulders. 1ut the most
remar$a(le modality was )"ains relie'ed most in the #nee-el&o "osition)0
A&domen
Eistension of a(domen the &ell! is o%ten hard and tense* ith %latulence. 'Hardness
and se"ere bloating of abdomen, in the e"ening after eating, the umbilicus protrudes
which makes her sleep restless'. )welling of the mesenteric lymph nodes.
8apid (loating of the (elly especially a%ter drin#ing mil#. Cutting in the a(domen
precedes the discharge of flatus.
, strange concomitant symptom3 'Distension of abdomen, like flatulent colic, in the
e"ening, with coldness o% one %oot) 5compare 5ycopodium6. Stitching "ains in the li'er
region* sometimes ith inter'als or painful tearing there. Selling o% li'er with
pressive pain and accumulation o% ear-a( causing partial deafness.
$ain%ul tension a&out the h!"ochondria* as %rom a constricting &and.
"ressive-tensive pain in the left hypochondrium extending to the left side of the
hypogastrium. O""ressi'e contraction o% the h!"ogastrium. Contractive pain in lower
a(domen li$e after-pains. "inching pains in the a(domen as if diarrhoea would come on.
)pasmodic or (earing-down pains li$e menstrual colic or la(our pains. Sore %eeling in
&ell! hen al#ing on stone "a'ement. Trem(ling of the whole a(domen.
Rectum and Stool
Conium has some very characteristic and unusual symptoms in this region. The symptom
)4ischarge o% cold %latus) seems to (e uni-ue in the materia medica. Clar$e reports that
in a case of severe diarrhoea here the stools %elt cold Conium was successfully given.
#owever there is also the opposite sensation that is much more *normal*.
*Euring stool (urning in the rectum* and *#eat in lower portion of rectum* 5(ut not in the
anusB6.
Conium has (een useful in consti"ation ith ine%%ectual urging or ith unsatis%actor!
stools. )ometimes violent stomach cramps in com(ination with the constipation. #ard
stools only every other day. )Constant urging ithout an! stool. 3re-uent unsuccessful
urging'. )everal stools every day (ut in very small -uantities.
The remedy may also (e indicated in diarrhoea especially if ater! or li8uid stools are
mi(ed ith hard "articles and are discharged together with noisy flatus. '3re-uent
diarrhoea; stools like water, with many eructations, and copious passage of urine'.
/atery diarrhoea intermingled with undigested food.
The attac$s of wea$ness after stool are very characteristic too. A%ter e'er! stool*
tremulous ea#ness that ceases in the open air. ,nd3 a%ter stool* "al"itation o% the
heart with intermission of heart (eats.
)tools coated with (lood.
.nvoluntary discharge of stool during sleep.
)titches in the anus when not at stool.
Urinar! Organs
The (est-$nown symptom in this region has (een -uoted a(ove3
)The discharge o% urine suddenl! sto"s during urination and onl! continues a%ter a
hile)0
Fre-uently there is also cutting in urethra during urination with it+ also (urning during
or after micturition.
The pro(lems with urination may have their cause in a wea$ness of the (ladder (ut also
in h!"ertro"h! o% the "rostate gland0
Fre-uent urging to urinate and strangury+ with (urning in urethra and feeling of heat
during micturition.
Fre8uent urination at night. 'Has to get up at 6 o'clock to urinate, se"eral nights
successi"ely'.
Eri((ling of urine in old men.
Tur(id whitish and viscous urine.
'rine is more easily discharged while standing (ut in the (eginning almost nothing is
discharged even when standing+ later on however the urine flows freely.
Male +enitalia
The ill e%%ects o% sudden loss o% a se(ual "artner in (oth sexes are discussed extensively
a(ove.
)exual wea$ness3 im"otence3 erections a&sent* incom"lete or o% too short duration.
Eepression and weariness after coition.
1ut sexual desire is indeed present. Intense se(ual desire ith lac# o% se(ual "otenc! is
characteristic. *Vivid sexual desire without erection*.
Fre8uent discharge o% "rostatic %luid on every emotion on straining for stool etc.+
also with itching of prepuce.
%octurnal e2aculations without erotic dreams. )permatorrhoea+ with intermittent
discharge of urine.
Selling and induration o% the testicles especially after contusion+ cancer of testicles.
Cancer o% the "rostate.
Cutting pain in the urethra at the moment of e2aculation.
Violent pain of testes. )$ain as though a #ni%e as cutting through the middle o% the
scrotum* &eteen the testes u"ard as %ar as the root o% the "enis+ with fre-uent short
repetitions*. .n his Dictionary Clar$e reports a case of contusion of the testes with very
similar pains+ Conium CG44 relieved in ; minutesB There is also pressive pinching and
tearing pain in the testicles.
Female +enitalia
.n this region Conium has particularly caused and cured indurations and hard tumours
ith stinging* shooting "ains. .t has (een fre-uently used in mammar! and uterine
cancer and in induration and enlargement of the ovaries as well. )ome proving
symptoms3 )Hardness o% the right &reast with painfulness to touch and nightl! stitches
ith it)0 )Stitches* as ith needles* in the le%t mammar! gland). Conium proved
especially useful in hard tumours after a &lo or &eating against the mamma0
Moreover Conium is indicated in many complaints in connection with menstruation.
)ome symptoms caused and cured (y Conium that occurred &e%ore the menses3 aching
in lim(s tear%ul mood restlessness and anxious worry a(out every trifle+ an(ious
dreams3 "ains in mammae especially on every 2ar+ dry heat in whole (ody (ut without
thirst+ stinging "ains in the li'er region more at night while lying down and especially
on inspiration+ flatulence+ pain inside in the root of nose.
4!smenorrhoea ith 'iolent uterine cram"s. )ome descriptions3 '2rinding pain is felt
abo"e pudendum; the abdomen becomes inflated, the pain affects the chest and stitches
are felt in left side'. $ressure donard and draing in the thigh or stitching pain in
the vagina. Contractive pain in the hypogastrium disappearing on wal$ing in the open air.
Concomitant symptoms3 great fear when alone (ut dread of strangers or company+
stitches in mammae+ headache+ eruption all over (ody consisting of small red nodules
that (urn violently after scratching and disappear with the end of the menstrual (leeding.
Moreover Conium has effected a cessation or suppression of the menses and so it has
acted curatively in amenorrhoea and com"laints %rom amenorrhoea and in too scanty
menses as well. .f the *premenstrual* symptoms mentioned a(ove occur every four wee$s
(ut the (leeding is totally a(sent there is a good chance that Conium is indicated.
)Menses sto""ed &! "utting hands in cold ater)0
.n a recent case this symptom permitted the cure of a patient whose menses stopped after
the first day. )he had prepared (eans in cold water (efore. %ow she suffered with pain
and congestion in a(domen (ac$ and mammae 5which was not the case otherwise6. The
cause made the therapist thin$ of Conium and the remedy (rought the menses (ac$ and
made the pain disappear 5)harma :lassische #omoopathie @<!G6.
Aeucorrhoea which is preceded (y much a(dominal pain and a wea$ and lame feeling in
the small of the (ac$+ afterwards lassitude and exhaustion. )Leucorrhoea o% a hite
acrid mucus* hich caused &urning). ',hick, milky leucorrhoea, with contracti"e
labour'like colic coming from both sides'. , discharge of (loody mucus is also reported.
Conium may also (e indicated in vomiting of pregnancy+ in complete insomnia and
e(treme e(haustion %or da!s a%ter child&irth* ith e(cessi'e "hoto"ho&ia+ in oo7ing
of mil$ from the (reasts long after weaning of the child (ut also in dwindling of the
mammae. ',he female milk glands shri"el from !onium so that the most beautiful bosom
looks like an empty fold of the skin' 0from Heraclides1. )evere itching deep in the vagina.
Violent stitches at the female parts.
Vulva very sore to the touch.
Nec# and ,ac#
Conium is an important remedy in indurated selling o% cer'ical l!m"h nodes0
'!rawling in the spine, as from falling asleep'. $ermanent sensation o% num&ness in the
region o% the shoulder &lades.
Tensive pains in (ac$ especially in the muscles (elow the scapulae aggravated (y
raising the arms.
"ains as if sprained in the left side of (ac$ also in the nec$.
)titches in small of (ac$ with a drawing pain through the lum(ar verte(rae when
standing.
"ain in small of (ac$ especially drawing or dragging downward in connection with the
menses prolapsus of the uterus or something li$e that.
,ad e%%ects %rom s"inal in2ur!. There is a case report a(out a young man who had fallen
from the second storey onto the stone pavement of the street. More than a year later he
still suffered from very annoying pain in the lum(ar region 5on which he had fallen6
especially when laughing snee7ing or ta$ing a -uic$ (reath. Conium (rought a(out a
great rapid and permanent amelioration of the pain.
E(tremities
/ea$ness powerlessness prostration lame feelings and paralysis of the extremities are
symptoms of Conium.
)Loss o% "oer on aa#ing %rom siesta arms and legs as if separated from the body'.
The lim(s are stiff heavy almost useless moving them provo$es a *disagreea(le feeling*
can hardly wal$.
$aral!sis %irst o% the loer* then o% the u""er e(tremities0
Trem&ling o% all lim&s0
Sensations o% num&ness and coldness especially in fingers and toes sometimes
spreading from there towards the (ody.
,ruised %eeling in all the 2oints especially during rest+ much (etter or disappearing
during motion.
)houlders feel sore as if pressed on. The clothes seem to lie on them li$e a load.
)welling and induration of the axillar lymph nodes also when there are tumours of the
mammae.
Cramp-li$e pain in the muscles of the forearms especially when leaning on arms.
Crac$ing in the wrist especially in the evening.
"erspiration of the palms.
9ellow spots on fingers+ !ello %inger nails.
Dait is faltering vacillating staggering as if drun$ dragging his legs after him.
/hen he closes his eyes he is a(le to wal$ straight and steady (ut when they are open he
(egins to stagger.
"ain going from hypogastric region down legs in dysmenorrhoea.
Feeling of wea$ness even to trem(ling in the right thigh while wal$ing.
&r else3 on wal$ing in the open air cramp-li$e pain in the anterior muscles of the right
thigh.
Tiredness and *fatigue pain* in $nees.
Crac$ing of the $nees on (ecoming erect.
Cramps in calves+ tensive stiff pains in the calves.
*Painful reddish spots on the cal"es, later turning yellow or green like from contusions,
and pre"enting the mobility of the foot which is bent like from shortening of the tendons*.
Coldness o% one %oot* ith distension o% a&domen.
)ensation as if the (one pierced the s$in at the heel.
%um(ness and insensi(ility of the feet+ they tend to (ecome cold with lia(ility to catch a
cold.
Slee"
.nsomnia and late %alling aslee"* onl! a%ter midnight.
8estless sleep nightmares anxious dreams and frightful dreams interrupting the sleep.
4reams o% dead "eo"le and cor"ses+ of people who are alive in reality (ut dead in the
dream.
&r else3 slee" too dee"* li#e stu"e%ied* unre%reshing+ headache aggravated after sleep.
Especially a%ter a#ing %rom siesta symptoms li$e *insensi(ility* confusion
powerlessness etc. will occur.
Irresisti&le slee"iness during the da!. 'He could not refrain from sleep with all his will
power; had to lie down and sleep'.
Fe'er
+reat internal and e(ternal heat* ith great ner'ousness. 1urning heat through the
whole (ody. )ensation of internal and external heat after sleep. , fever symptom from the
!hronic Diseases; '#ensation of heat in whole body, also increased warmth of skin which
can be felt externally, with dry and sticky lips, without thirst, e"en with a"ersion to
drinks, and with an insipid sali"a in the mouth; noise and shining o&2ects a%%ect him as
well as any motion; he ants to sit lonesome ith closed e!es)0 Chilliness shivering
and coldness especially early in the morning and in the afternoon+ at ; am+ from = to ;
pm.
'!hill with trembling in all limbs, so he ala!s has to sta! in the armth o% the sun)0
The Conium perspiration has one stri$ing and very important modality3 )Seat as soon
as she closes the e!es only in the beginning of the sleep; e"en by day, when sleeping in
sitting position'.
S#in
.tching of the s$in especially of the (ac$s of the fingers. 'tching stitches, as from fleas,
one directly after the other, here and there on the body, but always single stitches, ne"er
two at the same time'.
9ellow discolouration of the s$in also of the finger nails and the whites of eyes.
1rown spots on the (ody.
Urticaria a%ter 'iolent &odil! e(ercise0
&(stinate herpetic eruptions in different places e.g. around the nec$ (ehind the ears in
the croo$ of the $nee on hands and forearms+ usually moist and &urning* orse &!
armth.
,n example (y #artlau(3 '#udden herpetic eruption on forearm, beginning as a small
spot and gradually spreading o"er arm; skin became porous, "ery red and raw, with
furrows and depressions. #ore, broken places formed here and there in the skin, "iscid
lymph or blood oo+ing from them, lymph drying and forming white crusts under which
the exudation still continues; intense itching in affected parts, with irresistible desire to
scratch, particularly in e"ening; surrounding lymphatics swollen and in"ol"ed...'
,urning nodules on the s#in during the menses disappearing with the end of the
(leeding. "etechia especially in old people. Tendency to necrotic ulcers.
CLINICAL
,sthma. 1ladder inflammation of. 1reast affections of. 1ronchitis. 1ruises. Cancer.
Cataract. Chorea. Cough. Cysts se(aceous. Eepression. Eiphtheritic paralysis.
Eysmenia. Erisipelas. Eyes affections of. Dalactorrhoea. #erpes. #ypochondriasis.
Haundice. Aiver enlarged. Melancholia. Menstruation disordered. %um(ness. &varies
affections of. "aralysis. "eritonitis. "hthisis. "regnancy (reasts painful in. "rostatitis.
"toses. )crofula. )permatorrhoea. )terility. )tomach affections of. Testicles affections
of. Trismus. Tumours. 'lcers. Vertigo. Vision disordered.
RELATIONS
,ntidoted (y3 Coffea Eulcamera %itricum acidum %itri spiritus dulcis
.t antidotes3 Mercurius %itricum acidum )ulphur.
Compati(le3 ,rnica ,rsenicum 1elladonna Calcarea phosphorica Aycopodium %ux
vomica "hosphorus "ulsatilla 8hus tox. )tramonium.
.ncompati(le3 "sorinum