- Great debility, from loss of vital fluids
- Distension of whole abdomen, belching gives no relief
- Intermittent paroxysms of fever with severe chills followed by sweat only on single parts which is very debilitating
Synonyms: Cinchona officinalis Linn, Peruvian bark
Family: Rubiaceae
Prover: Dr Hahnemann in 1790
Duration of Action: Upto 7 days
Miasmatic Background: Psora
Temperament: Nervous
Diathesis: Haemorrhagic
Thermal Relationship: Very chilly patient
Introduction and History: Cinchona is of great interest for homeopaths, as it is the first remedy with which Hahnemann experimented and discovered homeopathic science. The discovery and history of this is remarkable. Countess Ann, wife of the fourth Count of Cinchona, was cured of tertian fever by the use of this bark in 1638. Its virtues were known to Europe in 1640. This is of particular interest to homeopaths since Hahnemann was studying the plant when he discovered the law of similars.
Constitution and Physiognomy
- It is best suited to persons with a ‘BROKEN DOWNтАЩ constitution due to loss of vital fluids and abuse of quinine, also from exhausting discharges.
- Face is pale, Sunken, very thin, dry; person has a billious constitution.
- The body, once robust, strong, healthy and stout, has now become weak and┬аdebilitated.
Physio-pathological Changes (Pathology)
- Acts upon the ganglionic nervous system producing a condition of general depression and exhaustion.
- It has a toxic action upon all protoplasm, particularly active in preventing amoeboid movement. It also modifies the digestive functions. It inhibits enzyme action, thus retarding tissue metabolism.
- Acts upon the heart and circulation, destroying the oxygenation power of blood. The quantity and quality of blood is changed which causes a fall in blood pressure and initiates haemorrhage. Blood becomes thin and watery.
- Has a special affinity for the spleen and liver. It causes congestion, hyperaemia and produces jaundice. It reduces hyperpyrexia.
- It has the power to produce fever of different types, especially intermittent type of fever.
Characteristic Mental Symptoms (Psychology)
- Exalted fancy with slow flow of ideas. Chooses wrong expressions.
- Cheerfulness alternating with gloom. Excessively anxious, solicited about trifles.
- Apathetic, disobedient, taciturn, despondent, great anxiety with despondency.
- Patient has no desire to live, but lacks courage to commit suicide.
- Patient is very irritable, does not like physical and mental work.
- Ideas and projects crowd on his mind, especially in the evening preventing sleep.
- Patient thinks himself unfortunate and fancies he is opposed by everybody.
- Dread of dogs and other animals, especially at night time.
- Patient lost in thoughts. Sudden crying and tossing about in despair.
- Patient inclined to be angry and disposed to be quarrelsome.
- Fixed idea that he is unhappy, persecuted by enemies.
- Delirium after closing eyes, sees figures of people.
- Compelled to jump out of bed. Wants to destroy himself, but lacks courage.
- Dullness and heaviness of head, giddiness, as from Sitting up at night, fainting and sleeplessness.
Characteristic Physical Guiding Symptoms
Periodicity: Periodicity is generally found in intermittent fever and neuralgia. Paroxysm for two to three hours, each attack returns every seven or fourteen days, every three months, etc.
Flatulence: Whole abdomen enormously distended, with a desire to belch. Belching gives no relief or gives only temporary relief.
Oversensitiveness: Body is very sensitive to touch, lightest touch is unbearable to a diseased part; hard pressure relieves the pain of the same.
Bleeding: From every outlet of the body. Blood generally dark and clotted, oppressed breathing with a desire to be fanned.
Fainting: Ringing in ears, fainting, loss of sight, general coldness, sometimes convulsions.
Headache: Headache as if the skull would burst, intense throbbing of head and carotids, face flushed, must stand or walk, after haemorrhage or sexual excesses.
Intermittent fever: Paroxysm of intermittent fever, anticipates it from two to three hours, each attack returns every seven or fourteen days; Sweats only on the covered parts or during sleep.
Weakness: Great debility, trembling, aversion to exercise, sensitive to touch, weakness due to loss of vital fluids.
Pains: Tearing or drawing pains in every joint, all the bones; Soreness all over the body.
Draining: Insomnia, debility, headache, neuralgia and other complaints resulting from loss of animal fluids, particularly from nursing, Salivation, Seminal emissions and bleeding.