Homeopathic Materia Medica

Lectures on Homoeopathic Materia Medica, James Tyler Kent

Generalities: Constrictions, contractions and congestions run through Cactus.

Determination of blood to the head, and coldness of the extremities. Or determination of blood to an organ, the chest, or the heart. There is never an equal circulation of blood in the body; it is spasmodic and irregular. Disturbed by contractions of circular fibres everywhere. When this comes in places where it can be felt; and realized by the senses, it is felt as contractions, as if caged in wires, and this gives us the key to Cactus.

Where contractions cannot be felt, where there is no sense of feeling, we know that it goes on as a spasmodic condition of circular fibres; but these contractions that are felt are more upon the surface of the body, and in organs having circular fibers tubes and canals.

They constrict, and this constriction is felt like a spasm. It has a sensation of tightness and constriction about the head, about the chest, about the attachments of the diaphragm, all over the abdomen. Contractions about the heart that are tonic in character, like a tight clutching; constriction.

"Constriction felt about the heart."

Constrictions and congestions: These constrictions are felt about the throat, in the oesophagus, causing a spasm; in the vagina, causing vaginismus and preventing coition.

In the uterus it produces the, most violent cramps. Clutching, and constrictions, as it the uterus were grasped and held tightly, like a spasm. But at these times, when these constrictions take place, there are congestions.

"Rush of blood to the part, with constriction."

"Violent congestion of the uterus with constrictions. Rush of blood to the chest, as if the chest was filled with hot gushes of blood, with constrictions, and constriction of the heart."

These peculiarities run through Cactus more markedly than any other remedy. Many remedies have similar things now and then, but in Cactus it is common; it is the nature of Cactus to constrict, to cause constriction in places where it has never been felt, and never been thought of.

Constrictions of the whole body, as if the body was held in a wire cage. Constrictions of the scalp, of the skin, growing tighter and tighter. Violent congestions that come on suddenly. Congestion of the brain, with hot head, flushed face.

At the beginning of complaints, at the beginning of pneumonia; congestive chill with hot head and cold body (like Arn.) with violent constrictions and tightness, as if the head were pressed, as if the membrane of the brain were too tight, as if the brain were covered with a tight cloth, and were being screwed tighter and tighter.

Uniform tightness of an organ, as if it were being bound tighter and tighter, but in tubes and canals it is a constriction of a particular part. Many times like as if tied with a string. Constriction, like hour-glass contraction, in the uterus.

It has inflammations, congestions, rush of blood to the part, gradually progressing to inflammation, and infiltration. Inflammation of various parts.

It has rheumatism. It is a remedy very useful in gouty constitutions; very useful in acute inflammatory rheumatism; and in this instance the congestion is in the joints that happen to be affected.

And then again the constriction, as if tied with a tape, or as if bandaged. Tightness, tension, pressure, are involved in that thought. It has such a prolonged determination of blood to the heart that the heart finally becomes disturbed in its function, disturbed in its tissues; and it has a profound curative action upon the heart and even cures organic heart diseases, such as are produced from this cause, conditions coming on from congestion, or coming on through congestion in rheumatic constrictions, where the rheumatism has left the joints partially and the heart has become involved, and there is constriction of the heart.

Various efforts have been made by provers, and by patients, to describe the constriction of the heart. It is sometimes described

"as if grasped with an iron hand."

It is only to illustrate the tenacity of the constriction. In these rheumatic troubles when the joints have ceased to be affected and the heart becomes affected with this chronic congestion and enlargement, we have enlargement of the valves so that there are murmurs, the head is hot, and the patient gradually emaciates.

Kidney troubles will come on; the heart grows weaker, and then dropsical conditions set in that is, the course of Cactus.

Towards the last, cardiac affections, along with kidney affections, with emaciation, and then swelling of the hands, and feet. That is the very nature of Cactus, and you will not find any medicine in the whole Materia Medica that reads like it.

There is nothing to compare with it in the intensity of these symptoms. All these things that I have described seem to turn upon these words, congestion, constriction and contraction.

The pains in Cactus are violent, no matter where they occur. They compel the patient to cry out, and the pains are clutching pains, constricting pains; they often feel like tearing pains; but there is always that idea of clutching.

Suppose you should tie a tape round a violently congested organ, and tie it tighter and tighter. It seems to me that is about the kind of suffering the patient has with that constriction of a congested organ.

Pains and spasms: Pains in congested parts; pains in sore parts. Tearing; constricting, cramping, when pains occur in the intestines they are constricting, but when the pains are in the long muscles they are not the constricting pains, for it is not the circular fibres then but the long fibres that contract, and we call them cramps.

Cactus produces some spasmodic conditions in long muscles, but not to any great extent. In Bell. especially, and also in many of those medicines that have this nature of cramping, and constricting and contracting of circular fibres, there is convulsive tendency.

The violent congestion of the brain in Bell. will commonly be attended with cramps in the extremities and convulsions of the muscles all over or in parts. Not so with Cactus. Violent congestion, and he grows stupid under it.

Congestion of the brain, first with very red face, then darker from the venous stasis, and then stupor. He grows sluggish under the cerebral congestion.

The mental state is that of fear and distress, because of the intensity of the suffering. The patient has never felt such suffering, and he does not see what it can all mean. So much suffering, such violent suffering, such sudden suffering, such cramps, such tearing, such constriction.

When this constriction comes in the heart, and about the chest, it makes the patient think he is going to die, and he is at once, struck with fear, and it is depicted upon the face. He fears death, and it seems he is going to die, his pain is so intense.

But with this intense pain he has nothing of the anxiety we find in, Aconite, which has a similar constriction of the chest and constriction of the neck. The violent choking in Aconite makes him fear he is going to choke, to death, and the anxiety is awful.

It is not so intense in Cactus. Screaming with pains is a common thing in Cactus.

"Taciturn, unwilling to speak a word or to answer."

Mind: That often accompanies the Cactus state, which is the opposite of most of the medicines that have such violent pains.

"Sadness, taciturnity, and irresistible inclination to weep.

Fear of death that is, he thinks he is going to die from the severity of the pain.

"He believes his disease is incurable;"

it seems to him that such suffering must end in death. That violent, irregular action of the heart is followed out through all the blood vessels, because the circulation is so irregular, is so spasmodic. He is not here, and cold there.

Heat in the head, or heat in the chest. The circulation is that of determination to some particular part. With all the cardiac remedies we have violent dreams, great excitement of the brain during sleep, waking up startled and frightened, very commonly with a feeling of failing. Dreams of falling. Dreams full of excitement. These features run through Cactus, especially with the cardiac symptoms.

"Vertigo from congestion; face red, bloated; pulsation in brain. Feels as if he would go mad. Vertigo, worse from physical exertion."

With most of the cardiac remedies, or remedies where the circulation and heart are much involved, we have marked vertigo.

"Vertigo; worse from physical exertion, turning in bed, stooping, rising from a recumbent position, and deep inspiration."

Many of the complaints of Cactus are disturbed by irregularities of breathing. Here we see vertigo coming on from deep breathing. If he holds his breath, it seems as if his heart would fly to pieces, it would go so fast. Increased pulsation all over the body when holding the breath.

Headaches: The headaches are constricting, pressing. They are all violent, with intense heat of the head, for they are congestive.

A pressing in the top of the head as if the top of the head would be forced in; but this is ameliorated by pressing hard upon the pain.

"Heavy pain like a weight on vertex, better by pressure."

Oftentimes the patient may be wrong in the idea of pressure that is felt in the head. They often describe it in the most marked congestions as if the head would be crushed in, when the congestion in the brain can be seen to be most violent, causing pressure from within out, and we would think they would be better from some sort of support externally, and yet they feel great soreness and feel as if the head is being crushed in.

Others with headaches feel as if the head is being pressed out.

"Heavy pain like a weight on vertex; better by pressure, but worse from sounds, hearing, talking, or strong light."

This runs through the headaches. Greatly aggravated from hearing voices. The sound goes through the head. The brain seems to be sensitive, as if the sound were a material substance hurled at the brain. Right-sided headaches. Pulsating headaches. Heavy, pulsating pain in the head. Tensive pain in the head, tensive pain in the vertex.

A tightness across the vertex, as if the scalp was being drawn tighter and tighter upon the skull.

There can be no doubt about there being a marked cerebral congestion with all these symptoms. The eyes show it; the face shows it; the heat of the head shows it. It has been recommended for threatened apoplexy, when the congestion is so violent, and the face is flushed and purple, or very red, and the pulsation is felt in the brain and all over.

This remedy has the violent congestion of the head found in Bell., but with Bell. we have the intense heat of the body, fever heat which is not found in Cactus. In Cactus it is only a moderate fever. The heat is in the upper part of the body, in the head and neck.

Fullness of the neck; bloating of the neck. Feels as if the head would expand from the pressure of blood in the head, but without any great rise of temperature.

It has fever, but it has these without fever. But with Bell. when you have these pulsations the patient is intensely hot, and he burns all over. There is some burning in Cactus, but not to be compared with Bell. Heat in the head from mental exertion is a strong symptom of Cactus. This symptom is found in persons who are trying to break off from coffee and Cactus is often the remedy.

The patient has choking about the neck, as from a tight collar. Constriction; tension of the skin and muscles everywhere. Choking about the neck with constriction of the heart. Choking about the neck in hysteria; globus hystericus; a lump or ball coming up into the throat, and she constantly swallows and choked and she goes into cramps with great numbness of the left arm.

Cramping especially of the left arm. Complete numbness of the left arm along with cardiac conditions in the history of rheumatism and in hysteria. The history of rheumatism goes well to fill up the Cactus case. The face is flushed bright red, becoming blue. With weakness of the heart it is blue, blue lips.

We need Cactus for a patient that has constriction about the neck, with congested head, blue face, and lips mottled, numbness of the left band, constriction of the heart. The left hand mysteriously weak, or is numb, tingling and crawling, like a formication.

Congestion and hemorrhages: Another thing running all through the remedy is its hemorrhages. That is not surprising. Any medicine that has such cardiac conditions and such vascular conditions will at times have more or less relaxation of blood vessels, and it would be quite in the nature of it to bleed. It has hemorrhages of two kinds. Hemorrhage from vascular relaxation accompanying cardiac and vascular conditions, and hemorrhage from violent congestion of a part.

The rush of blood to the head is of such violence in the moderately plethoric patient that he bleeds from the nose, and hawks blood from the throat. Congestion of the chest so violent that he expectorates blood from the chest.

Bleeding from congestion, rather than from tuberculosis. Congestion of the uterus with bleeding. Congestion of the bladder and kidneys, with blood in the urine, with discharges of blood from violent congestion. In old cardiac conditions, where relaxation is present in most marked degree, haemorrhage from relaxation.

Strong pulsations felt in strange places, in the stomach, and in the bowels; sometimes in the extremities, the feet and hands, as well as in the head. Throbbing all over.

Around the attachment of the diaphragm feeling as if a cord was tied tighter and tighter; round the lower part of the chest. This is a strange symptom; it clutches him so tightly around the waist line that it takes his breath away, and he struggles for breath, and wants to do something. It clutches him tighter and tighter. Cactus produces congestion of the bowels; inflammation of the uterus. Gastric inflammation and with, it the clutching.

It is a remedy for the cure of hemorrhoids; the relaxation of the great portal system, and the lower veins in the rectum, the hemorrhoidal veins. The veins are in such a state of relaxation that tumors will form, and bleed copiously. Bleeding hemorrhoids. Constriction of the anus. it has a very troublesome constipation; constipation in connection with hemorrhoids.

Bladder: It has a paralytic weakness of the bladder. It has retention of urine. Such a constriction of the neck of the bladder that the urine cannot be passed for a long time, and there is retention. In the kidneys such a congestion as favors suppression of the urine.

Bloody urine; blood in clots. It is a remedy that favors the formation of clots speedily. The blood that flows, clots so rapidly and so densely that it blocks up the way. Bleeding into the bladder blocks up the way. Bleeding into the vagina causes a clot difficult to expel, and pressing upon the urethra of the female that it is impossible for her to pass urine.

It is like an immense tampon. And hence it reads,

"urination prevented by clots," clots in the vagina, as well as clots in the bladder.

Female: Inflammation of the ovaries; inflammation of the uterus. It is a medicine that you will need to know when a young, plethoric, vigorous woman comes down violently with congestion of the uterus at the menstrual period, and she screams because of the violent clutching and cramping of the uterus.

Before the flow starts, or just at the beginning, there is violent spasm. The circular fibres clutch; and she describes it accurately as if a tape were tied around that sore and congested uterus.

The uterus fills with blood clots, and the spasm to expel that blood is like a labor-pain, and she screams again, and it is some time before the flow becomes free enough to give relief.

If this condition is met with in rheumatic diathesis, where there is more or less rheumatism of the joints, clutching pains and constriction in other places, we have a remedy in Cactus.

The excitement and the sharp scream, can be heard by the neighbors.

Suffocative attacks with these pains, because the heart suffers, and constriction of the heart will commonly go along with the constriction of the uterus. In cardiac conditions it seems as if he will die for want of breath.

Constrictions of the chest. Oppression as if a great load was on his chest, crushing the life out of him, so great is the constriction, and the congestion. A sudden congestion, and it comes on and ends without inflammation in many instances.

A violent rush of blood to the chest, with awful dyspnoea and constriction of the heart and it passes away without inflammation. At other times Cactus has conditions like pneumonia, inflammation of the lungs, and congestion ending in inflammation, with the usual expectoration, bloody or blood streaked.

Cactus is also a remedy for hypostatic congestion of the lungs. He cannot lie down, must sit up in bed, and there is a dullness of the lower part of each lung, gradually growing higher and higher from an effusion of serum into the lower portion of the lungs.

This hypostatic congestion is due to a cardiac weakness. Cactus will often relieve this a few times when it occurs in old broken down cases towards the end of Bright’s disease, and at the end of dropsical conditions and heart troubles.

It will postpone death.

"Could only breathe with shoulders elevated and lying on back."

Lies leaning back or sitting quite upright.

"Periodical attacks of suffocation, with fainting; cold sweat."

"Feeling as if heart was compressed or squeezed by a band. Cardiac rheumatism, Heart seemed to be held by an iron band for many hours. Pain in the cardiac region. Great pressure at heart, going round under left axilla to back."

Often this pain shoots down the left hand, is attended with numbness, and sometimes with swelling. Numbness, tingling, swelling.

"Dull pain in the heart. Heavy pain in, the heart, aggravated from pressure. Contractive pain in the region of the heart going down to left abdomen. At times felt as if, someone was grasping the heart firmly. Paroxysms of pain in the heart," that is this kind of constriction comes in periods of violent paroxysms. "

" Acute inflammation of the heart. Chronic inflammation of the heart. Palpitation of the heart, continued day and night when walking, and, at night when lying on the left side."

Another thing running through the remedy is that chest complaints often come on or are exaggerated at if o'clock. Eleven o'clock in the morning, or eleven at night.

Its' intermittent fever will bring on a chill with violent congestion to the head at 2 o'clock. Regular paroxysms at 11 A.M. and 11 P.M., or sometimes at 11 A.M. and sometimes at if P.M.

A daily chill at 11 A.M. It has cured intermittent fever of the congestive type, when the congestions are here and there, but particularly of head, with constrictions, congestions and contractions.

A Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica, John Henry Clarke

Cereus grandiflorus. Night-blooming Cereus. (Mexico and the West Indies.) N. O. Cactaceae. Tincture of youngest and tenderest stems and flowers collected in summer.

Clinical.─Aneurism. Angina pectoris. Apoplexy. Arteries, atheroma of. Asthma. Bladder, paralysis of. Brain, congestion of. Bronchitis. Diaphragm, rheumatism of. Dropsies. Ear, inflammation of. Fistula. Goitre, exophthalmic. Haematuria. Haemorrhages. Headache. Heart, affections of; hypertrophy of. Indigestion. Intermittent fevers. Lungs, haemorrhage from. Melancholy. Menstruation, painful. Miliaria. Neuralgia. Otitis. Ovaritis. Pneumonia. Prostate, affections of. Rheumatism. Sun, effects of. Sunstroke. Traumatic fever. Vaginismus.

Characteristics.─We are indebted to Rubini of Naples and his devoted wife for the first provings of this great remedy. Cactus affects powerfully the entire organism, but its intensest operation is on the heart and circulation. In congestive violence it rivals Acon., which is one of its antidotes. As with Acon., too, the pains are unendurable; they extort screams. Sadness, apprehension, fear of death and a tendency to be easily frightened characterise the Cactus mental state, as they do many conditions of heart disease. Given as an organ-remedy it will benefit a large number of cases of weakened and painful heart; and if its keynote symptom of constriction─"as if an iron band prevented its normal movements," or "heart as if compressed violently and as violently struggled to burst its bonds"─is present, it will cure. Pain and numbness in left arm accompanying heart disease. Sharp pains in diaphragm and girdle pain round its attachment. Indigestion with these symptoms. Snader considers Cactus specially indicated where the heart is weak and the arteries atheromatous. This is confirmed by a venerable correspondent of the Hom. World (July, 1898), who, finding his temporal arteries much swollen and hard to touch, took several doses of Cact. 1x, with the result that in a few days they became normal. Snader uses the lower attenuations in this condition. A case of angina pectoris was cured by the 30th, with the following characteristic: sensation as though a swarm of hornets were going from pectoral region to heart. Cactus has the weakness and coldness of the extremities which characterise many heart cases, and render it an appropriate remedy. Constricting pains run through the pathogenesis (throat; chest; heart; bladder; rectum; vagina). Twitching of muscles, and sensation of constriction produced by touching the affected part. Haemorrhages (nose; lungs; rectum; stomach). Sanguineous congestions, which are in a way a counter-part of the constrictive sensations. Prostration. Among the other prominent symptoms of Cactus are: "Heavy pain in vertex, like a weight." "Periodical attacks of suffocation, with fainting, cold sweat on face, and loss of pulse." "Fluttering and palpitation of heart, < when walking or lying on left side." "Heart disease with swelling of left hand only." "Numbness of left arm." "Rheumatism of all joints, beginning in upper extremities." The pains are very sharp, causing the patient to cry out. Many symptoms are < at night ("Night-blooming Cereus"). Menses cease at night. Many symptoms < lying down, or come on when lying down. Periodicity is well marked (quotidian fever, 11 a.m.). Chill at same hour every day, 11 a.m. or 11 p.m. Choudhury has reported a case cured, the characteristics being: "Chill severe, 11 a.m., thirsty, headache, body hot; no separate heat." When there is heat there is thirst and short breath. At times there is entire absence of sweat. There is < after eating (weight at stomach); and also < from missing a meal or fasting (prosopalgia and other neuralgias); < from lying on left side; from noise and light from heat; from sun's rays; from exertion; from damp.

Relations.─Botanical relatives: Cereus bonplandii, C. serpentinus, Opuntia, and, in a sense, Coccus cacti, Antidoted by: Aco., Camph., Chi., Eup. perfol. Compatible: Dig. (tumultuous action of heart; slow, irregular pulse; scanty urine; dropsy); Eup. perf., Lach Nux, Sul. (pleurisy). Follows well: Aco., Arn., Ars., Bell., Bry., Cham., Gels., Ip., K. bro. (diaphragmitis), Lach., Nux, Rhus. Compare: In mental symptoms, Dig., Lach. In congestions to head, Bell., Glo. In pain and pressure in head, Arn., Carb. v., Coral., Iod., Nux, Op., Spi. Weight in vertex, Alo., Alum. In heart affections, Aco., Act. r., Amyl. n., Arn., Bell., Bov., Crotal., Dig., Eup. perf., Kalm., Lach., Lil. t., Naja, Puls., Spi., Zn. (as if a cap over heart); irritable heart, Cer. b., Hep., Pho. In constrictions (of chest) Zn., K. chlo., Cad. s., Alum., Bell., Bov., Arn., Cain., K. nit., Lach., Stram., (uterus) Murex, (vagina) Kali c. In menses ceasing at night, Caust. In leucorrhoea, Am. mur. In intermittents, Ars., Bry., Calc., Eup. perf., Nat. m:, Rhus, Sul. In dropsies, Dig., Kalm. In sleeplessness, Sul. Neuralgia and other forms of pain which are sure to appear when an accustomed meal is missed, Ars. Haemoptysis, strong throbbing at heart, Aco. (Aco. has more anxiety and fever). Pain in diaphragm, Ran. b. (Ran. b. has pains shoot from front to back; Cact. has sharp pains in diaphragm and girdle pain round attachment). Reptile sensation, Crocus.

Causation.─Sun. Damp. Love disappointment.

SYMPTOMS.

1. Mind.─Sadness and bad humour; taciturnity; melancholy; hypochondriasis.─Cries, knows not why; < by consolation.─Screaming with pain.─During menses, hysteria.─Fear of death, belief that his disease is incurable.─Love of solitude.

2. Head.─Vertigo, from sanguineous congestions to head.─Heavy pressing in the head as if a great weight lay on the vertex; > from pressure; < from noise (even talking) and light.─Throbbing pain with sensation of weight and violent neuralgias in r. side of head; periodic.─Feeling as if head compressed in a vice, and would burst from severity of pain.

3. Eyes.─Dimness of sight; cannot see at a distance; objects seem obscured.

4. Ears.─Hearing diminished by the buzzing in the ears.─Pulsations in the ears (otitis).

5. Nose.─Profuse epistaxis; soon ceasing.

6. Face.─Paleness of the face.─Bloated and red; with pulsations in head.─Prosopalgia, right-sided, chronic; < from slightest exertion; bearable only when lying still in bed; brought on by wine, music, strong light, missing dinner at usual hour.

8. Mouth.─Loss of taste for food with nausea.─Tongue purple, thick brown sordes on teeth.─Prickling on point of tongue.─Breath very offensive.

9. Throat.─Feeling of warmth about throat and chest.─Constriction of oesophagus, which prevents swallowing.─Constriction of throat exciting a constant desire to swallow.─Suffocative constriction at throat with full, throbbing carotids.─Scraping sensation at soft palate.

11. Stomach.─Appetite good; digestion weak.─Complete loss of appetite, stomach rejects everything.─After eating weight and distress in stomach.─Nausea in the morning, lasting all day.─Acrid, sour fluid in stomach which rises in throat and mouth.─Frequent vomiting.─Copious haematemesis.─Burning pulsation or heaviness in stomach.─Constriction or pulsation in scrobiculus.─Gastro-enteritis.

12. Abdomen.─Pulsation in the coeliac artery (after dinner), burning extends down from it in flashes.─Sharp pains shooting through diaphragm and up into chest.─Colic with loose stool.─Insupportable heat in abdomen.─Pain and bearing-down in lower abdomen.

13. Stool and Anus.─Constipation; stool hard and black.─Diarrhoea, watery, mucous, bilious (in forenoon).─Sensation of great weight (in anus), and urging to evacuate a great quantity, but nothing passes.─Copious haemorrhage from the bowels (from the anus).─Itching in the anus.─Fluent haemorrhoids.─Fistula in ano with violent palpitation of heart.

14. Urinary Organs.─Constriction of neck of bladder.─Irritation in urethra, as if he would pass water constantly.─Urine passes by drops, with much burning.─Profuse urine, of a straw colour.─Urine, on cooling, deposits a red sand.─Haematuria; urination prevented by clots.─Frequent urging; at night, with a copious flow each time.

15. Male Sexual Organs.─Prostatic affections; weight in anus.

16. Female Sexual Organs.─Pulsating pain in uterus and ovaries.─Constriction in uterine region; round pelvis.─Constriction of vagina preventing coition (vaginismus).─Very painful menstruation; extorting loud cries.─Menses too early; scanty menstruation, ceasing while lying.─Labour suppressed.─Breast, tumour in; inflammation of.

17. Respiratory Organs.─Difficulty of breathing; attacks of suffocation with fainting.─Chronic bronchitis, with rattling of mucus.─Spasmodic cough and copious mucous expectoration.─Pricking pains in chest with oppressed respiration (pneumonia).─Oppression of breathing in going upstairs.─Catarrhal cough with much viscid expectoration.─Much rattling of mucus.─Cannot lie in a horizontal position.─Periodical suffocation, with fainting, and sweat on face and loss of pulse.─Haemoptysis, with convulsive cough.─Sharp pains shooting from body to back and up into chest, with sensation of rush of blood to chest (rheumatism of diaphragm).

18. Chest.─Difficulty of breathing; continued oppression and uneasiness as if the chest were constricted with a (hot) iron band, hindering respiration.─Whirling sensation from chest to brain; arterial throbbing.─Oppressed breathing from a weight on chest.─Congestion of the chest which prevents lying down; palpitation; constriction as from a tight cord around false ribs.─Sensation of a great constriction in middle of sternum, as if the parts were compressed by iron pincers, with oppression of breathing; worse on motion.

19. Heart and Pulse.─Pain deep in heart like a jerking body, frequently repeated.─Something seemed to be whirling up from chest to brain.─Sensation as if heart turned over ; as if it whirled round; as if some one was grasping heart firmly, with sensation as if it whirled round; as if heart was bound down and had not room enough to beat; as if bolts were holding it; as if compressed or squeezed by a band.─Lancinating pain in heart when perspiration fails.─Deathlike feeling at heart and round to l. back.─Acute pains, pricking and stitches in the heart.─Palpitation of the heart, day and night; < when walking, and at night, when lying on l. side.─Palpitation in small irregular beats (at times frequent, at others slow), from slightest excitement or deep thought, with necessity for deep inspiration.─Pains in apex of heart, shooting down l. arm to ends of fingers; feeble pulse; dyspnoea.─Endocardial murmurs; excessive impulse; increased precordial dulness; enlarged ventricle.─Heart disease with oedema of l. hand only.─Aneurism.─Atheromatous arteries.

20. Neck and Back.─Exophthalmic goitre.─Cold in back and icy cold hands.─Rheumatism of shoulder.─Pain under l. shoulder-blade (with palpitation).─Lumbar muscles tender on pressure and stiff, esp. on first moving after repose.

21. Limbs.─Rheumatic pains, in shoulders, upper and lower arms, in hips down to feet; < in rest and in motion, and in all positions.

22. Upper Limbs.─Pain in shoulders and arms.─Sore aching in l. arm down to elbow; down to fingers.─Numbness of l. arm.─Formication and weight in arms.─Oedema of the hands; worse in the l.

23. Lower Limbs.─Restlessness of legs; cannot keep them still.─Oedema of the feet, extending to the knees; the skin is shining; pressure with the fingers leaves an indentation.

24. Generalities.─General weakness and prostration of strength.─Sensation of constriction: in throat; chest; heart; bladder; rectum.─Haemorrhages: from nose; lungs; rectum; bladder; stomach.─Congestions.

25. Skin.─Dry, scaly herpes on the outside of the elbow, and on the r. internal malleolus.

26. Sleep.─Sleeplessness without cause; or from arterial pulsations in the scrobiculus, and in the r. ear.─Dreams: frightful; lascivious.

27. Fever.─Slight chilliness towards 10 a.m.─Chilliness, with chattering of the teeth.─Chilliness not relieved by covering; 11 a.m. and 11 p.m.─Burning heat, with shortness of breath.─Scorching heat at night, with headache, following a chill and terminating in perspiration.─Coldness in back and icy cold hands.─Intermittent fever (quotidian) recurring every day at the same hour (for many successive days).─One o'clock in the afternoon slight chill, then burning heat, with dyspnoea, pulsating pain in the uterine region, terminating in slight perspiration.─Quotidian, 11 a.m., great coldness for two hours; then burning heat, with great dyspnoea, violent pain in the head, coma, stupefaction, insensibility till midnight, and unquenchable thirst and perspiration.

Keynotes and Characteristics with Comparisons of Some of the Leading Remedies of the Materia Medica (Allen's Keynotes), Henry Clay Allen

Night-blooming Cereus (Cactaceae)

Sanguineous congestions in persons of plethoric habit (Acon.); often resulting in haemorrhage; sanguineous apoplexy. Fear of death; believes disease incurable (Ars.). Haemorrhage: from nose, lungs, stomach, rectum, bladder (Crot., Mill., Phos.). Headache, pressing like a heavy weight on vertex ( > by pressure, Meny.); climacteric (Glon., Lach.). Headache and neuralgia; congestive, periodic, right-sided; severe, throbbing, pulsating pain. Whole body feels as if caged, each wire being twisted tighter and tighter. Constriction: of throat, chest, heart, bladder, rectum, uterus, vagina; often caused or brought on by the slightest contact. Oppression of chest, as from a great weight; as if an iron band prevented normal motion. Sensation of a cord tightly tied around lower part of chest, marking attachment of diaphragm. Heart feels as if clasped and unclasped rapidly by an iron hand; as if bound, "had no room to beat.". Pains everywhere; darting, springing like chain lightening, and ending with a sharp, vise-like grip, only to be again renewed. Menstrual flow ceases when lying down (Bov., Caust.). Palpitation: day and night; worse when walking and lying on left side (Lach.); at approach of menses. Fever paroxysm returns at 11 a. m. and 11 p. m.

Relations. - Compare: Acon., Dig., Gels., Kal., Lach., Tab.

Leaders In Homoeopathic Therapeutics, Eugene Beauharnais Nash

Constriction of the heart, as if an iron band prevented its normal movement; < lying on left side.

Constriction, general; of heart, chest, bladder, rectum, uterus, vagina, etc.

Haemorrhages in connection with heart troubles; nose, lungs, stomach, rectum, bladder.

Palpitation; day or night; worse when walking and lying on left side, approach of menses.

Fear of death; believes the disease incurable.

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Cactus grandiflorus is another great heart remedy, and its grand characteristic is not at all like Digitalis. It is a "sensation of constriction of the heart, as if an iron band prevented its normal movement“. (Iodine has a sensation as if heart was squeezed together. Lilium tigrin., as if grasped and released alternately. Lachesis, constriction on awaking, throws off covering; Arsenicum alb., constriction or oppression on walking). This sensation of constriction is not confined to the heart, but is found in the chest, bladder, rectum, uterus, vagina; in short, it seems to be a general characteristic for this remedy, as does that of fullness for Aesculus hippocastanum.

The heart troubles of Cactus are quite apt to be caused by inflammatory rheumatism, where it is one of our best remedies.

Among the symptoms found, more or less connected with heart troubles, for which Cactus is indicated, are: Heavy pain on vertex like a weight (Glonoine; Lachesis at climacteric), a frequent symptom in persons suffering with heart troubles, cerebral congestion, profuse epistaxis, haematemesis, haemorrhages from anus, haematuria or haemoptysis. In any haemorrhages, seeming to be in sympathy with heart trouble, think of Cactus.

Now, besides the leading characteristic of Cactus on the heart, we have other chest and heart symptoms which are very valuable. Oppression of chest or difficult breathing, as if the chest could not be expanded, with this sense of band-like constriction.

"Periodical attacks of suffocation, with fainting, cold perspiration on face and loss of pulse."

"Fluttering and palpitation of heart, increased when walking or lying on left side."

"Great irregularity of heart's action, intermittent pulse, valvular murmurs in organic diseases of heart."

"Palpitation < lying on left side (Nat. mur.).

OEdema of left hand, foot and leg."

"Rheumatism of all joints, beginning in upper extremities." (Ledum in lower.).

"Numbness of the left arm" (Aconite; aching, Rhus toxicod.).

"Cactus is a remedy of not very wide range; but of paramount importance in its sphere."