# Colchicum (HMT)

## Remedy Classification
- **Type:** Remedy
- **Alternative Names:** Meadow Saffron
- **Miasm:** Psoric Miasm
- **Temperament:** Neutral
- **Aggravation Time:** Neutral/Anytime

## Keynote Indications
This medicine is prepared from th e flowers of wildly growing saffron
(in the midst of green meadows).  Its most salient effects are on a
severe kind of gout associated wi th fleeting joint pains, a strong
sensation of nausea from th e smell of food and severe abdominal
cramps.  The patient suffers from severe offensive diarrhoea.  All the
symptoms intensify on the stoppage of excretions from the body.  The
symptoms worsen in the cold and damp weather, especially if the
urinary output decreases due to kidney dysfunction or when sweating
stops due to some external causes.  The symptoms also aggravate in
very dry, hot weather.  The sympto ms of gout may appear inside the
eyes and on the teeth, more so wh en the deposits of gouty material
settle on the gums.

This in general is the introductio n of Colchicum.  Now we will
describe its symptoms related to th e individual organs of the body as
follows:

The face : The face becomes swollen, the skin feels tingly.  The
cheeks become red and sweaty. The temperament is of anger, like
Chamomilla.

The stomach:   Regarding the disorder of the stomach, the tongue
burns and the teeth ache.  The mouth is dry with the feeling of intense
thirst.  The smell of food, especial ly that of fish being cooked can
cause severe nausea, so much so that the patient becomes
unconscious.  The stomach either feels very hot or extremely cold.

The abdomen:   The abdomen becomes distended with wind due to
severe intestinal cramping.  The extreme type of distension in the
abdomen is found in cattle like cows, buffalo, sheep and horses (after
they have been fed fodder containing Hydrocyanic Acid).  When a
similarly severe distension is found in human bodies, a few pellets of
Colchicum in homoeopathic from will actually work like magic.  The
effect is so apparent and certain that even the staunch opponent of
homoeopathy cannot deny it.  The kind of severe abdominal
distension mentioned above compels the farmer to call for a veterinary

surgeon to pierce the abdomen of the animal with a knife to let out the
air, but most often the animal is alwa ys at the point of death.  It has to
be immediately slaughtered before it dies.  Unfortunately, the
scientists of today still cannot unde rstand the effec tiveness of this
remedy in potency 200 or 100 which practically does not contain any
material substance of the medicine, but produces an undeniably
certain effect.

The back:  There is pain in the lower part of the back radiating down
to both the hips.  The pain feels be tter on resting or on applying local
pressure.

The skin:   Rosy red spots form over th e skin and there is tendency
towards urticaria.   In addition to  severe abdominal distension and
cramping, the patient passes jelly-like discharge with the stools and
this is associated with tenesmus.  Such patients commonly suffer from
dysentery in the autumn season.  The stools contain large pieces of the
broken down inner lining of the intestin es in the form of small pieces
of tape.

There is paralysis of the functio n of the large gut, which is of
temporary nature.  This results in th e inability to excrete in spite of
feeling the urge.  As the patient st rains himself without success, other
physical means need be adopted to relieve the constipation.

Rheumatic pains develop in the hands, feet, arms and the legs
affecting mostly the joints.  The rheumatic pains are fleeting in nature
and become worse at night.  The ty pical gout involves the big toe and
the surrounding soft tissue.  Th e overlying skin becomes wet,
markedly swollen, shiny and hypersen sitive to touch, even the touch
of cloth over it.  Such patients cu t their shoes around the big toe to
keep it exposed so that the pain does not aggravate too much while
walking.

The urine:  When the urine becomes scan ty and is of deep brown
colour mixed with blood, the joint pains become greatly aggravated.

The heart: If the diarrhoea is  attempted to be suppressed with strong
allopathic medicines, the heart may be afflicted and difficulty in
breathing will ensue.

Potency: 30 or 200 but some homoeopaths use it in potency 3.

## Symptoms by System