CAMPHORA OFFICINALIS

Camphora Officinalis (Camphor)

Camph.

Hahnemann says, “The action of this substance is very puzzling and difficult even in the healthy organism because its primary action often alternates and mixes with the vital reactions (after effects) of the organism. Thus, it is often hard to distinguish what belongs to the body’s vital reactions and what to the primary action of Camphor.”

Camphor depicts a state of collapse, characterized by icy coldness of the whole body, sudden loss of strength, and a small, weak pulse. After surgery, if the temperature is subnormal and blood pressure is low, three doses of Camph. 1x, at 15-minute intervals, can be administered. This remedy is well-known in treating cholera. It is also used in the early stages of a cold with chilliness and sneezing, extreme restlessness, and epileptiform convulsions. Camphor directly affects muscles and fascia and is necessary for local rheumatic conditions in cold climates. It causes vein distention and is an effective heart stimulant in emergencies. Drop doses on sugar can be taken as frequently as every five minutes.

A notable characteristic of Camph. is that the patient will not want to be covered despite the body’s icy coldness. It is a main remedy for shock and provides pain relief while thinking about it. Patients are very sensitive to cold and touch. It helps with sequelae of measles, violent convulsions, hysterical excitement, tetanic spasms, and conditions in scrofulous children and irritable, weak blondes.

Head: Vertigo, tendency to unconsciousness, feeling as if he would die. Influenza; headache with catarrhal symptoms, sneezing, etc. Beating pain in the cerebellum. Cold sweat. Nose cold and pinched. Tongue cold, flabby, trembling. Fleeting stitches in the temporal region and orbits. Head sore. Occipital throbbing, synchronous with the pulse.

Eyes: Fixed, staring; pupils dilated. Sensation as if all objects were too bright and glittering (delusion).

Nose: Stopped; sneezing. Fluent coryza on sudden change of weather. Persistent epistaxis, especially with goose flesh state of skin.

Face: Pale, haggard, anxious, distorted; bluish, cold. Cold sweat.

Stomach: Pressive pain in the pit of the stomach. Coldness, followed by burning.

Stool: Blackish; involuntary. Asiatic cholera with cramps in the calves, coldness of the body, anguish, great weakness, collapse, tongue, and mouth cold.

Urinary: Burning and strangury with tenesmus of the neck of the bladder. Retention with full bladder.

Male: Increased desire. Chordee. Priapism. Nocturnal emissions.

Respiratory: Precordial distress. Suffocative dyspnea. Asthma. Violent, dry, hacking cough. Palpitations. Cold breath. Suspended respiration.

Extremities: Rheumatic pain between shoulders. Difficulty in motion. Numbness, tingling, and coldness. Cracking in joints. Cramps in calves. Icy cold feet, ache as if sprained.

Sleep: Insomnia, with cold limbs. Extreme restlessness.

Fever: Small, weak, slow pulse. Icy coldness of the whole body. Cold perspiration. Congestive chill. Tongue cold, flabby, trembling.

Skin: Cold, pale, blue (cyanosed), livid. Cannot bear to be covered (Sec.).

Modalities: Worse with motion, at night, contact, cold air. Better with warmth.

Relationship: Camph. antidotes or modifies the action of nearly every vegetable medicine—tobacco, opium, worm medicines, etc. Luffa actangula (entire body ice cold with restlessness and anxiety; burning thirst). Camphoricum acidum (a prophylactic against catheter fever, cystitis; 15 grains, three times a day; also for prevention of night sweats).

Incompatible: Kali-n.

Complementary: Canth.

Antidotes: Op., Nit-s-d., Phos.

Compare: Carb-v., Cupr., Ars., Verat.

Dose: Tincture, in drop doses, repeated frequently, or smelling of spirits of Camph. Potencies are equally effective.