Camphora
The great collapse remedy. Icy coldness of the whole body, yet patient throws off covers. First stage of cholera. Sudden collapse with cold sweat. Antidotes many remedies.
Source
Tincture and trituration of camphor obtained from Cinnamomum camphora (Lauraceae).
Available Potencies
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Keynote Symptoms
Icy coldness of entire body, yet patient does not want to be covered — throws off covers. Collapse with coldness and prostration. First stage of cholera. Cold perspiration. Sudden sinking of vital forces. Surface cold but feels burning inside. Antidotes to nearly all vegetable remedies.
Mind & Emotional Symptoms
Anxiety and restlessness. Delirium. Fear. Raving. Desire to be uncovered despite coldness. Great distress. Cannot bear to be touched.
General Symptoms
Sudden collapse with extreme coldness. Vital forces sink rapidly. Coldness of surface with internal burning. Rice-water stools. Cold sweat. Spasms. Catalepsy. Tetanus. Effects of measles eruption receding. Antidotes most plant-based remedies.
Physical Symptoms
Head
Cold forehead. Vertigo. Congestive headache.
Face
Pale, cadaverous, cold, pinched. Blue lips. Cold nose.
Stomach
Burning and pressure in stomach. Cold feeling internally. Nausea. Retching.
Abdomen
Colic. Cold abdomen. Rumbling.
Rectum
Cholera — rice-water stools. Diarrhea with collapse. Involuntary stool.
Urinary
Strangury. Retention of urine. Burning in urethra.
Skin
Icy cold to touch. Cold clammy sweat. Measles rash that recedes — suppressed eruptions.
Modalities
Better From
Warmth. Drinking cold water. Thinking of complaint.
Worse From
Cold air. Night. Motion. Suppressed eruptions.
Constitutional Type
Not strongly constitutional. Used primarily in acute collapse states. Persons who collapse suddenly with extreme coldness. Useful as a universal antidote.
Clinical Indications
Cholera (first stage). Collapse. Shock. Suppressed eruptions (measles). Cold stage of fevers. Fainting. Tetanus. Catalepsy. Antidote to many remedies.
Comparative Materia Medica
Compare Veratrum album (collapse with cold sweat but wants to be covered), Carbo vegetabilis (collapse with air hunger), Tabacum (cold sweat with nausea and pallor). Camphora is unique in the desire to uncover despite icy coldness.
Safety Information
Dulcamara. Opium. Nitric acid. Phosphorus. Note: Camphor itself antidotes nearly all vegetable remedies.
Camphor is toxic in material doses. Ingestion of 2g can be fatal. Causes seizures, respiratory failure, and liver damage. Topical overuse can cause systemic toxicity. Mother tincture must be used with great care.
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