Homoeopathy — Page 155
Cactus Grandiflorus 155 Cactus Grandiflorus (Night-Blooming Cereus) The Cactus plant grows in the desert. Although it is considered as an unattractive plant, in the desert it exhibits its own unique beauty. Blooming in full all around, it is pleasing to the eye. The fruit of the Cactus is very nice and looks good too, while its juice is also quite tasty, though it leaves an unpleasant odour. Excessive use of its fruit affects the kidneys adversely. Urination becomes very painful. A burning sensation is also associated with cramping of the bladder. In Cantharis also, there is severe burning sensation on passing urine. The urine dribbles with severe scalding. In Cactus, along with the burning sensation, there is also cramping at the bladder. The special feature of the cactus is that wherever there is pain, there must be spasms/cramps also. Cactus adversely affects the circular muscle fibres and valves. Its ailments come on suddenly. The heart also gets afflicted suddenly as if somebody has been caught in a powerful vice. Cactus proves to be very effective in the treatment of those diseases of the heart in which there is dilatation of the muscles and the damage to the valves. The spasm of the muscles at the throat can cause the sensation of tightness. The blood tends to accumulate everywhere. The congestion of the heart, kidneys, intestines and face with accumulation of blood is also found in Belladonna. Palpitations and cramps are also present in both. But in Cactus, there is no fever. In Belladonna, the affected part of the body becomes warm. Warmth is a special sign of Belladonna. In Cactus, the affected part gets congested with blood, but there is no feeling of warmth and there is no fever. Cactus patients become extremely terrified with sudden attacks of the disease, and symptoms resembling those of Aconite appear. In view of the sudden onset of the illness and the specific nature of Cactus, it is only natural to have a fear of death. The severe muscular cramps of the affected part of the body resembles the feeling of being tied up in steel wires. There is feeling of tightness and generalized suffocation. The patient cannot even tolerate a buttoned-up collar. This symptom, to some extent, is also found in Lachesis and Glonoine. In Cactus, the affected part becomes badly hurt due to severe muscular contraction. A similar situation develops inside the