Homoeopathy — Page 195
Camphora 195 Camphora (Camphor) The most salient feature of Camphor is that the skin of its patient becomes very cold during the illness, though the patient internally feels very warm. He also feels very weak and debilitated. Spasmodic conditions are also prominent. Camphor will be found beneficial in the treatment of any sickness in which the body is very cold and there are cramps. It is also very effective in the treatment of cholera, especially where there is a frequency of loose stools but no pain, or sometimes no diarrhoea either. It quickly weakens the body so that the entire body feels cold. In such a condition, Camphor in a low potency is found to be very useful. If the cholera is associated with cramping of the stomach, hands and feet, Cuprum would be more optimal. However, if the limbs feel ice-cold along with cramps and cold sweats, Camphor would be the ideal treatment. In the cholera associated with Camphor, nausea is common. The Camphor patient feels frightened and scared, resembling Aconite, except that in Aconite there is no feeling of being cold. The feeling of extreme cold is the distinctive feature of Camphor. When, like Aconite, the sickness commences suddenly and is accompanied with fear and convulsions but the body feels very cold Camphor, instead of Aconite, would be more appropriate. Aconite would certainly be more useful if the onset of the illness is sudden and severe with the body feeling hot. In a way, Camphor is related to Cantharis but also works as an antidote to it. In Cantharis, the linings of the kidney tubules become inflamed and there is a feeling of burning along the urethra with the urine passing in the form of drops. These symptoms also occur in Camphor to some extent. Sometimes, Cantharis poisoning can damage the kidney permanently and may also produce neurologic/psychiatric symptoms. In this particular situation, Camphor annuls the bad effects of Cantharis. Cantharis is not only a temporary remedy but can also neutralize the aftereffects of many other diseases permanently. The Camphor patient becomes mentally weak. His memory fades and he is afraid of being left alone. He feels dizzy and may faint. He remains lying down quietly with his eyes closed as if he is sleeping