Coffea Tosta coff-t.

A Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica

John Henry Clarke · A Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica · 1st edition (1900-02, three volumes); homeoint.org / Médi-T HTML digitization

General

Coffee. N. O. Rubiaceæ. Infusion of the well-roasted berries.

Clinical

Antidote to poisons. Labour pains. Migraine. Nervous excitement, effects of. Seminal emissions. Urinary affections. Vertigo.

Characteristics

The symptoms of Coffea t . have been principally obtained from sensitive persons on whom strong coffee has acted injuriously; and the clinical uses have been mainly based on these. But a word must be said about the antidotal effects of Coffee . As an allopathic antidote to Opium in poisonous doses its value is well known. In addition to Opium and its derivatives it counteracts the effects of Nux vomica, Belladonna , narcotic mushrooms, poisonous sumach, tobacco, bitter almonds, Prussic acid, Coloc., Valer., Cicuta, Chamom ., salts of Antimony, Lead, Phosphorus, Phosphoric acid . On account of its extensive antidotal properties Coffee has largely been condemned by homœopathic practitioners; but it should be remembered that it does not antidote all other medicines, and it is questionable if it counteracts the effect of many of the above-named drugs when they are given in high potencies. In any case it is desirable to forbid its use when Bell., Cham., Coloc., Ignat., Lyc ., and Nux are being given. Coffea tost . is serviceable against both cold and heat. Beneficial to persons who live in the open air. It has caused and cures dynamically a toothache like that of Coff. crud . when > by cold; "cold water > intense pain in sound teeth of right lower jaw." (I have several times cured a toothache like this with Coff. c . 30.) Coffea tost . is useful in confinements to relieve the excess of suffering which some women experience ─ "pains intolerable." It is useful also in heart affections where there is troublesome palpitation from heart-irritability; and in general nervous excitement. Whilst it is generally given in the form of black coffee in such conditions it is also available for use in the attenuations. Other indications for its use are: Tense arteries. Periodic headaches in hysterical women. Nervous and gastric headaches. Vomiting on least exertion. Diarrhœa from overwork and too much care. Gout and rheumatism with tendency to form chalk-stones. There is a definite and extensive proving of Coff. t . given in Allen.

Relations

Compare: Coff. crud., Coffein. Antidoted by: Caps.; see also Coff. c.

Mind

An agreeable mental excitement causing wakefulness. ─ Vivacity of thought, versatility. ─ Symptoms would Come Suddenly and take away all mental energy.

Head

Vertigo, with whirling sensation in head, causing a general faint feeling, < when thinking; has to banish reflection; with burning in stomach; partial > by change of position. ─ Sensation as if everything in the head were going in circles, now in one direction now in another; with incessant noises in the ears. ─ Rush of blood to head. ─ Violent headache; < by motion.

Eyes

Intolerance of candle-light; it is surrounded by a halo. ─ Sensation of fog before eyes. ─ Muscæ volitantes.

Ears

Every step, or loud word, is painfully felt in the ears. ─ Ringing, roaring, buzzing, singing in ears.

Face

Face pale; puffy; anxious.

Teeth

Seized with such an intense pain in r. lower (sound) teeth, that it nearly drove him crazy. ─ Nothing relieved but cold water. So soon as the water became warm in the mouth the pain returned.

11, 12. Stomach and Abdomen. ─ Nausea with faintness; with ineffectual efforts to vomit. ─ Vomiting with difficulty. ─ (Vomiting without the least exertion.). ─ Heaviness and distress in epigastrium; sensitive to touch and pressure; < by cold food or drink. ─ Extreme sensitiveness of hepatic region. ─ Sticking pains in abdomen.

Stool and Anus

Hæmorrhoids. ─ Discharge of exceedingly bright blood, every morning, with the regular stool. ─ Copious evacuation after the first dose followed by constipation.

Urinary Organs

At close of micturition, a slight milky discharge. ─ It diminishes all the solid constituents of the urine, except the existing phosphates.

Male Sexual Organs

Weakness of sexual power. ─ Seminal emissions, 3 a.m., with voluptuous itching; followed by chill and cold, clammy sweat.

Female Sexual Organs

Spasmodic sensation deep in uterine region, it seems as if something tried to press outward and could not, because it constantly gave rise to spasms. ─ (Severe labour pains, patient becoming greatly excited; severe pains in small of back.). ─ Menstruation increased and prolonged.

Respiratory Organs

Diminution of amount of expired carbonic acid. ─ Asthma; with oppression of chest.

Heart

Palpitation: from irritable heart; with vertigo and fainting. ─ Arteries tense.

Limbs

Trembling of limbs. ─ Jerking of limbs (secondary effect).

Generalities

Great excitement. ─ Trembling. ─ Hæmorrhages: (from nose, lungs, stomach, and rectum). ─ L, side most affected. ─ Aversion to open air, which < . ─ General > from moderate outdoor exercise.

Sleep

Complete sleeplessness. ─ Wakefulness, with ecstatic excitement, intermitting with dreams. ─ When going to sleep, starts up suddenly in affright, with groans and fear of falling, or of seine impending danger. ─ Visions of enchantment; followed by dreams of death of dear friends, which do not abate the cheerfulness or exhilaration, but he looks at all with supernatural indifference.

Fever

Chilliness, with general shaking and chattering of teeth cannot get warm; chills, ascend from fingers and toes, and thence to nape of neck and vertex ( > by cayenne pepper taken internally). ─ Excessive heat, threw off clothing and sat in a draught. ─ Orgasm of blood. ─ Flushes of heat. ─ Sensation of alternate warmth and coldness moving about in the bowels. ─ Sweat: general; profuse; cold, clammy, esp. in palms of hands.

The Guiding Symptoms of Our Materia Medica

Constantine Hering · The Guiding Symptoms of Our Materia Medica · 1879–91

General

Infusion of the well roasted berries.
Roasting develops Methylamine or caffeone in Coffee.
The pathogenetic effects are principally such as were derived from sensitive persons upon whom strong coffee acted injuriously, and according to these the clinical results, to which we give preference in the following arrangement, were mainly obtained.
CLINICAL AUTHORITIES.
- Migraine, etc ., Hahnemann, The injurious effects of strong coffee, Monograph ; Periodical attacks of vertigo and insensibility , Felix, Frank's Mag., vol. 1, p. 718 ; Seminal emission , Martin, MSS. ; Mental effects and general nervous excitement ; Vertigo while sleeping in a hammock after taking a very strong infusion , C. Hg., MSS. ; Severe labor pains (two cases), Kallenbach, Rück. Kl. Erf., vol. 5, p. 655 ; Urinary troubles , B. J. H., vol. 5, p. 444.

Mind

Increased intellectual activity and perception of sounds, motion, etc.
She is greatly excited and is sure she will die. θ Labor.
Full of apprehension of terrible things happening.
Painful anxiety, without fear of falling, during downward motion of hammock, while asleep.
Begs that some one might end her life. θ Labor.
She does not know where she is ; feels strangely in her head ; palpitation, trembling and chilliness.

Sensorium

While sleeping in a hammock the gentle swinging motion is felt to an enormous degree, increasing more and more until he seems to be swinging above the tree tops into the clouds, in rhythmic motion ; the descent is intensely disagreeable and accompanied by painful anxiety, without fear of falling ; when near the ground he awakes and puts his feet to the ground, which momentarily interrupts the sensation ; but he is too sleepy to keep awake, and passes a horrible night.
Attacks of vertigo with obscured vision : she is unable to distinguish surrounding objects, they seem to leave their places and follow her, or turn in a circle about her ; ringing in ears and noise as of falling rain ; she suddenly falls to ground insensible, with palpitation of heart ; easy vomiting and paleness of face during paroxysms, which often last two hours and are followed by no troublesome symptoms.

Inner head

Migraine comes on in morning shortly after awaking, and increases little by little ; pains become intolerable and sometimes burning ; integuments of head sensitive, hurt when touched ever so slightly ; body and mind excessively sensitive ; looks exhausted ; retires to lonely and dark places and closes eyes in order to avoid light ; remains seated in an arm-chair, or stretched upon bed ; least noise or motion excites pain ; avoids talking or being talked to or hearing others talk ; body is colder than usual, although no chills are experienced ; hands and feet are especially very cold ; loathes all food and drinks on account of continual sickness at stomach ; if attack is very violent, vomiting of mucus takes place, which, however, does not diminish headache ; there are no alvine discharges ; pain scarcely ever ceases before evening ; attacks come on irregularly, without premonitory symptoms.
Periodic headache of hysterical women.
Nervous and gastric headaches.

Sight and eyes

Dazzling colors, principally blue and yellow, before eyes.
Eyes shining. θ Labor.
(OBS :) Eyes sunken ; half open during sleep ; convulsive movements of eyes while awake. θ Cholera infantum.

Hearing and ears

(OBS :) Ringing in ears and noise as of falling rain. θ Vertigo.

Upper face

Paleness of face. θ Vertigo with fainting.
Face hot and deeply flushed. θ Labor.
Excruciating facial neuralgia from decayed teeth ; patient not in habit of taking coffee.

Teeth and gums

Intense pain in sound teeth of right lower jaw nearly driving him crazy ; no application relieves except cold water in mouth, pain returning as water becomes warm.
Causes premature decay of teeth in children.

Hiccough, belching, nausea and vomiting

(OBS :) Vomits without least exertion. θ Vertigo with fainting.
(OBS :) Vomiting of yellow, sour, slimy, offensive smelling masses, looking as if chopped ; child greatly emaciated, with bloated abdomen, small and frequent pulse ; eyes sunken and half open during sleep, convulsive movements of eyes while awake ; great restlessness ; diarrhœa. θ Cholera infantum.
Was found very useful in epidemic cholera of 1831 and 1836, particularly against the weakening vomiting and tormenting thirst, and it was found serviceable in subduing the premonitory symptoms.

Scrobiculum and stomach

Stomach feels tight after food.
Cramp of stomach.

Abdomen and loins

(OBS :) Great emaciation with bloating of abdomen. θ Cholera infantum.
Cramplike drawing in umbilical region, with severe pains in small of back. θ Labor.

Stools and rectum

Torpidity of bowels.
Diarrhœa from overwork and too much care.
Obstinate diarrhœa of old people occurring after an attack of cholera.
Obstinate chronic diarrhœa.
(OBS :) Cholera infantum with copious diarrhœa.
Hemorrhoidal complaints.

Urinary organs

Assists the passage of gravel and small urinary calculi, and impedes their further formation in bladder.
Catarrh of bladder, particularly of old debauchees.
Diabetes mellitus.

Male sexual organs

Seminal emission at 3 A. M., with voluptuous itching, followed by chill and cold, clammy perspiration.

Pregnancy. parturition. lactation

Very severe labor pains, patient becoming greatly excited ; constant tossing about with violent movements of extremities ; she complains of the severity of pains and is sure she will die ; face deeply flushed and bloated ; eyes shining ; small and frequent pulse.
Twenty-four hours after rupture of bag of waters, very severe pains in small of back, with cramplike drawing in umbilical region ; pulse small and frequent ; face red ; head and body excessively hot and dry ; she tosses about, greatly excited, begging that some one would end her life.

Respiration

Spasmodic asthma ; asthma thymicum.

Cough

Whooping cough.

Heart, pulse and circulation

Palpitation of heart. θ Vertigo with fainting.
Palpitation from irritable heart.
Pulse quick, but force lessened.
Small and frequent pulse. θ Labor.
Arteries tense.

Neck and back

Very severe pains in small of back, with cramplike drawing in umbilical region. θ Labor.

Upper limbs

Pain in left shoulder joint.
Trembling of hands.

Lower limbs

Iliac pains.
Pain in left foot and joint of big toe.

Limbs in general

Gout and rheumatism, where there is a disposition to the formation of chalkstones in joints.

Rest. position. motion

Remains seated in arm-chair, or stretched upon bed. θ Migraine.
Motion : excites pains.
Constant tossing about, with violent movements of extremities, during labor.

Nerves

General nervous excitement.
Pain in head with depression of spirits due to indigestion from weakness of nervous system produced by overexertion.

Sleep

Obstinate sleeplessness.

Time

At 3 A. M. : seminal emission, voluptuous itching, chill and cold, clammy perspiration.
In morning : shortly after awaking, migraine.

Temperature and weather

Serviceable against both cold and heat ; also useful in hot climates.
Beneficial to persons who live in open air.
Cold water : > intense pain in sound teeth of right lower jaw.

Fever

Inflammatory fever in children, with excitability, starting and twitching in sleep, restlessness and crying.
Feels chilly, without being cold, and trembles.
Local congestions, flushes of heat.
Intermittent fever.
Continued fever, particularly when attended with a disposition to diarrhœa.
(OBS :) Typhus.
(OBS :) Typhus of children ; epidemic cholera infantum ; under its use the pulse becomes more frequent and fuller, the eyes shining, the face gets a fresher appearance, extremities and face regain their natural heat and the skin again shows some moisture (in cases of cerebral anemia), when the child lies in a stupor and moans, coffee will soon quiet it.

Attacks, periodicity

Spasmodic asthma.
Two hours : paroxysms of vertigo and insensibility.
Migraine comes on in morning shortly after awaking, scarcely ever ceases before evening ; attacks come on irregularly.
Periodic headache of hysterical women.
Chronic : diarrhœa.

Locality and direction

Right : intense pain in sound teeth of lower jaw.
Left : pains in shoulder joint ; pain in foot and joint of big toe.

Sensations

Pain : in sound teeth of right lower jaw, nearly driving him crazy ; in small of back ; in head ; iliac ; in left shoulder joint ; in left foot and joint of big toe.
Cramplike drawing : in umbilical region, with severe pains in small of back.
Burning pain : with migraine.
Cramp : of stomach.
Lightness : of stomach after food.
Voluptuous itching : of genital organs.

Tissues

Coffee and tea are injurious to the young, but beneficial to the old, because they increase the nitrogenous bodies by diminishing tissue waste.
Useful when weary from travel in heat, with deprivation of food.
Is important as an article of diet for soldiers, on account of its invigorating properties, and is also serviceable against both cold and heat ; it is also useful in hot climates.
Affects injuriously the teeth and bones of children, predisposes them to caries.
Tense fibre.

Touch. passive motion. injuries

Touch : integuments of head sensitive and painful to slightest.
During downward motion of hammock while asleep, painful anxiety without fear of falling.
Swinging motion of hammock felt to an enormous degree.

Stage of life, constitution

Beneficial to persons who live in the open air and to old people of nervous and excitable temperament.
Useful during lactation, but harmful during puerperal state or during menstruation.
Relieves the last moments of the dying, particularly those suffering from abdominal complaints, dropsy and consumption.
Useful as a stimulant in apparent death, particularly in asphyxia and premature birth.
Girls, æt. 10 and 14 weeks ; cholera infantum.
Primipara, æt. 23, strong, well built ; has had labor pains for thirty-five hours, which have become excessively severe during last eighteen hours.
Woman, æt. 32, well built, mother of two children ; irregular and excessively severe labor pains.
Marie Bouvard, married, æt. 45, has never used coffee ; periodical attacks of insensibility.

Relations

Strong, black coffee, the beans being little roasted, drunk as hot as possible, is indispensable as an antidote in a large number of poisons, especially narcotics, when causing drowsiness, intoxication, loss of consciousness, or mental derangement, delirium, etc. ; in general it antidotes narcotic substances, such as Opium, Morphine, Nux vomica, Belladonna, narcotic mushrooms, poisonous Summach, Tobacco, bitter Almonds, Prussic acid, Bellad., Coloc., Valer., Cicut. and Chamom.
In case of poisoning with salts of antimony, lead, phosphorus and phosphoric acid, coffee is no less indispensable.
Coffee should be used by wine drinkers ; tea by beer drinkers.
Coffee removed the symptoms produced by mesmerism.
Compare : Acon . (in fever).