Causticum (Hahnemann's Potassium Hydrate)      Manifests its action mainly in chronic rheumatic, arthritic and paralytic affections, indicated by the tearing, drawing pains in the muscular and fibrous tissues, with deformities about the joints; progressive loss of muscular strength, tendinous contractures. Broken down seniles. In catarrhal affections of the air passages, and seems to choose preferable dark complexioned and rigid fibered persons. Restlessness at night, with tearing pains in joints and bones, and faint-like sinking of strength. This weakness progresses until we have gradually appearing paralysis. Local paralysis, vocal cords, muscles of deglutition, of tongue, eyelids, face, bladder and extremities. Children are slow to walk. The skin of a Causticum person is of a dirty white sallow, with warts, especially on the face. Emaciation due to disease, worry, etc., and of long standing. Burning, rawness, and soreness are characteristic.

	Mind. Child does not want to go to bed alone. Least thing makes it cry. Sad, hopeless. Intensely sympathetic. Ailments from long lasting grief, sudden emotions. Thinking of complaints, aggravates, especially hemorrhoids.

	Head. Sensation of empty space between forehead and brain. Pain in right frontal eminence.

	Face. Paralysis of right side. Warts. Pain in facial bones. Dental fistula. Pain in jaws, with difficulty in opening mouth.

	Eyes. Cataract with motor disturbances. Inflammation of eyelids; ulceration. Sparks and dark spots before eyes. Ptosis. [Gels.] Vision impaired, as if film were before eyes. Paralysis of ocular muscles after exposure to cold.

	Ears. Ringing, roaring, pulsating, with deafness; words and steps reecho; chronic middle ear catarrh; accumulation of earwax.

	Nose. Coryza, with hoarseness. Scaly nose. Nostrils ulcerated. Pimples and warts.

	Mouth. Bites inside of cheek from chewing. Paralysis of tongue, with indistinct speech. Rheumatism of articulation of lower jaw. Gums bleed easily.

	Stomach. Greasy taste. Aversion to sweets. Feels as if lime were burned in stomach. Worse after eating fresh meat; smoked meat agrees. Sensation of ball rising in throat. Acid dyspepsia.

	Stool. Soft and small, size of goose quill. [Phos.] Hard, tough, covered with mucus; shines like grease; small shaped; expelled with much straining, or only on standing up. Pruritis. Partial paralysis of rectum. Rectum sore and burns. Fistula and large piles.

	Urine. Involuntary when coughing, sneezing. [Puls.] Expelled very slowly, and sometimes retained. Involuntary during first sleep at night; also from slightest excitement. Retention after surgical operations. Loss of sensibility on passing urine.

	Female. Uterine inertia during labor. Menses cease at night; flow only during day. [Puls.] Leucorrhea at night, with great weakness. [Nat-m.] Menses delay, late. [Con.; Graph.; Puls.]

	Respiratory. Hoarseness with pain in chest; aphonia. Larynx sore. Cough, with raw soreness of chest. Expectoration scanty; must be swallowed. Cough with pain in hip, especially left worse in evening; better, drinking cold water; worse, warmth of bed. Sore streak down trachea. Mucus under sternum, which he cannot quite reach. Pain in chest, with palpitation. Cannot lie down at night. Voice reechoes. Own voice roars in ears and distresses. Difficulty of voice of singers and public speakers (Royal).

	Back. Stiffness between shoulders. Dull pain in nape of neck.

	Extremities. Left sided sciatica, with numbness. Paralysis of single parts. Dull, tearing pain in hands and arms. Heaviness and weakness. Tearing joints. Unsteadiness of muscles of forearm and hand. Numbness; loss of sensation in hands. Contracted tendons. Weak ankles. Cannot walk without suffering. Rheumatic tearing in limbs; better by warmth, especially heat of bed. Burning in joints. Slow in learning to walk. Unsteady walking and easily falling. Restless legs at night. Cracking and tension in knees; stiffness in hollow of knee. Itching on dorsum of feet.

	Skin. Soreness in folds of skin, back of ears, between thighs. Warts large, jagged, bleeding easily, on tips of fingers and nose. Old burns that do not get well, and ill effects from burns. Pain of burns. Cicatrices freshen up; old injuries reopen. Skin prone to intertrigo during dentition.

	Sleep. Very drowsy; can hardly keep awake. Nocturnal sleeplessness, with dry heat, inquietude.

	Modalities. Worse, dry, cold winds, in clear fine weather, cold air; from motion of carriage. Better, in damp, wet weather; warmth. Heat of bed.

	Relationship. Causticum does not agree with Phosphorus; the remedies should not be used after each other.      Antidote: Paralysis from lead poisoning.      Complementary: Carbo-v.      Compare: Rhus-t.; Ars.

Dose. Third to thirtieth attenuation. In chronic ailments and especially in paralytic states, the higher potencies once or twice a week.