Cantharis Vesicatoria – Homeopathic Medicine: Its Uses, Indications and Dosage

The remedy Cantharis Vesicatoria is derived from Spanish fly. Through the process of potentization (process of preparing homeopathic medicines which arouses medicinal properties of a crude substance), it is converted into a very important medicine Cantharis Vesicatoria. It is pre-eminently a remedy for managing various urinary concerns and burns, scalds on skin.

The ‘Cantharis Vesicatoria’ Constitution

This medicine is particularly suitable for people suffering from certain urinary problems and kidney affections. It also works well for people with complaints of burns on skin.

Drug Action 

The most prominent action of this medicine is seen on urinary organs. Its action on skin and sexual organs is also well marked. When used, it helps to control inflammatory processes in all these body parts. Its action is further noted on the throat and gastric system.

Clinical Indications

Cystitis, urinary tract infection (UTI), bladder infections, dysuria, nephritis, haematuria (blood in urine), urethral stricture, kidney stones, kidney pain, burns, scalds, sunburn, eczema, skin ulcers, painful erections, blood in semen, increased sexual desire in men (satyriasis), increased sexual desire in women (nymphomania), vaginal discharge, vaginal itching, ovaritis, sterility, sore throat, dysentery.

Scope as a Homeopathic Remedy

1. Urinary System (cystitis, UTI, kidney pain, nephritis, urethral stricture, kidney stone)

It is a renowned homeopathic medicine for managing complaints related to the urinary system. Among these it is highly recommended for cases of cystitis (bladder inflammation). It is extensively used to manage urinary tract infections (UTI) cases. The main indication for using it is pain and burning before, during and after urination. Pain can be a cutting type. This person feels a constant, ineffectual urge to pass urine. Even a little amount of urine in the bladder causes the urge to urinate. The urge to urinate rises even more from standing and walking, and is better from sitting. Urgency to pass urine is there. Urine is scanty. While in some cases urine passes drop by drop. Tenesmus is well marked. Tenesmus refers to a sensation of incomplete emptying of the bladder after urination even when there is no urine left behind after urinating. Bladder pain and heaviness occurs. Bladder feels sore from a little motion. In urine pus and blood can appear. It is one of the best medicines in homeopathy for dysuria (discomfort, painful or difficult urination) cases. It is well indicated for nephritis cases. Nephritis is inflammation of the kidneys. Here it works well if blood is passed in the urine.
This medicine is also suitable for managing kidney pain. In such cases the guiding feature is cutting, burning, tearing or stinging type of kidney pain. Additionally, people have sensitivity to touch the kidney region. In some cases needing it there occurs pressive sort of pain in the kidneys. Another prominent indication is urethral stricture, in these cases urine passes in thin, weak streams or divided, scattered streams. This medicine is also beneficial for kidney stone cases when there is dull, heavy pain in kidneys along with nausea and vomiting.

Key indicating features

Cystitis, UTI, dysuria with marked pain and burning before, during and after urination
Nephritis with blood in urine
Kidney pain of cutting, burning, tearing or stinging type
Urethral stricture when urine passes in thin, weak stream or divided, scattered stream
Kidney stone with dull, heavy pain in kidneys along with nausea and vomiting 

2. Skin (burns, scalds, sunburn, eczema, ulcers)

Cantharis also has prominent action on skin. Here it is primarily indicated for cases of burns and scalds. These are extremely painful. There is marked rawness and smarting in these. There is relief from cold applications. In some cases blisters (fluid filled bumps) can be present in burns cases. Its use is also done for cases of sunburn. In such cases burning in eruptions is felt when these are touched. Next it can be used in cases of eczema or dermatitis (skin inflammation) when fluid filled eruptions occur. These are itchy. Burning and smarting is there when these eruptions are touched. The eruptions can turn black. For skin ulcers this medicine proves highly beneficial. These ulcers have itching, burning and smarting. Pain is present too which is tearing or lacerating type. The ulcers ooze profuse, yellow coloured pus that can be tinged with blood. 

Key indicating features

Burns and scalds with intense pain, burning and smarting
Sunburn
Eczema with fluid filled eruptions that have itching, burning and smarting
Skin ulcers with itching, burning, smarting, pain and profuse, yellow coloured pus that can be tinged with blood

2. Male problems (painful erections, blood in semen)

This medicine can give solutions to some of the male problems. Firstly it is well indicated for painful erections.
It is also a prominent medicine to control increased sexual desire in men. This disturbs sleep at night. Secondly it is useful for cases in which there is blood in semen. Another indication is urethral burning after sex. 

Key indicating features

Painful erections
Increased sexual desire
Blood in semen
Burning in urethra after sex

3. Female problems (nymphomania, vaginal discharge, vaginal itching, ovaritis, sterility)

If we talk of female problems than this medicine can be helpful for managing increased sexual desire (nymphomania), vaginal discharge, vaginal itching, ovaritis (inflammation of ovaries) and sterility. This medicine is well indicated to control excessive sexual desire in females. It can also be given for cases of vaginal discharges. It is accompanied with intense itching and sexual excitement. Further it can be used for managing vaginal itching with increased sexual desire during menopause. Besides these it is an important medicine for ovaritis cases when there is burning, stitching, pinching or cutting pain in ovaries and sensitivity. This medicine can be considered for cases of sterility in females. In cases needing it for sterility the menses can be early profuse or scanty and black coloured. Its use is also suggested to expel retained bits of placenta, moles and membranes from the uterus.

Key indicating features

Increased sexual desire
Vaginal discharges with intense itching and sexual excitement
Vaginal itching with increased sexual desire during menopause
Ovaritis with burning, stitching, pinching or cutting pain in ovaries and sensitivity
Sterility in females when the menses are early profuse or scanty and black coloured
To expel retained bits of placenta, moles and membranes from uterus

4. Throat (burning, inflammation, ulcers, mucus, difficult swallowing)

When it comes to throat complaints, it can be given for burning in throat, difficult swallowing, throat ulcers, throat inflammation and mucus in throat. It offers help when there is difficulty in swallowing liquids.
Another important indication is ulcers and blisters in the throat. Additionally it benefits cases of thick, sticky mucus in the throat. This is also given for throat inflammation if there is an intense burning sensation. There can also be a scraping sensation along with spitting of blood. Apart from above, one may find it useful when there are burns in the throat from eating hot food. 

Key indicating features

Difficulty in swallowing liquids
Burning sensation, ulcers and blisters in throat
Throat inflammation with intense burning like fire in throat
Burns in throat from taking hot food

5. Gastric issues (burning sensation, dysentery)

By acting on the gastric system it settles some of its related concerns. It can give immense relief in the burning of food pipe and stomach. Cantharis is also suited for dysentery cases. Dysentery is intestinal infection in which there occurs loose stool with blood and mucus. The characteristic to use in such cases is loose stool with mucus like intestine scraping and blood, with sensation of incomplete defecation even when there is nothing left in rectum (tenesmus). During stool cutting, colicky pain occurs. After passing stool, chilliness is felt.

Key indicating features

Burning in food pipe and stomach
dysentery with loose stool with mucus like intestine scraping and blood, with sensation of incomplete defecation (tenesmus)

Modalities

Worsening factors: complaints are worse during and after urination, from touch, drinking cold water or coffee

Relieving factors: complaints are better from warmth, rest and rubbing

Cantharis Vesicatoria – Dosage

Depending from case to case it can be used from low to high potency. It can be repeated often in low potency but in high potency frequent repetition is usually not recommended. In case of burns on skin this medicine can be applied externally on skin by diluting its 1X or 2X potency in water.

Relationship with Other Remedies

Antidoted by: Aconite, Apis Mellifica, Camphor, Kali Nitricum, Pulsatilla and Rheum

It antidotes: Camphor

Followed well by: Belladonna, Kali Iod, Merc Sol, Phosphorus, Pulsatilla, Sepia and Sulphur