Chest.--Oppressed breathing as from a weight on chest. Constriction in chest, as if bound, hindering respiration. Inflammation of diaphragm. Heart-constriction, as from an iron band. Angina pectoris. Palpitation; pain shooting down left arm. Hemoptysis, with convulsive, spasmodic cough. Diaphragmitis, with great difficulty of breathing.

Compare: Digital; Spigel; Convallar; Kalmia; Naja; Magnol.

Acts on circular muscular fibers, hence constrictions. It is the heart and arteries especially that at once respond to the influence of Cactus, producing very characteristic constrictions as of an iron band. This sensation is found in various places, esophagus, bladder, etc. The mental symptoms produced correspond to those found when there are heart affections, sadness, and melancholy. Hemorrhage, constrictions, periodicity, and spasmodic pains. Whole body feels as if caged, each wire being twisted tighter. Atheromatous arteries and weak heart. Congestions; irregular distribution of blood. Favors formation of clots speedily. Great periodicity. Toxic goitre with cardiac symptoms. Cactus is pulseless, panting and prostrated.

Dose.--Tincture (best made from flowers), to third attenuation. Higher in nervous palpitation.

Extremities.--edema of hands and feet. Hands soft; feet enlarged. Numbness of left arm. Icy-cold hands. Restless legs.

Female.--Constriction in uterine region and ovaries. Dysmenorrhea; pulsating pain in uterus and ovaries. Vaginismus. Menses early, dark, pitch-like (Cocc; Mag c); cease on lying down, with heart symptoms.

Fever.--Fever every day at same hour. Coldness in back and icy-cold hands. Intermittent; paroxysms about midday (11 am) incomplete in their stages, accompanied by hemorrhages. Coldness predominates; cold sweat, with great anguish. Persistent subnormal temperature.

Head.--Headache if obliged to pass dinner hour (Ars; Lach; Lyc). Sensation as of a weight on vertex. Right-sided pulsating pain. Congestive headaches, periodical, threatening apoplexy. Blood-vessels to the head distended. Feels as if head were compressed in a vise. Pulsation in ears. Dim sight. Right sided prosopalgia, constricting pains, returns at same hour daily (Cedron).

Heart.--Endocarditis with mitral insufficiency together with violent and rapid action. Acts best in the incipiency of cardiac incompetence. Heart weakness of arterio-sclerosis. Tobacco heart. Violent palpitation; worse lying on left side, at approach of menses. Angina pectoris, with suffocation, cold sweat, and ever-present iron band feeling. Pain in apex, shooting down left arm. Palpitation, with vertigo; dyspnea, flatulence. Constriction; very acute pains and stitches in heart; pulse feeble, irregular, quick, without strength. Endocardial murmurs, excessive impulse, increased precordial dullness, enlarged ventricle. Low blood pressure.

Mind.--Melancholy, taciturn, sad, ill-humored. Fear of death. Screams with pain. Anxiety.

Modalities.--Worse, about noon, lying on left side; walking, going upstairs, 11 am and 11 pm. Better, open air.

Nose.--Profuse bleeding from nose. Fluent coryza.

Relationship.--Antidotes: Acon; Camph; China.

Sleep.--Sleepless on account of pulsation in different parts of body. Frightful dreams.

Stomach.--Constriction, pulsation, or heaviness in stomach. Vomiting of blood.

Stool.--Hard, black stools. Diarrhea in morning. Hemorrhoids swollen and painful. Sensation of great weight in anus. Hemorrhage from bowels in malarial fevers and with heart symptoms.

Throat.--Constriction of esophagus. Dryness of tongue, as if burnt; needs much liquid to get food down. Suffocative constriction at throat, with full, throbbing carotids in angina pectoris.

Urine.--Constriction of neck of bladder, causing retention of urine. Hemorrhage from bladder. Clots of blood in urethra. Constant urination.