What is Cina?
Origin and source. Cina is prepared from the wormseed plant, Artemisia cina (also called Levant wormseed), a member of the daisy family historically employed as an anthelmintic. In homeopathy the plant is taken into the pharmacopoeial process of serial dilution and succussion, yielding a preparation defined by its traditional symptom profile rather than by any measurable residue of the original plant.
Preparation in homeopathy. As with all homeopathic remedies, cina undergoes stepwise dilution and succussion. The final preparation is highly diluted; what remains is a remedy characterised by its place in the materia medica — the worm-related irritability, the teeth-grinding, nose-picking child, and the distended abdomen better from pressure — not by any material dose of the plant.
Historical place in homeopathy. Cina is a long-standing paediatric remedy in the materia medica, described by Hahnemann and later authors such as Boericke and Allen for the "worm" constitution. It is a recognised, well-defined entry especially valuable in children's practice, taught alongside other paediatric and irritability remedies such as chamomilla and santolina (where available) within the plant kingdom of the pharmacopoeia.
Key Characteristics
- Irritable, "can't be touched" child — flying into a rage if handled or even looked at; a defining behavioural theme.
- Teeth-grinding and nose-picking — especially at night; a traditional keynote.
- Ravenous appetite yet thin — eats well but stays pinched and lean; "wanting everything but keeping nothing."
- Abdominal distension — a swollen, drum-like belly that is better from hard pressure.
- Pale, pinched face with dark circles — the classic "worm" facies in the traditional picture.
- Worse from touch, from being observed, at night; better from firm abdominal pressure and after stool.
- A contradiction of great irritability with a craving to be left entirely alone.
Traditional Symptom Picture
In homeopathic practice, cina is traditionally considered when a person's symptom pattern includes the themes above. The picture is built system by system:
Mind and Behaviour
The central sphere, especially in children. Violent irritability — the child screams if touched or even looked at, throws things, and will not be comforted. There is a contradiction: wildly angry yet wanting to be left alone. This "untouchable" behaviour is the hallmark that distinguishes cina from merely cross children.
Face
Pale, pinched, with bluish circles under the eyes; the traditional "worm" facies. The child may look peaked and exhausted despite a good appetite.
Nose and Mouth
Persistent nose-picking and a desire to scratch or rub the nose; teeth-grinding at night; a dry, often offensive mouth. These are textbook cina signs in the paediatric picture.
Abdomen
A leading sphere. Marked distension — a tense, drum-like belly — with the paradoxical feature that firm pressure relieves. There may be restless turning and a desire to scratch or press the abdomen.
Stool
A traditional consideration in worm-related and irritable bowel states within the individualised picture; the stool may be offensive or changeable, and the child is often worse around it.
Sleep
Restless, with grinding of teeth, starting, and tossing; the child may wake cross and unconsolable. The sleep sphere mirrors the general irritability.
Constitution & temperament
Cina is described for a constitution — classically the child — prone to worms and the consequent irritability: pinched, pale, ravenous-yet-thin, and intolerant of touch. This is a traditional constitutional sketch used in individualised case-taking, never a label applied to a disease.
Extremities
The general restlessness extends to the limbs; the child may pick at the body or be unable to keep still.
Modalities
Better: hard pressure on the abdomen, after a stool, lying on the abdomen. Worse: touch, being looked at, at night, around worm activity, emotional excitement.
Every symptom is read as part of an individual's complete picture. Two people with the same diagnosis may receive different remedies.
Conditions Where Practitioners May Consider Cina
The conditions below are ones where homeopathic practitioners traditionally discuss cina as one possible remedy among many, selected by the individual's complete symptom picture. Each links to its live condition overview and (where available) its in-depth guide.
Homeopathy individualises; responsible care includes medical diagnosis where indicated.
Common Patient Questions
- "My child is ravenous but thin, grinds teeth, and flies into a rage if touched — is cina for us?" — this cluster is a traditional keynote, but the remedy is chosen on the whole picture; a qualified homeopath assesses the complete case (and worms, if suspected, need medical evaluation).
- "Why is firm pressure on the belly soothing?" — the distended abdomen being better from hard pressure is a classical cina modality, exactly what a homeopath records during case-taking.
- "Is cina a worm medicine?" — cina is named for the wormseed plant and the traditional "worm constitution," but in homeopathy it is selected by the symptom picture, not as an antiparasitic; suspected worms require conventional diagnosis.
- "Will it work alongside my current treatment?" — homeopathy is a distinct system of medicine; keep your physician informed and continue prescribed treatment as needed.
Potencies
Homeopathic preparations use potency scales indicating dilution and succussion:
- 6C / 30C — lower Centesimal potencies, traditionally for milder or more superficial patterns (commonly used in children).
- 200C — a higher potency, traditionally for deeper or constitutionally-matched cases.
- 1M — a high potency used occasionally in individualised practice.
- LM — a gentle, sequential potency format for sensitive individuals.
Potency is individualised — chosen by the practitioner from your constitution and response. We do not advise self-selection of potency.
Dosage
Homeopathic dosage varies by individual: constitution, acuity, potency, and response. A practitioner sets and adjusts the plan. Repeated self-dosing is discouraged as it can obscure the remedy's effect. As cina is frequently used in children, dosage is always practitioner-supervised.
Safety & Precautions
- Pregnancy & breastfeeding: discuss with your physician and a qualified homeopath.
- Children: practitioner-led remedy selection (cina is frequently a children's remedy).
- Existing conditions / medications: homeopathy is a distinct system of medicine; keep your physician informed and continue prescribed treatment as needed.
- Urgent care: severe abdominal pain, vomiting, dehydration, high fever, neurological symptoms — seek conventional medical care promptly.
Side Effects
- Homeopathic aggravation: a brief, temporary intensification may occur as the remedy acts; judged by the practitioner.
- Stop & consult if symptoms worsen persistently or new severe symptoms appear.
Who May Benefit?
Framed as symptom patterns, not diagnoses: a child (or person) who is violently irritable and cannot bear touch or being looked at, grinds the teeth and picks the nose at night, is ravenously hungry yet thin with a pale pinched face, and has a distended abdomen better from firm pressure. Benefit is individual; a matching pattern — not a disease label — is what the practitioner assesses.
Who Should Avoid Self-Medicating?
Infants/young children without guidance, pregnant/breastfeeding women without guidance, severe abdominal pain or vomiting, dehydration, high fever, neurological symptoms, persistent worsening symptoms.
Cina vs Other Remedies
Comparison tables show why remedy choice is individualised — pattern contrasts, not rankings.
Cina vs Chamomilla
Chamomilla is the angry, inconsolable, "nothing pleases," colicky, sweaty child — see chamomilla for the distinction.
Cina vs China Officinalis
China is the debility after fluid loss with bloating better hard pressure and not thirsty — see china-officinalis for the contrast.
Cina vs Nux Vomica
Nux vomica is the overworked, chilly, constipated, thin-skinned adult type — see nux-vomica for the contrast.
Cina vs Calcarea Carbonica
Calcarea carbonica is the chilly, flabby, sluggish, sweaty-headed, anxious child — see calcarea-carbonica for the contrast.
Cina vs Spigelia
Spigelia is another traditional worm-constitution remedy with marked abdominal and neuralgic features — see spigelia for the contrast.
Related Remedies
- Chamomilla — the angry, inconsolable, colicky child contrast.
- China Officinalis — for the post-fluid-loss debility and bloating.
- Nux Vomica — the irritable, overworked, constipated contrast.
- Calcarea Carbonica — the chilly, flabby, sluggish child contrast.
- Sabadilla — another traditional worm-constitution remedy with the "can't bear touch" feature.
- Spigelia — for the worm-type abdominal and neuralgic picture.
- Natrum Muriaticum — the grief-based, reserved contrast.
- Sulphur — the deep constitutional, hot, itchy contrast.
