Argentum Nitricum Nitras argenti English: Nitrate of silver French: Argent nitrate, Nitrate d'argent German: Salpetersaures Silber   The essential features In my writings, I have repeatedly emphasized the hierarchical structure of human health. In the healthy individual the mental sphere, being the most central to normal functioning, exerts its control over the physical and emotional spheres. This control can become excessive in over-mentalized patients. On the other hand, in other types of patients there is a weakening of this central, controlling influence; to this group belongs Argentum nitricum. In the neurological system, this weakness leads to clumsiness, incoordination and, finally, ataxia and convulsions. In the psychological state it leads to impulses, the hallmark of Argentum nitricum. If we wanted to describe an Argentum nitricum case with few words, we could say that he is an over-emotional, impulsive individual with weakening mental faculties, which allow a host of impulses and fears to arise. He is an individual whose power of coordination and balance has been upset on all levels. In the early stages Argentum nitricum individuals are jolly, read more [...]

Apis Mellifica Apium virus. Honey-bee poison. N.O. Insecta Tinctures are made of the whole bee or of dilutions of the poison with alcohol.   The essential features Apis is a large remedy that has been but partially understood and little used, mainly because of a lack of appreciation of the inner nature of the remedy. Kent probably felt similarly when he said in his lecture on Apis: "We must be able to see in the general beginning of provings the disease which they resemble, for we do not always see the remedy in the advanced state. We see the disease in a state of progress and must be able to see it in the beginning. As was the disease in the beginning so was the remedy in the beginning. Things that have similar beginnings may have similar endings." It is the subtle changes in the behavior of people in the beginning of illness that most of the time foretell and determine pathological changes in the end. To be able to code these subtle changes is the main objective of this materia medica. To understand the inner pathology and the idiosyncracies of this most interesting remedy we have to look upon the effect that the bee sting has on the human organism and its read more [...]

Antimonium Crudum Native sulphide of Antimony SbS2   The essential features Antimonium crudum is a seldom-prescribed remedy which should be used more frequently in practice. The following is a description of the constitutional Antimonium crudum patient, the type of person who will in the course of his lifetime develop the symptomatology of this remedy. Antimonium crudum preferentially affects the emotional level. These patients display an unbalanced emotional state, the emotions vacillating between an extreme sentimentality, which is expressed, and a very closed, withdrawn state of moodiness and sulkiness. Antimonium crudum is one of the most emotional, most sentimental remedies of the materia medica, their behavior possessing a mellow or, at times, melodramatic quality. This remedy has spells of sighing and can be confused with Ignatia when this condition is present. The sentiments can be overwhelming in Antimonium crudum. With but slight provocation, these persons swell with emotions, and physical swellings erupt in an analogous manner. A characteristic of this remedy is the ready production of physical indurations; ie, the development of lumps, callouses, warts. read more [...]

Antimonium Tartaricum Tartar Emetic 2[ K(SbO)C4H4O6 ] H2O Trituration and solutions   The essential features This remedy finds its primarily usefulness in severe cases and hospitalized cases; these cases may be classified according to the organ system principally affected: a. the respiratory system the digestive system the nervous system This remedy is most frequently of use in affections of the respiratory system (in contradistinction to Antimonium crudum where the main seat of trouble is the digestive system). Antimonium tartaricum is most effective for disorders of the lower respiratory tract - the trachea, bronchi, and lungs. Inflammations of the lower respiratory tract must be serious for this remedy to be indicated. It is especially useful for advanced stages of bronchitis, broncho-pneumonia or pneumonia; also in weakly children with low to moderate fever, nausea and audible rattling of mucus in the chest; and in the pneumonia or bronchopneumonia of old, "broken down" people whose immunological reactive ability is almost extinct, and who appear to have no power to expel the respiratory tract mucus, which makes an audible rattling noise as the read more [...]

Anthracinum   The essential features Anthracinum is indicated in patients who suffer chronically from carbuncles, boils, hydradenitis, and tumors which tend to have a malignant appearance, a reddish-black color, and cause a burning sensation and extreme pain. In Anthracinum, ulceration takes place easily, with sloughing and excruciating burning pains. Cellular tissues become edematous and indurated. Anthracinum meets septic conditions with enormous swelling, intolerable burning pains, and with dark-red discoloration of the inflamed part. Generally in this remedy there is a tendency to easy suppuration and sepsis. For the most part, the central theme of Anthracinum is concentrated upon the intolerably painful, dark-red or blackish abscesses that resolve slowly and only with difficulty, even after days of discharging. In its mental-emotional state, Anthracinum produces an analogous picture: we see a person who has a deeply imbedded emotional abscess. This malignant abscess is very difficult to "open." The patient feels that there is no hope of recovery; the "abscess" will not come to the surface and discharge its contents. It is an abscess that has been formed out read more [...]

Anhalonium lewinii Anhalonium Lewinii Lophophora williamsii Mescaline; "Mescal buttons" Peyote; Peyotl; Pellote Natural order: Cactaceae   The essential features This seldom-indicated remedy - at least in the past - will be much more frequently indicated in the future. Anhalonium activates specific areas of the brain which seem to be concerned with the higher and highest functions of this organ; it appears to affect what could be called the spiritual aspect, or, even better, the transcendental aspect of our existence. I believe that these functions, or rather, this capacity of the brain to apprehend new dimensions in understanding and achieving higher consciousness are going to come into play increasingly in modern times, either through natural means, such as spiritual practices, or artificially through the action of powerful hallucinogenic drugs, such as Anhalonium. As members of this generation, and probably future generations, intensively pursue spiritual goals through consciousness-raising activities or the use of drugs, the sheer intensity of their focus and exertions in this regard, the impact of such fervent auto-stimulation will cause an unhealthy read more [...]

Ammonium Carbonicum Carbonas [sub] ammonii Sal volatile anglicanum English: Sesqui carbonate of ammonia; Smelling salts French: Ammoniaque carbonate; Sous-carbonate d'ammoniaque; alkali volatil concret; Sel volatil d' Angleterre German: Fluchtiges Lügensaltz   The essential features This is a complex remedy, one which is very little understood, and therefore seldom used. Most probably, other remedies, such as one of the Kali's, especially Kali carbonicum, or Antimonium tartaricum or Carbo vegetabilis, are prescribed instead. Its symptomatology seems to be quite complex, covering a number of different pathological states, and its uniqueness is consequently difficult to grasp. Kent describes Ammonium carbonicum as "a deep-acting, constitutional remedy, an antipsoric." I must here take issue with the expression "constitutional remedy" if the implication is that it is so because it is a deep-acting remedy. I have come to realize that all remedies can act deeply when they are truly indicated, when they are the "similimum." Consequently, any remedy may act as a constitutional remedy when appropriately prescribed. Any remedy, when only superficially prescribed, read more [...]

Ambra grisea Ambra Grisea seu Ambrosiaca. Ambra vera seu maritima French: Ambre gris German: Graue ambra English: Ambergris; Gray amber Animal substance Ambra grisea or Ambergris is a grayish, waxy pathologic secretion from the intestine of the sperm whale and is found floating in tropical seas. It occurs as a flammable, waxy mass, insoluble in water with a melting point of 60o C. It contains cholesterol and benzoic acid. Along with its Homeopathic use it is also used as a base for perfume. Mode of preparation: Trituration and tincture   The essential features The key word that best describes the mental emotional state of an Ambra grisea case is INHIBITION. Most of the symptomatology of this remedy revolves around the idea of not being able to loosen up, to relax and "exchange", to let go when in the company of other people. Yet when we read the excellent exposition of Kent on this remedy this idea does not come across clearly. Stress has been given to the state where the patient talks incessantly, without really understanding what she is talking about, while asking questions without waiting for an answer and jumping from one subject to another. read more [...]