Arsenicum Album

Introduction: Arsenic is the horse's remedy; as Pulsatilla is the sheep's, and Antim. crud. the pig's. The reprehensible fashion of "doctoring" horses with Arsenic is merely an abuse of a therapeutic fact. The horse is an animal on whose power of endurance and "wind" enormous demands are made, and Arsenic is the remedy for the effects of feats of prolonged endurance. According to Teste Arsen. acts much more powerfully on vegetable-eating animals than on carnivora (opp. Nux v.); and it is suited to the effects of excess of vegetable diet, melons, strawberries, and fruits in general, especially watery fruits. Although arsenic can be poisonous in higher doses (2- 4 grains), it has also been used in some medicines. In the 1800s and early 1900s, arsenic was commonly used to treat diseases such as syphilis and psoriasis. A form of arsenic is still used to treat an uncommon blood cancer known as acute promyelocytic leukemia. In short, it gives the full picture of a cholera patient or you may imagine a dying man with burning sensation, continuously sipping warm drinks and wants to be carried from one place to another, with a cadaverous odor from his body.

Kent says that from the very odor itself you may recognize an Arsenic patient as soon as you enter his room.

Boerick says that Arsenic profoundly acting remedy on every organ and tissue. Its clear-cut characteristic symptoms and correspondence to many severe types of disease make its homeopathic employment constant and certain. Its general symptoms often alone lead to its successful application. Among these the all-prevailing debility, exhaustion, and restlessness, with nightly aggravation, are most important. Great exhaustion after the slightest exertion. This, with the peculiar irritability of fiber, gives the characteristic irritable weakness. Burning pains. Unquenchable thirst. Burning relieved by heat. Seaside complaints (Nat mur; Aqua Marina). Injurious effects of fruits, especially more watery ones. Gives quiet and ease to the last moments of life when given in high potency. Fear fright and worry. Green discharges. Infantile Kala-azar (Dr. Neatby). Arsenic should be thought of in ailments from alcoholism, ptomaine poisoning, stings, dissecting wounds, chewing tobacco; ill effects from decayed food or animal matter; odor of discharges is putrid; in complaints that return annually. Anæmia and chlorosis. Degenerative changes. Gradual loss of weight from impaired nutrition. Reduces the refractive index of blood serum (also China and Ferr phos). Maintains the system under the stress of malignancy regardless of location. Malarial cachexia. Septic infections and low vitality.

Scientific Name: Arsenicum album

Synonyms: Acidum arseniosum; Arsenic; White Arsenic; Arsenious acid; Arsenic black; ; Arsenious ahhydride.

Source: The main source of Arsenicum Album is mineral kingdom. It may be obtained by roasting arsenical ores and purifying the product by resublimation. It is a white or transparent 1 amorphous lumps or crystalline powder; odorless, stable in air. Poison! It is slowly soluble in water. The amorphous variety being more soluble than crystalline variety. It is sparingly soluble in alcohol. It is completely soluble in glycerine. It may be obtained by roasting certain arsenical ores. Arsenic trioxide, dried at 105° for 2 hours contains not less than 99.8 percent of As2O3.

Molecular weight: 197.841.

Identification: (i) Sublimes, on heating, with the formation of transparent octahedral crystals. (ii) A small quantity warmed with about 5 ml of hydrochloric acid, gives a brown colored or white precipitate on the addition of few drops of solution of stannous chloride. (iii) An acidified solution gives yellow precipitate with hydrogen sulphide.

Non-volatile matter: Leaves not more than 0.1 percent of the residue.

Assay: Dissolve about 0.2 g accurately weighed, in 20 ml of boiling water, 5 ml of 1 N sodium hydroxide, cool; add 5 ml of 1 N hydrochloric acid followed by about 3 g of sodium bicarbonate and titrate the mixture with 0.1 N iodine using starch as indicator. Each ml of 0.1 N iodine is equivalent to 0.004946 g of As2O3.

Parts used: Arsenic trioxide.

Composition:

Solution θ. Drug Strength 1/100

Active ingredient: Arsenicum Album = 10 gm.

Excipients: Strong Alcohol = 100 cc. Distilled water, a sufficient quantity.

To make one thousand cubic centimeters of solution.

The finely powdered Arsenicum Album should be added to 800 parts of distilled water, boiled in a flask to bring the Arsenious acid into complete solution and filtered. Distilled water is then added to make the volume 900 cc. plus 100 cc. of alcohol to complete one thousand cubic centimeters of solution.

Prover Name: Dr. Christian Friedrich .

Spheres of Action: Main seats of action of Arsenic are mind, nerves, mucous membrane, joints, periosteum, liver, spleen, lymphatics, blood, lungs, skin, and stomach and alimentray canal. Arsenic acts more promptly on vegetarians than on non-vegetarians (rev. – Nux vom; All. sat.)

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Pathogenesis: Arsenic is a poison and causes constant and violent irritation to all tissues such as:-

1. Acting on gastro-intestinal tract, it produces a picture like Cholera Asiatica. 2. It attacks blood, causing septic changes i.e. exanthemata, ecchymosis, petechial haemorrhage etc. 3. It attacks veins, varices which burn like fire, especially at night. 4. It attacks serous membranes causing copious serous effusion. 5. It attacks glands which indurate and suppurate. 6. It causes inflammatory swelling with burning lancinating pain etc. 7. It attacks periosteum. 8. It attacks joints causing paleness, swelling, burnig, pain etc. 9. It also causes general anasarca; skin pale, waxy or earth-colored. 10. It causes rapid emaciation. 11. It also causes ulcerations which burn like fire, producing pains and discharges which may be scanty, putrid and offensive. 12. The skin is irritated producing violent itching and burning followed by eruptions, ulcerations etc.

Clinical: Abscess. Acne rosacea. Alcoholism. Amenorrhœa. Anæmia. Aphthæ. Asthma. Atrophy. Bronchitis. Brown-ague. Caecum, affections of. Cancer. Cancrum oris. Carbuncle. Cholera Asiatica. Cholera. Cold. Coldness. Commissures, soreness of. Cough. Coxalgia. Croup. Dandriff. Delirium tremens. Depression of spirits. Diarrhœa. Diphtheria. Dropsy. Duodenum. Dyspepsia. Ears, affections of. Eczema. Endometritis. Enteric fever. Epithelioma. Erysipelas. Eye, affections of. Face, eruption on. Fainting. Fever. Gangrene. Gastric ulcer. Gastritis. Gastrodynia. Glandular swellings. Gout. Hay-asthma. Headache. Heart, affections of. Hectic. Herpes zoster. Hodgkin's disease. Hydro-thorax. Hypochondriasis. Ichthyosis. Indigestion. Intermittent fever. Irritation. Jaundice. Kidney, diseases of. Leucorrhœa. Lichen. Lips, eruption round; epithelioma of. Locomotor ataxy. Lung affections. Lupus. Malignant pustule. Measles. Melancholia. Menstruation, disorders of. Miliary eruptions. Morphœa. Myelitis. Nails, diseased. Nettle-rash. Neuralgia. Neuritis. Nonta pudendi. Numbness. Peritonitis. Perityphlitis. Pityriasis. Plethora. Pleurisy. Pleurodynia. Pneumonia. Psoriasis. Purpura. Pyœmia. Pyelitis. Remittent fever. Rheumatic gout. Rheumatism. Rickets. Ringworm. Scaldhead. Scarlatina. Sciatica. Scrofulous affections. Sea-bathing, effects of. Sea-sickness. Shiverings. Stomach, affections of. Strains. Suppuration. Thirst. Throat, sore. Tobacco-habit. Tongue, affections of. Trachea, affections of. Traumatic fever. Typhus. Ulcers. Vomiting. Whooping-cough. Worms. Wounds. Yellow fever.

Constitution: Hydrogenoid constitution of Grauvogl and suits the complaints of drunkards.

Physical make-up: The patient is lean, thin, debilitated having Hippocratic face, dirty and waxy look of the skin. Temperament: Very fastidious, wants everything neat, clean & in order. Relation with heat and cold: Chilly patient. There is internal chilliness and so the patient craves heat, excepting in outer head. Miasm: Arsenic has a combination of Psora, Syphilis and Sycosis. Diathesis: Scrofulous diathesis. 3

Causation: Chill in the water. Eating ices. Poor diet. Fruits, ailments from. Drunkenness. Effects of tobacco; of quinine; of iodine. Sea-bathing and sea-travelling. Climbing mountains. Strains. Fit of passion. Care. Grief. Fright.

Guiding Symptoms:

1. Mind. Arsenic patient exhibits peculiar and striking mental symptoms which are as follows:- a. Great prostration, with rapid sinking of the vital forces; fainting: The disposition is: (I) Depressing, melancholic, despairing, and indifferent. (II) Anxious, fearful, restless, full of anguish. (III) Irritable, sensitive, peevish, easily vexed. b. The greater the suffering, the greater the anguish and fear of death or thinks that it useless to take medicine, is incurable, is surely going to die; dread of death, when alone, or, going to bed. c. He is extremely fastidious. Wants everything in order, neat and clean. Even a picture hanging on the wall slightly titled must be adjusted properly. So Arsenic patient is known as ‘A gold-headed patient”. Weak memory due to confusion in head. d. He suffers so much that he decides to commit suicide. Aversion to meet people, even with acquainted ones because he imagines that has offended them, but knows not how, when and where; yet fears to be alone. Sad, tearful and anxious mood. e. The patient is mentally very restless and physically too weak to move; cannot rest in any place: changing places continually; wants to be moved from one bed to another, and lies now here now there. f. Dreams are full of sorrow and fear; dreams of thunderstorm, fire, darkness and death. 2. Attacks of anxiety at night driving out of bed, < after midnight. 3. Burning pains; the affected parts burn like fire, as if hot coals were applied to parts (Antr.), > by heat, hot drinks, hot applications. 4. Burning thirst without special desire to drink; the stomach does not seem to tolerate, because it cannot assimilate cold water; lies like a stone in the stomach. 5. It is wanted, but he cannot or dare not drink it. 6. Cannot bear the smell or sight of food (Colch., Sep.). 7. Great thirst for cold water; drinks often, but little at a time; eats seldom, but much. 8. Gastric derangements; after cold fruits; ice cream; ice water; sour beer; bad sausage; alcoholic drinks; strong cheese. 9. Teething children are pale, weak, fretful, and want to be carried rapidly. 10. Diarrhoea, after eating or drinking; stool scanty, dark-colored, offensive, and whether small or large, followed by great prostration. 11. Haemorrhoids: with stitching pain when walking or sitting, not at stool; preventing sitting or sleep; burning pain < by heat; fissures make voiding urine difficult. 12. Breathing: asthmatic; must sit or bend forward; springs out of bed at night, especially after twelve o'clock; unable to lie down for fear of suffocation; attacks like croup instead of the usual urticaria. 13. Rapid emaciation: with cold sweat and great debility (Tub., Ver.); of affected parts; marasmus. 4

14. Anasarca, skin pale, waxy, earth-colored (Acet. ac.). 15. Excessive exhaustion from least exertion. Exhaustion is not felt by the patient while lying still; when he moves he is surprised to find himself so weak. 16. Symptoms generally worse 1-2 p. m., 12-2 a. m. 17. Skin: dry and scaly; cold, blue and wrinkled; with cold, clammy perspiration; like parchment; white and pasty; black vesicles and burning pain. 18. Bad effects from decayed food or animal matter, whether by inoculation, olfaction or ingestion. 19. Complaints return annually (Carbo. v., Lach., Sulph., Thuja).

Particulars:

Mind: Great anguish and restlessness. Changes place continually. Fears, of death, of being left alone. Great fear, with cold sweat. Thinks it useless to take medicine. Suicidal. Hallucinations of smell and sight. Despair drives him from place to place. Miserly, malicious, selfish, lacks courage. General sensibility increased (Hep). Sensitive to disorder and confusion.

Head: Headaches relieves by cold, other symptoms worse. Periodical burning pains, with restlessness; with cold skin. Hemicrania, with icy feeling of scalp and great weakness. Sensitive head in open air. Delirium tremens; cursing and raving; vicious. Head is in constant motion. Scalp itches intolerably; circular patches of bare spots; rough, dirty, sensitive, and covered with dry scales; nightly burning and itching; dandruff. Scalp very sensitive; cannot brush hair.

Eyes: Burning in eyes, with acrid lachrymation. Lids red, ulcerated, scabby, scaly, granulated. Œdema around eyes. External inflammation, with extreme painfulness; burning, hot, and excoriating lachrymation. Corneal ulceration. Intense photophobia; better external warmth. Ciliary neuralgia, with fine burning pain.

Ears: Skin within, raw and burning. Thin, excoriating, offensive otorrhœa. Roaring in ears, during a paroxysm of pain.

Nose: Thin, watery, excoriating discharge. Nose feels stopped up. Sneezing without relief. Hay- fever and coryza; worse in open air; better indoors. Burning and bleeding. Acne of nose. Lupus.

Face: Swollen, pale, yellow, cachectic, sunken, cold, and covered with sweat (Acetic acid). Expression of agony. Tearing needle-like pains; burning. Lips black, livid. Angry, circumscribed flush of cheeks.

Mouth: Unhealthy, easily-bleeding gums. Ulceration of mouth with dryness and burning heat. Epithelioma of lips. Tongue dry, clean, and red; stitching and burning pain in tongue, ulcerated with blue color. Bloody saliva. Neuralgia of teeth; feel long and very sore; worse after midnight; better warmth. Metallic taste. Gulping up of burning water.

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Throat: Swollen, œdematous, constricted, burning, unable to swallow. Diphtheritic membrane, looks dry and wrinkled.

Stomach: Cannot bear the sight or smell of food. Great thirst; drinks much, but little at a time. Nausea, retching, vomiting, after eating or drinking. Anxiety in pit of stomach. Burning pain. Craves acids and coffee. Heartburn; gulping up of acid and bitter substances which seem to excoriate the throat. Long-lasting eructations. Vomiting of blood, bile, green mucus, or brown-black mixed with blood. Stomach extremely irritable; seems raw, as if torn. Gastralgia from slightest food or drink. Dyspepsia from vinegar, acids, ice-cream, ice-water, tobacco. Terrible fear and dyspnœa, with gastralgia; also faintness, icy coldness, great exhaustion. Malignant symptoms. Everything swallowed seems to lodge in the œsophagus, which seems as if closed and nothing would pass. Ill effects of vegetable diet, melons, and watery fruits generally. Craves milk.

Abdomen: Gnawing, burning pains like coals of fire; relieved by heat. Liver and spleen enlarged and painful. Ascites and anasarca. Abdomen swollen and painful. Pain as from a wound in abdomen on coughing.

Rectum: Painful, spasmodic protrusion of rectum. Tenesmus. Burning pain and pressure in rectum and anus.

Stool: Small, offensive, dark, with much prostration. Worse at night, and after eating and drinking; from chilling stomach, alcoholic abuse, spoiled meat. Dysentery dark, bloody, very offensive. Cholera, with intense agony, prostration, and burning thirst. Body cold as ice (Verat). Haemorrhoids burn like fire; relieved by heat. Skin excoriated about anus.

Urine: Scanty, burning, involuntary. Bladder as if paralyzed. Albuminous. Epithelial cells; cylindrical clots of fibrin and globules of pus and blood. After urinating, feeling of weakness in abdomen. Bright's disease. Diabetes.

Female: Menses too profuse and too soon. Burning in ovarian region. Leucorrhœa, acrid, burning, offensive, thin. Pain as from red-hot wires; worse least exertion; causes great fatigue; better in warm room. Menorrhagia. Stitching pain in pelvis extending down the thigh.

Respiratory: Unable to lie down; fears suffocation. Air-passages constricted. Asthma worse midnight. Burning in chest. Suffocative catarrh. Cough worse after midnight; worse lying on back. Expectoration scanty, frothy. Darting pain through upper third of right lung. Wheezing respiration. Hæmoptysis with pain between shoulders; burning heat all over. Cough dry, as from sulphur fumes; after drinking.

Heart: Palpitation, pain, dyspnœa, faintness. Irritable heart in smokers and tobacco-chewers. Pulse more rapid in morning (Sulph). Dilatation. Cyanosis. Fatty degeneration. Angina pectoris, with pain in neck and occiput.

Back: Weakness in small of back. Drawing in of shoulders. Pain and burning in back (Oxal ac).

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Extremities: Trembling, twitching, spasms, weakness, heaviness, uneasiness. Cramps in calves. Swelling of feet. Sciatica. Burning pains. Peripheral neuritis. Diabetic gangrene. Ulcers on (Cepa; Lamium). Paralysis of lower limbs with atrophy.

Skin: Itching, burning, swellings; œdema, eruption, papular, dry, rough, scaly; worse cold and scratching. Malignant pustules. Ulcers with offensive discharge. Anthrax. Poisoned wounds. Urticaria, with burning and restlessness. Psoriasis. Scirrhus. Icy coldness of body. Epithelioma of the skin. Gangrenous inflammations.

Sleep: Disturbed, anxious, restless. Must have head raised by pillows. Suffocative fits during sleep. Sleeps with hands over head. Dreams are full of care and fear. Drowsy, sleeping sickness.

Fever: High temperature. Periodicity marked with adynamia. Septic fevers. Intermittent. Paroxysms incomplete, with marked exhaustion. Hay-fever. Cold sweats. Typhoid, not too early; often after Rhus. Complete exhaustion. Delirium; worse after midnight. Great restlessness. Great heat about 3 am.

General Modalities:

Aggravation: Wet weather; after midnight; from cold & cold drinks, or food; seashore; right side; when lying on affected side or with the head low.

Amelioration: From heat in general (reverse of Sec.) except headache, which is temporarily > by cold bathing (Spig.); burning pain > by heat; from head elevated; warm drinks.

Relationship:

Antidotes: To poisonous doses-milk, albumen, demulcent drinks, followed by emetics of mustard, Sulphate of Zinc or Sulphate of Copper (Tartar emetic is too irritating). Castor oil is the best purgative.

Chemical antidotes: Animal charcoal, Hydrated peroxide of iron, Magnesia, Limewater.

Dynamic antidote: Opium; it may be administered by clyster if not retained on stomach. Brandy and stimulants if there is depression and collapse. If urine is suppressed, Sweet spirits of nitre in large quantities of water.

Antidotes of potencies: Camph., Chi., Chin. sul., Fer., Graph., Hep., Iod., Ipec., Nux v., Sambuc., Tabac., Verat.

Arsen. is antidote to: Carb. v., Chi., Fer., Graph., Hep., Iod., Ipec., Lach., Merc., Nux v., Phos., Sambuc., Strych., Tabac., Verat.

Follows well: Aco., Agar., Arn., Bell., Cham., Chi., Ipec., Lach., Verat.

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Followed well by: Aran. d., Nux v., Iod., Sul. Rhus follows well in skin affections, especially in cases treated allopathically with large doses of arsenic.

Complementary: All. sat., Carb. v., Phos.

Similar to: Aco., Apoc., Arg. n., Bell., Bism., Calc., Can. ind., Carb. v., Chi., Ferr., Hyo., Ipec., Kreos. Lach., Lyc., Nux v., Phos., Puls., Rhus t., Sil., Tab., Verat. The restlessness of Ars. differs from that of Mag. c.; Ars. goes from room to room, from bed to bed; Mag. c. must get out of bed and walk the floor to relieve pain. The fear of death is not that of Acon., but is an anxiety and a feeling that it is useless to take medicine as they will surely die (more like Agnus). Bry. drinks much and seldom: Ars. little and often; Ars. eats much at a time, Bry. often and little.

Dose & Administration: Mother Tincture 02 or 03 drops mixed with water four times or as directed by the Homoeopathic Physician.

Side effects: No significant side effect has been observed in proper dosage. Contradiction: There is no known contradiction. Use in pregnancy and breast-feeding: The safety of this medicine in pregnancy has not been studied. Therefore it should be used with caution during these periods. If necessary, consult with homoeopathic physician.

Storage: Keep out of reach of children. Keep away from sunlight. Store in a cool and dry place.

Presentation: 30 ml, 100 ml & 450 ml in bottle.

References:

1. Homoeopathic Materia Medica by William BOERICKE, M.D. 2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki 3. Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia of M. BHATTCHARYYA & CO.’S 4. Encyclopedia of Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia by Dr. P.N. Varma & Dr. Indu Vaid. 5. Keynotes and Characteristics with Comparisons of some of the Leading Remedies of the Materia Medica by Henry Clay Allen, M. D. 6. A Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica by Dr. , M.D. 7. Infallible Mother Tincture and Indian drugs by Prof. Dr. A. K. Chaklader. 8. Text Book of Materia Medica by Dr. S. K. Dubey.

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