ARSENICUM ALBUM

ARSENICUM ALBUM

(Arsenious Acid, Arsenic Trioxide)

Ars.

Works deeply on every part of the body. Its distinct symptoms and relevance to various severe illnesses ensure its consistent and effective use in homeopathy. Its general symptoms, notably pervasive fatigue, weakness, and restlessness worsening at night, are key indicators. Profound exhaustion even from minimal effort characterizes it, alongside heightened irritability. Burning pains and unquenchable thirst are prominent. Provides relief from burning sensations with warmth. Useful for coastal ailments (like Nat-m., Aqua marina). Calms and eases the final moments of life when administered in high potency. Anxiety, fear, and green discharges. Particularly helpful in conditions arising from alcoholism, food poisoning, insect bites, and exposure to decayed matter. Discharges emit a putrid odor. Symptoms recur yearly. Useful for anemia, chlorosis, and degenerative changes. Aids in maintaining vitality during cancerous conditions and septic infections. 

Mind: Intense restlessness and distress. Constantly moves about. Fear of death and being alone. Overwhelming fear accompanied by cold sweats. Belief in the futility of treatment. Suicidal tendencies. Hallucinations involving smell and sight. Driven by despair to wander. Displays traits of miserliness, malice, and selfishness; lacks bravery. Heightened sensitivity to disorder and chaos. 

Head: Headaches alleviated by cold, worsened by other cold symptoms. Periodic burning pains and restlessness, with cold skin. Migraines with scalp feeling icy and extreme weakness. Scalp itching, especially at night, with dry scales and hair loss. Scalp sensitive, cannot tolerate hair brushing. 

Eyes: Burning sensation with watery discharge. Red, ulcerated, and scabby eyelids. Swelling around the eyes. Extreme pain with external inflammation; burning and excoriating tears. Corneal ulcers. Severe sensitivity to light, relieved by warmth. Fine burning pain in ciliary neuralgia. 

Ears: Raw and burning sensation inside. Thin, offensive discharge. Roaring in ears during painful episodes. 

Nose: Watery, excoriating discharge. Feeling of nasal congestion. Frequent sneezing without relief. Aggravated hay fever and colds outdoors; relieved indoors. Nosebleeds and burning sensations. Acne and lupus of the nose. 

Face: Swollen, pale, yellow, sunken, cold, and sweaty face. Expression of agony. Sharp, burning pains. Lips black and livid. Flushes of anger on the cheeks. 

Mouth: Easily bleeding gums. Mouth ulcers with dryness and burning heat. Tongue dry, red, and ulcerated; burning and stitching pains. Saliva tinged with blood. Toothaches with extreme soreness; worsened at night and relieved by warmth. Metallic taste. Regurgitation of burning fluid. 

Throat: Swollen, constricted, burning throat; difficulty swallowing. Dry, wrinkled appearance of diphtheritic membrane. 

Stomach: Aversion to food smells. Intense thirst; drinks in small sips. Nausea and vomiting after eating or drinking. Anxiety in the stomach. Craving for acids and coffee. Heartburn with acidic eructations. Vomiting of blood, bile, or green mucus. Gastric sensitivity, as if raw (gastric ulcer). Painful digestion, worsened by various foods and drinks. Fear, dyspnea, and faintness with stomach pain. Sensation of food sticking in the esophagus. Negative effects of a vegetable diet and watery fruits. Craves milk. 

Abdomen: Burning pains relieved by warmth. Enlarged and painful liver and spleen. Ascites and abdominal swelling. Pain like a wound on coughing. 

Rectum: Painful protrusion of rectum. Tenesmus and burning pain in rectum and anus. Hemorrhoids burn intensely; relieved by warmth. Skin around anus excoriated. 

Stool: Small, foul-smelling, dark stools; with marked weakness. Worse at night, after eating or drinking, and from cold. Dysentery with dark, offensive stools. Cholera with intense agony and thirst. Body cold as ice. 

Urinary: Scanty, burning, involuntary urine. Bladder feels paralyzed. Presence of albumin. After urination, weakness in the abdomen. Associated with Bright’s disease and diabetes. 

Female: Excessive and early menstruation. Burning pain in ovarian region. Leucorrhea acrid, burning, and offensive. Menstrual pain as if from hot wires; worsened by exertion and relieved by warmth. Menorrhagia and pelvic pain extending to thighs. Endometritis. 

Respiratory: Cannot lie down due to fear of suffocation. Constricted air passages. Midnight asthma attacks. Chest burning and suffocative catarrh. Cough worse at midnight, especially lying on the back. Scanty, frothy expectoration. Painful cough with pneumonia. Wheezing breaths. Hemoptysis with back pain; general heat sensation. Dry cough, as if from sulfur fumes; worsened after drinking. Pleurisy. 

Heart: Palpitations, pain, dyspnea, faintness. Irritable heart in smokers and tobacco users. Faster pulse in the morning. Dilatation and cyanosis. Angina pectoris with neck and occipital pain. 

Back: Weakness in the lower back. Shrugged shoulders. Pain and burning in the back.

Extremities: Tremors, spasms, weakness, heaviness, and unease. Calf cramps. Swelling in feet. Sciatica and burning pains. Peripheral nerve inflammation and diabetic gangrene. Heel ulcers and lower limb paralysis with wasting. 

Sleep: Anxious and restless sleep. Head elevated during sleep. Suffocative episodes during sleep. Hands placed over the head while sleeping. Dreams filled with worry and fear. Drowsiness and sleeping sickness.

Fever: High body temperature with marked periodicity. Seen in septic and intermittent fevers. Paroxysms accompanied by extreme exhaustion. Cold sweats. Typhoid fever with exhaustion. Delirium worsened at midnight. Profound restlessness. Intense heat around 3 a.m. Presence of dark crusts. 

Skin: Itching, burning, swelling, and edema. Papular, dry, rough, and scaly eruptions. Worsened by cold and scratching. Malignant pustules and offensive ulcers. Anthrax and poisoned wounds. Urticaria with restlessness and burning. Psoriasis and skin cancer. Coldness of the body. Epithelioma of the skin and gangrenous inflammations. 

Modalities: Aggravated by wet weather, after midnight, cold, cold food or drinks, coastal conditions, and right side. Relieved by warmth, elevated head, and warm drinks.

Relationship: Complementary to Rhus-t., Carb-v., Phos., Thuj., Sec.

Antidotes to lead poisoning. Antidotes: Op., Carb-v., Chin., Hep., Nux-v.

Chemical antidotes: Charcoal; Hydrated peroxide of iron; Lime water.

Compare with Arsenicum stibiatum 3x, Cenchris contortrix, Iod., Phos., Chin., Verat., Carb-v., Kali-p.

Dose: Third to thirtieth potency. The very highest potencies often yield brilliant results.
Low attenuations in gastric, intestinal, and kidney diseases; higher in neuralgias, nervous diseases, and skin. But if only surface conditions call for it, give the lowest potencies, 2x to 3x trituration. Repeated doses advisable.