Homeopathy I - Sulphur Flashcards
Sulphur Names
Names: Sulphur, brimstone.
The unwashed philosopher
Background:
- Known by the ancients as ‘the stone which burns’.
- Sulphur is found in all living things. It is a major component of proteins, vitamins and hormones.
- Was used by the Romans as a treatment for skin diseases and is still used today e.g., sulphur soaps for eczema and psoriasis.
- Sulphur-rich foods include eggs, seafood, organ meat, cabbage, cress, cauliflower, onions, chives, garlic, leeks.
- Used as a major preservative —sulphites and sulphur dioxide.
Mental picture:
- A common male remedy.
- The philosopher, the dreamer.
- Is in theory the expert but does not get things done —lacks focus.
- No time to sleep, to eat or to clean up the desk or house as there are so many things to do and to find out.
- Knows lots of detail, loves theorising and rationalising and can discuss things late into the night or early morning.
- Imaginative, opinionated.
General picture:
- Unwashed, untidy (no time as there is so much to research and to study).
- Offensive, corrosive, burning secretions.
- Warm blooded —hot face, head, hands or feet.
- Sticks feet out of the bed to cool them.
- Seeks coolness, likes doors and windows open.
- Desire sweets and spicy food.
- > fresh air; < warmth, bathing, 10–11 am.
Indications:
(If they fit the symptom picture):
* Burning pains, heat, redness —anywhere!
* Heartburn / peptic ulcers = desires alcohol, craving for sweets and spicy food, hunger.
* Chronic diarrhoea —strong odour of eggs.
* Hot flushes (menopause) —desires fresh air.
* Hypertension
* Excessive suppression from drugs e.g., antibiotics, corticosteroids
Heartburn / gastritis:
Examples of administration, acute prescribing:
Especially associated with eating sugary foods and high intake of alcohol. 30C when symptoms arise.
Chronic diarrhoea
Examples of administration, acute prescribing:
30C 3 x daily until diarrhoea subsides.
Hypertension
Examples of administration, acute prescribing:
Refer to a homeopathic professional.
Eczema
Examples of administration, acute prescribing:
15C crushed into coconut oil / aqueous cream and apply to affected area 3 x daily (best to refer to a homeopath).
Substance abuse / never well since drug use:
Antibiotics / corticosteroids:
Hot diarrhoea, skin eruptions, ravenous appetite, craving for sweets
Case study:
- 65-year-old woman. Lecturer in theology.
- Main complaint —severe reflux and hypertension (170/98) and did not want to take the medication suggested by her GP.
- Very sensitive to heat and likes windows to be kept open all the time, even in winter. Hates wearing closed shoes as her feet get hot. She sticks them out of the bed covers when sleeping.
- Very talkative - had to be redirected back to the case taking.
- Enjoys a large glass of wine in the evening which she knows aggravate sleep and flushes, but enjoys it too much to stop.
- Craves hard-boiled sweets. Reflux < wine, sweets, eggs, onions.
- Prescription:
- Her mental picture and main complaint matched sulphur well and her Vital Force was quite strong, so she was prescribed sulphur 1M once weekly, and also given sulph. 30C to take for the reflux.
- Follow-up 1 month later:
- Reflux was under control and she had gone from having four episodes a day to having one episode every other day. She used sulphur 30C for this and it stopped the burning within 5 minutes.
- BP had dropped to 154/88.
- She was prescribed sulphur 10M —single dose.
- Follow-up 3 months later:
- No more reflux experienced, so she had not needed to use sulphur 30C.
- BP stable and down to 135 / 84 —which her GP was happy with.
- She commented on how since beginning treatment, her skin wasn’t as dry as it used to be.
- Remember:
- Homeopathic remedies above 30C / 200C should only be prescribed by a homeopathic professional. This is a good example of a case successfully treated by a qualified homeopath.
