Acidum sulphuricum drug picture

Dr Ashwin G Navada

ABSTRACT
Sulphuricum Acidum, also known as Sulphuric Acid or Sul-ac, is a homeopathic remedy used for a variety of ailments. Mentally and emotionally, people who may benefit from Sulphuricum Acidum can be hurried – walking quickly and eating rapidly. They may experience confusion and awkwardness from hurry and can be nervous and anxious to get things done. They may also be dissatisfied and irritable.

Some common symptoms that may be treated with Sulphuricum Acidum include sourness of discharges such as perspiration, eructation ,reflux, vomiting, and breath; hot flushes during menopause; and a tendency to bruises or haemorrhage. The person needing Sul-ac may also be chilly, complain of internal trembling, and be weak with perspiration.

Sulphuricum Acidum has been used to treat gastritis, heartburn, painful changes in the mucous membrane of the mouth, menopausal symptoms and hot flashes. It has also been used to subdue the craving for liquor when mixed with three parts of alcohol.

KEYWORD : Acidum sulphuricum, sulph acid, alcohol, alcoholism, sourness , apthae.

INTRODUCTION

Sulphuric in acid is a mineral acid composed of the elements sulphur, oxygen, and hydrogen.

MOLECULAR FORMULA – H₂SO₄

Oil of vitriol – prepared from roasting green vitriol i.e., iron sulphate – FeSO₄ in iron container.

Sul. ac., according to Teste, was a favourite remedy of the Middle Ages, being used extensively in dilution in the treatment of scrofulous, phagedenic, cancerous, and venereal ulcers.

Used as a gargle and mouth-wash for aphthae, ulceration of the gums, and diphtheria.

It was given as “Mineral Lemonade” in cases of lead poisoning.

One type of active pharmaceutical ingredients manufactured by using sulphuric acid are the alkylating agents which are commonly used in the chemotherapy (treatment of cancer).

Sulphuric acid, in very mild concentrations, is used in some topical ointments particularly for the treatment of canker sores.

CONSTITUTION-

• Adapted to the light-haired; old people, especially women; flushes of heat in the climacteric years.
• Thermal- chilly
• MIASM- SYPHYLITIC
• Temperament: nervous and irritable.
• Diathesis: haemorrhagic diathesis
• Side- left side affinity

SPHERE OF ACTION

• Git
• Blood
• Blood vessels
• Skin
• Mucous membrane

CAUSATION

• ALCOHOLISM-stimulants
• Fall- mechanical injury
• Haemorrhages
• Bruises
• Concussion
• Chafing
• Surgery
• Sprains

ALCOHOLIC SULPHURIC ACID

• An alcoholic, drunkard , debauch
• Craving for alcohol, stimulants
• Hereditary tendency to alcoholism
• Vomiting in morning, acidity in stomach, burning is oesophagus and stomach, sour, acrid, or foul eructation.” Sul. ac. has this characteristic: in spite of great thirst, water is not tolerated, unless qualified with alcohol it chills the stomach. Hurry, hasty, quick, sullen impatient, angry because things move so slowly Internal trembling with weakness.
• Dr Hering says the craving for liquor has been subdued by taking for two or four weeks, thrice daily, ten to fifteen drops of a mixture of one part of Sul-ac. with three parts of alcohol.
• Picturization of an alcoholic is similar to that of a sulphuric acid.

HURRIED-RESTLESS

• Feels in a great hurry; everything must be done in a quickly.
• All things must be done at once.
• Sulphuricum acidum is hurried while eating, in movements, He cannot do things fast enough, He is hurried in walking, in writing and in occupation. The hurry is much more in occupation than in other things.
  • But when we look behind this hurry, we find that there is a constant anxiety to finish ones work as fast as possible.
  • It is an anxiety about completing his work and getting the things done.
  • The hurriedness is much more in occupation than in other things.
  • The anxiety, for example, is more in the morning and is ameliorated in the evening, when the work is over.
  • It is an anxiety about completing his work and getting the things done.

IRRITABILITY-

• Fretful and irritable over the slightest cause.
• Sullen, impatient, angry because things move so slowly.
• Seriousness, alternating with buffoonery.
• Irascible, Vacillating and morose.

SADNESS

• Constant crying or weeping. No one does anything to please him.
• Absent minded with extreme sadness dejected feeling and inclination to weep continuously
• Nothing can be done to please him.
• Disgust of life- dislikes conversation
• Unwilling to answer questions not from obstinacy, but inaptness – says yes or no with difficulty.

TREMBLING -DEBILITY                                                                                        

• A SENSE OF INTERNAL TREMBLING. This is a subjective symptom, for, not withstanding this positive sensation, to a degree that is very distressing, there is no visible trembling. This symptom is frequently found in old topers Who are broken down or almost wrecked in health by strong drink.
• The symptom,however,is not confined to such subjects,but is often found in other cases when the debility is traceable to other causes, when markedly present from whatever cause.

HEAD

• Compressive pain in side of occiput.
• The pain in the head come on slowly, reaches the peak and ceases suddenly.
• Violent headaches in debilitated people, debauches.
• Sensation as if brain was loose in forehead and falling from side to side.
• Compressive pain in side of occiput.
• RELIEVED BY HOLDING THE HANDS NEAR THE HEAD.

MOUTH

• Aphthae; of mouth, gums, or entire buccal cavity; ulcers painful; Ulcers spread rapidly,gums bleed rapidly,offensive breath. Bloody saliva from mouth; vesicles in the mouth.
• Tongue: swollen, white covered tip, red
• The teeth set on edge, from sour vomiting.

THROAT

• Painful sore throat with painful, difficult swallowing. During the throat troubles fluids drunk run out of nose.
• The uvula is oedematous. LARYNX MOVES UP AND DOWN VIOLENTLY.
• Inflammation of the throat that is aphthous or follicular.
• Diphtheritic exudate yellowish or white with aphthous surroundings and bleeding from nose, gums or other parts; with more than ordinary exhaustion and fetor.

STOMACH

• Sourness- sour vomiting during pregnancy. Vomiting of drunkards in the morning,heartburn; sour eructation; sets teeth on edge. Sour as if eating raw mango.
• Desire for fresh food
• The stomach seems to hang down as if relaxed,cold and relaxed feeling in stomach applied heat he cannot drink cold water, as it feels so cold in the stomach and makes him chilly.
• Craving for alcohol.
• Water causes coldness of stomach, unless mixed with some spirits.
• Loss of appetite and progressive weakness
• Nausea with chilliness.

ABDOMEN

• Stitching pains in spleen and liver.
• Feeling as if hernia would protrude, especially left side.
• Sinking, weak feeling in abdomen after stool. weak feeling, with dragging into the hips and small of back. Weak feeling in abdomen, as though menses would come on.

RECTUM

• Rectum feels as if it had a big ball.
• Hemorrhoids: very sore, itching, painful during stool, in drunkards.piles; oozing dampness.
• Excoriating stools, burning in rectum during stool.
• Diarrhoea with great general weakness and sensation of trembling.
• Diarrhoea, fetid, black, with sour Odor of body, and empty faint feeling in abdomen.

FEMALE

• The woman at the climacteric period has many symptoms peculiar to Sulphuric acid.
• The flashes of heat, weakness, sensation of trembling, a nervous hurry in all her actions and feelings, bleeding from uterus and other parts of blood that does not coagulate, and constipation with small, hard balls like sheep’s dung are symptoms common to the critical period.
• It often causes the vomiting of pregnancy. VOMITING PRECEDED BY COUGH.

MENSES

• The menses are too frequent and copious and the flow is dark and thin.
• Many symptoms come before the menses.
• The vagina is prolapsed and gangrenous.
• Nightmare before menses.-Has nightmare at the close of the menses.

PAIN

• Pain of gradual and slow-increasing intensity which ceases suddenly when at its height, often repeated.
• The pain – from blunt instrument.
• Tendency to gangrene following mechanical injuries, especially of old people.
• Plat. and Syphil. are three remedies where the pain begins lightly, increases gradually to the highest degree and then gradually declines.
• In Bell. Kali bich., Nit. acid, Carb. acid and Mag. phos., shooting pains appear suddenly and disappear just as suddenly.
• In Colocynth the pains commence suddenly and severely but disappear gradually
• Trauma is another indication for Sul-ac- It also removes long-lasting black and blue spots with soreness and stiffness of the parts.

SKIN

• Bad effects from mechanical injuries, with bruises and livid skin.
• Ecchymosis, Petechiae, Purpura haemorrhagica.
• Livid, red, itching blotches.
• Haemorrhage of black blood from all outlets.
• Cicatrices turn red and blue and become painful. (Turn green, Led.)
• Chilblains with gangrenous tendency.
• Carbuncles, boils and other staphylococci and streptococci infections.

RELATIONSHIP

• Complementary & anitioded by : Puls.
• Antidote to: Lead poisoning.
• In contusion and laceration of the soft parts it vies with Calendula.
• Compare: Ars., Bor., Calend., Led., lach,lyco,nux,robin, Ruta, Rheum, sep,Symp.
• Follows well:
  • In injuries, Arn., Con., Rut.
  • after, Arn. with bruised pain, livid skin and profuse sweat.
  • after, Led. in ecchymosis
  • Cough followed by belching wind from stomach, Ambr., Ver.
  • Dyspepsia of drunkards, Carb. v. (Carb. v. is a putrid remedy, Sul. ac. sourer).
  • Acidity sets teeth on edge, Rob.
  • Weakness and giving way of ankles, Caust, Sul., Sil.
  • Scarlatina, blue spots, diphtheritic membrane, Mur. ac. (Mur. ac. has better uncovering).
  • Sprains, Am. c. (hot and painful).
• Falls easily, Nat. c., Caust., Sul.
• Aphthae, Sul. Ac., Borax, Nat-m., Kali. chl.
• Piles, Nit-ac.
• Drinks chill the stomach, Elaps.
• Flushing at menopause, Lach. (Sul. ac. With sweating).
• Throbbing headache at menses, Lach. (Sul. ac. With sweating).
• Inguinal hernia, Lyc. (Lyc. right, Sul. ac. left).
• Sour children, spite of washing, Hep., Mg.c., Rhe.
• Sensation of brain loose in forehead and falling from side to side, Bell., Bry., Rhe., Spi. Prostration, Acet. ac.
• Haemorrhages of black blood from all outlets, Crotal., Mur. Ac., Nit-ac., Tereb.
• Weak and exhausted from deep-seated dyscrasia, no other symptoms, Pso., Sul.
• Sensation of white of egg on face, Alm.
• Sensation of subcutaneous ulceration, Puls.
• Alcoholism, Querc.
• Prolapse of vagina, Staph.
• Larynx sensitive, Lach. Warmth of genitals (Sul. coldness).

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Dr Ashwin G Navada
MD Scholar Department of Materia medica
Father muller homoeopathic medical college, deralakatte.