Encyclopedia of Homeopathy

MINOR REMEDIES• 123navel. Dull pains in the bowels and eitherconstipation or diarrhea may be present.Allium sat. is also used to treat tearing painsin the hip area and abdomen.Symptoms better For sitting bent over.Symptoms worse In the evening; at night; forwalking; for pressure on the affected area.Aluminum potassium sulphuricumALUMENCOMMON NAMES Potash alum, double sulfate ofaluminum and potassium.ORIGIN Chemically produced from sulfatesof aluminum and potassium.BACKGROUND Potash alum is used in themaking of chamois leather, and as a dye inthe paint industry. It is used medicinally forminor bleeding cuts and mouth ulcers.PREPARATION Pure crystals of potash alum aretriturated with lactose sugar.Remedy profilePeople for whom Alumen is best suited areextremely anxious and sad. They are usuallyvery nervous, experiencing tremors on hearingbad news, or palpitations on thinking about anyillness that may affect them. They have a fear offalling, and may mistrust others. Sleep is light orelusive, and they tend to stay in bed more thannecessary. Illness tends to develop during sleep.Alumen is often given to the elderly.The typical symptom picture for Alumen isof bowel problems and paralytic, sluggishweakness of the muscles. Disturbances of thebowel include dysentery and bloody diarrhea,painful ulceration in the rectum, bleedinghemorrhoids, and a deep anal ache. Theremay be severe constipation, possibly due touterine or rectal cancer.Symptoms better For open air.Symptoms worse For cold; during sleep; forlying on the right side; for bad news.Ambrosia artemisiaefoliaAMBROSIACOMMON NAMES Ragweed, Romanwormwood, hogweed.ORIGIN Found in Europe, Mexico, Brazil, andNorth America.BACKGROUND This plant’s green, tassel-likeflowers produce large amounts of pollen thatcan trigger severe hay fever.PREPARATION A tincture is made from the freshflower heads and young shoots.Remedy profileAmbrosia is generally given for hay fever. Thewhole of the respiratory system may be affected.The nose and head feel congested, and thereis sneezing, watery catarrh, and possiblenosebleeds. The eyes water, smart, burn, anditch. There may be a wheezy cough, asthmaticirritation, or whooping cough. These symptomsmay also be associated with diarrhea, notably inthe summer months.Symptoms better For being indoors.Symptoms worse For being outside.Ammonium bromatumAMMONIUM BROM.COMMON NAME Ammonium bromide.ORIGIN Chemically prepared.BACKGROUND This compound exists ascolorless prismatic crystals with a salty taste.It is not used commercially.PREPARATION The crystals are dissolved inalcohol, diluted, and succussed.Remedy profilePeople who respond best to Ammonium brom.tend to be timid and lack self-confidence.They fear failure and criticism, and are oftenresentful of other people. They have atendency to bite their nails.Key symptoms linked with this remedyinclude neuralgic headaches, sore eyes, ovarianproblems, and epilepsy. Symptoms may appearconcurrently or individually. The constrictivehead pains are like a band above the ears.During the aura (the warning sensation)preceding an epileptic fit, there may be feelingsof suffocation and faintness, along with sighingand a need to walk around the room.Eye symptoms typically include sore, irritatedeyes that feel as if they contain sand. There maybe mucus bathing the eyes, swollen eyelids, andpossibly a pterygium (a wing-shaped thickeningof the conjunctiva). In the evening the eyes feellarge, with constantly blurred vision.In women, symptoms may be associated withthe ovaries. They may include nagging,neuralgic pains, bleeding of the uterus,and hard swelling, especially of theleft ovary, possibly in conjunctionwith eye irritation. Ammoniumbrom. may also be prescribedfor a tormenting, tickly,spasmodic cough, such aswhooping cough, or it maybe given for a stranglingcough with mucus that tendsto occur in the morning.Coughing may be incessantat night.Symptoms better For warmth;for warm drinks.Symptoms worse For open air or cold air.Ammonium chloratumAMMONIUM MUR.COMMON NAMES Sal ammoniac,ammonium chloride.ORIGIN Until the 19th century, the only sourceof this mineral was in central Asia, but now itis also chemically prepared.BACKGROUND Sal ammoniac is used industriallyas an electrolyte in dry cells. Medicinally, it isfound in many over-the-counter cold andcough medicines.PREPARATION The compound is dissolved inalcohol, diluted, and succussed.Remedy profileThis remedy is typically given to people whoare grieving, sad, depressed, and tearful, yetare unable to weep. Usually reserved andself-pitying, they may resent feeling alonein the world.Ammonium mur. is generally used forthese symptoms in conjunction with livercomplaints, particularly if they areaccompanied by pinching, shooting painsin the stomach, catarrh, and a violent coughthat is dry and scraping or loose, and profuse.Inflammatory eye conditions, menstrualdisorders, enlarged glands, joint pains, andsciatica are other possible symptoms that mayappear, and for which the remedy may beprescribed. Further respiratory symptomstypically associated with Ammonium mur.include a congested nose, sneezing, a reducedsense of smell, a sore throat, hoarseness, andthick, slimy mucus in the nose and throat.Symptoms better For open air; for rapidmovement; for walking bent over.Symptoms worse For walking erect; for chronicsprains; in the morning (in the case of headand chest symptoms); in the afternoon (in thecase of abdominal pains); in the evening (inthe case of joint pains).See also Sciatica, page 218AMMONIUM CHLORATUM(Sal ammoniac)