Encyclopedia of Homeopathy

44 •MAJOR PLANT REMEDIESCarbo vegetabilisCARBO VEG.KEY SYMPTOMS listless behavior • confusion • coldness • collapse • person feelsbetter from fanned air • flatulence • desire for sweets, coffee, salt, and alcoholCharcoal is veryhard and doesnot rot likeordinary woodCharcoal’s hardness and durability have in the past made it a popular materialfor staking out land boundaries. Its ability to absorb gases and toxins in thebody gained charcoal a reputation as a “purifier,” and in the 18th and 19thcenturies it was used in dressings for skin ulcers and in mouthwashes.Hahnemann proved and published the homeopathic remedy in his ChronicDiseases (1821–34). It became known as the “corpse reviver” for its abilityto restore severe collapse.REMEDY PROFILEPeople who need Carbo veg. may be in a stateof physical and mental collapse. It is used fordebilitated states ranging from a simple faintor fatigue to exhaustion or more seriouscollapse. Those affected may never have fullyrecovered from a previous illness. Symptomsinclude extreme weariness on making the leasteffort, indifference, and anxiety at night, alongwith a fear of the supernatural.Typical physical symptoms include a cold,clammy body, a sallow face, weakness, andnumbness or burning pain in the limbs.A tendency to suffer from trapped gasis common.Despite usually feeling cold, peoplewho respond to Carbo veg. like fresh air,especially if it is fanned over their faces. Theymay crave junk foods, coffee, sweets, and salt,and long for alcohol although it makes themfeel unwell. In common with herbalists,homeopaths often give the remedy forflatulence and weak digestive functioning.Carbo veg. may also be taken for respiratoryproblems, or for a poor, sluggish constitution,particularly in the elderly.FatigueSYMPTOMS Weakness, severe exhaustion,or low vitality. The skin is cold and pale,but the body feels hot inside, and there isa bitter taste in the mouth. Carbo veg. canbe used for loss of vitality, fatigue, or shockduring convalescence.Symptoms better For burping; for being fanned.Symptoms worse For warm, wet weather; in theevening; for lying down; for rich, fatty foods; forwine; for coffee.Chronic fatigue syndromeAching, burning pains all over the body,and swollen, tender glands. Confusion,difficulty in concentrating, and anxietymay be evident, along with othersymptoms of fatigue (see below, left).Symptoms better In the afternoon; forlying down.Symptoms worse For cold, damp weather;at night; for exertion; for talking.Indigestion & flatulenceSYMPTOMS Indigestion and flatulence that occurregardless of diet. Regurgitation of food may beaccompanied by sour burps, smelly gas,diarrhea, and bloating so that the skin of thestomach is stretched taut. Overeating maytrigger nausea, dizziness, fainting, and morningheadaches where the head feels heavy and hot.Symptoms better For cold, fresh air; forpassing gas; for burping.Symptoms worse In the morning; for lying down;for rich, fatty foods; for milk, coffee, or wine.Breathing problemsSYMPTOMS Spasmodic cough, whoopingcough, asthma, and bronchitis in the elderly.There may be cold perspiration and weakness,choking, gagging, and vomiting of mucus.A desire for fresh air is common, as isa feeling of suffocation.Symptoms better For fresh air; for beingfanned; for sitting up.Symptoms worse In warm, wet weather;for overheating; at night; for rich foods.Poor circulationSYMPTOMS Reduced energy and lackof coordination due to poor circulationCHARCOAL Wood is burnedin a sealed environmentfrom which air is excluded tomake charcoal.SOURCE DETAILSORIGINMade from silver birch, beech, or poplartrees, which grow on moors, heaths,woodlands, and mountains throughout theNorthern Hemisphere.BACKGROUNDUsed in traditional and conventionalmedicine for ulceration, septic diseases,flatulence, and indigestion. Also known forits deodorant and disinfectant properties.PREPARATIONFist-sized bits of wood are cut, heateduntil red hot, and sealed in an airtightearthenware jar. The resulting ash is thentriturated, diluted, and succussed.COMMON NAMESCharcoal, wood charcoal.of oxygen around the body. The skin on theface, hands, and feet may be cold and blue.Hoarseness and a cold tongue and breath arecommon, and there may also be cold, puffylegs with a tendency for bleeding varicoseveins to form.Symptoms better For cold, fresh air;for burping.Symptoms worse For lying down; in theevening; for milk, coffee, or fatty foods.See also Chronic fatigue syndrome, page 205; Indigestion, page 234; Bloating & flatulence, page 236