Encyclopedia of Homeopathy

74 •MAJOR MINERAL REMEDIESArgentum nitricumARGENTUM NIT.KEY SYMPTOMS anxiety • impulsiveness • phobias • craving for sweet foods, whichaggravate symptoms • digestive problems with flatulence • tendency to feel hotSILVER NITRATE CRYSTALSMedieval alchemists called this compound lunar caustic. They used itsantibacterial and caustic properties for cauterizing wounds. If ingested in largeamounts, silver nitrate is highly poisonous and may turn the body blue. It is nowused in the manufacture of photographic film and plates, and as a backing formirrors. Argentum nit. was originally proved by Hahnemann, but then given amore thorough proving by Dr. J. O. Müller of Vienna in 1845.Mineral hasmetallic lusterREMEDY PROFILEArgentum nit. is best suited to people who areextroverted, cheerful, and impressionable.Suggestible and impulsive, they may havedifficulty in controlling their far-rangingminds and emotions, and readily laugh, cry,lose their tempers, or become anxious. Theymay be nervous, phobic, and superstitious.Motivated people who think, talk, and actrapidly, they are always in a hurry, and arefrequently to be found in careers that requirequick thinking and a good memory, or wherethe emphasis is on performance.Typical physical symptoms include a“sensitive” digestion, a lack of physicalcontrol, with awkwardness and tremors, and atendency to feel the heat. Argentum nit. is usedfor certain nervous, mental, and digestiveproblems where these key physical and mentalsymptoms are evident.Anxiety & phobiasSYMPTOMS Anxiety, possibly accompanied bypalpitations, tremors, awkwardness, sweats,insomnia, and even vomiting (see right). Thereis typically a feeling of being out of control,and the imagination may become overactive,spiraling off to exacerbate fears and heightenanxieties or phobias. Common triggersinclude stage fright, anticipatory anxiety, andphobias such as claustrophobia, vertigo, orfear of water or the dentist. People whorespond to this remedy usually feel veryanxious about their health.Symptoms better For fresh air; in coolsurroundings; for pressure on the head, suchas a tight bandage around it.Symptoms worse For warmth; in hot weather; atnight; for movement; for lying on the left side;for emotional stress; for overwork; for talking.Digestive disordersSYMPTOMS Diarrhea, loud, explosive belching,a distended abdomen, and flatulence. Thestools are smelly, watery, and green. Theremay be vomiting exacerbated by nervousnessor anticipatory anxiety (see below, left). Ifsymptoms persist, colitis or irritable bowelsyndrome (see below) may develop. Thedigestion is “sensitive,” with possible cravingsfor salty or sweet foods, although the lattermay trigger headaches or diarrhea.Symptoms better For fresh air; in coolsurroundings; for pressure on the abdomen.Symptoms worse For warmth; in hot weather;for lying on the left side; for emotional stress;for cold or sweet foods.Irritable bowel syndromeSYMPTOMS Constipation that alternates withflatulence and diarrhea. There is a fluttery, tensefeeling in the stomach and pain in the upper leftabdomen; stools are usually coated with mucus.Symptoms better For fresh air; in coolsurroundings; for pressure on the abdomen.Symptoms worse For warmth; in hot weather;for lying on the left side; for emotional stress;for cold or sweet foods.Nervous disordersSYMPTOMS The limbs feel weak, bruised, andtrembling. There is often giddiness and atendency to stagger in the dark. The remedy isalso used for twitching with numbness, whichmay follow a stroke or brain injury, or whichmay be linked to epilepsy, especially if attacksoccur after a fright or during menstruation.The weakness and heaviness of the limbs mayeventually lead to a feeling of paralysis.Argentum nit. may also be prescribed formultiple sclerosis, if the mental and physicalsymptoms fit the profile.ACANTHITESILVER NITRATE This compound forms as lightsensitivecrystals in the mineral acanthite.SOURCE DETAILSORIGINFound in acanthite, which usually occurs ascrystals in hydrothermal veins in Norway,the US, and South America.BACKGROUNDUsed in 19th-century North America for eyeinfections and warts, and still included insome modern wart medicines.PREPARATIONPure crystals of silver nitrate are dissolvedin alcohol before being repeatedly dilutedand succussed.COMMON NAMESSilver nitrate, hellstone, devil’s stone,lunar caustic.Symptoms better For fresh air; incool surroundings.Symptoms worse For warmth; at night;during menstruation.See also Multiple sclerosis, page 179; Digestion, pages 188, 234; Emotional problems, page 210; Exam nerves, page 254