Encyclopedia of Homeopathy

MAJOR MINERAL REMEDIES• 75Aurum metallicumAURUM MET.KEY SYMPTOMS workaholic nature • despair at any perceived failures • bouts ofanger and violence • angina • pains in the bones • person feels worse at nightThe ancient Egyptians were one of the earliest civilizations to master theart of mining and working gold. In many cultures it was ascribed greatvalue on the basis of its rarity and splendor. As early as the 7th century BCE,gold was fashioned into coins and used as a means of exchange,paving the way for today’s world economy. Gold also plays a role inconventional medicine, being used in the treatment of rheumatoidarthritis. Hahnemann proved the homeopathic remedy in 1818.GOLD NUGGETGOLD FLAKESREMEDY PROFILEThose who are most suited to Aurum met.often feel as if they do not accomplish asmuch as they should. They tend to beworkaholics, always striving to attain thetough standards that they set for themselves.If they consider that they have failed in this,a feeling of emptiness and despair may follow.There is a marked tendency towardhypersensitivity in these people, bothemotionally and physically, with smell, taste,hearing, and touch all being highly acute. Asa result of being emotionally overcharged,they tend to overreact to criticism orcontradiction, exploding into fierce angerwith trembling and flushing.Aurum met. is prescribed for depression andgrief. It is also given to treat circulatoryproblems such as palpitations and angina,and for headaches, disorders of thereproductive system, and bone pains.DepressionSYMPTOMS Anxiety and a sense of worthlessness,disenchantment with life, and despair. Thereis commonly an empty feeling, as thougheverything is just for show but lacks substance:it glitters but is not gold. In extreme cases thismay lead to severe clinical depression andsuicide. There may be a longing for death,possibly provoking suicidal thoughts, althougha fear of death may coexist simultaneously.Other symptoms include irritability, feelingsof guilt or of being forsaken, perhapsassociated with a shock, such as the deathof a loved one, or a failed romance.Symptoms better For rest; for walking; forfresh air.Symptoms worse For mentalconcentration or exertion; for emotionalstress, particularly at night.AnginaSYMPTOMS Palpitations, high blood pressure,breathlessness, and chest pains behind thebreastbone that extend along the arm to thefingertips. There may also be the sensationthat the heart is about to stop, and that theblood vessels are hot. The heart may not feelproperly lodged in the chest, and may seem toshake with every movement.Symptoms better For warmth; for rest; forfresh air.Symptoms worse At night; for mental orphysical exertion; for emotional stress.Reproductive-system problemsSYMPTOMS Inflammation of the testes andundescended testicles in boys. In women,Aurum met. is used for painful menstruation,fibroids, a prolapsed uterus, causing adragging feeling in the pelvis, and a sensationthat the uterus is enlarged. There may besterility, leading to depression.Symptoms better For rest; for walking; for freshair; for washing in cold water.Symptoms worse For cold; at night; foremotional stress.Bone painSYMPTOMS Deep, gnawing, debilitating bonepains, often on the right side of the jaw boneand in the bones of the nose. There may bewandering, debilitating rheumatic pains inthe muscles.Symptoms better For warmth; for rest;for fresh air.GOLD This heavy, inert metal is used mostly foraesthetic or economic purposes, but is also usedin medicine and in dentistry, where its resistanceto chemical reaction makes it ideal for toothfillings and caps.SOURCE DETAILSORIGINFound in hydrothermal veins, andsometimes as nuggets or grains lying instream beds or sand in Australia, SouthAfrica, and North America.BACKGROUNDGiven by 12th-century Arabian physiciansfor heart problems, gold was also used inblood tests and for tuberculosis in the early20th century.PREPARATIONGold is purified from a nugget or extractedfrom an ore. It is then triturated withlactose sugar, filtered, diluted,and succussed.COMMON NAMEGold.Symptoms worse At night; for exertion;for emotional stress.HeadachesSYMPTOMS Severe, pounding, unbearable pain,with veins pulsing in the temples.Symptoms better For rest; for fresh air.Symptoms worse At night; for exertion;for emotional stress.See also Palpitations, page 186; Arthritis, page 197; Infertility, page 203; Cancer, page 208; Emotional problems, page 210