Encyclopedia of Homeopathy

80 •MAJOR MINERAL REMEDIESCuprum metallicumCUPRUM MET.KEY SYMPTOMS spasms and cramps • suppression of emotions • ailments that aretriggered by suppression of rashes and discharges • person feels better for cold drinksCOPPERCopper’s name is derived from the Greek Kupris, or Cyprus, after the island on whichthe ancient Greeks found the metal. Although used as late as the 1880s by doctors inointments for healing wounds, coppersmiths have long known of copper’s toxicnature. Chronic copper poisoning produces symptoms such as coughs, colic, diarrhea,and difficulty in assimilating food. Acute copper poisoning can cause convulsions,paralysis, and even death. These factors suggested to Hahnemann, who provedCuprum met. in 1834, the remedy’s strong affinity with similar symptoms.Thin, branchlikesheets may formbetween plates of rockREMEDY PROFILEEmotions tend to be both rigidly suppressed andintensely felt in those for whom Cuprum met. isbest suited. Adolescents may suppress theirsexual urges as being too strong to cope with, sothat any later release of tension may appearextreme. Psychological contrasts can also beextreme, ranging from yielding to headstrong, orfrom closed-down mental dullness to destructiveanger or even violent insanity.Typical physical symptoms include a pale,drawn face, with blue lips and cold hands andfeet. Symptoms may be violent, becoming worseif menstruation is late, or if any eruptions andbodily discharges are suppressed by medication,being chilled, or getting wet.The remedy is associated primarily withproblems of the nervous, respiratory, anddigestive systems. Cramping, which may beextreme, may affect the fingers, toes, legs, andstomach. A common feature is exhaustion,perhaps following illness, lack of sleep, orexhausting mental strain.Cramps, convulsions & epilepsySYMPTOMS The muscles feel knotted up,particularly in the legs, feet, and calves. Crampsand muscle spasms appear in the limbs,especially at night. They start with twitching andjerking in the toes, and then spread farther upthe feet, ankles, and calves. Other symptoms arecold extremities, blue lips, and facial grimacing.Muscle spasms may be marked in pregnancyand after childbirth. Extreme cramps orconvulsions may occasionally be triggered.Young children may exhibit great anger orteething problems. Muscle spasms andconvulsions linked to epilepsy may be violent,starting in the fingers and toes and spreadingto the center of the body. There may be rashesand perspiration on the feet that is worse ifsuppressed—for example, by chilling the feet.Symptoms better For perspiring; for cold drinks.Symptoms worse For hot weather; at night; fortouch; for suppressing emotions; for suppressingsweats and rashes.Coughs & asthmaSYMPTOMS Long, spasmodic, violent coughingfits, possibly associated with whooping cough.Breathing is labored, rapid, and may seem tostop during coughing fits. The face may be pale,with blue lips and a metallic taste in the mouth.Symptoms better For perspiring; for cold drinks.Symptoms worse For hot weather; for cold air; fortouch; for vomiting; for suppressing emotions.Abdominal crampsSYMPTOMS Spasmodic, often violent, colicky pain,possibly with nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. Theabdomen is hot, tender, and sore, and there is ablue line at the margin of the gums, and ametallic taste in the mouth. A gurgling soundon drinking may be due to a spasm of theesophagus. Exhaustion may follow (see below),with loss of appetite. Cuprum met. is also usedfor nausea associated with cholera.Symptoms better For perspiring; for cold drinks.Symptoms worse For hot weather; for touch; forvomiting; for suppressing emotions.ExhaustionSYMPTOMS Fatigue following hard work, lack ofsleep, or restless sleep. There may be crampsand headaches between the eyes. Exhaustionmay also be the result of abdominal cramps andvomiting (see left).COPPER Deposits of this reddish-brown mineralare found as massive or thin sheets of copper.SOURCE DETAILSORIGINDeposited worldwide in rocks, and mined inmany countries, such as Chile. Copper hasmany uses and can be alloyed to formharder metals such as bronze.BACKGROUNDThe first metal to be utilized for tools, andalso an essential trace element in manyfoods, vital for maintaining a healthy bodyand for good bone growth.PREPARATIONThe metal is triturated with lactose sugar,then ground repeatedly until it forms apowder fine enough to be soluble in water.It is then filtered, diluted, and succussed.COMMON NAMECopper.POWDEREDCOPPERSymptoms better For perspiring.Symptoms worse For hot weather; foremotional stress; for suppressing sweatsand rashes; during pregnancy.See also Cramps, page 230