Materia medica

PHOSPHORUS

Phosphorus, Phos, is very common in the body, found in the bones, teeth, DNA, body fluids. Homeopathic Phoshorus is made from the phoshorus in bone ash…

Dr. Shweta Bairagi · 04 Jun 2011

Phosphorus, Phos, is very common in the body, found in the bones, teeth, DNA, body fluids. Homeopathic Phoshorus is made from the phoshorus in bone ash.Phosphorus is flammable and used in fireworks.Phosphorus is a common remedy for children and adults. They are generally pleasant and easy to get along with, but watch out if they are overirritated, since they'll ignite and show their anger. They may strike out or fizzle and sulk.The Phosphorus pateint physically is usually lean, tall, and delicate in features, hair, skin and hands. As a child, this person is warm, outgoing, affectionate, artistic or musical and very sensitive. The child is very open and impressionable; one can "see through" such a child, whose being is effortlessly manifested, without much reserve.the Phosphorus type person is a warm, friendly extrovert who enjoys friendship and company very much, but also may enjoy solitude to pursue artistic endeavours. Such a person is enjoyable to have around, because he or she is truly sympathetic, freely putting the interest of friends above per-sonal concerns. The Phosphorus person'is highly intelligent and refined. There are no secrets for such person; whatever is on his mind he shares freely. Warmth and affection diffuse freely towards friends and even strangers. Much of his or her life revolves around interpersonal relationships. Such a person makes a good politician, the type that pushes for humanitarian causes, or a Phosphorus type may become a sales agent beause he has the ability to sell anything he believes in. The Phosphorus person is very impressionable and will believe anything which is told to him in an area outside of his own competence, then once he has adopted a belief he will be enthusiastic and convincing to others.Phosphorus is a major respirtory remedy, suitable for people prone to deep coughs and bronchitis.First aid treatment includes helping to clot blood in dental surgeries, minor hemmorages, nosebleeds, etc.Such a person makes an enjoyable patient for the homoeopath because he is impressionable and trusting; the Phosphorus patient believes in what the prescriber tells him and follows directions willingly and with effusive gratitude. Right from the first interview, the patient views the prescriber as a friend, shaking his hand warmly, sitting forward on the seat, and perhaps reaching out to touch the prescriber's hand or wrist when emphasising a point. This patient gives symptoms freely, without holding back. There is a predisposition toward anxieties of various types, but these are relieved easily by just a few reassuring words.There is a strong anxiety about health in Phosphorus. The patient becomes so suggestible that even if he hears of someone else with a particular illness, he will be concerned about the possiblity that he also might have that illness.Finally, the Phosphorus patient falls into a fear of death, a panic state over the idea that death is imminent. The patient feels like he is dying, especially when he is alone. There is the sensation of fuzziness internally, like bubbles rising and diffusing outward, or that the soul is leaving the body. There is great panic, hyperventilation, excitability and palpitations. This is the point when the patient develops a need for company, becuase of the fear that death is imminent.Phosphorus irritates, inflames and degenerates mucous membranes, irritates and inflames serous membranes, inflames spinal cord and nerves, causing paralysis, destroys bone, especially the lower jaw and tibia; disorganizes the blood, causing fatty degeneration of blood vessels and every tissue and organ of the body and thus gives rise to hæmorrhages, and hæmatogenous jaundice.Produces a picture of destructive metabolism. Causes yellow atrophy of the liver and sub-acute hepatitis. Tall, slender persons, narrow chested, with thin, transparent skin, weakened by loss of animal fluids, with great nervous debility, emaciation, amative tendencies, seem to be under the special influence of Phosphorus. Great susceptibility to external impressions, to light, sound, odors, touch, electrical changes, thunder-storms. Suddenness of symptoms, sudden prostration, faints, sweats, shooting pains, etc. Polycythemia. Blood extravasations; fatty degenerations , cirrhosis, caries, are pathological states often calling for Phosphorus. Muscular pseudo-hypertrophy, neuritis. Inflammation of the respiratory tract. Paralytic symptoms. Ill effects of iodine and excessive use of salt; worse, lying on left side .Mind.-- Great lowness of spirits. Easily vexed. Fearfulness, as if something were creeping out of every corner. Clairvoyant state. Great tendency to start. Over-sensitive to external impressions. Loss of memory. Memory. Paralysis of the insane. Ecstasy. Dread of death when alone. Brain feels tired. Insanity, with an exaggerated idea of one's own importance. Excitable, produces heat all over. Restless, fidgety.Head.-- Vertigo of the aged, after rising ( Bry ). Neuralgia; parts must be kept warm. Burning pains. Chronic congestion of head. Brain-fag, Vertigo, with faintness. Skin of forehead feels too tight. Itching of scalp, dandruff, falling out of hair in large bunches.Eyes.-- Cataract. Sensation as if everything were covered with a mist or veil, or dust, or something pulled tightly over eyes. Black points seem to float before the eyes. Patient sees better by shading eyes with hand. Fatigue of eyes and head even without much use of eyes. Green halo about the candlelight ( Osmium ). Letters appear red. oedema of lids and about e eyes. Paresis of extrinsic muscles. Diplopia, due to deviation of the visual axis. Amaurosis from sexual excess. Glaucoma. Thrombosis of retinal vessels and degenerative changes in retinal cells. Degenerative changes where soreness and curved lines are seen in old people. Retinal trouble with lights and hallucination of vision.Ears.-- Hearing difficult , especially to human voice. Re-echoing of sounds ( Caust ). Dullness of hearing after typhoid.Nose.-- Fan-like motion of nostrils ( Lyc ). Bleeding; epistaxis instead of menses . Over-sensitive smell, ( Carbol ac; Nux ). Periostitis of nasal bones. Foul imaginary odors ( Aur ). Chronic catarrh, with small hæmorrhages ; handkerchief is always bloody.Face.-- Pale, sickly complexion; blue rings under eyes. Hippocratic countenance. Tearing pain in facial bones; circumscribed redness in one or both cheeks.Mouth.-- Swelled and easily bleeding gums , ulcerated. Toothache after washing clothes. Tongue dry, smooth, red or white, not thickly coated. Persistent bleeding after tooth extraction. Nursing sore mouth. Burning in œsophagus. Dryness in pharynx and fauces. Thirst for very cold water . Stricture of œsophagus.Stomach.-- Hunger soon after eating. Sour taste and sour eructations after every meal. Belching large quantities of wind, after eating. Throws up ingesta by the mouthfuls . Vomiting; water is thrown up as soon as it gets warm in the stomach. Post-operative vomiting . Cardiac opening seems contracted, too narrow; the food scarcely swallowed, comes up again ( Bry; Alum ). Pain in stomach; relieved by cold food, ices. Region of stomach painful to touch, or on walking. Inflammation of stomach, with burning extending to throat and bowels.Abdomen.-- Feels cold ( Caps ). Sharp, cutting pains. A very weak, empty, gone sensation felt in whole abdominal cavity. Liver congested. Acute hepatitis. Fatty degeneration Jaundice. Pancreatic disease. Large, yellow spots on abdomen.Stool.-- Very fetid stools and flatus . Long, narrow, hard, like a dog's. Difficult to expel. Desire for stool on lying on, left side. Painless , copious debilitating diarrhœa. Green mucus with grains like sago. Involuntary; seems as if anus remained open. Great weakness after stool . Discharge of blood from rectum, during stool. White , hard stools. Bleeding hæmorrhoids.Urine.-- Hæmaturia, especially in acute Bright's disease ( Canth ). Turbid, brown, with red sediment.Male.-- Lack of power. Irresistible desire ; involuntary emissions, with lascivious dreams.Female.-- Metritis. Chlorosis. Phlebitis. Fistulous tracks after mammary abscess. Slight hæmorrhage from uterus between periods. Menses too early and scanty-not profuse, but last too long . Weeps before menses. Stitching pain in mammæ. Leucorrhœa profuse, smarting, corrosive, instead of menses. Amenorrhœa, with vicarious menstruation ( Bry ).Respiratory.-- Hoarseness; worse evenings. Larynx very painful . Clergyman's sore throat; violent tickling in larynx while speaking. Aphonia, worse evenings, with rawness. Cannot talk on account of pain in larynx . Cough from tickling in throat; worse, cold air , reading, laughing, talking , from going from warm room into cold air. Sweetish taste while coughing. Hard, dry, tight, racking cough. Congestion of lungs. Burning pains, heat and oppression of chest. Tightness across chest; great weight on chest . Sharp stitches in chest; respiration quickened, oppressed. Much heat in chest . Pneumonia, with oppression; worse, lying on left side . Whole body trembles , with cough. Sputa rusty, blood-colored, or purulent. Tuberculosis in tall, rapidly-growing young people. Do not give it too low or too frequently here, it may but hasten the destructive degeneration of tubercular masses. Pain in throat on coughing. Nervous coughs provoked by strong odors, entrance of a stranger; worse in the presence of strangers; worse lying upon left side; in cold room.Heart.-- Violent palpitation with anxiety, while lying on left side. Pulse rapid, small, and soft . Heart dilated, especially right. Feeling of warmth in heart.Back.-- Burning in back; pain as if broken. Heat between the shoulder-blades . Weak spine.Extremities.-- Ascending sensory and motor paralysis from ends of fingers and toes. Stitches in elbow and shoulder joints. Burning of feet. Weakness and trembling, from every exertion. Can scarcely hold anything with his hands. Tibia inflamed and becomes necrosed. Can lie only on right side. Post-diphtheritic paralysis, with formication of hands and feet.Sleep.-- Great drowsiness, especially after meals. Coma vigil. Sleeplessness in old people. Vivid dreams of fire; of hæmorrhage. Lascivious dreams. Goes to sleep late and awakens weak.Fever.-- Chilly every evening. Cold knees at night. Adynamic with lack of thirst , but unnatural hunger. Hectic, with small, quick pulse; viscid night-sweats. Stupid delirium. Profuse perspiration.Skin.-- Wounds bleed very much, even if small ; they heal and break out again. Jaundice. Little ulcer outside of large ones. Petechiæ. Ecchymosis. Purpura hæmorrhagia. Scurvy . Fungous hematodes and excrescences.PhosphorusUseful for:Key Symptoms:ANXIETYAnxious Fearful, especially of the dark, ghosts WeakBLEEDINGProfuse bleeding anywhere Usually bright red Dental hemorrhage Nosebleed Postoperative bleedingPALLORPale, sickly complexion May have circumscribed redness in one or both cheeks Often appears less ill than really isHOARSENESSMay lose voiceLARYNGITISPainful on speaking Throat raw, sore, furry Violent tickling in throat while speaking; sore throat from overuseCOLDSDescend into chestCOUGHSHard, dry, tickling cough Racking cough with trembling Cough increases when talking or breathing cold air Cough hurts throat Sensation of heavy weight in chestINFLUENZANausea Burning pains in stomach and bowels Night sweatsINDIGESTIONWeak, empty, gone sensation in whole abdominal cavity Craves cold food & drink Pain in stomach, relieved by cold food & ices Regurgitates mouthfulsNAUSEAFrom placing hands in warm water Nausea of pregnancyVOMITINGOf food scarcely swallowed Vomits as soon as water becomes warm in stomach Sour taste and belchingDIARRHEAPainless, profuse, debilitating Watery, "pouring away as if from a hydrant" Morning diarrhea of old people Chronic loose stoolCONSTIPATIONStool slender, long, hard, difficult to pass, like a dog's stoolBetter from:Open air, Rubbing, Cold food or drinkWorse from:Lying on painful side, Physical or mental exertion, Thunderstorms , Change of weather, Getting wet in hot weather, Warm food, Touch, Craves open air Thirstless with nearly all complaintsModalities.-- Worse , touch; physical or mental exertion; twilight; warm food or drink; change of weather, from getting wet in hot weather; evening; lying on left or painful side; during a thunder-storm; ascending stairs. Better , in dark, lying on right side, cold food; cold; open air; washing with col water; sleep.Source book:HOMOEOPATHIC MATERIA MEDICABy William BOERICKEESSENCE OF HOMEOPATHIC MATERIA MEDICA..By George Vithoulkas