Homeopathic Treatment of Skin Diseases Sulphur, Psorinum, Graphites, Petroleum and Urtica urens www.facultyofhomeopathy.org Sulphur The character in symbols. The skin. www.facultyofhomeopathy.org The Volcano Explosive, fiery temper which suddenly erupts in explosive wrath. The anger usually quickly subsides, but can sulk The action of the remedy is to throw things out, especially onto the skin. (Can reverse suppression: emotional or drug suppression) www.facultyofhomeopathy.org Fire Passion and ego. An ego the size and power of a volcano. No one knows better than Sulphur ! They are right, and they take things and people for granted. Selfish: everything is seen from their point of view. Passionate about their own interests, but also a curious and adventurous spirit. www.facultyofhomeopathy.org Theorizing There is a burning desire to investigate and analyze all things: especially taking things to bits and putting them back together again – a toy, or a car engine on the kitchen table! – or the universe, the philosopher, the inventor, the visionary, the religious zealot – hellfire and brimstone evangelists. www.facultyofhomeopathy.org The Sleeping Volcano Lazy and delay starting, unless stimulated by an interest. Scruffy children covered in mud, Men spread engine oil throughout the home – Aversion to bathing. Ailments from embarrassment in front of peers. www.facultyofhomeopathy.org Burning, Heat and Redness. Warm blooded, usually < heat: sun, weather, room, bed. Burning heat of soles of feet, stick them out the bed covers. Burning, offensive, acrid discharges from any part of the body: Burning itching in eruptions RED: face, lips, ears, palms, orifices, skin eruptions. www.facultyofhomeopathy.org Aversion to Bathing ODOURS: His faeces stink the house out, yet he is very sensitive to other’s odours! AVERSION TO + < BATHING: especially eruptions, and eruptions seem better when covered in engine oil ! www.facultyofhomeopathy.org Generals Desires: alcohol, beer and whisky, sweets, ice cream, chocolate, fats, junk food. Aversion: eggs <: 11a.m., an empty, hungry sinking feeling inside <: standing still, suppression of eruptions or discharges, < 5 a.m., woken by need for stool. >: open air, motion, being busy, sweating, lying down. www.facultyofhomeopathy.org Skin Any eruption in a patient who needs Sulphur. Recurrent boils; a succession of boils: as soon as one boil is healed another forms on a different site. www.facultyofhomeopathy.org Eczema Red, moist, and tremendously itchy. The itch can be voluptuous or burning. Itch <: heat: bed, sun, room; bathing; wool. Must scratch, can scratch until skin raw and bleeding Itch changes place on scratching www.facultyofhomeopathy.org Psorinum The sero-purulent matter from a scabies vesicle www.facultyofhomeopathy.org Despair • • • • • • from severe, prolonged itching of recovery from prolonged suffering from inability to recover from anxiety and foreboding whenever feels well, knows that it is soon followed by a prolonged illness www.facultyofhomeopathy.org The Hopeless Struggle • • • • • • Helpless Victim Forsaken Pessimistic Poverty: no energy, no reactive power. Powerless to resist, yet still struggle www.facultyofhomeopathy.org Generals • • • • • • Very chilly and < cold yet skin < heat ailments from suppressed eruptions prolonged debility and sweats after acute illness attacks preceded by extreme hunger, eating > foul discharges: sweat, stool, urine, menses e.t.c. <<: cold, drafts, open air, change of weather, sun, thunderstorm, coffee, fingers touching • >>: lying on back with arms out from sides www.facultyofhomeopathy.org Skin • • • • • • • Dirty, dingy, dry, greasy looks unwashed even when washed aversion to bathing and bathing << emanates a foul odour even when washed unhealthy, every tiny injury suppurates foul perspiration eczema, vesicles, boils, warts, ulcers …… www.facultyofhomeopathy.org Eczema • Intense prolonged itching: << heat of : bed, room, sun, night, bathing • Despair from severe prolonged itching • Scratches till skin raw and bleeding • Itch only briefly relieved by scratching • Dry, flaky, crusty, vesicular, cracking, easily infected then suppurates. www.facultyofhomeopathy.org Graphites Carbon The lead of a fine English pencil www.facultyofhomeopathy.org Irresolution • • • • • hard to make the simplest choice full of doubts timidity and lack of self confidence hard to analyze, plan, think in abstracts > simple, straightforward life www.facultyofhomeopathy.org Excitability • • • • Due to irresolution Upset over tiny details Anticipates difficulties Anxiety, sadness weeping and despair from little details of life, > unburdening it all to husband or doctor • Fidgety, fussy fastidiousness over details www.facultyofhomeopathy.org Generals • Obese • hungry, are > eating, stomach > warm milk, love to nibble + > • chilly yet < heat • burning, numbness and deadness sensations • aversion to coition • photophobia www.facultyofhomeopathy.org Food • • • • • • • Hunger, wake hungry in night love to nibble > eating, > warm milk Averse: meat, fish, salt, sweets <<: cold drinks, cold food Desire: warm milk, beer, chicken >>: warm food, warm milk, warm drinks www.facultyofhomeopathy.org Skin • Thick, hard and lumpy • cracks and fissures • oozing moisture which dries to a yellow crust of crystals like honey • keloid scars • every injury suppurates • scratch till skin bleeds www.facultyofhomeopathy.org Petroleum Crude Oil www.facultyofhomeopathy.org Anger, Fear and Confusion • Irritable, offended by the slightest thing, suddenly flies into a rage, violent and destructive • fierce and uncontrollable anger << by alcohol • yet easily frightened and afraid on slight provocation • confusion, loses his way in familiar places • confusion < walking in open air www.facultyofhomeopathy.org Generals • • • • • Chilly and dreads open air motion sickness from boat, car, train offensive perspiration, axillae and feet <: thunderstorms, wet and changing weather gnawing hunger > eating, nausea and diarrhoea are > eating • desires beer, brandy • flatulence from beans, peas, cabbage www.facultyofhomeopathy.org Skin • Skin problems provoked or << by crude oil or any of its derivatives: e.g. cosmetics • Furuncles and boils and blackheads • DRYNESS, no > emollients • CRACKING: deep bleeding cracks, worse on hands and fingertips, folds of skin, nipples • <<< winter, and > summer www.facultyofhomeopathy.org Urtica urens The Stinging Nettle www.facultyofhomeopathy.org Allergic Eruptions • Stinging, burning, itching as from nettles • Urticaria with weal and large red flare <: shellfish, after bathing, violent exercise; > lying down, rubbing. • Urticaria alternating with rheumatism/gout • Burns from hot water, stinging itch and pain • Stings of insects • Absence of milk after childbirth www.facultyofhomeopathy.org