Ammonium Carbonicum

(AMMONIUM CARB)

The diseased conditions met by this remedy are such as we find often in rather stout women who are always tired and weary, take cold easily, suffer from cholera-like symptoms before menses, lead a sedentary life, have a slow reaction generally, and are disposed to frequent use of the smelling-bottle. Too frequent and profuse menses. Mucous membranes of the respiratory organs are especially affected. Fat patients with weak heart, wheezing, feel suffocated. Very sensitive to cold air. Great aversion to water; cannot bear to touch it. Malignant scarlatina, with somnolence, swollen glands, dark red sore throat, faintly developed eruption. Uræmia. Heaviness in all organs . Uncleanness in bodily habits. Swelling of parts, glands, etc. Acid secretions. Prostration from trifles.

Mind

Forgetful, ill-humored, gloomy during stormy weather. Uncleanliness . Talking and hearing others talk affects greatly. Sad, weepy, unreasonable.

Head

Pulsating forehead; better, pressure and in warm room. Shocks through head.

Eyes

Burning of eyes with aversion to light. Eye-strain ( Nat mur ). Asthenopia. Sore canthi.

Ears

Hardness of hearing. Shocks through ears, eyes, and nose, when gnashing teeth.

Nose

Discharge of sharp, burning water. Stoppage at night, with long-continued coryza. Cannot breathe through nose. Snuffles of children. Epistaxis after washing and after eating . Ozæna, blows bloody mucus from nose. Tip of nose congested.

Face

Tetters around mouth. Boils and pustules, during menses. Corners of mouth sore, cracked, and burn.

Mouth

Great dryness of mouth and throat. Toothache. Pressing teeth together sends shocks through head, eyes, and ears . Vesicles on tongue. Taste sour; metallic. Cracking of jaw on chewing.

Throat

Enlarged tonsils and glands of neck. Burning pain all down throat. Tendency to gangrenous ulceration of tonsils. Diphtheria when nose is stopped up .

Stomach

Pain at pit of stomach, with heartburn, nausea, waterbrash, and chilliness. Great appetite, but easily satisfied. Flatulent dyspepsia.

Abdomen

Noise and pain in abdomen. Flatulent hernia. Stools difficult, hard, and knotty. Bleeding piles; worse during menses . Itching at anus. Protruding piles, worse after stool, better lying down.

Urine

Frequent desire; involuntary at night. Tenesmus of bladder. Urine white, sandy, bloody, copious, turbid and fetid.

Male

Itching and pain of scrotum and spermatic cords. Erection without desire. Seminal emissions.

Female

Itching, swelling and burning of pudendum. Leucorrhœa burning, acrid, watery. Aversion to the other sex. Menses too frequent, profuse , early, copious, clotted, black; colicky pains, and hard, difficult stool, with fatigue , especially of thighs; yawning and chilliness.

Respiratory

Hoarseness. Cough every morning about three o'clock, with dyspnœa, palpitation, burning in chest; worse ascending. Chest feels tired. Emphysema. Much oppression in breathing ; worse after any effort, and entering warm room , or ascending even a few steps. Asthenic Pneumonia . Slow labored, stertorous breathing; bubbling sound. Winter catarrh, with slimy sputum and specks of blood. Pulmonary œdema.

Heart

Audible palpitation with fear, cold sweat, lachrymation, inability to speak, loud breathing and trembling hands. Heart weak , wakes with difficult breathing and palpitation.

Extremities

Tearing in joints relieved by heat of bed; inclination to stretch limbs. Hands cold and blue; distended veins. Fingers swell when arm is hanging down. Panaritium, deep-seated periosteal pain. Cramps in calves and soles. Big toe painful and swollen. Felons in the beginning. Heel painful on standing. Tearing in ankle and bones of feet, better when warm in bed.

Sleep

Sleepiness during the day. Starts from sleep strangling.

Skin

Violent itching and burning blisters. Scarlet rash. Miliary rash. Malignant scarlatina. Faintly developed eruptions from defective vitality. Erysipelas in the aged, with brain symptoms. Eczema in the bends of extremities, between legs, about anus and genitals.

Modalities

Worse , evenings, from cold, wet weather, wet applications, washing, and during 3 to 4 am, during menses. Better , lying on painful side and on stomach; in dry weather.

Relationship

Inimical to Lachesis . Similar in action.

Antidotes: Arnica; Camphor .

Compare: Rhus; Muriatic acid; Tartar emet .

Of use in poisoning by charcoal fumes.

Dose

Lower potencies deteriorate with age. Sixth potency best for general use.