Phosphoricum acidum appears in 12 of the 13 classic books on Similia. Each was written to do a different job — here is what each adds on this remedy, with the opening of its entry.
- Allen HC — The keynotes that separate this remedy from its nearest neighbours.
“Glacial Phosphoric Acid. (HPO3.) Best suited to persons of originally strong constitutions, who have become debilitated by loss of vital fluids , sexual excesses (Cinch.); violent acute diseases; chagrin, or a long succession of moral emotions, as grief, care, disappointed affection. Ailments: from care, chagrin…”
- Allen TF — The raw proving record — symptoms as the provers reported them, unedited.
“Glacial phosphoric acid (Metaphosphoric acid, H2 OP2O5 or HPO3). Preparation , Triturations of the acid obtained by the method of Hahnemann. Authorities. (Nos. 1 to 14 , from Hahnemann, Chr. Kr.). Emotional. The sensations experienced on taking from 40 drops to 3 drachms were those of moderate alcoholic stimulation…”
- Boericke — The quick clinical read — keynotes, modalities and the conditions it is actually prescribed in.
“Phosphoric Acid The common acid "debility" is very marked in this remedy, producing a nervous exhaustion. Mental debility first; later physical. A congenial soil for the action of Phos acid is found in young people who grow rapidly, and who are overtaxed, mentally or physically. Whenever the system has been exposed to…”
- Boger (Syn) — Generals and modalities in a short analytical portrait rather than a symptom list.
“MIND. Nerves. Metabolism. Sexual system. Spine: sensory nerves. Muscles. Bones. DEBILITY from: LOSS OF FLUIDS. Sexual excesses. Fatigue. Fevers. Convalescence. EMOTIONS (chronic): Grief. Chagrin. Mental shock. Unhappy love. Homesickness. Drafts. Cold. Music. Talking. Warmth. Short sleep. Stooling. WEAK OR DEBILITATED…”
- Clarke — The widest entry — sources, provings, clinical uses, relationships and antidotes in one place.
“Phosphoric acid. H 3 PO 4 . Dilution. (The dilute acid of B. P. forms the homœopathic 1x. In U.S. the first solution is made of glacial Phosphoric Acid.) Amblyopia / Asthma / Boils / Brain-fag / Bronchitis; capillary / Chancre / Chilblains / Cholera / Climacteric flushes and vertigo / Coccygodynia / Condylomata /…”
- Hering — Graded symptoms, each weighted by how often provers and practice confirmed it.
“Glacial Phosphoric Acid. HPO 3 . Provings by Hahnemann, Becher, Franz, Gross, Gutmann, Fr. Hahnemann, Hermann, Hartmann, Langhammer, Meyer, Stapf, Teuthorn, Wislicenus, Hering, Chronische Krankheiten ; Herinigke, A. H. Z., vol. 79, p. 157 ; Schelling, A. H. Z., vol. 84, p. 43 ; Robinson, B. J. H., vol. 25, p. 327 …”
- Kent — The mental and general picture — who the patient is, before what the remedy cures.
“" Mental enfeeblement " is the thought that will come into the mind when considering what the Phosphoric acid patient says, does and looks. The mind seems tired. When questioned he answers slowly or does not speak, but only looks at the questioner. He is too tired to talk or even think. He says: "Don't talk to me; let…”
- Lippe (KN) — Only the symptoms Lippe considered reliable enough to prescribe on.
“Sorenss in the limbs, as from growing, especially in the morning. Formications. Burning of the lower half of the body, the limbs feeling cold. Debility from loss of fluids, without pain, or only with burning. Eyes like glass, without lustre. He lies down stupid. Bad effects from sorrow. The pains are only severe…”
- Lippe (MM) — The strict Hahnemannian reading — the symptom picture without clinical interpretation.
“Perfect indifference. Silent sadness. Indifference, thoughtlessness, stupidity. Disinclination to talk, even to answer a question. Home-sickness with inclination to weep. Low-spirited and anxiety about the future or about one's health. Bad effects from grief, sorrow, unfortunate love, with great emaciation, sleepiness…”
- Lippe (Red) — Keynotes with the most-trusted ones marked as red-line symptoms.
“Common name: glacial phosphoric acid. It produces nervous prostration and debility; an atonic condition of the gastro-intestinal tract and bone affections (D.). Best suited to persons of originally strong constitutions, who have become debilitated by loss of vital fluids, sexual excesses (Chin.), violent acute…”
- Nash — The comparisons — the remedy set beside the ones it is most often confused with.
“Drowsy, apathetic; unconscious of all surroundings, but can be aroused to full consciousness. Chronic effects of grief; hair turns gray; hopeless, haggard look. Grows too fast and too tall; young persons with growing pains in bones. Great physical and mental weakness from ovarian or sexual excesses. Diarrhoea WHITE…”
