Picricum acidum

by C.M. Boger — General Analysis

Historical reference for practitioners and students. The statements below reflect the named author’s homeopathic teaching and do not establish treatment effectiveness. This text is not medical advice and must not replace appropriate diagnosis or care.

EARS
FINGERS OR HANDS, using, as in writing, sewing, piano playing, grasping, etc.
HEAVINESS, general
HEAVINESS, partial
LIE DOWN, must
MENTAL EXERTION, Agg.
NERVES, nervous patients, etc.
NEURASTHENIA
SEXUAL DISTURBANCES
SOUNDS, ILLUSORY
SPINE AND CORD
TINNITUS, ear noises, etc.

Picricum acidum across the other classic books

Picricum acidum appears in 13 of the 21 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.
“HC6H2(NO2)3O. Is often restorative of a wasted and worn-out system; a fair picture of "nervous prostration" (Kali p.). Progressive, pernicious, anaemia; neurasthenia. Brain fag : of literary or business people; slightest excitement, mental exertion or overwork brings on headache, and causes burning along the spine…”
Allen TF — A compiled symptom record drawing on proving reports and other named observations.
“Picric acid (Carbazotic acid), a trinitrophenol. Formula, C6H3 Preparation , Solutions in alcohol (or triturations). Authorities. 4 to 10 , L. B. Couch's provings, N. Y. Journ. of Hom., 2, 149, 1874.); 4 , Lance, took one dose of 30th cent. dil. on first, fourth, and seventh days; 4 a , same, another proving, one dose…”
Boericke — The quick clinical read — keynotes, modalities and the conditions it is actually prescribed in.
“Picric Acid-Trinitrophenol Causes degeneration of the spinal cord, with paralysis. Brainfag and sexual excitement. Acts upon the generative organs probably through the lumbar centers of the spinal cord; prostration, weakness and pain of back, pins and needle sensation in extremities. Neurasthenia ( Oxal ac ). Muscular…”
Boger (Syn) — Generals and modalities in a short analytical portrait rather than a symptom list.
“Nerves:Brain. Occiput. Cord. Lumbar region. Kidneys. Sexual organs. Exertion; mental or physical. Seminal losses. Heat. Rest. Cold. Bandaging. In sun. Weak , tired and heavy, in mind and body. Profound anæmia. Easily prostrated. Burning, in many parts; along spine; in legs, etc. Numbness. Formication…”
Clarke — The widest entry — sources, provings, clinical uses, relationships and antidotes in one place.
“Picric Acid. Carbazotic Acid. Tri-nitro-carbolic Acid. (C 6 H 2 (NO 2 ) 3 OH). Trituration. Solution in rectified spirit. Acne / Anæmia / Boils / Brain, base of, pain in / Brain-fag / Burns / Cancerous cachexia / Condylomata / Debility / Diabetes / Ears, boils in / Emissions / Enuresis / Epistaxis / Erotomania /…”
Farrington — The differential diagnosis — remedy families narrowed through direct clinical comparison.
“Picric acid causes at first some congestions. These are soon followed by weariness and mental inactivity, showing how intensely the remedy attacks the vital forces. This weariness progresses from a slight feeling of fatigue on motion to complete paralysis. It is accompanied by indifference and want of will-power, and…”
Hale — The introduction story — early pathogenetic and clinical evidence for medicines new to Hale's generation.
“Head. Heavy, throbbing pains in the head, extending from behind the ears forward to the supraorbital notch, thence downward to the eye. All head-pains relieved by bandaging tightly. Heavy pain iu occipital region, extending down the neck and spine. Heat and congestion of the head, with bleeding at the nose. Severe…”
Hering — Graded symptoms, each weighted by how often provers and practice confirmed it.
“Picric Acid. HC 6 H 2 (NO 2 ) 3 O. Discovered by Hausman in 1788. Crystallizes in bright yellow needles or scales. Provings by Couch, N. Y. J. of Hom., 1874, vol. 2, p. 149 ; T. F. Allen, Linsley and S. A. Jones, Allen's Encyclopædia, vol. 7, p. 519 . CLINICAL AUTHORITIES. Brain fag , Allen, Organon, vol. 3, p. 94 …”
Hughes & Dake — The source evidence — provings and poisonings retained with their experimental context.
“ACIDUM PICRICUM. Picric acid, carbaiottc acid, C4Hj(NO,)jOH. Product of action of nitric acid on several substances (as caxbolic acid and saltcin). L Provings, — i, Parisel, a, Nort-impregnathn. — We administered and took ourselves, an hour before food, a wineglassful of picric wine (i grm. to 1 litre). The aperient…”
Kent — The mental and general picture — how Kent organizes the remedy’s historical symptom portrait.
“The weakness of body and mind is the first impression wrought upon the mind of the reader who goes carefully over this proving. It is progressive, passing from weariness to paralysis. The evidences of softening of brain and cord are strong. He, soon becomes sensitive to heat and desires the cool air which ameliorates…”
Lippe (Red) — Keynotes with the most-trusted ones marked as red-line symptoms.
“Common name: picric acid. It corresponds in general to symptoms of neurasthenia or brain fag. It also has a marked action on the sexual organs (D.). Is often restorative of a wasted and worn-out system (A.). Depression and weariness from slight fatigue (Kali-P., Phos.) (D.). MENTAL INACTIVITY (Agn., Calc., Gels…”
Nash — The comparisons — the remedy set beside the ones it is most often confused with.
“This is a comparatively new remedy, but has already developed some valuable therapeutic powers. In the first place, it attacks the vital force, as is manifested by an excessive languor or persistent tired feeling all over the body, which is generally accompanied with corresponding weakness of mind, indifference, and…”

Picricum acidum in Kent's Repertory

Kent's Repertory lists Picricum acidum in 659 rubrics. These are the ones where it carries the highest grade — the symptoms Kent treated as most characteristic. Most of them sit in EXTREMITIES (94), HEAD (88), BACK (66), GENERALITIES (52), EYE (44).

EXTREMITIES - MOTION - convulsive - use,on attempting to
EXTREMITIES - PAIN - aching - Lower Limbs - posterior part
EXTREMITIES - PAIN - burning - Lower Limbs - posterior part
MALE GENITALIA - ERECTIONS, - excessive - lascivious thoughts,during
BACK - HEAT - Dorsal region
EXTREMITIES - HEAVINESS, - tired limbs - walking - while
EXTREMITIES - HEAVINESS, - Lower Limbs - exertion,after
HEAD - PAIN, - Forehead,in - eyes, - above - mental exertion,during
EAR - ERUPTIONS - meatus - in - boils
GENERALITIES - WEARINESS - mental exertion
MALE GENITALIA - ERECTIONS, - strong
BACK - HEAVINESS - weight - Lumbar region
STOOL - THIN,liquid - yellow
HEAD - PAIN, - pressing - mental exertion,from
MALE GENITALIA - SEXUAL PASSION - violent
STOOL - YELLOW - faecal
GENERALITIES - WEAKNESS,enervation - diarrhoea,from
MALE GENITALIA - ERECTIONS, - violent
MIND - LASCIVIOUSNESS,lustful
MALE GENITALIA - ERECTIONS, - night

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Petr Ph-ac Phel Phos Pix Plat Plb Podo

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Picricum acidum across the other classic books

Picricum acidum appears in 13 of the 21 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.

“HC6H2(NO2)3O. Is often restorative of a wasted and worn-out system; a fair picture of "nervous prostration" (Kali p.). Progressive, pernicious, anaemia; neurasthenia. Brain fag : of literary or business people; slightest excitement, mental exertion or overwork brings on headache, and causes burning along the spine…”

Allen TF — A compiled symptom record drawing on proving reports and other named observations.

“Picric acid (Carbazotic acid), a trinitrophenol. Formula, C6H3 Preparation , Solutions in alcohol (or triturations). Authorities. 4 to 10 , L. B. Couch's provings, N. Y. Journ. of Hom., 2, 149, 1874.); 4 , Lance, took one dose of 30th cent. dil. on first, fourth, and seventh days; 4 a , same, another proving, one dose…”

Boericke — The quick clinical read — keynotes, modalities and the conditions it is actually prescribed in.

“Picric Acid-Trinitrophenol Causes degeneration of the spinal cord, with paralysis. Brainfag and sexual excitement. Acts upon the generative organs probably through the lumbar centers of the spinal cord; prostration, weakness and pain of back, pins and needle sensation in extremities. Neurasthenia ( Oxal ac ). Muscular…”

Boger (Syn) — Generals and modalities in a short analytical portrait rather than a symptom list.

“Nerves:Brain. Occiput. Cord. Lumbar region. Kidneys. Sexual organs. Exertion; mental or physical. Seminal losses. Heat. Rest. Cold. Bandaging. In sun. Weak , tired and heavy, in mind and body. Profound anæmia. Easily prostrated. Burning, in many parts; along spine; in legs, etc. Numbness. Formication…”

Clarke — The widest entry — sources, provings, clinical uses, relationships and antidotes in one place.

“Picric Acid. Carbazotic Acid. Tri-nitro-carbolic Acid. (C 6 H 2 (NO 2 ) 3 OH). Trituration. Solution in rectified spirit. Acne / Anæmia / Boils / Brain, base of, pain in / Brain-fag / Burns / Cancerous cachexia / Condylomata / Debility / Diabetes / Ears, boils in / Emissions / Enuresis / Epistaxis / Erotomania /…”

Farrington — The differential diagnosis — remedy families narrowed through direct clinical comparison.

“Picric acid causes at first some congestions. These are soon followed by weariness and mental inactivity, showing how intensely the remedy attacks the vital forces. This weariness progresses from a slight feeling of fatigue on motion to complete paralysis. It is accompanied by indifference and want of will-power, and…”

Hale — The introduction story — early pathogenetic and clinical evidence for medicines new to Hale's generation.

“Head. Heavy, throbbing pains in the head, extending from behind the ears forward to the supraorbital notch, thence downward to the eye. All head-pains relieved by bandaging tightly. Heavy pain iu occipital region, extending down the neck and spine. Heat and congestion of the head, with bleeding at the nose. Severe…”

Hering — Graded symptoms, each weighted by how often provers and practice confirmed it.

“Picric Acid. HC 6 H 2 (NO 2 ) 3 O. Discovered by Hausman in 1788. Crystallizes in bright yellow needles or scales. Provings by Couch, N. Y. J. of Hom., 1874, vol. 2, p. 149 ; T. F. Allen, Linsley and S. A. Jones, Allen's Encyclopædia, vol. 7, p. 519 . CLINICAL AUTHORITIES. Brain fag , Allen, Organon, vol. 3, p. 94 …”

Hughes & Dake — The source evidence — provings and poisonings retained with their experimental context.

“ACIDUM PICRICUM. Picric acid, carbaiottc acid, C4Hj(NO,)jOH. Product of action of nitric acid on several substances (as caxbolic acid and saltcin). L Provings, — i, Parisel, a, Nort-impregnathn. — We administered and took ourselves, an hour before food, a wineglassful of picric wine (i grm. to 1 litre). The aperient…”

Kent — The mental and general picture — how Kent organizes the remedy’s historical symptom portrait.

“The weakness of body and mind is the first impression wrought upon the mind of the reader who goes carefully over this proving. It is progressive, passing from weariness to paralysis. The evidences of softening of brain and cord are strong. He, soon becomes sensitive to heat and desires the cool air which ameliorates…”

Lippe (Red) — Keynotes with the most-trusted ones marked as red-line symptoms.

“Common name: picric acid. It corresponds in general to symptoms of neurasthenia or brain fag. It also has a marked action on the sexual organs (D.). Is often restorative of a wasted and worn-out system (A.). Depression and weariness from slight fatigue (Kali-P., Phos.) (D.). MENTAL INACTIVITY (Agn., Calc., Gels…”

Nash — The comparisons — the remedy set beside the ones it is most often confused with.

“This is a comparatively new remedy, but has already developed some valuable therapeutic powers. In the first place, it attacks the vital force, as is manifested by an excessive languor or persistent tired feeling all over the body, which is generally accompanied with corresponding weakness of mind, indifference, and…”