Calcarea Sulphurica

by John Henry Clarke — A Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica

Sulphate of Calcium. Gypsum. Plaster of Paris. Ca SO 4 . Trituration.

Clinical

Abscess / Anus, abscess near / Boils / Buboes / Burns / Carbuncles / Chilblains / Cornea, ulceration of / Cough / Crusta lactea / Cysts / Dropsy / Dysentery / Eczema / Fistula / Glandular swellings / Gonorrhœa / Hæmorrhages / Injuries, effects of / Pneumonia / Polypi / Scarlatina / Spermatorrhœa / Syphilis / Tonsillitis / Tumours / Ulcers

Characteristics

Calc. sulph. is closely related to Hepar sulph. calc., which is an impure sulphide of calcium, but has a wider sphere and deeper action in suppurative processes. It is Schüssler's "Connective-tissue salt," and most of the indications for its use are derived from his clinical experience. In the last edition of his Biochemic Therapy Schüssler discards Calc. sul. because it is not an actual constituent of the tissues, and he distributes its functions between Silicea and Nat. Phos. Homœopaths, having no Biochemic theory to support, may continue its use without scruple, especially as it has been proved by Hering and others. It is indicated in all kinds of cases after pus has found a vent. Nash has cured a case of suppurating kidney with it. It differs from Hepar in sensitiveness to air: Hepar cannot bear the slightest exposure; Calc. sul. has > in open air; better walking in it; desire for it. Both have < from change of weather. Calc. sul. has not the excessive sensitiveness to touch found in Hepar. Hansen recommends it in dry eczema in children. Cystic tumours, fibromata and polypi have been cured with Calc. sul.

Relations

Compare: Calend., Hep., Kali mur., Nat. sul. (postscarlatinal dropsy); Sil. (hard, or suppurating glands, ulcers of cornea, tonsillitis, mastitis, frostbites). Follows well: Kali m., Nat. sul., Sil.

2. Head

Sensation round head as if he had his hat on. Painful pimples; hard swellings at edge of hair, bleeding when scratched. Crusta lactea. Cranio-tabes.

3. Eyes

Sees only half an object. Ophthalmia with purulent discharge. Ulceration of cornea. Eyes protrude.

5. Nose

Coryza, with thick, yellow, lumpy, mattery discharge. Influenza and sneezing > in open air; coryza r. side after a bath, > out of doors. Edges of nostrils sore, excoriated.

6. Face

Swollen cheek with toothache. Herpetic eruptions; pimples; pustules. Exceedingly pale, sickly appearance (gypsum workers). Blister-like sores on lower lip.

7. Teeth

Rheumatic toothache; swollen, tender, easily-bleeding gums.

8. Mouth

Taste soapy. Tongue coated yellow at base. Glossitis.

9. Throat

Diphtheria of soft palate; scarlatinal sore throat. Tonsillitis with suppuration.

13. Stool and Anus

Diarrhœa with discharge of pus or bloody pus. Dysentery with pus-like slime. Painful abscesses about anus in cases of fistula. Costiveness with hectic fever; with difficult breathing.

14. Urinary Organs

Chronic nephritis. Red urine with hectic fever.

15. Male Sexual Organs

Spermatorrhœa with impotency. Gonorrhœa in suppurative Stage. Chronic syphilis.

17. Respiratory Organs

Croup. Catarrh with thick, lumpy, white-yellow or pus-like secretion. Asthma or cough with hectic fever. Pain in chest and headache. Pneumonia third stage. Emphysema.

22. Upper Limbs

Whitlow, when suppuration begins.

23. Lower Limbs

Itching and podagra. Pain in knee from a blow. Stitches in knee. Legs tender to touch, feet slightly swollen. Burning and itching in soles of feet.

25. Skin

Suppurating chilblains. Burns and scalds when suppuration takes place. Scarlet rash. Skin affections with greenish, brownish or yellowish scabs. Greyish lead-coloured skin. (Dry eczema in children.)

Calcarea Sulphurica across the other classic books

Calcarea Sulphurica appears in 9 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 TF — The raw proving record — symptoms as the provers reported them, unedited.
“Calcium sulphate, CaSO4. Preparation , Triturations. Authority. Dr. Clarence Conant, Trans. Am. Inst. of Hom., 1873. Emotional. Good spirits, but inclined to solitude (twenty-first day), 2. Special good nature, late in afternoon (first day), 1. Excessive gayety of spirits, in the afternoon (twenty-seventh day), 1…”
Boericke — The quick clinical read — keynotes, modalities and the conditions it is actually prescribed in.
“Sulphate of Lime-Plaster of Paris Eczema and torpid glandular swellings. Cystic tumors. Fibroids. Suppurative processes come within the range of this remedy, after pus has found a vent. Mucous discharges are yellow, thick and lumpy . Lupus vulgaris. Scald-head of children, if there be purulent discharge, or yellow…”
Boger (GA) — Which general headings this remedy belongs under — the analytical scaffolding.
“CUTTING MUCOUS SECRETIONS, altered. RATTLING SUPPURATION THICK, discharges, etc.”
Boger (Syn) — Generals and modalities in a short analytical portrait rather than a symptom list.
“CONNECTIVE TISSUE. Glands. Mucous membranes. Bones. Skin. Drafts. Touch. Cold. Wet. Heat of room. Bathing. Open air. Eating. Heat (local). Uncovering. Cutting pains; (r) ovary. Tendency to suppuration. Pus thick, yellow, lumpy, bloody. Catarrh. ABSCESS, running; ears; teeth; recurrent (Pyro.). Ulcers, malignant…”
Hering — Graded symptoms, each weighted by how often provers and practice confirmed it.
“Calcium sulphate. Ca SO 4 . 1847. Extracts from provings of C. Hg., Withy, and that of a young lady. 1873. Extracts from provings with the 30th and 200th by C. M. Conant (Trans. Am. Inst. of Hom.). Cured symptoms by C. Hg., Koeck and Knerr. Symptoms from Schuessler and Old school authorities are marked with : (OBS :)…”
Kent — The mental and general picture — who the patient is, before what the remedy cures.
“Calcarea Sulphurica Many years ago Schüessler introduced this remedy, and it has been used extensively upon the biochemic theory. Many excellent cures have been made in this way that most of us are able to recognize as homoeopathic cures, though it is a sort of crude homoeopathy. By studying these cures many symptoms…”
Lippe (Red) — Keynotes with the most-trusted ones marked as red-line symptoms.
“Common names: sulphate of lime; plaster of paris; gypsum. It corresponds to the suppurative processes, abscesses, etc. (D.). Glandular swellings (Bad., Bell., Brom., Calc., Carb-An., Graph., Hep., Iod., Kali-M., Lyc., Merc., Nit-Ac., Phos., Rhus-T., Sil., Sulph.) (Bl.), When the abscess has broken or has been lanced…”
Nash — The comparisons — the remedy set beside the ones it is most often confused with.
“One of Schuessler’s so-called tissue remedies, not well understood as yet, but acting much along the line of Hepar sulphur. so far as we do know. I once had a case in which there was great pain in the region of the kidneys for a day and night. Then there was a great discharge of pus in the urine, which continued…”

Calcarea Sulphurica in Kent's Repertory

Kent's Repertory lists Calcarea Sulphurica in 1,169 rubrics. These are the ones where it carries the highest grade — the symptoms Kent treated as most characteristic. Most of them sit in EXTREMITIES (158), HEAD (110), MIND (103), STOMACH (82), GENERALITIES (68).

COUGH - CROUPY - waking,only after
LARYNX TRACHEA - CROUP - recurrent
EAR - ABSCESS BEHIND - in meatus
EXTREMITIES - ULCERS - Lower Limbs - deep
EAR - DISCHARGES - thick
BACK - CURVATURE of spine
EAR - SUPPURATION,middle ear
URETHRA - DISCHARGE - bloody
CHEST - EMPYEMA
EXTREMITIES - STIFFNESS - Shoulder
URETHRA - DISCHARGE - gonorrheal - chronic
LARYNX TRACHEA - CATARRH - Larynx
FEMALE GENITALIA - LEUCORRHOEA - burning
GENERALITIES - ABSCESSES - glands
EAR - INFLAMMATION - media
SKIN - EXCORIATION
EXTREMITIES - CORNS - stinging
URETHRA - DISCHARGE - purulent
EAR - DISCHARGES - bloody
LARYNX TRACHEA - CROUP

Search all 7 classical repertories

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