Silicea 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.
“Pure Silica. (Silicic Oxide) Adapted to the nervous, irritable, sanguine temperament; persons of a psoric diathesis. Persons of light complexion; find, dry, skin; pale face; weakly, with lax muscles. Constitutions which suffer from deficient nutrition, not because food is lacking in quality or in quantity, but from…”
- Allen TF — The raw proving record — symptoms as the provers reported them, unedited.
“Silicic acid, Kieselerde. Preparation , Triturations of pure precipitated Silica. Authorities. (Nos. 1 to 7 a , from Hahnemann). 12 to 26 , from Ruoff's provings, Hygea, 8, 1, 1838); [The higher dilutions were prepared after Hahnemann's method, except that 2 to 3 drops were used to each dilution; the 1st, 2d, and 3d…”
- Boericke — The quick clinical read — keynotes, modalities and the conditions it is actually prescribed in.
“Silica. Pure Flint (SILICEA) Imperfect assimilation and consequent defective nutrition. It goes further and produces neurasthenic states in consequence, and increased susceptibility to nervous stimuli and exaggerated reflexes. Diseases of bones, caries and necrosis. Silica can stimulate the organism to re-absorb…”
- Boger (GA) — Which general headings this remedy belongs under — the analytical scaffolding.
“ACRIDITY, excoriations, etc. ALIVE, sensations (Comp. Formication) APPETITE, Changed BLUISH, purple, livid, etc. BONES. BREAKING, broken, brittle, etc. BURNING, stinging. BURSTING, splitting, etc.(Comp. Shattered) CHANGE OF TEMPERATURE, weather, seasons, oncoming storms, etc. Agg. CHILLED, COLD BECOMING, WHILE HOT, BY…”
- Boger (Syn) — Generals and modalities in a short analytical portrait rather than a symptom list.
“NUTRITION. Children. Tissues: Elastic. Cellular. NERVES. GLANDS. Tubes: Eustachian. Tear ducts, etc. Fistulæ. Bones. Cartilage. Mucous membranes. Skin. COLD CHANGES: AIR. DRAFTS. Damp. Uncovering. Bathing. Checked sweat, < feet. Sensitive to: Nervous excitement. Light. Noise. Jarring spine. Change of moon. Night…”
- Clarke — The widest entry — sources, provings, clinical uses, relationships and antidotes in one place.
“Silicea terra. Pure Flint. Silex. Silicic anhydride. Silicon dioxide. SiO 2 . Trituration of pure, precipitated Silica. Abdomen, distended / Abscess / Acne / Anæmia / Ankles, weak / Anus, fissure of; fistula of / Appetite, depraved / Back, weakness of / Boils / Bones, necrosis of / Brain, concussion of / Brain-fag /…”
- Hering — Graded symptoms, each weighted by how often provers and practice confirmed it.
“Pure Silica triturated. Introduced by Hahnemann. Provings by Hahnemann, Froissac, Goullon, Gross, Hering, Stapf, Wahle, Knorre, Ruoff, Baker, Robinson (with high dilutions), see Allen's Encyclopædia, vol. 9, p. 1 . CLINICAL AUTHORITIES. Mental disturbance , Jahr, B. J. H., vol. 12, p. 476 ; Vertigo , Martin, T. H. M…”
- Kent — The mental and general picture — who the patient is, before what the remedy cures.
“The action of Silica is slow. In the proving, it takes a long time to develop the symptoms. It is, therefore, suited to complaints that develop slowly. Generalities: At certain times of the year and under certain circumstances peculiar symptoms will come out. They may stay with the prover the balance of his life. Such…”
- Lippe (MM) — The strict Hahnemannian reading — the symptom picture without clinical interpretation.
“Desponding, melancholy, tired of life. Yielding, anxious mood. Compunction of conscience about trifles. The child becomes obstinate and headstrong; cries when kindly spoken to. Vertigo, as if one would fall forward; when stooping, riding, raising the eyes upwards; ascending from the neck to the head, with nausea…”
- Lippe (Red) — Keynotes with the most-trusted ones marked as red-line symptoms.
“Common names: silica; pure flint. Want of animal heat; always chilly, even when exercising (N.). Ailments following vaccination, abscesses, etc., even convulsious (N.). Many complaints in those of the scrofulous habit favourably affected. He catches cold easily, especially when he uncovers his feet and head (Psor.)…”
- Nash — The comparisons — the remedy set beside the ones it is most often confused with.
“Weak, puny children; not from want of nourishment taken, but defective assimilation. Inflammations tending to end suppuration or refusing to heal; becoming chronic. Coldness, lack of vital warmth, even when taking exercise; must be wrapped up, especially the head, which >. Suppressed sweats, especially of feet, which…”
