Kali bichromicum
By Adolph von Lippe — Text Book of Materia Medica
Mind and Disposition
Ill-humor; low-spirited; indifferent.
Aversion to mental (and bodily) exertion.
Head
Sudden attacks of giddiness, when rising from a seat.
Vertigo, with nausea, inclination to vomit; retching up of sour watery fluid.
Headache in the forehead, often only over one eye.
In the morning, when waking, pain in the forehead and vertex; later, extending to the back part of the head.
Violent pricking, stinging pain, from the root of the nose, extending over the (left) orbital arch to external angle of the eyes, with obscuration of sight, as if scales were before the eyes; beginning in the morning, increases at noon and disappears towards the evening.
Complete obscuration of sight (blindness) is followed by violent headache, compelling one to lie down; wit great aversion to light and noise; the sight returns with the increasing headache.
Stinging headache (in one temple).
Periodical attacks of semi-lateral headache, on small spots that could be covered with the point of the finger.
Morning headache.
Headache from suppression of the discharge from the nose (Ozœna).
The bones of the head feel sore.
Stitches in the bones of the head, as from a sharp needle.
Lancinating stitches in the right side of the head, lasting but a short time.
Pressure on the vertex, as from a weight.
Eyes
Heaviness of the upper eyelid on waking; it requires an effort to open it.
Eyelids burning, inflamed, much swollen.
Watering, itching and burning in the eyes; heat in the eyes and desire to rub them, with redness of the conjunctiva.
The eyes are glued in the morning; accumulation of yellow matter in the angles.
Œdematous swelling of the eyelids.
Itching and redness of the eyelids; tender to the touch; the tarsi seem rough, causing the sensation of friction, as from sand on the eyeballs when moving them; feeling of sharp sand in the eyes.
The conjunctiva is reddened and traversed by large red vessels.
The albuginea is dirty-yellow and appears puffy, with yellowish-brown points, like pin-heads.
Soreness in the right caruncula.
Photophobia; when opening the eyes twitching of the eyelids; lachrymation and burning of the eyes.
Small white, granular pustules on the (left) cornea, with pricking pain.
Brown spots on the conjunctiva.
Obscuration of sight; objects appear yellow.
Ears
Stinging in the ears; from the external meatus into the internal ear.
Violent stitches in the (left) ear, extending into the roof of the mouth, into the corresponding side of the head and the same side of the neck, which was painful to the touch and the glands swollen.
The external meatus of the (left) ear swelled and inflamed.
Stitches in the left ear and left parotid gland, with headache.
Discharge of fetid, thick, yellow pus from both ears (after scarlet fever).
Itching of the lobe of the (right) ear (waking him at night).
Nose
Nose painfully dry; the air passes with great ease through it.
Tickling, like a hair moving or curling itself in the top of the left nostril.
Sneezing (in the morning).
Coryza, fluent; worse in the evening, in the open air; obstruction in the morning and bleeding of the nose (right nostril).
Profuse secretion from the right nostril; a spot in the right lachrymal bone is swollen and throbbing.
Flow of acrid water from the nostril, excoriating the nostrils and burning the upper lip (right).
Pressure at the root of the nose.
The nose is stuffed up.
The sensation of a hard substance compels one to blow the nose, but there is no discharge from the dry nose.
When blowing the nose violent stitches in the right side of the nose, and the sensation as if two loose bones; rubbed one against the other.
The exposed air feels hot in the nose.
Scab on the septum.
The septum ulcerates. -Round ulcer in the septum.
Small ulcers on the edge of the (right) nostril, violent, burning when touched.
Discharge of large masses of thick, clean mucus from the nose; if that ceases he has violent headache; pain from the occiput to the forehead.
Watery secretion with great soreness and tenderness of the nose.
Discharge of tough green masses from the nose.
Discharge of hard, elastic plugs (clinkers) from the nose.
Sensation of fetid smell before the nose. -Loss of smell.
Fetid smell from the nose.
Face
Pale, yellowish complexion.
Pain in one side of the face, especially in the malar bone.
Sensitive painfulness as; if bruised, of the bones of the face.
Perspiration on the upper lip.
Digging pain in the rami of the lower jaw.
Mouth and Throat
Dryness of the mouth and lips only for a short time relieved by drinking cold water.
Accumulation of saliva in the mouth; saliva bitter, viscid, frothy, tasting salt.
Tongue coated, thick brown, as with thick yellow felt, at the root; papillæ elevated.
Tongue dry, smooth, red, cracked (in dysentery).
Ulcers with hard edges, smarting at the mucous surface of the lips.
Painful ulcer on the tongue.
Stinging pains in the tongue.
Sensation of a hair on the back part of the tongue and velum; not relieved by eating or drinking.
Erythema of the fauces and soft palate, bright or dark-red or of a coppery color.
The soft palate slightly reddened; uvula relaxed, with the sensation of a plug in the throat, which is not relieved by swallowing.
Deep-excavated sore, with a reddish areola, containing a yellow, tenacious matter at the root of the uvula; the fauces and palate presenting an erythematous blush.
The posterior wall of the pharynx dark-red, glossy, puffed, showing ramifications of pale-red vessels; on the middle, towards the left side, a small crack, from which blood exudes.
Sharp, Shooting pain in the left tonsil, towards the ear; relieved by swallowing.
Burning in the pharynx, extending to the stomach.
In the forepart of the palate are single circumscribed spots, of the size of a barley-corn, colored red, as if little ulcers were about to form.
Ulcer on the roof of the mouth, with sloughing (Syphilis).
Ulceration of the uvula and tonsils.
The throat pains more when the tongue is put out.
Sensation as if an acid, acrid fluid were running through the posterior nares over the palate, causing cough.
Discharge of thick yellow matter through the posterior nares.
Taste coppery; sweetish; sour.
Stomach and Abdomen
Loss of appetite; increased thirst.
Longing for beer or acidulated drinks.
Eructations of air.
Nausea, with feeling of heat over the body, with giddiness, rush of blood to the head; aggravated by moving about; in the morning at sight of food, after meals; after stool; excited by drinking and smoking; relieved by eating; better in the open air.
Nausea and vomiting of mucus.
Vomiting of undigested food, sour; of bile, bitter; of pinkish, glairy fluid; of blood; with cold perspiration on the hands; burning in the stomach; heat of the face.
After eating a full meal, which was relished a sensation as if digestion were suspended; the food lies in the stomach like a heavy load.
Pressure and heaviness in the stomach after eating.
Giddiness, followed by violent vomiting of a white, mucous; acid fluid, with pressure and burning in the stomach.
Colic alternating with cutting pain at the umbilicus, during the night.
Swelling of the stomach (in the evening), with fulness and pressure; cannot bear tight clothes.
Sensitiveness of the abdomen to the least pressure.
Dull, heavy pressure or stitches in the region of the liver.
Stitches in the region of the spleen, aggravated by motion and pressure.
Tympanitis; the whole abdomen feels bloated; followed by eructations.
Cutting in the abdomen, as from knives, soon after eating.
Attacks of periodical spasmodic constriction of the intestines, with nausea, followed by a papescent stool and burning in the anus, with tenesmus.
Stitches through the abdomen, extending to the spinal column.
Stool and Anus
Constipation, with debility, coated tongue, headache and coldness of the extremities.
Scanty, knotty evacuations, followed by burning in the anus.
Stools dry, with burning at the anus.
Constipation, with painful retraction of the anus.
Very painful evacuation of extremely hard feces.
Periodical constipation (every three months).
Stools slate-colored, bloody.
Papescent evacuations, with much rumbling in the intestines.
Morning diarrhœa; wakes from urgent pressure to stool; the watery contents gush out, followed by violent tenesmus; she cannot rise on that account; later, burning in the abdomen, nausea and violent straining to vomit.
Frequent bloody evacuations, with gnawing pain about the umbilicus with tenesmus; tongue smooth, red, cracked.
Dysenteric evacuations of brownish, frothy water, with violent painful pressing, straining and tenesmus.
Pressing and straining in the anus, with tenesmus.
Periodical dysentery every year in the early part of the summer.
Sensation of a plug in the anus (can scarcely sit down).
Soreness at the anus, making it very painful to walk.
Fulness in the hæmorrhoidal vessels.
Urinary Organs
During micturition heat in the urethra.
During and long after micturition burning in the glandular portion of the urethra.
After micturition burning in the back part of the urethra, with the sensation as if one drop of urine had remained behind with unsuccessful effort to void it.
Stitches in the urethra, especially after micturition.
Frequent discharge of watery urine of strong smell (wakens him at night).
Continuous desire to urinate during the day.
Painful drawing from the perineum into the urethra.
Urine with white film and deposit, with mucous sediment.
Violent pain in the os coccygis; worm when rising, after he sat long, to urinate.
Sexual Organs
Men. Stitches in the prostate gland (when walking; must stand still).
Itching in the hairy parts of the genitals; the skin becomes inflamed and small pustules of the size of a pin's head are formed.
Constrictive pains at the root of the penis (in the morning on waking).
Pricking and itching at the glans penis.
Women. Menstruation too early, with giddiness, nausea and headache.
Swelling of the genitals.
Soreness and rawness in the vagina.
Fluor albus, yellow, ropy; pain and weakness in the small of the back and dull pain in the upper part of the abdomen.
Respiratory Organs
Sensation as from ulceration in the larynx.
Accumulation of mucus in the larynx, causing hawking.
Hoarse, rough voice.
Hoarseness (in the evening).
Tickling in larynx; every inhalation causes cough (with hoarseness).
Cough in the morning, with viscid expectoration.
Dry cough, with stitches in the chest.
Violent, rattling cough, lasting some minutes, with an effort to vomit and expectoration of viscid mucus, which can be drawn in strings to the feet.
Cough, with thick, heavy expectoration; bluish lumps of mucus.
Hawking up of copious, thick, bluish mucus.
Expectoration with traces of blood.
Cough, with pain in the sternum, darting to between the shoulders.
Sensation of dryness in the bronchi (in the morning).
Dry cough after dinner.
Cough, with pain in the loins, vertigo, dyspnœa, shootings in the chest.
Stitches below the; sternum, extending to the back.
Pressure and heaviness on the chest, as from a weight; wakens with this sensation at night and is relieved after rising.
Sensation of pressure on the heart (after eating).
Pricking pain in the region of the heart.
Back and Neck
Stiffness of the neck when bending the head forward.
Sharp, stinging pain in the region of the kidneys.
Pain, as from a knife, through the loins; cannot walk.
Pain in the sacrum; cannot straighten himself.
Pain in the os coccygis (in the morning); worse from walking and touching it.
Extremities
Upper. Rheumatic pain in both shoulders (worse at night).
Stitches at the lower angle of the left shoulder-blade.
Stiffness of the shoulder-joint.
Sensation of lameness of the right arm (as if it had gone to sleep).
Burning pain in the middle of the forearm, extending to the wrist.
Painful stiffness of the right arm.
Stinging pain in the left elbow.
Rheumatic pains in the joints, especially the wrists.
Great weakness; in the hands.
Spasmodic contraction of the hands.
Rheumatic pains in the fingers.
Cracking of all the joints from the least motion.
Lower. Rheumatic pains in the hip-joints and knees; on moving, and more especially during the day.
Pain in the course of the left sciatic nerve, extending from behind the great trochanter to the calf of the leg.
Pain in the tendons of the muscles of the calf, as if stretched, causing lameness.
Soreness in the heels when walking.
Heaviness of the legs.
Pain in the right hip, extending to the knee.
Pain in the middle of the tibia.
Sensation of dislocation in the left ankle.
Generalities
Pains which wander quickly from one part of the body to another.
Periodical wandering pains in all the limbs.
Sensitive painfulness of the whole body in the morning on rising.
The gastric symptoms supersede the rheumatic symptoms.
Great debility, with desire to lie down.
Sleep
Unrefreshing sleep; feels very debilitated, especially in the extremities.
Wakens in a start, with nausea or headache (2 A.M.), with heat and perspiration, accelerated pulse, palpitation of the heart and dyspnœa; with anxiety, heat in the pit of the stomach and spitting of blood; from frequent desire to urinate.
Fever
Pulse accelerated; irregular, small, contracted.
Great inclination to yawn and stretch.
Chilliness in the back and sleepiness; seeks a warm place.
Chilliness alternating with flushes of heat.
Chilliness, with giddiness and nausea, followed by heat with the sensation of coldness and trembling, and periodical stinging pain in the temples; without thirst.
Attacks of chilliness, extending from the feet upwards, and sensation as if the skull on the vertex became contracted, in frequently returning paroxysms.
Chill, followed in an hour by heat, with dryness of the mouth and lips, which have to be moistened all the time; follow in the morning with great thirst but no perspiration.
Chilliness, especially on the extremities, and flushes of heat alternating with general perspiration.
Heat of the hands and feet; nausea; pain in the upper part of the abdomen; dryness of the mouth; sleeplessness, followed by perspiration of the hands, feet and thighs; ceasing for two hours, when they reappear.
Giddiness; violent, painful vomiting is followed by pain in the forehead, burning of the eyes, great burning heat of the upper part of the body and face, with internal chilliness and violent thirst.
Perspiration on the back during effort to stool.
Skin
Hot, dry and red skin all over the body.
Dry eruption, like measles, over the whole body.
Small pustules over the whole body, similar to small-pox; they disappear without bursting open.
Pustules over the whole body, appearing on inflamed parts of the skin, as large as a pea, with a small black scab in the middle.
Blood-boil on the right thigh; on the right side of the spine, near the last rib; painful on the least motion.
Small pustules on the roots of the nails, spreading over the hands to the wrist; the arm became red and the axillary glands suppurated; the small pustules on the hands secreted a watery fluid when they were broken; if they were not touched the fluid became thickened to a yellow, tough mass.
The eruption begins; in hot weather.
Suppurating tetter (Ecthyma).
The pustulous eruption resembling small-pox, with a hair in the middle, is more prominent on the face and on the arms.
Brown spots (on the throat) like freckles.
Blister, full of serum, in the sole of the (right) foot.
Scabs (fingers and corona glandis).
Ulcers, dry, form oval; have overhanging edges, a bright-red, inflamed areola, hard base; movable on the subjacent tissues; dark spot in the centre; after healing the cicatrix remains depressed.
After an abrasion, a swelling like a knot, forming an irregular ulcer, covered with a dry scab and painful to the touch; under the skin is felt a hard, movable knot, like a corn, with a small ulcerated spot in the middle, where it touches the cuticle; the hard, knotty feel remains after the healed ulcer is covered with white skin.
The ulcers corrode and become deeper, without spreading in the circumference.
Ulcers on the previously inflamed feet.
Ulcers on the fingers, with carious affection of the bones.
The hands become covered with deep-stinging cicatrices.
Conditions
Periodically appearing complaints (dysentery every year in the beginning of the summer; headache in the morning); at the same hour daily.
The symptoms alternate (Rheumatism and gastric affections).
The pains will fly rapidly from one place to another, not continuing long at any place, and intermit.
Aggravation in the morning (headache; nausea); from cold (the open, moderately cold air affects him painfully); after eating; during the summer.
Amelioration from heat.
Fat and light-haired persons are more affected by it.
The best antidote for too large doses or too intense symptoms is its relative Pulsatilla, which can also be given before or after it to advantage.
An interesting group for study are Kali bichr., Pulsat. and Thuya.