Picricum acidum

by Adolph von Lippe — Keynotes and Red Line Symptoms of the Materia Medica

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., Phos-Ac., Sil.) (C.).

Lack of will power (Gels., Puls.) (C.).

Indifference to everything (Phos-Ac., Sep.) (C.).

Great weakness of the spine and back (Cocc., Nat-M., Sil.) (A.).

Burning along the spine (Kali-P., Phos., Zinc.) (A.).

Softening of the spinal cord (Phos.) (A.).

Dementia with prostration (Br.).

BRAIN-FAG (Con., Kali-P., Phos-Ac., Zinc.) (D.).

SLIGHTEST EXERTION BRINGS ON SPEEDY EXHAUSTION (Ars., Camph., Kali-P., Phos., Verat.) (D.).

NEURASTHENIA (Ars., Calc-P., Kali-P., Lyc., Mosch., Nux-V., Op., Phos., Sep., Sil.) (A.).

Desire to lie down and rest (Gels., Nux-V., Sep.) (D.).

Headache of students, teachers and over-worked businessmen (Nux-V.); aggravated or brought on by the slightest motion or mental exertion (Nat-M.) (A.).

Pain in the occipito-cervical region (Bry., Cocc., Nat-M., Petr., Sil.) (A.).

Tired, heavy feeling all over the body, especially of the limbs, worse on exertion (Nux-V., Phos-Ac.) (A.).

PRIAPISM ASSOCIATED WITH SPINAL DISEASE; TERRIBLE ERECTIONS (Canth., Phos.) (N.).

THE PENIS IS SO DISTENDED THAT IT FEELS AS THOUGH IT WOULD BURST (Canth., Fluor-Ac., Phos.) (Bl.).

EXCESSIVE ERECTION DURING LASCIVIOUS THOUGHTS (Cop.) (K.).

ERECTIONS WORSE AT NIGHT (Aur., Canth., Fluor-Ac., Nit-Ac., Phos., Plat., Sil., Thuj.) (K.).

Profuse seminal emissions (Agar., Carb-V., Kali-C., Merc-I-F., Nat-M., Petr., Phos-Ac., Sep., Staph., Sulph., Zinc.) (A.).

Satyriasis; erections violent and long-lasting (Canth., Phos.) (A.).

Weariness, progressing from a slight feeling of fatigue on motion to complete paralysis (Caust., Nux-V., Phos., Zinc.) (A.).

Numbness or formication (Kali-P., Phos.) (B.).

Small painful boils in any part of the body (Arn., Hep., Merc., Sulph.), but not especially in the external auditory canal (Calc-Pic., Merc., Sulph.) (A.).

Oily or greasy stool (Iod., Thuj.) (K.).

Diarrhœa worse in the evening (Aloe, Bov., Calc., Cycl., Gels., Kali-C., Kali-P., Lach., Merc., Nat-S., Phos-Ac., Phos., Sang., Sars., Sulph., Verat.) (K.).

Ammoniacal, dribbling urine (Merc., Petr., Phos.) (B.).

AGGRAVATION: From least mental exertion; from motion; from study; in wet weather; from sexual excitement; and from loss of semen.

AMELIORATION: From cold air; from cold water; from bandaging; and from repose.

RELATIONSHIP: Compare: Arg-N., Bar-C., Calc-Pic., Canth., Gels., Graph., Hep., Kali-P., Merc., Nat-M., Petr., Phos-Ac., Phos., Rhus-T., Sep., Sil., Sulph., Thuj., and Zinc.

Picricum acidum across the other classic books

Picricum acidum appears in 10 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.
“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 — The raw proving record — symptoms as the provers reported them, unedited.
“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 (GA) — Which general headings this remedy belongs under — the analytical scaffolding.
“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.”
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 /…”
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 …”
Kent — The mental and general picture — who the patient is, before what the remedy cures.
“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…”
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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