VITHOILKAS

In Phosphoric acid, there is usually a history of grief. This may be grief of a minor
nature over a prolonged period of time, or it may be a sudden major grief. In
Phosphoric acid, it is not necessary for the grief to be of great intensity; Ignatia, by
contrast, requires a greater shock than Phosphoric acid to experience pathology.
Characteristically, the phosphoric acid patent suffers the grief in silence - it should
be listed in italics in the Repertory under Silent Grief, alongside Ignatia, Natrum
mur., and Pulsatilla. The patient's initial response in a kind of softening, or a
dropping down in tone on the emotional plane. This then leads to emotional
indifference. The patient becomes isolated, wants to be left alone, much like Sepia.
The isolationism is even typified by the Phosphoric acid tendency to sleep facing the
wall in bed. In Phosphoric acid, there is usually a history of grief. This may be grief
of a minor nature over a prolonged period of time, or it may be a sudden major
grief. In Phosphoric acid, it is not necessary for the grief to be of great intensity;
Ignatia, by contrast, requires a greater shock than Phosphoric acid to experience
pathology. Characteristically, the phosphoric acid patent suffers the grief in silence it should be listed in italics in the Repertory under Silent Grief, alongside Ignatia,
Natrum mur., and Pulsatilla. The patient's initial response in a kind of softening, or a
dropping down in tone on the emotional plane. This then leads to emotional
indifference. The patient becomes isolated, wants to be left alone, much like Sepia.
The isolationism is even typified by the Phosphoric acid tendency to sleep facing the
wall in bed.

As the patient is affected deeper by the grief, the emotional level becomes
completely "frozen down"; there is no emotional movement whatsoever. Such a
profound stillness occurs on the emotional plane that the patient is incapable of
response, it is as if stimuli are not received by the organism at all. The Phosphoric
acid patient himself knows he is devoid of emotional responsiveness, even if this is
not yet apparent to others around him. Just as there is stillness and coldness
physically, there is no movement at all emotionally. This state is similar to Aurum
and Sepia. In Aurum, there is a deep inner stillness, a deadening, but this is due to
profound depression. The Aurum patient has given up, but still has emotions; it is
not a true apathy. In Sepia, there is apathy, but it occurs primarily because of a
neutralisation of opposing forces rather than from debility following grief; Sepia
patients may feel no emotion in their daily existences, but they can be quickly
roused if approached in specific ways. Phosphoric acid patients, on the other hand,
are unrousable, indifferent to any kind of stimulation. As the patient is affected
deeper by the grief, the emotional level becomes completely "frozen down"; there is
no emotional movement whatsoever. Such a profound stillness occurs on the
emotional plane that the patient is incapable of response, it is as if stimuli are not

received by the organism at all. The Phosphoric acid patient himself knows he is
devoid of emotional responsiveness, even if this is not yet apparent to others
around him. Just as there is stillness and coldness physically, there is no movement
at all emotionally. This state is similar to Aurum and Sepia. In Aurum, there is a deep
inner stillness, a deadening, but this is due to profound depression. The Aurum
patient has given up, but still has emotions; it is not a true apathy. In Sepia, there is
apathy, but it occurs primarily because of a neutralisation of opposing forces rather
than from debility following grief; Sepia patients may feel no emotion in their daily
existences, but they can be quickly roused if approached in specific ways.
Phosphoric acid patients, on the other hand, are unrousable, indifferent to any kind
of stimulation.

A dramatic personality change may occur in patients who have undergone a very
powerful shock - such as the sudden and unexpected loss of a loved one. In this
circumstance, the physical level may be bypassed; instead, the defence mechanism
reacts with emotional paralysis or stillness. Someone who was active and full of life
becomes withdrawn into himself. This is not due to actual depression, but more to
inefficiency of emotions and mind. Such a patient neither wishes to die nor to live.
This house is in disorder and dirt piles up on the floor, but he does not want to do
anything about it. There may be thoughts of suicide, but he does not have the
power to actually carry it out.
After the initial stimulus on the emotional level, degeneration may progress to
either the physical level in patients with relatively strong constitutions - or to the
mental plane in those with very weak constitutions experiencing a sudden loss. We
will begin with consideration of cases focused primarily on the physical level by the
time the homoeopath is consulted. A common story is, "I had been very well - quite
healthy and active - until a year ago, but there has been a steady degeneration
since". The patient is easily tired, whereas his stamina used to be quite good. Upon
further enquiry, it is found that the patient had silently suffered a prolonged grief. To
most people, the degree of the grief might seem to be insufficient to explain the
severity of subsequent breakdown. A women may complain that her husband pays
too much attention to his mother. Or perhaps she has long suspected her husband
of adultery, but she tells no-one of her suspicions.

During the stage of physical breakdown, there may be wide variety of symptoms.
The hair falls out suddenly and rapidly. There may be a marked decline in vision.
There might be headaches, especially in the temples, with a boiling sensation in the
head. There may be chills followed by flushes with perspiration (this symptom is
also common in Gelsemium, which s also physically very tired). Often there is a
history of unexplained low-grade fever, similar to Ignatia there is a frequent desire

to breathe deeply. There may be flatus. Often there is milkiness in the urine, like
small curds, particularly at the end of urination. There may also be indifference to
sex, impotency, and premature ejaculation.

Dryness is a common symptom in Phosphoric acid. There is dryness of the nose and
the eyes. The mouth is dry, with a bitter taste. There is usually a desire for fruits,
juicy things, and refreshing things. It is a s if the patient were dehydrated.

Considering the extreme physical exhaustion, the physical inertia, the falling of hair,
the change in visual acuity, the dehydration, and the sexual weakness, one can
conjecture that a basic aspect of the Phosphoric acid pathology arises from
hypofunction of the endocrine system - particularly the adrenal and sex glands. In a
related fashion, the picture is comparable to the known clinical state of metabolic
alkalosis.

During the stage of physical breakdown, few emotional or mental symptoms are
evident. There may only be silent grief, and perhaps some fear of heights or vertigo
from high places. The patient prefers to be left alone, and there may be some
degree of apathy.

During the physical stage, it can be very difficult for the homoeopath to recognise
Phosphoric acid as the correct remedy. There are a number of remedies which could
cover the exhaustion and other physical symptoms - including Helonius, Muriatic
acid, and others. As basic guidelines, however, one should keep in mind the
following physical symptoms, which belong most characteristically to Phosphoric
acid : weakness in the body, dehydration, desire for fruits and juicy things,
decreased sexual energy, and loss of hair.

The Next stage of pathological development, whether in patients with slow

progression after prolonged grief, or in those in which a powerful shock penetrates
immediately into the emotional level, is a weakening and degeneration of the
mental faculties. Characteristically, the first mental symptoms to occur are
tremendous forgetfulness and weakness of memory, particularly for words. Upon
questioning, the patient displays a vacant look, finally answering after one or two
minutes. The question registers in the mind of the Phosphoric acid patient, but he or
she is unable to find the right word for the answer. This is different from the process
seen in Mercurius, which is also slow in answering; the Mercurius slowness occurs

both because the mind does not easily comprehend the question and because it
takes a long time to find the right answer. Phosphorus is another remedy which
answers slowly, but this is because of an irritability, an unwillingness to answer.

After a prolonged period of emotional standstill, there is a further enfeeblement of

the entire sphere of mental functioning. Mental activity of any kind becomes
profoundly difficult, although usually the Phosphoric acid patient is able to continue
working. This is in contrast to the Picric acid patient in whom the first stages of
weakness begin on the mental plane, resulting in complete inability to do even
simple mental work.
Finally, there is a profound apathy affecting all areas of life. In Phosphoric acid this
is not a true insanity but merely a deep lack of interest. Insane patients in whom the
apathy becomes complete and total, who merely sit and stare at an object, are
more likely to require Pulsatilla.
In the end, there is profound stillness of emotions, memory, and the ability to think.
At this point, there may be complete disappearance of the characteristic physical
symptoms. These patients may be able to perform physical work quite readily, and
exertion may even be quite beneficial - in contrast to the first stage of physical
symptomatology. The hair no longer falls out; instead, it becomes lustreless and
greasy.
There is a lack of mental clarity, a haziness of mind, coupled with deep emotional
apathy. The patient says he cannot complete a whole idea; even the attempt makes
him tired. He forgets the names of people, places and events of the past. He is
unable to digest what he has read.

Phosphoric acid needs to be clearly differentiated from other acids. "Paralysis" is a

key them for Phosphoric acid, Picric acid, and Muriatic acid, but with emphasis on
different levels. In Phosphoric acid the emotional is the initial primary focus. In Picric
acid the weakness begins on the mental level and works down through the
emotional to the physical plane. For Picric acid, the exciting cause is exertion of the
mind. Picric acid patents can stand very little mental exertion; if they continue to
work despite the mental weakness, they are liable to get a headache; this is
particularly true of Picric acid children (compare Calc. phos. in this situation). Next
follows indifference - not, however, as profound as in Phosphoric acid. Finally, there
occurs paralytic weakness in the extremities and in the entire body; this is a result
of degeneration of the spinal cord. Another differential point is that Picric acid is
aggravated by heat, whereas Phosphoric acid is chilly.

PAGE 154
Muriatic acid weakness begins in the physical body. There is a profound weakness
of muscles - so much so that the patient slides down in the chair or bed because of
sheer lack of muscular power. There is also a weakness or paralysis of the tongue
and sphincter muscles. From the physical level, the weakness progresses into the
emotional and eventually the mental plane.

VERMEULEN SYNOPTIC MM

Modalities
Worse: DEBILITY from [LOSS OF FLUIDS; sexual excesses; fatigue; fevers].
EMOTIONS [grief; chagrin; mental shock; unhappy love; homesickness; bad news].
Drafts. Cold. Music. Talking. Masturbation. Snowy air. Too much study. Noise. Acids.
Better: Warmth. Short sleep. Stool. Motion or pressure [amel. pains].

Leading symptoms
M - Persons with a MILD, YIELDING disposition who are easily overwhelmed by
emotional events or are suffering from the sequelae of an acute disease, leading to:
M - APATHETIC, burned-out STATE. INDOLENCE.
M - WEAKNESS, starting on the emotional level. INDIFFERENCE to everything
["indifference to affairs of life when sick, debilitated or from grief"].
M - Slow grasp. Can't collect his ideas; hunts for words. Poor memory.
M - Ailments from GRIEF [prolonged or from a sudden loss].
M - Ailments from DISAPPOINTED LOVE [listless, dislike to talk, short answers,
repeat the same sentences over and over again: "Life is useless," "I don't want to
live anymore," "Everything is dark," etc.]. "Indifferent to those things that used to
interest her the most."
G - CHILLY. agg. Becoming cold.
G - amel. After SLEEP [3].
G - Loss of APPETITE from GRIEF.

G - Lassitude after eating [3].

G - Craving for FRUIT, JUICY and REFRESHING things.
G - Profuse PERSPIRATION at night and towards morning; as a sequel.
G - ONANISM, when the patient is DISTRESSED by the culpability of his indulgence.
[Nash] Onanism and strong feeling of guilt.
G - Too RAPID GROWTH in children [and weakness due to masturbation or mental
strain from over-study].
G - DEHYDRATION. "Weak or debilitated, with free secretions" [Boger].
G - Pains go to part lain on [compare Generalities, change of position amel. [2]].
P - POLYURIA at night [clear watery urine, turning milky on standing].
P - Sensation of a CRUSHING WEIGHT on VERTEX.
P - Headache in schoolgirls [from mental exertion and overuse of eyes].
P - Painless, non-debilitating diarrhoea.
P - Debilitating emissions at night. ABASHED about it.
P - Meteoristic distension of the abdomen, with rumbling and gurgling.

Generalities
Irritability, when too much medicine has produced an over-sensitive state and
remedies fail to act [2; Teucr.]. Orgasm of blood, nervousness, from [2]. Slow repair
of broken bones [2]. Weakness, love, from unfortunate [2/1], sleep amel. [2],
talking, from [2].

Food
Aversion: Bread [2]; acids [1]; alcoholic stimulants [1]; beer [1]; coffee [1]; flour [1];
wine [1].
Desire: Fruit [3]; juicy things [3]; refreshing things [3]; cold drinks [2]; milk [2]; sour
[2]; tonics [2]; warm food [2]; beer [1]; coffee [1]; hot food [2]; liquid food [1]; milk,
cold [1]; pungent things [1].

Worse: Black bread [2]; coffee [2]; cold drinks [2]; cold food [2]; fruit [2]; fruit, sour
[2]; hot food [2]; warm food [2]; bread [1]; cheese, old [1]; dry food [1]; sausages,
spoiled [1]; sight of food [1]; sour [1]; vinegar [1].
Better: Hot food [1].
Change and homesickness.
"A further characteristic is the aggravation of symptoms whenever 'phosphoric'
themes are on the agenda. This applies in all those phases of life were change,
growth or expansion are involved: Changes in relationships [e.g. mother going back
to work], moving house, or even going on holiday [homesickness], changing
schools, or increased academic demands in school [maths is the most typical
subject], end of a phase of life with change in the pattern of social contact, change
of job, etc. The stage of life which involves the greatest measure of change is
probably puberty, and my leading triad of remedies for this is without doubt Ph-ac.,
Calc-p. and Ign. Can anyone not have met these young people, who suddenly lose
all interest in everything except saturation with TV or loud music [Ph-ac.: 'headache
and earache from music'] or later on in dancing all night to excessively dull 'heavy
metal [1999: 'techno'] music [Ph-ac.: unconscious dancing, insanity with dancing].
Another favourite occupation is: reading comics [Ph-ac.: disappearing thoughts and
dulness while reading]. Puberty is also the time par excellence for one's first
disappointments in love and for broken friendships - both very delicate points in the
Phosphoricum acidum constitution."2

INDOLENCE.
"Corresponding to its inertness Ph-ac. lacks the varying, erethistic, sensitive,
exalted character of Phos., and is at the same time a relaxed Phosphorus. The
mental and bodily weakness and exhaustion stands in the foreground in Ph-ac.
States of exhaustion from overwork, after diseases, from sorrow and grief, from
excesses in venery, esp. masturbation, or from lactation, night sweats, diarrhoea, in
general exhaustion after excessive demands upon the vital functions, are held as
esp. suitable for Ph-ac." [Leeser]
M WEAKNESS, starting on the emotional level.
INDIFFERENCE to everything.
Indifference to affairs of life when sick, debilitated or from grief.
M Slow grasp.
Can't collect his ideas; hunts for words.
Poor memory.

 "He cannot rid himself of a thought, and the connecting ideas do not come."
"He dare not be alone without falling into absence of thought and
unconsciousness [in the morning]."
He cannot reflect on anything properly on account of want of ideas and weakness
of mind; he became giddy on attempting to think about anything." [Hahnemann]
Too RAPID GROWTH in children.
And Weakness due to masturbation or mental strain from over-study.

Sensation of a CRUSHING WEIGHT on VERTEX. Sensation of a CRUSHING WEIGHT on

VERTEX.

Most of the complaints are ameliorated from keeping warm, from absolute quiet,
from being alone at peace.

RAJAN SANKARAN SOUL OF REMIDIES

Phosphoricum acidum belongs to the sycotic miasm. The main theme of an acid is
struggle followed by collapse: exertion and exhaustion. The theme of struggle and
collapse is clearly expressed in certain symptoms common to all the acids: hurry,
industry, the feeling that their efforts are unsuccessful, fear of failure, and also
fatigue, indolence and indifference. The main feeling of Phosphorus is of being
unloved and uncared for, to which he reacts by being affectionate, friendly and
sympathetic in the hope that his love and care will be reciprocated.
Thus the main feeling of Phosphoricum acidum is: "I must constantly care for others
in order to be loved or accepted." We see in Phosphoricum acidum a lot of effort in
this direction. There is increased activity and hurry along with his caring for others.
But when he has put in too much effort and does not achieve what he had wanted
to, he begins to get quarrelsome, later becoming dull, sluggish, indifferent, or quiet
and brooding. The factors that result in such a state are (Ailments from) grief, care,
disappointment, death of a child, i.e. despite all his love and caring, when he is
disappointed by those he cared for he becomes tired and apathetic. Phatak
describes in his Materia Medica: "Apathetic from unequal struggling with adverse
circumstances, mental and physical." The words "unequal struggle" reflects the
feeling of most acids; it is characteristic to this group of remedies.

In Phosphoricum acidum, the mental state is one of sleepiness, brooding, aversion

to business, indifference, hopelessness and despair. Correspondingly in the body
there is weakness, lack of energy and disposition to lie down.
The situation of Phosphoricum acidum is that of a man who has made an effort to
climb a mountain and has become so tired that he doubts his capacity to climb
further. He is a person who tries, but the mountain seems a tough task for him. He
feels like taking rest by lying down. He is totally exhausted. He has no energy left so
he sits, sad and brooding about this unattainable goal.
Ignatia is complementary to Phosphoricum acidum. When a young oversensitive
woman finds that time and again her hopes have been belied, she may finally get
into a state where there is no use trying. She needs to become insensitive and
apathetic, because at this point her sensitivity is of no use - even her hysteria is of
no use - this insensitive state (indifference) is the state of Phosphoricum acidum.