SULPHUR


Homeopathic remedy Sulphur from A Manual of Homeopathic Therapeutics by Edwin A. Neatby, comprising the characteristic symptoms of homeopathic remedies from clinical indications, published in 1927….


      Trituration of the “flowers” (sublimed sulphur). Trituration of precipitated sulphur (milk of sulphur). Tincture made from a saturated solution of sulphur in absolute alcohol constitutes the mother tincture from which attenuations are made.

INTRODUCTION

      Sulphur is an elementary substance of atomic weight approximating 32, which occurs in nature as a yellow, brittle, crystalline solid; it burns with a blue flame in the air with the formation of sulphur dioxide, SO2. It is a constituent of every from of protoplasm.

PATHOGENESIS.

      TAKEN in mass, sulphur is an inert powder and the greater part escapes unchanged with the stools, but some of it forms sulphides, mostly sodium sulphide, in the alkaline fluids of the intestines and these cause irritation of the mucous membrane, with consequent increased peristalsis and mild purgation. In some instances inflammation has been set up, with resultant pain and mucus and bloody evacuations.

some of the sulphides are absorbed and destroyed in the organism with liberation of sulphuretted hydrogen which escapes by the lungs and skin, giving the characteristic odour of rotten eggs to the breath and perspiration; others of the sulphides from sulphates and are excreted in the urine.

Sulphur has been extensively proved in doses varying from the crude substance to the higher attenuations.

PROVINGS

      Sing.- The provings show that it has a deep- seated action on the body generally, but especially on the skin and on mucous membrane where it adjoins the skin at the muco- cutaneous orifices of the body. On all parts of the skin eruptions are produced which are mainly papular, or papulo- vesicular and resemble very much the small elevations caused by the Acarus scabiei. Like them they are often intensely irritating. They occur on the backs of the hands and between the fingers, on the face and scalp, between the folds of the skin at the joints, in the groins and intergluteal folds, and, in less degree, on any other part of the body. The eruptions need not always be papular, patches of erythema may be seen, and also pustules and vesicles, but the general trend is towards the papular form. They itch, sometimes violently, and the itching is allayed by scratching, and gives place to sore pain. There may be much itching of the skin without any eruption being present. Skin symptoms occurred in nearly every prover, and the skin, with its prolongation at the muco-cutaneous outlet, is above all other parts of the body the special side of the action of sulphur.

Eyes.- The conjunctiva, a modification of the epidermis, is affected by sulphur, with the result that the eyelids are reddened, especially at the canthi, and the ocular and palpebral conjunctivae are injected and traversed by dilated vessels, with the accompaniment of burning, itching, smarting, and a feeling as of grit or sand under the lids.

Nose.- The nostrils are sore, have sore pimple on them, and a thin, fluid, acrid discharge renders the upper lip swollen and excoriated. The nose itself is swollen and red, notably at the tip. The lips are dry, red and surrounded by papules and pustules, and aphthae form on the inner surface.

Ears.- The external auditory meatus is inflamed, and bathed with muco-pus, which may excite and eruption on the reddened and swollen auricle.

Orifices.- There is much irritation about the anus, which pouts and discloses piles beneath a reddened and inflamed mucous membrane. The urinary meatus looks red and itches, there may be inflammation and swelling of the prepuce, phimosis with retention of foetid pus, offensive sweat on the scrotum, which is the seat of great irritation, and excoriation between the thighs. Excoriation, troublesome itching and burning sensations and papular eruptions occur about the female genital organs, and violent burning is felt in the vagina. Sulphur reddens and inflames all these orifices and causes them to itch and burn.

The action of sulphur is not limited to the outer coverings of the body, though in them its influence is pre-eminent, it also affects the venous system, especially the portal venous system, and the lymphatic glandular system. In fact, it profoundly influences the whole body, disturbs and alters metabolism, modifies the functions of organs and affects the nervous system. It does this in ways that are not easily traced or defined, it causes changes of a slowly progressing and chronic character, and these hidden disorders usually manifest themselves sooner or later by some kind of eruption on the skin.

THERAPEUTICS.

      The skin eruptions caused by sulphur led Hahnemann to propound his doctrine of psora. He says, in his preface to sulphur, in the “Materia Medica Pura,” “though sulphur has been employed for many centuries, by medical and non-medical persons, in the itch in workers in wool, yet none of them ever observed that the beneficial effects they saw from its use in the eruption of itch were effected by sulphur by similarity of action and homoeopathy.” The workers in wool referred to were evidently the subject of contagion by the Acarus scabiei. Hahnemann knew that the “itch” had its origin in small living insects or mites (vide Haehle’s “Life of Hahnemann,” p. 159, vol, ii), and its contagious character and its curability by sulphur were generally acknowledged. Hahnemann carefully distinguishes between the sensations accompanying the skin eruption produced by sulphur and those caused by the “itch.” and notes that whereas the irritating skin eruptions of the “itch” burn after being scratched, those produced by sulphur are painful and sore after scratching but do not burn. He disclaims the notion that sulphur can produce the ” itch ” and is concerned only to show that sulphur is a simile to whatever causes it. As there are many diseased states of the body which have as one of their manifestations eruptions on the skin somewhat similar in appearance to that caused by the acarus scabiei, it was natural that Hahnemann should think them due to the same cause and should class them all together as the result of the same contagion, which he called psora, the contagion of ” itch.” The term psora thus came to connote in Hahnemann’s mind not only the disease which we know to be a local one due to the acarus, but also a multitude of chronic complaints of a constitutional nature owing their origin to an infection (” miasm”) and displaying disorders of the skin on the ” itch ” type. Psora thus becomes one of the triad which in his view comprised all chronic diseases of an infectious of ” miasmatic” origin, the triad being syphilis, gonorrhoea (sycosis), and psora. Hahnemann found that the presence of one or other of these three infections of a hindrance to the favourable action of the properly selected homoeopathic medicine and that it is necessary to give something to rid the patient of his constitutional taint before the simile will work effectually. This he attempted to do by using medicines, selected according to the homoeopathic law, which he designated antisyphilitic, antisycotic or antipsoric as the case might be. The greatest though not the only antipsoric is sulphur. We now know that Hahnemann was mistaken in classifying scabies with a multitude of other diseases of altogether different nature as arising from one infection, psora, but he was right in ascribing many chronic complaints to a general infection which needed to be antagonized before more localized affections could be cured. It was, of course, too wide a generalization to place all chronic infections not syphilitic or gonorrhoeal under one term, psora. We known that there are many chronic infections, such as tuberculous, vaccinal, typhoid, Bacillus coli, streptococcal, staphylococcal, leprous and others. But Hahnemann’s main theory is a sound one, and in this, as in so many other instances, his ideas were greatly in advance of his time.

It remains true that sulphur is the best remedy for many of the chronic diseases that Hahnemann regarded as the outcome of ” psora”; it is also a polychrest of the highest order. From the constant employment of sulphur for more then one hundred years there have been evolved some general ideas with regard to the drug, which it is useful to be acquainted with before considering in detail its application to the cure of the various disorders for which it is suitable. (a) It has been observed that sulphur is more likely to be indicated for diseased occurring in persons of a certain constitutional temperament. The sulphur subject is generally spare, with stooping shoulders and an inclination to sit and walk bent forward. he is generally of fair complexion, with sandy or red hair and blue or grey eyes. The face is often delicate-looking, with long, thin eyelashes and bluish veins. The orifices, viz., the eyelids, lips, nostrils and meatus of the ears, are of a bright red colour. The skin looks dirty and is prone to eruptions. The sulphur patient dislikes washing, and complaints are worse from washing and bathing. He cannot stand long, standing tires him and he must sit down. It a child he is emaciated, looks old in the face, has a large abdomen and dry, flabby skin. (b) A marked feature of the drug is the burning character of its sensations. There are burning on the vertex, in the eyes, in the face, burning discharge from the nose, burning pain in the tongue, burning vesicles in the mouth, burning and dryness with the sore throat, burning in the stomach, rectum, anus, urethra and vagina; burning in the chest, rising to the face, between the scapulae (lyc., phos.), of the hands and and feet (puts them out of bed to cool); hot flushed and burning skin of the whole body. (c) Sulphur is recommended to be given when seemingly indicated remedies fail to act; this is on the supposition that there is some hindrance due to the presence of a latent disease, in Hahnemann’s language of ” psora.” Sulphur is not the only remedy, but one amongst many that might be suitable. Symptoms of sulphur should be present to warrant its employment. (d) In the same category is the administration of this remedy in cases that are always relapsing, the patient seems to get well, or nearly well, when the whole trouble starts again. (e) Irregular distribution of the blood, congestion of single parts; determination of blood to the head with cold feet and hot flushes are very common in patients requiring sulphur. (f) A sinking, hungry feeling in the abdomen coming on about 11 a.m. is very characteristic of this drug. (g) The prevalence of skin eruptions, boils and redness and soreness of muco-cutaneous orifices, with their itching relieved by scratching, has already been mentioned. (h) Many complaints requiring sulphur come on at night and from becoming warm in bed. (i) The patients feel best in an even temperature, and are uncomfortable in either heat or cold. (j) The discharges are foul smelling and acrid, burning the parts over which they pass. (k) The sulphur patient has a peculiar diarrhoea, which has been called the “sulphur diarrhoea,” it comes on early in the morning and drives him out or bed.(l) The veins are relaxed and the venous circulation is sluggish (on this account the skin repairs badly and bedsores easily form) or the skin becomes indurated and chronically inflamed from pressure. (m) The sulphur patient emaciates in all parts except the abdomen, which is distended. (n) Standing is a particularly trying position, the patient must continually move about or sit down.

Edwin Awdas Neatby
Edwin Awdas Neatby 1858 – 1933 MD was an orthodox physician who converted to homeopathy to become a physician at the London Homeopathic Hospital, Consulting Physician at the Buchanan Homeopathic Hospital St. Leonard’s on Sea, Consulting Surgeon at the Leaf Hospital Eastbourne, President of the British Homeopathic Society.

Edwin Awdas Neatby founded the Missionary School of Homeopathy and the London Homeopathic Hospital in 1903, and run by the British Homeopathic Association. He died in East Grinstead, Sussex, on the 1st December 1933. Edwin Awdas Neatby wrote The place of operation in the treatment of uterine fibroids, Modern developments in medicine, Pleural effusions in children, Manual of Homoeo Therapeutics,