IRON PHOSPHATE, FE3(PO4)2.
Introduction
Ferrum phos. is prepared by adding a solution of sodium phosphate to a solution of ferrous sulphate. The resulting precipitate, after being washed, dried and powdered, is our officinal Ferrum phos. and ready to be triturated with sugar of milk.
Ferrum phos. is one of our comparatively recent remedies, having been proved by Dr. J. C. Morgan, and the result published in 1876.
It is one of Schussler’s twelve tissue remedies. Concerning Schussler’s theories we have nothing to say here; concerning the twelve tissue remedies, they are important ones and of great value, most of them having been proved before, or have been proved since 1873, when Schussler’s first article on them was published, and which we use of their homoeopathic indications.
Symptoms
Ferrum phos. is indicated in conditions of increased hyperaemia or congestion dependent upon relaxation of muscular fibres of blood vessels, with heat, redness and pain, a quickened pulse, thirst and sweat, which latter does not afford relief (185).
It is similar to Aconite in being useful in a state of hyperaemia, before exudation has taken place; like Aconite, it is useful in the beginning of trouble.
You know that the practicing physician does not use Aconite as frequently as some of out other remedies for the reason that he is seldom called in time. When he reaches the case the Aconite stage of invasion has usually passed. Ferrum phos. follows directly after Aconite and for that reason we often five the former, when if we had seen the case earlier out first prescription would have been Aconite
Ferrum phos. is useful in the early stage of meningitis (133), with fever, suffused eyes, full but soft pulse, drowsiness and heaviness; useful in violent headaches during menstruation (95), with great heat and sensitiveness of the head to touch (91), and for severe, throbbing (102), congestive headaches, followed and relieved by nosebleed (93).
The epistaxis at Ferrum phos. is of bright red blood, is noticed, perhaps, “especially in children, and a concomitant of other complaints” (Schussler).
It is an excellent remedy in earache (63) and for inflammation after manipulation, the hyperaemia of the drum (64) being a guide in its selection.
Ferrum phos. is to be thought of in dyspepsia, with headache (97), nausea and vomiting and aggravation from acids (176); it is also to be thought of for women, for the persistent vomiting of food, often before eating in the morning.
In the bladder we find retention of urine in children (200), with fever; irritable bladder or acute inflammation there, with frequent urging, the pain relieved by urinating; and haemorrhage from the bladder. Schussler speaks of “incontinence of urine from weakness of the sphincter” and most authors of all journals praise Ferrum phos. for diurnal as well as nocturnal enuresis (198); I have met with but little success with it here.
It is a remedy to be thought of in cholera infantum, brought on by a sudden change of temperature or checking of perspiration (58); the stools are watery or even bloody, and associated with fever, red face, full and soft pulse.
While nothing is said under Ferrum met. concerning the ovaries or the side affected, and but little under Phosphorus, and that little pointing to the left side, in Ferrum phos. the left ovary is spoken of as being especially involved and it is a remedy of value in a ovarian neuralgia of the left side (147) and in dysmenorrhoea, with headache, frequent urging to urinate and pains in sacrum and little ovary.
On the respiratory organs Ferrum phos. is of frequent use, and in the early stage of pleurisy and pneumonia (150) it is often called for. Ferrum phos. has the fever and congestion of Ferrum met. and the dyspnoea and oppression of the chest of both Ferrum met. and Phosphorus, so as Allen says, “in a general way, symptoms of oppression like Phosphorus, with the evident fever and congestion of Ferrum should be treated by this drug.”
Dr. Shelton speaks of the oppression of the chest under Ferrum phos. in this way: “Both Ferrum and Phosphorus have oppression
of the chest as from a weight, or as if the hand lay on the chest, while Ferrum phos. has additional oppression, or as if both hands lay like a weight on the chest” (29).
The cough of Ferrum phos. is usually short and hacking and there may be expectoration of blood, either streaked (69) or clear.
Ferrum phos. is of value in muscular rheumatism (it seems here to affect the right shoulder and deltoid) and in articular rheumatism of the large (161) as well as of the small joints (161), with shooting pains, heat, redness and swelling.
I use Ferrum phos. 3d.
FERRUM CITRATE and FERRUM PICRATE.
Both of these remedies are of value in anaemic conditions (15), due to, or associated with profuse menstruation, followed by great exhaustion (138).
Owing to the absence of thorough provings and detailed clinical reports of these chemical combinations, they have been used either on the symptoms as found under the separate drugs or from personal choice, with the result that a good deal of discredit has been cast upon them for their failure to cure.
Talcott says : “The form of iron from which we have obtained the best results has been the citrate.”
Ferrum picrate would be the choice when, in addition to the general prostration, we have occipital headache and brain-fag from any mental effort.
I use Ferrum citrate and Ferrum picrate 3x.
