(See Also Croup.).
Causticum. [Caust]
Hughes says that there is no better remedy in catarrhal aphonia than **Causticum. It has dryness of the larynx and sensitiveness extending to the chest. There is hoarseness with rawness and scraping in the chest under the middle of the sternum, with a dry, hollow and unsatisfactory cough. It finds a curative sphere in the hoarseness of speakers and singers, which is worse mornings and much aggravated in cold weather. It is a paretic hoarseness accompanied by a cough which does not seem sufficient to bring up the phlegm, and in these cases the 12th or 13th potencies act well. In chronic hoarseness **Sulphur will sometimes act when Causticum fails. **Arnica has hoarseness from fatigue of the pharyngeal muscles, and a gargle of arnicated water will often refresh and strengthen the throat after long speaking and relieve the sense of thirst. The **Causticum patient will have such a complete loss of voice that he cannot speak aloud.
Phosphorus. [Phos]
Evening hoarseness with great sensitiveness and dryness in the larynx is characteristic of **Phosphorus. It tires and hurts the patient to talk; the voice is rough and hoarse, and the expectoration is scanty; using the voice brings on the cough. The soreness of **Phosphorus is in the larynx, with **Causticum it is under the sternum. In paralytic aphonia secondary to laryngeal catarrhs **Phosphorus and Rumex stand pre-eminent.
Farrington gives **Ammonium causticum a first place in hoarseness associated with burning and rawness in the larynx and pharynx.
Aconite. [Acon]
In the beginning of a laryngitis in children there is no better remedy than **Aconite; there is fever, chilliness, dry skin and hoarseness and the patient will awaken at night with a croupy cough. **Belladonna has dryness, constriction, and soreness in the larynx, talking is painful and the voice is husky and hoarse. Ivins claims that **Ferrum phosphoricum, if given early, is the only remedy needed; it certainly seems to control the inflammatory condition and hold in check the progress of the disease. Meyhoffer mentions **Aesculus as a very useful remedy in catarrhal inflammation of the larynx and pharynx. Houghton considers **Ferrum phosphoricum as one of the greatest of temporary voice toners; he says that it enables singers to control the voice in its entire compass when suffering from hoarseness.
Hepar sulphur. [Hep]
Laryngitis in children after exposure to dry, cold winds; there is a croupy cough and hoarseness, worse mornings, the patient is very sensitive to the slightest draft, the larynx is painful and dry. It is also a remedy especially adapted to laryngeal troubles of professional singers, and brilliant cures have been made with it. **Sulphur corresponds to chronic cases, with morning loss of voice following suppression of eruptions; voice is hoarse, rough and deep. **Kali bichromicum has dryness of the larynx; the voice is rough and hollow and the expectoration stringy. Ivins recommends the 12X. **Arsenicum corresponds to laryngeal tuberculosis, with ulceration and burning. Dr. Mitchell considers **Hepar the most effective of all remedies in chronic laryngitis. Its action is prompt in the hoarseness of professional singers.
**Ipecac. Dr. Cartier advocates this remedy in complete aphonia from a cold or congestion of the vocal chords claiming it to be superior to **Causticum in inflammatory aphonia. He uses the 6 or 30X potencies every half hour until the voice returns. It has a remarkable efficacy also in relieving hoarseness.
Spongia. [Spong]
Besides the dry, harsh, barking, croupy cough and suffocative spells of this remedy it is useful in laryngeal phthisis with burning and stinging in the larynx and a sensation as if a plug were there, with great sensitiveness; swallowing is painful.
**Sambucus is useful for a spasm of the larynx occurring with laryngitis, and when oedema is present with difficult almost impossible respiration **Apis will prove useful. **Chlorine is, however, the specific for that dangerous condition known as oedema of the glottis.
**Drosera suits laryngeal phthisis with great hoarseness, excretion of tough mucus, paroxysmal cough after midnight. Both voice and cough have a deep bass trumpet sound. **Verbascum is similar, but extends lower than the larynx.
**Iodine has great usefulness in the early stage of membraneous laryngitis; with fever, dry skin, dry cough, and great difficulty in respiration. It follows closely after **Aconite.
Professor of Materia Medica in the University of Michigan Homeopathic Medical College. Member of American Institute of Homeopathy. In addition to his editoral work he authored or collaborated on: Boericke and Dewey's Twelve Tissue Remedies, Essentials of Homeopathic Materia Medica, Essentials of Homeopathic Therapeutics and Practical Homeopathic Therapeutics.