Phosphoric acid. [Ph-ac]
This remedy corresponds to the chronic effects of loss of seminal fluid, while **Cinchona is more suitable for the acute effects, such as emissions on three or four consecutive nights, weakening the patient greatly. Under **Phosphoric acid the whole system is weakened; the legs are weak, and there is burning in the spine worse at night, the genitals are relaxed, the scrotum and testicles are flabby, the penis has no power of erection, or the erection are imperfect and the semen escapes too soon during coitus. Formication or a sensation of crawling on the scrotum is also sometimes present. Impotence when the sensibility of the part is excessive, and the semen is discharged shortly after or even before erection. There is a sudden relaxation of the penis during coitus due to exhaustion rather than to spasmodic action, as under **Nux vomica. Hughes regards **Phosphoric acid as probably the most useful remedy for spermatorrhoea in the materia medica, but much depends on the potency used, as the lower ones often fail. There is dragging in the testicles, and above all the mental condition is important; the patient is distressed on account of the culpability of his acts, and is anxious about the future of his health or else perfect indifference is present. It is never to be used when general irritability is present, and probably many failures are owing to its misuse in this particular.
**Phosphorus has impotence preceded by over-excitation of the genital organs. It also has discharge of prostatic juice during a hard stool and frequently involuntary seminal emissions.
**Picric acid has disturbed sleep from erections and too frequent seminal emissions. Spermatorrhoea, with great desire, followed by great prostration. King, in his work on spermatorrhoea, advises the higher potencies as the lower ones are apt to aggravate.
Gelsemium. [Gels]
Characteristic of **Gelsemium are frequent involuntary emissions at night, with relaxation of the organs; the whole system is relaxed and emissions occur from the slightest exertion or excitation. There are no lascivious dreams, and it is particularly the remedy in cases arising from masturbation.
**Dioscorea has atonic seminal emissions; there is a passive state, and the patient will have two or three dreams a night, with emission of semen and the day following will feel very weak about the knees. Farrington advises it first in the 12th and then in the 30th potency.
**Eryngium aquaticum. General debility, seminal emissions without erections.
**Digitalis has also involuntary emissions during sleep, without dreams, followed with great weakness. Baehr recommends **Digitalis 3rd trituration in spermatorrhoea and claims that it usually suffices. It should be given early in the morning. Dickinson claims better results from this remedy than from any other.
Calcarea carbonica. [Calc]
When night sweats follow every emission, and when coitus is followed by weakness in mind and body, **calcarea is the remedy. It is especially useful in shattered constitutions where the patient sweats from any exertion. The sexual desire is excessive and the nocturnal emissions occurs about three in the morning or later. The erection are weak and excitable, there is sensitiveness of the urethra and irritable impotence. There is tendency to cold clammy sweat on the hands after emissions, there is pain in the back and head and trembling of the legs. Great weakness follows all indulgence. **Calcarea suits these conditions in young people who grow too rapidly.
**Caladium. Here, after masturbation, the penis is a flabby as a rag, the prepuce when withdrawn behind the glands does not have sufficient contractility to replace itself. Nocturnal emissions occur with or without dreams. It is indicated in the advanced stages when there are no erections. Emissions occurring without any sexual excitement whatever is a good indication for **Caladium. Feeling of coldness and cold perspiration about the genitals is also a useful symptom for the remedy.
Staphisagria. [Staph]
**Staphisagria is the remedy for the bad effects of masturbation where there is great emaciation with dark rings under the eyes, sallow face, peevishness and shyness. The patient is hypochondriacal and permits the mind to dwell too long on sexual subjects; the boy becomes apathetic and gloomy and he has sunken face and he becomes uneasy about the state of his health. There may also be irritability of the prostatic portion of the urethra. In the female, **Staphisagria is the remedy when the organs are in a state of irritability. It is the remedy for the advanced stages and in cases of long standing. It is the best remedy in anxious and imaginary persons who are uneasy about the state of the health.
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.