In a comparison of the constructive role of these substances (as determined by laboratory technique) with their more subtle manifestations (demonstrated through provings of the homoeopathic potentiations), let us look again at manganese:
Reiman and Minot (***J. *Biological Chemistry) “found it to be present in practically all human tissue, the liver carrying more than any other”; J. H. Clarke (*Dictionary of the Materia Medica) cites its ability to produce inflammation and fatty degeneration of the liver. We have seen its association with iron in the blood, and homoeopathically, it has its place in anaemic conditions when indicated. We have noted the laboratory observation of the loss of maternal instinct. Clarke gives as the first mental symptom : Peevishness and taciturnity, with concentration in self.” Sterility has not been a proven symptom, yet Clarke gives: “Sensation of weakness in (male) genital organs.”
Speaking of the necessity for carbohydrates in the diet, McCollum (*Food, Nutrition and Health) says:
During digestion and absorption through the intestinal walls of these (forms of carbohydrates) are converted into glucose. Glucose is the one sugar which always occurs in the blood. Although it is present in blood only to the extent of one part per thousand of blood, this sugar is the principal fuel which is burned by the muscles for providing energy for keeping the body warm and for muscular work.
Carbohydrates are the usual form in which carbon, the element, is found in the system and in which it is ingested. This is the physiological sphere; now let us turn to the role the carbons occupy in the list of antipsoric remedies. In Boenninghausen’s list we find *Ammonium carb., *Baryta carb., *Calcarea carb., *Carbo animalis, *Carbo veg., *Graphites, *Kali carb., *Magnesium carb., *Natrum carb., *Sepia; all these have the characteristic carbon influence, even though associated with another element. It may seem strange to the casual student of materia medica to include *Sepia in this list, but to the homoeopathician *Sepia is the animal carbon.
In spite of our belief that *Barium belongs pre-eminently to the antisyphilitic group, *Baryta carb. bears the family relationship of the carbons, which admits it to the antipsoric, or deficiency, group as well. *Carbo animalis and *Carbo veg. manifest most markedly the characteristic homoeopathic indications for their use: *burned out defines the condition in one word. This burned out energy and its end-results of lack of body heat and muscular strength extends even into the mental sphere; and whether it comes from excesses, loss of animal fluids, from emotional, mental or physical stress, it is the red thread that runs all through the proven symptoms of the carbon combinations. This symptomatic thread runs all through the various spheres of action of such individual remedy of the carbon family, mental, moral, and all the varying physical fields in which it is applicable– and- inasmuch as it is found in its physiological form throughout the system, so we find its symptomatology running through every part.
Calcium is an essential of bony structure and is a necessary, small but constant, essential of the blood. The homoeopathic materia medica indicates the *Calcarea group in “scrofulous” conditions; rickety children; large heads with open fontanelles; and a host of symptoms we have already described in those conditions traceable to psora. McCollum tells us that calcium in the food is not enough: “Human infants often develop rickets when receiving a sufficiency of calcium and phosphorus provided they are deprived of sunlight and vitamin ***D.”
This last comment, *provided they are deprived of sunlight….leads us to meditate upon that comment of Hahnemann in relation to psora, to the effect that unnatural or unhappy surroundings are extremely dangerous to the vital energy.
It is not necessary to compare the symptomatology of many of our remedies with the body elements to bear out our contention that the problems of psora and deficiency are closely related. Any thoughtful student may verify further comparisons in the homoeopathic materia medica.
In these days one rarely has the opportunity to see a patient released from emotional and economic stress into simple and natural surroundings, with much outdoor life and a simple, natural food supply free from adulterations and replete with the stored elements direct from Nature’s lavish supply. However, if such a case is observed, one learns many things about the resilience of the human economy under the proper conditions. It leads one to a different outlook upon psora and its relation to the undue stress of modern life and economic conditions. We have stated repeatedly that emotional strain was an important factor in developing psoric conditions: the inability to relax for the natural and important functions demanded by Nature. Hustle and bustle take away our rhythmic, full, deep breathing; the hurry for trains and time clocks interferes too often with the excretory functions; the demands of society lead us to suppress natural perspiration; anxiety over almost every item of our lives gets in its dangerous work and often deprives us of necessary rest-certainly of chance moments of relaxation.
All these circumstances pressing upon a delicate adjustment of spirit, mind and body (especially if this be predisposed by inheritance to maladjustment) cannot but make confusion worse confounded. and at this point, it we pass on to our unborn children our inhibitions and suppressions of the spirit, mind and flesh, what can we expect but to build for them a future lacking the ability to receive from natural sources those element.- not always measurable nor as yet defined-that are essential to health? And when we ponder that wrong living conditions, appalling plagues and seasons of famine have been cyclic since History began, we cannot wonder at an inherited tendency to disease that Hahnemann called psoric.
Whether this tendency to the psoric manifestations develops because of inability to assimilate or inability to relax to the point of assimilation, the end-results are the same, and will continue to be until correct through more healthy and natural ways of living plus the power of the potentized remedy to release suppressions and tune the maladjustments to order.
