The Phosphor type with its lessened light activity and reduced adrenal functioning is more often found to be blond, soft-haired (also, the hair growth, as such, is under adrenal control) and light-complexioned. The adrenal disturbance also explains the circulatory and cardiac weakness with lowered sympathicus tonus (adrenalin is the sympathicus hormone), as well as the peculiar modality of the craving for salt (Addisons disease has sometimes been favorably affected by massive salt doses).
While younger people furnish the analogy to the over-grown stooping plant, the fungus-or mushroom-like tendency of abounding growth is found where a longitudinal expansion no longer is possible. Since the normal channel of growth is blocked, the dammed up tendency expresses itself in tumor growth. It is not chance that tumor cells resemble embryonal cells and that both have an increased radiosensitivity15 as the expression of a more precarious light balance. The pathogenesis of Phosphor includes cancer and fibroids.
The personality described so far, devoid of mental firmness as well as of vital stamina, is bound to be a drifting straw, an almost helpless victim of outer influences and inner emotions, The provings account for this by eliciting oversensitivity to almost any outer and inner factor (viz., light, noise, odors, touch, electricity, thunderstorms, changing weather, dampness, etc.; mind too impressionable, excitable, etc.).
Finding no source of strength within himself, he must look for support from without thus always depending and leaning upon others: desire for company, fear of being alone, desire for and better from rubbing, massaging and mesmerisation.
When the symptoms are confined only to potential tendencies, rather than the extremer manifestations which we described, the the average well-known Phosphor type results:.
A sociable; sympathetic, pleasant person of rather sanguine temperament, very adaptable, enthusiastic but unreliable, with but little perseverance ad strength of character, drifting with the current; probably quite artistic, given to day dreaming and romance, sensitive and easily influenced; he looks tall, slender, narrow chested with fair, transparent skin, soft hair and delicate eyelashes, is easily exhausted and has but little physical strength and staying power.
All in all he is a truly flower-or butterfly-like being, thriving in the sunshine of favorable circumstances but wilting in the darkness and coldness of adversity.
If we contrast this Phosphor blossom with the slow, steady, persevering, introverted Natrum mur. type which typifies the alchemistic “sal,” or root principle, we have an impressive example of the deep d intuitive insight into the secret workings of nature as expressed in this symbol terminology.
The remaining “particulars,” symptoms referred to specific organs, untold themselves out of the same two main directions of light:.
A – The mental effect upon consciousness as opposed by anesthetics leads on the action upon the.
1. Nervous and muscular systems and lipoid metabolism.
2. Digestive system.
3. Circulation and respiration.
4. Oxidation mechanism.
B – The general effect upon growth, general resistance and stamina explains the action of Phosphor upon the skeleton and the calcium metabolism.
A – The close similarity between the mental symptoms of Phosphorus and the lipoid-soluble anesthetics, which, as we shall see, is paralleled by almost identical physical effects, signifies a fundamental basic correlation between Phosphor and the anesthetics. We are entitles to the conclusion that those physical symptoms which are common to both of them, express the organic changes which result from a reduced state of consciousness and ego-control, the weakened inner “light man.”.
1. Anesthetics paralyze the central nervous system by virtue of their lipoid affinity and solubility. Apparently, as one result of this selective lipoid toxicity, lipoid and fat infiltration occurs in various organs (live, heart, muscle, etc.).
The lipoid affinity of Phosphor is well enough known: Phosphor occurs in the serum almost exclusively in the form of phosphor lipids,31 which are considered important structural as well as functional elements of the nervous system. Subsequent to the loss of control of the higher centers, as described, organic nervous disorders will occur as the result of the disturbance of the lipoid metabolism. The modality, worse from rising, finds its explanation in the fact that in the upright (awake) position the conscious cerebral control is supposed to prevail, while the horizontal position corresponds to the function of lower centers during sleep as well as to the animalic (with horizontal spine), instinctive level. The many organic nervous symptoms need not be enumerated here in detail.
Also, the muscular apparatus with its close functional association to nerve and bone (see later) will participate in the Phosphor-induced disturbance (the muscle function depends upon hexose phosphoric acid is intermediary product for its function).
The lipoid infiltration of anesthetics is duplicated in the fatty degeneration of liver, heart and other organs which occurs in Phosphor poisoning. Of Special interest to us is a symptom consisting of muscle degeneration with simultaneous fat infiltration, the muscular pseudohypertrophy, a leading clinical Phosphorus indication.
It is of interest to remember that the childhood state is characterized by a relative abundance of fat deposits. Mentally and emotionally, the child, with its undeveloped sense of responsibility and ego-control, seems to represent a quasi- physiological Phosphor state (growing organisms, of course, are particularly sensitive to Phosphor instabilities merely by virtue of their growing).
The tendency to fat deposits, shared alike by child and chronic alcoholic, thus presents itself as a characteristic somatic features of the childish, careless frame of mind. We may recall the intuitive recognition of this fact in art, as expressed in the immortal Falstaff, and Caesars words: “Let me have men about me that are fat….” (Shakespeare, Julius Caesar, Act 1, Scene II).
2. Anesthetics cause gastrointestinal irritation (alcoholic gastritis, nausea and vomiting of alcohol, ether, chloroform). Phosphor show a correspondingly similar irritative tendency leading to its long list of clinical indications in this sphere. Of special interest to us are the modalities of the craving for salt and spices and the desire for ice-cold water which is vomited as soon as it gets warm in the stomach. These symptoms of phosphor are quite characteristic for the morning after, etc.). An empty stomach makes us light-headed and faint, eating restores us to ourselves. Similarly, eating counteracts effects of intoxicating spirits and the light-headed Phosphor patient is better from eating.
The similarity between the Phosphor hepatitis and the acute yellow atrophy with fat infiltration of the chloroform liver has been referred to already.
Moreover, Phosphor causes liver cirrhosis,32 thus paralleling the cirrhosis of alcohol. Recently, this alcohol cirrhosis has been associated with protein deficiency; Phosphor poisoning which leads to an increased loss due to breakdown of the protein33 bears out even this detail.
The intimate relationship between liver function and synthesis of Vitamin K and fibrinogen, along with the influence of the disturbed calcium balance along with the influence of the disturbed calcium balance (see later), explain the haemorrhagic tendency of Phosphorus which is duplicated again by ether.34.
Anesthetics cause hyperglycemia and glycosuria. 35 So does Phosphor by inhibiting the synthesis of glycogen in the liver.36 Diabetes frequently occurs in constitutional types who appear not firmly rooted within themselves but are of a rather soft, dreamy shocks which so often were found to have caused diabetes.
Thus the general metabolic effect of Phosphor fits into the pattern of the disturbed or, if we use our symbol picture, shackled “light man” who suffers the vulture daily to destroy the liver.
3. Anesthetics impair the respiratory ad circulatory apparatus: bronchitis, pneumonia of ether, heart failure of chloroform, fatty heart of alcohol, chronic alcoholism predisposing to pneumonia.37 Phosphor, likewise, is one of the outstanding remedies in those very conditions. The paramount position of the respiratory and, to a somewhat lesser extent, of the circulatory sphere within the pathogenesis of Phosphor and anesthetics draws our attention again to the identification of “nous” with “pneuma,” mind with breath, in the analytical symbol interpretation.
Yet, how, exactly, would our consciousness reflect itself in our physical breathing? Since the question probably never arose in any research work, only few facts are available to us for attempting an answer. Respiration and pulse rate differ during sleep and wakefulness, but also during a state of strained attention. Forced overventilation produces tetany, not unlike the convulsive state caused by overdoses of stimulants (tetrazol). In the Yogi training breathing exercises seem to play a part in helping to bring about a change of consciousness.
