Ferrum phos [Ferr-p]
Inflammatory earache from cold, with burning, throbbing pain. Sensitive to noise. Congestive stage of otitis. Earache, with sharp, stitching pain. Noises in the ears, arising through blood-pressure from relaxed conditions of the vessels not returning the blood properly. Inflammatory conditions, radiating pains, sensitiveness, especially in affections of the ear in anaemic subjects. A clinical symptom is: “Noticeable pulsation in the ear; every impulse of the heart is felt here, beating in the ear and head; the pulse can be counted.” (Houghton.) Chronic non-suppurative catarrh of the middle ear, where the membrana tympani is thickened, and there is probably anchylosis of the small bones.
The following are also indications for its use: “1. A marked tendency for the inflammatory process to be diffused instead of circumscribed. 2. Dark, beefy redness of the parts. 3. A muco-purulent discharge and a tendency to haemorrhage. 4. The complete establishment of the discharge is not followed by the relief of the pain. 5. The paroxysmal character of the pain.” (Wanstall, American Institute Transactions, 1886, p. 389.) Also, the absence of exudation, the radiating pains and sensitiveness, and the general anaemic and debilitated condition of the patient. Deafness from inflammatory action, or suppuration, when there are cutting pains, tension, throbbing or heat, tinnitus aurium from excessive flow of blood to the part. Inflammation of the drum, especially when the membrane is dry, and its vessels engorged. Diffuse inflammation of the external auditory canal and acute affections of middle ear. (H.C.F.) Catarrhal affections of Eustachian tubes. “For earache after exposure to cold or wet I have no better remedy.” (R.S. Copeland).
Kali mur [Kali-m]
Earache, with white or gray-furred tongue and swelling of the glands, swelling of the throat. Eustachian tubes swell, cracking noise in the ear when swallowing. Deafness from swelling of the Eustachian tubes. It is also the principal remedy for deafness from swelling of the external ear. Deafness with swelling of the glands or cracking noises on blowing the nose, tongue white. Chronic dermatitis. Moist exfoliation of the epithelial layer of the tympanum. In ulcerations, where pus is whitish; granular conditions of meatus and of membrana tympani; excessive granulations. “One of the most effective remedies we have ever used for chronic catarrhal inflammation of the middle ear, especially the form designated `proliferous.’ Stuffy sensation, subjective sounds, deafness, naso-pharyngeal obstruction, granular pharyngitis, closed Eustachian tubes, retracted membrana tympani, etc., walls of external meatus atrophied. Seems to affect more decidedly the right Eustachian tube. In chronic suppuration it reduces proliferation, checks granulation and hastens repair.” (H.C. Houghton).
“Kali mur. is chiefly suited to the second or later stages of catarrhal states of the naso-pharynx and Eustachian tube which, by continuity of the mucous membrane, extend to the cavity of the middle ear itself. The condition of the pharynx, as seen by simple inspection, is that of a thickened mucous membrane, with inflammation present in subacute or chronic form and usually centering around the follicles, giving a coarsely granular appearance to the surface. It is not so much an intensely red membrane as one pale in appearance which indicates its use, as if the more active hypertrophic condition were passing over into a less active or passive atrophic state. The presence of small spots of whitish exudation would be a further indication for its selection, and also the condition of the tongue if coated white or gray. The accompanying nasal condition is characterized by swelling of the lining membrane, obstruction, and thick, yellow discharge, or later on by thick, whitish mucus. Its use is said to lessen susceptibility to these catarrhal states.
“This same condition extending up into the Eustachian tube gives rise to such thickening of the lining membrane that the tube, for a time, is partially and sometimes wholly occluded. The aural symptoms resulting from this condition of the tube are well understood, consisting of deafness of varying degree, subjective noises in corresponding degree, and those sometimes startling and disagreeable snappings in the ear which arise from the sudden partial opening of the tube during deglutition, whereby the air is allowed to rush forcibly through the tube into the tympanic cavity, relieving thus the partial vacuum which always ensues when the tympanum becomes a closed cavity, and rarification of the contained air takes place. Of course, if specular examination be made at such times, more or less retraction of the tympanic membrane will be visible. In this condition of the tube the remedy applies less to those states which are recent and acute than to their later effects, or to the less active forms of inflammation from the outset, and its action is said to be greater upon the Eustachian tube of the right side than upon that of the left.
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.