Hepar Sulphuris Health Article

Description

Hepar sulphuris is a homeopathic remedy that was created by Samuel Hahnemann, the father of homeopathy. Hahnemann combined the inner layer of oyster shells (Calcium carbonica) with flowers of sulfur and burned them to create Hepar sulphuris calcareum, or Hepar sulph. as it is commonly called. It is also known as

calcium sulfide or Hahnemann's calcium sulfide. Hepar is the Latin word for liver, and as certain compounds of sulfur had the color of liver, the remedy was so named.

Calcium sulfide was once used as a treatment for mercury poisoning, gout, itching, rheumatism, goiter, and swellings from tuberculosis. Now it is used in veterinary medicine, and in the manufacture of medicine, luminous paint, and hair removal products.

Although Hepar sulph. has the chemical properties of two other remedies, Calcium carbonica and sulfur, the actions of the remedies are different.

General use

Homeopaths prescribe Hepar sulph. for colds, coughs, sore throats, croup, abscesses, earaches, inflamed cuts and wounds, asthma, arthritis, emphysema, herpes, constipation, conjunctivitis, Candida albicans infections, syphilis, sinusitis, and skin infections.

The main indications for Hepar sulph. are as follows. The patient is overly sensitive to pain, touch, and cold. Pains are sharp, as if a splinter or piece of glass were being poked into the skin. A sore throat may feel like a fish bone is stuck in it and the pain increases upon swallowing. The slightest pressure causes much pain and the patient may faint from the pain. The patient cannot tolerate the cold and any exposure to cold air causes chills. If a hand or foot slips outside the bedcovers the patient will become chilled. Any slight exertion will cause the patient to perspire. The patient's sweat is cold and profuse and smells sour and offensive, like rotten cheese. Bodily discharges are yellow and thick and also smell offensive. If a cough is present, it is a dry, hacking cough with rattling of mucus in the chest.

The typical Hepar sulph. patients are delicate, oversensitive persons who tend to be scrawny in build and have enlarged glands. They are slow persons with flabby muscles, and often have light hair. They catch cold easily, dislike the cold, crave sour foods such as pickles and vinegar, and may dislike fats.

Mentally they are irritable, impulsive, angry, obstinate, anxious, fearful, impatient, sad, and depressed. They are very hard to get along with. Nothing pleases them and they dislike company. Often the desire to commit violence is present. They have poor memories. The Hepar sulph. patient is usually in a hurry—he drinks and eats fast and talks rapidly.

Hepar sulph. ailments generally arise from exposure to cold dry wind, suppression of perspiration and skin eruptions. Typical patients suffer from a lack of internal warmth, so all symptoms are made worse from exposure to cold conditions: cold air, cold weather, and cold wind. Fresh air, lying on the painful side, any pressure or touch, or being uncovered also aggravate the symptoms. Symptoms are worse in the morning and at night. Bed warmth and heat tend to make the symptoms better. The patient craves warmth and can often be found wrapped up in the bedcovers or wearing several layers of clothing.