Borax

Introduction

Common name: 

Borate of sodium[1]

Synonyms

Borax, Biborate of soda, Borate of sodium

Family / Group / Class / Order

Mineral kingdom

Habit and habitat / Description

Borax is a white crystalline compound that is used as a flux, cleansing agent, water softener, preservative, and fireproofing agent. It is a naturally occurring mineral and a chemical compound of the element boron. Borax is also known as sodium borate, sodium tetraborate, or disodium tetraborate. It is a powdery white substance that is widely used as a household cleaner and a booster for laundry detergent. Borax is a combination of boron, sodium, and oxygen.

Formula / Symbols

Na2Ba4O7. 10H2O

Name of prover

HAHNEMANN

Introduction and history

In olden days, Borax was used with bland vehicles for treatment of sore nipples and children’s sore mouth. Borax was one
of the main constituents among the domestic remedies used for all sorts of local conditions requiring a soothing substance and for healing purposes.

Preparation

The salt is triturated with sugar of milk and then higher  potencies are prepared.

Constitution of Borax

Physical make up

It is best for teething children, nursing infants, women with a pale earthy face and red nose; flesh grows soft and flabby
with a wrinkled skin and lax muscles.

Temperament

Nervous 3 , Phlegmatic 2 , Choleric 1.

Diathesis

Exudative

Relation with heat & cold

Hot

Miasm

Psoric, Sycotic, Tubercular

Clinical conditions

Aphthae. Corns. Dentition. Diarrhoea. Ear-discharge. Entropion. Erysipelas. Eyes, affections of. Finger joints, ulcers on. Herpes. Menstruation, painful (membranous). Nipple, sore. Nose, affections of. Pleurisy. Plica polonica. Psoriasis. Screaming. Sea-sickness. Sterility. Syphilitic sore-throat. Taste, disordered. Trichiasis. Ulcers. Urine, strong-smelling. Vertigo. Zoster.[3]

Sites of action / Pharmacodynamics

Itmainly acts on gastro-intestinal system, especially mouth, stomach and rectum
female genital organs, especially vagina and vulva. Skin and blood are not spared whenthe drug is used in physiological doses.

Causation (Causes / Ailments from)

-Smoking
-Rubbing of socks or boots

Patho-physiological changes / Pathogenesis

1. It acts on the female genital organs, especially vagina and vulva producing
hot, acrid and albuminous leucorrhoea.
2. It acts on the mucous membrane of the mouth producing a state of
inflammation and ulceration with too much heat and secretion. It also
produces aphthous patches in the mouth.
3. It also acts on the mucous membrane of the intestines, uterus and vagina.
4. It acts on the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract producing cough and
expectoration.
5. It acts on the mucous membrane of the tongue producing cracks and dryness
that prevent eating.
6. It acts on the skin and causes unhealthiness, itching and suppuration

Characteristic Mental Symptoms (psychology) of Borax

1. Dread of downward motion in nearly all complaints.
2. Tendency to be frightened and startled.
3. Great anxiety about trifles.
4. Sensitive to sudden noises even at a distance.
5. Patient is afraid of going down stairs, can’t swing and can’t ride down hill.
6. Children awake suddenly screaming and grasping sides of the cradle, without
any cause.
7. Anxiety, sleepiness and nervousness worse by downward motion or walking
downstairs. Anxiety increases upto 11 pm.
8. Restlessness, changes from one work to
another.
9. Uneasiness in the whole body expressive of excessive nervousness.
10. Patient is fretful, ill-humoured, indolent and discontented.

Guiding Symptoms of Borax

Generalities

Weakness and emaciation. General malnutrition. A child becomes pale and soft, cries and refuses to nurse, and screams out in sleep.

Head

Vertigo worse ascending stairs or any elevation. Headache, with nausea and trembling of the whole body. Hot head of babies. Hair entangled at tips, stick together cannot be separated.

Eye

Gummy, crusty, sticky eyelids. Redness about eyes. Entropion. Raw tarsi. Granular eyelids.

Ears

Sensitive to slightest noise, not so much disturbed by louder ones. As if ear opened and closed.

Nose

Acrid coryza. Dry crusts in nose. Red nose of young women. Red shining swelling of the nose, with throbbing and tensive sensation. Stoppage of nostrils alternately; with lachrymation.

Face

Pale, dirty. Puffy face; bluish in infants. Anxious, during downward motion. Cobweb sensation. As of a bug crawling over lip.

Mouth

Dry, hot, tender, *aphthous; after taking sour or salty food. Dry cracked; or puffy indented tongue. Toothache worse wet weather better by smoking. Palate, hard and wrinkled; as if burnt; pains when chewing; while nursing, in children. Painful gumboil. Taste bitter, even saliva. Thrush. Ulcers, bleed on eating or by touch.

Stomach

Eructations, on pressing painful part. Nausea; when thinking hard; with trembling of body and weakness of knees. Desire for sour things. Pain in the region of stomach, after heavy lifting_stitching_ extending to small of back. Sweat on stomach. Vomiting after drinking; of sour mucus. Gastralgia, reflex from uterine troubles.

Abdomen

Belly soft, flabby, sunken. Flatulent,_distension after every meal. Pain as if diarrhoea would set in. Stools; turning green, or persistently green; like boiled starch. Mucous diarrhoea then weakness. Loose, pappy, foul smelling stools. Stools slender. Catch in groin on coughing. Pulling from spleen to chest. Stitching pains in the groins before or during menses. Burning in rectum during stool.

Urinary Organ

Hot acrid, smarting urine, of pungent smell. Child screams before the passage. Frequent every 10 to 15 minutes. Small red particles on diaper. Nephritis. Cystitis.

Sexual Organ

Indifference to coition. Menses too early, too profuse; attended with colic and nausea. Leucorrhoea_albuminous, clear, hot, pasty, with sensation as if warm water was flowing down legs. Membranous dysmenorrhoea. Empty feeling in mammae, after child nurses, with stitches better compressing. When nursing, pain in opposite breast. Labour pains with frequent eructations. Mother’s milk is thick and tastes badly. Sensation of distension in clitoris, with sticking. Sterility. Favours easy conception.

Respiratory System

Sticking pain in chest (intercostal) worse coughing, inspiration, yawning or any physical exertion. Shortness of breath worse ascending stairs; stitches on speaking. Hacking and violent cough; expectoration blood streaked or mouldy. Pain in chest better Lying on back, washing with cold water, or pressure. Arrest of breath when Lying down, must jump up and catch breath.

Heart & Pulse

Feels *as if on night side; and being squeezed. Infants, cyanotic from birth. Violent palpitation.

Neck & Back

Pain in back, inability to stoop.

Extremities

Limbs tremble at 10 a.m. Feeling of cobweb on hands. Stitches in soles. Weakness in calves. Pain in heel. Eczema of fingers and toes with loss of nails. As if warm water running down thighs. Palms hot. Itching on back of hands. Want of strength esp. in joints.

Sleep

Voluptuous dreams; dreams of coition. Cries out in sleep, as if frightened (children). Cannot sleep on account of excessive heat, esp. of head. Starts from deep as if to fall.

Fever

Flushes of heat.

Important characteristic features

Keynotes / Redline

1. Dread of downward motion.

2. Extremely sensitive to slightest noise, easily started.

3. Babies cry, scream, before nursing or before passing stool or urine.

4. Plica polonica.

5. Sensation of cobweb, or as if white of egg had dried on face and hands.

6. Red nose in young women [Nat-c]

7. Eructations when painful parts are pressed.

Guiding

Dread or Fear of Downward Motion

Painful Mouth Ulcers (Aphthae / Canker Sores) 

Extreme Sensitivity to Sudden Noises

Anxiety and Nervousness

Unhealthy Skin

Confirmatory

– Tendency to aphthae of all the mucous membranes.

Nucleus symptoms

-Especially a remedy for children mainly during dentition.

-A valuable remedy in aphthous stomatitis.

-Nervous, sensitive to sudden noise easily frightened.

Therapeutic Valueof Borax

Aphthae, Blepharitis, Diarrhoea, Eye affections,
Headache, Leucorrhoea, Menstrual disorders, Otitis media, Otorrhoea,
Stomatitis, etc.

Modality

Aggravation

From sudden slight noise, by downward motion, smoking, before urination, damp cold weather.

Amelioration

11 pm, holding painful side with hands, by pressure

Remedy Relationship

Follows Well

Phos, Bry, Ars, Lyc, Nux-v, Sil, Calc, etc

Inimical

Acet-ac, wine.

It Antidotes

Coff, Cham.

Comparison

Am-c, Ars, Bell, Bry, Calc, Graph, Ign, Kali-bi, Lyc, Mag-m, Merc, Nux-v, Phos, Puls, Rhus-t, Sep, Sil, Sulph

Dose

First to third trituration.

Potency

3x, 6x, 12x, 30, 200, 1000.

Duration of Action

30 Days

Terminology

Main terminologies

Materia Medica:

Think of this as the go-to guidebook in homeopathy. It’s a collection of information about different remedies, detailing their origins, how they’re prepared, and most importantly, the specific symptoms and conditions they’re traditionally used to treat. When you see Borax mentioned in a materia medica, you’ll find a detailed profile of its characteristic symptoms.

Proving:

This is a unique process in homeopathy where healthy volunteers take small, repeated doses of a substance (like Borax) and meticulously record any physical, emotional, or mental symptoms they experience. These recorded symptoms form the basis of the remedy’s profile in the materia medica. So, the symptoms associated with Borax in homeopathy come from these "provings."

Totality of Symptoms:

This is a core principle in homeopathy. It doesn’t just focus on one or two main complaints. Instead, a homeopath looks at the entire picture of the patient’s symptoms – physical sensations, emotional states, mental characteristics, and even things like what makes their symptoms better or worse. When selecting Borax, a homeopath will consider if the patient’s overall symptom picture aligns with the Borax "totality."

Characteristic Symptoms:

Within the "totality," some symptoms are considered more unique or peculiar to a specific remedy. These "characteristic symptoms" are often key in differentiating between remedies that might seem similar at first glance. For Borax, certain symptoms like a marked sensitivity to downward motion or a fear of falling are often highlighted as characteristic.

Modalities:

These are factors that influence a person’s symptoms, making them better or worse. For example, a headache might be worse from heat and better from cold. In the context of Borax, you might see specific modalities listed, such as symptoms being worse in warm weather or better with pressure.

Potentization (or Dilution and Succussion):

This is the unique way homeopathic remedies are prepared. The original substance (like Borax) is serially diluted with water or alcohol, and after each dilution, the mixture is vigorously shaken (succussed). Homeopaths believe this process not only removes any toxic effects but also enhances the therapeutic properties of the substance. You’ll often see remedies listed with a number and an "X" or "C" (e.g., Borax 6X, Borax 30C), indicating the level of potentization.

Homeopathic Aggravation:

Sometimes, after taking a homeopathic remedy, a person might experience a temporary worsening of their existing symptoms before improvement sets in. This is known as a homeopathic aggravation and is often seen as a positive sign that the remedy is working on the vital force.

Constitution:

In homeopathy, a person’s "constitution" refers to their overall physical, mental, and emotional makeup. Homeopaths often consider a person’s constitutional type when selecting a long-acting remedy that addresses their fundamental imbalances. While Borax might be indicated for specific acute or chronic complaints, understanding the patient’s constitution can play a role in long-term treatment strategies.

Other terminologies

Nosode:

These are homeopathic remedies prepared from diseased tissues, secretions, or excretions. While Borax itself isn’t a nosode (it’s a mineral substance), articles might discuss its use in relation to conditions where nosodes are also considered, prompting comparisons or highlighting different approaches.

Polycrest:

This term refers to remedies that have a very broad range of action and are frequently used because their provings have produced a large number of symptoms across various systems of the body. While not always categorized as a top-tier polycrest like Sulphur or Nux Vomica, Borax has a significant symptom picture and could be discussed in relation to other polycrests when considering complex cases.

Sphere of Action:

This refers to the specific parts of the body, organ systems, or types of conditions that a particular remedy is known to affect most strongly. For Borax, its sphere of action is often considered to include the mucous membranes (leading to its use for issues like leucorrhea or canker sores), the skin, and even the nervous system (related to its characteristic fears and sensitivities).

Mental Generals:

In homeopathy, mental and emotional symptoms are considered very important and often guide remedy selection. "Mental generals" are overarching mental or emotional states that are characteristic of the remedy. For Borax, key mental generals include marked anxiety, irritability, a fear of downward motion, and sometimes a peculiar fear of sharp objects.

Physical Generals:

Similar to mental generals, these are general physical symptoms that aren’t localized to one specific area. For Borax, this could include a general feeling of being easily startled, a sensitivity to noise, or specific patterns of sleep disturbances.

Aetiology (or Causation):

This refers to the factors that are believed to have triggered the onset of the patient’s condition. While Borax is chosen based on the symptom picture, homeopathic articles might discuss conditions with specific aetiologies where Borax is frequently indicated, such as symptoms arising after a fall or emotional shock.

Keynotes:

These are highly characteristic and peculiar symptoms of a remedy that often stand out and can be a strong indicator for its use. The fear of downward motion and sensitivity to noise are often considered keynotes for Borax.

Clinical Tip/Pearls:

These are often practical insights gained from clinical experience that might not be explicitly found in the provings but are helpful in applying the remedy. For Borax, a clinical tip might relate to its effectiveness in certain types of infantile colic or specific presentations of vertigo.

Reference of Borax

[1] materia medica by William Boericke

[2] Gems materia medica by Dr.Patil

[3] Dictionary Of Practical Materia Medica (All 3 Vol.) By Clarke J. H.

[4] Materia medica by Dr.Dube

[5] Concise Materia Medica Of Hom. Remedies By S.R. Phatak

[6] Zomeo

Also Search As of Borax

Main ways

1. Exploring Scientific and Chemical Databases:

PubChem: This is a comprehensive database of chemical molecules. Search for "Borax" to find its properties, structure, associated literature, and more.
ChemSpider: Similar to PubChem, this database provides access to chemical structures and information.
WebMineral and Mindat: These are databases focused on minerals. Searching for "Borax" will give you geological information, crystal properties, and occurrences.
Academic Search Engines (Google Scholar, JSTOR, etc.): Use the terms above to find scientific articles and research papers related to the chemistry, applications, and environmental impact of borax.

2. Exploring Dedicated Homeopathic Websites and Databases:

Homeopathic Materia Medica Websites: Many websites host online versions of homeopathic Materia Medicas (like Boericke’s, Allen’s Keynotes, etc.). Search within these sites for "Borax." Examples include:
Homeopathy websites of specific practitioners or organizations.
Online Materia Medica repositories.
Homeopathic Journals and Publications: Some journals focus on homeopathic research and clinical practice. Search their archives for articles mentioning "Borax."  
Homeopathic Software and Apps: If someone uses homeopathic software, they can search within the remedy information for Borax.

3. Utilizing Academic Databases (if applicable):

While rigorous scientific research on homeopathy is ongoing and sometimes debated, some studies might be indexed in academic databases (like PubMed, Google Scholar). Using the search terms mentioned above could yield relevant results, though they might focus on the broader uses of Boron compounds as well.

4. Consulting Homeopathic Organizations and Forums:

Websites of national or international homeopathic organizations might have resources, articles, or links to information about specific remedies like Borax.
Online forums or communities dedicated to homeopathy can be valuable places to find discussions, personal experiences, and links to relevant articles.