Alumina

Introduction

Common name: 

• Aluminium Hydrate[1]

Synonyms

• Oxide of aluminum, aluminum hydrate

Family / Group / Class / Order

• Mineral kingdom

Formula / Symbols

• Al2O3. 3H2O[2]

Name of prover

• Dr Hahnemann

Introduction and history

• It is a very well known medicine to the world.
  Now-a-days, in this modern world, the use of Alumina is very common for
  different purposes. In olden days aluminium poisoning was very common due to
  the use of aluminium utensils for cooking food.

Preparation

• It is prepared chemically and triturated with
  sugar of milk.

Constitution of Alumina

Physical make up

Alumina patient is spare, dry, thin, having dark complexion,
persons of sedentary habits who suffer from chronic ailments; to constitutions which suffer from diminished animal heat.

Temperament

Phlegmatic [3], Nervous [2]

Diathesis

Scrofulous diathesis.

Relation with heat & cold

Very chilly patient.

Miasm

Clinical conditions of Alumina

Anus, affections of. Boils. Bubo. Catarrh. Chlorosis. Constipation. Constipation of nursing infants. Cough. Disappointments, effects of. Dysentery. Dyspepsia. Eczema. Eyes, affections of. Fissures. Fistula.[3]

Sites of action / Pharmacodynamics

Nervous system, spinal cord, skin, mucous membranes, rectum, intestine and vagina.

Causation (Causes / Ailments from)

Taking salt, wine, vinegar, full moon and new moon.

Patho-physiological changes / Pathogenesis

1. It has great depth of action, but has slow pace.
2. It acts on the mucous membrane producing dryness to an extent that it may
produce cracks also.
3. It acts on muscles and lessens muscular power; therefore causes fissures and
constipation.
4. It acts on the motor nervous system and produces a paralytic condition.
5. It acts on the mucous membrane of intestines and rectum producing a
condition of extreme dryness which leads to constipation like Bryonia. Also
acts on the vagina producing dryness.

Characteristic Mental Symptoms (psychology) of Alumina

1. Loss of memory and confusion of intellect.

2. The patient makes mistakes in writing and speaking, uses wrong words.
3. Time passes too slowly, an hour seems half a day.
4. Changeable moods, sad thoughts. Inclined to weep, involuntary tears.
5. The patient is very impulsive, when he sees sharp instruments or blood.
6. The patient is very hasty and hurried.
7. Mental symptoms mostly make their appearance in the morning and on
waking.
8. Low spirited, fears loss of reason, consciousness, of his personal identity,
confused.
9. Sensation of a splinter in the throat.

Guiding Symptoms

Generalities

A very general condition corresponding to this drug is DRYNESS of mucous membranes and skin, and TENDENCY TO PARETIC MUSCULAR STATES. Old people, with lack of vital heat, or prematurely old, with debility. Sluggish functions, heaviness, numbness, and staggering, and the characteristic constipation find an excellent remedy in Alumina. Disposition to colds in the head, and eructations in spare, dry, thin subjects. Delicate children, products of artificial baby foods.
[4]

Head

Stitching, burning pain in head, with vertigo, worse in morning, but relieved by food. Pressure in forehead as from a tight hat. Inability to walk except with eyes open. Throbbing headache, with constipation. Vertigo, with nausea; better after breakfast. Falling out of hair; scalp itches and is numb.

Eye

Objects look yellow. Eyes feel cold. Lids dry, burn, smart, thickened, aggravated in morning; chronic conjunctivitis. Ptosis. Strabismus.

Ears

Humming; roaring. Eustachian tube feels plugged.

Nose

Pain at root of nose. Sense of smell diminished. Fluent coryza. Point of nose CRACKED, nostrils sore, RED; worse touch. SCABS WITH THICK YELLOW MUCUS. Tettery redness. OZAENA ATROPHICA SICCA. Membranes distended and boggy.

Face

Feels as if albuminous substance had dried on it. Blood-boils and pimples. Twitching of lower jaw. Rush of blood to face after eating.

Mouth

Sore. Bad odor from it. Teeth covered with sordes. Gums sore, bleeding. Tensive pain in articulation of jaw when opening mouth or chewing.

Throat

DRY, sore; food cannot pass, oesophagus contracted. Feels as if splinter or plug were in throat. Irritable, and relaxed throat. Looks parched and glazed. Clergyman’s sore throat in thin subjects. Thick, tenacious mucus drops from posterior nares. Constant inclination to clear the throat.

Stomach

Abnormal cravings; chalk, charcoal, dry food, tea-grounds. Heartburn; feels constricted. Aversion to meat. [Graph.; Arn.; Puls.] POTATOES DISAGREE. No desire to eat. CAN SWALLOW BUT SMALL MORSELS AT A TIME. Constriction of oesophagus.

Abdomen

Colic, like painter’s colic. Pressing in both groins toward sexual organs. LEFT-SIDED ABDOMINAL COMPLAINTS.

Stool

HARD, DRY, KNOTTY; NO DESIRE. Rectum sore, dry, inflamed, bleeding. Itching and burning at anus. EVEN A SOFT STOOL IS PASSED WITH DIFFICULTY. GREAT STRAINING. Constipation of infants [Collins.; Psor.; Paraf.] and old people from inactive rectum, and in women of very sedentary habit. Diarrhoea on urinating. EVACUATION PRECEDED BY PAINFUL URGING LONG BEFORE STOOL, AND THEN STRAINING AT STOOL.

Urinary Organ

Cannot urinate without straining at stool. Urine usually copious and pale, evacuated with burning.

Sexual Organ

Menstruation early, short, scanty; preceded and accompanied by colic. Leucorrhoea, before and after the menses, corrosive, transparent, albuminous, profuse.Increased sexual desire, followed by loss of power. Emissions while straining at stool. Numerous troubles after emissions.

Respiratory System

Dry hacking cough, from tickling in the throat (elongated uvula) or irritability of the larynx (<) early morning (sometimes sudden in the evening) (<)using the voice. Cough sometimes loosens, and there may be expectoration after coughing mornings. Cough at times associated with dyspnoea, vomiting or even involuntary escape of urine. Sudden hoarseness, not relieved by clearing the larynx, especially afternoons and evenings. Constriction of chest (see under stomach also).

Heart & Pulse

Palpitation and shocks at heart. Wakes at 4 to 5 a.m. with anxiety at heart, better after rising.

Neck & Back

Pain in the back, as if hot irons were thrust through lower spine. Violent stitches in back. Back feels bandaged by a cord.

Extremities

Pain in arms and fingers, as if hot iron penetrated. Arms feel paralyzed. Legs feel asleep, ESPECIALLY WHEN SITTING WITH LEGS CROSSED. STAGGERS ON WALKING. HEELS FEEL NUMB. Soles tender; on stepping, feel soft and swollen. Pain in shoulder and upper arm. Gnawing beneath finger nails. BRITTLE NAILS. Inability to walk, except when eyes are open or in daytime. Spinal degeneration and paralysis of lower limbs.

Skin

Chapped and dry tettery. Brittle nails. INTOLERABLE ITCHING WHEN GETTING WARM IN BED. Must scratch until it bleeds; then becomes painful. Brittle skin on fingers.

Sleep
Anxious, restless, with confused dreams; about thieves, ghosts, of boats foundering.

Fever
Pulse full and accelerated. Shivering, even when near a fire, and at night, in bed, not able to warm oneself. Fever towards the evening, with predominant chilliness. Sensation of cold immediately after taking soup at midday. During the day chill, during the night, fever. Heat in the evening which spreads from the face, at times only over the right mostly in the face, or on one side of the face. Inability to perspire.

Important characteristic features of Alumina

Keynotes / Redlins

1. Inability to walk with eyes closed in darkness, tottering and falling when closing eyes.

2. Constipation-Even for soft stool has to strain, sticks to rectum like clay, has to strain at stool to urinate. Diarrhoea when she urinates.

3. Allergy to salt, wine, vinegar, pepper immediately produces cough.

4. Sensation of cobweb or dried white of an egg on face.

Guiding

1. Profuse jelly like of mucus from all mucous membranes, especially of intestine and
throat (Kali bi., Podo., Helleborus).
2. Insecurity of rectum with want of confidence and power in sphincter ani.
3. Hot patient, aggravation from warm and amelioration from cold water, cold
weather.
4. Itch appears each year as winter approaches.
5. Dissatisfied and angry about himself or his complaints, especially when constipated.
6. Haemorrhoid like a bunch of grapes, blue, which bleeds and is sore, tender and hot
with itching relieved by cold application.
7. Diarrhoea followed by obstinate constipation.
8. Solid stool passes out involuntarily.

PQRS

Aggravation from Potatoes.

No Urge for Stool, Even with a Full Rectum.

Must Strain at Stool to Pass Urine.

Difficulty Swallowing Soft Foods (Better with Warm Drinks).

Vertigo, Worse Closing Eyes.

Sensation as of a Plug in the Rectum.

Stools like Sheep’s Dung (Hard, Knotty, Dry).

Confirmatory

1. Lack of vital heat, great mental and physical exhaustion (especially after menses).

2. Dryness-Irritation of mucous membrane with dryness, catarrhal dryness. Dryness of skin. Dryness of rectum, vagina.

3. Sensation as if dried white egg is on face, or of a cobweb.

4. Craving for indigestible things like starch, chalk, charcoal, etc.

Nucleus symptoms

-Lack of vital heat.

-Chilly persons who are apprehensive, hasty, impulsive with guilty conscience.

-Anxiety about future.

-Dryness of mucus membranes.

-Tendency to paretic muscular states especially of the rectum, locomotor ataxia.

-Debility, sluggishness, heaviness, numbness, staggering.

-Chilly, disposition to colds.

Therapeutic Value

Constipation, Cough, Diarrhoea, Dysentery, Gonorrhoea,
Impotency, Leucorrhoea, Locomotor ataxia, Menstrual disorder, Paralysis, Skin
diseases, Ulcers, etc.

Modality of Alumina

Aggravation

Early in the morning, sedentary life, hot dry weather, after eating and drinking, standing or walking.

Amelioration

Cold water, cold weather, discharge of flatus and stool.

Remedy Relationship

Complimentary

Bry, Ferr

Follows Well

Lach, Bry, Sulph, Arg-met

Antidoted By

Lach, Cham, lead poisoning, painter’s colic.

It Antidotes

Puls, Ip, Cham.

Comparison

Alum-met

Dose

Sixth to thirtieth and higher. Action slow in developing.

Potency

6C,30C.

Duration of Action

40-60 Days

Reference of Alumina

[1]Materia Medica By Dr.S.K.Dubey
[2]Gems textbook of materia medica by Dr.Patil
[3]Dictionary Of Practical Materia Medica (All 3 Vol.) By Clarke J. H.
[4]Materia Medica By Boericke W.

[5]A Primer Of Materia Medica By T. F. Allen.

Terminologies

Glossary of Homeopathic Terms

Materia Medica:

A comprehensive reference book (or collection of books) in homeopathy that lists individual remedies and their associated symptoms. It’s the "pharmacopoeia" of homeopathy, detailing the symptom pictures of each substance.

Guiding Symptoms:

The most characteristic, peculiar, and reliable symptoms of a remedy. These are the symptoms that strongly point to the need for that specific remedy. They are often unique or unusual.

Keynote Symptoms:

Very strong, characteristic symptoms that are almost always present when the remedy is indicated. They are a subset of guiding symptoms and are particularly striking.

Modality:

Factors that make a symptom better or worse. This includes things like time of day, temperature, position, food, motion, etc.

Aggravation:

A worsening of symptoms due to a specific factor (a modality).

Amelioration:

An improvement of symptoms due to a specific factor (a modality). 

Other terms

Paresis/Paretic:

Partial or slight paralysis; weakness of muscles rather than complete loss of movement.

Atony/Atonic:

Lack of normal muscle tone or strength; flaccidity.

Inertia:

A state of inactivity or sluggishness; resistance to change in motion.

Torpor/Torpid:

A state of mental and physical inactivity, sluggishness, and numbness; a lack of responsiveness.

Stools, hard, knotty, like sheep’s dung:

Describes the very specific appearance of the Alumina stool. This is a very characteristic description.

Also Search As

Common ways

1. Specific Symptom Searches (Most Common):

Focus: Trying to find a remedy for a particular problem they’re experiencing.

2. Condition-Based Searches (Less Common, but Possible):

Focus: Searching based on a diagnosed condition (though this is less typical in homeopathy, as it focuses on symptoms, not diagnoses).

3. Remedy-Specific Searches (If They Already Know the Name):

Focus: Looking for more information about Alumina itself.

4. Comparative Searches:

Focus: Trying to differentiate Alumina from other similar remedies.
Examples:
"Alumina vs Bryonia" (comparing it to another remedy for dryness and constipation)
"Alumina vs Nux Vomica" (comparing it to another remedy for constipation)
"remedies like Alumina"

5. Question-Based Searches:

Focus: Asking direct questions about Alumina or related symptoms.
Examples:
"What is Alumina used for in homeopathy?"
"How does Alumina work for constipation?"
"Is Alumina good for dry skin?"
"Who needs alumina homeopathic medicine"

6. Broad, General Searches:

Focus: Less specific, exploring homeopathy in a general way.
"Homeopthic medicine for constipation"
Examples:
"homeopathic remedies for digestive problems"
"homeopathy for weakness"
"natural remedies for neurological issues"
Key Search Patterns and Considerations:

Long-tail keywords: People often use very specific phrases (long-tail keywords) when searching for homeopathic solutions, reflecting the detailed nature of homeopathic case-taking.
Symptom-focused: The vast majority of searches will be driven by specific symptoms, rather than diagnoses.
"Homeopathy" or "Homeopathic": The inclusion of these terms is crucial for targeting the right audience.
Layman’s terms: People will use everyday language to describe their symptoms (e.g., "can’t poop," "brain fog"), not necessarily technical homeopathic terms.
"Remedy," "Medicine," "Treatment": These words are often used interchangeably in searches.