Ammonium muriaticum

Fat and puffy with thin limbs (Ant-c.). Irregular circulation; ebullitions, burnings or localized throbbings. Symptoms accompanied by cough or PROFUSE SECRETIONS. GLAIRY CATARRHS. Hæmorrhage. Tightness, as if too short; tendons, hamstrings, lumbar region, etc. Tired and sore. Festering pain. .................... Brain paralysis. A rough body obstructs upper nares. Acrid, watery coryza; closing one nostril. Anosmia. Slimy mouth and pharynx. Pulsation in tonsils. Tense, sprained feeling in groins; must walk bent. Scanty, hard, crumbling stools; changing color. Polyuria. Menses flow more at night. Albuminous leucorrhœa. Blood from anus or diarrhœa during menses. Prolapsus uteri. Cough, with salivation (Am-c.) or liver symptoms. Can't breathe for coughing. Noisy, rattling, tenacious mucus in chest. Bronchitis. Hoarseness, with burning in larynx. Pulsating, burning spots in chest. Swelled cervical glands. Sore sprain or cold between scapulæ. Lumbago. Bleeding eruptions. Desquamation between fingers. Contracting sciatica (l); < sitting > lying. Pain in or ulcer on heel. Chilly as often as he wakes. Senses of heat; > open air; alternating with chill.

Morning (head, chest). Afternoon (abdomen). Evening (skin, fever, limbs). Sprains (chronic). Periodically.

Open air. Rapid motion.

MUCOUS MEMBRANES: CHEST. Gall-ducts. Liver. Blood. Female organs. Tips of fingers and toes. Between scapulæ.

Related: Caus.

Ammonium muriaticum

Sal Ammoniac. NH4CI.

Especially adapted to those who are fat and sluggish ; or body large and fat, but legs too thin.

Watery, acrid coryza, corroding the lip (All. c.).

During menses : diarrhoea and vomiting; bloody discharge from the bowels (Phos. ) ; neuralgic pains in the feet; flow more profuse at night (Bov. — on lying down, Kreos.).

Obstinate constipation accompanied by much flatus.

Hard, crumbling stools require great effort in expulsion; crumble from the verge of anus (Mag. m.) ; vary in color, no two stools alike (Puls.).

Haemorrhoids : sore and smarting ; with burning and stinging in the rectum for hours after stool (^sc., Sulph.) ; especially after suppressed leucorrhoea.

Leucorrhoea; like white of egg, preceded by griping pain about the navel ; brown, slimy, painless, after every urination.

Sensation of coldness in the back, between scapulae (Lachn.).

Hamstrings feel painfully short when walking; tension in joints as from shortening of the muscles (Caust., Cimex).

Offensive sweat of the feet (Alum., Graph., Psor., Sanic., Sil.).

Relation. — Followed: by. Ant. c., Phos., Puls., Sanic.

Lecture LXIV — The Ammonium Preparations — Ammonium carb., Ammonium mur. and Ammonium phos.

Ammonium Muriaticum.

( Apis, Arnica, Natrum mur.

Ammonium mur. < Kali bichromicum.

( Sepia, Sulphur.

As I have already explained to you, Ammonium mur. is suited to sluggish persons, who are rather corpulent as to the body, but dispro" portionately thin as to the limbs. Like the carbonate^ it produces violent inflammation of the mucous membranes. It also disturbs the circulation of the blood. The face reddens during a short, animated conversation, especially so, as you might expect, in a warm room. There are ebullitions of blood, violent throbbing in all the arteries, accompanied by anxiety and weakness, as if paralyzed. The nervous system surfers, too, from the action of Ammonium mur. There is a certain periodicity of symptoms, as shown in the chills and fever. The paroxysms return every seven days. There are many other symptoms of the nervous system; especially do we find this characteristic: pain in the left hip, as if the tendons were too short; this makes the patient limp when walking. While sitting there is gnawing referred to the bones.

Sciatica is very readily cured by Ammonuim mur. when the symptoms call for it. The pains are worse while the patient is sitting, somewhat relieved while he is walking and entirely relieved when he lies down.

Ammonium mur. has also been used for the neuralgic pains which may occur in the stumps of amputated limbs. Compare Cepa Staphisagfia.

Ammonium mur. is also useful for tearing, stitching pains from ulceration in the heels, worse at night in bed and better from rubbing. Other remedies attacking the heels are, Pulsatilla (inflamed); Causticum, Manganum, (cannot bear the weight on them); Aiitimonium crudum, Ledum, Graphites, Ignatia, (they burn at night); Natrum card,, and Allium cepa. Sabina is particularly suitable in plethoric women who suffer from what they call rheumatic inflammation. Manganum is an excellent remedy in rheumatic patients when the heels are affected and the patient cannot bear any weight on the heels. In addition to this you will find that Manganum is indicated when the rheumatic symptoms come in dark, almost bluish, spots.

Antimonium crudum is useful in soreness of the heels, worse walking on a hard pavement.

Ledum palustre, Graphites and Natrum carb. cause blisters on the heels. Sepia, ulcers.

Allium cepa cures ulcers on the heel when developed by friction of the shoe or stocking.

Anunonium mur. has some influence on the joints. It causes a feeling of constriction in these parts. It is one of the remedies that have been used in the treatment of chronic sprains. It also affects the fibrous tissues about the joints. Thus, it is one of the remedies when there is contraction of the hamstring tendons. When the patient walks these seem to be drawn tight. This symptom is relieved on continued motion.

On the female organs, Ammonium mur. acts more powerfully than does Ammonium carb. It has a great many symptoms referred to the inguinal and hypogastric regions which would suggest the use of the drug in uterine and ovarian diseases. For instance, the patient complains of tensive pain in one or the other groin. Sometimes this symptom is described as a feeling as if she had sprained herself. There are stitches, cutting and soreness, or, what is more characteristic than all, a strained feeling in the groin, which forces the patient to walk bent. That is an indication which leads to Ammonium mur. in the treatment of deviations of the uterus, and also in ovarian diseases. You will find in almost all these cases the characteristic muriate stool, crumbling as it passes the anus. We have, too, a characteristic leucorrhcea attending the symptoms, a brown and lumpy or else clear and albuminous leucorrhoea, which follows every urination.

Ammonium mur., in that feeling as if sprained in the groin in women, finds its counterpart in several other remedies: in Arnica, which has that same strained feeling in the groin; in Apis, which has it all the way across the hypogastrium, with a sensation as if the skin were tight or stretched.

Next, we have to consider the action of Ammonium mur. on the mucous membranes. Beginning with the nose, we find that it causes coryza. The nose is "stopped-up" more at night than in the daytime. One nostril is usually stopped-up at a time; there is an excoriating, watery discharge from the nose, which makes the inside of the nostrils and upper lip sore. The throat is swollen so that the patient cannot open his mouth. The mouth and throat are filled with a viscid phlegm, which the patient expels with great difficulty. There is throbbing in the tonsils. This is characteristic of Ammonium mur. It is a symptom which may suggest it in tonsillitis or in scarlatina when the faucial symptoms are so severe as to produce almost complete strangling.

The chest symptoms are by no means unimportant in Ammonium mur. We find a cough which may accompany the foregoing symptoms or which may be separated from them. The cough is very violent, and seems to excite the salivary glands, for during it the mouth fills with saliva. Hoarseness, with burning and rawness in the larynx, necessarily belong to such an acrid remedy as Ammonium mur. Coldness between the shoulder-blades accompanies the chest affections, as in bronchitis and phthisis. The patient also complains of heaviness in the chest. This is also noticed in Ammonium carb. where it is associated with burning. Sometimes the patient will describe his sensation to you as a feeling as of a lump in the chest. Again, he will complain of certain spots in the chest which burn, throb and beat with the pulse.

Ammonium mur. may be used in chronic congestion of the liver. Depression of spirits accompanies the disease, and the stools are coated with mucus.

Melancholy, apprehensive; like from internal grief. Desire to cry, but cannot. Consequences of grief.

Sal Ammoniac A state of prostration bordering on a typhoid state is produced by this remedy. All mucous secretions are increased and retained. It is especially adapted to fat and sluggish patients who have respiratory troubles. Coughs associated with catarrhs and affections of liver. A tendency to irregular circulation, blood seems to be in constant turmoil, pulsations, etc. Many groups of symptoms are accompanied by cough, profuse glairy secretions. Its periods of aggravations are peculiarly divided as to the bodily region affected; thus the head and chest symptoms are worse mornings, the abdominal in the afternoon, the pains in the limbs, the skin and febrile symptoms, in the evenings. "Boiling" sensation.

Better, open air. Worse, head and chest symptoms in the morning; abdominal symptoms in the afternoon.

Hair falls out, with itchings and dandruff. Feels full, compressed; worse mornings.

Inflammatory face-ache. Mouth and lips sore and excoriated.

Mist before eyes, optical illusions in incipient cataract; capsular cataract.

Free acrid, hot watery discharge corroding the lip. Sneezing. Nose sore to touch; ulcerative pain in nostrils. Loss of smell. Obstructed, stuffy feeling; constant and unavailing efforts to blow it out. Itching.

Throbbing in, and swelling of tonsils, can scarcely swallow. Sore spot behind uvula, relieved by eating. Internal and external swelling of throat with viscid phlegm. So touch, it cannot be hawked up. Tonsillitis. Stricture of œsophagus.

Thirst for lemonade, regurgitation of food, bitter waterbrash. Nausea. Gnawing in stomach. Epigastric pain immediately after eating. Cancer of stomach.

Splenic stitches, especially in the morning, with difficult breathing. Pain around navel. Abdominal symptoms appear during pregnancy. Chronic congestion of liver. Excessive fatty deposit around abdomen. Much flatus. Strained feeling in groin.

Itching and hæmorrhoids, soreness with pustules. Hard, crumbly stool, or covered with glairy mucus. Stinging in perineum. Green mucus stools alternate with constipation. During and after stool, burning and smarting in rectum. Hæmorrhoids after suppressed leucorrhœa.

Menses too early, too free, dark, clotted; flow more at night. Pain as if sprained in left side of abdomen during pregnancy. Diarrhœa, greenish mucous stools, and navel pain during menses. Leucorrhœa, like white of an egg (Alum; Bor; Calc p); with pain about the navel; brown, slimy after every urination.

Hoarseness and burning in larynx. Dry, hacking, scraping cough; worse lying on back or right side. Stitches in chest. Cough loose in afternoon, with profuse expectoration and rattling of mucus. Oppression of chest. Burning at small spots in chest. Scanty secretion. Cough with profuse salivation.

Icy coldness between shoulders; not relieved by warm covering, followed by itching. Bruised pain in coccyx when sitting. Backache, as if in a vise when sitting.

Pain as from ulceration in finger tips. Shooting and tearing in tips of finger and toes. Ulcerative pain in heels. Contraction of hamstring tendons. Sciatica, worse sitting, better lying. Neuralgic pain in amputated limbs. Offensive sweaty feet. Pain in feet during menses.

Itching, generally evenings. Blisters on various parts. Intense burning

better cold applications.

Chilliness evenings after lying down and on awakening, without thirst. Heat in palms and soles. Sub acute, low fevers due to unhealthy climate. Lowest potencies.

Antidotes: Coffea; Nux; Caust. Compare: Calcarea; Senega; Caustic.

Third to sixth potency.

Ammonium Muriaticum

Generalities: The patient frequently feels a boiling throughout the body as if in the blood vessel.

Sensitive to cold. Many complaints increase while in the open air. Flushes of heat, ending in sweat. Tearing pains and smarting prevail extensively. Burning and excoriation of mucous membranes. Drawing or sensation of shortening of tendons. It is a long-acting remedy.

Mind: There are few reliable mental symptoms known. Anxiety, fretfulness and antipathy to certain persons. Neuralgic and, rheumatic pains in the head. Tearing pains in the head.

Head: Stitching and tearing in the temples. Itching of the scalp and other parts. Rash all over body like measles.

Eyes: It cures capsular cataract, when the symptoms agree. Yellow spots before the eyes. Burning of the lids and balls in twilight or dim light. Mist before the eyes in a bright light.

Ears: Burning of the ears when walking in cold air. Difficult hearing. Catarrh of right ear, throat and larynx.

Nose and coryza: Much sneezing, watery burning discharge, yet stoppage of nose. Coryza with burning in larynx. It has been used extensively in traditional medicine for coryza. Some sore throat and inflammation of the larynx.

For these troubles in olden times the large chunk of sal ammoniac was produced, a few crystals shaved off with a common jack knife into a glass of water. All got the same thing, regardless of symptoms.

Some were cured promptly of these bad colds, with or without fever. It is now an overlooked remedy. Its symptoms should be carefully studied.

Face: With many of its complaints there is much pallor of the face. Tearing in the bones of the face. Swelling of the submaxillary and parotid glands with stitching pains.

Mouth: Burning and excoriation of mouth and lips, like Am. c. Tongue swollen. It is a very useful remedy for nondescript sore throat; but especially useful where there is marked burning and much viscid mucus, pulsating in the neck and glands of neck, great swelling, pale face, stitching in the throat, great pain on swallowing, with or without thirst.

Stomach: Eructations of food as eaten, and vomiting. Sensation of hunger with fullness, which is a flatulent state. Empty feeling, gnawing in the stomach and spleen. Burning, stitching, tearing pains in the abdomen.

Abdomen: Distension from flatus. Much grumbling in the bowels. Much pain in inguinal region. Pain in abdomen and back during menses. The abdomen is fat, relaxed and heavy, and the lower limbs are lean.

Rectum and anus: Excoriation and burning of the rectum and anus during and long after stool. Stitching, tearing pains in the perineum. Hard, crumbling stool, most difficult to expel; must use the abdominal muscles.

All the salts of ammonia, like this one, have painful hemorrhoids. It cures diarrhea when the stools are like scrapings, bloody and watery; also green slimy stools in the morning. Diarrhea and vomiting during menses, like Am. c. It has cured enlarged prostate, also enlarged uterus.

Female: Menses too soon each month, with pain in back and abdomen. The flow is black and clotted, much like Am. c. During menses there is often haemorrhage from the bowels or rectum with cholera-like symptoms.

Copious uterine haemorrhage. Copious white painless leucorrhoea. With all the abdominal and menstrual symptoms there is copious flatus, with rumbling and colic.

These symptoms especially in pale, sickly, feeble women.

Chest and lungs: In catarrhal troubles that extend into the larynx and bronchial tubes, with stitching, tearing, burning.

Hoarseness and loss of voice, with burning in the larynx. Constantly scraping white mucus from the larynx. Difficult breathing when using the arms or from manual labor. Weight on the chest in open or cold air. Dry cough from constant tickling in the larynx. Daily recurring suffocating cough. In weakly people going toward phthisis, with daily dry cough and fast pulse.

Back and limbs: Violent backache at waist line, worse at night. Coldness between the shoulders. Stitching, drawing, tearing in limbs. Drawing in the limbs. Tension in the muscles and tendons of the lower limbs.

Tension in posterior part of thighs when walking. Cold feet at night in bed. Copious night sweats latter part of night. Flushes of heat and fever. If the reader will take up the provings and study them carefully he should be able to use this remedy in the direction pointed out, and most likely would see uses not mentioned.