ANTIMONIUM CRUDUM - Native sulphide of Antimony SbS2 -

-GEORGE VITHOULKAS
The essential features
Antimonium crudum is a seldom-prescribed remedy which should be used more frequently in practice. The following is a description of the constitutional Antimonium crudum patient, the type of person who will in the course of his lifetime develop the symptomatology of this remedy.
Antimonium crudum preferentially affects the emotional level. These patients display an unbalanced emotional state, the emotions vacillating between an extreme sentimentality, which is expressed, and a very closed, withdrawn state of moodiness and sulkiness. Antimonium crudum is one of the most emotional, most sentimental remedies of the materia medica, their behavior possessing a mellow or, at times, melodramatic quality. This remedy has spells of sighing and can be confused with Ignatia when this condition is present.
The sentiments can be overwhelming in Antimonium crudum. With but slight provocation, these persons swell with emotions, and physical swellings erupt in an analogous manner. A characteristic of this remedy is the ready production of physical indurations; ie, the development of lumps, callouses, warts. The extent of these patients' emotionality is excessive, their sentimentality pathological. It is also a sentimentality that lies hidden within these individuals. Everything seems to make a deep impression on them. They will observe outside events in a silent manner; however, these events make a tremendous impression upon them.
These individuals are not extroverts. Argentum nitricum, by way of comparison, is also sentimental, but in an impulsive, very expressive manner, and quite extroverted. Antimonium crudum's sentimentality is internal and is expressed only in specific circumstances, and it reflects a painful sensitivity to the outside world.
These are refined, oversensitive individuals with great weaknesses in the emotional sphere. They possess a vacillating temperament - a lack of steadiness of the emotional body, which can be contrasted with a steady, constant suffering of the physical body, focused in the stomach area.
Were one to consider the solar plexus as the seat of the emotions, then one would not be surprised to observe that the Antimonium crudum patient always suffers from affections of this area. With every upsetting emotion, with every stress, in every complaint that concerns his health, this area is affected. Cramps and cramp-like pains are often the first signs. The solar plexus seems to be oversensitive and the first area to receive the impact of any stress. In the first stages the patient will complain of a stomach neurosis; later however, he will develop more advanced pathology - dyspepsia, gastritis, or duodenal ulcers. Kent says, "It does not matter much what kind of complaints he suffers from, the stomach takes part in it."
The sentimentality of Antimonium crudum is expressed in two different ways. On the one hand, in situations where the individual feels free to express his emotions, he exhibits an inordinate level of melodramatic sentimentality that is intensely romantic, quite out of place, and bears little relation to reality. On the other hand, after such "romantic" experiences, he is prone to undergo painful emotions. The important concept to remember in Antimonium crudum is that circumstances which evoke reactive and sensitive emotions - situations which "touch" the emotions - often prove painful.
The emotions are so easily and excessively stimulated that Antimonium crudum patients cannot control them. The emotions are neither violent nor brutal, but rather refined and of a romantic, mellow flavor. It is difficult to describe this kind of sentimentality which, in constitutional Antimonium crudum patients, will be very similar to what we often see in persons who have drunk a little too much wine: they become a little drunk and start talking very emotionally about themselves and their feelings, revealing a soft, sentimental nature that looks a bit ridiculous to the sober, but always induces sympathy in their listeners. It is a state in which they lower their guard and allow their innermost feelings expression in an utterly sentimental and often ridiculous way; such as, talking in rhymes or reciting poetry. To be sure, later they will regret their folly, and here we see the second phase of the emotionality of Antimonium crudum - upon experiencing painful emotions they become sulky and withdrawn.
There is a kind of emotional immaturity in Antimonium crudum. This immaturity will be frequently seen in children. In this respect Antimonium crudum looks like Baryta carbonica, and sometimes complements its action. The remedy is also often indicated in the elderly, like Baryta carbonica. In my experience, though, Antimonium crudum is more often indicated for children than adults. When you see an immature child with redness and inflammation of the eyelids, cracks in the corners of the mouth, and a pustular eruption on the cheeks or chin, then you have a case of Antimonium crudum.
The Antimonium crudum sentimentality can be precipitated by other stimuli, particularly fever and the menses. Fever of any type can evoke tremendous sentimentality in children or adults. In women, sentimentality is greatly accentuated before or during the menses. In such cases, their sentiments obfuscate their perception of reality; they easily fall in love and unrealistically fantasize love affairs. Not surprisingly, during this unguarded period of emotionality, these women are hurt very easily, shifting then to the other extreme. They close up and do not want to speak to anybody, not even their closest friends. In this latter state they become easily depressed, ruminating upon the things that have happened to them, unable to get over them. They become peevish, morose, dissatisfied, and irritable, but never aggressive. They are passive people. They want to disappear from the face of the earth; so they withdraw and brood and sulk.
This is the most moody, the most sulky remedy of our materia medica. It is "overtly" sulky, one can say. Their sulkiness shows; they cannot hide it. It is immediately noticeable. When moody, when hurt, everyone around knows they are in a mood. The feeling that others get from them is: "Do not touch me! Do not come near me! I do not want any interference." They do not want any contact. They wear a long face. They want no one to approach them when in such a state, much less touch them. The mere look of another person irritates them. The spouses of Antimonium crudum patients will say that if these patients are hurt, they become moody and sulky and stay like that for days at a time.
When in such a sullen state, the Antimonium crudum individual finds physical or emotional touch painful. He is a miserable, "touchy" person, one who finds it very difficult to live in this "brutal" world, or so he thinks. No doubt those around him will think differently - that they cannot live with him.
Referring to the Repertory, Antimonium crudum is one of the four bold remedies appearing in the rubric "aversion to being touched." Each of these remedies possesses this symptom for different reasons and under different cicumstances. In Antimonium crudum, framed within the sentimentality and emotionality of the remedy, the aversion to being touched is seen as a function of the psychological state primarily. Antimonium crudum children can reach a point at which even the look of another person becomes as unbearable as being touched physically; therefore, they do not want to be looked at or touched.
Sometimes such a state as that described above will arise for no apparent reason, especially in children. At times, the condition can border on hysteria. One might think that such states belong more to women, but Antimonium crudum is indicated mostly in men.
It is exasperating to witness a previously pleasant boy go into an Antimonium crudum acute state during a fever or a common cold. He is worse than a Chamomilla child, and, of course, much worse than Calcarea phosphorica. The child cries and screams; he is peevish and impossible. The mother will say his behavior is driving her to despair. He does not want to sit or lie down, to play or talk, or anything. The whole day, without pause, the child cries and screams and scolds and strikes out if he is addressed, talked to or touched. He hardly goes to sleep before he is awake, and once again weeping and moaning. Anything that catches his attention does so only for a few seconds, and then this inner state of torment returns, and he resumes crying and shouting. If the child has a high fever, it may evolve into anything, any illness. If you suspect the remedy, you should make a point of asking what the child likes to eat, or, if you are lucky, the mother will give you the information that the child keeps asking for cucumber. This, then, is a case of Antimonium crudum. It matters not whether this initial fever will develop into mumps, scarlatina, chicken pox, pneumonia, or anything else. You need not hesitate. However, if you lack the information about the desire for cucumber, the child will probably be given Chamomilla, Calcarea phosphorica orCina, etc., but with no effect, of course.
The child is not aggressive; it does not attack others or hit like the Cina child, or even worse, the Curare child, who has the impulse to hit like Stramonium and Tuberculinum children.
There are Antimonium crudum children, however, who do not behave so extremely as described above, especially if they are not constitutional patients, but only need this remedy during an acute. In these cases you will not see such a dramatic change in their character, but only withdrawal, a sulkiness or moodiness, and the same underlying sensitivity, though much reduced and less expressed.
Continuing with our description of the younger constitutional Antimonium crudum patient, we note the following picture: when a young boy, the Antimonium crudum child's romantic feelings come alive in his imagination. He falls in love much like the Natrum muriaticum boy; he experiences strong emotions, imagining many romantic scenes, making up stories, and living these fantasies intensely. He does not dare tell his sweetheart about his love for her, but at night in bed he melts away from love and romantic emotions. Natrum muriaticum, Staphysagria, and Antimonium crudum are somewhat similar in this respect.
Our understanding of this emotional state is further expanded and qualified by additional information provided in our texts: "goes into ecstasy while walking in the moonlight," "weeps when he hears the sound of bells," "is affected by the stained windows of the church." Though you will very seldom hear your patients say that they "go into ecstasy in the moonlight," you will, if you ask, definitely hear that such circumstances affect them. It is a fact that most Antimonium crudum cases will confess that they are especially influenced by the moonlight, especially that of the full moon. It evokes certain strong emotions of which the patient is aware.
As our young boy grows up, he eventually experiences his first love encounter, and, as reality usually differs from the imagination, he is very vulnerable to being deeply hurt. Antimonium crudum is one of our main remedies for love disappointment. He is almost certain to be disappointed and hurt in love; furthermore, he is equally certain to come down with stomach cramps or headaches as a result.
In my experience, Antimonium crudum suffers from the consequences of grief far more often than is indicated in the Repertory. It should be upgraded in the rubric, "ailments from disappointed love." In Antimonium crudum, the consequences of grief usually occur in the stomach, as in Natrum carbonicum.
After experiencing such a grief, our young man goes to the opposite extreme - he becomes closed and sulky; he refuses to communicate, to talk with others. His emotions remain however, not deadened but strong. The difference now is that his emotions are of a negative quality.
Ultimately his emotional balance becomes unstable: he swings from the one extreme of sentimentality, expressed in somewhat of an artistic or poetic manner, to the other extreme of withdrawal, depression and sulkiness.
The Antimonium crudum person usually feels that he has been badly treated by others and that he deserves better, but such sentiments are passively felt and not talked about. He will not complain; he is reluctant to discuss a disturbing situation, to offer his point of view. He feels that he will not be understood and, consequently, that discussion is a waste of time.
When the Antimonium crudum individual attempts to initiate amorous contact with another person, his overtures are always so sentimentally couched and intense that the other recoils from them, often reacting as if something were wrong with her suitor. Antimonium crudum perceives this repellence and is deeply hurt.
If he goes out into a moonlit night with his girlfriend, the moonlight has a tremendous effect upon his emotions. He feels inspired by the moonlight; his emotions are brought to such a height that he can hardly control them. He will then express himself in a poetic or artistic way. This inclination is so strong that he will do it inspite of his suspicions that his behavior is not going to be understood by his girlfriend and that he may be ridiculed. At this point others will think of him as being a bit "crazy." Do not anticipate that the Antimonium crudum patient will tell you during the consultation that he becomes sentimental in the moonlight, as if it were a symptom, for he thinks that this behavior is natural.
After such an incident, he will go home and not stop thinking about it; recurring thoughts of the incident keep him awake at night. He becomes depressed, miserable, and he does not want to live in this world any more. At this point he will be bothered by stomach cramps or pains. His hemorrhoids or headaches may also flare up, and all this physical suffering adds to his misery. He thinks he is not fit to live in today's world, that he should have lived a century ago when people were more romantic and sentimental. He wonders what is going to happen to him, where he will end up. He becomes anxious about his future.
After many such events as the above he comes to loathe life, and the actual desire to die surfaces. As he goes to bed, his mind becomes constantly fixated upon the idea of shooting himself. Sometimes these thoughts are so tormenting, so persistent that he has to get out of bed and walk up and down the room in order to get rid of them. Sometimes he will get up and walk while still asleep.
This pacing at night should not lead one to mistake Antimonium crudum for a restless remedy. It is a remedy that can easily become prostrated; it can be weak, but not restless. Such weakness is similar to that of Stannum, not Arsenicum album. Arsenicum is very restless while Antimonium crudum is not.
Remember that once this intensely sentimental individual is overwhelmed by his feelings, he cannot control them; the emotions are too powerful. Great excitement arises during the night while lying in bed. He may be lying in bed with a high fever when he is overtaken with an irresistible desire to talk in rhymes, which makes him look ridiculous to bystanders.
Considering the strong connection between sexuality and the emotional sphere, it should not be surprising that the sexual sphere in Antimonium crudum is quite strong. Antimonium crudum's sexuality can reach nymphomaniacal proportions in women. They get so involved emotionally, so out of control of their emotions, that they may act foolishly.
In the Antimonium crudum male the primary state of sentimentality and romanticism is associated with increased sexuality. He has a strong desire and need for sex. He is easily excited, with easy erections, and although he is a highly-sexed individual, he will never be aggressive.
However, when he enters the state of sulkiness, depression and withdrawal, his sexual power recedes and the strength of his erections is diminished, even to the point of impotence. His genitalia may even seem to dwindle and become shrivelled; both the testicles and the penis seem to be atrophied. He loses his virility and feels as if he has aged suddenly. In this state excessive irritability may surface, and it is then that you may see some signs of aggressiveness. Actually, Antimonium crudum can be indicated in old people, people who feel this way not only because of their age, but also because of their pathology.
So, in Antimonium crudum we see an individual who is quite unbalanced and who vacillates between one emotional extreme and the other, whose solar plexus, stomach or entire digestive tract is affected by his frequent emotional upheavals.
As mentioned, the first organ affected will be the stomach. Remedies that may complain of stomach problems after grief in descending order of frequency are: Antimonium crudum, Natrum carbonicum, Nux vomica, Ignatia, Colocynthis, Staphysagria, Robinia, etc. The differential diagnosis of each of these remedies must be based upon an intimate knowledge of materia medica. For instance, when we see a patient suffering from a duodenal ulcer, our mind goes immediately to Nux vomica because we know that of all our remedies, Nux vomica has the stongest tendency to disorder the duodenum. Or when you see constant and intolerable heartburn, your mind goes to Robinia. Similarly, the personality of your patient suggests one or another remedy. If you know the materia medica, you cannot give Nux vomica to an Antimonium crudum patient. Nux vomica is irritable; his irritation, even if latent, is perceptible. Antimonium crudum creates altogether another picture: the person is sweet, sentimental, and careful not to be hurt or to hurt others; such a personality coupled with a stomach affection arising as a consequence of a severed love affair or grief should bring this remedy to mind.
There is also another advanced pathological state of Antimonium crudum which affects the nervous system; in this instance we see spasmodic contractions in the extremities and face. The facial contractions affect the mouth primarily and are associated with respiratory problems, which can progress to suffocation and subsequent convulsions. Chorea may be seen, also jerking all over and moaning during sleep.
Mental retardation may be met with Antimonium crudum. Imbecility is a more frequent eventuality than insanity; idiocy. This remedy may benefit retardation in children in whom the fontanelles remain open for a very long time.
In this remedy we may observe a state similar to that of Pulsatilla in its progressed mental state - total passivity, without any reaction or response to any stimulus. Antimonium crudum can appear close to such a state, though without such extreme passivity.
In Antimonium crudum, the patient will not leave her bed, will not speak unless asked, and demands neither food nor drink; however, she will gladly eat if hungry and food is offered. She may be seen to repeatedly pull at a napkin tucked into her shirt at the collar, or fold and unfold a cloth over and over. Neurological sensation may be so impaired that she may develop bedsores at several locations, due to contact with fecal matter, without seeming to feel them and without complaint.