CALCAREA SULPHURICA - Calcium Sulphate, CaSO4., Gypsum. Plaster of Paris.,The essential features
- GEORGE VITHOULKAS
The general idea that runs through this remedy is of an organism which tends to produce tumours and abscesses that not only do not heal easily, but that suppurate profusely and for long periods of time. The characteristic trait of the remedy is not its tendency to the formation of abscesses themselves, rather the fact that an abscess opened is very slow to heal and has a continuous discharge of yellow pus. In cases of inflammation, this organism quickly reaches a state of suppuration, which tends to continue. The presence of pus with a vent is common.
I have found this remedy effective in cases of malignant acne in young people and also in hidradenitis suppurativa with cicatrices forming during the healing process. I must however point out here that some severe cases of this type of chronic condition will need more than one remedy to complete the cure. In cases of acne both cheeks present a crusty, ugly, uneven surface of dried pus mixed with blood and serum. The suppuration is so profuse that the patient cannot clear it up fast enough, and it forms again immediately after cleaning.
Calcarea sulphurica can be useful in malignant growths after ulceration has set in, where a lot of pus forms. As Kent says, 'if given early enough it will prevent a malignant growth terminating in its usual way,' and in later stages it may be 'an excellent palliative.'
Abscesses of the teeth and gums (granuloma apicale, gumboils) with discharges of pus are easily managed with this remedy, even if very obstinate. Sometimes we have effected deep cures by prescribing on a superficial level like this on the teeth; the Calcarea sulphurica patient generally has a strong tendency to recurrent tooth and gum abscesses.
If you take a long-term view of a case where a patient is suffering with an internal disease, and you find recurrent abscesses or severe acne or even hidradenitis suppressed by antibiotics in the patient's history, then there is a definite possibility that this is a case of Calcarea sulphurica.
Fistulae are also a pathological condition that is often found in this remedy, especially perianal fistulae with painful abscesses. This has been repeatedly confirmed in recent times, by Wolfgang Springer who cured a case of multiple perianal fistulae formation of several years' standing with Calcarea sulphurica, and Vogt (Allgemeine Homöopathische Zeitung, 1963) who reports several cases of suppurating fistulae due to injection or drainage wounds that promptly gave way to this remedy.
The remedy may help in cases of glomerulonephritis, where there are tube casts and albumen in the urine, where the heart is involved and when this is a complication after an epidemic disease in children (e.g. scarlatina). It is also useful in advanced cases of diabetes where there is ulceration on the skin without the ability to heal itself.
There are many other pathological conditions that respond to Calcarea sulphurica, mostly linked to the general idea of suppuration. Suppuration in any organ or part of the body points to this remedy: from the ear, e.g. in otitis media, purulent nasal catarrh, tuberculosis of the lung with a lot of slimy and purulent expectoration, abscess of tonsils, suppurating glands, purulent exudation in serous sacs, deep suppurating ulcers on cornea, etc. Recurrent abscesses, of the skin or elsewhere, are a strong feature of the remedy. It is also indicated in burns or scalds or chilblains, if and when suppuration sets in.
In short, 'all ailments in which the process of suppuration continues too long and the suppuration affects the epithelial tissues' (Boericke and Dewey) should make you consider Calcarea sulphurica. Generally, the pus discharged tends to be yellow or else bloody and often thick and lumpy. The same qualities usually apply to all the discharges from mucous membranes, as in cough, gonorrhoea, leucorrhoea, coryza, and so on; they are often also purulent or pus-like. Glands and lymph nodes are inclined to swell and ulcerate.
Upon the skin we see pathologies such as: milk crust or 'scald-head' of children; crusty eczemata, often connected with glandular swellings; skin infections with yellowish, greenish, or brownish scabs; thick, yellow, purulent exudation; lupus vulgaris and lupus erythematoides; acne vulgaris; pemphigus foliaceus. In addition, there is an inclination to form fibrous polypi of mucous membranes and various kinds of tumours: cystic tumours; fibromata and fibroids; also malignant tumours like scirrhus.
The connective tissues are also included in the sphere of action of Calcarea sulphurica. They are weak, and due to this weakness they tend to easy inflammation and suppuration.
Moreover, the musculo-skeletal system is often affected. Calcarea sulphurica may be useful in complaints from straining muscles and tendons, from over-lifting, etc., when the pain stays for a long time and apparently indicated remedies fail to act. The remedy is also useful in bone infections, including caries of bone. Epilepsy, epileptiform and hysteric convulsions with twitching of muscles all over the body come under the action of Calcarea sulphurica as well.
The general idea that runs through this remedy is of an organism which tends to produce tumours and abscesses that not only do not heal easily, but that suppurate profusely and for long periods of time. The characteristic trait of the remedy is not its tendency to the formation of abscesses themselves, rather the fact that an abscess opened is very slow to heal and has a continuous discharge of yellow pus. In cases of inflammation, this organism quickly reaches a state of suppuration, which tends to continue. The presence of pus with a vent is common.
I have found this remedy effective in cases of malignant acne in young people and also in hidradenitis suppurativa with cicatrices forming during the healing process. I must however point out here that some severe cases of this type of chronic condition will need more than one remedy to complete the cure. In cases of acne both cheeks present a crusty, ugly, uneven surface of dried pus mixed with blood and serum. The suppuration is so profuse that the patient cannot clear it up fast enough, and it forms again immediately after cleaning.
Calcarea sulphurica can be useful in malignant growths after ulceration has set in, where a lot of pus forms. As Kent says, 'if given early enough it will prevent a malignant growth terminating in its usual way,' and in later stages it may be 'an excellent palliative.'
Abscesses of the teeth and gums (granuloma apicale, gumboils) with discharges of pus are easily managed with this remedy, even if very obstinate. Sometimes we have effected deep cures by prescribing on a superficial level like this on the teeth; the Calcarea sulphurica patient generally has a strong tendency to recurrent tooth and gum abscesses.
If you take a long-term view of a case where a patient is suffering with an internal disease, and you find recurrent abscesses or severe acne or even hidradenitis suppressed by antibiotics in the patient's history, then there is a definite possibility that this is a case of Calcarea sulphurica.
Fistulae are also a pathological condition that is often found in this remedy, especially perianal fistulae with painful abscesses. This has been repeatedly confirmed in recent times, by Wolfgang Springer who cured a case of multiple perianal fistulae formation of several years' standing with Calcarea sulphurica, and Vogt (Allgemeine Homöopathische Zeitung, 1963) who reports several cases of suppurating fistulae due to injection or drainage wounds that promptly gave way to this remedy.
The remedy may help in cases of glomerulonephritis, where there are tube casts and albumen in the urine, where the heart is involved and when this is a complication after an epidemic disease in children (e.g. scarlatina). It is also useful in advanced cases of diabetes where there is ulceration on the skin without the ability to heal itself.
There are many other pathological conditions that respond to Calcarea sulphurica, mostly linked to the general idea of suppuration. Suppuration in any organ or part of the body points to this remedy: from the ear, e.g. in otitis media, purulent nasal catarrh, tuberculosis of the lung with a lot of slimy and purulent expectoration, abscess of tonsils, suppurating glands, purulent exudation in serous sacs, deep suppurating ulcers on cornea, etc. Recurrent abscesses, of the skin or elsewhere, are a strong feature of the remedy. It is also indicated in burns or scalds or chilblains, if and when suppuration sets in.
In short, 'all ailments in which the process of suppuration continues too long and the suppuration affects the epithelial tissues' (Boericke and Dewey) should make you consider Calcarea sulphurica. Generally, the pus discharged tends to be yellow or else bloody and often thick and lumpy. The same qualities usually apply to all the discharges from mucous membranes, as in cough, gonorrhoea, leucorrhoea, coryza, and so on; they are often also purulent or pus-like. Glands and lymph nodes are inclined to swell and ulcerate.
Upon the skin we see pathologies such as: milk crust or 'scald-head' of children; crusty eczemata, often connected with glandular swellings; skin infections with yellowish, greenish, or brownish scabs; thick, yellow, purulent exudation; lupus vulgaris and lupus erythematoides; acne vulgaris; pemphigus foliaceus. In addition, there is an inclination to form fibrous polypi of mucous membranes and various kinds of tumours: cystic tumours; fibromata and fibroids; also malignant tumours like scirrhus.
The connective tissues are also included in the sphere of action of Calcarea sulphurica. They are weak, and due to this weakness they tend to easy inflammation and suppuration.
Moreover, the musculo-skeletal system is often affected. Calcarea sulphurica may be useful in complaints from straining muscles and tendons, from over-lifting, etc., when the pain stays for a long time and apparently indicated remedies fail to act. The remedy is also useful in bone infections, including caries of bone. Epilepsy, epileptiform and hysteric convulsions with twitching of muscles all over the body come under the action of Calcarea sulphurica as well.
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