Phosphorus is an important component of animal and plant
life also used in traditional remedies to treat various diseases. The powder form
is used to prepare the homoeopathic remedy. Phosphorus is a profoundly active and powerful remedy. It
is deeply related to the functioning of inner linings i.e. the mucous
membranes, nerve fibres, glands and the brain. It also affects bones and bone marrow.
It is one of the best remedies for the control of red bleed (arterial). It has no effect on
dark coloured bleeding (venous bleeding). Therefore, it should be considered as
a treatment of arterial bleed only. Phosphorus is used for the treatment of tuberculosis and brain tumours.
However, one has to be very careful in choosing its potency. One should always
start the treatment with Phosphorus 30 and then if necessary, the potency may be
gradually increased. It is a top class remedy for treating bone cancer. It is also
very useful in the treatment of asthma. If asthma does not respond to the
commonly used remedies and the symptoms of Phosphorus are present, then by the
grace of God, the patient will respond well to Phosphorus. Generally, the external symptoms of
Phosphorus patients have been stressed so much in homoeopathic literatures that
homoeopathic doctors have started to pay extraordinary importance to these symptoms.
Yet, if the internal symptoms are present, then, whether the external symptoms
are present or not, the remedy works very well.
It is said that a Phosphorus patient is skinny and tall. He
has conical fingers and possesses an artistic mind. The patient is of
extremely fair complexion, has blond hair and light coloured eyes. He
happens to be
tender and sensitive. Obviously, it is very difficult to
find a person with all these features and characteristics. Furthermore, in
some countries, one will rarely encounter such a person. Even if
such a person is found, he may not necessarily be of the
Phosphorus constitution. A Phosphorus patient should not be identified based on
his physical appearance rather; the identification should be based on the
constitution of the patient. One must definitely keep in mind the sensitive
nature of the patient. Phosphorus can be recognised on the basis of the
behaviour of certain diseases. For example, in certain diseases of women, the
hands and feet become cold. The patient loses the courage to fight the disease
and the body temperature falls subnormal.
All these are the symptoms of Phosphorus. It does not matter if the
patient is black or white. Sometimes, the patient’s hands and feet become cold in the diseases of
the bones, chest and kidneys. Since
these are the symptoms of Silicea also, therefore treatment by alternating
Phosphorus with Silicea benefits the patient more. One of the symptoms of Phosphorus is the red bleed whereas
in Sulphur, the bleeding is dark. In women, during their
period, bleeding of a bright red colour before the actual period is due is a specific
symptom of Phosphorus. The discharge of Phosphorus is
usually acidic. The leucorrhoeal
discharge is also excoriating. The diarrhoeal
stools are acidic to the extent that they cause blisters on the
skin.
Phosphorus also resembles Natrum Mur and Bryonia. In
Bryonia, crusts form on the
lips, which fissure at their edges due to severe dryness. Phosphorus
also exhibits these symptoms. Some symptoms of Platinum may also be present
i.e. the patient becomes aloof and thinks himself superior to others. The
Phosphorus patient may remain aloof simply being honest and straightforward.
However, the patient is not arrogant, like Platinum. The Platinum patient thinks
of himself as special and despises others. The Phosphorus patient is very kind
and polite to others. His gentle nature makes him extraordinarily sensitive,
which may sometimes cause certain diseases. Sometimes, when alone fear of death
overcomes him or he may become mentally agitated. He feels as if something is
creeping inside his body. Many of the Phosphorus ailments ameliorate with heat, while
the stomach and the head feel better in the cold. Because the
pressure inside the head is already high, application of heat will
make the headache worse. The main difference in the headache of Phosphorus and that of Belladonna is that the Belladonna patient feels
comfort on lying down, whereas the headache of Phosphorus aggravates by
lying down. Therefore, the Phosphorus patient keeps his head
elevated while lying down. In Belladonna, the headache is
associated with cramps, whereas in Phosphorus the headache is without cramps.
Cold things improve the stomach complaints, while hot things cause vomiting. In
a child the ingested milk, warms up in the stomach after a little while and
causes vomiting. This symptom is similar to Aethusa.
Phosphorus is closely related to the nerve fibres. It also
affects the visual mechanism of the eye. The patient sees many colours. The patient
sees a green halo around the light and also notices red and black spots. When
someone becomes suddenly
blinded due to unexpected shocking news, he should be treated with
Phosphorus. Phosphorus is also an
effective treatment for baldness
and dandruff. These
conditions are usually treated with Acid Phos. However, if the nerves become
highly sensitive then Phosphorus is better. Phosphorus strengthens the hair and
prevents hair loss. Thin blond hair considered to be the symptom of Phosphorus,
are in fact due to the weak hair roots. It is the weakness of the hair
follicles that make the hair soft and silky. Such kind of hair is a symptom
related to Phosphorus. Skin problems
arise due to lack of pigmentation. Albino
children, i.e., the children with clear white skin as found in some
forms of leprosy, are an example of Phosphorus. Thus, Phosphorus can be used in
the treatment of albino children. Phosphorus is connected with the diseases in
which the skin looks raw and the hair is unhealthy, regardless of the skin
colour of the patient. Some of the symptoms are also found in Natrum Mur. For
example in Natrum Mur, the hair becomes lifeless and split at the end. However,
the skin neither becomes raw nor loses its normal lustre.
In Phosphorus, the vision
becomes foggy. Besides Phosphorus, a green halo around the
candlelight is found in Opium also. Opium can also afflict and paralyse the
optic nerve. Phosphorus is useful in the treatment of many eye diseases. The Retina
of the eye contains cones and rods. The cones are triangular in shape and are
responsible for colour vision. They split the light into various colours. The rods
help differentiate between white and black colours. If the retina becomes damaged
or the optic nerve transmitting the message becomes weak, then the eyes cannot
register various colours i.e. the person becomes colour-blind.
Gradually
progressive blindness leading ultimately to complete blindness is a
symptom of Phosphorus. This symptom is also found in Causticum. Many other
symptoms of Causticum and Phosphorus also resemble each other.
The Phosphorus patient feels very thirsty. He feels
comforted by drinking cold water. However, when the water becomes warm in the stomach,
it induces vomiting. Severe
uncontrollable nausea developing after surgery can be effectively
treated with Phosphorus. Yellow spots
develop on the abdomen, chest and parts of the neck, apparently due to a
pigmentation disorder. This is in fact due to the weakness of the suprarenal
glands. Phosphorus is extraordinarily effective against the kidney diseases. Phosphorus is widely effective against the diseases of the mouth. When the gums become diseased and there is
light red offensive bleeding from them, then Phosphorus is the most effective
remedy in this condition. Phosphorus is the foremost remedy to stop bleeding.
If, after childbirth, bleeding continues for a long time and smells
putrid, Phosphorus often works. Infections and tumours of the uterus can also
cause bleeding. Sometimes, the bleeding is without any bad odour, at least in
the beginning of the bleed. Phosphorus is useful for this condition aswell. The
Hoarseness of the voice is
also a symptom of Phosphorus. Besides Phosphorus, Carbo Veg, Causticum, Borax
and Coca are also well-known remedies for a hoarse voice. In Carbo Veg, like
Phosphorus, the patient loses his voice in the evening, but the condition
improves in the morning. In Causticum however the throat is hoarse in the
morning and becomes better in the evening. In Phosphorus, irritation of the
throat causes coughing.
The cough starts either on laughing or on talking loudly, causing inflammation
of the throat. Sometimes the cough starts due to itching of the throat. The
phlegm dries up and sticks in the throat causing discomfort and more itching.
For this problem, Rhus Tox and Hepar Sulph, depending upon the symptoms of the
disease, can be useful remedies. The uneasiness and restlessness of Phosphorus
is due to the increased nerve sensitivity. This symptom is found in almost all
the diseases of Phosphorus. The symptoms become worse in the presence of
strangers. The mind needs rest and cannot handle extra burden. Thus, the nerves
become extraordinarily sensitive. Weakness is a common symptom of Phosphorus. Phosphorus
acts the joints of the hands, arms, elbows
and the feet, becoming suddenly
infirm, Phosphorus can be useful. Sometimes, the patient may be restless during sleep. The sleep is shallow.
He frequently wakes up without any particular reason. This is due to mental anguish.
Here, Phosphorus happens to act very fast.
Thunderous clouds make the symptoms of Phosphorus worse.
Sometimes, the symptoms of the disease begin to appear
before the weather changes. Phosphorus patients can perceive such changes in weather,
which cannot be detected with the most sensitive scientific instruments. Their
suffering begins before the actual change in the weather takes place. One symptom of Phosphorus is that climbing up the stairs
makes the patient feel worse. However, this symptom per se is not related to
any particular remedy.
Besides Natrum Mur and Nux Vomica, Potassium Permanganate
is also an antidote of Phosphorus. Potassium Permanganate is very good in the treatment of extraordinary
hypersensitivity. It is often used to prevent the numbness of
extremities.
Severe
nasal catarrh, which can only be treated with Phosphorus, but if not
treated on time will become chronic. The mucous membranes of the nose become
weak. Still, the treatment would be Phosphorus. The ill effects of Potassium Permanganate and Phosphorus on the throat
and mucous membrane, i.e. the inner linings, are the same, however, the two are
not identical with respect to their symptoms related to nervous system.
Therefore, Potassium Permanganate cannot be used as an antidote of Phosphorus
in all situationsPhosphorus is an excellent treatment of fatty degeneration
of the liver and other parts of the body. Failures of the liver and
kidney, as well as fatty degeneration of the heart muscles, are the
characteristic symptoms of Phosphorus. Phosphorus also protects from the
ill effects of drinking. Phosphorus is very sensitive with
respect to its action on the nerves. The liver is the smallest but most
active yet silent chemical-manufacturing factory in the world. Almost
five thousand chemicals are directly manufactured by the liver,
while the rest are synthesised by various organs through the mediation
of chemicals released by the liver. Cholesterol is also
produced by the liver. The liver converts the normal fat into cholesterol. In
some people, there is a familial tendency of overproduction of low-density of
lipo-proteins LDL by their liver. Cutting down the fat in their diet will not
help in lowering their blood cholesterol level. It is this type of cholesterol
i.e. LDL which causes occlusion of the coronary arteries and predisposes to
heart attack. Phosphorus normalises the function of the liver concerning the
production of LDL and thus lowers the level of cholesterol in the blood.
Phosphorus is very effective in resolving nasal polyps,
relieving blockage of the nose. The polyps and adenoid glands block the nose, forcing
the child to breath through the mouth. The sense of smell becomes affected. The
nose may bleed also. In the presence of such tendencies, Phosphorus could be
useful in the treatment of
swollen uterine glands in women.
In Phosphorus, the stomach problems and headache get better
in cold weather. If the bleeding
starts due to high blood pressure, Phosphorus helps to stop the bleeding. Once, a friend of
mine developed a severe nosebleed in the middle of the night. I went to see him
and found a pool of blood on the floor, as if a goat had been slaughtered. He
was also bleeding into the mouth. I administered Phosphorus and Millefolium
together, into his mouth, which was full of blood. Within fifteen minutes, the
bleeding stopped and he went to sleep comfortably. Phosphorus is very effective
in controlling unusual wound bleeds. The patient finds relief with cold and the
bleeding stops by application of cold water. During a headache due to severe hypertension,
there is a serious danger of
cerebral haemorrhage. In
this condition, cooling the head helps. However, it is absolutely essential to
continue the treatment with Phosphorus in order to completely prevent this
tendency forever.
Phosphorus is exceptionally effective in the treatment of bladder and prostate cancers.
Against bone cancer also,
Phosphorus has proven to be very effective. Once I treated a patient who
had been given all types of radiation with Phosphorus 30. I told the
patient to let me know of his condition after one month. After this
time he told me that he was not losing weight any more and his appetite
had significantly improved. Previously the patient’s bones had
become very weak. He could not walk or even stand on his legs and
he had to use crutches. Within three months, his health improved so
much that he walked without any support. The patient remained healthy
for about eight years therafter, later developing brain cancer.
By the grace of God, he was cured of the brain cancer also and
lived for another fifteen years. Cancers have a tendency to recur
therefore a cancer patient should be treated continuously. One must be
very cautious in using Phosphorus because it is a very potent
remedy. It should be avoided in high potency. Phosphorus is effective
against cancer of the liver, bone, bone marrow as well as the
lymphatic glands. One should always keep Phosphorus in mind while treating the cancers of the
throat, bones and bladder. One characteristic symptom of Phosphorus is that the patient loses his voice due to
ulceration in the throat. In fact, the loss of voice is also a
symptom of throat cancer. Thus if someone has an ulcer in the throat and loses
his voice, treatment should be started immediately. If the treatment is
delayed, the prognosis becomes gloomy and the cancer will become untreatable.
Sometimes, the muscles become flabby and the supporting
tissues and membranes become weak. As after delivery, the muscles of the uterus become flabby and
the uterus tends to prolapse. Furthermore, hernia
and other similar conditions can develop. Phosphorus plays an important role in restoring organs to their original
position by strengthening the musculature. One symptom of Phosphorus (similar to that of Rhus Tox andBryonia) is that initial movement causes discomfort. Later,
the patient feels better. In Rhus Tox, the symptoms aggravate on lying
down, and also at the beginning of the movement. Every time he changes
his side, he feels uncomfortable. The Rhus Tox patient feels
relief for a short while and then becomes rather more uncomfortable. The
patient is restless. In Bryonia, the increase in the discomfort on
movement isvery prominent. This is the reason why in homoeopathy,
Bryonia Alba 200 given in combination with Arnica 200, proves to be
the best treatment for fatigue following strong physical exercise. In Phosphorus, particularly the patient’s legs feel very heavy
as he tries to stand up and walk, first thing in the morning.
Phosphorus is also a very effective treatment for the generalised stiffness
of the joints. I have prepared two prescriptions for this condition. If the stiffness
is on the left side of the body, then
Arnica,Lachesis and Ledum combined in 200, are very effective.
This can be given to the patient repeatedly suffering from chronic arthritis. Despite the potency 200, they can be used three times during
a day inthe first week, twice a day in the second week and once a
day during the third week. By the fourth week, when the full effect of
the treatment becomes apparent, the patient will be found
feeling surprisingly relieved and then fully cured of the disease.
The second prescription is
useful when the pains are on the right side of the body and
the patient feels severe discomfort on movement and massage. In such a situation, Arnica, Bryonia and Causticum
200 are very effective. This triad is very effective for the treatment of knee pain and the aches
due to the sports injuries of the past.
Phosphorus is an excellent remedy for facial neuralgia. Also,
the following remedies are very effective when used in different combinations:
Spigelia, Silicea, Phosphorus and Mag Phos.
Phosphorus given in combination with Spigelia is a very good treatment
in the neuralgia of the left side of the face. If the neuralgia happens to be
on the right side, then Silicea along with Mag Phos proves very effective. Phosphorus
also can be included in this prescription.
If the men or women have been unable to have children due to
heightened
anxiety, then Kali Phos and Phosphorus prove useful. Increased sensitivity of the nerves
(premature ejaculation), in itself does not make a person sterile. However, the
reproducing cells (the sperm cells and the egg) do not mature or become viable. In Phosphorus, problems become worse on
empty stomach. The warts (papillomata)
tend to bleed. Sometimes, the warts fungate and look horrible, as in Nitric
Acid. Bright red bleed is often a symptom of Phosphorus. The wounds bleed
heavily. The wounds can apparently heal up only to reappear. Bluish black spots appear
on the skin. The patient develops jaundice
and feels cold in the evening.
The patient feels rapid heartbeat while lying down on the left side.The pulse is fast but weak. The patient feels warm over
the heart area. The patient feels
hungry immediately after eating food. The taste becomes sour. There is a
tendency to vomit. The patient develops stomachache,
which subsides on taking cold things. The stomach
becomes inflamed and painful, more so on walking and putting pressure
over it with the hands. The patient feels relieved by lying on the right side.
There is pain and a burning sensation over the back, a feeling of heat in the
area between the shoulders, numbness of the hands and fingers with a feeling of
ants crawling, and a pain and burning sensation of the joints of the elbows and
the shoulders. In Phosphorus the hearing also becomes
affected. The patient hears sounds echoing. The face becomes pale and bluish
rings develop around the eyes. The jawbone becomes swollen and painful. Sores develop inside the mouth,
which tend to bleed. Women develop muscular pains after washing clothes on
cessation of their periods. The teeth
also hurt.The Phosphorus patient is very restless and anxious.