Alumina silicata

A naturally occurring mineral from the feldspar group, Alumina silicata is a potassium aluminium silicate (chemical formula: KAlSi₃O₈) found abundantly in granite and other igneous rocks. It forms part of the Earth’s crust and has a crystalline structure that can appear in pink, white, grey, or reddish hues. In homeopathy, it is triturated from pure feldspar crystals to extract its dynamic medicinal properties.

The proving was conducted under the guidance of Dr. C. Hering in the 19th century, using triturations prepared from pure mineral specimens. The proving revealed both alumina-like sluggishness and silica-like suppurative and glandular tendencies.

A slow, heavy, and dry remedy—mind, body, and secretions all move with diminished vitality. Suited to those with chronic dryness, sluggish repair, and a pale, sallow complexion, often in elderly or weakened constitutions.

• Skin – chronic dryness, cracks, rhagades, fissures, thickened epidermis, and slow-healing wounds.
• Mucous membranes – dryness, especially of throat, rectum, and vagina, with difficulty in evacuations despite soft stool.
• Glands – indurated, enlarged, and sluggish in resolution, especially cervical and axillary glands.
• Bones and periosteum – tendency to chronic periostitis, slow repair after fractures, and deep-seated bone pains.
• Nervous system – slow mental processes, heaviness of limbs, progressive weakness, and paretic states.
• Digestive tract – constipation of the alumina type, with inactivity of rectum.
• Respiratory tract – chronic catarrhal states, tenacious mucus, and weak expectoration.
• Female reproductive organs – dryness, pruritus, and induration of cervix in chronic conditions.

Marked mental torpor and sluggishness of thought are prominent, resembling Alumina itself. The patient often feels as though thoughts must be laboriously gathered before speech, with a sensation of emptiness in the head [Kent]. A peculiar indecision accompanies the mental state, with an inability to reach conclusions quickly, as if a mental fog obscured reasoning [Clarke]. Memory is weak, particularly for names and recent events, leading to a reliance on written reminders. Apathy is common, coupled with anxiety in the evening, especially in bed, when the mind turns to troubling or fearful thoughts. This slowness extends to making decisions in everyday matters, producing irritability when hurried. Depression may be deep and lingering, with a sense of hopelessness regarding recovery from illness [Hering].

Unrefreshing sleep with frequent waking. Difficulty falling asleep due to restlessness of mind.

Anxious dreams of being pursued or lost. Dreams may be confused and forgotten on waking.

Sluggishness pervades both mind and body. Slow processes of repair and recovery. Suited to elderly or prematurely aged individuals.

Chilliness predominates, especially in the evening. Heat is rare, but if present, it is slight and without much sweat.

Coldness of hands and feet in bed, even when the rest of the body is warm.

Dull, pressing headaches, often in the forehead or occiput, with a sensation of heaviness as if the brain were weighted down. Headaches may develop after prolonged mental work or after exposure to cold, damp weather. Vertigo is marked on rising from a seat, turning the head, or walking in open air, accompanied by a tendency to stagger [Clarke]. Sensation as if the scalp were constricted or drawn tightly over the skull is sometimes noted. The head feels worse in the morning on waking and improves slowly through the day.

Dryness of the eyes, with burning and a sensation of sand beneath the lids, especially on waking [Allen]. Vision may be blurred in the morning, gradually clearing after washing the face. Eyelids tend to stick together on waking, with occasional styes or chronic blepharitis. Sensitivity to cold wind produces lachrymation outdoors, though the eyes are otherwise dry indoors. There may be a sense of heaviness of the lids, making it difficult to keep them open during reading or close work.

Fullness and occasional ringing or humming in the ears, especially in the evening when fatigued. Some provers reported transient deafness or a sense of blocked ears that cleared with yawning. Cold wind may cause earache, particularly in the right ear.

Dryness of the nasal passages, with crust formation and occasional bleeding when crusts are removed [Hering]. Sneezing in the morning on waking, often accompanied by a sensation of rawness high in the nasal cavity. Chronic nasal obstruction in cold, damp weather. Sometimes a sensation of inhaling cold air is experienced, even indoors.

The skin of the face is dry and rough, with a tendency to chapping in cold winds. In chronic cases, there may be earthy pallor or a sallow hue, with deep lines and prematurely aged expression [Kent]. Some provers experienced tingling or numbness of the cheeks, as if the skin were tight or stretched.

Dryness of the mouth, especially in the morning, without much thirst. Tongue coated white or yellowish, with occasional sore spots along the edges. Speech may feel slow and heavy due to dryness of the oral mucosa. Taste may be altered, with food seeming insipid.

Drawing, aching pains in the teeth, worse at night or in cold air. Teeth may feel too long or sensitive to pressure, especially when chewing. Gums pale, occasionally bleeding when brushing.

Dryness of the throat with a constant desire to swallow to moisten it [Clarke]. Sensation of a plug or lump when swallowing, not relieved by drinking. Voice may become hoarse after prolonged speaking. Mucous membranes appear pale and lack natural moisture.

Oppression of chest, worse in damp cold air. Sensation of weakness in breathing after exertion. Chronic catarrh with scanty expectoration.

Palpitation on exertion or after climbing stairs. Occasional fluttering felt when lying on the left side.

Breathing feels slow and laboured, with occasional need to sigh deeply. Weakness of voice after talking for long periods.

Slow digestion with a sensation of weight and fulness after small meals [Hering]. Occasional nausea in the morning before breakfast. Dislike for meat and heavy foods; desire for warm, easily digested fare. Heartburn after eating acidic foods.

Flatulence with rumbling, particularly in the afternoon. Abdomen feels distended after eating. Occasional griping pains, better for passing flatus.

Classic alumina-type constipation, with complete inactivity of the rectum despite the presence of soft stool [Kent]. The urge to stool is absent or very weak; great straining is required. Sometimes alternating with diarrhoea in the elderly.

Urination slow to start, with a weak stream. Occasional sensation of incomplete emptying. Urine pale and copious in the morning, scantier in the evening.

Desire for warm, soft foods. Aversion to meat.

Occasional diminished sexual desire, with weakness after coition. Nocturnal emissions rare but exhausting.

Dryness of the vagina, especially before menses, causing painful intercourse. Menses scanty, pale, and delayed, with backache before and during flow.

Aching in lumbar region, worse after standing. Stiffness in cervical region on waking.

Heaviness and clumsiness of limbs, with a tendency to drop objects. Hands and feet dry and cracked in cold weather.

Dry, rough, and cracked skin, especially on hands, face, and around joints. Fissures slow to heal [Allen].

• Alumina – more marked mental confusion, dryness of mucous membranes, and absent urge for stool.
• Silicea – greater tendency to suppuration, offensive foot sweat, and sensitivity to cold air.
• Calcarea carbonica – chilliness, glandular enlargement, and easy fatigue but with more perspiration and flabby musculature.

• Complementary: Alumina, Silicea, Calcarea phosphorica
• Antidotes: Nux vomica (for gastric symptoms), Chamomilla (for irritability)
• Inimical: None recorded
• Follows well: Silicea, Alumina

Useful in chronic constipation with absent urge, dry eczema, and slow convalescence after debilitating illnesses. Often indicated in elderly with mental and physical slowness. Potencies from 6C to 200C have been used, with infrequent repetition in chronic cases.

Mind

• Slowness, mental
• Memory, weakness of, for names

Head

• Heaviness, forehead
• Vertigo, on rising

Eyes

• Dryness, without lachrymation indoors
• Lids, heaviness of

Skin

• Dryness, general
• Cracks, hands

Generalities

• Slow recovery from illness
• Cold, damp aggravates

Clarke, J.H. – A Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica: Provided detailed descriptions of dryness, constipation, and sluggish mental states.
Hering, C. – Guiding Symptoms of Our Materia Medica: Recorded peculiar dryness of mucous membranes and absent rectal urge.
Kent, J.T. – Lectures on Homoeopathic Materia Medica: Emphasised the mental slowness and alumina-like constipation.
Allen, T.F. – Encyclopaedia of Pure Materia Medica: Documented skin dryness, cracked skin, and eye symptoms.