Zincum metallicum

Originally proved by Hahnemann and his colleagues; included in Materia Medica Pura. Later expanded by Hering, Allen, Hughes, and Kent. The remedy is notable for its deep action on the nervous system, particularly in cases of long-standing suppression or overwork

Zincum metallicum is the archetype of neuropsychiatric suppression. The individual is inwardly agitated yet outwardly restrained—a picture of nervous restlessness, emotional repression, and mental fatigue. Whether from overstudy, emotional trauma, or suppressed discharges, the system becomes chaotic beneath the surface. The motor system compensates: twitching, jerking, fidgeting, restless legs, and spasms all reflect this bottled vitality. Children who never fully “bounce back” after fevers or vaccinations may show the classic Zinc picture—dull, restless, pale, and twitching. It is a remedy for submerged expression, where vitality is trapped beneath layers of unspoken trauma or physical suppression.

• Nervous system – especially the spine, medulla, and peripheral nerves
• Cerebrospinal axis – symptoms of suppression, weakness, twitching, restlessness
• Mind – depression, dullness, loss of memory from prolonged mental strain
• Extremities – restless legs, jerking, trembling, formication
• Skin – eruptions, suppressed exanthema, itching
• Urinary tract – retention, dribbling, neural irritation
• Genital organs – sexual excitement or suppression
• Eyes – twitching, photophobia, visual fatigue
• Spinal cord – reflexes heightened or diminished, twitching from dorsal irritation
• Children and the aged – particularly suited to nervous children or senile nervous degeneration

The mental picture of Zincum metallicum centres around cerebral exhaustion, nervous irritability, and suppressed expression. The patient is often mentally dulled, unable to concentrate, with poor memory and difficulty with articulation or logical thought [Kent]. There is a sense of constant pressure on the mind, often from intellectual overexertion, grief, or emotional suppression. Children needing Zincum may appear mentally delayed or indifferent, particularly after suppression of rash or vaccination [Hering]. There may be sighing, moaning, or muttering, especially during sleep. Emotional expressions are muted—grief, anger, or fear may remain bottled, leading to somatisation. A marked feature is aversion to talking, with irritability when disturbed. Restlessness of body contrasts with mental inertia.

Sleep restless, disturbed by twitching or dreams. Sleep talking, moaning. Child wakes screaming, cross, difficult to pacify. Daytime drowsiness with night insomnia. Sleepwalking.

Dreams of fire, falling, suffocation, or oppression. Repeated dreams of failure or examination. Dreams may provoke physical restlessness or involuntary urination.

Marked nervous exhaustion—both physical and mental. Twitching, spasms, and restlessness dominate. Suppression is central: of eruptions, menses, emotions. Worse for mental exertion, suppression, rest. Suited to nervous children, overworked adults, and elderly with senile decay. Coldness, irritability, delayed expression. Suited to post-vaccination states, restless legs, and post-suppression paralysis.

Chilliness with trembling and neuralgia. Fever after overexertion or suppressed discharges. Alternating chills and flushes. Sweating after least exertion. Low-grade fevers with great fatigue.

Coldness predominates. Chills run up the spine. Cold feet with hot head. Sweat on exertion or with pain. Sweat offensive or sour.

Headaches are deep, pressing, and focused at the base of the brain or above the eyes. A feeling of numbness, crawling, or tightness around the scalp is common. Vertigo, < on standing or after mental work. Twitching or jerking of facial muscles. Brain feels too large or as if vibrating. Headache better from menses, highlighting suppression themes. Sensation as if cold wind blows on head. Neuralgic pain from occiput to vertex. Pain aggravated by wine or stimulants. Head hot, with cold extremities and spinal chill.

Eyes are weak, strained, and sensitive to light. Twitching of eyelids, especially the left. Vision blurred or dim, worsened by exertion. Drawing pain from eyes into head. Myopia from overuse. Lachrymation from fatigue. Flickering before eyes or sparks. Eyeballs feel dry or bruised. A notable feature: involuntary rolling of eyes, especially in children with convulsions [Clarke].

Buzzing, roaring, and noises in the ears, especially after mental exertion. Hearing may be too acute or dulled. Sudden deafness, especially after fevers or eruptions. Twitching in and around ears. Ears cold and sensitive. In children, repeated otitis media with delayed speech.

Nasal catarrh with post-nasal discharge. Loss of smell after influenza or suppression. Sneezing with neuralgic pains in face. Dryness in nostrils or acrid discharge. Nose often cold to touch. Twitching of nose during sleep.

Pale, sunken, or sallow complexion. Facial muscles twitch involuntarily. Expression dull or worn, with hollow eyes. Jaw trembles or feels tight. In children, facial twitching during dentition or fever. Lips dry, cracked, or blue during neuralgic or spinal conditions. Tearing pain in cheekbones.

Dry mouth and tongue, despite normal thirst. Tongue trembles, may be red at tip or pale and flabby. Difficulty articulating, stammering or faltering speech. Aphthous ulcers after suppressed menses. Offensive breath in nervous collapse. Gnashing of teeth in children.

Teeth ache with facial twitching. Pain radiates from teeth to ears or temples. Grinding of teeth during sleep, particularly in children with nervous disorders. Dental pains < night and after cold drinks. Gums inflamed, bleed easily.

Dryness, roughness, or scraping in throat. Neuralgic pain shooting from throat to ears. Swallowing difficult during spasmodic episodes. Sensation of a lump in the throat, especially during menses. Hoarseness with nervous fatigue.

Tightness and constriction, as if lungs could not expand. Palpitations < lying on left side. Pain under sternum with numb arms. Cough dry, spasmodic, or violent, ending in exhaustion. Sensation of cold air passing through chest. Weak voice, < speaking.

Palpitations with faintness. Fluttering after excitement. Pulse irregular, thready during collapse. Anxiety in cardiac region with numb extremities. Coldness about heart area.

Shortness of breath on exertion. Sighing respiration or shallow breathing during mental suppression. Dyspnoea > sitting bent forward. Spasmodic breathing during sleep.

Gnawing hunger, yet eating causes fullness. Nausea with trembling, especially after wine or rich food. Vomiting from fright or excitement. Cramp-like pain in epigastrium. Aversion to meat, desire for sweets. Burning sensation, > warm drinks.

Abdomen distended, full of gas. Cutting pains in hypogastrium during menses. Rumbling and gurgling noises. Flatulence with spinal symptoms. Pain in groins, < touch. Twitching of abdominal muscles. Constipation alternating with diarrhoea.

Frequent urging, but stool unsatisfactory. Involuntary stool during sleep or nervous crises. Constipation with dry, hard stools. Rectal prolapse in children. Spasms of sphincter during nervous exhaustion. Haemorrhoids bleed easily.

Dribbling of urine post-void. Retention in nervous children or elderly. Frequent urging, < at night. Urine cloudy, offensive, sometimes containing mucus. Involuntary urination during convulsions. Burning in urethra without infection.

Desire for sweets. Aversion to meat or warm food. < wine, stimulants. Ravenous hunger after weakness. Nausea after sugar. Symptoms < fasting or eating too late.

Increased libido with exhaustion. Emissions without erections. Genital hypersensitivity or complete torpor. Itching of scrotum, < heat. Prostatic enlargement with dribbling. Erections painful, short-lived. Sexual dreams with involuntary emission.

Menses too early, too profuse, or entirely suppressed. Severe neuralgia, headaches, or spasms before flow. Restlessness in limbs preceding menstruation. Pruritus vulvae. Loss of libido or excessive desire alternating. Infertility from nervous exhaustion. Post-partum neuralgia. Amenorrhoea after grief or illness.

Pain in lumbar spine. Burning between scapulae, associated with mental fatigue. Twitching of paraspinal muscles. Spine sensitive to pressure. Paralytic weakness of lower limbs. Coldness along spine during fevers.

Keynote: Restless legs, constant motion, especially at night [Boericke]. Twitching, jerking, and trembling. Neuralgia in limbs, < rest. Paralysis, especially of lower limbs, after suppression. Feet cold, numb. Weakness of knees; unable to stand long. Child constantly moves feet, even in sleep. Tingling and crawling sensations.

Suppression is central: eruptions that should come out remain internal, leading to neurological disease. Itching worse at night. Burning eruptions. Dry, scaly, or cracked skin. Eruptions on scalp, face, or genitalia. Skin sensitive to cold air. Post-vaccination issues in children.

• Phosphorus – More open, sensitive, bleeding; Zinc more suppressed, internalised
• Argentum nitricum – More anticipatory anxiety and digestive symptoms
• Cuprum metallicum – More tonic spasms and deeper convulsions
• Agaricus muscarius – Prominent twitching, but more exhilaration and chilliness
• Arsenicum album – Restless, anxious, but more burning and periodicity

• Complementary: Pulsatilla, Cuprum, Sulphur
• Antidotes: Nux vomica, Camphora
• Follows well: Belladonna, Ignatia
• Precedes well: Natrum mur., Lycopodium
• Inimical: Coffea (may overexcite)

• Top remedy for restless legs, especially at night
• Consider for children with developmental delay after suppression (measles, rash, vaccination)
• Useful in exhausted students, overworked professionals
• Excellent in meningitis, especially when eruptions are suppressed
• May be indicated in senile dementia or Parkinsonian twitching
• Often indicated when mental and physical symptoms alternate

Mind

• Mutism with restlessness
• Dullness, apathy, < mental exertion
• Involuntary sighing
• Aversion to talk

Extremities

• Restless legs at night
• Jerking of limbs
• Paralysis, post-vaccination
• Numbness, tingling

Skin

• Suppressed eruptions
• Burning, itching, < night
• Post-vaccination disorders

Female

• Menses suppressed with headache
• Nervous disorders < before menses
• Vulval pruritus

Generalities

• Twitching, jerking
• Worse from suppression
• Coldness, exhaustion
• Paralysis after fever

• Samuel Hahnemann – Materia Medica Pura: Initial proving symptoms, especially mental and neurological
• C. Hering – Guiding Symptoms: Offered extensive guidance on suppression, twitching, and neuralgia
• William Boericke – Pocket Manual: Practical clinical indicators including restless legs and collapse
• James Kent – Lectures on Homeopathic Materia Medica: Mental symptoms, suppression, and differential nuance
• John Henry Clarke – Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica: Added unique clinical details on post-suppression states and nervous children