• 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

• Discharges (onset of menses, eruption of rash, etc.)
• Profuse menstruation (relieves mental and physical symptoms)
• Motion (especially in legs—relieves restlessness)
• Warmth (generally improves mental state and peripheral symptoms)
• Gentle pressure or rubbing (relieves nerve pains)
• Open air (especially in headache)
• Mental diversion (can ease anxiety or confusion)

• Suppression (skin eruptions, menses, discharges)
• Mental exertion (overstudy, overwork)
• Alcohol or stimulants (exacerbates neurological symptoms)
• Noise and bright lights (sensory overstimulation)
• Emotional suppression (grief, anger held in)
• Evening and night (restlessness and twitching worsen)
• Touch (hypersensitive nerves and skin)
• Sexual excess or suppression
• During dentition (in children with convulsions or slow development)

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.

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.