Kali carbonicum

Mind

Kali carbonicum individuals are classically rigid, conservative, highly moral, and anxious. They display a pronounced fear of losing control, of being abandoned, or disgraced. [Kent] describes a person “constantly in dread; he imagines he is incurable, or that people look down on him.” Their anxiety is felt in the stomach, often as a sinking or gnawing sensation. This remedy typifies the personality that follows rules, is dutiful and industrious, but deeply fears failure or humiliation.

The patient may be irritable, especially toward family. They avoid confrontation, but the internal tension manifests in symptoms. Strong aversion to change, dependence on routine, and exaggerated startle response. Often averse to being alone, yet suspicious or critical of others. Grief and fear for others’ safety dominate, especially in women and children.

Sleep

Light, unrefreshing. Wakes at 2–3 a.m. with fear or anxiety. Sleep disturbed by cough, dreams, or back pain. Sleepiness in daytime, insomnia at night. Jerks on falling asleep.

Dreams

Anxious, frightful dreams of thieves, danger, or fire. Dreams of illness, loss, or business failure. Talks in sleep. Wakes feeling unrested.

Generalities

Stitching pains, aggravation from cold, and weakness are keynotes. Symptoms worse 2–4 a.m., after exertion, and from suppressed discharges. Marked debility, often with trembling. Sensitive to changes in weather. Sudden flushes of heat followed by exhaustion.

Fever

Chilliness predominates, especially in back or extremities. Fever with dry skin, faintness, and restlessness. Heat without thirst. Weakness after fever is pronounced.

Chill Heat Sweat

Chill begins in back, worse in cold air. Heat flushes with anxiety. Sweat is offensive, often staining linen yellow. Sweats at night, especially on face and scalp.

Head

Pains are stitching or bursting, often in the occiput or temples, and aggravated by motion, noise, or light. Hair falls out from chronic illness or after confinement. Head feels as if stuffed with cotton. Vertigo on rising or turning head, with faintness. Migraine with nausea and cold extremities. Scalp sensitive to touch, especially during fever or neuralgia.

Eyes

Lids swollen, heavy, and twitching. Visual disturbances include spots, flickering, or momentary blindness. Dryness or acrid tears may cause burning. Chronic conjunctivitis with puffiness under the eyes is characteristic. Photophobia worse in morning. [Clarke] notes blepharitis in chronic catarrhal states.

Ears

Sensitive to noise, especially music. Stitching pains radiate to ears from throat or face. Hearing fluctuates; may experience roaring or ringing. Ears feel stopped, worse in cold weather. Otorrhoea in scrofulous children.

Nose

Chronic nasal catarrh with thick, yellow discharge. Nose obstructed at night, especially in cold rooms. Sneezing spells in early morning. Nosebleeds from suppressed menses or in young girls. Tip of nose may twitch or feel sore.

Face

Face is pale or sallow, often puffy with characteristic bags under the eyes. Facial muscles twitch. Neuralgic pains—stitching or tearing—especially right side, better with warmth. Lips dry and cracked. Expression anxious, with vertical frown lines.

Mouth

Dryness of mouth with sticky saliva. Metallic or bitter taste. Aphthae and ulcers along inner cheeks or tongue margins. Teeth ache with stitching pains, worse from cold drinks. Gums recede, bleed easily. Tongue coated white or yellow, with dryness and fissures.

Teeth

Pain with hot or cold drinks, worse at night. Teeth may feel elongated or sore. Tearing or jerking pains. Grinding of teeth in sleep from suppressed anger.

Throat

Dry, raw, and sensitive. Stitching pains when swallowing. Swelling of tonsils and submaxillary glands. Mucus accumulates in morning and must be hawked out. Sensation of a plug or lump. Worse from cold air or talking.

Chest

Chest pains are stitching, cutting, or sticking, worse from coughing, sneezing, motion. Great remedy for chronic bronchitis, pneumonia in the elderly, and post-influenza weakness. Dry cough at 2–4 a.m., with scanty expectoration and gagging. Difficult respiration with sense of weight or pressure. Weak chest walls in the aged or those recovering from illness.

Heart

Palpitations from excitement, anxiety, or exertion. Sharp pains in cardiac region. Pulse small and irregular. Weakness and faintness with cold extremities. Angina-like constriction in susceptible individuals.

Respiration

Dyspnoea with anxiety, worse after midnight. Must sit upright to breathe. Suffocative cough with retching. Useful in asthma with mucus rattling but difficult to expectorate. Sensitive to cold air. Cough with gagging and stitching chest pains.

Stomach

Marked flatulence, distension, and a constant feeling of heaviness after meals. Acid eructations with heartburn. Nausea in the morning or after eating. Hungry feeling with aversion to food. Weak, empty sensation especially between 10–11 a.m. [Boericke] notes waterbrash and sour vomiting after rich food. Belching brings temporary relief.

Abdomen

Distended, bloated, and sore to touch. Stitching pains in hypochondria and flanks. Colic with pressure and tightness. Liver region sensitive. Constipation alternating with loose, offensive stool. Passes much flatus, temporarily relieving pain. Gurgling in right iliac fossa.

Rectum

Large, dry, difficult stool. Painful urging without result. Haemorrhoids bleeding during stool. Sensation of something protruding. Frequent but ineffectual urging. Anal itching and rawness.

Urinary

Frequent urging, especially at night. Weakness of bladder with dribbling after micturition. Urine cloudy, offensive, or with white sediment. Involuntary urination when coughing, sneezing, or laughing. Stitching pain in urethra.

Food

Aversion to bread, milk, meat. Craving for sweets and salty foods. < cold drinks. Thirst during chill. Stomach sensitive to cold food.

Male

Impotence from overexertion or worry. Emissions with dreams or after coition. Painful erections, sometimes bent. Sexual desire low, or suppressed by guilt and fatigue.

Female

One of the great female remedies. Used for uterine prolapse, habitual miscarriage, painful menstruation, and weakness during pregnancy. Menstrual flow is early, profuse, and prolonged, often with stitching pains. Leucorrhoea thick, yellow, worse after exertion. Backache and labour-like pains are strong indicators. Pregnancy with excessive irritability and sense of bearing down.

Back

Stiffness and weakness in lumbar region, worse from sitting or rising. Stitching pains between scapulae. Cannot lie on back due to pain. Coccyx sore from pressure. Old back injuries or arthritic conditions.

Extremities

Tearing, stitching, or drawing pains. Numbness and coldness in hands and feet. Cracking joints, especially knees and fingers. Swelling of joints from standing. Sciatic pain with restlessness. Trembling from exhaustion. < 3–4 a.m.

Skin

Dry, rough, and unhealthy. Slow to heal. Chronic eczema with thick crusts and burning. Suppressed eruptions lead to deeper complaints. Warts, especially hard and horny. Cracks in skin, especially hands and feet.