Introduction
Mag. phos is probably the most important and precious of the remedies derived from the bio-chemical studies of Dr. Schussler. It is one of his twelve “Tissue Remedies”. It has been “fed in ” in low potencies and frequent doses: but we can attest, from long and frequent experience, that it works magnificently in the high and highest potencies in very infrequent dosage: i.e. only repeated if, and when, the same symptoms recur, after perhaps months, to demand a repetition of the same remedy. But this, of course, only when it has been prescribed on similarity of caused and cured symptoms.
Mag. phos is one of the greatest, if not the greatest, of the remedies of dysmenorrhoea: but only of dysmenorrhoea of its own kind, viz. where the pains double the victim up; are relieved by heat, hot drinks, hot applications and aggravated by cold. In this relief from doubling up and from warmth, it is very like Colocynth, another great remedy for such forms of dysmenorrhoea; but Mag. Phos. has a greater idiosyncrasy in regard to heat and cold; and the mentalities of the two are not alike. The pains of Coloc., may produce pain in any part of the body-even in the spine. But it is no wonder that symptoms in Mag. phos. and Coloc. should present many points of resemblance, since Coloc., which belongs to the vegetable kingdom, contains 3 per cent. of Mag. phos. “Among the ” (other) “plants containing Magn. phos. are Lobelia, Symphytum and Viburnum, which explains the presence of similar symptoms.”It is very interesting to trace, in vegetable remedies, the different elements or salts that occur in them, and which explain some of the symptoms they have in common. It makes them easier to remember.
In “THE TWELVE TISSUE REMEDIES OF SCHUESSLER”(Drs. Boericke and Dewy) we are told that Dr. Schuessler recommended the 6x trituration, and said that it acted best when given in hot water. “But in view of the really surprising and apparently wholly trustworthy results obtained by the provers with the high and highest potencies, we would recommend thee, should the lower fail.” [We may add that our own results have been obtained, always, so far as we can remember, from single doses of the cm potency]
One never-forgotten case, because of the unpleasant-even alarming reaction, was that of a child in the out-patient department many years ago, who got a dose of Mag. phos. cm., for chorea. She was speedily brought back with an extension of the trouble. apparently, into the laryngeal region, i.e. with rather alarming respiratory spasms. She was promptly admitted; got no other medicine: and was well in a few days. The drug, prescribed in a lower potency, would probably not have evoked such an alarming aggravation-or proving” : but the result was not too bad. One does not often completely cure a chorea within a fortnight; which, so far as one remembers, was the case here.
Among the cases that assail one’s memory in regard to Mag. phos is that of a “very ill” baby, which was admitted to Hospital for diarrhoea with colicky pains causing it to draw up its legs. Coloc. was given, and the diarrhoea was relieved; but the pains persisted, and the fear was that the baby would die. But it was noticed that a warm hand on the abdomen evidently comforted the babe: and Mag. phos., thereupon, did the rest.
But one’s chief use for Mag. phos. has been in the treatment of dysmenorrhoea. Single doses of the cm., given must any time the patient happened to come up, not necessarily during the painful period, have cured for us quite a number of cases, the indications being dysmenorrhoea, with violent abdominal pain, doubling the patient up, and only relieved by heat.
BLACK LETTER SYMPTOMS
Neuralgia or rheumatic headache: better from external applications of warmth: very excruciating.
Tendency to spasmodic symptoms. Shooting, stinging, shifting, intermittent or spasmodic pains: sparks before eyes.
More in young and strong persons. After mental labour.
Neuralgic pain, especially behind right ear: worse by going into cold air, and washing face and neck in cold water.
Otalgia, purely nervous.
Toothache, better by heat and hot liquids.
Severe pain in decayed or filled teeth: swelling of tongue.
Complaints of teething children.
Spasms during dentition, no fever.
Spasms, or cramp in stomach, nipping, griping, pinching, with short belching of wind, giving no relief.
Spasms or cramp in stomach, with clean tongue: as if a band was tightly laced or drawn round body.
Enteralgia.
Flatulent colic forcing patient to bend double: (Coloc) better from rubbing, warmth, pressure. Accompanied by belching of gas, which gives no relief.
Bloated, full sensation in abdomen; must loosen clothes (Lyc) and walk about.
Flatulent colic of children and the new born, with drawing up of legs:remittent colic; crampy pain with acidity.
Radiating pain in abdomen.
Meteorism in cows (Colch)
Nocturnal enuresis from nervous irritation.
Menstrual colic.
Membranous dysmenorrhoea.
Ovarian neuralgia, pain shooting and darting like lightning: worse on right side.
Spasmodic, nervous asthma.
Chorea.
Neuralgia at intervals, relieved by warmth.
Languid: tired, exhausted.
Chilliness: Chills run up and down the back (Gels) with shivering. Dread of uncovering (Nux).
Worse: right side; from cold; from touch:relieved by warmth; by bending double.
Mag. phos has been found useful in nystagmus: strabismus;spasmodic squinting; ptosis; in spasmodic stammering:spasmodic constriction of throat with sensation of choking. In hiccough, day and night, with retching.
In vesical neuralgia after catheterization; sensation as if muscles did not contract.
In laryngismus stridulus. In spasmodic coughs, and whooping cough. In angina pectoris. In intercostal neuralgia, constrictive kind. In shaking of hands and limbs: sciatica; cramps in calves;even fro violent pains in acute rheumatism of joints. All sort of spasms with contractions of fingers and staring eyes. In convulsions, with stiffness of limbs, thumbs drawn in, and fingers clenched (Cup). Cramps of piano or violin players: writers cramp. In chorea and when the muscular fibres of heart seemed to participate in the general spasm. In epilepsy. In palsy:paralysis agitans.
Violent pains; maddening pains;excruciating pains; terrible pains; great pain with retching.
Pains: sharp;shooting lightning-like; cutting; stinging cramping;boring; drawing:-constricting:-pricking.
Said to be “a nutrition and functional remedy for nerve tissues.”
NASH says, “Now we come to the prince of the Magnesias. It is comparatively new and has never been accorded a place in our Materia Medica according to its importance and merits.
“It takes first rank among our very best neuralgia or pain remedies: none has a greater variety of pains :” (he details them). “CRAMPING-this last in my opinion is most characteristic, and oftenest found in stomach, abdomen and pelvis. In dysmenorrhoea of the neuralgic variety, with the characteristic crampy pains, I have found no remedy equal to it.” (N.B.,-Nash gives it in high potency: 55m made on his own potentizer.)
“Alongside the cramping, is, its characteristic modality-relief from hot applications.” Here, Nash makes a very important comparison-with Arsenicum. He says, :”No remedy has this” (relief from hot applications) “more prominently than Arsenicum alb. But you will notice that among all the various pains we have mentioned as belonging to Magnesia phos. the one conspicuous for its absence is the one most characteristic of Arsenic,, viz- burning pains. I watched this difference.,” he says,”and found that if burning pains were relieved by heat, ARsenicum was almost sure to relieve, while those pains not burning but also relieved by heat were cured by Magnesia phos. I think that this will be found a valuable diagnostic between the two remedies.”
He says, “During painful menstruation Magnesia phos, is quicker in its action than Pulsatilla, caulophyllum, Cimicifuga, or any other remedy that I know.” He thinks Cimicifuga covers the rheumatic cases better, Mag. phos. those of the purely neuralgic character.”I have no faith in the Schuesslerian theory. Similia similibus curentur has stood the test with other remedies and will with the so-called tissue remedies, regardless of theories.”
Now we will, at risk of some repetition appeal for hints to the perspicacity and clarity of KENT; condensing:
Best know for its spasmodic conditions and neuralgias. A pain localizes itself in a nerve and stays there, and becomes worse and worse, sometimes coming in paroxysms, but becoming so violent that the patient becomes frantic. The pains are always ameliorated by heat and pressure pains are brought on when be becomes cold, or in a cold place.
Pains are felt everywhere stomach, bowels, with the same modalities even pains in spinal cord, ameliorated by heat. Cramps from prolonged exertion-writers, and players on piano and harp-: they suddenly breakdown with stiffness and cramp after several hours’ labour every day for years. The labourer’s the carpenter’s hand, cramp this is a strong feature of the remedy, in all sorts of over-exertion.
