A differential comparison of the Magnesium remedies

The Magnesiums are a remedy group that unfolds its principal action radius on the liver, the central nervous system, the gastro-intestinal system and the sexual organs. The individual salts differ in the focus strength of action on these systems. The central nervous system is the prime focus of Magnesium phosphoricum. Magnesium carbonicum also acts primarily on the central nervous system, but also on the thyroid, the gastro-intestinal tract and the musculoskeletal apparatus. This also applies to Magnesium muriaticum but there is no action on the thyroid, albeit so on the liver. Magnesium sulfuricum is quite similar to Magn. mur. in this respect, while Magnesium fluoratum is known to influence the lymphatic system the most.

The Magnesiums have in common that they are sensitive individuals that have a strong urge to make peace in the world around them. They cannot have quarrel or disharmony amongst people in their close environment, family, friends or acquaintances. This may somewhat reflect in their appearance, they are worrisome, anxious and irritable, and therefore have a tendency to look old ahead of time.

Symptoms of the Magnesiums have a tendency to be worse in the mornings when these individuals awaken. They feel sleep deprived. There is a great sensitivity to cold, and frequently emaciation. The pains of the Magnesiums are generally worse while resting. Individuals must move about. Touch and cold usually aggravate, while warmth and firm pressure ameliorates.

All Magnesium salts have symptoms of menses being either too early or too profuse, but Magn. carb., where the menses is too late or suppressed. The blood flow during menses in the Magnesiums flows particularly at night, but in motion ceases. The menstrual blood for all the Magnesiums is of a very dark colour and a tar-like consistency. It is interesting to note that many of the complaints described by the Magnesiums occur before or during the menses.

Magnesium carbonicum:

Individuals are sensitive and worn-out [1, 2].

This is a remedy particularly indicated for children and women [1, 3, 4]. This individual is more of an evening person. Many complaints are periodic in 3 to 4 week intervals [4]. There is a tendency to fall ill with the cold [4].

In the event of sleeplessness, which commonly occurs from 2am to 3am, Magn. carb. must get up and walk about [3] .

Magn. carb. is one of the principal remedies for slow development in babies, characterized by rejection, hypersensitivity and crying [4].

The neuralgia of Magn. carb., are principally found on the head and face, and commonly occur at night [3]. Mental exertion aggravates this [1].

Spasms may occur in all the hollow organs (Stomach, intestines, trachea, uterus etc) [4].

Where the gastro-intestinal tract is concerned, Magn. carb. is a very acidic individual [2, 3]. There is sourness of taste, eructation, and vomit [1, 3]. Where there is diarrhoea of children, there is a sour smell to the individual and his or her excrements. Stools may be green in colour.

“Mental shock and severe nervous strain may cause constipation” [1, p.415].

A keynote is: “Milk passes through undigested, stools are watery clumpy” [3, p.195].

Magn. carb., has to be considered where there is cataract with vision described as if clouded “like a feather before it” [3, p. 196].

 

Magnesium muriaticum:

This remedy stands in relation to Magn. carb. and Natrium muriaticum [3]. It “has the same modalities as Magnesium carbonicum but deviates to a similarity with Natrium muriaticum” [3, p.197].

There is the overall impression of great exhaustion, suffering, objection to conflict, and nervous restlessness [4].

In Magn. mur., constipation is characteristic of the remedy, and it has a “marked action on the biliary secretion” [3, p.197]. The stools of Magn. mur. are as hard that they crumble, evacuation requires much straining and effort (much like in Nat.mur.) [1, 3].

In liver affections, the liver is enlarged and hard. Lying on the right side increases a pressive pain in the liver region. Stools can be gray or white in colour and the patient may show signs of jaundice. [1, 3].

There may be cardiac affections associated with the liver symptomatology. These may be palpitations that occur at rest, but are removed upon movement. [1, 2, 3].

With Magn. mur., it is particularly the headache that is relieved by firm pressure and warmth. As stated above, these modalities apply to all the Magnesiums, but to Magn. mur. especially in headaches.

Menstrual disruptions of Magn. mur. are not seldom accompanied by feelings of faintness, and hysteric outbreaks. In dysmenorrhea the pains may extend to the thighs and back.

Magn. mur. may have urinary atony where urine can only be passed by exerting pressure on the lower abdomen [1, 3].

There is usually an intolerance to milk [4].

Magnesium phosphoricum:

Magn. phos. must come to mind where there are neuralgias and spasms, in particular of the peripheral nervous system [1, 3, 4]. This remedy is described as a big anti-spasmodic medicine [1, 4]. It is indicated for cramping muscles with pains that radiate. Neuralgias appear and disappear suddenly and with much severity. They come periodically, are spasmodic and occur almost solely at night. The pains are sharp, shooting, piercing, twitching and cutting and frequently suddenly change location [1, 3, 4]. These attacks can last for minutes or hours [4].

This remedy is also indicated for the cramps that come from overexertion of the upper extremities, such as writing or playing an instrument [4].

The individual is very nervous, and of the sort that tires rapidly upon exertion. The type is commonly slim, dark and has a great sensitivity to cold. Specific for Magn. phos. is an ongoing lamentation about his affections. Many symptoms are expressed on the right side. Indigestion may cause sleeplessness [1, 3].

The headaches of Magn. phos. differ to those of the other Magnesium salts in that they are more periodic, and are accompanied by nausea, double vision and spots in the field of vision [2, 3]. They may occur following mental exertion [1].

There may be vertigo when in motion, that makes the individual fall forward upon closure of the eyes [1].

Abdominal symptoms represent colics with much bloating due to the formation of gas [1, 3]. There is no relief by eructation. In children, such colics are accompanied by loud lamenting and exhaustion. Bending double, external heat and pressure ameliorate. Once the warmth is removed and the patient gets cold again, the colic pains return. Magn. phos. is also indicated for babies when they are teething [4].

In contrast to the other Magnesiums, Magn. phos. is aggravated by movement!

This patient may experience angina pectoris palpitations with constricting pains that are experience around the heart [1].

 

Magnesium sulfuricum:

This remedy has distinct similarities to Natrium sulfuricum [3].

Overexertion of the central and vegetative nervous system calls for this remedy [4].

It is a remedy indicated for Gastritis, Cholecystitis, Cholelithiasis, and the alternation of diarrhoea with constipation. Stools may be gray in color [4].

There is a great diuretic action of Nat. sulf.. Large amounts of urine get passed with this remedy. The urine is of greenish colour. There may be distinctive burning and stitching pain felt in the urethra orifice, following urination [2]. The stream may be intermittent and dribbling [1].

There may be the emission of copious soft stool in the morning upon rising. Distinctive for this remedy is the massiveness of stool passed [3].

This patient is very chilly, shudders, and may have heat in the head while the rest of the body may be cold. There may be pain in the neck and between the shoulders that makes lying down impossible [1, 3].

Frequent eructation is a common symptom of Mag. sulf. “tasting like bad eggs” [1, p.419].

Female patients may experience profuse leucorrhea [2, 3]. There may be menstruation between the regular menses. During menses the head may feel heavy [2, 3].

 

Magnesium fluoratum:

This remedy is indicated for affections of the lymphatic system, for patients that recover only slowly from illness. It is a drainage remedy used to release toxins from the body following an infection [4].

 

This article was first published at Clever Homeopathy

 

 

References:

[1] Boericke, W. (2004) Pocket manual of homeopathic materia medica and repertory New Delhi: B.Jain publishers Ltd.

[2] Clarke, J. (1994) A Dictionary of practical materia medica New Delhi: B.Jain publishers Ltd.

[3] Lesser. O. (1983) Textbook of homeopathic materia medica New Delhi: B.Jain publishers Ltd.

[4] DHU (2011) Homöopathisches Repetitorium Karlsruhe: Deutsche Homöopathie Union.