Perceiving Picric-Acid Portrait In Practice
NATIONAL JOURNAL OF HOMOEOPATHY 2000 Jan / Feb VOL II NO 1.
Dr N L Tiwari
'Pic-ac

1. Introduction
   We will take up the study of Acid Group in general and Picric-acid in particular. We will perceive the remedy(ies) in Practice, which demands from Homoeopathic Physician "Knowledge" of the type as stated in Aphorism [3].

1. All Acids are chilly (except Picric-acid and Flouric-acid).
2. All Acids have got marked debility and prostration. Both in mind and body. (mind - Phos-acid) (body - Muriatic acid).
3. All Acids have acridity and offensiveness.
4. Blood Disorganization.
5. Affection of liver.
6. Diabetic State.
7. Brain fag (Picric-acid, Phos-acid).
8. Inimical snake poisons (If we examine our practice).
9. Inorganic acids most often indicted in acute conditions (Phase remedies).
10. Organic acid most often indicated in deep chronic conditions.

2. Picric-Acid In Clinical Practice.
   I will share and discuss with you three cases from my practice and make an attempt to create a portrait of Picric-acid.

Case 1:
Mrs X aged 35 years, suffering from migraine, chronic constipation and haemorrhoids since last 10 years. She first consulted me on 10/11/96. She was under treatment till 7th Jan 97. She had been benefited by Kali-bich 200 in infrequent doses and inter-current Tub-bov 1M in infrequent doses, while Nux-v 200 was acute remedy as and when indicated. She was enjoying good health and went back to native place.

She came again on 2/2/99 with c/o weakness and tiredness. She was asked to test her blood sugar. Fasting 131 mg% and PP 149 mg%. She was given the previous remedy Kali-bich 200 infrequent doses and Tub-bov 1M as inter-current with partial response.

Blood sugar rechecked on 27/7/99. F 134 mg% & PP 256 mg%. She became anxious & fearsome, feeling exhaustion, tiredness and loss of sleep. Phos 1M in infrequent doses, also helped only partially. The anxiety and fear brought to mind Arg-nit 200, which too gave no relief.

The case was therefore reviewed:
Thermal state had changed from chilly to Hot. Anxious3, fearsome³, debility³, and prostration.
On 10/8/99 she also had a c/o weakness³, loss of self-confidence³, giddiness and offensive urine. Now case reworked and she was given Picric-acid 200 single dose.
She reported on 17/8/99: Much better both at physical and mental level. Self-confidence improved, giddiness much less, felt energetic doing all her activities.
Blood sugar examined on 2/9/99: Fasting 108 mg% and PP 132 mg%.

Discussion:
It will be interesting to examine and explore relation between:
Picric-acid and Kali-bich
Picric-acid and Phos
Picric-acid and Arg-nit
Picric-acid and Nux-v

Life Situation: It revealed three important points

1. Husband was jobless because his company had recently closed.
2. Son met with a railway accident in Feb 99 leading to anxiety, insecurity, mental tension, fears thus affecting functioning in all spheres.
3. Youngest daughter suffers from skin hyper-pigmentation and according to skin specialist little can be done about that.

Case 2:
Smt Y, 39 years, suffering from Essential Hypertension, mucus colitis and LS spondylosis, Under treatment since 1995. She was doing well. BP remained 130/80 to 140/90.

Remedies given: chronic Kali-c 200 - 1M phase Sepia 200-1M and Puls 1M - 10M as and when indicated Veratrum 30 -200 - when BP 180/110.

Report 18 Jan 2000 : complained of weakness3, loss of self confidence³ Anxiety³ - Picric-acid 30 2P 1P HS daily given.
Report 20 Jan - weakness better³ self-confidence regained.

Discussion: It will be necessary for us to explore the relationship between Picric-acid / Sepia and Picric-acid / Pulsatilla.

Life Situation: The important factor noted in the month of Dec 99 - Jan 00 she faced insecurity.

1. Husband is a builder, had too much work and unable to find time for her.
2. She stays in joint family, with responsibility of household work.
3. Looks after studies of daughter and son who study in convent school. She could sustain the strain till husband support was available, but broke down when husband's support was missing.

Reported on 20/12/99. Weakness persists, depression, loss of self-confidence. She was given Pic-ac 200 infrequent doses. 29/12/99 weakness much better, self-confidence growing; depression gone and replaced with a smile on her face.

Life Situation: The important point in her life situation was discovered in second review. There was active conflict with 82-year old MIL. She still remembers what MIL did to her in past. Lot of hidden hostility, anger, vexation and hatred towards MIL. She was in tears when she narrated her story and her relationship with MIL.

Discussion: We have to explore remedy relationship between Kali-acetate, Nat-sulph and Pic-acid. Also wait and watch how long the patient continues to respond to Picric-acid. We have to be attentive to study remedy reaction during follow up with critical analysis. This holds good for all three cases, which we have discussed.
Critical Analysis of follow up report will help us to understand whether Picric-acid was phase prescription, acute prescription or chronic prescription.

Picric-acid: (Carbozotic acid - trinitro-carbolic acid. Picric-acid was discovered by Hausman in 1788. It is formed by the action of Nit-acid, Carbo-acid, Salicin-acid, silk and many other substance.

Data Physical Properties

1. Crystal bright yellow (Needle shape or scales).
2. Bitter taste.

Toxicology: Animal poisoning: Animal poisoned with this acid develops paralysis of hind legs, slow breathing and great muscular weakness. The autopsies showed the cortex cerebri, the cerebellum, medulla-oblongata and spinal cord reduced to soft pulpy mass. Blood was dark brown in colour and loaded with little shining greasy particles.

Boger 's Synoptic Key:
The urine was rich in Phosphate and Uric acid and poor in sulphate and urates. Albumin and sugar were also found in urine.
Nerves - Brain spinal cord, Lumber Region
These symptoms and pathological observation tell us the use of Pic-acid.
Kidney, sexual organs
We can add Liver/ Blood

General Action Of Picric-Acid:
Alteration of blood, disintegration of corpuscles, degeneration of the spinal cord with paralysis and inflammation of the kidneys.

Generalities:
Bright yellow color of sclera, skin and urine. Rheumatic stitches with debility. Darting pain in various parts extending to bones. All pains last till 9 pm.
Pain < right side; Pain < left side conjunctivitis and lachrymation. TIRED Feeling with lameness- whole body. < morning on waking, with heaviness in afternoon < walking < 7 pm < least exertion > open air.

Hysteria: Allen's Handbook
PICRIC ACID - DR HERING
MIND - SENSORIUM - TISSUE LEVEL

Mind
Great indifference, lack of will - power
Cannot collect thoughts; quickly prostrated from using mind.
Disinclination for mental and physical work; desire to sit still without taking any interest in surroundings.
Mental prostration after least intellectual work; any attempt to study brings on brain symptoms anew and develops burning long spine, with great weakness of legs and back with soreness of muscles and joints.
Brain - fag.

Sensorium
Vertigo and nausea, with intense pain in frontal region and vertex, could not sit up. < raising head.
Vertigo < from stopping
< Walking
< Going upstairs

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