A study of the remedy:Mag-phos
NATIONAL JOURNAL OF HOMOEOPATHY 2004 May / Jun VOL VI NO 3.
Dr Bhavini Shah
'Mag-phos

(I knew Mag-phos only as a spasmodic, acute remedy. To make my learning complete from the Sinusitis case of Dominating Father, (Editor: Due to space constraints, this case will appear in 04/04 ENT II) I tried to study Mag-ph, and have put this initial study here. I mainly referred to the following books:

Before going to the remedy Mag-phos directly, I wanted to first understand Magnesium in general and go to the core of the remedy MAGNESIUM. Not a very well used or well-proved remedy, I felt my study may benefit others as well, so I have put it in the HMM section of this issue.

Magnesium plays a vital role in the life of plants and animals. It takes part in duplication of RNA and DNA and thus has a role to play in heredity. It acts as a co-factor in enzymes activity like ATP required for transmission especially in neuromuscular junction. Increase in Magnesium concentration in ECF causes decrease in Acetylcholine release and low Magnesium level causes increase in the same. Thus, Magnesium regulates the muscular activity leading to skeletal muscle depression or excitability. Hypomagnesaemia also causes psychotic behavior and disorientation. In Magnesium metabolism, hypomagnesaemia causes diarrhoea and steatorrhoea. Also produces Delirium Pre menses. In new born and rapidly growing children - produces seizures, exaggerated tendon reflexes, irritability and various behavioral disorders.

Group symptoms
Since, it forms part of the core of the cell, along with Calc, Kali and Natrum, it becomes a deep acting constitutional remedy, its expression being in all the 4 Miasms.
Mind forms the core of Magnesium

1. It is suitable to infants, children and women who are malnourished with flabbiness.
2. Spasmodic effects:
   1. Cramps everywhere-thighs, bowels, stomach and severe dysmenorrheoa > flow (Mag-ph). Flatulent colic > bending double, writer’s cramp.
   2. Hiccoughs
   3. Vomiting
   4. Cough
3. Neuralgias
4. Paralytic effect or relaxations: nocturnal enuresis, nervousness and irritation, prostatic fluid escaping with flatulence. Pt can pass urine only by bending down.
5. Tendency to suppuration and scar formation. Pus is usually yellow in colour, thick with acne < before menses and leaving scars.
6. Discharges: Profuse, black thick or lumpy, sticky, indelible staining.
7. Well marked periodicity - 2^nd and 21^st day
8. Modalities: < cold, < milk. > heat, > bending, > motion, > pressure
9. Mind: Predominant anxiety and fear which is repressed. So at a conscious level no anxiety. But is expressed in dreams at subconscious level. Also second polarity is there could be no dreams at all which indicate severe repression. They might be sleepless and cannot think of the reason why there is no sleep. Specially seen in rejected children. Frustration and greater demand for security, love and recognition.

They need nourishment and care from parents to come out of the forsaken feeling.
They have a history of being neglected in some way. So they become self sufficient, self confident, unaffected, composed and undemanding. They not only take care of themselves, but also of others, especially the mother.
They feel the need to be independent and to defend themselves against the hurt.
Clinical symptoms are differentiated according to the compounds.

Magnesium-Phosphoricum
It is a great antispasmodic remedy for cramps, convulsions, neuralgia; thus, has action on nerves and muscles.
Constitution: Especially, suited to tired, languid, exhausted subjects.

Key notes
Right sided affection: Head, ear, face, chest, ovary, sciatic nerve.
Aches and Pains: Sudden violent paroxysms of neuralgic pains, sharp, shooting like lightning, boring, constricting, extorting cries, causing restlessness and prostration. Pain changing places frequently-wandering pains.

Pains so severe, pt is compelled to bend double.
Good drug for tics, twitching, chorea, hiccoughs, yawning.
Cramps and convulsions: A/F overuse and over-exertion - writer’s cramp, violin or piano player’s cramp.
Sudden stiffness of fingers and fingers, which cannot perform their work.
Patient screams with violent cramps in dysentery and cholera morbis.

Convulsions in adults and children (during dentition) followed by extreme sensitiveness to touch, wind, noise, excitement. Convulsions with stiffness of limbs and thumbs drawn in.
Wonderful remedy for spasmodic hiccough
Nocturnal enuresis: from nervous irritation or after catheterization.
Tongue: Clean.
Female: Menses early, profuse, dark and stringy flow with sharp, shooting pain like lightning < right side. Pain <before menses, > when flow begins

Good drug for goiter, facial palsy, Parkinsonism. Gives good results in children with complaints of dentition. Also helps for severe toothache in adults.
Thermal: Chilly.
Modalities: A/F standing in cold water, cold bathing, working in cold clay, < cold air, draft, <uncovering. < touch, < periodicity, < night, < milk, < exhaustion.
> warmth, > pressure, > doubling up, > rubbing.
Mind: Children feel they can not learn fast for which they will be blamed and not sent to the school, and thus lose their opportunity to study. Indisposition to study or to mental work - drowsiness on every attempt to study. Fear of being alone, death.

Mentally these patients are pessimistic, aggressive, fear of loss and lot of pains. At the same time, they are affectionate, sympathetic, acquainted with friends, neighbours, brothers, communicate with everyone very easily. They are homesick, like to travel, have great curiosity to know things. They are very restless.

They have fear that their aggression will take away the possibility to contact, that if they say something wrong, the person might break off the friendship. So, they are careful not to offend anyone. But this also makes them very tense. They are afraid of quarrels, in case the fragile contact breaks. Later, they start avoiding contacts, because the tension increases. Eg a person suppressed by the aggressive brother, not allowed to express her views, becomes withdrawn and timid.

Patient has TREMENDOUS anxiety about her health. Always talking about her pains.

Comparison: Colocynth also has spasmodic pain > bending double and > warmth. But in Colo it is pressure factor which helps, while in Mag-phos it is warmth in the form of human touch, which soothes.

Colic Remedies : Differentiation

Verat-alb	Pul	Staph	Mag-ph	Medo
Colic with cramps commencing in hands and feet all over the body. Cold sweat on forehead. Profuseness of all discharges. Great prostration.	Paroxysmal pain, shifting pains One sided neuralgia with great chilliness. Desires cold open air Thirstlessness.	Neuralgia of shoulder joint and arm. Right side affections. > open air < heat < hard pressure	Right sided affections. Shooting pains. Wandering from one part to another. < cold air > heat > hard pressure	Burning of extremities. Hot patient with coldness of all parts, still patient wants to be uncovered and fanned. Restlessness. Trembling all over the body. Soreness of all parts < heat < uncovering < sunrise to sunset < thinking about the complaints > seashore > lying on abdo >damp weather

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