Introduction to Acid Phos (Acidum Phosphoricum)

Hi I’m Dr Imran Ali and welcome back to the Homeopathy Materia Medica Series. Today I’ll be discussing phosphoric acid or phosphoricum acidum.

This homeopathic preparation is made from phosphoric acid which is a corrosive inorganic acid compound that comes in various chemical configurations. Don’t be confused by the fact that some sources refer to the same remedy as acidum phosphoricum. Dr Samuel Hahnemann used metal phosphoric acid to make his original preparation of this remedy. It’s a clear glassy solid represented by the chemical formula H₃PO₄.

It’s also referred to as glacial phosphoric acid. Phosphoric acid can be extracted from the bones of animals and, of particular importance to us, is the fact that it’s an ingredient commonly used in making carbonated drinks, especially Cola drinks. I urge you to keep this in mind as we discuss the materia medica of phosphoric acid.

Other Common Acid Remedies In Homeopathy

According to one source, there are 37 homeopathic remedies made from acids. These include some well-known remedies such as:

• Nitric acid
• Moric acid
• Picric acid
• Fluoric acid
• Sulfuric acid
• Benzoic acid
• Oxalic acid

Of course, there are lots more. An acid is a substance that has the capacity to burn through various materials. Correspondingly, the homeopathic acid remedies are often indicated for those who suffer from some kind of burnout. The causes and symptoms of burnout differ from one acid remedy to the next. Phosphoric acid happens to be one of our most commonly indicated burnout remedies.

Theme of Phosphoric Acid

The underlying theme of phosphoric acid is best characterized as a struggle with adversity that leads to emotional burnout. This burnout manifests primarily as exhaustion and indifference.

The person who needs phosphoric acid has had to endure a particularly difficult ordeal. I’ll talk about the nature of this ordeal later on, but right now I want to describe the burnout state itself:

• The person begins to collapse emotionally.
• There is no energy left to care about anything.
• All that remains is a combination of fatigue and apathy.

Fatigue

The first factor to consider is fatigue. Regardless of the specific nature of adversity, it sucks the life out of the phosphoric acid type. He is tired and worn out, especially on the emotional level. Fatigue begins on the emotional level and can sometimes extend to the physical and mental levels.

• Also Read: Argenticum Nitricum – The Remedy For Anxiety

He feels unable to cope with the emotional demands of events. As a result, he may feel nothing or complain of feeling numb. He is weak, drained, and chronically fatigued. Any emotional strain or exertion only leads to further exhaustion.

Although the books emphasize that it is a remedy for grief, it looks more like a state of collapse than actual grief. Some references describe phosphoric acid as being indolent and list it in repertories under indolence. Technically, indolent implies a lazy aversion to work. While phosphoric acid may appear lazy, the real issue is that he doesn’t have the energy to exert himself emotionally, physically, or mentally.

Fatigue can manifest as:

• Forgetfulness
• Weak mind, especially after grief
• Losing interest in activities (listless)

Indifference State of Acid Phos

The primary manifestation of phosphoric acid’s fatigue is apathy or indifference. This is the first impression we get when a patient presents:

• Flat affect and expressionless, lacking energy to show emotion.
• Appears washed out, burnt out, lifeless.
• May lose interest in previously exciting activities.
• May say things like: “What’s the point?”, “Who cares?”, “There’s no use in trying.”
• Prefers to be left alone, brooding silently.
• Chronic “couch potato” behavior – watching TV, avoiding social interactions.

Indifference is listed under many rubrics:

• Mind indifference
• Indifference on waking
• Indifference with emaciation and weakness
• Indifference during fever
• Indifference with weariness
• Indifference about business
• Indifference to life itself

Important Triggers of Acid Phos

The specific circumstance is less important than the overall toll on the person. Factors likely to produce a phosphoric acid state include:

• Grief, loss, and disappointed love
• Severe or prolonged illness
• Slow recovery after surgery
• Bad news, over-study, embarrassment
• Deceived friendship, drug abuse, alcoholism

Generals & Modalities of Phosphoric Acid

Phosphoric acid tends to manifest on the mental/emotional level, nervous system (hypericum the nerves remedy), musculoskeletal system, and gastrointestinal tract. It often fits tall, thin body types and adolescents who have undergone growth spurts.

Food & Drink Preferences:

• Desire for refreshing things: fruits, cold juicy drinks, carbonated drinks
• Likes cold milk
• Bubbles/carbonation help temporarily rouse them from fatigue
• Sour fruits or drinks may aggravate

Other General Modalities:

• Chilly, aggravated by cold air, drafts, or cold damp weather
• Unrefreshed on waking, difficulty getting going in the morning
• Symptoms worse from cold, better from warmth
• Excessive loss of bodily fluids aggravates (blood loss, urine, diarrhea)
• Sleep temporarily ameliorates symptoms
• Symptoms may worsen from noise, music, sexual excess, or masturbation

Physical Symptoms & Tendencies of Acid Phos

• Chronic fatigue from mononucleosis, diabetes, colitis, hair loss, grief
• Hair loss: head, eyebrows, beard; premature graying
• Diarrhea caused by grief, may be painless or involuntary
• Bone pain worse at night, osteomyelitis
• Night sweats, dryness of mucous membranes, milky/curdled urine
• Indicated for children/adolescents, growing pains, homesickness
• Headaches, bone pains, heart palpitations associated with growth spurts

Remedy Relationships of Acid Phos

Comparisons with other remedies:

• China: Compliment to phosphoric acid, ailments from loss of vital fluids
• Sepia: Apathetic/indifferent, usually hormonal reasons
• Silica: Tall, thin, fatigued, not apathetic
• Calc. Phos: Tall, thin, unrefreshed in morning, growing pains
• Phosphorus: Growing pains, desires cold refreshing things
• Helleborus: Slow to answer, apathy from nervous system injury
• Carcinosin: Chronic fatigue, never well since illness
• Picric acid: Mental fatigue, collapse, mental exertion
• Gelsemium: Weakness and fatigue after fright

Conclusion

That’s my take on phosphoric acid. Thanks for reading! Please comment, and share.

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