Author:
Dr MEDHA V
B.H.M.S, M.D ( Hom)
Assistant Professor Yenepoya Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital
Carbon is derived from the Latin word, “carbo” meaning”coal”. It is a chemical element with symbol C and atomic number 6, which is non-metallic and tetravalent—making four electrons available to form covalent chemical bonds. It belongs to group 14 of periodic table.
Carbon is the 15th most abundant element in the Earth’s crust, and the fourth most abundant element in the universe by mass after hydrogen, helium, and oxygen. Carbon’s abundance, its unique diversity of organic compounds, and its unusual ability to form polymers at the temperatures commonly encountered on Earth enables this element to serve as a common element of all known life by forming the frame work for all the tissues of plants and animals. It is the second most abundant element in the human body by mass (about 18.5%) after oxygen.
Some of the important Homoeopathic drugs prepared from the Carbon group are:
1.AnilineSulphuricum
2.CarboAnimalis
3.CarboVegitablis
4.CarboneumSulphuratum
5.Graphitis
6.Petroleum
ANILINE SULPHURICUM (Aniline Hemisulfate)
Molecular formulae-C6H5NH21/2 .H 2SO4
Mol.wt: 142.17
Synonyms-aniline sulphuricum, phenylamine sulphate
Description-Colourless crystals,easily soluble in water and less soluble in alcohol. It is obtained from aniline and sulphuric acid. Should be kept in well stoppered vials, protected from lights.
Identification- Density 1.38.Soluble in water, insoluble in ether.
Preparation- Solution 1/10 in distilled water, freshly prepared
- Mother tincture
Drug strength 1/10
Anililnum sulphuricum-100g
Purified water in quantity sufficient to make one litre of the mother solution
- Potencies
Upto 2x distilled water/purified water freshly prepared;3x and higher in dispensing alcohol
Storage-protect lower potencies upto3x from light and air
Therapeutics- Eczema and cancerous affections.
Prescribed dose-4x and above
Caution-Toxic,unstable,sensitive to light and heat
CARBO ANIMALIS (Animal Charcoal)
Synonym-Leather charcoal
Description- It occurs as odourless, tasteless, dull black granular fragments or powder.
It may be prepared by the following process:place a thick piece of ox-hide on red hot coal, and leave it there for as long as it burns with a flame. As soon as the flame ceases, lift off the red hot mass and press it between two flat stones. Boil it with hydrochloric acid, washing thoroughly, drying and reheating.
Preparation-
- Trituration 1x
Drug strength-1/10
Carboanimalis in coarse powder-100g
Saccharum lactis-900g
To make one kg of the trituration
- Potencies
2x and higher to be triturated, 6x may be converted to liquid 8x
Therapeutics- Aneurism, Breast cancer, Grandular indurations, Haemorrhoids, Headache, Pleurisy, Sprain, Cancer of uterus.
Prescribed dose- third to thirtieth potency
CARBO VEGETABILIS(vegetable charcoal)
Synonym-Carboligni;wood charcoal; vegetable charcoal
Description-Bluish black, poroussubstance, having a peculiar glistening aspect, retaining minutely both the form and texture of the wood from which it was made. It is odourless and tasteless;insoluble and infusible. It is commonly prepared from selected birch or beach wood by heating at high temperature. The product is washed free of mineral matter and dried.
Identification-when heated in air it is converted into carbondioxide; when burnt it should give no smoke or unpleasant odour; absence of flame shows freedom from organic compounds.
Preparation
- Trituration
Drug strength-1/10
Carbovegetabilis in fine powder-100g
Saccharum lactis-900g
To make one kg of the trituration
- Potencies
2x and higher to be triturated,6x may be converted to liquid 8x
Storage-preserve in well closed containers
Therapeutics- Acne, Angina pectoris, Aphonia, Asthma, Bronchitis, Carbuncle, Cholera, Emphysema, Gangrene, Haemorrhoids, Headache, Measles, Orchitis, Otorrhoea.
Prescribed dose-first to third trituration in stomach disorders. Thirtieth potency and higher in chronic conditions and in collapse.
CARBONEUM SULPHURATUM(alcohol sulphuris-bisulphide of carbon)
Molecular formulae-CS2
Mol.wt.-76.14
Synonym-carbon disulphide
Description- A clear, colourless or yellow, mobile, highly refractive and very inflammable liquid. Poisonous. Prepared by heating charcoal with vaporized sulphur.
Identification-It burns with a blue flame, forming CO2 and SO2
Preparation
- Mother tincture
Drug strength 1/10
Carbonium sulphuratum 100ml
Strong alcohol in sufficient quantity to make one litre of mother tincture
- Potencies
2x and higher with dispensing alcohol
Storage-Keep in well closed container, in a cool place, remote from flame
Therapeutics-Impotency,Sciatica,Peripheral.
Prescribed dose- First attenuation. Locally in facial neuralgia and sciatica.
GRAPHITES (Black lead, Plumbago)
Molecular formulae-Pb
At.wt: 207.2
Synonym- black lead
Description-Blackish-grey,soft,unctuous, lustrous,solid composed of hexagonal crystalline scales; odourless. Next to diamond it is the purest form of mineral carbon, and occurs in nature.
Preparation-
- Trituration 1x
Drug strength 1/10
Graphites in fine powder-100g
Saccharum lactis-900g
To make one kg of the trituration
- Potencies
2x and higher to be triturated, 6x may be converted to liquid 8x
Therapeutics- Anemia, Cancer, Haemorrhoids, Headache, Menopausal Syndrome.
Prescribed dose- sixth to thirtieth potency.
PETROLEUM (crude rock oil)
Synonym-oleum petrae album, rockoil, coal oil
Description-a dark yellow to brown or greenish- black, oilyliquid: odour and taste characteristic. Inflammable and burns with a bright sooty flame. It is the native rock oil and consists essentially of a mixture of hydrocarbons, both aliphatic and aromatic. The substance as used by Hahnemann can be obtained by agitating the liquid portion of crude rock oil with sulphuric acid, and rectifying the portion upon which the acid does not react.
Wt. per ml: 0.777 to 0.865.
Identification- dropped on white paper, it evaporates completely leaving no greasy stain.
Preparation –
- Mother tincture 2x
Drug strength 1/100
Petroleum-10ml
Strong alcohol in sufficient quantity
To make one litre of the mother tincture.
- Potencies
3x and higher with dispensing alcohol
Storage-preserve in well stoppered bottles
Therapeutic-Anaemia,Angina pectoris, Eczema, Haemorrhoids, Headache, Peptic ulcer, Psoriasis, Rheumatism.
Prescribed dose-third to thirtieth and higher potencies
KREOSOTUM (Beech wood kreosote)
Synonyms-creosote
Description- Almost colourless or yellowish,highly refractive, oily liquid. Penetrating,smoky odour and a burning,caustic taste. It is commonly obtained from pyroligneous acid, a product from distillation of wood, preferably beech wood.
Preparation-
- Mother tincture
Drug strength 1/10
Kreosotum 100ml
Strong alcohol in sufficient quantity
To make one litre of the mother solution
- Potencies
2x and higher with dispensing alcohol
Potencies upto 6x to be prepared freshly
Storage-preserve in a well closed container, protected from light.
Therapeutics- Carbuncle, Cholera, Haemorrhoids, Rheumatism, Ulcers, Urine incontinence.
Prescribed dose – third to thirtieth dose .The 200th in sensitive patients.
REFERENCES-
- Group study in homoeopathic material medica-Dr. JD Patil
- Encyclopaedia of homoeopathic pharmacopoeia-vol1 edition 2002-Dr PN Verma and Dr InduVaid.
- Encyclopaedia of Homoeopathic pharmacopoeia -vol 2 edition 2007Dr PN Verma and Dr InduVaid
- Encyclopaedia of Homoeopathic pharmacopoeia vol 3 edition 2002 Dr PN Verma and Dr InduVaid
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon
- Text book of Material Medica Dr.S.K.Dubey .3rd edition
- Pocket Manual of Homoeopathic Materia Medica and Repertory. William Boericke MD