Preparation Of Some Important Homoeopathic Drugs From Carbon Group

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-C₆H₅NH₂^1/2 .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

1. 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-

1. 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

1. 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

1. 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-

1. 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 –

1. 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-

1. 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 200^th in sensitive patients.

REFERENCES-

1. Group study in homoeopathic material medica-Dr. JD Patil
2. Encyclopaedia of homoeopathic pharmacopoeia-vol1 edition 2002-Dr PN Verma and Dr InduVaid.
3. Encyclopaedia of Homoeopathic pharmacopoeia -vol 2 edition 2007Dr PN Verma and Dr InduVaid
4. Encyclopaedia of Homoeopathic pharmacopoeia vol 3 edition 2002 Dr PN Verma and Dr InduVaid
5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon
6. Text book of Material Medica Dr.S.K.Dubey .3^rd edition
7. Pocket Manual of Homoeopathic Materia Medica and Repertory. William Boericke MD