BUTYRICUM ACIDUM – Part 1
Series on study of small/rare remedies from Boericke’s Materia Medica
Introduction –
Butyric acid is one of the remedies found in Boericke but not in Clarke.Others like Anshutz and Jullian have also written about it, Murphy has drawn heavily from Anshutz.
Butyric acid is a remedy we neglect just like the way we do for many remedies in Boericke.My perception towards this remedy changed when I read what Sir George Vithoulkas wrote.Butyric acid remains neglected because we either are no sure about the authenticity of its proving or just like many other remedies from Boericke it remains neglected due to symptomatology which seems to covered by many other drugs especially polychrests.
Source – A volatile acid obtained chiefly from butter, being found there in the form of an ester, a triglyceride and as such constitutes the chief fat of butter and milk.
Butyric acid is a reliable medicine whose proving is quite sound, unlike some other provings about which I have great reservations.
This remedy is indicated in cases of fatty infiltration or fatty degeneration of the liver, in cases of gastritis, spastic colitis, enteritis, or viral infections of the guts. In all such cases, the main indication is the excessive accumulation and expulsion of gas from the abdomen or stomach. You may try this remedy in cases of excessive gas formation or expulsion of gas instead of stool, where other remedies such as Lycopodium, Arg-n., Raphanus, Gambogia or Podophyllum have failed. Other indications for this remedy are lumbago, sciatica or arthritic conditions accompanying liver or gastric symptoms. (Vithoulkas)
There is much more to be known about Butyric acid.We shall study the detailed drug picture and mind in part 2 of this article.
Mentioning some single remedy rubrics here
GENERALS – DIABETES MELLITUS – accompanied by – gallstones: (1) but-ac.
SLEEP – RESTLESS – digestive complaints, from: (1) but-ac.
EXTREMITIES – DIRTY – Nails – Fingernails: (1) but-ac.
BACK – PAIN – Lumbar region – walking – agg. – dull pain: (1) but-ac.
BACK – PAIN – Lumbosacral region – standing agg. – dull pain: (1) but-ac.
BACK – PAIN – Lumbosacral region – extending to – Hip: (1) but-ac.
BACK – PAIN – Lumbosacral region – extending to – Hip – dull pain: (1) but-ac.
MOUTH – BLEEDING – Gums – thick: (1) but-ac.
MOUTH – DISCHARGE – offensive – Gums; from – menses; during: (1) but-ac.
STOMACH – PAIN – Pit of stomach – cramping – followed by – palpitations: (1) but-ac.
ABDOMEN – DISTENSION – accompanied by – respiration; painful: (1) but-ac.
ABDOMEN – PAIN – bending – forward – amel. – knees drawn up; with: (1) but-ac.
BLADDER – URINATION – urging to urinate – sudden – women; in: (1) but-ac.
FEMALE GENITALIA/SEX – LEUKORRHEA – offensive – horse’s urine, like: (1) but-ac. + (1)
RESPIRATION – PAINFUL – accompanied by – Hypochondrium; fullness of: (1) but-ac.
CHEST – PALPITATION OF HEART – accompanied by – Hypochondrium; sensation of fullness in: (1) but-ac.
Clinical tips
Food – Fats aggravation in infants (Bacillus Gaertner also has this)
Palpitation of heart accompanied by abdominal distention – Butyric acid,Abies can
Profuse offensive sweat of feet. Crumbling away of nails; perspiration on slight exertion
