Ferrum Metallicum – Iron

The attenuations are prepared from metallic iron, Fe, AW: 55.85.

Along with its salts, Iron is one of the most important metals, and should be re- garded as an essential building block of the human organism, especially of the red blood corpuscles; thus it occupies a key position in the turnover of oxygen.

A typical modality (i.e. altering state) of Ferrum is the aggravation when at rest and the amelioration on slowly moving about; this is generally true of Ferrum, not only of its pains but also of its haemorrhages. This aggravation is particularly marked after midnight, with intolerance of heat, although Ferrum patients also take badly to cold. At the same time there is an increase in physical and mental irritabili- ty. (According to Dahlke, an irritable weakness.)

One of the main indications for Ferrum is anaemia with corresponding subsidiary symptoms such as vertigo, nervousness, debility and fever. Ferrum is also suggested by congestive headaches with beating and pulsation, particularly with the sensation as if the head would burst, and also with vertigo and staggering, with flushed face and cold feet.

Ferrum symptoms are particularly pronounced after mental work.

The state of ill-health formerly known as chlorosis, with pale, waxy complexion, pale lips and almost white mucosa, is nowadays more precisely defined as anaemia. Suddenly and abruptly the face can become flushed, with violent pulsation of the blood vessels and oedematous swelling in the dependent parts of the body, particu- larly the ankles, and also with shivering and palpitations. This constitutes Ferrum symptomatology. Associated with it there may also be symptoms of gastritis, linked with nausea, stomach pains, pressure in the stomach, vomiting, aversion to meat, craving for sour things and usually constipation.

There may also be muscular weakness, emaciation, fatigue after slight movement and a depressive mood. As in Calcium Carbonicum we find cold feet and fingers with hot head and face, or the face may be red but cold (pseudoplethora). The pul- sating in the occiput is worse on bending down and on coughing. The headache and facial pain may extend to the teeth and are ameliorated by cold water. The diarrhoea is painless and watery and contains undigested food, occurring after every meal and at night (cf. Ferrum Phosphoricum).

The renal area is sensitive to pressure and the urine may contain albumen or blood, or may be copious and light-coloured. Likewise Ferrum often acts beneficially in enuresis. The menses generally commence too early and are copious, mixed with wa- tery or bright red blood, including dark clots. Varicose veins in the legs may be aggra- vated during the menses. The uterine region is usually sensitive to pressure. Leucor- rhoea is also a symptom of Ferrum, and the libido may be depressed, even to the point of frigidity. Sterility or amenorrhoea often occur. Pressure and heaviness are felt in the chest, so that the patient can only walk about slowly, and there is persistent hoarseness and a dry, tickling cough, associated with a flushed face and vomiting, as in Drosera. This may be accompanied by throbbing pain in the occiput. From time to time there may be expectoration of blood-streaked mucus or of pure blood. At the same time the patient complains of fleeting stabbing pains in the chest and a sensation as if the chest were raw. These may be initial symptoms of tuberculosis.

Further indications for Ferrum include rheumatic complaints of a boring, tearing kind in the arms and legs, driving the patient out of bed at night to walk about; also hot flushes, the complexion suddenly changing from pale to red, associated with pulsation throughout the body and with weakness and trembling, sleeplessness and dyspnoea. The venous circulation is also affected, with a tendency to haemorrhage, and also to distension of the veins.

Ferrum has a typical action in rheumatism of the left shoulder, although it can also affect the right side. (Ferrum Phosphoricum, Chelidonium and Sanguinaria usually have a better effect on the right side.) Chronic digestive disturbances and vomiting in pregnancy may also be indications for Ferrum. In inflammatory rheumatic fevers,

where the body is cold with a full, strong pulse and thirst during chill, Ferrum is likewise indicated (though Ferrum Phosphoricum is better). Intercurrent doses of Ferrum should be given in chronic heart conditions with anaemia, and also in haem- orrhage when there is a sensitive, painful feeling in the affected parts (uterus or lungs). In particular an extreme degree of nervousness suggests Ferrum, and it is likewise called for in petechiae.

A few of the salts of Ferrum have certain special indications: thus Ferrum Phos- phoricum acts particularly in otitis media, inflammation of the Eustachian tubes and tonsils, dysentery, nocturnal enuresis, throat inflammations of singers and – the op- posite of Ferrum – rheumatism of the right shoulder joint. If Ferrum Phosphoricum is called for in fever, the pulse is usually full and soft.

Ferrum Picrinicum is recommended for hypertrophy of the prostate, and also in chronic tinnitus and deafness with a gouty background; also in states of nervous ex- haustion.

Ferrum Iodatum is recommended for scrofula and anaemia, in tumours, mammary and other glandular swellings, and especially for bearing-down sensations in the genitalia on sitting down (cf. Sepia, Lilium Tigrinum).

Ferrum Sulphuricum is indicated in Grave’s disease, associted with anaemia, and in morning diarrhoea.

If we sum up the symptoms of Ferrum, we have the resulting essential remedy- picture which follows.

1. Anaemia with pallor of skin and mucosa, face alternately hot and red. Cold limbs. Hot flushes.
2. Chilly. Mentally tired. Emaciated. Asthenic.
3. Haemorrhagic tendency. Petechiae. Epistaxis, usually bright red; haematemesis. Palpitations. Congestion of blood. Varices. Oedema of the legs.
4. Fever, with thirst during chill. Head and limbs are cool.
5. Dry cough with air-hunger. Hoarseness. Congestive catarrhs. Sensation of pres- sure in the chest. Stabbing in the chest. Risk of tuberculosis.
6. Weakness of the stomach. Heartburn. Vomiting. Aversion to meat. Painless diar- rhoea.
7. Enuresis. Cystitis. Nephritis. Hyperemesis.
8. Amenorrhoea or heavy menstruation with long intervals. Sterility. Indifference towards coitus.
9. Rheumatism of the left shoulder (Right: Ferrum Phos.) Neuralgias driving pa- tient out of bed.
10. Consequences of loss of vital fluids (cf. China), and retoxic impregnations (post- infectious anaemia).

The German Monograph-Preparation Commission for the Homoeopathic Field of Therapy has, under the Preparation Monograph for Ferrum metallicum, published the following indication(s) in the German Bundesanzeiger (German Federal Gazette) for ferrum metallicum: haemorrhages; anaemia; circulatory disorders; di- gestive insufficiency; neuralgia; inflammations of the respiratory passages.