Fluoricum Acidum – Fluoric Acid

The attenuations are prepared from Hydrofluoric acid, HF, MW: 20.01.

Corresponding to the seriously destructive effect of fluoric acid on organic tissues, the homoeopathic preparation is indicated in destructive processes such as bed- sores, ulcerations, varicose ulcers and the like, with deeper tissues also being affect- ed. The patient is ameliorated by movement (and by driving in a car).

Fluoric Acid is indicated in a great variety of geriatric problems, especially in pre- maturely aged patients with weak circulation; also alcoholic patients with cirrhosis of the liver. Goitre can also be an indication for Fluoric Acid, also premature loss of teeth, caries and the consequences of mercury poisoning and chronic syphilis.

A typical sign of Fluoric Acid is a swelling of the glabella, with distension and coating of the root of the nose.

This remedy causes great lassitude with burning or boring pains in the facial bones, lower arms and thighs. The pains may occur diagonally, e.g. on the right side in the upper half of the body and on the left side in the lower half. Complaints are aggravated by sitting, being in a room, and by mental exertion; they are ameliorated by standing and walking. There is also aggravation from stimulants (coffee, alcohol), and from warmth.

In an unusually cheerful mood, irritability may occur, with vilification of one’s friends and indifference to one’s own family.

The actual symptoms which make up the picture of Fluoric Acid are often difficult to fathom, as they are also found in other remedies. One thinks first and foremost of Fluoric Acid when one sees the puffiness of the glabella, and in inflammatory con- ditions with formation of vesicles and enlargement of the capillaries of the skin; also if the hair is falling out and there is brittleness of the nails and the palms of the hands are hot and sweaty.

Fluoric Acid is also indicated in diseases of the bones, particularly caries of the long bones and pains in the long bones at night, as also found in osteoporosis. Fur- ther indications are nervous disturbances with orgasms of blood, ravenous hunger and abnormal sexual arousal. Also acrid discharges, chronic rheumatism and ulcera- tion of the tongue of a syphilitic nature are indications.

Typical symptoms which may also lead us to this remedy are: increased salivation at night (cf. Mercurius Sol. Hahnemanni), increased appetite and hunger which may increase to the point of gluttony, with a craving for spicy foods and coffee. There may be heartburn and offensive eructations, also abdominal pains with frequent

rumbling and distension, discharge of foul-smelling flatus with loose stools morning and evening and diarrhoea at night, possibly with haemorrhoids, prolapse of the anus and pruritus ani.

There is a typical sticking pain, maybe with drawing, in the right testicle, towards the inguinal ring, and typical skin symptoms include pustular and vesicular erup- tions and itching in old scar tissue, and especially soreness of the nipples and mam- mary glands with redness and itching of the skin.

In fever, cool air is welcome. The perspiration of Fluoric Acid is copious, pungent and offensive.

Certain spinal symptoms, especially in the area of the sixth thoracic vertebra, make us think of Fluoric Acid as a possibly effective remedy in Scheuermann’s dis- ease, especially when spasmodic contractions are present in the neck muscles and there is paraesthesia of one hand or one arm, and possibly a battered sensation in the left hip with pains in the knee joints, the legs easily going to sleep and the ankles being painful as a result of spinal disorders. In such cases Fluoric Acid must be used with perseverance, preferably as a single remedy.

The catarrhal symptoms may include colds and attacks of coughing in the larynx, with expectoration of frothy mucus (cf. Phosphorus).

If we summarise the most important symptoms of Fluoric Acid we find the fol- lowing symptom-picture:

1. Mostly chronic affections with destruction of tissue and organs, especially in the skeletal area (long bones and spine). Scheuermann’s disease. Nervous irritation proceeding from the spine, especially neck muscles and sixth thoracic vertebra. Paraesthesia in arms and legs. Pains in the bones at night. Pains in the coccyx.
2. Lassitude. Inclination to motion without getting tired, with burning or boring pains from irritation of nerves. Complaints occur diagonally, better for standing, driving and walking, worse sitting, in a room and after mental exertion. Air- hunger “like internal suffocation”.
3. Cheerful mood but indifference towards the family and possible maliciousness to- wards friends. Feels like “a poor wretch”.
4. Pustular and vesicular eruptions on the skin and on scar tissue with itching. Nails break off. Ulcers of the lower leg. Naevi. Prostration. Bedsores. Falling out of hair. Vesicular eczema and prominence of the capillaries in the skin.
5. Fever without chill, with copious, pungent and offensive sweat. Amelioration from cool air.
6. Swimming in the head with swaying and a heavy sensation. Itching in the inner canthi, “like wind blowing through the eyes”.
7. Catarrhal laryngitis and bronchitis with a short, dry cough. Ulceration of the tongue. Caries of the teeth. Insatiable appetite; “gluttony”. Diarrhoea with foul- smelling flatus. Pains radiating from the testicle to the inguinal ring. Swollen scrotum. Leucorrhoea with ulceration of the cervix.
8. Scanty, dark, strong urine. Has a diuretic action.
9. A typical leading symptom is the swelling of the glabella with amelioration from driving and motion.

The German Monograph-Preparation Commission for the Homoeopathic Field of Therapy has, under the Preparation Monograph for Acidum hydrofluoricum, pub- lished the following indication(s) in the German Bundesanzeiger (German Federal Gazette) for acidum fluoricum: suppuration; fistulas; inflammations and decalcifi- cation of the bones; inflammations of the periosteum and the joints; deficiencies of the connective tissues such as varicose veins and varicose ulcers; gastroptosis; goi- terous disorders; various diseases of the skin and integumentary appendages; hyper- activity; conditions of emotional upset.