Synonyms

Magnesium Phosphoricum.

Common Name

Phosphate of Magnesia.

Chemical Properties

Formula, Mg HPO4, 7H2O. It is made by mixing phosphate of soda with sulphate of magnesia. The crystals resulting are six-sided, needle-like. They have a cooling, sweetish taste. They are sparingly soluble in water; 322 parts dissolving one part after standing a long time. Boiling decomposes it. It exists in the grains of cereals, and can be detected in considerable quantity in beer.

Preparation

The salt is triturated according to Class VII, American Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia.

Physiologico-Chemical Data

It is an earthy constituent of muscle, nerves, bone, brain, teeth and blood corpuscles. A disturbance of its molecular motion causes cramps, pains and paralysis. Schiissler says that the action of Magnes. phos. is the reverse of that of iron. By functional disturbance of the molecules of the latter the muscular fibres relax; through the functional disturbances of the magnesium molecules they contract; hence it is the remedy for cramps, convulsions and other nervous phenomena.

General Action

Diseases having their seat in the nerve-fibre cells or in the terminal bulbs of the nerves, in the muscles or in the muscular tissue itself, are cured by this remedy. Pains which are darting, spasmodic in character, boring, lightning-like, accompanied by a constrictive feeling. They are often changing in locality, and are relieved by warmth and pressure. It is purely antispasmodic, and hence is curative in cramps, spasms of the glottis, tetanus, epilepsy, spasmodic retention of the urine, paralysis agitans, etc. It is best adapted to lean, thin, emaciated persons of a highly nervous organization, and prefers light complexion and the right side of the body. Cold in general favors its action exceedingly, whereas heat and pressure interfere with it. Hence the patient is relieved by these. Attacks are often attended with great prostration and sometimes with profuse sweat. The Magnes. phos. patient is languid, tired, exhausted, unable to sit up, whether he is suffering from acute or chronic affections.

Quitting Symptoms and General Characteristics.

Mental Symptoms

Illusions of the senses, forgetful, dulness and inability to think clearly, indisposition to mental effort. Sobbing with lamenting. Laments all the time about the pain, with hiccoughing. Talking to herself constantly or sitting still in moody silence. Carries things from place to place.

Head And Scalp

Brain troubles of children, with unconsciousness and convulsive symptoms. Headache, pains shooting, darting, stabbing, shifting, intermittent, spasmodic, paroxysmal and neuralgic, always relieved by the application of warmth. Nervous headaches with sparks before the eyes. Very acute pains in the head, more in young and strong persons, constant while attending school or after mental labor, or from any injurious stimulus. Pain on top and back of head extending down the spine, most severe between the shoulders. Headache from occiput, spreading over whole head with nausea and chilliness. Scalp feels rough; much dandruff; pustules.

Eyes

Vision affected, sees colors before the eyes (chroma-topsia), sparks, eyes sensitive to light, photophobia, diplopia, pupils contracted, dullness of vision from involvement of the optic nerve or retina. Dark spots float before the eyes. Nystagmus, spasmodic squinting, ptosis or drooping of the eyelids. Twitching of eyelids. Orbital and supraorbital neuralgias, worse on the right side and relieved by warmth applied externally, and exquisitely sensitive to touch. Increased lachrymation with the pain. Itching of lids. "Retinitis Pigmentosa" (R. S. C).

Ears

Weakness of the auditory nerve-fibres causing deafness. Otalgia purely nervous in character, better from heat. Neuralgic pain worse behind right ear, made worse by going into cold air and washing face and neck in cold water. " A remedy to be thought of in all forms of internal ear disease." (Copeland).

Nose

Loss or perversion of the sense of smell, even without catarrhal troubles. Alternate stoppage and profuse gushing discharge. Smarting and rawness, worse left side. Cold in head, alternately dry and loose.

Face

Neuralgia, supra- and infra-orbital. Prosopalgia, lightning-like pains, intermittent, always better from warmth; worse on touch, pressure, cold and on right side, at 2 p. m. and in bed. Neuralgic pains of right side, from infra-orbital foramen to incisor tooth, gradually radiating over the entire right side of face, worse by touch, opening the mouth, cold air and when body gets cold. From washing or standing in cold water. From exposure to a strong north wind.

Mouth

Convulsive twitchings of the angles of mouth. Sensation of painful contraction at articulation of lower jaw, with backward jerking. Spasmodic stammering. Trismus; lock-jaw.

Tongue

Generally clean with pain in stomach; coated white with diarrhoea; bright red, with rawness in mouth, left side sore, smarting like canker-sore, making eating painful as if scalded.

Teeth

Very sensitive to touch or cold air. Cannot brush teeth with cold water. Toothache worse after going to bed, changes place rapidly; worse from cold things, cold washing; better by heat and hot liquids (if cold, Ferr. phos., Bry., Coff.). Severe pains in decayed or filled teeth. Ulceration of teeth with swelling of glands of face, throat and neck and swelling; of tongue. Complaints of teething; children. Spasms without febrile symptoms.

Throat

Soreness and stiffness, especially right side; parts seem puffy, with chilliness and aching all over; swallowing painful with pain in back of head. Must swallow. Dropping from posterior nares, with sneezing and rough throat. Spasm of the glottis. Spasmodic constriction of the throat on attempting to swallow liquids, with choking sensation.