Carbolicum acidum
Phenol · Carbolic acid, phenol. · Human-made/chemical
This remedy is most suited to those who tend to be restless, irritable, forgetful, and bewildered. Often exhausted, they yawn and stretch constantly, and have a very acute sense of smell.Perplexing dreams leave them unrefreshed after sleep.
Carbolic ac. is used for sudden burning, pricking, stinging pains, typically with marked collapse, such as the anaphylactic shock that may follow a bee sting. It is also prescribed for malignant or septic wounds, particularly if these are linked to compound fractures. Another use of the remedy is for treating increased urine production with or without burning pain, possibly associated with diabetes or other diseases that may affect urine production. Urine is typically
black or green in color, and is accompanied by putrid, strong-smelling discharges, notably from the anus.
The remedy may additionally be used to treat vomiting due to sea sickness, pregnancy, or cancer. The vomiting is accompanied by a constant thirst for water, a tendency to belch, and abdominal pain. Offensive-smelling diarrhea, dysentery, or cholera may also be treated, as may constipation with foul breath.
Key symptoms
- Very acute sense of smell; odors cause violent symptoms
- Headache like a tight rubber band around head
- Putrid, foul discharges from all mucous surfaces
- Burning in mouth extending to stomach
- Diphtheria with fetid breath and regurgitation of liquids
- Pains terrible, coming and going suddenly
- Physical exertion brings on abscess somewhere
Worse (aggravation)
Better (amelioration)
Phenol-Carbolic Acid
Carbolic Acid is a powerful irritant and anæsthetic. A languid, foul, painless, destructive remedy. Stupor, paralysis of sensation and motion, feeble pulse and depressed breathing, death due to paralysis of respiratory centers. Acts primarily on the central nervous system. Increased olfactory sensibility.
Produces mental and bodily languor, disinclination to study, with headache like a band. Very marked acuteness of smell is a strong guiding symptom. Stomach symptoms are also important. Pains are terrible; come and go suddenly. Physical exertion brings on abscess somewhere. Putrid discharges (Bapt). Scarlet fever, with marked tendency to destruction of tissue internally, and fetid odor. Spasmodic coughs. Arthritis (See Dose).
Head
Disinclined to mental work. Tight feeling, as if compressed by a rubber band (Gels; Mahonia). Orbital neuralgia over right eye. Headache, better, by green tea; while smoking.
Nose
Smell very acute. Putrid discharge. Ozæna, with fetor and ulceration. Influenza and resulting debility.
Throat
Ulcerated patches on inside of lips and cheeks. Burning in mouth to stomach. Fauces red, and covered with exudation. Uvula whitened and shriveled. Putrid discharge. Almost impossible to swallow. Diphtheria, fetid breath, regurgitation on swallowing liquids, but little pain (Bapt). Face dusky red; white about mouth and nose. Rapid sinking of vital forces.
Stomach
Appetite lost. Desire for stimulants and tobacco. Constant belching, nausea, vomiting, dark olive green. Heat rises up œsophagus. Flatulent distention of stomach and abdomen. Painful flatulence often marked in one part of the bowel (Sulpho-Carbolate of Soda). Fermentative dyspepsia with bad taste and breath.
Stool
Constipation, with very offensive breath. Bloody, like scrapings of intestines. Great tenesmus. Diarrhœa; stools thin, black, putrid.
Urine
Almost black. Diabetes. Irritable bladder in old men with frequent urination at night, of probable prostatic nature. Use 1x.
Female
Discharges always offensive (Nitr ac; Nux; Sep). Pustules about vulva containing bloody pus. Agonizing backache across loins, with dragging-down thighs. Pain in left ovary; worse walking in open air. Erosions of cervix; fetid, acrid discharge. Leucorrhœa in children (Cann s; Merc; Puls; Sep). Puerperal fever, with offensive discharge. Irritating leucorrhœa, causing itching and burning (Kreos).
Extremities
Cramps in fore part of leg, close to tibia during walking. Gnawing pains in shin bones. Arthritis.
Skin
Itching vesicles, with burning pain. Burns tend to ulcerate.
Relationship
Compare: Chrysarobin (local in ringworm of the scalp 5-10 per cent in glycerine and alcohol. Equal parts). Ars; Kreosot; Carbo; Guano (Violent headache as from a band around head. Itching of nostrils, back, thighs, genitals. Symptoms like hay-fever).
Antidote: Alcohol; Vinegar; Chalk; Iod. Glauber's Salt in watery solution.
Incompatible: Glycerine and vegetable oils.
Dose
Third to thirtieth potency. Phenol in Arthritis, according to Goodno. Must be absolutely pure. Crystals Solution (25 %) in equal parts of water and glycerine, dose 20 minims well diluted 3 times daily (Bartlett).
Carbolic Acid. Phenol. Monoxy Benzine. Phenic Acid. Phenyl Alcohol. C6H5 OH. Solution in rectified spirit.
Clinical
Acne. Burns. Carbuncle. Cholera. Constipation. Diabetes. Diarrhœa. Dysentery. Dyspepsia. Eczema. Eructations. Erysipelas. Flatulence. Gangrene. Hydrocephalus. Influenza. Intermittent fever. Irritation. Leprosy. Meningitis. Neuralgia. Pneumonia. Psoriasis. Pityriasis versicolor. Scarlatina. Small-pox. Smell, disordered. Stomach, affections of. Toothache. Ulcers. Uræmia. Uterus, displacements of. Vomiting.
Characteristics
Carbolic acid, like the Carbons, is a powerful antiseptic, and its use as such in surgery has led incidentally to the poisoning of both patients and surgeons. These experiences have provided a number of the symptoms indicating its medicinal use. The pains of carbolic acid come suddenly. They are burning and pricking, sticking. The urine is very dark, black or blackish olive-green; grass or olive-green. There is numbness and twitching. Putrid discharges are a marked …
Glacial Carbolic Acid
The potencies are made with alcohol (an exception to the rule of preparing acids). Pains are terrible; come suddenly, last a short time, disappear suddenly (Bell., Mag. p.). Profound prostration, collapse; surface pale and bathed in cold sweat (Camph., Carbo v., Ver.). Physical exertion, even much walking, brings on abscess in some part, but generally in the right ear. - R. T. Cooper. Dull, heavy, frontal headache, as if a rubber band were stretched tightly over the forehead, from temple to temple (Gels., Plat., Sulph.). When burns tend to ulceration and ichorous discharge. Putrid discharges from mouth, nose, throat, nostrils, rectum and vagina (Anthr., Psor., Pyr.). Malignant scarlatina and variola (Am. c.). Lacerated wounds with blunt instruments; bones bare, crushed; much sloughing of soft parts (Calend.). Longing for whiskey and tobacco (Asar., Carbo. v.). Vomiting: of drunkards, in pregnancy, sea-sickness, cancer; of dark, olive-green fluid (Pyr.). Dysentery: fluid mucus, like scarpings of …
Head
Dull frontal headache, with the feeling of tightness as if an India rubber band was stretched tightly over the forehead.
Skin
Vesicular eruption all over the body, which itches excessively; better after rubbing, but leaving a burning pain.
Phatak's chapter on Carbolicum acidum is available in the app.
Read Phatak in the appClassical texts are in the public domain. Educational reference only — not medical advice.
