Plasticum

Plastic (Wrap); Cling Film; the proving substance is plasticized polyvinyl chloride (PVC) food wrap. PVC's polymer repeating unit derives from the monomer vinyl chloride / chloroethene (IUPAC), C2H3Cl, CAS 75-01-4; common flexible-film plasticizers are ortho-phthalate esters (e.g. DEHP). · Plastic Wrap, Cling Film, Cling-film, food-wrap plastic, PVC film

Modern MM

A modern man-made-substance remedy from PVC cling-film. Sphere of action centres on themes of being wrapped, enclosed or contained versus a wish to escape; issues of body image, appearance and feeling unattractive; connection versus separation/estrangement in everyday social life; oscillation between vivacious, talkative, hyper-organised, fastidiously clean states and overwhelmed, spaced-out, demotivated, panicky states. Physically it touches skin (dryness, chapping, herpes simplex), the female/hormonal sphere (PMT, painful periods), temperature regulation, headaches and fatigue.

Key symptoms

Feeling wrapped, enclosed or caged, with a desire to "escape" the pressure of everyday life. A connection-versus-separation/estrangement theme experienced while going about ordinary daily business. Preoccupation with body image, appearance and feeling unattractive, with embarrassment, lack of confidence and low self-esteem. Two contrasting states: (1) vivacious, loquacious, exhilarated, multitasking, fastidiously tidy and keen to clean, precise, focused; OR (2) overwhelmed, spaced out, loss of sense of time, absent-minded, procrastinating, sad and unmotivated, with panicky feelings. Heightened senses (noise, odours). Dry/chapped skin and brittle flaking nails; herpes simplex (especially with periods). PMT and painful periods. Foul/musty perspiration and breath. Fatigue and a sense of being "crushed by life," absence of joy. Better open air, eating, bowel movements and expressing feelings; worse alcohol. (Picture from the 2007 South Downs proving document; remedy described by its own coordinator as still provisional.)

Worse (aggravation)

Morning; evening; alcohol; possible tendency to right-sided symptoms. (Per the proving document's modalities section.)

Better (amelioration)

Open air; eating; bowel movements; expressing thoughts and feelings; daytime aggravation easing toward early evening.

Manohar V Nagaiah

Materia Medica of Modern Homeopathic Medicine · 2026

Plastic Wrap, Cling Film, Cling-film, food-wrap plastic, PVC film

Source & Nature

PLASTICUM, proved and used clinically under the name Plastic (Wrap) or Cling Film, is the homeopathic preparation of commercial plasticized polyvinyl-chloride (PVC) food wrap, potentised in England. It is a modern man-made-substance remedy rather than a single chemical: PVC is a thermoplastic polymer (monomer vinyl chloride / chloroethene, C2H3Cl, CAS 75-01-4) made flexible by ortho-phthalate plasticizers such as DEHP.

The substance was chosen because of the recognised toxicology of plastics — phthalate plasticizers leach into fatty foods and have oestrogen-mimicking / endocrine-disrupting activity, and vinyl-chloride monomer is a known carcinogen. The provers therefore anticipated effects on sex hormones, fertility and skin (a petroleum-derived material).

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Classical texts are in the public domain. Educational reference only — not medical advice.