POLYCHRESTS

ARG-NIT
ARSENICUM
AURUM
BRYONIA
CALC-CARB
CAUSTICUM
CHINA
IGNATIA
KALI-CARB
LACHESIS
LILIUM-TIG
LYCOPODIUM
MERCURIUS
NAT-MUR
NUX-VOM
PHOSPHOROUS
PLATINA
PULSATILLA
RHUS-TOX
SEPIA
SILICA
STAPHYSAGRIA
SULPHUR
THUJA
VERATRUM

Sulphur
Sulphur is one of the greatest of "polychrests" (drugs of many uses), - It is almost impossible to make brief the essential points about Sulphur, for the scope of the remedy is so vast that almost any characteristic which can be mentioned, may seem to be contradicted by equally characteristic but opposite symptoms. Sulphur is certainly our most frequently prescribed remedy, and as Kent once said, one cannot tell the difference between an experienced prescriber and a novice on the basis of how often he uses Sulphur - only on how successfully he uses it.
Sulphur is more predominantly a man's remedy. There are two main types of personalities for this remedy.
1) <<The philosophical type>> who has great intellectual interest but poor connection with friends and family. He is a truly deep thinker, looking long at profound questions in a detached manner. His intelligence tends to set him apart from others and he becomes egotistical concerning his mind and accomplishments. His greatest desire would be to discover some truth or knowledge which will make him famous. He is ambitious, intellectual, detached. This gives him a cynical and condescending attitude. He may even feel disgust for others. His self-confidence is unshakable.
2) <<The "practical idealist">> whose main focus is on service and social interaction. This type of patient tends to be extroverted, friendly, charming, and to some extent innocent. People depend upon him; he is vital and enthusiastic. This type needs approval and affection from other people, though he seems to have a lot of confidence, he searches for acknowledgement. Though he may seem to bluster egotistically, he does so in a naive way which is not offensive. He can be very generous. This patient can have a lot of anxiety, often about the health and about his family. He may go into periods of moroseness and anxiety or depression.
<<Women.>> The female Sulphur patient may not show the same personality as seen in the male. Though she may be egotistical and intellectual, often she seems to have a greater focus on business and practical matters. She is highly competent, enjoys keeping busy, is alert and quick-witted. There is another type of Sulphur woman who, though intelligent and accomplished, appears very scattered and disorganized. Also there is often a somewhat masculine or domineering quality to the typical Sulphur woman. She enjoys positions of authority, control and responsibility. Emotional symptoms will be brought out by the family rather than the patient herself. The family complains mainly about the patient's obstinacy and irritability. There can also be a great deal of anxiety and hypochondria. The patient is often stout but very solid in build.
<<Laziness>> is one of the grand characteristics of the Sulphur patient. He constantly procrastinates in his tasks. He thinks of many projects but rarely undertakes them. He may prefer to sit and discuss philosophy to actually working on practical matters. One Sulphur patient expressed this trait by reading many magazine reviews of books because, although he wished to be well-versed on current literature, he just couldn't find the effort needed to read the book itself.
<<Slovenliness>> is another characteristic of Sulphur. In the past this was even more evident before the advent of easy hygienic facilities, hot showers, and advanced techniques for suppressing the typical "dirty looking" skin lesions. Despite this Sulphur patients are often disheveled, clothes stained with last week's lunch, hair greasy and uncombed, shirts buttoned wrongly or untucked. The patient may have a great laziness or aversion to bathing or bathes only in a limited way. His house and office may look a like disaster zone with piles of books and papers and dirty dishes. Alternatively Sulphur patients can be abnormally fastidious.
<<Criticism>> is another Sulphur trait. The patient can find fault with anyone. He seems to feel that he could have written any book slightly better than its author, etc. There may even be a type of disgust for other people, for example for people who are obese or aged.
<<Anxiety>> is also quite common in Sulphur, this can often be about the health or the family. The Sulphur patient can be a true hypochondriac. He can also have irrational anxiety about the family's well-being; if someone is late, his mind turns immediately to car accidents, etc.
<<Egotism>> is another characteristic, though some Sulphur patients describe a low-self esteem and strong need for reassurance. Generally the patient takes great pride in his mental acuity and intelligence. The patient has great self-confidence and finds most people boring, especially if they do not find him fascinating.
<<Children.>> Sulphur children are curious, robust, strong-willed and extroverted. They need to be the center of attention and may react in a jealous, angry way if others take center stage. The arrogance that we see in adults can often be found in the children as well. Sulphur boys are very mechanical and astute at figuring out how things work. The boys are often large, heavy and pugnacious. If the temperament is good, they will be popular at school and become leaders. If the temperament is bad, they will become bullies or behavior problems. Also Sulphur children can be very open and innocent. They enjoy contact with adults and resent not being treated as adults, finding it unfair when they are sent to bed early while the adults continue the conversation.
<<Physical.>> Any physical pathology can be covered by Sulphur. Common areas of problems include the skin (abscess, acne, eczema, psoriasis, etc.) and the digestive tract (diarrhea, ulcers, hemorrhoids, etc.).

Mind.
EGOTISM. <<Bragging.>>
LAZINESS.
DIRTY OR MESSY. INDIFFERENT TO APPEARANCE. Averse bathing.
INTELLECTUAL, PHILOSOPHICAL, THEORIZING.
<<Extroverted, boisterous and friendly.>>
<<Extroverted, mechanically inclined, bossy children.>>
<<Anxiety about health.>>
<<Anxiety about the family or children - accidents, diseases.>>
<<Ambitious.>>
<<Critical.>>
DISGUST - a visceral sense from odors, objects or even people.
<<Fear of heights, even when others are in a high place.>>
Fears: Disease. Claustrophobia. Infection. Cancer. Rejection. Failure.
Fastidious. Compulsive.
Stubborn.
Low self-confidence; need to be praised.
Bites nails.
Collects things. Delusion or impression that "rags are like riches."
Impulse to hurt the family which frightens him.
Weeping at menopause.
Repeats the question before answering.

General.
<<Warm and aggravated from heat>>, though a significant number will be chilly.
<<General and local aggravation from the heat of the bed.>>
<<General aggravation in the winter.>>
GENERAL AGGRAVATION AT 11 AM with hunger, headache, etc.
General aggravation at night, or at night in bed.
GENERAL AGGRAVATION FROM STANDING (Low back pain, diarrhea, faint).
General amelioration on lying.
GENERAL AVERSION TO AND AGGRAVATION FROM BATHING.
<<Offensive>> discharges, feces, sweat, etc.
<<Sweats excessively.>>
<<General aggravation from suppressed eruption or discharge.>>
<<Burning pains.>>
General aggravation on the weekend.
General aggravation cloudy days, when sun peeks through the clouds.
Appearance.
1) Thin, stooped-shouldered, gaunt.
2) Plump, ruddy-cheeked, plethoric, red lips. Unkempt, greasy or uncombed hair, etc.
Acutes.
In lingering, "neglected" colds, flus, tonsillitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, the patient is warm, sweaty, wears old clothes and forgets to change for days, the hair becomes greasy and plastered to the head.
Measles (Apis, Bell, Bry, Euphr, Gels, Puls, Rhus-T).

Head.
HEADACHES ON THE WEEKEND.
Headaches, often as if a band about the head.
Headache or burning on the vertex, better cold applications.
Headache, worse winter, worse odors.
Eruptions of the scalp, or at the scalp margin.
Dandruff, seborrhea of scalp, scalp margin, eyebrows.
Recurring dental infections.
Ruddy-faced, sometimes an alcoholic flush or enlarged veins in nose or cheeks.
Menopausal hot flashes.
Otitis media, otorrhea, especially left side.
Acne. Rosacea. Acne on nose.
<<Red lips.>>

Eyes.
THICK, BUSHY EYEBROWS.
CONJUNCTIVITIS WITH THE SENSATION OF SAND OR GRIT IN EYES.
<<Blepharitits; redness, burning and irritation of the margin of the lids.>>
Iritis.
Retinitis. Retinal hemorrhage.

Nose.
<<Great sensitivity to odors.>>
AVERSION TO BODY ODORS OF OTHERS (BUT LOVES HIS OWN).
Sinusitis. Chronic, purulent nasal discharge.
Hay fever.
Nasal polyps.

Stomach.
Craves: <<Sweets. Chocolate. Ice Cream. Fats. Spicy food. Alcohol, especially Beer or Whiskey>>. Meat. Pungent things. Apples.
Craves sweets and chocolate before the menses.
Aversion: EGGS, especially soft egg yolk. Fish. Sour Foods. Olives. Squash. Liver. Rarely sweets.
<<Big appetite>>, loves eating.
EMPTY HUNGRY FEELING EVERY DAY AT 11 AM.
<<Great thirst for ice cold drinks.>>
<<Gastritis; Peptic ulcers.>>
<<Heartburn>>, especially from dietary indiscretions.
Indigestion during menses.

Rectum.
DIARRHEA OR SOFT STOOL EVERY MORNING, OFTEN DRIVING HIM OUT OF BED IN THE MORNING, ESPECIALLY AT 5 OR 6 AM. MAY HAVE SEVERAL STOOLS EVERY MORNING.
Diarrhea from beer.
Sudden, strong urging for stool.
STOOL HIGHLY OFFENSIVE; whole family knows when he defecates.
<<Flatus, offensive.>>
ITCHING OR BURNING AT THE RECTUM, WORSE HEAT, BETTER COLD.
<<Hemorrhoids.>> Rectal fistula.
<<Oozing around the rectum>> which is very irritating.

Urinary and Sexual Organs.
Eruptions around the genitalia. Herpes.
High sex drive is common in the plethoric type. In the lean, philosophical type, sex can be a low priority or even distasteful.
Impotence or loss of erections.
Enuresis.
Phimosis. Balanitis.
Prostatitis, burning in the urethra or prostate. Prostatic hypertrophy.
Urethral discharge.
Offensive urination.
Leukorrhea, yellow and offensive. Vaginal itching.
Offensive perspiration of the groin.

Heart.
Angina.
Palpitations, worse night in bed, worse sleep.
Advanced cardiac disease.

Chest.
Asthma, worse from catching colds.
Respiration worse evening.
Sleep apnea, jumps up from sleep with a suffocating sensation.
Cough, worse at night in bed.
Pneumonia. Bronchitis. Emphysema. Tuberculosis.

Back.
<<Weak back, slumps in his chair.>>
Low back pain and sciatica.
Back pain worse long standing, worse stooping.
Unable to stand erect.
Acne on the back.

Extremities.
<<Left shoulder pains.>>
Arthritis, worse over-heating and better from cold applications.
Rheumatoid arthritis. Gout. Psoriatic arthritis.
Cellulitis, lymphangitis, especially forearms. Paronychia.
Varices.
Nails thick and distorted, especially toenails.
<<Feet sweat and offensive odor.>>
FEET BURNING AND MUST BE PUT OUT OF THE COVERS OR RESTLESSLY SEARCHES FOR COLD SPOTS ON THE SHEETS.

Sleep.
<<Insomnia.>> SLEEP WELL FOR 3 OR 4 HOURS THEN WAKES AND DOZES ON AND OFF THE REST OF THE NIGHT.
Sleep apnea, rise up with a suffocating sensation.
Laughing in sleep (Lyc).
<<Nightmares,>> ESPECIALLY WHEN SLEEPING ON THE BACK.
<<Prefer to sleep on the left side.>>

Skin.
<<Eruptions usually moist and itching tremendously.>>
<<Itching worse heat, worse heat of bed, worse night, worse bathing, worse wool.>>
<<Eczema.>> Psoriasis. Seborrhea. Poison Oak. Scabies.
Boils, painful, often a recurrent tendency.
Herpes. Impetigo. Tinea. Chicken pox. Erysipelas. Cellulitis.

Clinical.
Abscess. Acne. Alcoholism. Allergy. Angina. Amyotropic lateral sclerosis. Anxiety. Arrhythmia. Arthritis. Asthma. Blepharitis. Bronchitis. Bursitis. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Cirrhosis. Colitis. Congestive heart failure. Conjunctivitis. Connective tissue disease. Constipation. Dandruff. Dementia. Depression. Diabetes. Diarrhea. Eczema. Gout. Headache. Hemorrhoids. Hepatitis. Herpes. Hiatus hernia. Hypertension. Impetigo. Inflammatory bowel disease. Iritis. Low back pain. Malignancy. Menopausal flushes. Migraine. Multiple sclerosis. Nasal polyps. Otitis media. Peptic ulcer. Pharyngitis. Pneumonia. Proctitis. Prostatitis. Psoriasis. Rectal fissure, abscess, fistula. Reflux esophagitis. Rheumatoid arthritis. Rhinitis. Sciatica. Seborrhea. Sinusitis. Tinea. Tonsillitis.

Relationship.
Complementary.
Ars. Nux-V. Psor. Acon. Puls. Cycle: Sulph - Calc - Lyc - Sulph.

Relationship.
Comparisons.
Nux-V - Ambitious, impatient, craves fat, spicy, gastrointestinal disorders.
Puls - Warm-blooded, worse heat, fears heights, irritable, disgust, craves sweets, headaches, hot feet, skin problems.
Arg-N - Warm-blooded, extroverted, fear heights, gastrointestinal disorders, diarrhea, craving sweets.
Psor. Aloe. Med. Lyc. Plat. Ant-C. Graph. Mez.