# Argentum Nitricum (HMT) ## Remedy Classification - **Type:** Remedy - **Alternative Names:** Nitrate of silver - **Miasm:** Tubercular Miasm - **Temperament:** Neutral - **Aggravation Time:** Neutral/Anytime ## Keynote Indications Argentum Nitricum has previously b een used in treating epilepsy. It relieves epileptic fits but causes itching of the skin. Traditionally, it has been used in eye diseases. People who wear silver jewellery may develop symptoms of silver poisoning. Similarly, prolonged allopa thic use of silver can have a negative effect on mental faculties. When the mind becomes slow and creative skills decline, Argentum Nitricum must be kept in mind. The memory is weak , and reasoning is flawed. Superstitions, visual hallucinations and delusions prevail. The patient is afra id of visiting some particular places. Such child ren should be accompanied to such spots and told that there is nothing to be afraid of. Argentum Nitricum is not only capable of curing these symptoms, but is also effective against some other deep-seated illnesses. The Argentum Nitricum patient is afraid of heights lest he may leap off. Argentum Nitricum patients are afraid of even looking up at a very tall building or a building with a high ceiling, in case it may fall on them. Most homoeopaths have not stressed these symptoms: they have only mentioned fear of heights and ep ileptic fit. However, when I personally analysed the symptoms of my patients after closely observing them, the above mentioned symptoms became clearly evident. Such a patient is afraid of jumping into the river while crossing a bridge. In advanced illne ss, there is a strong desire to jump from the bridge. Such patient trembles with fear and also feels weak. Some people have loose motions prior to an exam or an important interview. Some may feel agitated and angry. Extraordinary mental fatigue and gastric hyperacidity adversely affect the memory . Transient loss of recent memory can also occur as a result of narrowing of the arte ries going to th e brain (due to arterial thickening or just because of spasms of the artery). If the tendency to spasm is frequent, the patient loses his memory permanently. This is not related to transient stomach upset or mental fatigue. Argentum Nitricum also shows these signs, however, loss of memory appears as a permanent sign. Alumina is also useful in this disease; but has to be used for a long period. In Argentum Nitricum, the heart becomes weak . There is bluish discolouration of the body as in Cuprum and Carbo Animalis. In Cuprum, the cyanosis is due to the spasm of the blood vessels. In Carbo Animalis it is due to lack of oxygen and disorder of the blood. The blueness of Argentum Nitricum resembles that of Carbo Animalis. In both these remedies , blueness appears all over the body as if somebody has been suffocated. In Cuprum, there may be violent spasms of the hands and feet, along with cyanosis of the face and the lips. In Argentum Nitricum, there is a tendency to form sores. In allopathy, silver nitrate was us ed in many eye conditions. In homoeopathy also, silver nitrate in a well-diluted form can benefit many eye conditions, especially co rneal ulcers. The eyes are hypersensitive to light. The eyes ache and feel tired. Argentum Nitricum is good in persistently sore eyes with purulent discharge. The eyelids are swollen. Their inner linings are inflamed and form red circles. This condition (which is called purulent C onjunctivitis) is very common in the Indo-Pak sub-continent during summer. Argentum Nitricum is very useful in diseases of the women , like abdominal discomfort and discharging sores at the mouth of the uterus before the onset of periods. The periods become frequent, but are scanty. If other symptoms of Argentum Nitricum are also present, this remedy can cure other internal diseases of uterus as well. The wounds tend to bleed. There is a tendency of vomiting containing blood. Argentum Nitricum may be used in chronic resistant ulcers of the stomach. The peptic ulcer of the stomach can be treated with ground liquorice. Unripe banana, dried and powdered, taken two to three times a day, is also very useful in such ulcers. The powder coats the ulcer, as well as inducing healing. This treatment has been described in a scientific magazine and I have often used it very successfully. Argentum Nitricum patients with chronic ulcers tend to have anaemia. They crave sweets. This craving for sweets is also found in other homoeopathic remedies. Some peopl e can eat a lot of sweets but this does not bother them, whereas in a patient of Argentum Nitricum, sweets do not suit him: on ingestion, the stomach becomes upset and other symptoms also aggravate. In an Argentum Nitricum patient, the desire to eat sweets, if associ ated with wind and abdominal distension, is very typical. The patien t cannot sleep on his right side. This symptom is also found in Naja . On lying on the right side, the pulse becomes rapid. The symptom of a rapid pulse is common to Kalmia, Spongia, Kali Nitrate, Al umen, Platina, Lilium Tigrum also. A distinction among these remedies can be made by keeping their respective characteristic features in mind. The symptoms of Argentum Nitricum aggravate in a warm room or sitting near the fire. The perspiration on the face is very prominent. It appears as if water is erupting out. The face is sallow and bluish. The eyes are drawn in and are without lustre. Like in Thuja, there is tendency to develop warts. Blisters form in the throat. The throat feels as if something is stuck in it, like Hepar Sulph, but any attempt to cough it out makes the sensation wo rse. In fact, there is nothing inside the throat; it is just a feeling and it is typical in Nitric Acid also. The person feels as if something is poking him on his body. If touched by hand anywhere on the body, the person feels pain. In case of Argentum Nitricum, the symptoms of lactating mothers are exhibited in their children. If th e mother eats too many sweets, the child develops diarrhoea. In case of Argentum Nitricum, the vomiting and diarrhoea start concurrently . The stools are green. The ingested food passes out of the system quickly. Such children are generally dehydrated and marasmic. However, the marasmus of the children may not always be the resu lt of suckling Argentum Nitricum mothers. They can be patients of Argentum Nitricum per se. The stools are green; vomiting and diarrhoea can alternate or be present at the same time. With the stools, the child passes a lot of mucus. In Argentum Nitricum there is pain in the deep organs of the body. The liver, spleen or stomach may hur t. The discomfort may not be felt spread throughout the abdomen. In Argentum Nitricum, one may i nvoluntarily pass urine. Children may wet their beds at night. Another sign is that one may have the desire to urinate, but is unable to pass urine easily. There may be pain, swelling or itching in the urethra. This is also one of the best remedies for gonorrhoea. Argentum Nitricum is very useful in many problems associated with pregnancy. The patient feels a weakness of the heart which worsens due to the additional load of pregnancy. The feeling of weakness of the heart by physical exertion or mental anguish continues throughout the pregnancy. The patient may have nightmares. In the morning, as the person gets up, the legs feel as if they have been beaten. Walking is uncomfortable. The legs feel weak and the upper arms feel numb. The back hurts and the backbone area is very sensitive. The backache is worse at night. In Argentum Nitricum, there can be paralysis of the lower half of the body , and stiffness and tightness at the tissues surr ounding the backbone. The symptoms aggravate in the heat and after food. The open air and the cold relieve the symptoms. In epilepsy, fear of heights, and the tendency to see dreadful dreams, a very high potency should be given. Adjuvants: Merc Sol, Pulsatilla Antidotes: Natrum Mur, Arsenic, Phosphorus Potency: 30 to 200 ## Symptoms by System