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ACID GROUP - GROUP CHARACTERISTICS (Quick Revision)

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INTRODUCTION

• Name from Latin "acious" = sour, pungent, sharp
• 37 acids used in clinical practice
• Act when definitive pathology is present
• Background: Tubercular + Syphilitic miasms

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THEME

• Over-exertion → Exhaustion → Destruction
• Energy burnt at high rate leading to breakdown

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CONSTITUTION

• Originally strong individuals who break down
• Debility from defective nutrition / blood disease

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THERMALS

• Mostly HOT remedies (Acet-ac, Fl-ac, Nit-ac, Sul-ac)
• Exception: Phos-ac = CHILLY (from loss of vital fluids)

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DIATHESIS / MIASM

• Syphilitic (primary) + Tubercular
• Internal breakdown, disintegration, destructive ulceration

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AILMENTS FROM

• Grief
• Debauchery / sexual excesses
• Loss of vital fluids
• Sleeplessness
• After anaesthesia
• Bacterial / viral infections
• Injuries, surgical shock
• Abuse of narcotics
• Occupational hazards
• Physical and mental exertion
• Mortification

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MENTAL CHARACTERISTICS

1. Exhaustion - cardinal feature; mental (Pic-ac), emotional (Ph-ac), physical (Mur-ac)
2. Activeness / Hurriedness - overactive before breakdown (esp. Sul-ac = most hurried)
3. Indifference / Apathy - listlessness, emotional flatness, stupor
4. Irritability - especially mineral acids
5. Aggression / Violence - expressed as violent biting complaints (aphthae, ulcers, fissures)
6. Desire for unification - deep desire to merge with others/environment
7. Isolation - feeling of being cut off, separated from loved ones
8. Grief - prolonged, silent; ailments from grief (Ph-ac)
9. Oversensitivity - hyperreactive mentally and emotionally
10. Indolence - mental inertia, aversion to mental work

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PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

1. Weakness, Debility, Prostration - mineral acids: with irritability; vegetable acids: without irritability
2. Exhaustion from slight exertion
3. Haemorrhage - Acids check haemorrhages (Acet-ac, Cit-ac, Phos-ac, Ars-ac)
4. Pseudo-membrane formation - indicated in diphtheria (Mur-ac, Phos-ac, Sul-ac, Nit-ac)
5. Burning sensations - throughout the body
6. Halitosis / Fetid discharges - from syphilitic internal breakdown
7. Thirst for cold water - persistent
8. Nausea / Waterbrash / Acidity - gastric over-activity, ulceration tendency
9. Heat aggravation (mostly)
10. Rheumatism - destruction of synovial fluid, bony erosion
11. Desire for stimulants - alcohol, tea, coffee, tobacco (often intolerable)
12. Diabetes Mellitus - increased urination, thirst, poor assimilation
13. Emaciation / Anaemia - from nutritional breakdown
14. Perspiration - offensive, profuse

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SPHERE OF ACTION

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MODALITIES

• Agg: Heat (mostly), exertion, loss of fluids, emotions
• Amel: Rest, cold (some)

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KEY DIFFERENTIATORS (at a glance)

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CALCAREA GROUP - GROUP CHARACTERISTICS (Quick Revision)

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INTRODUCTION

• Derived from calcium salts; calcium = structural mineral of bones, teeth, cell membranes
• Calcium lowers cellular metabolism, decreases cell permeability
• Ca ions mobilised from depots in acidic states → osteoporosis tendency
• Group comes into play when deficient nutrition, impaired assimilation, faulty structure

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THEME

• Deficiency → Sluggishness → Structural breakdown
• "Fatness without fitness, sweat without heat, bones without strength"

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CONSTITUTION

• Hydrogenoid constitution
• Fat, fleshy, flabby, lax fibre, lax musculature
• Skin: fair, waxy, shiny - no oedema
• Suited to lymphatic, scrofulous, tuberculous persons
• Children: fat, slow in movement, delayed milestones, enlarged/hard lymph glands
• Everything slow, sluggish, and late - mentally and physically

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TEMPERAMENT

• Leucophlegmatic (dominant)

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MIASM

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SPHERE OF ACTION

• Muscles, tendons, connective tissue
• Synovial membrane
• Nerve cells and axons
• Pleura, peritoneum
• Endocrine glands
• Bones, teeth, glands (calcium-containing structures)

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AILMENTS FROM

• Mental and physical exertion
• Cold, damp weather
• Suppressed eruptions
• Over-lifting / straining
• Anxiety and worry
• Nutritional deficiencies
• Growth spurts (children)

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MENTAL CHARACTERISTICS

1. Sadness / Depression / Melancholy - cardinal feature; deeply sad, despondent
2. Great Anxiety - especially about future, health, and safety
3. Fear - core theme; fear of disease, insanity, misfortune, poverty
4. Insecurity - fundamental feeling; seeks protection and dependability
5. Dullness / Slowness of mind - sluggish intellect despite potential intelligence
6. Confusion - inability to take bold decisions
7. Obstinacy - both mental and physical
8. Indolence / Inertia - aversion to work, always desires to lie down
9. Desire for company - strong; does not want to be alone
10. Aversion to adventure - prefers stability, routine, familiar surroundings
11. Weeping - disposition to weep even over trifles (esp. Calc-c)
12. Lack of implementation - intelligent but poor follow-through due to sluggishness

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PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

1. General weakness - present in almost all Calcarea remedies
2. Obesity / Overweight - fat and flabby; tendency to easy weight gain
3. Emaciation / Marasmus - paradoxically also present (esp. in children: Calc-c, Calc-p, Calc-sil)
4. Ravenous appetite with emaciation - Calc-c, Calc-f
5. Cold perspiration - profuse, especially head during sleep (Calc-c); cold + profuse (group feature)
6. Delayed milestones - late teething, late walking, fontanelles close late
7. Glandular enlargement - enlarged hard lymph nodes; scrofulous tendency
8. Bone and dental pathology - rachitis, caries, faulty bone formation
9. Restless / disturbed sleep - frequent waking, disturbed by fright, anxiety, dreams
10. Cold intolerance - chilly patients (mostly); agg. cold, damp
11. Aversion to motion - indolence extends to physical level
12. Thirst - variable; Calc-c often craves cold drinks
13. Cravings - eggs (Calc-c), sweets, indigestible things (chalk, lime, dirt)
14. Aversion to meat, fish (Calc-c)
15. Profuse discharge - bland, milky, leucorrhoea (acrid in Calc-c)

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MODALITIES

• Agg: Cold damp weather, exertion (mental/physical), motion, morning, full moon
• Amel: Lying down, dry warm weather, rest

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KEY DIFFERENTIATORS AT A GLANCE

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OPHIDIA GROUP - GROUP CHARACTERISTICS (Quick Revision)

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INTRODUCTION

• Derived from Latin "ophis" = serpent
• Sourced from venomous snake poisons
• Proved mainly by Hering, Mure
• Group acts when definitive destructive pathology is present - sepsis, haemorrhage, paralysis

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MAIN REMEDIES

1. Lachesis mutus (Surukuku snake)
2. Crotalus horridus (Rattlesnake)
3. Crotalus cascavella (Pit Viper / Brazilian snake)
4. Naja tripudians (Cobra)
5. Elaps corallinus (Coral snake)
6. Bothrops lanceolatus (Yellow Viper)
7. Cenchris contortrix (Copperhead snake)
8. Vipera berus (German Viper)
9. Hydrophis cyanocinctus (Sea snake)
10. Toxicophis (Moccasin snake)

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THEME

• Constriction → Haemorrhage → Decomposition → Paralysis
• Destruction of blood, nerves, and vital organs

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CONSTITUTION

• Haemorrhagic constitution
• Skin shows purple, mottled, or bluish appearance
• Face: sickly, pale, anxious, bloated, dark, red or bluish
• Very much restless individuals

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TEMPERAMENT

• Melancholic (sad)

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DIATHESIS

• Haemorrhagic

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MIASM

• Syphilitic (primary) + Tubercular

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THERMALS

• Hot patients - almost all ophidians
• Exceptions: Elaps and Naja = CHILLY

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SPHERE OF ACTION

• Nerves (esp. pneumogastric / vagus and spinal accessory)
• Cellular tissues
• Skin
• Cardiovascular system / Circulation
• Brain
• Liver
• Glands
• Throat
• Muscles

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AILMENTS FROM

• Fright
• Jealousy
• Alcoholism
• Onanism / sexual excess
• Loss of vital fluids
• Suppressed menses
• Physical trauma
• Bad effects of poisons
• Long-lasting grief
• Disappointed love
• Vexation
• Summer and spring seasons

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MENTAL CHARACTERISTICS

1. Loquacity - cardinal feature; talks incessantly, jumps from subject to subject (Lach 3+, Crot-c 2+)
2. Jealousy - intense, consuming; especially Lachesis
3. Suspiciousness - mistrustful, feels persecuted
4. Religiosity - over-religious, thinks they have sinned, fear of damnation
5. Egotism / Vanity - inflated self-image, narcissism
6. Competitiveness - increased ambition, competitive drive (Lach, Crot-h, Crot-c)
7. Clairvoyance / Delusions - prophetic feelings, ecstatic states, sees visions
8. Sadness / Melancholy - deep despondency
9. Fear - of rain (Elaps, Naja), of being left alone (Elaps, Naja), of death
10. Dreams of dead persons - (Elaps, Crot-h, Crot-c)
11. Suicidal tendency - esp. Naja
12. Restlessness - intense internal and external restlessness
13. Aggression / Vindictiveness - malicious, bears grudges
14. Delusion of being persecuted / poisoned
15. Sensitivity - oversensitive to touch, clothing, surroundings

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PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

1. Haemorrhagic tendency - bleeding from all orifices, dark decomposed blood, ecchymosis
2. Haemolysis / Blood decomposition - septic states, purpura, petechia
3. Constriction / Tightness - cannot bear anything tight around neck or waist (esp. Lach)
4. Left-sidedness - or left to right progression (Lach); some right-sided (Crot-h, Elaps)
5. Aggravation after sleep - wakes worse; Lach: breathing stops on sleeping
6. Heat aggravation - hot patients; < warmth, heat
7. Aggravation from touch - extreme sensitivity to touch
8. Aggravation from pressure of clothing
9. Paralysis - bulbar paralysis (Naja), right-sided (Crot-h, Elaps), left-sided (Lach)
10. Liver affections - hepatomegaly, jaundice (Lach, Crot-h, Vipera)
11. Throat affections - septic, gangrenous throat; diphtheritic membrane; dark offensive
12. Skin - purple, mottled, gangrenous; ulcers with offensive discharge
13. Dysarthria / Speech disturbance - Bothrops (aphasia), Vipera, Naja (blurred speech)
14. Palpitations / Cardiac affections - esp. Naja (cardiac complications)
15. Trembling / Twitching - from nerve involvement
16. Menstrual irregularity - ailments from suppressed menses; Lach < before menses, > with flow

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MODALITIES

• Agg: Sleep / after sleep, warmth, heat, touch, pressure of clothing, left side (Lach), alcohol, spring/summer
• Amel: Onset of discharge / flow (menses, eruptions), cold, open air

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KEY DIFFERENTIATORS AT A GLANCE

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SPIDER GROUP (ARANEA GROUP) - GROUP CHARACTERISTICS (Quick Revision)

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INTRODUCTION

• Belong to phylum Arthropoda, class Arachnida, order Araneida
• Eight-legged; two main body parts joined by narrow stalk
• Cosmopolitan - found in every terrain (air, water, land, deep seas, deserts)
• Venom acts predominantly on nervous system, peripheral nerves, circulation, muscular coordination

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MAIN REMEDIES

1. Aranea diadema (Papal Cross / European Garden Spider)
2. Aranea sciencia (Gray Spider)
3. Aranea ixobola (Cross Spider)
4. Tarentula hispanica (Spanish Spider)
5. Tarantula cubensis (Cuban Spider)
6. Theridion curassavicum (West Indian Orange Spider)
7. Latrodectus mactans (American Black Widow)
8. Latrodectus hasselti (New South Wales Spider)
9. Latrodectus katipo (New Zealand Spider)
10. Mygale lasiodora (Black Cuban Spider)
11. Tela araneorum (Cobweb / Spider's web)

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THEME

• Threat → Restless performance → Violence → Entrapment
• Male dances to survive and impress; female kills after mating (Black Widow) - mirrors the patient's internal struggle of performing under constant threat, then being destroyed

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CONSTITUTION

• Restless, nervous, hypersensitive individuals
• Quick and agile in actions and reactions
• Colorful, artistic personalities
• Very active; suited to people with theatrical / artistic traits

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TEMPERAMENT

• Restless, nervous, and irritable

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DIATHESIS

• Tubercular

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MIASM

• Tubercular (primary) + Syphilitic

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THERMALS

• Chilly - very sensitive to cold; cold to the very bones (esp. Aranea)
• Exception: some hot states during restlessness / nervous paroxysms

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SPHERE OF ACTION

• Extremities and peripheral nerves (primary)
• Muscles and muscular coordination
• Mind / Nervous system
• Skin (strong affinity)
• Blood
• Spine (very sensitive spine - characteristic)
• Cardiovascular system (esp. Latrodectus)

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AILMENTS FROM

• Noise
• Music
• Motion
• Grief
• Stooping
• Closing eyes
• Sound / Jarring
• Riding
• Washing / Sea-travelling
• Fright
• Sepsis
• Disappointed love
• Excitement

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PERIODICITY (KEY GROUP FEATURE)

• Marked periodicity of complaints - intermittent, recurrent
• Tarentula hisp - complaints recur at the same period annually
• Aranea diadema - exact periodicity; same hour, same day

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MENTAL CHARACTERISTICS

1. Restlessness - cardinal feature; constant, intense, driving restlessness - mental and physical
2. Hyperactivity / Hurriedness - quick in thought, action, speech
3. Desire to dance - dancing relieves complaints (Tarentula hisp); driven to rhythmic movement
4. Love of music - music provokes OR relieves (Tarentula - wild music ameliorates)
5. Colorful / Theatrical / Artistic - flamboyant, performative personality
6. Sensitivity to danger / Threat - constant vigilance, feels threatened
7. Feeling of separation / Outcast - rejected, isolated, cut off
8. Struggle for power - competitive, manipulative
9. Suspicion / Hatred - mistrustful, resentful
10. Avarice / Manipulation - cunning, deceptive, hiding
11. Violence - sudden violent outbursts; tears clothing, breaks things
12. Hysteria - hysterical conduct, joyousness and singing; attacks only when unobserved
13. Feigning sick / Mischievousness / Trickery - esp. children needing spider remedies
14. Psychic sensitivity - sensitive to atmosphere, surroundings, others' moods
15. Turmoil / Sudden shifts - rapid mood changes, alternating states
16. Despondency / Longs for death - (Aranea diadema)
17. Delirium with pains or sepsis - (Tarantula cubensis)
18. Feeling head does not belong to body - (Tarentula hisp)

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PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

1. Restlessness - must keep moving; worse from keeping still; walking < all symptoms (Tarantula cubensis - reverse of Rhus-t)
2. Hypersensitiveness - every sound penetrates the teeth; extends through whole body
3. Hyperesthesia - all symptoms worse from grief and excitement
4. Nerve pains - as if a thrill passes over the body in waves; nausea follows
5. Sensitive spine - pain between scapulae; touch on spine excites pain in chest/heart
6. Chorea / Involuntary movements - great choreic movements (esp. children - Tarentula hisp, Mygale)
7. Marked periodicity - complaints return at exact same time
8. Aggravation from cold and damp - chilly; sensitive to cold, damp weather
9. Skin affections - all spider remedies have strong affinity for skin
10. Septic states / Gangrenous ulcers - esp. Tarantula cubensis (atrocious burning pain)
11. Cardiac symptoms - Latrodectus: cardiac failure, angina, coronary affections
12. Sensation of enlargement / Numbness - (Aranea diadema: sensation of enormous enlargement, worse on waking)
13. Dryness of throat/mouth - esp. at each menstrual cycle (Tarentula hisp)
14. Great spinal irritability
15. Profuse sweat - with amelioration

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MODALITIES

• Agg: Motion, touch, noise, jar, sound, damp weather, cold, periodicity, at night, sleep, music (some), bright colours (some), morning
• Amel: Open air, music and dancing (Tarentula hisp), warmth, darkness, quiet, rubbing, sweating, smoking (Aranea)

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KEY DIFFERENTIATORS AT A GLANCE

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BARYTA GROUP - GROUP CHARACTERISTICS (Quick Revision)

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INTRODUCTION

• Barium = soft metallic element, atomic number 56; soluble compounds are poisonous
• Deep-seated, long-acting remedies
• Suits extremes of life - infants/children and the elderly (H.C. Allen)
• Produces degenerative changes in brain, glands, blood vessels, and nerves

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MAIN REMEDIES

1. Baryta carbonica (Barium carbonate) - chief polycrest; proved by Hahnemann
2. Baryta muriatica
3. Baryta iodata
4. Baryta acetica
5. Baryta sulphurica
6. Baryta arsenicosa
7. Baryta phosphorica

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THEME / ESSENCE

• "Misplacedness" - feel they do not belong; dwarfism mentally and physically
• Arrested development at both ends of life - immaturity in children, regression in the elderly

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CONSTITUTION / PHYSICAL MAKE-UP

• Dwarfish - short stature, did not grow to normal height
• Short and bulky; round contours of face
• Thick and short neck; thick lips
• Improper proportions of body parts; hands, feet, fingers, toes thick and stubbed
• Swollen abdomen; puffy face; enlarged glands (cretinism picture)
• Bald easily - receding hairline
• Weak, malnourished, emaciated despite appearance

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TEMPERAMENT

• Melancholic

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DIATHESIS

• Scrofulous and Tubercular

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MIASM

• Psora (primary)
• Scrofulous / Tubercular background

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THERMALS

• Chilly - very sensitive to cold

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SPHERE OF ACTION

• Glands (lymph glands, tonsils - primary)
• Throat (tonsils, quinsy)
• Prostate
• Blood vessels (arteriosclerosis, aneurysm)
• Nerves / Brain (degenerative changes)
• Cardiovascular system (in old age - arteriosclerosis, hypertension)
• Alimentary canal

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AILMENTS FROM

• Suppressed perspiration of feet
• Suppressed emotions
• Crusts and vermin on scalp
• Cold and damp
• Company / presence of strangers
• Thinking of complaints

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MENTAL CHARACTERISTICS

1. Timidity / Bashfulness - cardinal feature; hides face with both hands as if in shame; does not want to show face
2. Shyness - deeply reserved; aversion to strangers; aggravated by presence of strangers
3. Delayed mental development - slow comprehension, slow learning, late to talk and walk
4. Indecisiveness - constantly changing mind; irresolute; dependent on others
5. Poor intellect and memory - weak memory; extraordinary forgetfulness
6. Lack of self-confidence - enormous; lost confidence in oneself (Boericke)
7. Childishness in old age - plays with dolls; says foolish things; childish grief over trifles
8. Fixed ideas / Routinist - rigid, habit-bound; cannot adapt
9. Inattentiveness - cannot concentrate; easily distracted (H.C. Allen)
10. Indiscretion - makes same mistakes repeatedly; lack of circumspection
11. Confusion - mental fog; cannot follow instructions
12. Incapacitated / Helplessness - delusion that legs are cut off; cannot do anything properly
13. Sensitivity to teasing and comments - deeply hurt by ridicule
14. Delusion of being laughed at / looked at
15. Aversion to play - in children (unusual and characteristic)
16. Fear - something bad is going to happen; vague anticipatory fear
17. Aggravation from thinking of complaints
18. Silly, idiotic behaviour - thoughtless, purposeless busyness with no aim

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PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

1. Glandular enlargement with induration - cervical, inguinal, tonsillar - cardinal feature
2. Tonsillitis / Quinsy - recurrent; suppurative tonsils (chief clinical indication)
3. Delayed milestones - late dentition, late walking, late crawling, late talking
4. Offensive foot sweat - cold, clammy feet; ailments from checked foot sweat
5. Biting nails - characteristic physical habit
6. Dribbling of saliva (Borland)
7. Very acute sense of smell
8. Pressing pains - characteristic; weakness and pressing pains throughout
9. Weakness and prostration - general; malnourished appearance
10. Arteriosclerosis / Hypertension - in old age; acts on muscular coat of heart and blood vessels
11. Aneurysm / Apoplexy - vascular degeneration
12. Prostate affections - enlarged prostate, especially in elderly men
13. Emaciation - weak and malnourished despite puffy appearance
14. Tendency to suppuration - glands suppurate; quinsy
15. Hair loss / Baldness - receding hairline
16. Craving for sweets
17. Aversion to food in general and fruits

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MODALITIES

• Agg: Cold and damp, thinking of complaints, in company, washing affected part, lying on painful side/left side, sitting, after menses, after meals, morning
• Amel: Walking in open air, warm wraps, when alone

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RELATIONSHIP

• All Barytas are closely related to Calcarea and act as a stronger/deeper version
• After Baryta-c, Psorinum removes constitutional tendency to quinsy

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KEY DIFFERENTIATORS AT A GLANCE

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