Alumina
The great remedy for dryness of mucous membranes and chronic constipation with no urge to stool. Marked slowness and sluggishness of function — must strain even for soft stool. Tottering, unsteady gait.
Source
Trituration of pure alumina (aluminum oxide, Al2O3).
Available Potencies
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Keynote Symptoms
Extreme dryness of all mucous membranes. Constipation — no desire or ability to pass stool until a large accumulation; must strain at soft stool. Sluggishness of functions. Tottering gait. Vertigo on closing eyes. Craving for indigestible things (chalk, charcoal, dry rice, tea grounds). Potatoes disagree.
Mind & Emotional Symptoms
Confusion of identity. Apprehension when seeing blood or a knife. Time passes too slowly. Hurried yet clumsy. Variable mood — cheerful and then sad. Memory weakness. Hasty, wants to do everything quickly. Fear of losing reason.
General Symptoms
Dryness everywhere — skin, mucous membranes. Extreme sluggishness of all functions. Chronic conditions developing slowly. Emaciation. Aversion to and aggravation from potatoes. General paretic conditions. Numbness of heels on stepping.
Physical Symptoms
Head
Vertigo with nausea, worse on closing eyes. Congestive headache with constipation.
Eyes
Dryness and burning of eyes. Objects look yellow. Strabismus.
Nose
Nose dry, crusted. Point of nose cracked. Chronic catarrh with thick yellow discharge and loss of smell.
Throat
Dry, sore throat. Sensation of a splinter or lump. Must swallow constantly. Thick mucus drops from posterior nares.
Stomach
Craving for indigestible things — starch, chalk, charcoal, cloves, coffee grounds, dry rice. Potatoes disagree. Heartburn.
Rectum
Constipation: no desire for stool for days; must strain at soft, sticky stool which clings to anus. Inactivity of rectum. Even soft stool requires great effort.
Urinary
Must strain at urination. Urine slow in starting. Feeling of weakness in bladder.
Female Genitalia
Leucorrhea acrid, profuse, transparent, ropy, worse during daytime. Menses too early, short, scanty.
Extremities
Tottering gait. Numbness of heels. Pain in sole of foot on stepping. Heaviness of lower limbs.
Skin
Intolerable itching when warm in bed. Dry, rough, cracked skin. Skin of fingers cracks. Brittle nails.
Modalities
Better From
Open air. Mild weather. Damp weather (paradoxically). Warm drinks. Evening. Moderate temperatures.
Worse From
Cold air. Winter. Dry weather. Morning on waking. Periodically. Full and new moon. Potatoes. Salt. Artificial warmth.
Constitutional Type
Thin, dried-up, elderly appearance even when young. Spare, lean persons with dry skin. Slow, sluggish temperament. Constipated chronically. Often pale, anemic. Craving for indigestible things. Children who are slow in development.
Clinical Indications
Chronic constipation (especially elderly). Atonic bowel. Dryness of mucous membranes. Locomotor ataxia. Paresis. Leucorrhea. Pica. Chronic nasal catarrh. Eczema. Alzheimer's (under investigation).
Comparative Materia Medica
Compare Bryonia (constipation with dry, hard stools but has desire), Opium (constipation with no urge but from paralysis of bowel), Plumbum (constipation with retraction of abdomen). Alumina is unique in needing to strain even for soft stool due to complete inactivity of the rectum.
Safety Information
Bryonia. Chamomilla. Ipecacuanha. Camphor.
Aluminum oxide is relatively inert but chronic aluminum exposure is linked to neurological concerns. In homeopathic potencies above 12C, no material substance remains. Low triturations may contain trace aluminum.
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