Carbolicum acidum
Remedy for putrid conditions with terrible odors. Physical collapse with pallor. Burns. Acute sense of smell. Useful in scarlet fever with dark, foul eruptions. Vesicular eruptions.
Source
Solution and trituration of phenol (C6H5OH), also known as carbolic acid.
Available Potencies
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Keynote Symptoms
Putrid discharges with horrible odor. Acute sense of smell — can detect odors others cannot. Collapse with cold sweat and pallor. Burns and scalds. Vesicular eruptions. Dark red or dusky eruptions in scarlet fever. Desire for stimulants and tobacco. Profound prostration.
Mind & Emotional Symptoms
Dull, heavy, sluggish. Irritable. Aversion to mental exertion. Disinclination to study. Feels as if something bad is going to happen. Languid.
General Symptoms
Putrid conditions dominate. Terribly offensive discharges. Profound prostration. Dusky, dark complexion during illness. Burns and chemical injuries. Scarlet fever with dark rash. Allergic conditions with hypersensitivity to odors. Collapse state.
Physical Symptoms
Nose
Acute sense of smell — can detect putrid odors at great distance. Ozaena.
Throat
Putrid sore throat. Ulceration. Diphtheritic membrane. Burning in throat.
Stomach
Desire for stimulants. Nausea. Fermentation in stomach. Vomiting of dark matter.
Rectum
Putrid diarrhea. Dark, offensive stools. Constipation with offensive breath.
Urinary
Urine dark, almost black. Smoky urine. Albuminuria.
Skin
Burns and scalds. Vesicular eruptions. Scarlet fever with dark rash. Itching vesicles. Pruritus.
Modalities
Better From
Rubbing. Smoking (temporary). Tea.
Worse From
Reading. Jarring. Pregnancy. Physical exertion.
Constitutional Type
Not strongly constitutional. Used in acute septic and putrid conditions. Persons with heightened sensitivity to odors. Those prone to allergic reactions with olfactory hypersensitivity.
Clinical Indications
Burns. Scarlet fever. Putrid conditions. Allergic reactions to odors. Vesicular eruptions. Chemical burns. Septic sore throat. Ozaena.
Comparative Materia Medica
Compare Kreosotum (putrid conditions with burning, spongy gums), Baptisia (putrid conditions but with besotted face and confusion), Arsenicum (prostration with burning but restless). Carb-ac. is distinguished by its heightened sense of smell and dark, putrid discharges.
Safety Information
Camphor. Alcohol. Chalk. Saccharated lime.
Phenol (carbolic acid) is extremely toxic and corrosive. Causes chemical burns on contact. Systemic absorption causes CNS depression, cardiovascular collapse, and death. Even dilute solutions are hazardous. Safe only in high potencies.
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