Zincum Metallicum

by H. C. Allen

Zinc. (The Element.)

Zincum Metallicum patient suffering from cerebral and nervous exhaustion; defective vitality; brain or nerve power wanting; too weak to develop exanthemata or menstrual function, to expectorate, to urinate; to comprehend, to memorize.

Incessant and violent fidgety feeling in feet or lower extremities; must move them constantly.

Always feels better every way as soon as the menses begin to flow; it relieves all her sufferings; but they return again soon after the flow ceases.

In the cerebral affections: in impending paralysis of brain; where the vis medicatrix naturae is too weak to develop exanthemata ( Cuprum, Sulphur, Tuberculinum ); symptoms of effusion into ventricles.

Zincum Metallicum Child repeats everything said to it.

Zincum Metallicum Child cries out during sleep; whole body jerks during sleep; wakes frightened, starts, rolls the head from side to side; face alternately pale and red.

Convulsions: during dentition, with pale face, no heat, except perhaps in occiput, no increase in temperature (rev. of Belladonna ); rolling the eyes; gnashing the teeth.

Automatic motion of hands and head, or one hand and head ( Apocynum, Bryonia, Helleborus ).

Chorea: from suppressed eruption; from fright.

Zincum Metallicum Hunger: ravenous, about 11 or 12 a. m. ( Sulph. ); great greediness when eating; cannot eat fast enough (incipient brain disease in children).

Excessive nervous moving of feet, in bed for hours after retiring, even when asleep.

Feet sweaty and more about toes; fetid, suppressed foot-sweat; very nervous.

Chilblains, painful, < from rubbing.

Spinal affections; burning whole length of spine; backache much < from sitting > by walking about ([Cobalt.], Pulsatilla, Rhus ).

Spinal irritation; great prostration of strength.

Cannot bear back touched ([China s.], Tarantula, Theridion ).

Can only void urine while sitting bent backwards.

Twitching and jerking of single muscles ( Agaricus, Ignatia ).

Weakness and trembling of extremities; of hands while writing; during menses.

During sweat, cannot tolerate any covering.

Zincum Metallicum Relations. – Compare: Helleborus, Tuberculinum, in incipient brain diseases from suppressed eruptions.

Aggravation. – Of many symptoms from drinking wine, even a small quantity ( Alumina, Conium ).

Amelioration. – Symptoms: of chest, by expectoration; of bladder, by urinating; of back, by emissions (< by [Cobalt.]); general, by menstrual flow.

Is followed well by, Ignatia, but not by Nux, which disagrees.

Inimical – Chamomilla, and Nux; should not be used before or after.