A proving of Kali carb. T R E V O R S M I T H , M.x . , ~ . ~ . , B.CHXl~., D .P .M. , M.F.ItOM.

A proving ofKali carb. was carried out in London from 23 April to 20 June 1978. Nine volunteers took par t in a double blind study. Placebo in the form of Sac. lac. tablets was given to three of the volunteers, chosen by random selection.

Kali carb. was given to the other six provers twice daily, in tablet form, during three separate terms of two weeks, in ascending potency, beginning with the 6c, followed by a break of a week without proving. Kali carb. 30c was then taken twice daily for two weeks. After a further gap of a week, between the potencies, the 200c form was given for a final two-week period.

All volunteers were physically examined before the proving, and a condition of acceptance for the experiment was tha t the provers must be fit, well, and symptom free, and not to have taken ~ny homceopathic remedy, vitamins or contraceptive, prior to start ing the proving.

The experiment was in the classical double blind form. The key to the remedy and provers was held only by the homceopathic pharmacist, who made up and dispatched the remedy by post to the provers. Only after the analysis of symptoms was completed, at the end of the proving, was the key broken. During the proving, neither the provers nor the physician-in-charge had knowledge of the proving substance, or of which provers, i f any, were taking placebo.

K A L I C A l e B . , K2CO 3

Potassium carbonate, salt of wormwood, salt of tartar, potash. Sometimes called the "vegetable alkali" as it exists in all plants and was originally obtained from ashes, after burning wood and vegetable structures, with the exception of those plants which grow on the seashore.

I t is a white odourless salt, crystallizing in small rhomboid oblique prisms. Soluble in its own weight of water, i t is insoluble in alcohol and ether, and has a strong alkaline taste. In dilute acids it dissolves and produces carbon dioxide. I t gives a violet colouration to a flame. Toxicity. Excessively depresses or paralyses the vital centres, but complete absence also results in depression--as Gibson stresses, the proper electrolyte balance of potassium ions must be maintained to keep the vital processes in balance. Cases of poisoning caused by large doses of crude substance are rare in the literature. Allen gives reference to the Boston Medical and Surgical Journal of 1862.

T H E PI%OVIN G S

Each volunteer was given a diary, which was organized under headings, beginning with the mentals and then listing the principal physiological areas of the body, to be recorded on a daily basis.

Provers were all interviewed weekly during the whole of the experimental

A P R O V I N G O F K A L I C A R B . 8 9

period. Their general health and diary were discussed, to ensure clarity and accuracy of recording and the presence of modalities when present. We had started with a total of eleven provers initially, but unfortunately the two youngest provers failed to keep their diaries in detail and were reluctant to at tend for weekly discussion meetings, the only apparent reason for them not completing the required period of the experiment.

T H E P L A C E B O P R O F I L E

Three of the nine volunteers were given Sac. lac. tablets twice daily, during the whole of the three terms. The most marked features were the mental symptoms which began after the first day, and were most marked for approximately four weeks. These initial symptoms were:

Increased confidence; a dynamic feeling; "able to cope", elated, "light- headed" sensation. A feeling of well-being, happiness, calmness, "having no worries". Generally they felt that they could concentrate better, and could get on with their work better. They tended however to get easily annoyed and irritable when frustrated or obstructed, and to be somewhat scattered in their thinking--having a "grass-hopper" mind.

.after the initial four weeks, the symptoms of elation and confidence disappeared and the volunteers felt much as before the experiment, and often somewhat apathetic. All symptoms became weaker and less marked, at the time of the final weeks of the proving, when the Kali carb., provers were taking the 200c potency of the remedy.

There was no consistent pattern of physical symptoms, and in keeping with classical placebo experiments, the symptoms were predominantly mental and short-lived after the initial few weeks.

T H E P R O V I N G O F K A L I C A R B . A N D T H E M A I N S I T E O F A C T I O N

Both mental and physical symptoms were well-marked. The mental symptoms were present from the second day of proving, increasing in intensity as the experiment progressed, and as an increasingly higher potency was given. The most marked mental symptoms were listlessness, fatigue, lack of energy and depression.

Throat and nasal areas of the body were consistently affected in all the provers without exception-rmainly catarrhal symptoms, particularly of the left nostril, with a clear yellow discharge; itching and sneezing, and a dry sore throat. Three of the provers developed hay fever and the symptoms were linked with the pollen count. Severe bay fever was present in three of the provers on the lowest pollen count recording of the year.

The bronchial passages were affected, with dry cough in three of the provers, and one prover developed severe bronchospasm--after a clear period of fifteen years without asthma symptoms.

Constipation was present in three of the provers indicating sluggish action and inactivity of the large bowel this was most marked in the 6c potency, the stools being small, round, hard balls of faeces.

A further marked area of action was pain in the large joints of the body, particularly the elbow and knee--on the left side of the body.

Insomnia was present in three of the six provers, in the 30e potency.

T H E M O D A L I T I E S

Most of the symptoms were worse on waking, and again in the late evening,

90 T t t ~ B t t I T I S I - I H O l Y I ( E O P A T H I C J O U I ~ N A L

about 10 p.m. The symptoms of depression and fatigue were often better in the afternoon, but endogenous in type, being consistently worse on waking and in the morning. Nasal and throat symptoms were marked in all the provers, usually worse in the morning at 7 a.m. and in the evening at 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. The symptoms were worse in the left nostril and in a centrally heated room, bet ter for fresh air. Cough, initially dry and then productive of greenish ye]low sputum, was again worse on waking and in the late evening, worse for a dry and dusty atmosphere, bet ter for drinking. Hay fever symptoms were marked and severe, generally worse on waking and in the evening, better for physical exercise and fresh air. Back and limb pains were almost consistently large joint and left-sided, better for rest, worse for sitting, fatigue, cold, worse on waking and in the evening, bet ter for rest.

C O M P A R I S O N W I T H I ~ E L A T E D R E M E D I E S

Farrington describes Kali carb. as complimentary to Carbo reg. and resembling it in many of its symptom-pictures, particularly in the respiratory organs. Sometimes when the remedy fails to stimulate a healing response, its complimentary remedy will complete the cure.

There are also complimentary relationships between Kali carb. and Phosphorus - - aga in in the lung field mainly.

Most homceopathie references also link Kali carb. equally with Natrum tour, the similarity between the remedies being much more in the field of the mentals.

The relationship between Kali carb. and Carbo veg. referred to by Farrington is understandable because Carbo veg. is also a complimentary remedy to Phosphorus. Both potassium and phosphorus are active chemical oxidizing agents and catalysts of the first order- - i t is to be expected that there are multiple relationships between both carbonic acid and the element carbon. A~tidotes : Can~phor, Coffea.

D I S C U S S I O N

The symptoms of Kali carb. evoked by the provings fall largely into the recorded ma te r i a medica picture of the remedy.

Lassitude, weakness, fatigue, lack of energy, feeling tired and sleepy during the day, and depression were marked features of the proving. This weakness which is so characteristic of a potassium-ion imbalance, is referred to in all the classical accounts of Kali carb. The characteristic swelling and oedema of the upper eyelids was seen, as was flatulence after meals, asthma, and limb pains-- in particular of the knees, elbows and low back. Constipation was a feature. However, there were certain differences, contrasting with earlier writings. The time modalities were ~ morning on waking a n d ~ in the evening.

Kali carb. has always been described as affecting the right side of the body, and not as a left-sided remedy, which was so marked in this proving. The patients are usually stated to be intolerant of touching, but this was not a feature in the symptom-picture, nor was there any marked pre-menstrual aggravation as described by Allen in his keynotes. Nash describes amelioration of the asthma by sitting up and rocking, but this again was not a feature. The pains in the ~imbs were rather vague, fleeting and non-specific, rather than having a stitch-like or tearing quality as described by Nash and Clarke. Dryness is usually considered to be a feature of the remedy, bIash compares the stitching pains with Bryonia--which has very marked dryness in all its symptomatology, but in the proving, the cough was dry at times but also

A P R O V I N G O F K A L I C A R B . 91

often moist and productive. The skin tended to be greasy and fragile rather than dry.

Previous provings are numerous and well documented. Earlier provings were recorded in Chronic Diseases as carried out by Hahnemann, Gersdorff, Goullow, Hartlaus and Rummel. Allen records the following early provings: 1 l~obinson--British Journal of Homo~opathy, 24, 515. 2 Berridge--American Journal of Homo~opathic Materia Medica, 1876, 248. 3 Berridge--American Journal of Homo~opathy, N.S.3, p. 502. 4 Rabuteau~N. Y.J. of Med. 14, 100 (Gaz. Med.).

S U M M A R Y

The provings were carried out from 23 April to 20 June 1978. There were 6 provers and three controls. The potencies were 6e, 30e and 200c. Mind. Tired, concentration difficult, restless, ~ evening 6-10 p.m. Tearful, not sleeping well, listless, no energy, depressed, sleepy during the day, worried, mood changes, swings from being elated, optimistic, irritable, exhausted, feeling of slight nausea, anxious, not capable of sustained mental effort, loss of confidence, lethargic, sluggish, bored, less tactful with people and more hasty with decision-making, despondence, wants to be alone, fatigued, lassitude,

standing; ~ sitting, drained--physically and mentally. Head. Headache ~ evening, headache behind eyes, head feels heavy, feeling faint, headache left frontal region. Eyes. Itching, over-sensitive to light, right eye painful, eyes heavy, upper lids puffy. Ears. Coldness sensation in left ear. Nose. Slight clear to yellow discharge, itching, blocked on one side, catarrh

open air, evening, activity; sneezing, ~ evening; thin clear discharge left nostril, stuffed with catarrh; both nostrils blocked, ~ evening and morning, left nostril blocked on waking, sneezing, hay fever clear discharge all day,

morning, evening, and when yawning, sneezing ~ outside; coryza. Teeth. Painful near gums; gums bleed easily. Mouth. Sore, dirty taste, dry, roof of mouth itching ~ drinking. Cold sore on upper lip. Upper lips puffy, painful, cold sore lower lip. Throat. Slightly sore, tickle on retiring, ~ opening mouth yawning and on waking and in evening, irritates, ~ hot drink, phlegm in throat, feeling as if it needs clearing, burning, slight laryngitis ~ after talking ~ evening. Nasal voice, dry and sore. Appetite. Loss, increased, nausea after eating, variable and muddled. Wants to eat when not hungry. Desires salt and sweets. Thirst. Thirst for hot drinks, increased thirst. Abdomen. Slight bloated feeling, nausea, regurgitation of acid, heart-burn, "hot bubble" sensation, ~ midday, vomited on rising, nausea on waking, distended feeling, pain, acid-taste ~ on lying down, nausea in evening, wind (anal), distended after meals, colicky pains 1.30 a.m., windy indigestion, chest feels full of wind. Stool and anus. Alternating diarrhoea and constipation, urgent need to pass frequent stool. Constipation, faeces round hard balls. Urinary. Frequency during the day, dribbles after passing urine. Sexuality. Male~less drive. Female periods heavier than usual. Chest. Bronchospasm on retiring. Cough with small amount of phlegm,

92 T H : ~ B R I T I S H H O M ( E O P A T H I C J O U R N A L

8-10 p.m., ~ dry atmosphere dust, > drinking cold water, tight, raw hacking dry cough as if foreign body in throat, white sputum, ~ evening,

out-of-doors, yellow sputum in morning, not > for steam inhalation. Upper chest sore, bronchospasm on waking, bronehospasm during night woke from sleep--4 a.m., intermittent coughing during day. Limbs. (general) Tired. Upper limbs. Ache left elbow; left fingers ache; aching left shoulder and forearm. Lower limbs. Pain left knee, ~ exercise, stiff hip on waking, ~ rest. Ache left low back, ~ carrying, ~ heat. Generalities. Fatigue, accident prone, chilly, giddy, sensitive to light, intolerant of heat, clumsy. Skin. More fragile and easily damaged, greasy on forehead and nose. Sleep. Poor, disturbed, waking 4 a.m., restless, heavy, seems inadequate, wakes with nasal catarrh, thirsts for water in night, tired on waking, not sleeping well, wakes hourly with wind and cramp, uncomfortable lying left side, better sleeping right side.

Keynotes 1 Tired, listlessness, depressed ~ morning and evening. 2 Frontal headache. ~ evenings. 3 Nasal catarrh with clear or yellowish discharge. 4 Sneezing, sore throat, hay fever. 5 Cough, dry, or with white/yellow sputum. 6 Insomnia ~ 4 a.m.

A C K N O W L E D G E M E N T S

I would like to express my gratitude and appreciation to~ Dr. Margery Blackie, Dr. Charles Kennedy, Mr. John Ainsworth and The Faculty Trust, for their assistance and support during the proving.

REFERENCES

Alien, T. A. Vol. V Encyclopaedia of Pura Materia Medica. Boericke and Tafel, 1877. Hahnemann, S. Chronic Diseases, Vol. IV, Baillere, 1846. Gibson, British Homozopathic Journal, Vol. LIV, No. 2, April 1965. Lathoud, Etudes de Matiere Medicale Homeopathique, Vol. 2. Farrington, E. A. (MD) Comparison in Materia Medica with Therapeutic Hints, p. 268.

Dr. A Bagchi Calcutta. Allen, H. C. Keynotes and Characteristics with Comparisons of some of the Leading Remedies

of the Materia Medlca. Boericke and Tafel, 1916. Nash, E. B. Leaders in Homeopathic Therapeutics. Nat. Homceo. Lab. Calcutta, 1962. Clarke, J. H. A Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica, Vol. II, Hem. Pub. Co. London,

1925.