 Hepar sulph has been touted as the homeopathic antibiotic. Taken literally, those two words don’t go together because hom (meaning “same”) is the opposite of anti (meaning “against”). (For more information, see Hom, not Home.) With that in mind, let’s talk a little bit about why homeopathic Hepar sulph has acquired this incongruous reputation. Hepar sulph is reputed to combat infections and reduce pain. If we take a look at the Banerji Protocols book (Banerji and Banerji 2013), we will find Hepar sulph listed 40 times. Beginning with acne vulgaris and venturing through such ailments as impetigo, pharyngitis (sore throat) and tonsillitis — all conditions which the internet tells me are generally, or at least often, treated with antibiotics*. Dr. Manuel Mateu Ratera, in his excellent book First Aid with Homeopathy, recommends Hepar for “serious and destructive situations: tendency to suppuration and an exaggerated sensitivity to pain.” Technically, the full name of this homeopathic remedy is Hepar sulphuris calcareum. When I ask my Brave search engine, it tells me that “in the past, ‘hepar’ referred to the liver or a preparation made from it. Although this term is no longer commonly used today, it is a direct borrowing from the Greek word ‘hepar’, meaning liver.” Interesting. Dr. Robin Murphy (2006) tells us that “Liver of Sulphur” is the name given “by the old alchemists to several sulphur compounds whose color was supposed to resemble that of liver.” SIDE NOTE: With all this talk of liver, I took a peek in the repertory to see how Hepar sizes up for liver symptoms and yes, there it is. The second part of the name comes from the “pure flowers of sulphur.” Nope, not that kind of flower. Webster’s Dictionary clears this up as: “sublimed sulfur in the form of a fine yellow powder used especially in agriculture and in medicine” (2024). Back to Murphy (this time accessed via Radar Opus 2.2.16) for the final installment of the understanding of how this remedy comes about: “an impure Sulphide of Calcium prepared by burning in a crucible the white interior of oyster shells with pure flowers of sulphur” bringing the calcareum into the picture. As you may know, our beloved homeopathic remedy Calc carb (aka Calcarea carbonica) is made from the extract from the middle layer of the oyster shell, so all that goodness is part of the Hepar sulph calc picture, too. In fact, Samuel Hahnemann prepared this mineral compound because he was trying to combine the effects of two of homeopathy’s biggest remedies (AKA polycrests) Sulphur and Calc carb. Ok, after a brief side journey to learn how we get this remedy, let’s get back to understanding how Hepar sulph can be applied. Hepar is known physically for exquisite pain and sensitivity: think of ingrown toenails, hang nails, those tender zits that can pop up which cause unbearable pain at the slightest touch. Mentally: anger; being contrary; irritable; extremely sensitive in general as well as to pain; sensitive to air and cold … Put the physical and mental pain and sensitivity together and that pretty much describes a Hepar sulph moment. What general conditions may be helped by Hepar? In no particular order:
Cold may worsen any condition which may be helped by Hepar. For instance, think of the cough or discomfort that may come on after breathing in cold air when unwell or the throat pain that is worse after swallowing a cold drink or a toothache that really zings when you breathe in cold air or swallow a cold drink. And, on top of that, the person may be chilly in general. What unusual symptoms might Hepar sulph tackle?
Cheese? Yes, cheese. Stools which smell like cheese. Cheesy discharges from any part of the body. Conditions which smell like cheese. Breath which smells cheesy. Experiencing the odors of cheese (or old cheese) — be they imaginary odors or real odors. Cheesy smelling sweat. Coughing up “cheesy lumps.” Homeopathy is so effective in so many conditions and Hepar sulph is an excellent remedy to have in your kit, especially if you are adventuring where modern medicine is limited. A well-timed early dose of Hepar sulph could help to avoid bigger problems down the road. Julia Coyte, CHom Classically Practical homeopath #wellnessawaits * Given the fact that many of these conditions are treated via antibiotics in conventional medicine, please make sure to work with a physician alongside a certified homeopath. RESOURCES
Banerji, P. and Banerji, P., 2013. The Banerji protocols : a new method of treatment with homeopathic medicines. India: Pratip Banerji. Merriam-Webster, 2024. Merriam-Webster Dictionary [online]. Merriam-webster.com. Morrison, R., 1993. Desktop guide to keynotes and confirmatory symptoms. Nevada City, Calif.: Hahnemann Clinic Pub. Murphy, R., n.d. Homeopathic Remedy Guide. accessed through Radar Opus 2.2.16. Murphy, R., 2006. Nature’s materia medica : 1,400 homeopathic and herbal remedies. Blackburg, Va.: Lotus Health Institute, November. Ratera, Dr. M. M., 2016. First Aid with Homeopathy. Germany: Narayana Verlag.
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 Waking up in the middle of the night to your little one “barking” and struggling to breathe is a frightening thing. Croup, according to Taber’s Medical Dictionary “is an acute viral disease, usually occurring in children from 6 months to 5 years and marked by a resonant barking cough, (sounding like a seal), and varying degrees of respiratory distress" (Venes and Clarence Wilbur Taber 2013). Croup isn’t a separate disease unto itself — it’s something that can develop from a common cold or flu. “If there’s enough swelling, irritation and coughing, a child can develop:
Mayo says to seek medical attention if your child:
Despite how scary it sounds, croup isn’t usually serious and it mostly can be treated at home. Why the barking? The cough forces air through the swollen and irritated passageway and results in a seal-like bark. My oldest was prone to this and it is indeed an unnerving experience. I didn’t know about homeopathy then, but we were able to treat him at home each time by sitting in the steamy bathroom until it all calmed down. Conversely, taking the child outside into the cold night air or having them stand in front of an open freezer can also do the trick (Cleveland Clinic 2021). How can homeopathy help? The first remedy to consider for croup is Aconitum napellus, or Aconite, for short. (Remember! Aconite rhymes with fright!) It’s a pretty sure bet that both the child and the parent* will be frightened! Use Aconite at the first sign. Repeat, if needed. Aconite is the “go-to” remedy for any illness with rapid onset. * Don’t forget Ignatia for the worried parent! Other homeopathic options for croup: Spongia tosta is the next remedy to consider if the Aconite did not take care of it quickly. Spongia is known to have a cough which sounds like a saw going through wood — a very dry cough and warm drinks are probably helpful. Hepar sulph might be useful in the morning or in the following days when the cough can sound basically the same, but it changes to a wetter cough — loose and possibly rattling. There may be some choking fits that accompany the cough. Repeat the chosen remedy every 15-20 minutes, if needed. If the child falls asleep, that’s good! If they wake again, repeat the remedy. (Click for an instructive video of cough sounds and their corresponding homeopathic remedies.) If your child is prone to croup, consider working with a professional homeopath to help prevent recurrences. Julia Coyte, CHom Classically Practical homeopath #wellnessawaits Allen College of Homoeopathy, n.d. Listen the Cough Sounds & Diagnose the Remedy (Part 1) [online]. www.youtube.com. Cleveland Clinic, 2021. How to Care for Your Child’s Croupy Cough [online]. Cleveland Clinic. . Kessels, L., n.d. Home Remedies for Colds and Croup: Do They Work? [online]. www.stlouischildrens.org. Mayo Clinic, 2019. Croup - Symptoms and causes [online]. Mayo Clinic. Venes, D. and Clarence Wilbur Taber, 2013. Taber’s cyclopedic medical dictionary. [22nd ed., ISBN: 9780803629776]. Philadelphia, Pa.: F.A. Davis. |
Julia Coyte, CHomI am passionate about homeopathy and I love sharing this passion. Having a working knowledge of homeopathy shouldn't be kept a secret. If people have the ability to help themselves, their children and their friends when they have minor ailments, life just gets better for everyone. That is the purpose behind Ruminating on Remedies. Archives
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