Homeopathic Medicine Calcarea Carbonica – Uses and Indications

Calcarea Carbonica is one of the major constitutional and polychrest medicines in homeopathy. It is prepared by the process of trituration of the middle layer of Oyster-Shells. By trituration, the oyster shell is converted into an excellent medicine possessing great therapeutic power. Calcarea Carb ranks among the top antipsoric medicines along with Sulphur and Lycopodium. It is one among many calcium salts that are used in homeopathy and works particularly well for ailments like joint pains, backache, and fractured bones that are slow to heal.   

The ‘Calcarea Carb’ Constitution

This remedy suits people who have a leucophlegmatic constitution (presence of excessive water in the body). People suited to this remedy are fair, fatty, flabby and tend to sweat profusely on the head. They also tend to feel very chilly, catch a cold easily and have increased mucosal secretions. Children who have a large head, large features, pale skin, a chalky look, and who are fat with a large abdomen come under this constitutional type. They also have a tendency of copious sweating on the head and crave eggs and indigestible things.

Drug Action

This remedy has a very wide and deep sphere of action. The chief action is centered on the glands, skin, bones, pituitary and thyroid dysfunction, nasal complaints and female genitals. As a remedy, it is used in the treatment of fears and anxieties, OCD, chronic cold, tendency to catch cold, nasal polyps, loss of smell, epistaxis, nasal blockage, uterine fibroids, menorrhagia, sterility in females, painful periods (dysmenorrhea), vaginal discharges, itching in genitals in women, chronic sore throat with tonsillitis and enlarged adenoids, hypothyroidism, goiter, obesity, lipoma, hair fall, rickets, knee joint pain (osteoarthritis), spine curvature, dentition complaints (vomiting, diarrhea, irritability, slow teething), developmental delays, hydrocephalus, night terrors, open fontanelles, dyspepsia, constipation, diarrhea during dentition, vomiting, worms, milk allergy /milk intolerance, gall stones, umbilical hernia, tinea capitis, eczema capitis, warts, Barber’s Itch, profuse sweating, varicose veins.

Scope of Calcarea Carb as a Homeopathic Remedy

1. Complaints of the Mind

Calcarea Carb is very beneficial to treat cases of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) with a marked fear of contracting germs and contagious diseases. It offers help in cases where there are great anxieties about the present, future and about health. The anxiety is attended with restlessness and palpitations, more so during the evening time. This remedy is also used to treat fears, where a person is plagued by thoughts of misfortune or terrible thing happening, fear of losing reason, fear that he/she is suffering from organic disease of the heart. Fear of death, monsters and of being alone may also be present. It is also useful in cases of mental dullness and weakness (particularly while studying). There is a great confusion of mind, difficult comprehension and difficult thinking. Sleeplessness from the rush of thoughts in the mind also indicates the use of this remedy. Apart from the above, this medicine is also indicated in obstinate, self-willed and irritable children. They are irritable without any cause and tend to be fretful, restless, stubborn and gets easily offended. They also cry easily at the smallest trifles.

2. Nasal complaints

This medicine is of great service in treating chronic colds. People who need this remedy tend to catch a cold easily with every change of the weather. The nasal mucous membrane is swollen and the nose is plugged with yellow, thick, offensive discharge. In some cases, blood may be mixed in the discharge. There may also be profuse discharge (clear like water), along with prickling and itching in the nose is present. The nose may also be markedly dry, with the dryness getting worse at night. It is also indicated for stoppage of the nose during the night, and the person is unable to breathe through the nose. It is also a top-listed medicine to treat nasal polyps and frequent episodes of nose bleeding which is profuse. This may also be attended with fainting. Use of this remedy is also considered in cases of loss of smell (anosmia).

3. Female Disorders

This remedy is highly recommended to treat a number of ailments in females. Perhaps the most prominent use is in the treatment of uterine fibroids, where the uterus feels low down with a bearing down sensation in the pelvis. Weight and pressure in the uterus are marked. The menses are also very profuse and bright red in color.
This remedy can also help rectify the complaint of menorrhagia where a female complains of early, very profuse and long-standing menses. In the case of vaginal discharges, this medicine is used when the discharges are white and milky. They are attended with itching and burning in the vagina. They tend to be worse before or after menses. Excessive debility appears with the vaginal discharges.
This medicine also helps treat pain during periods (dysmenorrhea). The pain is felt in abdomen and back, it resembles labor-like pains. Pain in hip bones is present, anxiety and restlessness, followed by fainting may arise in a few cases. It is also indicated for treating sterility in females. In such cases, females mostly complain of too early and too profuse menses. It also happens to be a wonderful medicine to treat itching of female genitalia. The itching is violent and attended with soreness of vulva. Burning and stitching in the genitals are also felt. This itching tends to get worse towards the evening or after going to bed. Apart from these symptoms, it is also indicated for uterine or vaginal polyps. Hair fall in females after childbirth is also a guiding feature to use this remedy.

4. For Sore Throat, Tonsillitis and Enlarged Adenoids

This remedy is highly effective for treating a chronic sore throat where there is a swelling of the palate, uvula, and tonsils. A stinging and pricking sensation is felt at the back part of the palate. Pain in the throat that extends to the ears is also present. The throat feels contracted and painful when swallowing. A lump-like sensation in the throat may be marked. Tickling, roughness, and scratchiness in the throat are present. In the case of tonsillitis, aphthae (ulcer) on tonsils may be present. This medicine is frequently used to treat a tendency of chronic tonsillitis when the tonsils get inflamed frequently from exposure to cold.
The next indication to use this medicine is enlarged adenoids in children who have low immunity and catch a cold with every change of the weather.

5. Thyroid and Goiter Issues

This is a top-most medicine to treat hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) and goiter. Complaints linked with hypothyroidism including weight gain/obesity (abdominal enlargement is most prominent), hair fall, chilliness, constipation, slowness, sluggishness, debility, profuse menses indicates the use of this medicine.

6. Bone and Joint Complaints

This remedy is very suitable to treat diseases of the bone and joints. It is a leading medicine to treat conditions like rickets, bone decay, osteoporosis, osteomalacia, weak ankles, knee joint pain (osteoarthritis) and spine curvature. In cases of arthritis of the knee, there is pain, swelling, heat and cracking in the knee joint. A tearing, drawing or stinging pain in the knee may be prominent, and the knee also feels lame and weak as if sprained.

7. Infants and Children

It is a highly suitable remedy used to treat a number of complaints in infants and children, like dentition complaints (vomiting diarrhea, irritability, slow teething), developmental delays (late appearance of milestones like learning to walk and talk), hydrocephalus, night terrors, obesity in children with large bellies, open fontanelles, tendency to take cold, enlarged/inflamed tonsils, enlarged adenoids, and a tardy development of bones.

8. Intestinal Troubles

This remedy has a wide scope of action to treat many gastrointestinal troubles like dyspepsia with heartburn and loud, sour belching. It is a significant medicine to treat diarrhea in infants during dentition. The stools are loose with a sour smell and may contain undigested, offensive, mixed, soft and lumpy particles. It is also useful to treat vomiting during dentition. Diarrhea and vomiting from taking milk may be present.
This medicine is also used to treat constipation where the first part of the stool is hard, followed by pasty and liquid stool. It also smells very offensive and is passed with much straining. Burning and tearing at the anus during stool may be felt. A complaint of worms complaints (mainly thread or pinworms, tapeworm, and ascarides) are indicative to use this medicine. Itching of the anus is marked in such cases. Crawling in the rectum and burning at the anus may also be present. In addition to the above, it is also beneficial to treat gall stones and umbilical hernia. Specific craving including those for eggs, indigestible things, chalk, pencils may be present. An aversion to milk and a general aggravation from drinking milk may also be there.

9. Skin Issues

This is a well-indicated remedy to treat many skin issues. For example, it is a highly effective remedy to treat Tinea Capitis. Tinea capitis is ringworm of the scalp. There are yellow scabs present on the vertex (top of the head). Next, it is used to treat eczema capitis where eruptions on the scalp appear. These are covered with a layer of crust and smell foul. This begins at the back of the head and then extends over the whole head. It is attended with itching, crawling and sore pain. The eruptions bleed when picked.
This medicine is also used to treat small warts on the skin. These warts are soft at the base with a hard upper surface. They are usually skin-colored and tend to itch and bleed.
Barber’s itch is the next condition treated effectively with this medicine. This medicine is also used to treat increased sweating, especially on the hands, scalp, and neck. The scalp sweating on the scalp is debilitating. It mainly appears during the evening or night and the pillow can become wet with sweat.

Dosage

This remedy is a deep-acting remedy that can be taken in potencies of 30C, 200C, 3X and 1M.

Relation to Other Remedies

Complementary medicines Calcarea Carbonica are Belladonna and Rhus Tox.
Medicines that follow well include Agaricus, Borax, Lycopodium, Nux Vomica, Phos, Pulsatilla, Silicea, Sepia.
Inimical medicines are Nitric Acid, Baryta Carb, Sulphur.
Antidotes are Bryonia, Camphor, China, Ipecac, Nux Vomica and Sepia.