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The mental picture of Sulphur is characterized by dullness and confusion of mind, with the inability to collect thoughts and ideas or to concentrate. There is great obstinacy and they dislike having anyone near them. The Sulphur personality is quick tempered and easy to ignite. They are very selfish and have no thought of anybody’s wishes or desires other than their own. They tend to be anxious and fearful, especially at night, as if some great misfortune were impending, causing inability to fall asleep.
Skin symptoms are prominent in Sulphur, which has the tendency to skin eruptions with much itching. Offensiveness of the body with filthiness throughout—breath, stools, genitalia and discharges have offensive odors. Along with this characteristic there are acrid, excoriating fetid discharges that cause redness, burning, rawness and soreness of neighboring skin surfaces. There may be redness of the orifices of the body with deep seated ragged ulcers. Skin tends to be dry, rough and scaly with very little tendency to perspire.
Circulatory disturbances are also typical of the Sulphur patient. These are of the congestive type and give rise to sensations of heat, inflammation and pruritic eruptions. Because of the inefficiency of the circulation there is consequent inadequate oxygen supply to the tissues of the body. Congestion of the chest is frequently indicated with consequent difficulty of breathing, accompanied with violent palpitations of the heart from the endeavors of the heart to compensate for the increased supply of blood in the thoracic cavity. Because of the difficult respiration the patient desires to have the windows open. The Sulphur patient has a dislike of extreme cold that presumably affects the circulation adversely. Uneven distribution of blood flow may cause the complaint that while the top of the head is uncomfortably hot, the feet may be unpleasantly cold. There is also the tendency to develop varicose veins. In addition, there are rheumatic types of pains in association with much stiffness that involves various joints. Because of the circulatory disturbances, wounds are slow to heal and there is weak muscle tone. The patient may experience attacks of dizziness with weakness and nausea.
There can be congestion in any organ of the body, marking the onset of tumors or malignant growths, especially at the climacteric. Also common are impotency and sterility. Another main keynote of Sulphur is the burning sensation in various parts and organs. Accordingly, the Sulphur patient is intolerant of heat in any form, especially the warmth of the bed.
Though the Sulphur patient is always hungry though sufficient amount of food is taken in, the nutrients of that food are not appropriated to the nourishment of the body. Sulphur cannot go long without eating or they become weak and nauseated. These characteristics can be found in one who is dyspeptic and can digest almost nothing because of defective assimilation. Though they are always hungry, on sitting down to a meal, the desire to eat may vanish.
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Dr. Barbara Bova, HOD, Dept of Homeopathy