Picricum Acidum: Homeopathic Medicine – Its Use, Indications And Dosage

The remedy Picricum Acidum, also known as ‘Picric Acid’, is derived from Trinitrophenolum. Inert in its crude state, when Trinitrophenolum is potentized as per homeopathic formula which is a process of arousing the latent medicinal properties from a crude substance, we obtain a highly valuable homeopathic medicine Picricum Acidum. If we have to pick the most important indications for its use, then these would be brain fag and exhaustion, either mental or physical.

The ‘Picricum Acidum’ Constitution

This medicine is well suited to people who are exhausted, tired mentally and physically. It also suits well anemic and weak people.

Drug Action

The most prominent action of this medicine is seen on the mind, brain, spine and back. Other than this, it acts well on limbs, ear and male genitals. It has well-defined action to manage cases of fatigue and weakness, either mental or physical.

Clinical Indications

Brain fag, dementia, memory weakness, weakness, headaches, backache, spinal irritation, anaemia, writer’s cramp, deafness, ear boils, emissions, priapism

Scope As A Homeopathic Remedy

1.Mind Complaints (Brain Fag, Memory Weakness)

Picricum Acidum has magnificent action on the mind. It is one of the best suited medicine for cases of ‘brain fag’. Brain fag refers to set of symptoms including mental exhaustion, difficult concentration, confusion of mind, forgetfulness, and lack of focus and mental clarity. It can be attended with pain in head, neck and eyes. In case of brain fag, it works well when there is mental exhaustion following even the least reading or writing. It is accompanied by headache. There is also inability to use the mind in thinking or talking. A person feels aversion to do any physical or mental work. A person just wishes to sit still with no interest in his surroundings. Next, it is prominently indicated for forgetfulness and weakness of memory. This memory weakness may be a result of prolonged, stress and strain on mind or anxiety. There is inability to collect thoughts and quick prostration occurs from using mind. Another characteristic feature for its use is fear of examination and fear of failure. This medicine can also help persons who have undergone mental shock from a death. Those needing it feels exhausted, tired, want to lie down and sleep all time.

Key Indicating Features

Brain fag with mental exhaustion after least intellectual work attended with headache

Forgetfulness and memory weakness

Fear of examination and failure

2. Head (Headaches)

It has marked action on the head to manage cases of headache. Its use is mainly recommended for headache that is dull throbbing type and gets worse from study. The slightest mental exertion worsens it. Headache gets better by bandaging the head tightly or by taking rest. It is very beneficial for people who have headache resulting from nervous exhaustion. Teachers, students who get frequent headaches and over-worked businessmen may find this medicine very helpful. It is also effective for headache that occurs after grief or other depressing emotions. In most cases needing it, pain is present in the back of head (occiput) and neck. The pain may radiate down the spine too.

Key Indicating Features

Headache worse from study, nervous exhaustion and slightest mental exertion

Headache better by bandaging head tightly or from rest

Headache of teachers, students and over worked businessmen

Headache after grief, or other depressing emotions

3. Back And Spine (Backache, Spine Burning)

Picricum Acidum is of great clinical significance in managing many complaints related to back and spine. The main indication for its use is backache with weakness and tiredness. The person is unable to sit straight. It is accompanied with peculiar burning sensation in the spine. There is also a sensation as if the back is bandaged. A dragging sensation and aching is felt in the lower back which worsens from movement. Heaviness is also felt in the lower back. In some cases, pain along with lower back also occurs in the front part of thighs. The lower back is sensitive to pressure.

Key Indicating Features

Backache with weakness, tiredness

Burning sensation in the spine

Dragging and aching in the lower back worsens from motion

4. Limbs (Weakness, Pin Needle Sensation, Tiredness, Writer’s Cramp)

This medicine is highly valuable in managing certain concerns related to limbs. Firstly, it is a useful medicine for cases of tiredness, heaviness and weakness in the limbs. The legs feel weak and feel heavy like lead and are lifted with much difficulty. It is accompanied by trembling of legs. Its use is highly suggested for managing pin and needle sensation in the limbs. Another prominent indication to use this medicine is numbness and crawling in the legs. Another guiding feature to use Picric Acid is heaviness and a cold feeling in the feet. Lastly, it is beneficial for Writer’s Cramps (involuntary muscle spasm or cramps in hands while writing) cases.

Key Indicating Features

Tiredness, heaviness and weakness in the limbs

Weak legs that feels heavy like lead

Pin and needle sensation in the limbs

Numbness and crawling in the legs

5. Ears (Noises, Boils)

With its action on ears, Picricum proves successful in managing noises in ear (tinnitus). Noises can be hissing or buzzing in nature. It is attended with vertigo and headache. There may be hearing loss as well. It is well indicated to treat boils (pus-filled lump) in the ear that are painful.

Key Indicating Features

Hissing or buzzing in ears along with vertigo and headache

Painful boils (pus-filled lump) in ear

6. Male Problems (Emissions, Priapism)

Males may find this medicine helpful to relieve weakness that occurs from frequent seminal emissions. There is tendency to violent erections and frequent emissions at night without sensual dreams. This medicine is also recommended for cases of priapism (persistent and painful erections of penis unrelated to sexual activity). Lastly, it offers help in cases of enlargement of prostate gland.

Key Indicating Features

Weakness from frequent seminal emissions

Violent erections and frequent emissions at night without sensual dreams

Priapism (persistent and painful erections of penis unrelated to sexual activity)

Modalities

Worsening factors: Complaints get worse from least exertion especially mental, study, after sleep, in wet or hot weather

Relieving factors: Complaints get better from cold air, bandaging, tight pressure and rest

Dosage

Its use is recommended in both low and high potencies. The potency and repetition varies from case to case depending on the type and duration of complaint. In general, low potencies can be repeated often while high potencies should not be repeated frequently.

Relationship with Other Remedies

Picricum Acidum can be compared with other medicines including Gelsemium, Argentum Nitricum, Oxalic Acid, Phosphorus and Silicea