Page 46 - Winter2020

Homeopathy Journal
Homeopathy Journal

NOTHING A LITTLE ARSENIC CAN’T CURE!
By Joette Calabrese, HMC,CCH, RSHom (NA)
By Anke Zimmermann, BSc, FCAH

Death by Arsenicum album (white arsenic) illus- arsenic had acquired the nickname “inheritance
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arsenic trates better than most homeopathic remedies powder,” for obvious reasons.
that what a substance can cause in the way of
Small doses of arsenic were known to have
poisoning symptoms it can also heal, according to the ho- medicinal properties and were used in tradi-
was so meopathic principle of similarity, or “like cures tional Chinese medicine formulas two thousand
common in like.” This innocent-looking, white, tasteless four hundred years ago. In fact, modern science
and odorless powder has a galaxy of healings confirms the fact that arsenic has nutritional
the era of to its credit, but it also has a most sinister back- value as a trace mineral and that too little ar-
Louis XIV, the ground of lethality. senic may also be detrimental. Animal studies
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For centuries, arsenic held a preeminent suggest that arsenic is essential for fertility
glamorous role as the preferred choice of the homicidal and reproduction and may also be important
French Sun poisoner. Symptoms of acute arsenic poison- for cardiac health. Specifically, it may help to
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King, that the ing are similar to those of cholera, which can maintain normal mitochondrial cell membrane
period was cause severe diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. function in heart muscle cells. 5
In 1851, the medical world learned of
Because cholera was common in the Middle
known as the Ages and Renaissance, poisonings often went the practice of arsenic consumption among
“Age of undetected, as the victim was often assumed mountain-dwelling peasants, hunters and wood
Arsenic.” to have died of natural causes. Chronic arsenic cutters in Styria (now a region of Austria). These
poisoning can cause heart disease and cancer, people apparently used regular small to large
among other things, so sometimes poisoners doses of arsenic to help them breathe better in
chose the slow route of death via chronic arsenic the high mountain altitudes and to experience
administration. greater vitality. Women reportedly used it to
improve their complexion and attractiveness.
THE AGE OF ARSENIC In short order, this early-1850s discovery
The ruling classes of Italy were reputed started an arsenic-tonic craze that persisted
to have made particularly liberal use of this for the next several decades. Of the various
convenient method of dispatching enemies, solutions of arsenic compounds that came
but the French were also rather fond of arsenic. into widespread use, the most important was
Death by arsenic poisoning was so common in “Fowler’s solution,” originally introduced in
the era of Louis XIV, the glamorous French Sun 1786 by the English physician Thomas Fowler.
King, that the period was known as the “Age of It became wildly popular in the 19th century and
Arsenic.” was especially valued for its tonic and stimulant
Of course, it was not only the nobility that properties. 6
made use of arsenic’s lethal powers. One famous
vendor of arsenic in the 17th century was La ARSENICUM ALBUM IN 2020
Tofania, who sold her concoction called “Aqua With this illustrious background estab-
Tofana” to disgruntled wives all over Europe, lished, let us examine the homeopathic use of
helping them to dispose of adulterous, violent arsenic, keeping in mind the perspective of the
or negligent husbands. Apparently, she made a poisoned as well as the poisoner, and ultimately
good business of it for fifty years while killing applying that perspective to the year 2020.
about six hundred men. By the 19th century, As already mentioned, acute arsenic poi-
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44 Wise Traditions WINTER 2020