Potassium Group INTRODUCTION Potassium is obtained from mineral kingdom. The word ‘kali’ isderived from Arabic word ‘kali’ meaning ‘ash’. The other name of kali is potassium derived from pot - ash obtained from wood ashes and remains of burnt vegetable matter. It is an alkaline ‘substance. Its great affinity for water makes it attack the tissues great avidity, producing very deep excoriating effects. It has determined by experiments on mammals that potash ly the carbonates, acts by paralyzing the muscles. This for the general weakness, which belongs to all potash vith this we find potash salts are used in great exhaustions and accompany convalescence ases as typhoid fever.Group Study in Homeopathic Materia Medl a 254 -. EE ‘ > periodic g as Natri Kalium comes in the same periodic group 7H (Group IA) and has similar feelings as Natrium i.e. need for relationsh, and harmony and dependence on the relationship Series 4 Atomic number 19 Atomic Weight 39.096 amu Chemical Properties Among alkali metals, the boiling points are low for those of higher atomic weight. Thus potassium more very volatile than sodium. USES Potassium compounds were used in antiquity. Potassium carbonate was leached from ashes in Pompeii and “Strengthened” with lime (converted to hydroxide) for soap making. * The Chinese use it to make gunpowder. * Potassium is used as a fertilizer along with nitrogen and phosphorus. * In photoelectric cells. * Alloys of potassium and sodium as a liquid that lowers the temperature. NORMAL VALUE IN HUMAN BODY Potassium is one of the most important elements in the ce! Economy, bt our detailed knowledge does not extend sufficient!om mpletely understand its significance, Quantitative ys to 00) mation is very difficult because it belongs primarily to the joidal interior of the cells. We do not know how much potassium fixed jn the cells nor in what state does it exist two to three grams of potassium which are brought to the organism daily from plants does not state anything about much active potassium is brought to the various places and tis excreted as inactive potassium, the reason being that there exists" jnternal potassium circulation so that what is used at one can again be used at another. jum is the most important intracellular cation. Almost 9% of potassium in the body is found within the cells. Potassium also influences tions and a common feature of hypokalemia is must Experiments reveal that 95% of body potassium is ble. The total average exchangeable K is 3200mM in males and 2300mM in females (46MKg and 40.5mMKg respectively). is neuromuscular func! cular weakness.256 Group Study in Homeopathic Materia - Anabolic state. Vit B12. Granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor Total parenteral nutrition. - Others Pseudohypokalemia. Hypothermia. Hypokalemic periodic paralysis. Barium toxicity. + Increased loss: - Non-renal. Gastrointestinal loss (diarrhea). Integumentary loss (sweat). - Renal. Increased loss—diuretics, osmotic and diuresis. Increased secretion of potassium. 1 muscle functioning, with weakness and muscles. formation of vacuoles !" d distal corticotubular cells interstitial nephritis W". iil HYPERKALEMIA The most important effect of high potassi ‘ : cardiac arrhythmia. gh potassium levels in blood is causations « Renal failure. Decreased distal flow (i.e., decreased effective circulating arterial volume). « Decreased K* secretion. + Impaired Na reabsorption. + Primary hypoaldosteronism, adrenal insufficiency, secondary hypoaldosteronism-hyporeninemia, resistance to aldosterone, pseudohypoaldosteronism. + Drugs, ACE inhibitors, NSAIDS, heparin. + Tubulo-interstitial disease. ed chloride reabsorption (chloride shunt): syndrome. cell membrane which ity and manifest as d paralysis and auses depolarization of ed membrane excitabili ich can progress to flacci n, if respiratory muscles are involved.Homeopathic Materia Medica Group Study in 258 tc ———————— aoe 3. Kalium bromatum Kalium carbonicum > 5. Kalium eyanatum 6. Kalium chloricum 7. Kalium hydriodicum §. Kalium mur ticum 10. Kalium permanganatum 11. Kalium phosphoricum 12. Kalium silicicum _ Kalium sulphuratum 13 CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF POTASSIUM GROUP Constitution are stout and ns are heavily built. They ndency to gain weight and k rings around the eyes. itutio! dies are prone to te! There are blac Potassium consti robust. All Kali reme have premature old look. Temperament Most Kali group remedies are Phlegmatic, whereas Kali phos. is choleric. Thermal Relationship o cold. Very much Thermally they are chilly and sensitive t sensitive to cold air, < and aversion to cold air except Kali sulph. ‘Amelioration by warmth. Diathesis Almost all Potassium show rheumatic and g outy diathesis-— = peatsssum GrOUP an 259 jasmatic Background : i ilitic. They al Anti-syphilitic. hey also show slow onset and slow decline their main features. a of Action Most of the remedies from Potassium group mainly act on tissues. muscles (esp. heart), nerves (esp. vagus), gastro-intestinal ract, skin, hair, mucus membranes, glands, bones and respiratory system. patho-physiological Action Muscles: The great content of potassium in muscle cells shows from the start its significance in muscle function. The potassium ions seem to possess a special significance for the production of the bioelectric current. The membrane theory of muscle function suggests that in the resting state, the plasma surface membrane is impermeable for potassium ions, but permeable for other ions. From this an electrical double layer results on the cell surface. By stimulation of the muscle astate of alternation of certain cell membrane of colloids occurs thereby an increase of permeability, particularly for potassium On the other hand, the interior of the muscle cell seems free ions. An important influence of sodium ions proceeds ig the intermediate substance. muscle irritability is apparently a special . According to Hober, this influence occurs n of the colloid consistency of the plasma ed, through relaxation of the plasma membrane. iscle irritability by potassium is reversible. the influence of potassium salts on the muscle | found that if one brings a piece of uninjured, scle into contact with a potassium salt solution j rent of the same direction andGroup Study in Homeopathic Materia Medica 260 electromotive power appears as in a partial destruction. The part of the muscle coming into contact with the potassium salt Will be negative in respect to the remainder of the muscle and it will thereby produce a regular test (cross-section current). Jf one washes off the salt producing the alteration, then the original State of the current-less muscle is restored. The potassium salts bring the muscle into a state in which, if it is stimulated already, it cannot be stimulated further. Because the excitation, just as the potassium salt, produces a local and transient negativity of the muscle and at the same time brings the muscle into a state of non-excitability through a muscle is associated with a change in the state of colloids, which is released through an electrolytic process within the muscle, The potassium ion is the chief carrier of positive charge on the inner limiting membrane. The same ion whose presence within the interior of the muscle fibril is a pre-condition of irritability disturbs or removes this irritability by influence from without. Apart from the influence of the quantity, the concentration, there is also a shifting of action indeed according to the site of influence. By what way, in such a disturbance of potassium balance in the muscle, a regulation follows from medicinal doses of potassium, we will obtain an explanation only when the si ignificance of potassium ions for nerve irritability is better known seems to be present. According to MacDonald, the destruction of a nerve is associated micro ly with the liberation of large amounts of previously lizable KC] at the place of injury. Furthermore, the cations < ity of nerves in the same series as they do in the Sodium the least and potassium most strongly. OF paralysis of the heart muscles by experiments on living is necessarily slight increase in consequence to the rapid transference to non- lt must be injected261 possi Group ously oF intravenously, If the . s from the normal 0.025-0.03 rey be giastoli¢ cardiac standstill occurs, On subcutaneous alee le the pulse frequency sinks and again increases after some time action occurs on the heart muscles alone, because it also ae . ganglion free heart muscle. In rabbits one also observes ing of the pulse frequency and single momentary sudden sinl gandstill of the pulse curve. The toxic actions of potas from the gastrointestinal theamount of potassium sium are not observed in reabsorption canal because a definite increase of ions in the blood plasma is not able to take place in consequence to the equalization processes of the organism. But if symptoms have been observed from small doses of potassium salts which point towards an affinity to skeletal and cardiac muscles which was discov ered a jmentally much later, then it must be considered that the type and form of the preparation administered and further more ‘special potassium sensitivity must have been responsible for _ In order to disturb the potassium economy: it oint of departure must necessarily follows that the p 1 from an increase of concentration in the fluid perfusing ‘ous system, be entirely over the vegetative ner’ ic like disturbance of potassium ion potential arly when there is already labile equilibrium n, The excitation of an accelerated potassium be disturbing in one case, regulating in rations free from objections made Its cannot be denied potassium sal xp! lable for the effects ion avai jon can not be utilized at mechanism of ion ical animal pharmacolog' n basis:Group Study in Homeopathic Materia Medicg en * — The influence of alkali salts on smooth muscles is Of anothe, type than upon striated muscles. Here the Plasma Membrane resistance does not seem to exist with an elective permeapjj, Consequently, the potassium ion acts more strongly, tte. swelling, shortening and tonus increasing than does the Sodium ron, * The influence ofan increase of potassium on the skeletal Muscle and cardiac muscles is equally tonus reducing, on the Contrary in smooth muscles, tonus increasing. If, now, one accepts the finding of Dufurdi that the irritability of the vagus is increased through potassium salts, so it seems that this action can be connected with the action of potassium on the receptive organs as a vagus effect. + If one recalls that voluntary muscles also has a vegetative innervation on which its tonus is dependent, then one can consider how it is possible to regulate the potassium balance between the inside and outside of the muscle fibrils by the vegetative nerves and thereby the tonus through potassium as a remedial agent. * Placing potassium and the vagus parallel need not be overstretched as has occurred in the counter balancing of the relations of KCa as the vagus: sympathetic by S.G. Zondek. d, in al, potassium preponderance corresponds to fluence and it also intermediates and Vagus. But, for example, the influence of cium ions in the regulation of the heart does 1out with the functions of the vagus and e the vagus depresses all parts of the heart ? to the ventricle, potassium stimulates the e of Kalis. Very sensitiveVA jum GroUP : 263 : Anxiety? Anxious all the time but most marked in morning, on waking, anxious about future, salvation, and disease. Fearful: “Full of fears”, fear to go to bed at night. Fear of . crowds, fear of bad news, and fear of being alone. Quarrelsome: Fault finding nature. Behavior very crazy. Irritable: Obstinacy marked at night, after coition, during headache and during menses. Weakness of memory, cannot remember events and the concentration power is less. Indifferent: To everything, to pleasure, to business matters and then becomes indolent and lassitude. Dullness of mind: Cannot recollect past events, words. ‘Absentmindedness in children. Difficulty in concentration. . Restlessness: Towards evening, during menses, headache. Moaning mania: Silent spells more marked. Impulsive: Tendency to do something violent, to kill somebody. ‘Sleeping tendency: Persons does not feel fresh, dull and sleepy the time. He becomes sad and fearful during sleep, loathing ». Insanity, delirium (more in Kali phos.). Illusion of dead s, duty: The most important characteristic of Kalium they are very conscientious. They are people inciples, they have their rules and norms and y them; a man of his word. They are therefore very ‘ect, stable and self-assured. They have a great sense serious and responsible. In the course of time, n go too far and the negative side might start sid, dogmatic, moralistic, conservative and rding to their principles, they have s to live according to their principles They prefer routine to new and—— a unexpected things. Playful and artistic traits are ardly acknowledged. That is why they seem to be MaAterialistig, but they are more pragmatic and down to earth, than €LOistic . Crone’: This control is expressed physically in the for constipation or difficult labor. They hold on to things ang ate closed and reserved. In spite of or perhaps because Of thig control there are many fears, but these are often only fey physically in the form of stomach problems. They can also be quite ‘jumpy’, unexpected things are not under their Contro| Connected to this is their great sensitivity to being tickled Tickling makes you laugh, you have to surrend emotions and their control does not allow this. * Optimism: They are closed and do not easily share their inner feelings. But they are melancholic like the Natriums. One could Sooner call them optimistic, They achieve what they want to achieve, through perseverance and hard work. * Work tasks: Their sense of duty is expressed in their tasks. Perhaps ‘task’ is an even better theme for the Kaliums than “duty”. They are very task conscious. They are very hard workers, able people, and the builders of the Society. They are cuical and pragmatic, They work hard and Steadily, although ‘overdo it. They are not real workaholics. They have ‘aura. Professions in which they thrive are: JUages, translators, book keepers etc. whole, very much family oriented. ant to them and they work hard to ™ of €r to your ecially in thighs and show eclampti¢ eic movements lity of nerves265 js have a characteristic ‘ * istic ‘prominent sticking pain’ Mothers is tearing, cutting and neuralgic pains, ins shifts from one part to another, Pulling, st ae type : } Stitching and ; TEE shifting pains. Pain in small parts that can be cov. mi Deep escharotic effects on tissues ered by tip of rr. ess and relaxation of m : , - cause paralytic uscles especially of thighs which may ° paralytic weakness of sacro-iliac joint, P: ‘ throws himself or herself on bed or street Joint. Patient Kalis are usually people with cold feelings, which are th chilly and very much sensitive to cold and ca iration all over the body. Coldness is felt in ge | a. ests general and All Kalis have great affinity for water. All the remedies have more power to penetrate the tissues hence they are selected when deep acting remedies are need. shave great effect on joints as they produce rheumatisms. nts are painful, tender and swollen. Edema is also present. edematous swellings. and Pustular eruptions. The Kalis affect markedly the embranes producing congestion, inflammation, increased, altered mucus discharges. of Kalis are copious, thick, yellow and we the power to arrest abnormal secretions ay be mucus or serous; perspiration or at on all parts of body. ts and other soft edible it snsation in the stomach whic n of constriction in the throat. Sour vo! are marked in Kalis. and sexual weakness with inability jons, Loss of sexual desire. ems. All Kalis is not relieved miting rs, Sexual erythrism.266 Group Study in Homeopathic Materia Medica * They are quite heavily built, stout and robust as a Teflection of their inside. The Kaliums in general are quite cold, but thig depends on the component elements. * The time modality is very strong: an aggravation at around 3 o’clock. Sometimes this is from 2-4 o’clock or from 3 0’ clock (Cupr,, Thuj.). Kali-ar, tends more towards 1h, and Kalli-s, ang Kali-iod. to Sh. All complaints can be aggravated then, sleeplessness, stomach pains, sciatica, etc. * Edema everywhere, particularly around the ankles and the eyelids, with a most typical symptom of swelling of the Medial side of the upper eyelid. * Asthma <3 o’clock, > sitting and < lying down. * Pneumonia with stitching pains in pleura. * Affections of the heart: Ranging from simple palpitations and high blood pressure to hardening of the arteries and (sudden) heart attacks. All the emotions are held inside, until suddenly the heart gives up. * The Kaliums have many stomach complaints. Their stomach is highly sensitive; they are also prone to stomach pains and __ ulcers. A typical process is that they transfer their fears to i-c. does this especially. The whole region becomes very sensitive. len copious, sometimes early, sometimes late. Copious, creamy, yellow leucorrhea. + Inflammation of the joints with lips and knees, ica is < pressure, < lyingsium Group 267 potas GENERAL MODALITIES aggravation Thinking, cold draught, coition, menses, touch exertion amelioration Movement, leaning forward, eating. CLINICAL CONDITIONS Eclampsia, convulsions, rheumatism, edem: vomiting, sexual erythrism, sciatica, weakness, anemia, sinusitis, asthma, pneumonia, palpitations, hypertension. a, hemorrhage, REMEDY RELATIONS _ Compare with Natriums.2679 Modalities a Physical Age.: Thinking, cold, draught, Do eae coition, menses, exertion, Amel.: Movements, |e: forward, eating. touch, ‘Twitching & trembling of muscles, sticking pains, tearing, cutting, neuralgic pain, weakness & relaxation of muscles, paralytic weakness, cold Perspiration, great afffinity for water, painful joints & tendons, edematous, papular & pustular eruptions, aning, Sensation of constriction, sour vomiting, loss of sexual desire, sexual erethism. Desire: sweets Mental General Symptoms Qversensitive, anxiety, fearful, quarrelsome, irritable, weakness of memory, low concentration, indifferent. indolent, lassitude, dullness of mind, difficult concentration, restlessness, impulsive tendency, fearful during sleep, insanity, delirium, illusion, loathing of life. Relationship Compared with Natriums. POTASSIUM GROUP AT A GLANCE Therapeutic value Rheumatism, ulceration, congestion, hemorrhage, perspiration, asthma, anemia, edema, sinusitis, affections of heart, liver, gastric juice, backache, sciatica, acne, alopecia insomnia, sexual weakness exhaustion. Affinity Nerves, mucus membranes, glands, bones, respiratory system, hair, soft tissues, heart, GIT. Constitution & Physiognomy Diathesis & RHC Heavily built, robust people, black rings around eyes, prone to gain weight, premature old look. Diathesis: Rheumatic & gouty diathesis. RHC: Chilly.