Common name: Antimony potassium tartrate. Tartar Emetic
Chemical formula: K2Sb2(C4H2O6)2
During the 16th – 18th centuries, antimonium potassium tartrate was used in small amounts as an emetic, a substance used to induce vomiting. During the Victorian era, many doctor’s medicine kits contained glass jars of tartar emetic powder. In larger amounts, the ingestion of tartar emetic produces symptoms similar to those of arsenic, including violent, incessant vomiting, severe diarrhea, profuse cold sweat, burning in the throat and stomach, and extreme thirst. This is followed by cyanosis, cramping, collapse, coma, and death. During the 19th and 20th centauries, this toxic substance was an ingredient in aversion therapy for alcohol abuse.
As a homeopathic remedy, Antimonium tart is used for respiratory illness, including bronchitis, whooping cough, and pneumonia, as well as pulmonary conditions when there is a coarse, rattling noise while breathing and a wet cough. It is often indicated for illnesses of childhood and old age, when the symptoms fit. This remedy can help ease end stage disease when extreme weakness, coldness, cold sweat, and unresponsiveness is accompanied by the “death rattle.”
Keynotes:
- Much secretion of mucus, rattling cough but scanty expectoration
- Cyanosis during respiratory conditions
- Nausea and vomiting with the cough
- Overwhelming sleepiness during bronchitis or cough, coma
- End-stage with feeble pulse, coldness, cold sweat, and respiratory weakness
- Coarse rattling in the larynx or chest
- Bronchitis of infants and the elderly
- Pneumonia
- Whooping cough
- Emphysema, COPD
- Congestive heart failure
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