Common name: Potassium carbonate. Kali carbonate. Potash. Pearl ash.
Chemical formula: K2CO3
Potassium carbonate is an alkaline water soluble salt. The Latin name for potassium is kalium, which comes from the Arabic word which means alkali. The name potassium is derived from the word potash, which is a shortened form of “pot ashes.” Historically, potassium carbonate was made by soaking plant or wood ashes in water in a large pot. The resulting liquid was potassium hydroxide, a type of caustic lye which was used to make a soft soap. By evaporating the water, a white residue called potash (pot ashes) was left clinging to the pot. Early potash was used in the production of soap, glass, textiles, and gunpowder. When further refined into pearl ash by kiln baking, potassium carbonate was used as a leavening agent in baking before the use of baking soda became widespread. Today, potassium is mined for its use in fertilizers.
As a homeopathic remedy, Kali carbonicum shares many characteristics with other “Kali” remedies, but it has its own unique symptom picture. While all Kali’s are generally conservative, proper, down to earth folks, the keynote of Kali carbonicum is a strong sense of duty and a strong control over emotions. A person who could benefit from this remedy may not notice the effects of stress, nor complain, because the mind rules the emotions. It is difficult to express feelings and there is a fear of losing control. Often, unrecognized emotional stress is felt physically in the chest and abdomen.
Keynotes:
- Conservative, moral, proper, rigid, dogmatic, stoic, logical
- Anxious, irritable, sluggish, touchy
- Started easily, jumpy, sensitive to touch
- Dislikes being alone, wants company but not sympathy
- Fear of losing control
- Loyal, strong sense of duty, doing what has to be done
- Talking to themselves, talking in sleep
- Very chilly, sensitive to drafts and cold air
- Puffy upper eyelids
- Headache due to eye strain, shooting pains in forehead or above eyes, sinusitis
- Sharp stitching pains in lower back extending to the buttocks, worse from long sitting, better for pressure, sciatica
- Sore throat, difficulty swallowing
- Anxiety, dread, nausea felt in epigastrium
- Stomach pains, worse after eating, feels bloated and full, gassy, indigestion
- Heartburn, acid reflux
- Right sided cutting or stitching pains with cough, must sit up and lean forward to cough, asthma worse 2 – 4 am, pneumonia in children, bronchitis, whooping cough
- Angina pectoris, congestive heart failure
- Jerking on going to sleep, starting up in sleep, dreams, nightmares, insomnia
- Craves sweets
- Generally worse from 2 – 4 am
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