Bismuth is a very distinct remedy which is needed in a specific situation in which no other remedy can replace it. Its characteristics are such that it will very easily be confused with Phosphorus. Bismuth is indicated in certain specific cases in which there is very severe, violent pain in the stomach. The patient complains of a very severe cramping pain, as if something is grasping the stomach. The pain is so severe that the patient is in a constant turmoil, writhing about in great distress. The arms, the legs, the whole body - all are in constant motion. The pain is so great that the patient is in great fear. He or she keeps saying "Am I going to the well?
Am I going to get better? Please hold me! Do not leave me alone". These patients because of the violence of the pain, have a great fear of being left alone. They need somebody to be with them at all times - sometimes just to hold their hands. This fear of being alone during the pain is very characteristic for a Bismuth.
Another keynote of Phosphorus which these people have is a great thirst - especially for cold water and in large quantities. Then, once they drink the water, they may stick a finger into the throat in order to immediately vomit it up. Alternatively, if they do not artificially induce vomiting, the water will be vomited up only once it has become warm in the stomach. This symptoms in particular may make you think of Phosphorus - especially when combined with the tremendous anxiety about health, the need for reassurance and the desire for company during the pain.
Another striking characteristic is that the pain is ameliorated by rubbing or massaging the back. Massaging the region of the solar plexus itself cannot be tolerated, but rubbing the opposite region of the back ameliorates. This may relieve not only the pain itself, but also the tremendous anxiety and writing about.
The pain itself is centred in the solar plexus. At first, it may feel like a heartburn, but soon it becomes a severe cramping gastralgia, as if something were going to break inside. The pain becomes so intolerable that you are likely to decide immediately upon hospitalisation, and the pain continues unabated for days.
The pain in Bismuth last continuously for days at a time, but the paroxysms have an approximate periodicity to them. The periodicity may be every 15,30 or 45 days; but once the paroxysm begins, its violence and characteristic anxiety, accompanied by great thirst for cold drinks which are vomited, is unmistakable.
During the paroxysm of pain, of course, no food can be tolerated whatsoever. It is strange, however, that once the pain abates, these patients can eat and digest virtually anything - even stones.
During the paroxysm of pain, the body and head may feel as if there is a fever. Eventually the extremities becomes cold, but the torso and head remain warm to the touch, even though there is no actual fever.
Bismuth is a wonderful remedy to remember for this specific situation. You may be called to the patient's home and everyone is in a panic because of the violence of the symptoms. Obviously, no ordinary antispasmodics would be capable of dealing with such pains, and an allopathic prescriber would be forced to consider either very powerful drugs or surgery. The symptoms themselves cannot fail to bring to your mind Phosphorus, but Phosphorus will not touch such a case. It is too violent, too extreme.
Also, as a general rule, Bismuth can be kept in mind for even milder gastralgias in seemingly Phosphorus-type patients but in whom Phosphorus has failed to provide any benefit. After trying Phosphorus and waiting sufficiently long for a response, Bismuth could be considered as a further possibility, especially when there is history of periodicity to the paroxysms.
Am I going to get better? Please hold me! Do not leave me alone". These patients because of the violence of the pain, have a great fear of being left alone. They need somebody to be with them at all times - sometimes just to hold their hands. This fear of being alone during the pain is very characteristic for a Bismuth.
Another keynote of Phosphorus which these people have is a great thirst - especially for cold water and in large quantities. Then, once they drink the water, they may stick a finger into the throat in order to immediately vomit it up. Alternatively, if they do not artificially induce vomiting, the water will be vomited up only once it has become warm in the stomach. This symptoms in particular may make you think of Phosphorus - especially when combined with the tremendous anxiety about health, the need for reassurance and the desire for company during the pain.
Another striking characteristic is that the pain is ameliorated by rubbing or massaging the back. Massaging the region of the solar plexus itself cannot be tolerated, but rubbing the opposite region of the back ameliorates. This may relieve not only the pain itself, but also the tremendous anxiety and writing about.
The pain itself is centred in the solar plexus. At first, it may feel like a heartburn, but soon it becomes a severe cramping gastralgia, as if something were going to break inside. The pain becomes so intolerable that you are likely to decide immediately upon hospitalisation, and the pain continues unabated for days.
The pain in Bismuth last continuously for days at a time, but the paroxysms have an approximate periodicity to them. The periodicity may be every 15,30 or 45 days; but once the paroxysm begins, its violence and characteristic anxiety, accompanied by great thirst for cold drinks which are vomited, is unmistakable.
During the paroxysm of pain, of course, no food can be tolerated whatsoever. It is strange, however, that once the pain abates, these patients can eat and digest virtually anything - even stones.
During the paroxysm of pain, the body and head may feel as if there is a fever. Eventually the extremities becomes cold, but the torso and head remain warm to the touch, even though there is no actual fever.
Bismuth is a wonderful remedy to remember for this specific situation. You may be called to the patient's home and everyone is in a panic because of the violence of the symptoms. Obviously, no ordinary antispasmodics would be capable of dealing with such pains, and an allopathic prescriber would be forced to consider either very powerful drugs or surgery. The symptoms themselves cannot fail to bring to your mind Phosphorus, but Phosphorus will not touch such a case. It is too violent, too extreme.
Also, as a general rule, Bismuth can be kept in mind for even milder gastralgias in seemingly Phosphorus-type patients but in whom Phosphorus has failed to provide any benefit. After trying Phosphorus and waiting sufficiently long for a response, Bismuth could be considered as a further possibility, especially when there is history of periodicity to the paroxysms.
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