Calcarea carb is a homeopathic remedy made from the middle layer of oyster shells. It is commonly used for people who are chilly, fat, anxious and insecure. Calcarea is needed by those with rickets, tuberculosis or glandular issues. It works on the bones, nerves and endocrine system, helping with conditions like abdominal discomfort, acidity, bone problems and respiratory troubles. Calcarea individuals feel worse in cold and benefit from constipation.

1. PHYSIOLOGICAL
ACTION OF
CALCAREA
Dr. Arun R Nair
Dept Of Practice Of

2. 7/8/2014ARN 2

3. CALCIUM FACTS
▪ Soft grey alkaline earth metal
▪ Symbol Ca
▪ Number 20
▪ Group II
▪ Divalent cation
▪ Atomic weight 40 g/mol
▪ Single oxidation state +2
▪ Fifth most abundant element in Earth´s crust
▪ Essential for living organisms
7/8/2014ARN 3

4. CALCIUM HISTORY
Latin calx or calcis meaning ”lime”
Known as early as first century when ancient Romans
prepared lime as calcium oxide
Isolated in 1808 by Englishman Sir Humphrey Davy
Electrolyzed a mixture of lime & mercuric acid
In 1883 demonstrated Sydney Ringer the biological
significance of calcium.
Frog hearts needed the presence of calcium in the bathing
solution in order to continue beating
7/8/2014ARN 4

5. CALCIUM OCCURRENCE
In nature
▪ Does not exist freely
▪ Occurs mostly in soil systems as limestone (CaCO3), gypsum (CaSO4*2H2O) & fluorite
(CaF2)
In the body
 The most abundant mineral
 Average adult body contains app. 1 kg
 0,1 % in the extra cellular fluid
 1 % in the cells
 The rest (app. 99 %) in the skeleton
(Bones can serve as large reservoirs, releasing calcium when extracellular fluid concentration decreases and storing
excess calcium)
7/8/2014ARN 5

6. CALCIUM FUNCTIONS
▪ Major structural element in the vertebrate skeleton (bones
and teeth) in the form of calcium phosphate
(Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2 known as hydroxyapatatite
▪ Key component in the maintenance of the cell structure
▪ Membrane rigidity, permeability and viscosity are partly
dependent on local calcium concentrations
7/8/2014ARN 6

7. CALCIUM FUNCTIONS (Bone)
▪ Osteoclasts (bone cells)
remodel the bone by
dissolving or resorbing bone
▪ Osteoblasts (bone forming
cells) synthesize new bone to
replace the resorbed bone
- Found on the outer surfaces of
the bones and in the bone
cavities
7/8/2014 ARN 7

8. CALCIUM FUNCTIONS
Plays important regulatory roles in the body
A passive role:
- As a cofactor for many enzymes (e.g. Lipase) and proteins
- As component in the blood clotting cascade
An active role: as an intracellular signal
- In the relaxation and constriction of blood vessels
- In cell aggregation and movement
- In muscle protein degradation
- In secretion of hormones as insulin
- In cell division
- In nerve impulse transmission
7/8/2014ARN 8

9. INTERACTIONS
▪ Phosphate: ↓ calcium excretion in the urine
▪ Caffeine: ↑ urinary and fecal excretion of calcium
▪ Sodium: ↑ sodium intake, ↑ loss of calcium in urine
▪ Dietary constituents: Phytic acid can reduce absorption of calcium by
forming an insoluble salt (calcium phytate)
▪ Iron: calcium might have inhibitory effect on iron absorption
7/8/2014ARN 9

10. ABSORPTION AND EXCRETION FACTORS
▪ Absorption increased by:
- Body need
- Vitamin D
- Protein
- Lactose
- Acid medium
▪ Absorption decreased by:
- Vitamin D deficiency
- Calcium-phosphorus
imbalance
- Oxalic acid
- Phosphorous
- Dietary fiber
- Excessive fat
- High alkalinity
- Also stresses and lack of
exercise
▪ Excretion increased by:
- Low parathyroid hormone (PTH)
- High extracellular fluid volume
- High blood pressure
- Low plasma phosphate
- Metabolic alkalosis
▪ Excretion decreased by:
- High parathyroid hormone
- Low extracellular fluid volume
- Low blood pressure
- High plasma phosphate
- Metabolic acidosis
- Vitamin D3
7/8/2014ARN 10

11. Calcium needed by the body for:
1. The formation and maintenance of bone and teeth,
2. Coagulation of blood,
3. Regulation of neuromuscular irritability and
4. Muscular contractility.
7/8/2014ARN 11

12. SOURCE
Milk and milk products are main source of calcium.
Fish, vegetable, fruits, cereals (ragi rich in calcium) and
drinking water are other sources.
Green leafy vegetables are the cheapest natural source
of calcium but the bio availability of calcium is poor.
Availability of calcium from a good source like milk is
adversely affected by the simultaneous consumption of
green leafy vegetable.
Recommended in take of calcium (adult)
– 400 –500 mg / day.
7/8/2014ARN 12

13. Doctrine of signature
▪ The remedy is prepared from the middle layers of inner part of
the oyster shell. Thus one of the features of calcarea is
protection and withdrawal. They withdraw and make a
protective layer around them.
▪ Another strong aspect of Calcarea is anxiety and fear. There is
a theme of insecurity. The fears & anxieties centre around
issues such as money, health. When these basic aspects are not
secure, they develop strong despair.
7/8/2014ARN 13

14. Contd.
Calcium gluconate (Ca(C6H11O7)2) is used as a food additive and in vitamin pills.
Calcium hypochlorite (Ca(OCl)2) is used as a swimming pool disinfectant, as a
bleaching agent, as an ingredient in deodorant, and in algaecide and fungicide.
Calcium permanganate (Ca(MnO4)2) is used in liquid rocket propellant, textile
production, as a water sterilizing agent and in dental procedures.
Calcium phosphate (Ca3(PO4)2) is used as a supplement for animal feed, fertilizer, in
commercial production for dough and yeast products, in the manufacture of glass,
and in dental products.
Calcium stearate (Ca(C18H35O2)2) is used in the manufacture of wax crayons,
cements, certain kinds of plastics and cosmetics, as a food additive, in the
production of water resistant materials and in the production of paints.
Calcium sulfate (CaSO4·2H2O) is used as common blackboard chalk, as well as, in its
hemihydrate form better known as Plaster of Paris.
7/8/2014ARN 14

15. CALCAREA GROUP
 Insecurity feeling ,very uncertain about themselves, constantly worrying
about what other will think about them; a confused state of mind
 Constantly comparing themselves with others, ( but not openly)
 Different forms of fear due to insecurity feeling
 These situation leads to protection and withdrawal
 Calcarea group drugs indicated in persons coming from a protected
individuals and one who desires stability
 obesity
7/8/2014ARN 15

16. ▪ Homoeopathic Medicines made out of Calcium compounds and their preparation, properties and
clinical indications
▪ According to Mendeleef, Calcarea comes under group 2A
▪ ALKALINE EARTH GROUP –
1. Beryllium
2. Magnesium
3. Calcarea
4. Strontium
5. Barium
6. Radium
7/8/2014ARN 16

17. General characters of alkaline earth group medicines:
▪ Mental character – Sluggish,
Indolent, Anxious
▪ Aggravation from cold (Chilly
patient)
▪ Predominantly tubercular
▪ Involvement of nervous system and
endocrine system
▪ Oedema

18. Calcarea Carb.
Clinical
Abdominal
Disorders
Acidity
Bone Affection
Glandular
Affections
Respiratory
Troubles
Common Name- Carbonate of lime
or Middle Layer of Oyster Shell
Constitution:
•“LEUCOPHLEGMATIC”
•Suited to Fair, Fatty and Flabby Patient who
becomes easily fatigued.
•Large Heads, Open Fontanelles and Sutures
Thermal:
•Chilly Patient
Miasm
•Psora and Sycosis
Diathesis
•Scrofulous, Rachitic and Tubercular
Diathesis.
7/8/2014ARN 18

19. Pathogenesis:
Calcarea carb. produces impairment in nutrition
of various organs, particularly bones.
Alteration in composition of blood with chief
action on skin and bones.

20. Guiding Symptoms
• Great Sensitiveness to take cold.
• Disposed to grow fat.
• Head sweats profusely, while sleeping wetting the pillow far
around.
• Coldness in general and the single part.
• Feels better in every way when constipated. Stool has to be
removed mechanically.
• Excellent remedy for polypi and exostosis.
• All discharges smell sour eg, vomitus, diarrhoea, sweat etc.
7/8/2014ARN 20

21. Contd.
▪ Longing for eggs especially during
sickness. Craves un-digestible
things.
▪ Has aversion to meat.
7/8/2014ARN 21

22. General Modalities
▪ Aggravation:
Cold air and water, wet weather, from washing, in morning, during full
moon.
▪ Amelioration:
Lying on painful side.
7/8/2014ARN 22

23. Contd.
▪ Kent says:
 Sulphur has heat in patches, Calcarea has cold in patches and
sweat also in patches.
Calcarea grows and cures polypi.
Calcarea babies are always more or less wormy.
7/8/2014ARN 23

24. 7/8/2014ARN 24