Proving of Natrium arsenicosum and Clinically Confirmed Symptoms

In the 19th century, provings of Natrium arsenicosum were performed revealing many interesting physical symptoms, but only few mental symptoms. To test the efficacy of Natrium arsenicosum, it was subject to a proving at SHI Homoeopathic Institute—a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial over the course of 6 weeks—using the potency 200K. For the proving, 19 healthy volunteers were chosen (homeopaths and homeopathy students). Fourteen of them received Natrium arsenicosum 200K, and five provers received placebo. In this proving of Natrium arsenicosum 200K, a total of 260 rubrics have been produced, of which 120 are new. The remaining 140 symptoms were taken from the Materia Medica of Allen, Hering, and J.H. Clarke and were mostly confirmed by the provers. The proving confirmed both the remedy’s known action on the eyes, nose and respiratory tract, and revealed many interesting new symptoms, especially mental and sleep-related ones. Many of these symptoms have since been clinically confirmed, further broadening the beneficial use of Natrium arsenicosum. Due to the mental picture obtained by this proving, it is now easier to differentiate Natrium arsenicosum from other similar remedies, such as Arsenicum album, Natrium muriaticum, Kalium carbonicum and Psorinum. As demonstrated in exemplary cases, Psorinum has proven to be a valuable complement to Natrium arsenicosum. Since the proving of Natrium arsenicosum has been concluded, many clinically confirmed symptoms have been collected, based on retrospective case analyses of homeopaths who collaborate with SHI. This work aims to present the results of the proving and the clinically confirmed symptoms of Nat-ar. For instance, the following symptoms have been clinically confirmed: the combination of extreme weakness with excellent appetite and amelioration after eating; dry cough with a feeling of oppression and tension in the upper third of the chest, aggravated by deep breathing and exertion.

Keywords: Natrium arsenicosum, proving experiment

Publication History

Article published online:
30 January 2024