Say Cheese

Hepar sulph has been touted as the homeopathic antibiotic. Taken literally, those two words don’t go together because hom (meaning “same”) is the opposite of anti (meaning “against”). (For more information, see Hom, not Home.) With that in mind, let’s talk a little bit about why homeopathic Hepar sulph has acquired this incongruous reputation.

Hepar sulph is reputed to combat infections and reduce pain. If we take a look at the Banerji Protocols book (Banerji and Banerji 2013), we will find Hepar sulph listed 40 times. Beginning with acne vulgaris and venturing through such ailments as impetigo, pharyngitis (sore throat) and tonsillitis — all conditions which the internet tells me are generally, or at least often, treated with antibiotics*.

Dr. Manuel Mateu Ratera, in his excellent book First Aid with Homeopathy, recommends Hepar for “serious and destructive situations: tendency to suppuration and an exaggerated sensitivity to pain.”

Technically, the full name of this homeopathic remedy is Hepar sulphuris calcareum. When I ask my Brave search engine, it tells me that “in the past, ‘hepar’ referred to the liver or a preparation made from it. Although this term is no longer commonly used today, it is a direct borrowing from the Greek word ‘hepar’, meaning liver.” Interesting. Dr. Robin Murphy (2006) tells us that “Liver of Sulphur” is the name given “by the old alchemists to several sulphur compounds whose color was supposed to resemble that of liver.” SIDE NOTE: With all this talk of liver, I took a peek in the repertory to see how Hepar sizes up for liver symptoms and yes, there it is.

The second part of the name comes from the “pure flowers of sulphur.” Nope, not that kind of flower. Webster’s Dictionary clears this up as: “sublimed sulfur in the form of a fine yellow powder used especially in agriculture and in medicine” (2024).

Back to Murphy (this time accessed via Radar Opus 2.2.16) for the final installment of the understanding of how this remedy comes about: “an impure Sulphide of Calcium prepared by burning in a crucible the white interior of oyster shells with pure flowers of sulphur” bringing the calcareum into the picture. As you may know, our beloved homeopathic remedy Calc carb (aka Calcarea carbonica) is made from the extract from the middle layer of the oyster shell, so all that goodness is part of the Hepar sulph calc picture, too. In fact, Samuel Hahnemann prepared this mineral compound because he was trying to combine the effects of two of homeopathy’s biggest remedies (AKA polycrests) Sulphur and Calc carb.

Ok, after a brief side journey to learn how we get this remedy, let’s get back to understanding how Hepar sulph can be applied.

Hepar is known physically for exquisite pain and sensitivity: think of ingrown toenails, hang nails, those tender zits that can pop up which cause unbearable pain at the slightest touch. Mentally: anger; being contrary; irritable; extremely sensitive in general as well as to pain; sensitive to air and cold … Put the physical and mental pain and sensitivity together and that pretty much describes a Hepar sulph moment.

What general conditions may be helped by Hepar? In no particular order:

• Sore throats

• Hoarse voice

• Coughs

• Croup

• Skin nodules and indurations

• Ear infections

• Skin complaints: boils, pimples, nodules and indurations, especially with pus discharges

• Yellow-ish discolorations: of the skin; stool; discharges (from wherever they may originate); expectorations; sweat that leaves yellow stains.

• Toothaches

• Sinusitis

Cold may worsen any condition which may be helped by Hepar. For instance, think of the cough or discomfort that may come on after breathing in cold air when unwell or the throat pain that is worse after swallowing a cold drink or a toothache that really zings when you breathe in cold air or swallow a cold drink. And, on top of that, the person may be chilly in general.

What unusual symptoms might Hepar sulph tackle?

• A splinter-like pain in the throat — like a fish bone stuck in there, or, pains as if splinter (and, wounds from splinters, too).

• A cough which is worse when closing the eyes at night.

• High sensitivity to pain with fainting.

• “Fine” pains — they hurt more than they “should” (think paper cuts)

• and, cheese.

Cheese?

Yes, cheese.
Stools which smell like cheese.
Cheesy discharges from any part of the body.
Conditions which smell like cheese.
Breath which smells cheesy.
Experiencing the odors of cheese (or old cheese) — be they imaginary odors or real odors.
Cheesy smelling sweat.
Coughing up “cheesy lumps.”

Homeopathy is so effective in so many conditions and Hepar sulph is an excellent remedy to have in your kit, especially if you are adventuring where modern medicine is limited. A well-timed early dose of Hepar sulph could help to avoid bigger problems down the road.

Julia Coyte, CHom
Classically Practical homeopath


#wellnessawaits

​* Given the fact that many of these conditions are treated via antibiotics in conventional medicine, please make sure to work with a physician alongside a certified homeopath.

---

RESOURCES

Banerji, P. and Banerji, P., 2013. The Banerji protocols : a new method of treatment with homeopathic medicines. India: Pratip Banerji.

Merriam-Webster, 2024. Merriam-Webster Dictionary [online]. Merriam-webster.com. 

Morrison, R., 1993. Desktop guide to keynotes and confirmatory symptoms. Nevada City, Calif.: Hahnemann Clinic Pub.

Murphy, R., n.d. Homeopathic Remedy Guide. accessed through Radar Opus 2.2.16.

Murphy, R., 2006. Nature’s materia medica : 1,400 homeopathic and herbal remedies. Blackburg, Va.: Lotus Health Institute, November.

Ratera, Dr. M. M., 2016. First Aid with Homeopathy. Germany: Narayana Verlag.