Page 8 - Spring 18

Beryllium Metallicum –
by Tim Couzens, UK
Beryllium is not a remedy that I have used that often. Its main use has been in the treatment of equine sarcoids and not, as far as I can recall, for any other conditions. Fortunately, I have now seen enough cases to work out the constitutional equine remedy picture. Of course if anyone has any additional information to add that would be great.
The Element
Beryllium is a rare alkaline earth metal element – symbol Be with atomic number 4 sitting in column 2, row 2 (the Carbon series) of Scholten’s periodic table. It sits with impulsive, changeable Lithium to the left and the doubtful multiple personality of Boron to the right with the territorially aggressive nature of Magnesium below.
As a divalent element it naturally occurs only in combination with other elements in minerals, especially as gemstones mainly beryl (e.g. emerald and aquamarine) and
chrysoberyl. As a free element it is steel-gray coloured, strong, light- weight and brittle. It is toxic if inhaled causing a condition called berylliosis, a chronic allergic type lung condition which leads to the formation of inflammatory granulomas in the
lungs; this condition is sometimes referred to as a form of sarcoidosis. Industrial uses include in alloys with copper and aluminum, and in the production of tools which are very hard and which importantly, don’t cause sparks when they hit a metal surface, a trait (metaphorically speaking) reflected in the unobtrusive, yielding personality of Beryllium. From its position on the conventional periodic table you would expect Beryllium to be a reactive metal but in fact it is not reactive as a surface layer of the oxide prevents it from reacting with water and other substances.
General Materia Medica
This remedy is not covered in Boericke but a search in Radar gives 127 entries in Murphy and 475 in Schroyens.
Conditions covered include:
• Tumours in general (including osteosarcoma and sarcoids)
• Peritonitis
• Emphysema and a variety of other chest conditions
(not surprising given its toxicity linked to berylliosis) • Myocarditis
• Pancreatitis
• Nausea
• Poor appetite
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