Hepar Sulphur

Hahnemann's calcium sulphide, traditionally used in homoeopathy for tender boils and pimples that come to a head, and for people very sensitive to cold and touch.

Hepar sulphuris calcareum is a crude calcium sulphide that Hahnemann made himself by heating the white inner layer of oyster shells with flowers of sulphur. Its name, liver of sulphur, comes from the liver-brown colour of early sulphur compounds.

Homoeopaths traditionally turn to it when a part is very tender and tends to form pus: boils, pimples and abscesses with sharp, splinter-like pains, and sore throats that feel as if a fishbone were stuck. Its person is chilly and oversensitive to cold air, draughts, touch and pain, and is easily irritated. A rough, croupy cough in cold, dry wind also belongs to it.

• Boils and pimples
• Splinter-like pains
• Sensitivity to cold
• Croupy cough
• Tender sore throat