Potassium Compounds assume considerable significance in the Homoeopathic Materia medica right from the very beginning. Here is an attempt to focus attention on the Kali group of drugs and to go through some of their general and characteristic features. Many different Materia Medicas and repertories are consulted to compile this work.

Kali group of drugs include the following
1. Kali aceticum
2. Kali arsenicosum
3. Kali asparticum
4. Kali aurocyanatum
5. Kali bioxalicum
6. Kali bitartaricum
7. Kali bichromicum
8. Kali bromatum
9. Kali borotartaricum
1O.Kali causticum
11 .Kali chioricum
12.Kali chromicum
13.Kali citricum
14.Kali cyanatum
15.Kali carbonicum
16.Kali formicum
17.KaIi fluoratum
1 8.Kali hydroxydum
1 9.Kali hypophosphoricum
20.Kali lodatum
21.Kali lacticum
22.Kali metalicum
23.Kali muriaticum
24.Kali natrum tartaricum
25.Kali nitricum
26.Kali oxalicurn
27.Kali perchloricum
28.Kali permanganatum
29.Kali picronitricum
30.Kali picricum
31 .Kali phosphoricum
32.Kali salicylicum
33.Kali silicicum
34.Kali sulphuratum
35.Kali sulphurosum
36.Kali sulphuricum chromicum
37.Kali sulfo cyanicum
38.Kali sulphuricum
39.Kali thiocyanatum
40.Kali telluricum
41.Kali tartaricum
42.Kali Xanthogenicum
43 .Causticum
  
Group According to Mendeleef  
Group I. Lithium
           Natrum
           Kali
           Hydrogenium
           Cuprum
           Argentum
           Aurum

The term Kali or Kahle is German for potash. Potassium (K) as a chemical element is a metal, having an atomic number 19 and atomic weight 39.1. Potassium and all of its compounds are water soluble and are universally distributed.
Earth’s crust consists of 2.45% of Potassium. Human body consists of 35% of Potassium. Potassium is one of the minerals present in blood plasma as well as all tissues. Clarke in his “Dictionary of the Practical Materia medica “, states that Kalis in general cause great disturbance in the circulation of fluids in the tissues. 

Empiric uses (Allopathic) of Kalis.
(1) Kali ars-Diuretic & Complexion Cleaner
(2) Kali bich-Antiseptic for wounds
(3) Kali bitartrate-Saline purgative
(4) Kali iodide-For syphilis, expectorant, certain Mycoses
(5) Kali nitrate-For fever, asthma
(6) Kali permanganatum-as an oxidising agent.
(7) Kali brom-Sedative and hypnotic, antiepileptic. Men with excessive sexual desire (prisoners)
(8) Kali phos-Diuretic
(9) Kali suiph-Laxative

  General Characteristics of Kali Group

(1) Constitution: -(Adaptability)
Fat chubby persons.
Tendency to obesity, heavy built.
(Kali bich-2, Kali brom- 1, Kali carb-2) Kali bich->Suited to fair haired, fat per sons, especially fat chubby children, fat sluggish people.
Kali brom->Adapted to persons inclined to obesity, to children
Kali carb->Suited to persons of soft tissues with tendency to be fatty.
Suited to aged rather than obese, lax fiber, to dark haired persons of lax fiber & inclined to be fat.

(2) Mental (Adaptability): Mental sluggishness: Dullness,
Forgetfulness,
Loss of memory,
Lassitude,
Easily initiated by trifles
Mental pictures of...
Causticum :-
Sad, hopeless, melancholic
Looks upon dark side of everything.
Hopeless weeping mood expecting
Ailments from... long lasting grief, Sudden emotions,
Thinking of the complaints.
Weakness of memory
Absent minded Understands questions only after
Inattentive, distracted mind Uses wrong words  

Kali bich: Great weakness of memory
Frequent vanishing of thoughts, sense less staring at an object
Low spirited
Ill humoured
Indifferent
Aversion to motion, inclination to be down.
Disinclination to mental or bodily labour.
Anthrapophobia. 

Kali brom :-
Loss of memory
Inability to concentrate mind on any thing
Forgets how to talk, had to be told the word before he could speak it. (Amnesic aphasia)
Single words forgotten, syllables are dropped.
Perception slow, answers slowly.
Deep depression
Great despondency
Profound indifference
Disgust of life
Brain fag
Fits of uncontrollable weeping and pro found melancholic delusions.
 
Kali carb: Absent minded.
Dull, confused, stupid as after intoxication
Cannot express herself.
Dread of labour, fear of being alone.
Alternating moods- Frequently hopeful, frequently despon dent. Despondency in open air, disappears entering the room.
Noise is disagreeable, easily startled.
 
Kali ferrocyanatum
Sad
Inclination to weep

Kali iodatum :- Intellectual weakness Paroxysms of dementia

Kali muriaticum :-
Sad
Apathetic
Alternating moods

Kali nitricum :-
Depression
Anxiety

Kali phos :-
Loss of memory, weak memory
Shyness, disinclination to conversation
Melancholia from deranged mental functions
Depression of spirits, lassitude
Home sick
Slightest labour seems heavy task
Great despondency about business.
 
(3) Time aggravation:
Early morning (2-5 A.M). Kali bich- 2 to 3 A.M.
Kali brom- Night, 2 A.M. Kalicarb-2to4A.M.
Kali cyan- Night, daily 4 A.M. (Neuralgia cease at 4 P.M.)
Kali ferrocyanatum- On rising, waking (Periodic neuralgia like Kali cyan)
Kali iod- (Chest symptom) 2 to 5 A.M.
Kali mur- morning on rising
Kali nit- 3 A.M.(cough)
Kali phos- 3 to 5 A.M.
 
In “Synthesis” Generals
Night- midnight, after 2hours- Kali bich 2, Kali brom 2, Kali carb 3, Kali phos 1. 
Exceptions:-(in time aggravation)
Causticum-Evening & Night
Kali ars-Night, Midnight before
Kali suiph-Evening

(4) Thermal Reaction: Most of the Kalis are chilly according to Gibson Millers classification.
Chilly Hot ( Kali.i 3,Kali.s 3)
Causticum 3
Kali ars 3
Kali bich 2
Kali carb 3
Kali chlor 2
Kali phos I
Kali sil 2
Generalities, cold in general agg :- Causticum 3, Kali ars 3, Kali bich 2, Kali carb 3, Kali phos 3
Generalities, warmth amel Kali bich 2, Kali carb 3, Kali phos, Causticum 2.
 
Side affinities
 
Right                       Left
Causticum 2         Kali bich 1
Kali carb 1            Kali mur 2
Kali nit 2               Kali chl2
Kali.m1                 Kali.n 1
Kali.c1
Rt side then Lt side- Causticum
 
(6) Desire and Aversions:-
Desire-sweets            Aversion-Meat
Kali ars 1                      Causticum I
Kalicarb2                      Kali ars 2
Kali phos I                    Kali bich 2
Kali sulph 2                  Kali carb 2
Kali phos 1
Kali sulph 1
Exceptions
 Causticum 2, has got aversion to sweets Causticum 3, has got desire for smoked
 
(7) Character of Pain:  
Stitching type
 
Gen. pam stitching (Externally)
Causticum 2
Kali ars I
Kali bich 2
Kali carb 3
Kali nit 2
Kali phos 3
Kali suiph 3

Gen. pain stitching (Internally)
Causticum 2
Kali ars 1
Kali bich 2
Kali carb 3
Kali iod 2
Kalinit2
Kali suiph 3
 
(8) Fatty food, rich food aggravation:
In Synthesis Gen. fat, agg.
Kali ars 1
Kali carb I
Kali chlor 2
Kali mur 2
Kali nit I
Kali suiph 1
Causticum 2
 
(9) Anti tubercular:.
Majority of Kalis are anti tubercular.

In Synthesis
Chest phthisis Pulmonalis Kali ars I
Kali bich I
Kali carb 3
Kali nit 2
Kali phos 2
Kali suiph 3
 
(10) Dropsical tendency:
Majority of Kalis produce oedema, dropsy, ascites etc.
Causticum 1
Kaliars2
Kali bich 3
Kali carb 2
Kali mur I
 
(11) Increased perspiration during night:  
Kali ars 3
Kali bich I
Kali carb 3
Kali nit I
Kali phos 2
Kali sulph 3
Causticum 3
 
(12) Ulceration of the Mucous mem brane & Skin:
In Synthesis Skin ulcers
Kali ars 2
Kali bich 3
Kali chl 3
Kali carb 2
Kali iod I
Kali phos 1
Kali Sil 1
Kali suiph 3
Causticum
 
(13) Aggravation after coition
In Synthesis- Kali bich I
Kali carb 3
Kali iod 1
Kali phos 3
Kali sil I
Kali bich- attacks were caused by and al ways followed by coitus
Kali carb- agg from coition, during coition
Ka!i phos- agg after coition.
Kai iod- pain in urethra coming on after coition
Causticum-> Headache and stupid feel ing in head day after coition.
 
(14) General weakness & Action upon Nervous system
In Synthesis
Kali ars 3
Kali bich 2
Kali brom 1
Kali cyan I
Kali carb 3
Kali chl 1
Kali fey 3
Kali fer3
Kali iod 2
 
 Paralysis one sided
Causticum 3 (Rt. sided)
Kali carb 2
Kali phos I
Kali mur 1
Kali iod 2 (Rt. sided)
 
(15) Heart affections & Myocardial weakness
Chest- pain heart Causticum 1
Kali ars 3
Kali bich 2
Kali carb 2
Kali ch 2
Kali iod 1
Kali phos I
Chest -palpitation heart
Kali ars 2 Kali nit 2
Kali bich 2 Kali phos 2
Kali carb 3 Kali suiph 2
Kali chi 2 Kali suiph 2
Kali fer 2 Causticum 2
Kali iod 2
 
(16) Pulse- character:
Soft, irregular intermittent pulse
Soft Irregular Intermittent
 
Kali bich I Kali bich 2 Kali bich 1
Kali brom 1 Kali carb 2 Kali carb 2
Kali carb I Kali chi 2 Kali chi I
Kali chi 1 Kali iod 2 Kali iod 2
Kali cyan I Kali phos I Kali phos I
Kali nit 1 Kali cyan 1 Kali mur 1
Kali mur 2 Kali mur 1 Kali sulph I
 
(17) Nearly all pains are ameliorated by motion: -
Gen. Motion Agg
Causticum I
Kali bich 2
Kali nit 2
Gen. Motion Amel
Causticum 2
Kali iod 2
Kali phos 2
(ali suiph 3
 
(18) In general Kalis are never constipated
However each salt may have some constipation in its pathogenesis.
 
(19) Kali conditions as a rule are afebrile.
However few of them are represented under the rubric fever heat in general (Kent)
Kali bich 1,
Kali chi 1,
Kali iod 3
Causticum 1
 
(20) Mucous discharges: From vagina, urethra, nose, stomach
Generals-Mucous secretion increased-
Kali mur 1
Kali nit 1
Kali oxal 1
Kali perm 1
Kali phos 3
Kali sulph 1
Kali sil 1
Kali tart 1
Causticum 2
Kali ars 1
Kali bich 3
Kali carb 2
Kali chi I
Kali iod 2
Kali mur I
Kali nit
Kali. sil
Kali suiph
 
Corrosive- Caust 3, Kali ars I, Kali bich 2, Kali iod 2,
Greenish- Kali bich 2, Kali carbl, Kali iod2, Kali sulph 1
Milky-Kali mur 2, Kali phosi
Ropy tenacious- Caust 1, Kali bich 3, Kali carb 2, Kali mur 2, Kali sulph 1
Salty-Kali iod 2
Sour-Kali carb, Kali nit
Watery-Kali iod 1, Kàli nit 2, Kali suiph 2, Caust 2
White-Kali mur 2, Kali nit 1
Yellow-Caust 2, kali ars2, Kali bich 2, Kali carb2 , Kali mur 2, Kali nit 1, Kali sil, Kali suiph 2,
Yellowish green- Kali bich