What is Aurum metallicum?

Aurum metallicum is a homeopathy remedy made from gold. Its Latin name is Aurum. Some labels call it metallic gold.

It is a single remedy, made from one source and not a blend. Makers grind gold, then dilute it in steps, over and over. At the common 30C strength, no gold is left in the pill you take.

Homeopaths pick it for deep sadness, grief and low mood. Some also use it for bone and joint pain. Trials do not show it works better than a sugar pill, so long use in homeopathy is not proof of effect.

How does Aurum metallicum work?

Homeopathy rests on two ideas. The first is that a tiny trace of a substance can treat the same signs it causes in large amounts. The second is that shaking the mix at each step leaves an imprint of the gold behind.

Neither idea fits what we know about the body or about chemistry. At 30C there is nothing left in the pill to act on.

Any change you notice is most likely placebo. Placebo means you truly feel better because you took something and hoped it would help, not because of the pill itself.

What forms does Aurum metallicum come in?

You will find it as small sugar pellets, as tablets that melt under the tongue, and as liquid drops in an alcohol base.

Common strengths are 6C, 30C, 200C and 1M. Some brands also sell low strengths written as 1X, 3X or 6X, and drop forms marked LM or Q. The lower the number, the less the gold has been diluted.

Where it comes from:

Samuel Hahnemann, who founded homeopathy, tested gold on himself in the early 1800s. He wrote up the results in his book Materia Medica Pura. Gold had already been used as a medicine by alchemists and doctors long before him.

Aurum metallicum is still taught in the classic homeopathy texts and is stocked in most homeopathic pharmacies. Gold shows up in other systems too, such as the Ayurvedic gold ash Swarna Bhasma, but that is made and used in a very different way.

What does Aurum metallicum help with?

• Low mood and deep sadness: This is the classic homeopathic picture for Aurum metallicum: deep gloom, self-blame and a sense that life is not worth living. No published trial tests this remedy on its own for depression. Low mood that runs deep needs proper medical care, not a remedy with no proven effect.
• Grief after a loss: Homeopaths pick it for grief that turns into silence, guilt and loss of hope. This use comes from case notes handed down since the 1800s. There is no trial evidence to support it.
• Bone and joint pain: Older homeopathic texts list night-time bone pain, especially in the face, skull and joints. This tradition is long-standing but untested. New or lasting bone pain should be checked by a doctor, since it can point to a problem that needs treatment.
• Sleep trouble with heavy worry: It is chosen when a person lies awake feeling hopeless or dreads the coming day. Again, this rests on old case notes, not on trials.
• A pounding or racing feeling in the chest: Classic texts link Aurum with a pounding chest and a heavy feeling over the heart. There is no trial evidence here. A racing or pounding heartbeat is a symptom to have checked, not a symptom to self-treat.

Which foods are rich in Aurum metallicum?

1. Edible gold leaf on cakes and sweets: inert decoration, not a medicine and not the same as this remedy
2. Gold-flecked liqueurs: again decoration only

Practical Tips:

Gold is not a nutrient. Your body does not need it, and no food is a source of this remedy.

What are the side effects of Aurum metallicum?

• No physical effects are expected from 30C or higher strengths
• A short flare of the same symptoms, which homeopaths call an aggravation
• Sugar load from the pellets, which matters if you have diabetes
• Stomach upset in people who cannot handle lactose (milk sugar)
• Alcohol content in the liquid drops
• Rare allergic reaction to the pellet base, with rash, itching or swelling
• With low strengths that may still hold gold: mouth sores, skin rash, or harm to the kidneys

Good to know:

Side effects from 30C pills are rare, and most reports come down to the sugar or alcohol carrier rather than the gold.

The real risk is different. Using this remedy instead of proven care for deep sadness, bone pain or a heart symptom can let a serious problem grow worse.

How much Aurum metallicum should you take?

• Recommended daily: No dose has been set by research, because no research shows an effect to dose for. Product labels usually suggest 3 to 5 pellets, or 5 to 10 drops, up to three times a day. Homeopaths more often give a single dose of a higher strength, such as 30C or 200C, and then wait. Follow the label on the pack you own.
• Best time of day: Any time of day. Homeopaths usually say to take it away from strong tastes such as coffee, mint toothpaste or tobacco, though there is no proof this matters.
• With or without food: Take it on an empty mouth, about 15 minutes before or after food or drink. Let the pellets melt under your tongue rather than chewing them.
• Time to effect: Homeopaths often say hours to days. No trial shows any effect beyond placebo, so no honest time frame can be given.
• How long to take it: Keep any trial short. If nothing has changed in two weeks, stop and speak to a doctor. Do not keep taking it for months in place of care for low mood, bone pain or a heart symptom. Waiting is the main risk with this remedy.