What is Aurum muriaticum?

Aurum muriaticum is a homeopathic remedy made from gold chloride, a salt of gold. Its Latin name is Auri chloridum. Shops may also list it as gold chloride.

It is a single drug remedy. That means it is made from one source, not a blend.

It is made by diluting the salt again and again, with shaking at each step. At 30C, so much water has been added that no gold is left. What you take is a sugar pill with nothing active in it.

Homeopaths give it for low mood, heart symptoms and swollen glands. Trials do not show it works better than a dummy pill. Long use in a tradition is not proof that a thing works, so both facts are listed here side by side.

One point matters for safety. Very low strengths, such as 1X or 3X, may still hold real gold chloride. Real gold salts can harm the kidneys, liver, blood and skin.

How does Aurum muriaticum work?

The honest answer is that no one has shown how it could work. Homeopaths say the shaking leaves a trace, or "imprint", of the gold in the water. Chemists say no gold is left at all.

The rule of thumb is simple. Past about 12C, the chance that even one atom of the source is left is tiny. A 30C pill is far past that point.

So any change you feel is most likely down to time, rest, care and belief. That is called the placebo effect (feeling better from a dummy treatment).

Low "X" strengths are the one exception. A 3X drop may hold a small but real amount of gold chloride. That is a chemical, not an imprint, and it can cause harm rather than help.

What forms does Aurum muriaticum come in?

You will most often see small sugar pills that melt under the tongue.

Liquid drops in alcohol and water are also sold. Some brands sell larger tablets.

Common strengths are 6C, 30C and 200C. These hold no gold.

Low "X" strengths, such as 3X or 6X, may hold traces of real gold. Treat these as a drug, not as a sugar pill. Always check the strength printed on the label before you buy.

Where it comes from:

Gold has been used as a medicine for hundreds of years, in Europe and in India.

Samuel Hahnemann, the founder of homeopathy, tested gold on healthy people in the early 1800s. His notes led to the gold remedies still used today.

Aurum muriaticum has been listed in homeopathy books since the 1800s. It is used less often than Aurum metallicum, which is made from plain gold. Its standing rests on old case notes, not on trials.

What does Aurum muriaticum help with?

• Low mood and deep sadness: This is the best known use in homeopathy books. Old case notes describe a person who feels hopeless and worthless. No human trial has tested this remedy for low mood. Low mood can be serious, so please see a doctor rather than treat it yourself.
• Palpitations (a racing or thumping heart): Homeopaths have used gold remedies for a heart that feels heavy or races. No trial supports this. A racing heart can have a real cause that needs checking, such as a rhythm problem or a thyroid problem.
• High blood pressure: Older texts link gold remedies to a full, pounding pulse. There is no trial evidence at all. High blood pressure causes no symptoms in most people and needs a cuff reading and real treatment.
• Swelling of the thyroid (a gland in the neck): Case notes mention swollen glands, including the thyroid. No study has tested this. Thyroid problems are found with a blood test and treated with proven medicine.
• Fibroids (growths in the womb) in old case notes: Nineteenth century writers listed gold salts for womb growths. Nothing has tested this in modern times. Heavy or painful periods should be looked at by a doctor.
• Bone pain and long-lasting sinus pain: Homeopaths link gold remedies to deep bone pain and pain in the nose and face. There is no trial evidence. Long-lasting pain in the bones or face needs a proper cause found first.

Which foods are rich in Aurum muriaticum?

1. Gold leaf on cakes and sweets is plain metal gold, not gold chloride, and passes through you unchanged

Practical Tips:

Homeopaths often say to keep coffee, mint and strong smells away from a dose, but there is no proof this matters.

What are the side effects of Aurum muriaticum?

• A short spell where symptoms seem worse; homeopaths call this an aggravation
• Upset stomach or a metal taste in the mouth
• Bloating or wind from lactose (milk sugar) in the pills
• Headache or a dizzy feeling
• Itchy rash or mouth sores, mainly with low strengths that still hold gold
• Kidney harm, seen as foamy or bloody urine, reported with real gold salts
• Low blood cell counts, seen as easy bruising or frequent infections, reported with real gold salts
• Liver injury, reported with real gold salts

Good to know:

At 30C the pills are sugar, so direct harm is very unlikely.

The real risk is delay. If you use this in place of proven care for low mood, heart trouble or a thyroid problem, the illness can get worse while you wait.

The harms listed above for kidneys, liver and blood come from real gold salts used as medicine. They matter for low "X" strengths and for anyone who handles the raw chemical.

How much Aurum muriaticum should you take?

• Recommended daily: There is no proven dose, because no dose has been shown to work. Labels usually suggest 3 to 5 pills of a 30C, taken two or three times a day. Some say to let the pills melt under the tongue. A higher number, like 200C, is not a stronger dose. It just means the mixture was diluted more times. Do not use low "X" strengths on your own. These may hold real gold chloride, which can be harmful.
• Best time of day: Packs usually say morning and evening. There is no proven best time.
• With or without food: Packs say to take it on a clean mouth, about 15 minutes away from food or drink. There is no proof this matters.
• Time to effect: No effect beyond a dummy pill has been shown, so no honest time frame can be given. Homeopaths often say hours to days.
• How long to take it: If you choose to try it, keep it short. A few days to two weeks is the usual advice on packs. Stop and rethink if nothing changes. Stop sooner if you feel worse or get a rash. Never let it delay care for low mood, heart symptoms or a lump in the neck.