Your Nerves on Strontium: Part 3 A

In the 1920s, German researchers discovered that injections of high doses of Sr (Strontium) in patients with neurological diseases resulted in reduced pain and nerve tissue healing.

In 1924, Dr Alwens of Frankfurt Germany made the following claim:

“Although Strontium bromide may not be regarded as a fully-fledged substitute for morphine, there is still the possibility of preventing morphinism in patients suffering from long-lasting illnesses accompanied by pain.” Link

Note: Quotes from this and all other non-English-language documents were translated by me using Google Translate with added detective work when the meaning wasn’t clear. I purposely left some of the awkward wording but I did make a few minor changes. Mistakes are possible.
(If there are any German speakers that could verify or correct my translations, I would be very grateful.)

Here are a few more Key Quotes

“…after a relatively short period of use of strontium, so that the partially immobile patients could move and walk again without pain.” 1924, Dr Alwens Link

“(In Parkinsonism) cases of rigidity, tremor and muscle twitches and have seen in some cases, if not a lasting effect, at least a 24-hour lasting, very relieving influence, calming the tremor and alleviating the rigidity.” 1924, Prof. Ludwig Mann

“Strontium aspartate … is a most useful drug in the less severe [asthma] attacks” 1929, Dr McDonagh

“The patient is so relieved after the injections that she, who otherwise lies in bed almost immaturely depressed and grumpy, laughs and spontaneously expresses her gratitude and satisfaction.” 1924, Dr Alwens

“With constant strontium bromide therapy, the individual pain attacks (Parkinson's disease) become more benign.” 1924, Dr Alwens

(In a patient with multiple sclerosis) “The violent spasms in the extremities, which had existed for years, were remarkably favorably influenced.” 1924, Dr Alwens

(In 20 cases of migraine) “All the patients experienced great relief.” 1928, Dr. Max Serog

“In 2 cases of lichen planus, healing was achieved after 5 injections.” 1928, Walter Joseph and Rosendorff

…. “I have now used strontium bromide almost daily for more than 6 years in practice and always with great success for the treatment of itchy skin diseases … Indeed, in most cases, a complete cure of the dermatosis itself is achieved!” 1936, H. J. Nijhuis

Amazingly, there were absolutely no notable side effects reported by any of the doctors, even though some doctors were injecting Sr daily and its use was apparently fairly wide-spread. (Except for an unpleasant sensation when it was injected to rapidly. There were also some issues when Sr was injected into the spinal cord.)

Pathological Pain Cycle Diagram

Here is an oversimplified diagram of the general pathways that contribute to pathological pain, and the point that Sr blocks this process. I plan to write a much more detailed into the biological processes of these pathways in a future post.

When supplementing Sr, either with small nutritional type doses or large pharmaceutical type doses, it is very doubtful that Sr would modify any known biological action more than 5% - 10%, and usually it is less. However, Sr might act on multiple steps in a biological pathway, or multiple function of a cell, or in multiple synapses in a pain transmission, and as a result it could significantly reduce a pain transmission pathway and the factors that amplify the pain cycle.

This diagram focuses on pain. However, strontium (Sr) also has downstream benefit of healing dermatological conditions and improving neurological such as multiple sclerosis and parkinson’s. The mechanism probably include a reduction of inflammation give the nerve tissue a chance to regenerate, the restoration of proper calcium signaling, improved mitochondria health and optimized gene expressions.

However, I am purposely avoiding the biology pathways in this post. I plan to do a deep dive into the science and biochemistry in “Your Nerves on Strontium, Part 6”.

Outline of this Blog Post

Your Nerves on Strontium: Part 3 A

1. Intro

   1. Scope & Limits of this Post

   2. Protocol for Pain & Neurological Conditions

   3. No Side Effects…. Except

2. Brief Overview of the Benefits

   1. Partially Immobile Patients Walk again without Pain

   2. Metastases Bone Cancer Pain

   3. Encephalitis

   4. Parkinson's Disease Pain

   5. Multiple Sclerosis

   6. Phantom Pain on Amputated Limbs & “Pathological Pain”

   7. Asthma & “Cries in Tobacco users” (Emphysema, Bronchitis, and/or lung cancer)

   8. Arthritis

   9. Tabes Dorsalis & other Inflammatory Diseases

   10. Very Severe Gastric Crisis

   11. Convulsions In Whooping-cough (Pertussis)

   12. Migraines

   13. Skin Rashes

3. Summary of Benefits

Your Nerves on Strontium: Part 3 B

(Coming Soon! I will post it as soon as I finish editing it)

1. The Whole Story with Historical Context

2. Close Analysis of various issues.

3. Red Flags, Yellow Flags & other Warnings Signs.

4. Strontium & World Peace.

Your Nerves on Strontium: Part 3 C

(Coming Soon! I will post it as soon as I finish editing it)

1. Conclusions

2. Translations Key Text not available in English including Dr Alwens 1924 Article

Intro

Scope & Limits of this Post

For a general overview of the used and benefits of strontium, see my post “Benefits of Strontium” The focus of this post is only the innovation of Dr. Alwens and other Germans in the 1920 and 1930s.

Key Characteristics of these German Innovations:

• Sr intravenous and intramuscular injections were used and only occasionally taken orally.

• The use of Sr to treat neurological pain.

• The use of Sr to reduce pain and itch.

• The use of Sr injections to treat dermatological conditions.
  (Although a little off the subject, the nerves do contribute to dermatological conditions.)

Most of the original literature and original research is in either German or Dutch. However, the protocols and resulting pharmaceutical products appeared in England, the USA, the Netherlands, India, and probably many other countries, and seemed to have been fairly popular especially in the mid-1900s, and had almost disappeared by the year 2000.

In the 1990s, a few pharmaceutical companies “discovered” that topically applied Sr could be used to treat neurological pain, general pain, itch, and various dermatological conditions obtained a series of patents from the mid 1990s until 2018. Although a number of phase II clinical trials were completed with impressive results, they don’t appear to be actively seeking FDA approval for a new drug.

The conclusions of the modern research within the last 20 years are very similar to the conclusions reached by doctors in the 1920s. Apparently, different doctors, in different cultures, in different times reached the same conclusions.

Given the obscurity of the German-language literature, it is fully possible that these pharmaceutical companies discovered these benefits independently of the Germans. It is also possible that big pharma secretly copied the Germans but were advised to keep quite by their patent lawyer.

There are reasons not to trust big pharma, and there are reasons not to trust ancient medical literature. But, whatever the case, the benefits are well-documented.

(The R & D of big pharma for these conditions will be covered in “Your Nerves on Strontium Part 5”, which I hope to finish and post in the near future.)

Link Link to image

The above photo is of an injectable form of Sr bromide urea, probably manufactured between 1924 and the end of WWII (1945). Given the fact that this company was located in the same district of Frankfurt as both the hospital and university that Dr Alwens worked, we could assume that he used this brand. (“Frankfurt am Main” refers to city center located next to the Main River.)

A 1924 pharmaceutical journals listed this as “strontiuranium: of the company Dr. R & Dr 0. Weil, Frankfurt a. M., consists of a solution of strontium chloride urea, which is to be injected intravenously against asthma, medicinal rashes, itching dermatoses, and side effects of salvar.”


Benefits

Partially Immobile Patients Walk again without Pain

In about 1921, Dr. Alwens apparently became the first doctor to use Sr in the treatment of osteoporosis and other bone diseases. Although bones can’t remineralize in a few days, his patients reported feeling less pain within “in a few days” of starting Sr, leading Dr Alwens to suspect that Sr had analgesic properties.

“Already in the treatment of the bone diseases it was noticed from the beginning that the most annoying subjective symptom, the extreme sensitivity to pain, already decreased after a relatively short period of use of strontium, so that the partially immobile patients could move and walk again without pain.” (Alwens 1924) Link

The benefits in the above quote were achieved using an oral dose of 3 grams Sr lactate daily.

Misreading the Mayo Clinic Bone Study & Other Studies

Sr has 3 properties that make doctors and patients happy.

• Sr improves bone health.

• Sr has an analgesic effect.

• Sr much more effective at blocking X-ray beams than calcium, so when Sr replaces calcium in the bone structure, the bones look more dense in the X-ray then they really are.

In 1959, the Mayo Clinic published the results of 32 osteoporosis patients treated with 6.4 g of strontium lactate daily in divided doses for a period of 3 months to 3 years. The results were very impressive, especially the reduction in pain and improved mobility. Before and after x-rays showed impressive new bone growth. (“Proceedings of the Staff Meetings. Mayo Clinic” June 24th, 1959 volume 34, pages 329-334.)

Yes the doctors were probably somewhat fooled by the reduction in pain and the X-rays, but the increased mobility suggest that some real bone healing did take place.

Metastases Bone Cancer Pain

Apparently, Dr Alwens had at least one patient with “pain from inoperable carcinomas (bone metastases)”, but he doesn’t give us any more details except that this condition is included in the list of conditions successfully treated.

Bone lesions cannot heal without Ca, but cancerous bone lesions reject Ca. However, Sr accumulates on the bone lesions, restores the mineralization and Ca follows. The result is new bone with both Sr and Ca.

However, at least 2 clinical studies and various case studies have shown that Sr can significantly reduce bone cancer pain. Link Link

All of the above references are to stable, non-radioactive Sr, which is good for health, good for the patient, but not very profitable.

Sr89 is a radioactive form of Sr. It also accumulates in bone cancer lesions, where it shoot out radiation that damages and kills nearby cells, including the nerve cells that sense pain.

Sr89 reduces pain by damaging and killing nerve tissue.
Non-radioactive Sr reduces pain by repairing bone tissue.

Our loving, caring, dedicated, intelligent, scientific, medical establishment has concluded that Sr89 belongs in the “Approved” class of therapies, while safe, natural Sr belongs in the “Non-approved” class of therapies. Maybe Sr89 is more $cientific.

Part 4 of “Your Nerves on Strontium” series will be dedicated to bone pain caused by both osteoporosis and cancer.

Encephalitis (Inflammation of the Brain and Spinal Cord)

Although I haven’t counted, I suspect that I have accumulated possibly over a 100 references that link Sr to a reduction in inflammation and inflammatory cytokines. Amazing, Sr seems to calm the immune system without reducing immune function.

Dr Alwens treated an unknown number of patients with encephalitis, and he specifically mentions that Sr successfully treats “pain in encephalitis”. He also reported the following:

It is noteworthy that chronic encephalitis sufferers react particularly intensively to strontium bromide injections with a long-lasting state of sleep. Just a few minutes after the intravenous injection, they fall into a deep sleep that lasts for hours. … In my experience, the effects of an intravenous injection of strontium bromide usually last up to 8 hours, but can last for several days. Link

Based on my understanding of biology, I suspect that if Sr really does prevent encephalitis, then we could predict that Sr would be a very beneficial adjunctive therapy to many neurological and mental conditions, and that it could greatly benefit untold number of patients.

There were also references to using Sr to treat encephalitis associated with Parkinson’s disease.

Parkinson's Disease Pain

Sr seemed to not only prevent Parkinson pain, but it also seemed to “calming the tremor and alleviating the rigidity”.

3. R. H., 53 years old, diagnosis: Parkinson's disease (chronic encephalitis). Since the spring of 1920, increasing stiffness in all muscles, combined with swallowing difficulties. Abdominal pain for a year, independent of food intake. The pain is of a pulling character and is constantly there at times. No objective pathological internal finding that could explain the constant abdominal pain, especially no pathological X-ray finding. No blood in stool, normal stomach acid levels. Since repeated examinations have always yielded the same negative results and no weight loss for 2 years, the abdominal pain must be interpreted as so-called central pain. On the July 16^th, 1923 the patient received 10 % strontium bromide 10 cc intravenously. After that, no pain for 4 hours. In the following time, the patient reacts to every 10 % strontium bromide injection with freedom from pain, which lasts about 4-5 hours. With constant strontium bromide therapy, the individual pain attacks become more benign. Link

A few months after Dr Alwens published his article, Prof. Ludwig Mann from Breslau, Germany (currently Wrocław, Poland), published an article on encephalitis with this report:

I would like to take this opportunity to make a therapeutic remark about the chronic after-stage of encephalitis, especially Parkinsonism. … I therefore have the strontium bromide (intravenously 10-20 cc of a 10% solution or 10 cc of a 20% solution) recommended by Alwens (D.m.W. No. 17 p. 529) in cases of rigidity, tremor and clonisms [muscle twitches] and have seen in some cases, if not a lasting effect, at least a 24-hour lasting, very relieving influence, calming the tremor and alleviating the rigidity. I would like to recommend further experiments with this remedy. Link

Since this was published just 9 months after Dr Alwens oral presentation and 4 months after the written version, it obviously wasn’t based on long-term observation.

Parkinson is complicated because there are 5 distinct types or sources of pain.

These include musculoskeletal pain from bones, muscles and joints; Neuropathic pain from nerve damage; Dystonic pain from muscle twisting, spasms and cramps; Central pain from the central nervous system, possibly due to low dopamine levels; and Akathisia, or a feeling of restlessness similar to restless leg syndrome (modern pharma suggest that Sr reduces restless leg syndrome.) Between 40-80% of Parkinson’s patients suffer from at least one of these different types of pain.

Given the complicated nature of Parkinson’s pain, I don’t think we have enough patients or data to make solid conclusions. But Sr does look promising for this condition.

Multiple Sclerosis

Apparently, when Dr Alwens gave his oral presentation in November, 1923, he only mentioned 1 patient with multiple sclerosis that was treated with a 10 cc of a 10 % of Sr Bromide injected into the epidural of the spinal cord. This resulted in “chills and hyperpyretic temperatures, which dragged on for several days.” However, “The violent spasms in the extremities, which had existed for years, were remarkably favorably influenced.”

As I stated before, epidural injections were problematic, and the “chills and hyperpyretic temperatures” of this patient seemed to have helped Dr Alwens conclude that epidurals should be avoided except in extreme cases.

When the written form of Dr Alwens’ paper was published, it had a footnote that said:

1) Update: In the meantime, some cases of multiple sclerosis with spastic conditions of the extremities have been very favorably influenced by intravenous strontium bromide injections, so that the endolumbar application is not necessary. Link

Multiple sclerosis seems to be caused by an overactive immune system that attacks the myelin (the sheath that covers, protects, and insulates the neurons). Based on this, we could hypothesize that Sr might prevent the immune attack, slowing the loss of myelin or even helping to reverse the damage. However, this is pure speculation and Dr Alwens’ paper does not provide any evidence that it would.

Phantom Pain on Amputated Limbs & “Pathological Pain”

Phantom limb pain feels like it is coming from the currently non-existing leg or arm. However, in reality, the pain is being created in the spinal cord and/or brain. This is an example of “pathological pain”, or pain that originates in the nervous system.

Here is a quote from Dr Alwens’ paper:

4. F.L., 80 years old, diagnosis: hypertension, angina pectoris. Recorded (March 22^nd) 1923. At the age of 18, the patient had her right leg amputated above the knee because of osteomyelitis. In recent years she has had severe pain in her residual limb at times. On the 4th and 5th of (December) 5 cc each of 20 % Strontium bromide. Thereafter slight improvement in her symptoms. On (Dec. 7) 10 cc Strontium bromide 20 %. The pain continues to subside, there is only "a little" left. The patient is currently still being treated.  Link

Notice that the patient was treated from Dec 4th - Dec 7th 1923, with the note that “The patient is currently still being treated.” Yet the record was dated March 22nd. Obviously, Dr Alwens and/or somebody on his team didn’t keep perfect records.

In 2008 – 2010, Santosolve Pharmaceutical conducted a phase II trial for Phantom Post-Amputation stump pain on 150 patients. The “reduction in average pain intensity of 47.7% compared to 21.8% for the placebo group”, according to a press release. (The official results were never published.) link (I plan to write a future post in this series dedicated to these results and other R & D by modern pharma on the use of Sr to treat nerve conditions, pain, itch and irritation.)

Cries in Tabacists (Tobacco Users) & Asthma

The German word “tabacist” probably means “tobacco user”. I am assuming that in this context it refers to somebody suffering from lung cancer, emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

The beneficial effect already mentioned in neuralgia, lancinating pain and crises in tabacists has been confirmed in a further large number of cases over the course of the last 2 years. Link

…The crises and lancinating pains of the tabacists, which are given as an example of the effectiveness, become weaker and weaker through repeated strontium bromide injections, so that the injections can be made at ever greater intervals, finally they stop completely. Now and then it is also possible to stop the attack of pain by means of an injection. Incidentally, the intravenous injections can be repeated at intervals of several hours without any harm to the patient

In  1929, Dr McDonagh published an article on asthma and hay-fever in the the Lancet.

Strontium aspartate in 0.01 g. doses, injected intramuscularly every day or every other day, is a most useful drug in the less severe [asthma] attacks, and is to be preferred to adrenalin. Link

In 1949, the German pharmaceutical (Moderne Therapie 1949) listed intravenous injections of strontium chloride urea as a treatment for asthma.

Arthritis

Sr increases general growth, bone growth, and cartilage growth. So, anyone with arthritis should consider Sr supplementation.

5. G.E., 36 years old. Diagnosis: Destruens periarthritis in both elbow, wrist, knee and hip joints. Since Nov. 26, 1922 under treatment. There is severe pain in the affected joints. Was initially treated with tuberculin.

After the 3rd (trial) injection: asthma attack. Cure was later carried out in the period from January 11 to February 6, 1923. Objective improvement and well-being during this period. (weight gain 5 kg). Later Sanarthrit without success. Between July 18th and August 15th, 1923, the patient received 10 intravenous injections of strontium bromide to combat the persistent pain, which always had a beneficial effect on the pain. When the pain also increased following a radium drinking cure, the patient received in the period from June 1 to July 21, 1923 a total of 153 g strontium lactate per os. During this time the patient was almost completely free of pain, as well as for a long period from Sept. 18 until Oct. 26, 1923, during which she received 117 g of strontium lactate per os. Here strontium, both as a nitric acid salt and as a bromide, proved to be a systematically effective supportive agent in the various methods of stimulation therapy that had been introduced.   [38 days: 3 grams/day] Link

[Periarthritis, also called calcific periarthritis, is a painful condition that occurs when calcium crystals build around your joints or in the soft tissues surrounding the joint. This can cause pain and swelling. The joints may also feel thick and stiff, or “frozen.” Google]

Considering that Sr stimulates cartilage production, is an anti-inflammatory, and has analgesic properties, I believe that it should be considered as an supplement for the various types of arthritis.

Various pharmaceutical companies have tried to find patentable forms of Sr to treat arthritis. One company, SantoSolve AS, conducted a phase II trial on 2PX, a Sr topical skin formula to threat arthritis pain in 2009-2010.

“The study demonstrated a 35% reduction in pain from baseline after 4 weeks of twice-daily administration of 2PX, as compared to a 21% reduction in the control group …” Link

I will cover this in “Your Nerves on Strontium, Part 5”, which I hope to finish and post in a few weeks or months.

Tabes Dorsalis & other Inflammatory Diseases

Tabes dorsalis: Neurological complications of late stage syphilis.

1 . W.J., 65 years old, diagnosis : Tabes dorsalis. Tabic crises, lancinating pains, arthropathy. Recording on (Sept. 26), 1923. Severe lancinating pains, increasing daily. On (Sept. 28), Strontium bromine: 20% 10 cc intravenously. After 2 hours the pain subsided. The pain stops until the 30th of Sept. On the 1st of Oct., the pains returned. Sodium bromine: 20% 10 cc intravenously. Without any success. The pain increases up to Oct. 4th and is eliminated by two injections of Strontium bromide on the 4th and 5th of Oct. On Oct. 7th, exceptionally severe crises with a rise in temperature can only be slightly alleviated by strontium bromide, so that morphine 0.01 must be given. …. The patient's crisis-free intervals are getting longer and longer. On Nov. 12, dismissed without complaints. Link

According to Medlineplus.gov, “Adiposis dolorosa is a condition characterized by painful folds of fatty (adipose) tissue or the growth of multiple noncancerous (benign) fatty tumors called lipomas. … Lipomas usually feel like firm bumps (nodules) under the skin.”  Link

2. S.A., 62 years old, diagnosis: Adiposis dolorosa, hypertension. …. Extreme obesity, tendency to joint effusions, large and small lobed, extremely painful subcutaneous nodules on the extremities. … From time to time morphine has to be given. …
The objective findings and the general condition have changed little during the entire treatment. On Nov. 24th patient received strontium bromide 20 % 10 cc. Significant pain relief occurred after about 2 hours. She slept peacefully for the first time again. The next day she could perform better. The effect lasted 2 days. On (Nov 28th) Strontium bromide as above. The effect was the same. The patient is so relieved after the injections that she, (used to) lie in bed almost immaturely depressed and grumpy, (but now she) laughs and spontaneously expresses her gratitude and satisfaction.   Link

Erythema nodosum is a type of skin inflammation that is located in a part of the fatty layer of skin.

6. H.F., 48 years old. Diagnosis: erythema nodosum with joint swelling. Recording (Nov. 8), 1923. The wrists and individual finger joints are affected. Erythema nodules on the left lower leg and in the right ankle region. 5.0 soda salicyl. daily without success. On (Nov. 11) Strontium bromide 20 % 10 cc intravenously. A few hours later, noticeable subjective improvement. Pain relief and cessation of the feeling of tightness in the affected joints.

From now on, the patient receives 4.0 strontium lactate per os (orally) daily and an injection every other day. After the 2nd injection, the joints will swell, mobility will return, and the pain will be minimal. The erythema nodules also pale and recede significantly. After four injections, the patient is symptom-free and out of bed. Released on November 26th. Link

Very Severe Gastric Crisis?

At the same time, this observation shows that in the case of a very severe gastric crisis with lancinating pains in the legs and an increase in temperature, strontium bromide alone was no longer sufficient, and 0.01 morphine had to be given as well. Link

Apparently, Dr Alwens didn’t give this patient a clear diagnosis, probably because he didn’t know what to call it. Leg pains are not commonly associated with gastric problems. Unfortunately, Dr Alwens provided very little info for this patient.

It seems like he may have included this as an example of a case where morphine had to be used because Sr injections alone couldn’t provide adequate pain relief.

Morphine was used in a few other cases, but it was discontinued after Sr injections were able to heal the nerves and put an end to the various factors that feed the pathological pain cycle.

Numerous medical journals and medical text reported that Sr relieved digestive issues such as “discomfort after eating”, “flatulent dyspepsia”, hyperacidity of the stomach”, “ulcerative colitis”, “ulcers”, and poor “nutritional status”. Such claims were first made in 1891 when Sr first became popular, and continued for about 10 -15 years.

For the modern era, I found a few patents and attempts by pharmaceutical companies to develop a patented Sr based drug for digestive issues such as pain. Here is a reference to an article in the Hindawi Journal “Strontium Chloride: Can It Be a New Treatment Option for Ulcerative Colitis?

Convulsions In Whooping-cough (Pertussis)

Whooping cough or pertussis is caused by Bordetella pertussis, a Gram-negative coccobacillus, an although it is not as common or deadly as it was in historical times, it is still a big problem.

One important note: Some of the symptoms of whooping cough are not caused by the original infection, but by the immune response. The benefits of Sr on whooping cough appear to only relate to the immune response, and not the original infection.

Whooping cough is named from the often violent fits of coughing it can cause. The coughs can even break ribs and cause other problems. After a coughing spell, breathing is difficult and can make a high-pitched whooping sound or gasp. At one time, this disease was known as the “100-day” cough because the cough tend to last a long time after the infection (although it seldom last for 100 days). The cause of the cough is still mostly unknown, and there isn’t any effective modern treatment.

Babies less than 1 year old don’t always cough, but may stop breathing for a period of time instead. Convulsions are a very dangerous complication of whooping cough that before modern innovations took the lives of numerous babies.

In 1926, E. Hassler, a German doctor, reported his use of injections of Sr chloride with urea to prevent convulsions in whooping cough. The original article appeared in the German-language journal Jahrb. f. Kinderheilk (Year for Pediatrics), which is not available online. However, the British Medical Journal printed a summary.

Convulsions In Whooping-cough. E. Hassler (Jahrb. f. Kinderheilk., December, 1926, p. 376) states that only a few data are available as to the frequency of convulsions in whooping-cough. Heubner observed this complication in 6 out of 187 cases, and Eckert in 25 out of 476 cases. Hassler states that during the last epidemic at Dresden severe general convulsions were observed in 14 out of 67 infants and in 8 out of 53 young children-an unusually high percentage; 11 of the 22 patients died, 10 of them had pneumonia also. Of the 11 who recovered 5 were infants and 6 young children. The relatively favourable results are attributed by Hassler to the use of strontium chloride and urea, which was given intramuscularly every two or three days in doses of 1/2 to I c.cm. The effects of the administration of strontium were a general diminution of Irritability without undesirable cerebral complications, a tonic action in the heart, and prevention of hypostatic pneumonia. Seven illustrative cases are recorded. Link

In 1854, Dr. John Hastings, M.D. London, published a book on the use Sr to treat whooping Cough, On the Special Treatment of Pulmonary Consumption and Hooping-Cough. Link He provided the details of 48 patients, which included many children and babies as young as 4 months old. He mentioned their poverty, stating that some mothers couldn’t afford proper food or proper clothes to keep their babies warm.

Most patients got around 1.46 grams of Sr chloride or 65 mg of Sr sulfate daily. Here is the first tow cases of the 48.

Case I. Jane B, twenty-two, residing at 5, Millbank-street, Westminster, applied on April 1st to me, in consequence of hooping-cough of a week's duration. She does not know whether she had the disease during childhood, but believes she caught it from her child, who is now labouring under the same complaint. She had a dry, hard cough for a week previously to the development of the hoop. The cough was much worse during the night than the day, so that she was frequently obliged to sit up in bed, from the fear of being suffocated by its violence. Five grains of the chloride of strontian were ordered three times a day. On April 4th the violence of the cough had diminished, and ten grains of the chloride were prescribed to be taken at the same intervals. On April 7th the hooping and suffocative character of the cough had entirely disappeared. The medicine was continued until the 10th, when she was quite well.

Case II.
Elizabeth B, nine months, daughter of the foregoing, was placed under my care on April 1st. The mother first observed her to hoop about nine days before; but she had had a cough for at least nineteen days previous to my seeing her. She hooped about thirty times in the twenty-four hours. Three grains of the chloride of strontian were prescribed three times a day; and on the 4th the dose was augmented to five grains. By the 10th every trace of hooping had disappeared, and the child was in excellent health. Link

(There is some evidence that low calcium levels are a major cause of convulsions in whooping cough. The similarities between Sr and calcium may explain why both both minerals have been shown alleviate whooping cough convulsions.)

Migraines

Dr. Max Serog of Breslau, Germany (now Wroclaw, Poland), wrote about his results using Sr to treat migraines in the August issue of Medizinische Klink (Medical Clinic). An English-language summary was published in the Lancet.

Neostrontan: The brand name of is injectable combination of Sr chloride and Sr bromide.

GOOD results from a new method of treatment. of migraine are reported by Dr. Max Serog, of Breslau, in a paper 1 which has just been published. Having found, in occasional instances, an improvement after intravenous injection of a preparation of strontium, he made a systematic trial of treatment with this metal and now reports the results in 20 cases. All the patients experienced great relief; many of them suffered previously from very frequent attacks, and, after a course of strontium, were free from headaches for many weeks; some are described as being " quite free " from attacks but, unfortunately, it is not stated how long such patients were kept under observation. The preparation used by Dr. Serog was “neostrontan," made by the firm of Tosse, Hamburg. Five cubic centimetres of a 10 per cent. solution of this strontium derivative were given intravenously, followed at intervals of two days by two injections of 5 c.cm. each of a 20 per cent. solution. The injections were well tolerated; the only unpleasant symptom was a feeling of heat or flushing of the face, and this could be greatly reduced if the injection was given very slowly and, when the flushing began, temporarily stopped until it had passed off. The best results were obtained with the younger patients. It is noteworthy that in several cases it was possible to cut short an attack of migraine by giving an injection of neostrontan-even when the attack was at its height. It seems that this treatment is capable of attaining successful results, especially in cases in which the attacks are very frequent, and it may be used either in combination with other methods or where other methods have failed. But the path of the physician is stiewn with discarded remedies for migraine. Link

Was oral Sr bromide used to treat migraines in Britain in the 1890s? Possibly. According to a case study published in the Lancet in 1898. Sr bromide and a tincture of Indian hemp being prescribed to treat a 33-year-old woman of migraines. It relieved her headache, but later “she felt a strange feeling and an inclination to jump down the stairs” and was “unable to control herself; she talked incessantly”.

Skin Rashes

Nerves are a major producer of inflammatory cytokines. The following image is of a patient with a herniated lumbar disc that was compressing the sciatic nerve. Apparently, in this case the compressed nerve was sending out cries for help (aka inflammatory cytokines). Amazingly, he felt no pain despite jogging regularly. Apparently*, at least 12 weeks after the psoriasis outbreak on his leg, he “pain radiating through the buttock and posterior left leg during jogging”. He “stopped running and the psoriasis spontaneously receded, in a slow but complete fashion, without any local treatment.” Link (*Read the article for the nuances.)

Link

Soon after Dr Alwens published his paper in 1924, various other German doctors began expanding on his research. Among the latest scientific theories at the time was the idea that neuron activation contributed to skin rashes.

In 1928, a German medical journal, Zeitschrift für ärztliche Fortbildung (Journal of Medical Education), published an article on the “Treatment of pruritic skin diseases with Strontium Bromide”. Unfortunately, the original has never been uploaded to the internet.

Soon after Dr Alwens reported his success in using Sr to treat pain, other German doctors began using Sr injections to treat dermatological conditions. According to a 1924 German pharmaceutical manual, Sr bromide urea injections were recommended for “asthma, medicinal rashes, itching dermatoses, and side effects of salvar.” (See the photo and link in the intro of this post)

In 1928, Zeitschrift für ärztliche Fortbildung (Journal of Medical Education) published the following 2nd hand report.

Treatment of pruritic skin diseases with Strontium Bromide.

Walter Joseph and Rosendorff (Deutsche med. Wochenschr. 1928 No. 4) recommend intravenous injections of strontium bromide for angioedema, i. H. in circulatory disorders of the skin such as urticaria, strophulus and their variants, as well as in neurodermatitis and all types of pruritus. In 2 cases of lichen planus, healing was achieved after 5 injections. Link (page 464)

Strophulus: An eruption of red pimples upon the face, neck, and arms, in early infancy; tooth rash; red-gum.
Neurodermatitis: A skin condition characterized by chronic itching or scaling.
Lichen planus: A non-infectious, itchy rash that can affect many areas of the body.

The Sr form of choice was either Sr bromide, or Sr bromide with urea. Various forms of oral Sr were also used but injections seemed to be the preferred method.

Often treatment included both oral and injections.

In 1936, a Dutch-language journal from the Netherlands, The Dutch Journal of Medicine, published an article by H. J. Nijhuis. The article was too long for this post, but I will include a translation of the full article in Part C.

…. I have now used strontium bromide almost daily for more than 6 years in practice and always with great success for the treatment of itchy skin diseases …Not only does one achieve a favorable effect on the symptom here, so not only does the itching completely disappear, but an effective therapeutic result goes hand in hand with the former effect. Indeed, in most cases, a complete cure of the dermatosis itself is achieved!

…Case 2: The patient has suffered from eczema of the hands and arms for twelve years. … Again, treatment was with intravenous strontium bromide injections, the first 4 every other day, the next 6 every 4 days. Rapid improvement of the existing severe itching, reduction of inflammatory symptoms…After 3 months, the eczema recurred. Resumption of the injection course of strontium bromide. After 6 injections again good healing. The patient has not registered since then.

…Unfavourable effects have never been observed by the author, who often experienced great success even after the first injection. Link

The Lancet published a case study from of a toxic reaction to a Stovarsol in 1932. A 32 year-old lady had Rash, tingling in extremities, stiffness, swelling of hands and feet, oedema eye-lids and lips, conjunctivitis, max temp of 101° F, itching and burning were extremely severe and entirely prevented sleep. cervical glands had been found enlarged.

TREATMENT

The effects of the treatment adopted in this case were so striking that a special note seems indicated.

…For some time past I have been giving 10 c.cm. intravenous injections of a 10 per cent. solution of strontium bromide (Ekzebrol) in cases of generalised irritable dermatoses-e.g., urticaria-in which a labile or hypersensitive condition of the sympathetic nervous system could be postulated. Within a few minutes of injecting it in this case, the tendency to rigors had disappeared (the solution produces a subjective feeling of heat all over the body for a short time), and shortly thereafter the patient declared herself free of the pruritus and pricking sensations; she slept for four hours that night, for the first time since the onset of the illness.

The following morning the nurse reported that the rash had faded somewhat, and that there was only slight irritation at times. The hands and feet were still swollen but not painful. A second injection of ekzebrol was given in the evening and the patient slept for 7 hours. The rash was obviously fading on the next day and no injection was given, as there was no irritation. The patient complained of throbbing and swimming of the head on movement with ringing in the ears, and on the following day (July 17th) 10 per cent. calcium chloride (Afenil) was substituted for the strontium compound, and 10 c.cm. of it were given intravenously. Nine hours sleep followed and on the following day convalescence had set in. There was no rash and no irritation, although the skin of the extremities was noted to be slightly peeling. Link

There isn’t enough space for all the key quotes and historical references to the use of injectable Sr for skin issues in this post.

• Skin issues in diabetics.

• Skin issues in pregnancy.

• Skin issues in jaundice.

• eczema

• psoriasis

• pruritus senilis

• Lichen chronicus simplex Vidal

• lichen planus

• urticaria

• toxic reactions,

• toxic erythema

• Strophulus

• Neurodermatitis

It is also noteworthy that the Sr in Sr bromide prevents the very common skin rashes associated with the other bromides (potassium bromide, sodium bromide, etc.)

Representation of Sr in a Historical Pharmaceutical Text

One of the hardest task in this research is to gain an understanding of how Sr was really used by the average doctors of the day.

The best clue I found was a German pharmaceutical manual from 1949, “Modern therapy in internal medicine and general practice by R. Franck edition. Second Part. Medicines Review.” Link Link2

This text had hundreds of pharmaceutical compounds, and although some of these compounds may have been imported, most or all of the pharmaceutical companies were German. So it probably gives us a good idea as to how Sr was used about 25 years after Dr Alwens published his findings on using Sr as an analgesic.

Note: Please DO NOT TRUST this English translation of the dosages and Packaging info. The original German has appreciations and symbols which I could not confidently translate.

ANTIHYPERTON. Theobrominestrontium Strontium Rhodanide Acid. phenylethylbarbitur. Carbo laxate. in pill form. Against high blood pressure 2 pills 3 times a day. Pack of 25 1.81 RM. Bykopharm, drug factory G.m.b. H., Frankfurt a. M.

AGOBILLN. Sugar coated tablets containing 0.088 stront. ChoIic., 0.032 Stront. salicylic. and 0.04 phenolphthalein diacetate. For gallstones and diseases of the biliary system, 2 tablets in the morning and in the evening. In jars of 20 and 40 tablets (RM 1.24 and RM 2.09). Gehe & Co., A.-G., Dresden-N 6.

ASTMASAN SUPPORTS contain: Fo!. Belladonna 0.07 and Drosera 0.02 (opened according to the exclude method), adrenal substance .0.001, papaverine iodate 0.02, verimid 0.09 (see below Belladonna-Exclud suppositories). stront. iodate. (Sr iodide) 0.01, Calc. iodate. 0.01, caffeine benz. 0.1, ephedrine 0.001, guaiacol 0.01, ceerite ox. 0.05, silica 0.1. In asthma, chronic Bronchitis, angina peet. 1-3 suppositories a day!. Pack of 10 pcs   2.77 RM, with 6 pieces 1.74 RM. dr R. Reiss, Rheumasan-Lenicet factory, Berlin NW 87.

BROMOSTRONTIURAN. 10prol:. Sodium bromide-strontium chloride-carbamic acid ethyl ester. For chronic eczema, urticaria, pruritus, etc. 2.ur intrav. injection Daily or every 2nd to 3rd day 1 amp. = 10 ccm. Pack with 1 amp. of 10 ccm (1.45 RM), with 2 x 5 ccm 1.45 RM for intram. and intrav. injection As a tablet pack with 25 tabs!. (RM1.73).   3 times a day!. 2 tabs!. 36 dragees 2-3 times a day!. 3 dragees 1.73 RM.   Bykopharm, drug factory G.m.b. H., Frankfurt a. M

HEXA-STRONTIURAN contains camphoric acid hexamethylene teiramine and strontiuran salicin as a solution in amp. to 10 ccm for intrav. injection in cystitis, pyelitis, gonorrhea. Start with 5cc every other day. Packs with Imal 5 ccm 400/0 97 Rpf., 5 times 5 ccm 3.43 RM, with amp. for 10 ccm 400/0, 1 S1. 2.33 RM, 5 pcs. 4.50 RM. Bykopharm, drug factory, Frankfurt a. M  

IRIPHAN is phenylquinolinecarboxylic acid strontium in powder form and tablets, in packs of 15 tabs!. (1.19 RM) and 30 tab!. (RM2.30). Iriphan powder 25 g 3.45 RM for recipe. daily 3 tabs!. and more against sciatica and neuralgic pain. Dr Laves, Lecin works, Hanover.

NEO-STRONTIURAN. Corresponds to strontium with the advantage that its hydrogen ion concentration is shifted in such a way that it can also be given intramuscularly and subcutaneously to very sensitive patients. For bronchitis, hay fever, urticaria, spasmophilia, pruritus. amp. to 5 cc. Pack of 2 (1.60 RM). Bykopharm, drug factory, Frankfurt a. M

NEUROSTRONTYL: Strontium bromide - Na diethylbarbituricumAcetphenetidin, carbamic acid ethyl esfer. For epilepsy, states of excitement, hysteria, etc. Daily!. 1-3 tabs!. and twice a week!. 5-10cc intravenously. Packs of 4 amps at 5 cc (1.92 RM), 10 tabs!. 1.45 RM, 20 tabs!. at 1 g (2.15 RM) and 30 dragees at 0.5 g (2.15 RM), 15 dragees 1.45 RM. Bykopharm, drug factory, Frankfurt a. M

SILIKALZIUM contains silica-phosphorus-lactic acid, calcium, strontium, carbohydrates. It is said to influence the metabolism towards the acidotic side. 2 teaspoons 3-4 times a day after meals. K. pack 75 g 1.74 RM, 150 g 3.22 RM. Rheumasan-Lenicet factory, Berlin NW 87.

STRONCHIN is an aqueous quinine strontium chloride urea solution in amps of 2 ccm and 5 ccm for parenteral therapy. 2 amps at 5 cc 2.25 RM, 10 amps at 5 cc 8.12 RM. S. Quinine um Weil.

STRONTISAL. Salicylic acid's strontium salt. In tablets and 4.5 percent. solution for intrav. injection in gout, chronic arthritis, sciatica, neuralgia. Use 2 tablets 3 times a day and 1 injection every 2-3 days. A slight flush of heat or perspiration occurs more often after the injection. Packs of 1 amp of 10cc 1.14 RM, 4 amps of 10cc 4.01 RM. Tubes with 20 tablets at 0.5 94 Rpf., 10 tablets 55 Rpf. Novopinfabrik Pharmacosma, Berlin-Johannisthal.

STRONTIM has an inhibiting effect on the sensitive and motor nerves. "Inflammation will not break out if it is possible to switch off the reflexes originating from the focus of inflammation and running in the centripetal sensory nerves by anesthetizing. The already existing inflammation is quickly brought to healing by anesthetizing the focus of inflammation sensitive nerves and must not disturb the normal play of the sympathetic nerves (vasomotors)." Spieß, Münch. med. Wschr. No. 8, 1906.

STRONTIUM BROMATUM is a complex drug that acts on the peripheral and central nervous system. Colorless crystals with a bitter taste, easily soluble in water and alcohol. It is indicated everywhere in inflammatory painful diseases, such as articular rheumatism, erythema nodosum with joint swelling, neuralgia, pain in the tabs, then in restless, excited patients who suffer from pain and insomnia, in chronic encephalitis, epilepsy, in spastic conditions in the extremities and states of excitement .. One gives either 3-6 g daily or as an intrav. injection 10 cc of a 10 or 20 percent. Solution. Inject slowly and draw the patient's attention to a feeling of warmth that runs through the body nauseously or after the injection. In appropriate cases, it can also be injected endolumbally, but the occurrence of brief chemical meningitis must be expected (Prof. Alwens, Dtsch. med. Wschr. No. 17, 1924).

STRONTIUM LACTICUM. (Sr Lactate) White powder, soluble in water, not in alcohol. daily 2-4g and more. Best as a solution to reduce the protein content in the urine in nephritis, but then also in rheumatism and gout. Furthermore, in the case of hunger osteopathies, 3-6 g daily for 4 weeks, and then calcium intake. You can also combine with cod liver oil at the same time. S. vitamin emulsion.

STRONTIURAN in ampoules is a 10 percent. Solution of strontium chloride urea. For intravenous injection as a substitute for calcium (afenil) injections, as the unpleasant side effects such as nausea, feeling hot, and nausea do not occur. Given in asthma, urticaria, dermatoses and before anesthesia, the pneumonic congestion of the lungs can be avoided. 1-2 amps intrav. Amp. with 5 ccm. Pack of 2 pieces (1.60 RM). Also available as tablets. Pack of 50 (RM3.84). 3 times a day 2 tablets a 1 g. S. bromostrontiuran and eostrontiuran. Bykopharm, drug factory G.m.b. H., Frankfurt a. M

VERASULF is a combination of somnacetin (75 0/0) and pyrasulf (25 0/0) (pyrasult is a compound of amidopyrine with sulfosalicylic acid strontium). In Tab!. to 0.5 g. For pain, insomnia and stenokradic (Angina) conditions several times a day! 1-2 TabL For severe pain 1 amp. intramusk. or slowly intrav. Packs of 4 and 10 tabs!. to 0.5 g 0.70 and 1.72 RM; -amp 4 pieces of 2.5 ccm with 0.04 g codeine phosph. RM1.92; also amp. to 5 ccm, which still contains 0.05 g codeine phosph. contain. Suppositories 8 pcs. 1.33 RM, for children 5 pcs. 92 Rpf. 8ykopharm, drug factory, Frankfurt a. M

ROBURAL, made from germinating barley and yeast and also contains lipoids, Ca, Mg, Fe, manganese, strontium, phosphates, lecithin, silicic acid. For general strengthening. Packs 100g 99 rpf., 250g 2.37 RM, 500g 4~61 RM. Box of 60 tabs!. RM1.60. 2 times a day!. 1-2 teas!. in water or milk. dr Rud. Reiss, Rheumasan and Lenicetfabrik, Berlin NW 87. Link Link2

When this was published in 1949, the therapeutic use of Sr had almost disappeared in England and the USA, and apparently, judging from this pharmaceutical text, many uses of Sr were also disappearing in Germany.

 The last entry, “Robural”, was listed in the nutritional & food supplements section. In 1929, Robural was said to be useful in treating scoliosis Link , and in 1924, Hermannsdorfer and Goerson of German proposed treating tuberculosis with a special diet and “three times a day a heaping tablespoon of magnesium, strontium, sodium salts and phosphoric acid, etc., are given”. Link

German Innovations Exported to the USA, England and India

An American journal (The Journal Of Laboratory And Clinical Medicine) published, “A Study of the Toxicity of Strontium and Comparison with other Cations Employed in Therapeutics”,  David Loeser & A. L. Konwiser in 1929  

There have appeared in recent literature, reports of the intravenous injection of strontium salts, particularly of the bromide. There reports indicate its application in the treatment of urticaria and other skin affections, para thyroid tetany, spasmophilia, etc, and other conditions indicating the relationship to the effect of calcium. Link

In 1946, Dr Wigley of London, England wrote the following in the British Medical Journal. DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF ECZEMA

“Much has been written of excellent results of oral or intravenous administration of calcium, sodium thiosulphate, a 10 per cent strontium bromide in glucose solution (Ekzebrol) but my experience has been disappointing.” Link

This is the only non-positive clinical observation from the use of therapeutic Sr injections that I have found.

In India, Ekzebrol was apparently popular and as late as 1967 Ekzebrol was being studied in the treatment of leprosy. Up to about 2020, Ekzebrol was still available on online pharmacies for apparent human use, but today Ekzebrol is only sold for veterinarian use. Link

Summary of Benefits

• Sr reduces the inflammation associated with and caused by the pain and/or diseases of the nerves.

• Sr reduces “pathological pain” (pain generated by the nervous system, including pain from nerve damage or dysfunctional nerve communication)

• Sr promotes long-term downgrading of pain and pathological pain, reducing the need for Sr over time.
  The opposite is usually true, for example, for example, as a patient regularly uses morphine, the dose has to be increased to achieve the same benefits.
  This is the opposite of most pain medicines,

• Sr seemed to result in general improvement in a patient’s overall condition or disease.

• Sr is beneficial in skin rashes and conditions that have origins in the nervous system.
  

General Info on Formulas & Protocol

Dr Alwens found that oral Sr lactate alone didn’t provide adequate pain relief and preferred Sr bromide injections for patients with more severe pain or neurological issues.

Oral: 3 gm Sr Lactate or Sr Bromide: When oral doses of Sr were used, the most commonly used protocol was about 3 grams of either Sr lactate or Sr Bromide daily. By weight, Sr lactate is 37.3% Sr and 62.6% lactate, with a bioavailability of less than 30%. Sr L-lactate is currently available OTC in the USA.

Injection: 5-10 cc of a 10-20% solution of Sr bromide: Dr Alwens used this protocol for pain and neurological conditions, and it was adopted by others. It provided 710 mg Sr. & 1290 mg of bromide.

Sr Chloride Urea was also commonly used for injections at a similar dosage as Sr bromide.

Personal Note

I would like to research and write full-time, but I have a family. At the present time, my research and writing do not provide me with any income. At this time, I am unable to accept paid subscriptions or accept donations through Substack because they require a US based bank account to accept payments. I am from the USA but I currently live in Peru and I don’t have a US bank account. When that changes, I will open paid subscriptions but most or all of my blog post will still be free of charge. However, with my current financial situation, the fact that I don’t get paid to write is the main reason that I don’t have time to research and write. So, if you believe in my work, and would like to support me, email me at gringoincajoe@protonmail.com. And if you don’t have extra money, please don’t feel guilty. Also, email me with any questions or write a comment.

Thanks for reading my post.

Joe Anstett