11) DULCAMARA.

AILMENTS CAUSED BY EXPOSURE TO DAMP WEATHER.

It is derived from the shrub called as Bitter sweet and it was Dr. Hahnemann, who proved this remedy.

This remedy is suitable to persons who become worse from exposure to damp cold weather.

 It is useful in cold sores and facial neuralgia.

 It is useful when the eyes are inflamed with hay fever like symptoms.

It is also useful in cutting pains around the navel, when the stools are slimy, bloody and mucous.

This remedy is useful for rashes that come on before menses.

 This remedy is useful when the asthma and cough come on in hot weather.

 This remedy is useful in neck stiffness, shoulder stiffness, backache and lameness that become worse after getting cold and wet.

 This remedy is useful in paralysis of limbs when the feet are ice cold.

This remedy is also useful in warts, which appear in the hands and the face.

 This remedy is useful in itching in the skin, which is worse in cold weather.

 This remedy is useful in any condition that is worse in cold wet damp weather.

 This remedy suits persons who are generally worse at night, from cold weather and damp rainy weather.  These persons are generally better from moving about and external warmth.

 TIPS ABOUT DULCAMARA FROM THE MASTERS…

DULCAMARA is a honey for alternation of eczema and asthma with dreadful restlessness.

Dr. Elizabeth Hubbard.

This remedy is very useful in the monsoons in Bombay, to those patients who are susceptible to cold wet weather. It is also useful in those disposed to Rheumatic, catarrhal and skin troubles.  It is very useful in Urticaria, that comes on from warmth and which is better with cold.  It is very suitable to persons who work in ice cream factories, cold storage facilities and in air-conditioned rooms.

10) COLCHICUM AUTUMNALE.

This remedy is derived from the Meadow Saffron plant, which belongs to the Liliaceae group of plants.

This remedy affects the muscular tissues markedly along with the periosteum and the synovial membranes of the joints.

It is suitable whenever the person feels great weakness, internal coldness and a tendency to collapse.

 It is useful whenever the smell of food causes nausea, with pain in the stomach with flatulence.

 There is distension of the abdomen with gas.

 The remedy is useful whenever the stools are painful, scanty, jelly like with shredded particles in large quantities.

 It is useful whenever there is sharp pain in the left arm and tearing in the limbs in warm weather.

 It is a useful remedy when there is a pins and needles sensation in the hands, wrists and when the fingertips become numb.

It is useful when the limbs are stiff with a gouty inflammation, and in shifting rheumatism, which is worse in the night.

It is useful in Lumbo-sacral strain.

 It is a useful remedy when the patients are worse from sundown to sunrise, from motion, loss of sleep, smell of food, and mental exertion.

The remedy is useful when patients feel better from stooping.

 It is also useful acute rheumatic carditis.

9) CINA.

USEFUL REMEDY IN WORM INFESTATION.

It is derived from the Wormseed, Artemisia contra.

This is essentially a children’s remedy.

It is a suitable remedy is for irritability of temper in children, variable appetite and grinding of the teeth.

This remedy is suitable, when ever, the child is hungry cross and wants to be rocked.

The remedy is useful when the child desires many things and does not wish to touched, is extremely cross in nature, desires many things but rejects everything.

It is useful in children who constantly digs and scratches his ears.

 This remedy is useful, when the patient desires to bore the nose all the time and wishes to rub and pick the nose.

 This remedy is useful when the patient feels hungry immediately after a meal.

 It is useful to correct the hyper-acidity with epigastric pain.

 It is useful for children who have an excessive craving for sweets.

 It is a useful remedy when the child has a bloated abdomen and colic.

 It is a useful remedy when the child sleeps on the hands and knees and when the child cries out and wakes up frightened.

 TIPS ABOUT CINA…

 When there are papillae on the tip of the tongue, the child has worms; CINA is the remedy.

Dr. Edwards.

The most careful analysis of clinical experience has demonstrated that CINA is the most powerful for the elimination of round worms.

Dr. Farrington, M.D.

Cina is a very useful remedy in Helminthiasis.  Of course, we as allopathic physicians have several medicines, such as; Mebendazole, Albendazole, etc for this problem.  But, Cina has that knack of getting rid of the worms and also helps combat certain behavioral problems in young children with Pica (the tendency to eat indigestible things). It is also useful in certain cases of nocturnal enuresis in children.

8)  CHAMMOMILA.

This remedy is derived from the plant, Matricaria Chammomila.  This remedy is useful in children who are peevish, restless and who suffer from colic.

It is useful when the child is restless, wants many things and wants to be carried and petted constantly.  It is also useful when the child is impatient, intolerant, spiteful and snappish.

It is very useful in acute earache with swelling around the mastoid region that drives the patient frantic.

The remedy is useful when the child is sensitive to all smells with colds and does not sleep because of the cold.

It is extremely useful in toothache, worse after a warm drink, worse from coffee at night.

This remedy is also useful when the patient has a foul eructation with nausea after coffee and has an aversion to warm drinks.  The abdomen is distended with griping in the navel with a flatulent colic.

This remedy is useful in duodenitits.

The remedy is useful in children who have hot, green; fetid like chopped white eggs with yellow mucous this remedy is useful in diarrhea dentition.

The remedy is useful in hoarseness and rawness of the larynx, with rattling in the child’s chest.

It is useful for stiffness in the neck muscles.

It is useful in violent rheumatic pains that disturb the sleep.

It is useful when there is drowsiness with moaning, weeping and wailing in sleep.

The remedy suits patients who are worse by heat, anger, open air, wind and night.

The patients feel better from being carried and in warm wet weather.     

TIPS ABOUT CHAMMOMILA…

CHAMMOMILA: For muscular and nerve pain; valuable especially in the aftermath of injury in children; will often have more of a sedative effect than CODEINE.

                                                                 Dr. C. C. Boericke, M.D.     

Remember that many patients seem oversensitive to pains and the remedy may be CHAMMOMILA, instead of Morphine.

                                                                             Dr. Dewey, M.D. 

CHAMMOMILA is a valuable remedy in labor; the pains shoot upwards and pass off down the inner sides of the thighs.  The patient may be very cranky and orders the Doctor out of the room. It is also a useful remedy for postpartum pains when the patient has stood a great deal, is hypersensitive and worn out.                                          

Homeopathic Recorder, August 32. 

This is a magical remedy when children cry and scream in pain from middle ear infection or during dentition.  

7) BELLADONNA.

This remedy is derived from the plant called as the Deadly Nightshade (Atropa Belladonna).

This remedy suits subjects who are lively and entertaining when well, and violent and delirious when sick.

 It suits persons who are susceptible to cold and who react quickly to medicine and get well very soon.

 It is associated with hot red skin, flushed face, glaring eyes and throbbing carotids. It is a remedy useful in the first stage of inflammation.

 The face is red, hot and shining.

 The eyes throb, pupils dilated, there may be conjunctivitis, red and dry and they burn. There may be photophobia with shooting pain in the eyes.

 It is a useful remedy in bleeding of the nose, which is red and swollen.

This remedy is also useful in angry red congestion of the tonsils, which are enlarged making swallowing difficult.

 It is also useful in acute urinary infections, where the urine is scanty, red and there is tenesmus with frequent and profuse urination.

 It is also useful when the larynx is very painful with hoarseness of the voice.

The drug is useful in acute inflammatory arthralgia where the joints are red, shining with red streaks.

The skin is hot, dry, swollen and sensitive.

 The fever is high with a relative lack of toxemia. The patient experiences no thirst with fever.

The patient always feels worse with touch, jar, noise, draught, after-noon and while lying down.

 As a general rule, this remedy is not useful slow developing conditions. 

This remedy suits subjects who are worse from cold winds, drafts of air, sun, summer, light noise, touch, motion, uncovering the head, from lying on the painful side and from looking at bright shining objects.

It also suits subjects who are better by rest, a dark room, sitting erect and in a warm room.

TIPS FROM THE HOMEOPATHIC MASTERS…

 In 9 out of 10 cases, when appendicitis comes on with a rash, I have found that it calls for BELLADONNA.

                                                                             DR. MOORE.

 BELLADONNA is an excellent remedy to aid in diminishing the flow of milk after weaning.  The BELLADONNA plaster and the BELLADONNA ointment are often applied to the breasts for this purpose with a very happy result.

                                                                      Dr. H. Farrington, M.D.

 BELLADONNA is one of the best remedies for retention of urine after delivery.

                                                                 Dr. Sheldon. Leavitt, M.D.

In the majority of cases, in the beginning, BELLADONNA will check the disease if the throat is bright red; if the parts are dark red, with ulcerations and a foul breath.

                                                                               Dr. Custis, M.D.

 For simple boils in the ear, the administration of BELLADONNA 6,12 OR 30 in hourly alternation with MERC SOL will frequently prevent the development of suppuration of the boil.

 This remedy is useful in streptococcal infections.  It is also useful in the first stages of inflammation.  It is useful in fevers, which are associated with bursting headaches, red-hot face and redness.  It is useful in aborting Erysipelas (early stages of cellulitis). It can abort boils, if given early.  I have used it in lower potencies with frequent repetitions.

6) ARNICA MONTANA.

THIS REMEDY IS SUITABLE FOR INJURIES, AFTER SURGERY AND IN PAIN AFTER DENTAL EXTRACTION.

This remedy is derived from a plant called as the Leopard’s Bane that grows in the mountains of the Northern hemisphere.

 This remedy suits nervous persons who cannot bear pain and who worry and lot and exaggerate trivial symptoms.

This remedy is useful in conditions of injuries, falls, blows and contusions.

 This remedy acts like a prophylactic to prevent pus-forming infections.

It is useful in arresting bleeding after tooth extraction; it accelerates the healing of the gums and eliminates inflammation.

 This remedy eases pain after fractures.

 It is useful to control shock and prevent soreness after surgery.

 It is a wonderful remedy in intra-cranial hemorrhages.

 It is useful in healing severe bullet wounds.

 Arnica is a great remedy for controlling soreness after delivery.

 Arnica is useful in incomplete abortions.

Arnica Q is useful in dissolving corns.

 It is useful in Hypertension.

 This remedy is useful in combating fatigue.

 It is useful in sleeplessness caused by over-exertion of the mind and the body.

 This remedy is useful in Gout when the patient has a fear of being touched or approached. The pain in the back and the limbs are as if they are bruised or beaten up.

 This remedy suits persons who are worse from the least touch, motion, rest, wine and damp cold.  This remedy suits persons who are better lying down, or with their head low.

 TIPS FROM THE MASTERS …

 I recommend ARNICA as a preventive and curative of boils.

Dr. Hanhemann, M.D.

Sleeplessness caused by over-exertion and extreme and extreme weariness of the mind or body.  Here ARNICA never fails to summon the tired Nature’s sweet restorer balmy sleep.

Dr. Tyler, M.D.

In a war like situation, any survivor not too close to the center of the explosion, would be helped and comforted by the remedy ARNICA, given in any potency as soon as possible after the explosion.

Dr. A.H. Grimmer, M.D.

After a railway or road accident, horror of instant death with cardiac symptoms at night, patient goes off into a sleep full of terror, jumps up again with this sudden fear of death.  In such cases give ARNICA.

Dr. Tyler, M.D.

With the object of preventing pyaemia, some surgeons use ARNICA, after operations applying it locally and giving it internally at the same time.

Dr. Farrington, M.D.

 ARNICA tincture applied neat to a wasp or bee sting is wonderfully effective.

Dr. Hughes. L.R.C.P.

ARNICA is an excellent remedy to administer after parturition. It relieves soreness and lameness of the parts especially after instrumental delivery.

Dr. Cowperthwaithe, M.D.

I recommend ARNICA MONTANA for the pregnant women who feel pain from the movement of the child; in the varices, which form in the vulvae or vagina and in simple cases of painful nipples.

 Dr. Guernsey, M.D.

ARNICA has selective affinity for relieving the pain in neuritis.

Dr. Dewey, M.D.

Repeated doses of ARNICA will often abort a carbuncle.

This is a must have remedy in every Homeopathic kit and in my opinion a ‘must have’ in every home.  This remedy is extremely useful for bruises, concussions, and black eye.  If Arnica is taken before surgery, it prevents sepsis and promotes wound healing.  It is a prized remedy for dentists too.  It is also useful in Gout, Hypertrophy of the heart and in cases of Post-partum hemorrhage.

5) APIS MELLIFICA.

THIS REMEDY IS USEFUL TO COMBAT THE EFFECTS OF A BEE STING.

This remedy is derived from the whole honeybee or the drop of the poison secreted from the point of the sting.

 This remedy has the characteristic effects of the sting of the bee.

 This remedy is useful in swelling or puffing of the various parts, which become red, with stinging pains, with soreness and intolerance to heat and the slightest touch.  This remedy corresponds to the symptoms of Urticaria.

 This remedy is useful in erysipelatous inflammations, dropsical effusions and anasarca.

 It is useful in acute inflammation of the kidneys, when associated with edema and albuminuria.

 This remedy is useful when the lids are swollen, red, edematous, everted and burn and sting. This remedy is useful in suppurative inflammation of the eyes. It is also useful in preventing the recurrence of styes in the eye.

 The remedy suits persons when there is burning and soreness while urinating and when the urine is loaded with casts, scanty, high colored and when there is stinging pain and when the last drops smart.

 This remedy is useful in swelling of the skin after insect bites that are sore and sensitive. It is useful in Carbuncles with burning and stinging pains.  It is useful whenever there is a sudden puffing of the whole body.

 This remedy also suits persons who are better in open air, from uncovering and after a cold bath.

 TIPS FROM THE MASTERS…

 Should edema glottis supervene, repeated doses of APIS MELLIFICA would give the best chance of averting tracheotomy.

Dr. Hughes, L.R.C.P.

I find this remedy extremely useful in cases of urticaria, angio-neurotic edema and many suppressed eruptions. It is useful in containing the impending cellulitis. Again I must add a word of caution, try this remedy and if desired results are not got within a short time, contact your health provider. This website nor I will not be held responsible for untoward side effects. This is an article for information purposes only.

4) ALOES SOCOTRINA.

This remedy is derived from a plant belonging to the natural order of Liliaecae. 

It is useful to combat the bad effects of a sedentary life or bad habits.

It suits persons who have an aversion to meat.

The remedy suits persons who have flatulence with a bloated abdomen.

This remedy suits persons who have a pulsation in the rectum.  Such persons who have an insecure feeling in the rectum and these persons do not know whether gas or stools will come.

This remedy is useful in persons who have loose, lumpy stools with mucous.

It is useful in hemorrhoids, which protrude like a bunch of grapes and the piles are sore and tender.

This remedy is also useful whenever there is burning in the anus and the rectum.

It is useful in Lumbago alternating with headache and piles.

This remedy suits persons who are worse in the early morning, in the summer heat, after eating or drinking and who are better in the cold and the open air.

I was initially very skeptical about this remedy.  I have however used it extensively in India and find that it is very good for diarrheas, which are very common in summers in India.  It is particularly suitable for those sedentary patients who have a lot of flatulence and do not know whether, they will pass wind or stools with flatulence.  I have also found it useful in a few cases of piles.  Surprisingly, it is also useful in constipated patients who have to remove their stools mechanically or in patients who pass hard stools involuntarily.

3) ALLIUM CEPA.

THIS IS A GREAT REMEDY FOR A RUNNY NOSE.

This remedy is made from the onion and the mother tincture is prepared from the fresh red bulb.

It is a useful remedy in acrid coryza, where there is a nasal discharge and symptoms of hay fever.

 This remedy suits persons whose eyes water blandly and the nose is burning red.

It is useful for persons who are prone to colds in damp cold weather.

It is useful in neuralgic pains after amputations.

 It is useful in headaches in the frontal area worse in a warm room.

 It is useful in chronic neuritis.

 It is useful in combating the ill effects of getting the feet wet.

It is useful in diarrhea with an offensive flatus.

This remedy suits persons who are worse in the evening, in a warm room and persons who are better in open air and in a cold room.

TIPS FROM THE MASTERS…

 An affection over which ALLIUM CEPA has marvelous power is traumatic neuritis in a stump after operation, pains almost unbearable, rapidly exhausting the strength of the patient.

Dr. M.L. Tyler, M.D.

With PULSATILLA, CHAMOMILLA, and ALLIUM CEPA you can cure a majority of earaches in children.

Dr. M.L. Tyler, M.D.

I personally find this remedy extremely useful in running noses, where the nasal discharge is acrid and excoriates the nose and the eye discharge is bland. It is useful for seasonal colds, Hay fevers and headaches due to cold.  I think this remedy should be fully investigated on patients with Hay fever. In fact, the results are so magical that I think that Allopathic physicians must try it. Remember, use this remedy for a week and if you do not get relief, please seek out your doctor. This material is for educational purposes and neither the website nor I will be held responsible for any reactions or lack of relief.

“There is no single disease which causes more psychic trauma, more maladjustment between parents and children, more general insecurity and feelings of inferiority and greater sums of psychic suffering than does acne vulgaris.”  —Sulzberger & Zaldems, 1948.

Introduction:

Acne is a skin disorder due to the action of hormones and other substances on the skin’s oil glands (sebaceous glands) and hair follicles. These factors lead to plugged pores and outbreaks of lesions commonly called pimples or zits. Pimples or acne may usually occur on the face, neck, back, chest, and shoulders. Severe acne can lead to permanent scarring.

Causes of acne:

·         The exact cause of acne is unknown.

·          One important factor is an increase in hormones called androgens (male sex hormones). These increase in both boys and girls during puberty and cause the sebaceous glands to enlarge and make more sebum.

·         Another factor is heredity or genetics.

·         Certain drugs, including androgens and lithium, are known to cause acne.

·         Greasy cosmetics may alter the cells of the follicles and make them stick together, producing a plug.

Common myths about acne:

·         Washing the face more often will help clear up acne

·         Stress causes acne

·         Masturbation or sex causes acne

·         The sun bathing gets rid of acne 

·         Diet and acne are related. Chocolates and fat foods do not cause acne

Allopathic treatment of Acne:

Ointments containing Benzoyl peroxide, Resorcinol, Salicylic acid and Sulfur are commonly used.  When the acne is uncontrolled doctors use antibiotics to help stop or slow the growth of bacteria and reduce inflammation.  Surgical measures for deep-pitted scars include derma-abrasion conventionally, with lasers or chemical peels.

 Procedural Acne Treatment Options

Procedural treatments are therapies performed by a dermatologist, health care practitioner, or esthetician. They are used in the treatment of mild to severe acne, depending on the treatment. Procedural therapies are meant to be supportive and used in conjunction with topical and/or systemic treatments.

• Comedo removal – Often performed by estheticians during a facial, comedo extractions involve gently coaxing plugs of sebum and cellular debris from the pore. By removing blackheads, milia, and soft closed comedones the overall number of breakouts can be reduced.
• Chemical peels – These agents deeply exfoliate the skin using an alpha-hydroxy, beta-hydroxy, or glycolic acid. Light chemical peels improve acne by removing dead skin cells and helping to clear pores of debris. Estheticians may incorporate chemical peels into a facial for those with mild to moderate acne. Those with more serious acne should have their dermatologist perform the chemical peel.
• Microdermabrasions – This treatment may be performed at a skin spa or your dermatologist’s office.  It is not painful. A microdermabrasion treatment deeply exfoliates the skin, loosening debris from within the pore. It is best for those who have non-inflamed acne, with many blackheads and/or whiteheads.
• Lasers – Phototherapy is the term used to describe any treatment utilizing laser or light. They work by killing P.acnes, reducing inflammation, or shrinking the sebaceous glands, depending on what therapy is used.
• Steroid injections – Dermatologists can inject a cyst with corticosteroid, reducing inflammation and the chance of scarring. Corticosteroid injections speed healing of the lesion to just a few short days.

Naturopathic treatment in acne:

• Fastingcan be an effective method of treating acne but should not be undertaken for more than 2 to 3 days without a physician’s supervision.

·         Drinking plenty of water

·         Alternate hot and cold compresses with to the affected area.

• Indian Naturopaths advise applying a special mudpack on the face. The mudpack is called as ‘MULTANI MITTI’ and it is applied as a face pack.
• Wheat grass therapy
• Colon cleansing. .

Herbs for acne:

Several herbs are useful. Tea tree oil  (Melaleuca alternafolia) has been found useful as an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties and improves acne

Guggul (Commiphora mukul) has been found to be as useful as tetracycline. However, it cannot be given to pregnant or lactating women. It is believed that Guggul has estrogen like effects and should not be given in any patient who has a family history of hormone related cancers in near relatives.  The drug has interactions with birth control pills and anticoagulants.

Topical medications  include topical use of Aloe barbadensis, Azardirachta indica, turmeric (Curcuma longa), Hemidesmus indicus, Terminalia chebula, Terminalia Arjuna, and ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) and these were found useful in reducing acne lesions.

Homeopathy

Homeopathic remedies are very useful in acne.  However, the homeopath has to take a detailed history and ideally give a constitutional remedy to effect a cure. There are however, effective and specific homeopathic remedies.

Some of the common remedies that are useful are:

• Belladonna — for people who experience flushes of heat to the face or who have inflamed pustular acne that improves with cold applications
• Berberis Aquefolium is useful in dry, rough scaly acne where the eruptions are found on the face and neck.
• Calendula— for skin conditions involving pustules or blisters
• Hepar sulphur — for painful, pus-filled acne
• Kali bromatum — for deep acne, especially on the forehead, in persons who are chilled and nervous
• Silicea— for pustules or pit-forming acne.

In recent times, there are number of topical preparations containing Calendula, Berberis Aquefolium Q and Thuja, which are surprisingly quite effective in tropical conditions.

Conclusion:

Acne causes a host of psychosomatic problems in adolescents such as social withdrawal, low self esteem, reduced self-confidence, poor body image, embarrassment, depression, anger and frustration.

Fortunately we are living in an era when there are many treatment options and alternatives.

References

·         Adebamowo CA, Spiegelman D et al. High school dietary dairy intake and teenage acne. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2005 Feb; 52(2): 207-14.

·         Bassett IB, Pannowitz DL et al. A comparative study of tea-tree oil versus benzoyl peroxide in the treatment of acne. Med J Austral 1990; 153:455–58.

·         Carmina E, Lobo RA. A comparison of the relative efficacy of antiandrogens for the treatment of acne in hyper androgenic women. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2002 Aug; 57(2): 231-34.

·         Cordain L, Lindeberg S et al. Acne vulgaris: a disease of Western civilization. Arch Dermatol. 2002 Dec; 138(12): 1584-90.

·         Elman M, Lask G. The role of pulsed light and heat energy (LHE) in acne clearance. J Cosmet Laser Ther 2004 Jun; 6(2): 91-95.

·         Layton A M. Optimal management of acne to prevent scarring and psychological sequelae. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2001;2(3):135-41.

·        ·         Raman A, Weir U et al. Antimicrobial effects of tea-tree oil and its major components on Staphylococcus aureus, Staph. epidermidis and Propionibacterium acnes. Lett Appl Microbiol 1995 Oct; 21(4): 242-45.