Homeopathic Medicines for Specific Pain Conditions Allen's verdict : A note on the Science of Tinctures and dilutions

A well-known principle of homeopathy is that the medicine must be individualized to the patient: 10 patients with fibromyalgia or rheumatoid arthritis are likely to receive 10 different medicines from a professional homeopath because each patient has a unique pattern of symptoms. However, this primarily applies to chronic conditions.

In an emergency situation, or in the case of a very virulent infectious disease, the nature of the trauma or infection imposes the same symptom pattern on nearly everyone. For example, Arnica is useful in almost all acute cases of soft-tissue trauma with bruising, swelling, and/or soreness. This makes it possible to create a standardized protocol using Arnica for post-surgery recuperation or for sports injuries. Hypericum, with its symptom set of numbness, tingling, other paresthesias, and electric-shock sensations along a nerve path—especially after a blow to the spine or a nerve-rich area of the body—similarly becomes a universal remedy when an accident or surgery causes acute nerve pain or nerve damage.

When it comes to short-term or palliative pain management (e.g., treating a sprained ankle or providing temporary relief for arthritic pain), the prescriber typically chooses from among the homeopathic medicines well known historically for clinical effectiveness (perhaps 3–20 top medicines for each condition).21–24 Among them, the choice is then based on individual characteristics: does the patient find relief from a heating pad or from an ice pack, for example; do they prefer to limber up an aching joint, or do they need to keep it still? Henceforth lies a simplified version for each of several types of pain, differentiating among just a few of the best-known medicines in order to make homeopathy accessible for healthcare professionals in other disciplines. This will be followed by a review of the research and finally by resources for further study.

Back Pain and Other Musculoskeletal Disorders

• Rhus tox and Ruta grav for joint pain with stiffness that is worse in damp weather, needs to be limbered up, and feels better from the application of heat. These two medicines are among the most effective and can be difficult to differentiate. It may be observed that patients needing Rhus tox swinging a joint to limber it up (the “rusty gate” syndrome) or restlessly pacing in the waiting room. Rhus tox is the medicine most often used for fibromyalgia. Ruta grav has additional qualities of lameness and weakness, for example those whose knees go out from under them when going downstairs.
• Bryonia is for patients with the opposite symptom: they feel worse from stretching and in fact worse from the slightest motion, even the jarring motion of a heavy tread, so they tend to guard or splint their joints. Bryonia is especially good for the serous membranes. Hence, it is good for bursitis and pleuritis.
• Nux vomica is a top remedy for lower back pain in those with typical Nux vomica symptoms: competitive, ambitious, driven, irritable, apt to use coffee, alcohol, spicy or fried foods, sometimes recreational drugs, therefore apt to have a congested liver.
• Protocol: Using the 30c potency (strength) most commonly available in stores, a dose of two pellets dissolved in the mouth can be repeated every one to three hours, depending on the intensity of the pain. In general with homeopathic medicines, the medicine is repeated frequently until it starts to take effect, then slowed down or even stopped until symptoms return, so that the body can heal itself.

Broken Bones

Homeopathy can speed bone healing, as well as reduce the need for analgesics, according to a study done in India.These three medicines will cover most aspects of bone healing:

• Symphytum is by far the most common medicine for broken bones. Research shows that it can promote callus formation and speed the union of fractures.
• Ruta grav is used when there is a contusion or bone bruise, or when the predominant sensation is soreness rather than sharp pain along the line of the fracture, as in Symphytum.
• Calc phos is used for growing pains in children and for broken bones that take a long time to heal.
• Protocol: Using the 30c potency (strength) most commonly available in stores, a dose of two pellets dissolved in the mouth once a day.

Labor Pains

The research on homeopathy in childbirth is primarily limited to the study of just one medicine: Caulophyllum.However, a range of medicines to reduce labor pains are included here based on 150 years of experience and the need to reduce the use of epidurals. Epidurals prolong labor and can trigger a “cascade of interventions” leading to a greater need for an oxytocin injection, a higher rate of instrumental births, and a higher risk of Cesarean section due to fetal distress.

Homeopathic medicines can be given in advance to strengthen the uterus and prepare the woman for labor. In one research study, women given a combination of five homeopathic remedies during the ninth month of pregnancy had 40% shorter labor and only 25% as many complications of labor.

The following homeopathic medicines have a long history of successful use for labor pains among homeopathic obstetricians and midwives. Giving a dose of 30c as often as needed to minimize pain and keep the contractions longer and more efficient. The stronger potency 200c will work better for extreme pain. However, it is recommended only for use by homeopathic midwives and others experienced with using homeopathic medicines during labor (not because the higher potency is dangerous, but because it can be more difficult to discern when to repeat it).

• Aconite for violent, intense, sudden labor pains, especially when the woman is afraid she will die.
• Belladonna for extreme labor pains when the woman has the typical Belladonna symptoms (a wild look in the eyes, reddened cheeks, delirium).
• Caulophyllum for when both the labor pains and the woman's moods are quickly changeable: the labor pains seem to flit here and there, the woman is having mood swings.
• Chamomilla for when the pain is so unbearable, nothing can satisfy her: she wants to order everyone out of the room, or she demands something, and as soon as it is given, she refuses it and demands something else.
• Cimicifuga for when the labor pains radiate down the thighs, the woman feels gloomy “as if a black cloud is over her,” and she may say she feels she is going insane.
• Kali carbonicum for back labor and needle-like pains.
• Sepia also for back labor with other typical Sepia symptoms such as extreme fatigue leading to weepiness and irritability.

After pains will also respond to some of the same homeopathic medicines:

• Arnica for its typical feeling of bruised soreness and aversion to being touched.
• Chamomilla for when the woman is irritable and dissatisfied, as above.
• Hypericum for pains in the coccyx, and for the effects of an epidural such as a headache.
• Kali carbonicum for needle-like pains in the lower back.
• Pulsatilla for changeable pains and moodiness, including mild weepiness and a desire for consolation and for company in her pain.