Homeopaths acknowledge certain groupings of bodymind symptom patterns which a person has and which correspond with the sensitivity of a particular homeopathic medicine. The word “symptom” here is most broadly defined as any sensation that is discomforting or that limits a person’s physical or psychological functions. Homeopath also inquire into what factors, which homeopaths call “modalities,” seem to aggravate or ameloriate these sensations. In addition to prescribing on these factors, a homeopath may utilize information about the person’s body type, temperament and disposition, and behavioral tendencies to determine the appropriate medicine.

Dr. Francisco Eizayaga, an Argentinian urologist and internationally respected homeopath, has helped differentiate the various symptoms and characteristics of a person to find the correct medicine. Dr. Eizayaga has asserted that a “constitutional medicine” is prescribed primarily according to a person’s genetic endowment and some of the person’s deeply-seated psychological tendencies. A “fundamental medicine” is prescribed according to the functional symptoms which represent the organism’s response to the various stresses it is experiencing.* Dr. Eizayaga notes that fundamental states may change and pile up on each other like concentric skins of an onion. Dr. Eizayaga also differentiates the treatment of organic pathology from constitutional or fundamental states, though such a discussion is beyond the scope of an introductory book.



[* Many homeopaths do not make a distinction between the constitutional or fundamental medicine. They generally refer to the “constitutional medicine” as the one that fits a long-standing set of symptoms a person experiences and “acute medicine” as that which fits transitory disease states. For ease of discussion in forthcoming chapters, reference only to “constitutional medicine” will be made when discussing the treatment of the chronically ill based on their totality of symptoms.]

Homeopaths identify certain patterns of symptoms with themedicines which have cured them. There is, for instance, the “Phosphorous type,” the “Sulphur type,” the “Arsenicum (arsenic) type,” and the “Natrum mur (salt) type.” Each of these typologies refers not only to a type of headache, for instance, but also to: those factors that make that headache pain better or worse, other physical symptoms which may be related to it, various past or present symptoms and diseases, food cravings or aversions, sensitivity to temperature and weather, energy levels at varying times of the day, sweating tendencies, stool and urination characteristics, menstrual patterns, emotional and mental states, and behavioral propensities.

After a homeopath completes a thorough interview, he/she seeks to find a medicine which matches the “essence” of the person’s totality of symptoms. The word “essence” is of value here since homeopathy is the science of finding the most “similar” medicine to the person. It is not necessary to match every symptom the person has with those symptoms that the substance causes. Rather, it is enough to find a substance which matches the essence of the person’s characteristics.

Once one’s constitutional or fundamental medicine is selected and administered, not only is the person’s chief complaint greatly reduced, but he or she generally feels better in many ways, physically and psychologically. Although a person may actually be cured after a single dose of the correct constitutional or fundamental medicine, more often, the medicine may start the curative process, and a series of medicines will be required to complete it. As the person heals and changes, a new fundamental picture often emerges, bringing with it the requirement of a new medicine. Some homeopaths believe that one’s constitutional medicine never changes, while others feel that it can.

Some laypeople find great pleasure in looking for their own, their family’s, and their friends’ constitutional and fundamental medicines. The most popular and useful books for this endeavor are Catherine Coulter’s Portraits of Homoeopathic Medicines, Edward C. Whitmont’s Psyche and Substance: Essays on Homeopathy in the Light of Jungian Psychology, James Tyler Kent’s Lectures on Homoeopathic Materia Medica, and Margaret Tyler’s Drug Pictures.

The search for a constitutional medicine requires one’s intellectual and intuitive capacities, being part-detective, part-psychologist, and part-investigative reporter. Despite the challenge of this process, it is not recommended that one prescribe a constitutional or fundamental medicine for oneself for several reasons. First, it is the general consensus in the homeopathic community that laypeople can learn to treat themselves for non-emergency acute conditions, but that the complexity of treating and of providing follow-up treatment of chronic conditions requires professional supervision. Since treatment of chronic conditions usually involves a sequence of prescriptions, either repetition of the same medicine at the same or a different potency or another medicine entirely, only those with deeper knowledge of homeopathic principles and materia medica should engage in the treatment of chronic conditions.

Another reason that laypeople should not prescribe constitutional or fundamental medicines is that such medicines can sometimes create a healing crisis during which certain symptoms get worse. If the layperson doesn’t know how to deal with this situation, the person receiving treatment will not get the best benefit from the homeopathic medicine.

Although it is not recommended for laypeople to prescribe medicines for ones own or another’s chronic state, it may be still worthwhile for him or her to study the different homeopathic types and to give their opinion to the practitioner as to what medicine might be considered. Even so, there are threecaveats: The first is that people who study certain medicines may create for themselves symptoms specific to a particular medicine. Secondly, some people may exaggerate certain symptoms in order to fit a medicine. And third, some people like to think of themselves as certain “nice person” medicine types such as Sulphur, Phosphorous, or Pulsatilla, and angrily deny that they are the more irritable types such as Nux vomica, Sepia, or Arsenicum. The potential for bias here is obvious.

A constitutional or fundamental homeopathic medicine may significantly reduce certain physical or psychological tendencies so that they do not limit the person’s capacity to do and be his or her best, but each of us still may have certain propensities which are distinctive to our individual nature. A homeopathic medicine may reduce the extreme symptoms which stress the bodymind and increase the overall physical and psychological strength within each us, but it cannot change those qualities that make each of us unique.

Dr. Edward Whitmont sheds light on this phenomena by describing a humorous pantomime called “the hair in the soup.” It depicts the reactions of four different people to finding a hair in their soup. The first flies into a rage and throws the soup at the waiter. The second expresses disgust, shrugs it off, and leaves the restaurant whistling a tune. The third begins crying because bad things always happen to him. The fourth looks at the hair, leaves it right there, goes on eating, and after finishing, he orders another bowl.

Dr. Whitmont notes that these four reactions represent four classic temperaments. Each reaction is a reflex behavior which, like a simple cough, is automatic and which each person develops as a defense response. One might submit to various therapies to become more conscious of his or her own behavioral patterns, but the attempt to change one’s nature is usually ineffective and tends to generates its own set of symptoms. The angry person who throws his soup at the waiter will, after a homeopathic medicine, still feel angry, though he might direct the fire of this emotion in a more constructive way. If, on the other hand, the person sought to ignore or suppress the passion he feels, his body and mind would pay another price for it.

Thus, the homeopathic medicines may eliminate various physical and psychological symptoms, and yet, they cannot alter innate tendencies of the person.

Treating one’s overall constitutional state is both ancient and futuristic in concept. It has been a part of medicine at least since the times of Hippocrates, and it has often been a preferred approach to which simply treat a specific symptom or disease. Today, constitutional therapies are the ones that aid the immune and defense system and have special value in preventing and treating various acute and chronic conditions. The homeopathic method of individualizing a medicine based on the totality of the person’s symptoms is a sophisticated 21st century science.

• Homeopathic medicines are often effective in treating the acute symptoms of sinusitis, although professional constitutional care is usually necessary to cure chronic sinusitis.

Arsenicum: These children feel throbbing and burning pains in the sinuses. Their pains are aggravated by light, noise, movement, after midnight, and may be triggered by anxiety, exertion, and excitability. They may feel relief by lying quietly in a dark room with the head raised on pillows and exposed to cool air. Their teeth may feel long and painful. They may feel nausea and experience vomiting concurrent with their sinusitis.

BELLADONNA: Throbbing pains in the front part of the head that come on suddenly and tend to leave suddenly only to return are characteristic of children who need this medicine. (see Headache)

HEPAR SULPHUR: Rarely indicated at the beginning of a sinusitis condition, Hepar sulphur children begin sneezing and then develop sinusitis from the least exposure to cold air. Their nasal discharge is thick and yellow. The nostrils become very sore from the acrid discharge, and their nasal passages become sensitive to cold air. Concurrently, they may have a headache with a sense of a nail or a plug that is thrust into the head along with a boring or bursting pain. Their headache above the nose is worse from shaking the head, motion, riding in a car, stooping, moving the eyes, or simply from the weight of a hat, but is relieved by the firm pressure of a tight bandage. The scalp is so sensitive that simply combing the hair may be painful.

KALI BIC: The distinguishing feature of children with sinusitis who need this medicine is that they have a thick, stringy nasal discharge. They have extreme pain at the root of the nose that is better by applying pressure there. The bones and scalp feel sore. Dizziness and nausea when rising from sitting and the severe pain may lead to dimmed vision. The pains are worse by cold, light, noise, walking, stooping, and in the morning (especially on waking or at 9 am) or at night. They prefer to lie down in a darkened room and feel better by warmth, warm drinks, or overeating.

Mercurius: These children feel as though their head was in a vise. The pains are worse in open air, from sleeping, and after eating and drinking. The pains are also aggravated by extremes of hot and cold temperature. The scalp and the nose become very sensitive to the touch. Their teeth feel long and painful, and they may salivate excessively. The nasal discharge is usually green and too thick to run. It is offensive smelling and acrid.

PULSATILLA: The head pain is worse when lying down and in a warm room and is better in cool air for children who need this medicine. The sinusitis may begin after being overheated. Stooping, sitting, rising from lying down, and eating can aggravate the head pain, which is often in the front part of the head and accompanied with digestive problems. They get some relief from slow walking in the open air or by wrapping the head tightly in a bandage. This condition is commonly experienced when the child is in school. The nasal discharge is often thick and yellow or green.

Silicea: These children usually have a chronically stuffed nose. They have a sense as though their head would burst. The head pain tends to be worse in one eye, usually the right. It is aggravated by mental exertion (students tend to get sinusitis while studying for an exam). Cold air, moving the head, light or noise can also aggravate the head pain. It is relieved by wrapping the head warmly and tightly or by applying heat.

Spigella: Children who develop sinusitis with a sharp pain that is worse on the left side may need this medicine. They tend to get sinusitis after exposure to cold or cold, wet weather. They feel pain from warmth or when they stoop or bend the head forward, and they feel some relief by cold applications or from washing with cold water.

Homeopathy is considerably more popular abroad than it is in the United States. Homeopathy’s popularity in Europe and Asia is particularly impressive.



The Explosion of Homeopathy in Europe

According to recent surveys in France, an astounding 40% of the French public have used homeopathic medicines, and 39% of French physicians have prescribed them.² At least six French medical schools offer courses leading to a degree in homeopathy, and homeopathy is taught in all pharmacy schools and in four veterinary schools.³

In a prominent French news magazine President Francois Mitterand and six medical school deans called for more research on homeopathy, and the author of this article editorialized, “It is a fact that homeopathy obtains results, sometimes spectacular results.”⁴

One further bit of evidence for the growing acceptance of homeopathic medicines as a household items in France is that the most popular cold and flu medicine is not Contact or any other conventional drug; it is a homeopathic remedy.⁵

Homeopathy is not as popular in England as it is in France, but according to an article in the British Medical Journal, 42% of British physicians surveyed refer patients to homeopathic physicians.⁶ Another survey of British physicians discovered that 80% of recent graduates wanted training in either homeopathy, acupuncture, or hypnosis.⁷

The Scots hate to be overshadowed by the English, and this is true in homeopathy too. According to The Times of London, homeopathy is now the fastest growing alternative therapy in Scotland. The number of Scots who have used homeopathic medicines have more than doubled from 1985 to 1990, increasing from 5% to 11%. Similarly, in 1985 23% of those Scots interviewed in 1985 said they would “seriously consider” going to a homeopath, and in 1990 this figure grew to 40%.⁸

Homeopathic medicine is very popular in Germany as well. One respected author estimated that 20% of German physicians use homeopathic medicines occasionally.⁹ At present, the most popular hay fever remedy in Germany is a homeopathic medicine, and other homeopathic medicines for the common cold, sore throats, and circulatory problems are in the top ten of their respective categories.¹⁰

To further aid the growth of homeopathy, the late President of Germany, Karl Karstens, and his wife, Dr. Veronica Carstens, who is a medical doctor and a homeopathic physician, recently started a homeopathic research foundation.¹¹ Numerous new research efforts in Germany and throughout Europe have begun in the past couple of years.

It is also interesting to note that homeopathy is gaining such respect in medical and business circles that one of the leading German homeopathic manufacturers is owned by the same company that owns the BMW car company.

In addition to homeopathy’s popularity in France, England, Scotland, and Germany, it is also very popular in The Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, and Greece.

Homeopathy Goes Mainstream in India

Despite homeopathy’s impressive popularity in Europe, it is even more popular in India. Presently, there are over 100,000 homeopathic doctors and over 100 four- and five-year homeopathic medical colleges in this country. Considering how many more trained homeopaths there are in India compared with the U.S., perhaps one day India will send a Peace Corps team of homeopathic physicians to America.

Homeopathy has achieved such respect that in 1987 the government established homeopathic drug detox clinics in six different police stations in New Delhi. A recent conference in India which described impressive results in the homeopathic treatment of drug addiction received accolades from India’s Minister of Health and Family Welfare, the Finance Minister, and the Chief Justice.¹² In addition to the Indian government’s support of homeopathic drug detox clinics, they have also supported various research projects and homeopathic hospitals and clinics.

Even Mother Teresa, who for many decades has served India’s poorest citizens with medical care, has added homeopathic care to the services offered at her missions. Mother Teresa has a special interest in homeopathic medicine because of its effectiveness and low cost.

At present, four charitable homeopathic dispensories are run under the guidance of the Mother’s Missionaries of Charity. One of these dispensories primarily provides homeopathic medicines to poor and sick children in Calcutta, while the other three provide homeopathic medicines to anyone who needs them. Considering the serious health problems that poor people in India experience, it is truly miraculous that homeopathic medicines are so effective as the primary method of treatment for many children and many adults.

Mother Teresa opened her first charitable homeopathic dispensory in Calcutta in 1950. She is known to prescribe homeopathic medicines herself sometimes.

Dr. (Sister) M. Gomes, a physician who has worked at the Mother’s Mission in Calcutta since 1945, notes that one of the obstacles to the spread of homeopathy in the Mother’s work is inadequate funding for homeopathic hospitals.



Homeopathic Peristroika in the Soviet Union ¹³

Homeopathy is even relatively popular in the Soviet Union. Although there are only about 500 homeopathic physicians, they are popular enough that most of them charge for their services. Since most Russians receive free conventional medical care, it is indeed a tribute to homeopathy that a growing number of Russian citizens are paying for homeopathic care.

Because Russian homeopaths charge for their services, they have become part of the new entrepreneurial “peristroika” that is presently occurring.

Even Izvestia recently published a series of articles on homeopathy in which they reported that a homeopathic clinic established for factory workers in 1984 resulted in a 10.1% decrease in days lost due to sickness. The series of articles concluded with an editorial that advocated further support for it from the Ministry of Health.

As a further sign of homeopathy’s growing acceptance, President Gorbachev awarded a medal to Dr. Demyan Popov for his work in popularizing homeopathy in the USSR.

Homeopathy is also relatively popular throughout South America, especially in Brazil and Argentina. Homeopathy has become a bit of a legend in Argentina because its greatest hero in the 19th century, General San Martin, was known to carry a homeopathic medicine kit when he travelled.

Homeopathy is also quite popular in Mexico there are five homeopathic medical colleges, including two in Mexico City.



Homeopathy in America

At the turn of the century there were over 20 homeopathic medical schools in America, including Boston University, University of Michigan, University of Minnesota, and Hahnemann College in Philadelphia. There were also over 100 homeopathic hospitals and over 1,000 homeopathic pharmacies. In 1900 homeopathy was more popular in America than anywhere else in the world.¹⁴

However, as the result of a concerted effort by the American Medical Association and the drug companies, homeopathy went into a sharp decline. By the 1950s there were less than 200 homeopathic physicians.

Although homeopathy in America is presently lagging behind the rest of the world, Americans hate being second to anybody. Lucky for us all, homeopathy is growing at an extraordinary rate. According to the F.D.A., sales of homeopathic medicines grew by 1,000% from the late 1970s to the early 1980s.¹⁵ According to the Washington Post, the number of physicians in the United States who specialize in homeopathy doubled from 1980 to 1982.¹⁶

In the past two years homeopathy has received more media coverage than it has in the past 50 years. More research on homeopathy has also stimulated its growth, and more and more new books have been published that have updated old homeopathic knowledge.

Homeopathy may be more popular in other countries, but because America is just waking up to homeopathy’s impressive healing potential, we can all expect a tremendous resurgence of this marvelous healing art and science.



REFERENCES

¹Suzanne Muchnic, “Van Gogh Painting Sells at Record $82.5 Million,” Los Angeles Times, May 16, 1990.

²F. Bouchayer, “Alternative Medicines: A General Approach to the French Situation,” Complementary Medical Research, May, 1990, 4(2)4-8.

³Poll I.F.O.P., February, 1989.

⁴“Medecines douches: La revanche de l’homeopathie,” Le Nouvel Observateur, April 12, 1985, 36-41.

⁵“Herbal and Homoeopathic Remedies: Enhanced Status for Alternative Medicines,” OTC News and Market Report, July, 1990.

⁶Richard Wharton and George Lewith, “Complementary Medicine and the General Practitioner,” British Medicine Journal, 292, June 7, 1986, 1498-1500.

⁷David Taylor Reilly, “Young Doctors’ Views on Alternative Medicine,” British Medical Journal, 287, July 30, 1983, 337-339.

⁸“Take a Little of What Ails You,” The Times, November 13, 1989.

⁹Lynn Payer, Medicine and Culture, New York: Holt, 1988.

¹⁰“Herbal and Homoeopathic Remedies.”

¹¹Berlin Journal on Research in Homoeopathy, Universitatsklinikum Steglitz, 1000 Berlin, Germany.

¹²“National Congress on Homoeopathy and Drug Abuse,” New Delhi, India, Sponsored by the Foundation for Medical Research and Education and the Dehli Police Foundation for Correction, Deaddiction and Rehabilitation, March 16-18, 1990.

¹³“A First for Homoeopathy in USSR,” Homoeopathy Today, Winter, 1987-88, 17-20. Also, a personal report from Yuri Sidorenko.

¹⁴Dana Ullman, Homeopathy: Medicine for the 21st Century, Berkeley: North Atlantic Books, 1988.

¹⁵“Riding the Coattails of Homeopathy,” FDA Consumer, March, 1985, 31.

¹⁶Ann Chase, “Options: Homeopathy,” Washington Post, April 28, 1983, 31.

How do I Learn More About Homeopathy?

The best source of homeopathic books, tapes, home medicine kits, and software is:

Homeopathic Educational Services

2124B Kittredge St.

Berkeley, CA 94704

(510) 649-0294

(510) 649-1955 (fax)

Women tend to experience involuntary urination after childbirth, surgery, or inflammation of the urethra, while men tend to get it if they have a prostate problem. Also, certain prescription or over-the-counter drugs can cause this problem; check with your doctor or read about whatever drug(s) you are taking in the Physician’s Desk Reference or some other popular drug compendium.

There are three types of involuntary urination: 1) stress incontinence, 2) overactive bladder, and 3) overflow incontinence. Stress incontinence leads to a weakened bladder, usually from childbirth or surgery, in which the person accidentally urinates while coughing or laughing. An overactive bladder occurs when the lining of the bladder is hyperactive, causing spasms. Parkinson’s disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and enlarged prostate can lead to this condition. Overflow incontinence occurs when a disease process prevents the easy emptying of the bladder, causing the person to urinate once an overflow condition is reached.

Whatever the cause of involuntary urination, any symptom must be recognized as a symptom of another problem. It is important to recognize that the word “symptom” is taken from Greek and means “sign” or “signal.” As such, a symptom is a sign or signal of something wrong, and treating it does not necessarily correct that something wrong. In fact, treating a symptom is like unscrewing your car’s oil light because it is blinking. Although such treatment “works,” it does not solve the fundamental problem of the car’s oil pressure.

Likewise, a drug may temporarily get rid of a symptom, but unless it deals with the underlying factors that led to the symptom, the condition will return.

The best way to treat a person who experiences involuntary urination with homeopathic medicines is to seek professional homeopathic care. A homeopath would individualize a natural remedy for the person based on the totality of their symptoms, not just their bladder symptoms. This individualized remedy would strengthen the person’s overall immune and defense system, not only potentially eliminating the symptom but curing the underlying disease.

Although it is preferable and ultimately most effective to seek professional homeopathic care, there are homeopathic medicines that people can learn to use on their own. In fact, a product, called EnurAid, includes many of these homeopathic medicines. It is surprisingly inexpensive, and because it is non-toxic and non-addictive, there is very little risk in trying this remedy.

The following homeopathic medicines, many of which are included in EnurAid, can strengthen your bladder and alleviate some of the discomfort you are feeling.

Homeopathic Medicines

Arnica (Leopard’s bane) is invaluable for involuntary urination after surgery.

Belladonna (deadly nightshade) is effective for people who tend to dribble urine when cold or chilled. They may experience burning pains along the length of the urethra during urination. They tend to have wild dreams, often dreams of urinating.

Causticum is useful when involuntary urination is worse in the winter and better in the summer. Various fears and apprehensions accompany the urination, especially fears that something bad will happen to them. They have a fear of going to bed in the dark. These people also tend to wet their pants when they cough or sneeze or even laugh.

Equisetum (Scouring rush) is for people who wet their pants or their bed for no known reason other than out of habit. It should be considered when the person has no other obvious symptoms. It should also be given when the person experiences wild dreams or nightmares when bedwetting. They tend to dream of crowds of people.

Ferrum phos (iron phosphate) is most effective for daytime wetting in the pants, especially when the person feels the strongest urges while standing. Their urgings to urinate are lessened while lying down.

Kreosotum (Beechwood) is helpful when the person has such a sudden urge to urinate that they do not have enough time to get out of bed to go to the bathroom, this remedy should be considered. These people tend to wet their bed during the first part of the night. Sometimes they will have dreams that they are urinating.

Lycopodium (Club moss) is valuable for people who are so anxious that they constantly worry about what others think of them tend to need this remedy. They usually have fears of trying anything new. They are more apt to wet the bed if they sleep in a warm or stuffy room. They prefer to sleep with an open window.

Taking and Accessing Homeopathic Medicines

Virtually every European city has homeopathic pharmacies, but most major American cities do not. Still, homeopathic medicines are often available in health food stores and in select pharmacies.

People who are new to homeopathy should ask for any of the above remedies in the 6th potency and should take them three or four times a day. If improvement is not noticed after one week, the remedy chosen was not the correct one, and because these remedies are not known to have side effects, no harm is created by trying them.

Like other health professionals, homeopaths honor the special role that surgery and surgeons have in health care. Homeopaths are not against surgery, because certain conditions are simply not treatable without it. At the same time, however, surgery is often performed unnecessarily. It is performed when other, safer measures can be effectively used. It is performed too early when the body can sometimes heal itself. And it is performed inappropriately, primarily because surgeons only know surgery and don’t know what else to do (the law of hammers pervades many professions: when you are a hammer, everything becomes a nail).

Even when surgery is successful, this does not necessarily mean that the person is “cured.” Surgery may, for instance, remove an abscess, a tumor, kidney stones or gallstones, or other diseased parts, but because this removal doesn’t change the underlying pathological processes that created them in the first place, it is understandable and even predictable that people tend to reexperience their ailments.

Even if the ailment seems to have disappeared, homeopaths do not believe that a curative process has always taken place. While the initial complaint may have been eradicated, sometimes more serious pathology develops shortly after the surgery. Although doctors tend to believe that this is a “new” disease, homeopaths theorize that the surgery probably suppressed the original ailment.

This critique of surgery is not meant to devalue its appropriate use in treating various congential deformities, structural problems, severe injuries, or life-threatening pathological conditions. As previously stated, homeopaths are not against the judicious use of surgery.

When possible, homeopaths first attempt to to see if treatment with an individualized homeopathic medicine can prevent the need for surgery. Patients and even homeopaths are sometimes surprised and impressed at the significant results that homeopathic medicines can provide–not that they can do the impossible, but they can often elicit a healing response when conventional therapeutics cannot.

The integration of homeopathic medicines with surgical care uses the best of both worlds to create comprehensive and ultimately more effective health care.



Homeopathic Medicines Before and After Surgery

Once it is determined that surgery is medically necessary, homeopathic medicines can reduce complications of surgery and augment healing so that people can recover more quickly afterward.

Surgeons commonly ask patients not to take any food, drink, or drugs prior to surgery. While it makes sense to avoid food, drink, and conventional drugs, there have never been any reported problems from taking homeopathic remedies prior to surgery.

Some homeopaths recommend Ferrum phos 6, four times a day for two days, prior to surgery in order to prevent infection and hemorrhaging.

Homeopathic medicines can also help people deal with the various emotions they are experiencing prior to surgery. Gelsemium 6 or 30 is a common remedy for the person who experiences great anxiety, apprehension, weakness, and trembling prior to surgery. Aconitum 6 or 30 is indicated when the person is terrified about surgery and thinks that he will die from it.

Take either Gelsemium or Aconitum the night before the surgery and another dose upon waking in the morning. If fear and/or anxiety is felt after surgery, take one to three more doses.

One double-blind, randomized trial on 50 children who underwent surgery showed that 95% of those given the homeopathic medicine Aconitum experienced significantly less post-operative pain and agitation.¹ Aconitum was chosen because it is a common remedy for ailments in which sudden and violent onset of shock or trauma is a primary indication, as well as symptoms of fear and anxiety, which are especially common emotions experienced by children prior to surgery.

Arnica is another common homeopathic medicine given to people before and after surgery because of its ability to reduce surgical shock and minimize bleeding. Surgical shock is a condition that trauma or surgery can cause in which all the capillaries and small blood vessels are filled with blood at the same time. A randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover study showed that Arnica significantly decreased bleeding time.²

The late British homeopathic physician Donald Foubister recommended Arnica 30 the night before surgery, another dose the morning of the surgery, another dose just prior to the surgery, and different medicines afterward, depending upon the type of surgery and the symptoms the patient feels.

Homeopathic medicines can also be beneficial for patients who undergo long-term intravenous (IV) therapy. Frequent insertion of an IV commonly causes phlebitis (inflammation of the vein) and hematoma (the pooling of blood under the skin); a double-blind study using Arnica 5c found that it can effectively reduce and prevent such problems.³ The study showed significant benefits from Arnica, including reduced pain. Besides subjective improvement, there were also objectively measured increases in blood flow and in blood coagulation factors.

While Arnica is the primary remedy to be taken just prior to the majority of surgeries, there are a certain number of operations for which Dr. Foubister commonly recommended other remedies. For surgery involving cartilage and periosteum, as is often occurs in the knee or elbow, it is recommended to take Ruta 30 the evening before, the morning of the operation, and immediately afterward. For hemorrhoidal surgery, it is recommended to take either Staphysagria 30 or Aesculus 30 in a similar pattern as described for Ruta. And for circumcision, Staphysagria 30 and Arnica 30 should be given similarly as above.

The following are common recommendations for after surgery. Please note that the length of time of treatment can and should be different with each patient, depending upon the intensity of symptoms. Doses should generally be taken as long as pain persists, though they should not be taken for more than a couple of days, unless the person is still in pain and the remedy is providing obvious relief. Arnica 6, 12, or 30 should be given for at least two doses after surgery, approximately one hour apart. In addition to this remedy, the following remedies should be given one hour after the last dose of Arnica:



Gynecological surgery:

–Dilation and curettage: Belladonna 30, every 6 hours

–Hysterectomy: Causticum 30, three times a day (some homeopaths
recommend Staphysagria 6 or 30, three times a day)

–Caesarean section or episiotomy: Staphysagria 30 or Bellis perennis 30,
three times a day

–Abortion or miscarriage: Ignatia 30, every four hours

–Plastic surgery on the breast: Bellis perennis 6 or 30, three times a day

–Amputation of the breast or a lump: Hamamelis 30, every 4 hours


Circumcision: Staphysagria 30 and Arnica 30, every four hours for a day.


Prostate surgery: Staphysagria 30, three times a day


Abdominal surgery: Staphysagria 30 or Bellis perennis 30, three times a
day


Appendectomy: Rhus tox 30, three times a day


Gastrectomy: Raphanus 30, three times a day


Gall bladder surgery: Lycopodium 30, three times a day


Eye surgery: Ledum 30, every four hours


Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy: Rhus tox 30, every four hours


Orthopedic surgery

–involving cartilage or periosteum: Ruta 30, every four hours

–involving the spine: Hypericum 30, every four hours

–Surgery for bullet wounds and/or stab wounds: Staphysagria 30, four
times a day


Plastic surgery: Arnica 30 (internally) and Calendula, (externally) four
times a day


Amputation: Hypericum 30, every four hours


Hemorrhoids: Staphysagria 30 or Aesculus 30, every four hours for two

or three days* Varicose veins: Ledum 30, three times a day


Dental surgery: Hypericum 30 and Ruta 30, alternating every two to four
hours



Homeopathy for Specific Ailments After Surgery

Readers who experience symptoms or syndromes discussed elsewhere in this book should review those chapters. For instance, if you have urinary symptoms after surgery, which is common when catheterization takes place, consult the section on bladder infection in the section on Women’s Conditions (even if you are a man; see: WOMEN). If you are now suffering from acute insomnia, consult the chapter on Insomnia (sorry, not included online).

Some common conditions after surgery for which homeopathic medicines are often effective include the following:


Fear of Death
Aconitum 30 is indicated (every hour for up to four doses).



Bleeding

Arnica 30 helps to slow or stop bleeding after surgery. Phosphorus 30 is the primary remedy for helping to stop bleeding when Arnica does not work adequately. Ipecacuanha 30 is indicated when there is much bleeding of bright red blood, often accompanied by nausea. Secale 30 is effective in treating uterine bleeding that is aggravated by heat and relieved by cold. Cinchona 30 is helpful for people whose bleeding and general loss of fluids lead them to feel weak and faint and have ringing in the ears. This remedy is sometimes indicated several weeks, months, or years after much fluid has been lost, after either an illness or an operation. Arsenicum 30 is useful when profuse bleeding leads to great weakness, burning pains, restlessness, anxiety, and fear, along with a characteristically large thirst for only sips at a time.

Dose: Take the remedy every hour until bleeding stops, not more than four doses. If bleeding has not significantly slowed, consider another remedy. The next day, take one more dose of whichever works to reduce the possible complications of blood loss.



Trauma to Tissue

Arnica topically and Arnica 6 or 30 are useful when the muscle feels bruised or swollen and when there is any pooling of blood under the skin. Hamamelis topically and Hamamelis 6 or 30 are effective when the person has weak veins, passive hemorrhage, bleeding hemorrhoids, or varicose veins. Capillaries are enlarged and congestion is marked. Calendula in external application (gel, ointment, tincture, spray) is indicated to heal wounds or incisions. Bellis perennis 6 or 30 is a remedy for use after abdominal surgery and when deep internal tissue has been traumatized.

Dose: Apply external remedies at least once a day, and apply again if bathing washes them off. Generally, only two to eight doses of the internal remedy over a two day period will be necessary to complete the healing process.



Wound Infection

External applications of Calendula and Hypericum, either alone or preferably together, help to both prevent and treat infection of surgical wounds. If pus has developed and caused hypersensitivity of the wound, Hepar sulphur 30 is recommended. Because Hepar sulphur is an effective remedy for helping to push out splinters, pieces of glass, and various foreign objects that get stuck under the skin, it also has a tendency to push out surgical stitches. Thus it is not recommended to use this remedy when there are stitches, except towards the end of the healing process, when their removal is part of the healing. If the wound becomes purplish, Lachesis 30 or Gunpowder 30 is indicated. If there is much burning in the wound or wound area, Sulphur 30 is helpful.
Dose: Apply external remedies at least once a day, and apply again if bathing washes them off. Take internal remedies every two to four hours during the first 24 hours and four times a day for two to five more days.



Scarring and Adhesions:

Apply Thiosinaminum tincture externally or use an external combination formula that also contains Calendula (some injury gels include these ingredients). Take Graphites 12 internally.

Dose: Apply external remedies at least once a day, and apply them again if bathing washes them off. You may need to do this for several weeks or months. Internal remedies should be taken three times a day for two days, and if necessary, repeated one month later.



Constipation

Raphanus 6 or 30 is indicated when there is constipation with no urgings for a stool and/or when there is painful gas; see also the chapter on Digestive Disorders for other potential medicines for constipation.

Dose: Take this remedy three times a day for up to four days.



Nausea and Vomiting

Nux vomica 6 or 30 is good for violent retching, especially when there is generally ineffectual retching that does not lead to vomiting. Phosphorus 6 or 30 helps to prevent or treat nausea after surgery; it is indicated when the patient has a strong thirst for ice drinks; he or she may also have a concurrent headache. Ipecac 6 or 30 is effective for persistent nausea with vomiting, when vomiting does not provide relief. Arsenicum 6 or 30 treats violent and incessant vomiting which is made worse by drinking water, especially cold water, or eating. There may also be burning pain in the stomach. See also chapter on Digestive Disorders.

Dose: Take a remedy every two hours during intense symptoms and every four hours during less intense discomfort. If improvement is not obvious after 24 hours, consider another remedy.



Gas
Carbo veg 6 or 30 helps people who suffer from great distension and offensive gas, who get some relief from release of gas, and who desire carbonated drinks because they seem to help them release gas. Cinchona 6 or 30 is useful when there is more pain than distension, frequent rumbling in the abdomen, and no relief from releasing gas. Raphanus 6 or 30 is a common remedy for people who have a distended abdomen but are unable to expel gas. Because this condition is extremely common after surgery, especially abdominal surgery, this remedy is often indicated. Colocynthis 6 or 30 is effective when there is more pain than distension, and also cramps that are relieved by bending over.

Dose: Take a remedy every two hours during intense pain and every four hours during mild discomfort. If improvement is not obvious after 24 hours, consider another remedy.

Bedsores
(see the chapter on Conditions of the Elderly for details)

Resources

¹J.P. Alibeau and J. Jobert, “Aconit en Dilution Homeopathique et Agitation Post-Operatoire de l’enfant,” Pediatrie, 1990, 45 (7-8): 465-66.

²J. Baillargeon, et.al., “The Effects of Arnica Montana on Blood Coagulation: A Randomized Controlled Trial,” Canadian Family Physician, November 1993, 39:2362-67.

³C. Amodeo, et.al., “The Role of Arnica in the Prevention of Venous Pathology from Long-term Intravenous Therapy: Evaluation of Platelet Aggregation,” Ninth National Conference of the Italian Society for Vascular Pathology, Capanello, June 6-9, 1987. The study included 39 patients, including 21 undergoing intravenous feeding, nine in infusion protracted beyond 72 hours, and nine in chemotherapeutic treatment.

Dr. Dervisevic told me that he is a serious student and practitioner of homeopathy and acupuncture, that he runs schools of both acupuncture and homeopathy in Slovenia and Croatia, and that he is organizing an international conference on alternative medicine in sports in mid-February. Because he had read one of my books, Discovering Homeopathy, which contained a chapter on the homeopathic treatment of sports ailments, he asked if I could speak at his conference.

How could I refuse?


The conference was co-sponsored the Institute of Hygiene
which is a part of the leading medical school in Slovenia’s capitol city of Ljubljana. Besides myself, the speakers at the conference included one of Croatia’s leading sports physicians, a leading physician/nutritionist from the medical school in Ljubl jana, a physician who has trained in chiropractic manipulation, and the President of a college of traditional Chinese medicine in a Hefei Province of China which has 4,000 students.

Approximately 100 people attended the conference, half of whom were physicians, one-quarter of whom were various other health professionals, and one-quarter of whom were serious stu dents of alternative medicine. The physicians included many specialists, including cardiologists, rheumatologists, and ortho pedic surgeons.

Slovenia is situated on the northern most part of the former Yugoslavia, and it abutts Austria and Italy. Because of the significant popularity of homeopathy in these countries, it was surprising to discover that homeopathic medicines were not formally legal in Slovenia. This is particularly surprising since Yugoslavia was the most liberal of the former Iron Curtain countries and Slovenia was the most economically prosperous and had the most educated population of the former Yugoslavia countries.

Homeopathic medicine was also not formally legal in Croatia until very recently, though its legal status is ill-defined. In 1996, a homeopath with 20 years of experience was ordered to shut down his practice, but 48 hours later, he was told that he could open it. Several Croatian physicians told me that it is now legal to practice homeopathy but it is uncertain if it is legal for pharmacies to sell the medicines.

Despite the questionable legal status of homeopathy in these countries, there is a small but growing interest in this form of natural medicine. Dr. Dervisevic runs three schools of homeopathy, two in Croatia and one in Slovenia, each with 10-20 students, approximately half of whom are medical doctors. He teaches classical homeopathy in this two-year course, though in
his own practice, he used a Voll-like machine that he has developed to help him find the correct remedy and to prescribe nutritional supplements.

Dr. Dervisevic is smart enough to realize that one way to introduce homeopathy and other natural medicines into his country is in sports medicine. Sports in Slovenia, especially skiing and basketball are taken very seriously (Elan skis are made there, and Slovenia has several players in the NBA). Athletes and physicians who treat them tend to be more open than others to whatever works.

Some seeds of homeopathy have now been planted.


There is little doubt that a tree, hopefully even a forest, is already beginning to sprout in Slovenia.

How do I Learn More About Homeopathy?

The best source of homeopathic books, tapes, home medicine kits, and software is:

Homeopathic Educational Services

2124B Kittredge St.

Berkeley, CA 94704

(510) 649-0294

(510) 649-1955 (fax)

• Any teenager or adult who gets the mumps should receive medical attention, and so should any child who also experiences difficulty hearing or who has convulsions, neck stiffness, severe headache, or great weakness. Homeopathic medicines are often effective in treating the average case of mumps, and help reduce the chances of complications.

Aconitum: Useful at the beginning stages of mumps, these children have a sudden onset of fever, restlessness, anxiety, and great thirst.

BELLADONNA: These children have a noticeably flushed face and throbbing headache. They have swollen glands that are hot to touch. They are drowsy but have difficulty sleeping.

Mercurius: Right-sided swelling of throat glands typify children who will benefit from this medicine. They also have profuse and offensive salivation and perspiration.

PHYTOLACCA: When children with mumps have stony hard throat glands, especially on the right side, this medicine should be considered. The throat pains may extend to the ear, and they may have an irresistable desire to bite their teeth together. One of their characteristic symptoms is pain from sticking og out their tongue. They tend to be worse in cold or wet weather.

PILOCARPINUM: Some homeopaths assert that this medicine is the best remedy for the mumps, although there are few known distinguishing symptoms that it offers, except excessive salivation and perspiration. This is also a good remedy for complications that some children get from the mumps.

Pulsatilla: This medicine is helpful in children approaching puberty who get the mumps and experience swollen breasts or testicles. They are thirstless, despite having a fever, and they are sensitive to warm rooms.

Rhus tox: These children have swollen glands which are worse on the left side. Their symptoms are aggravated by cold, and they may have cold sores on their lips.

In response to this legislative effort, the Homeopathic Association of Costa Rica (HACR), a group of physicians, health professionals, and homeopathic specialists, has mounted a response to this proposal that would create a medical monopoly.

As a part of their effort to respond to the new legislation, the HACR organized their third annual homeopathic conference which took place June 16-18, 1996, in San Jose, Costa Rica. Two homeopathic physicians from Mexico and I were invited to be their keynote speakers. Besides having television and print media report on this conference and on their pleadings to the public for support of their cause, the conference organizers arranged for me to met with Dr. Herman Weinstock (the Minister of Health), Bernal Aragon Barquero (the head of the Congress), and Mario Carazo (the vice-president of the Congress).

All three political figures were briefly informed of the present status of homeopathy throughout the world. They were told that some countries prefer to allow only physicians to practice homeopathy, specifically France, Belgium, Italy, Brazil, Argentina, and Mexico, while other countries allow a variety of health professionals to engage in its practice, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Australia. They were also given an overview of clinical studies that show the efficacy of homeopathic medicines. Of special interest to them was the study on the homeopathic treatment of acute diarrhea in Nicaraguan children which was published in Pediatrics (May, 1994).

Because Costa Rica has become one of the strongest international advocates for efforts to support biodiversity and ecology, I informed the politicians that medical diversity is equally important for creating a healthy health care system as biodiversity is for creating a healthy environment.

The Minister of Health was impressed by our presentation, though he remained non-committal until he met with the physicians who proposed medical control of homeopathy. In contrast, the head of the Congress expressed his support for our cause, and then, reminded us that he is also the President of Costa Rica’s largest and most respected hospitals. He told the homeopathic physician who accompanied me to the meeting that it was time that his hospital began to include homeopathic medicines in the hospital’s pharmacy.

The meeting with the vice-president of the Congress was the most remarkable. We were initially informed by his administrative assistant that we would have only five minutes of his time. However, upon entering his office, he told us that he grew up on homeopathy and his parents used only homeopathic and botanical remedies. Because his father was a former President of Costa Rica, this statement was particularly impressive. We ultimately left after 45 minutes, and he expressed sorrow that we could not spend more time together.

The homeopathic conference itself was quite successful. I was particularly intrigued by the variety of people who had become professional homeopaths. Besides physicians, there were microbiologists, pharmacists, public health professionals, corporate executives, hospital administrators, nutritionists, and several engineers.
Of particular interest was a report from the homeopath who had training in microbiology and was conducting a controlled study on the homeopathic treatment of people with AIDS. Although he had not yet finished the study nor had he broken the code to learn who had received homeopathic medicines and who had received placeboes, he had so far (after nine months) noticed a considerable difference between the groups of patients. We all await his results.

How do I Learn More About Homeopathy?

The best source of homeopathic books, tapes, home medicine kits, and software is:

Homeopathic Educational Services

2124B Kittredge St.

Berkeley, CA 94704

(510) 649-0294

(510) 649-1955 (fax)

The basic principle of homeopathic medicine is that a small dose of a substance will help cure that which it causes in overdose. Although this principle may be a bit confusing at first, it actually makes a lot of sense. Modern day physiology and biology are confirming a basic premise of homeopathy which recognizes that symptoms are efforts of the organism to adapt to stress or infection. Symptoms are therefore understood as the way the “bodymind” is trying, although not always successfully, to re-establish homeostasis or balance. Since symptoms are the best efforts of the organism to attempt to heal itself, it is best to avoid treating or suppressing specific symptoms, and it is preferred to aid and stimulate the body’s defense and immune processes.

The homeopathic medicines are able to stimulate the defense system, since they, like conventional immunizations and allergy treatments, give small doses of what causes a condition in order to stimulate the immune system. Homeopathic medicines, however, are distinctively different from immunizations and allergy treatment, since the homeopathic medicines are more individually prescribed to people, given in much smaller and less toxic doses, and used for both prevention and treatment of a person.

Homeopathic medicine developed much of its popularity in the United States and Europe because of its success in treating people with cholera, scarlet fever, yellow fever and other infectious diseases that were ravaging populations. More recently homeopathic medicine has developed a reputation of suc-cessfully treating people with various chronic complaints. What many people do not know about homeopathy is that it also provides many valuable medicines in treating people who suffer from accidents and injuries. When these medicines are used in conjunction with conventional first aid procedures, the risk of long-term damage from an injury can be significantly decreased and the healing process can be noticeably enhanced.

One must study homeopathic medicine for many years in order to learn how to prescribe the correct medicine for people with chronic conditions. One can, however, learn to use the medicines for first aid very easily. Whereas treatment of a person’s acute or chronic disease requires strict individualization of the person’s total physical and psychological state, treatment for accidents and injuries does not require such individualized presciption. The reason for this difference is that people with acute or chronic diseases have distinct or subtlely different symptoms and causes of their condition, and thus need a different medicine to begin their curative process. People with injuries tend to experience very similar symptoms and usually need a similar metabolic stimulus to heal their complaint. Basically, when different people cut themselves, get burned, break a leg or injure themselves in some other way, they all tend to need a similar stimulus to heal their injury.

Homeopathic medicines for first aid and sports injuries are very easy to prescribe and are usually very effective in reducing pain of the injury and speeding the healing process. It is thus no wonder that many superstar athletes have heard about homeopathy and have begun to benefit from its use. Football superstar O.J. Simpson, tennis player Boris Becker, New York Knick coach Pat Riley, ex-Yankee pitcher Jim Bouton, and pro golfer Sally Little are but some of the athletes who spell relief with H-O-M-E-O-P-A-T-H-Y.

The following medicines are used to treat people in first aid situations. There are other homeopathic medicines that can also used, but these are the most commonly used medicines for the conditions described.

NOTE: Homeopaths use the latin names for their medicines since a similar nomenclature is needed to converse with homeopaths throughout the world.



ARNICA (mountain daisy)

ARNICA is mentioned first because it is a medicine par excellence for the shock or trauma of any injury. It is necessary to treat an injured person for shock first unless the injury is very mild or unless the person is bleeding so profusely that stopping the bleeding should be attended to immediately. Since ARNICA is the first medicine prescribed in numerous types of injuries, it is the most common medicine used in first aid. It helps reduce shock, relieve pain, diminish swelling, and begin healing. ARNICA is a great medicine for injuries to muscles, especially when there is pain from overexertion.

ARNICA is also an excellent medicine before or after surgery since the body experiences a state of shock from these medical procedures. It is used as well before and after dental surgery, and before, during, and after labor to help the mother and infant deal with the shock and stress of birth.

Common conditions for use: Shock or trauma of injury; surgical shock; muscle injuries.



HYPERICUM (St. John’s Wort)

HYPERICUM is an excellent medicine for injuries to nerves or to injured parts of the body which are richly supplied with nerves (fingers, toes, the spine). Generally, such injuries have sharp or shooting pains, and the injured part is very sensitive to touch. HYPERICUM is also good for old injuries to nerves which still seem to both the person.

King George VI of England was so impressed by the effectiveness of HYPERICUM that he named his prize racehorse after it.

Common conditions for use: Injuries to nerves.



URTICA URENS (Stinging Nettle)

As you might have predicted from learning about the law of similars, URTICA URENS is the medicine of choice for burns (stinging nettle, as you may know, causes a burn upon contact with the spine of the plant). URTICA URENS in external application is also helpful in diminishing the pain of the burn and in promoting healing. Such application should be diluted approximately one part of URTICA URENS with ten parts water.

Common conditions for use: burns.



LEDUM (Marsh Tea)

LEDUM is the best medicine for puncture wounds, whether it be from a needle, a nail, or other sharp object. Deep punctures or punctures from rusty nail should receive medical attention, but this should not delay you from taking LEDUM which has no side-effects and which can be helpful in healing wounds and preventing tetanus. LEDUM is also commonly prescribed for insect stings and animal bites. It’s applicable as well to people with severe bruising (black eyes or blows from firm objects), especially if the affected part feels cold and yet feels relieved by cold applications.

Common conditions for use: puncture wounds; insect bites.



RHUS TOX (Poison Ivy)

Although some people cringe when they even hear someone mention poison ivy, it is an obten prescribed homeopathic medicine (in non-toxic homeopathically prepared dose!). It is a great medicine for certain types of skin conditions (since it causes them!) as well as for numerous other conditions which homeopaths have found it causes in overdose. One of the conditions it causes in overdose is the rupturing of ligaments and tendons. Because of this, it is the most common medicine prescribed for sprains and strains, especially the type of sprain and strain that is worse upon initial motion but that is better upon continued motion. It is also a medicine given for dislocated joints. ARNICA is another medicine to condition for dislocations.

Common condition for use: Sprains or strains.



RUTA (Rue)

RUTA is the medicine given for severe sprains where the person has a torn or wrenched tendon, split ligament, or bruised periosteum (bone covering). It is also the most common medicine prescribed for recent or old injuries to the knee or elbow. As such, it is one of the medicine prescribed for “tennis elbow.”

Common conditions for use: Severe sprain; injury to the bone.



SYMPHYTUM (Comfrey)

Homeopaths, like herbalists, use SYMPHYTUM for fractures. Homeopaths, however, give their medicine in potentized dose rather than in teas and poultices as done by herbalists. Although one must go to a physician to have the fracture re-set and placed in a cast, SYMPHYTUM will relieve pain and promote rapid healing of the fracture. Besides its application in fractures, SYMPHYTUM is a great medicine for injuries to the eyeball, bones around the eyes, and the cheekbones.

Common conditions for use: Fractures; facial injuries.



External Applications


Some homeopathic medicines are used externally,* including:



CALENDULA (Marigold)

CALENDULA TINCTURE (in an alcohol base), GEL, SPRAY, and OINTMENT are invaluable external applications in treating cuts and abrasions. CALENDULA is known to have antiseptic properties due to its organic iodine content. CALENDULA helps stop bleeding, inhibits infection, and promotes granulation of tissues to help heal wounds and burns. CALENDULA TINCTURE should not be applied directly on a cut since its alcohol content causes stinging pain. It is best to dilute this tincture with a little water. If you’d like to avoid this effort, you can instead directly apply CALENDULA GEL, SPRAY, or OINTMENT.

Note: CALENDULA works so rapidly in healing the skin that it is not recommended for use in deep cuts. In deep cuts CALENDULA sometimes can close and heal the outside skin before the tissue underneath is completely healed.

Common conditions for use: Cuts, abrasions, burns.



HYPERICUM (St. John’s Wort)

HYPERICUM TINCTURE is recommended as an external application in treating deep cuts since it helps heal internal structures as well as the skin. It also has the ability to close open wounds and thus sometimes prevents the need for stitches. HYPERICUM is also used for septic (infected) wounds (CALENDULA, in comparison, is primarily good for clean uninfected cuts). HYPERICUM TINCTURE, like other external applications which have an alcohol base, should be diluted prior to application.

Common conditions for use: Deep cuts, infected cuts.

General Rules for Determining Dosage


People who are beginners in homeopathy should primarily use the 6th potency (written on the bottom as “6x” or “6c”) or the 30th potency (“30x” or “30c”). The 6x is a dose of the medicine that has been diluted 1:10 six times with vigorous shaking between each dilution, while the 6c has been diluted 1:100 six times. Only homeopathic practitioners who have a great deal more knowledge of homeopathy should use the higher potencies (200x, 1000x, or higher). It is important to remember that homeopathic medicines are more powerful the more they experience “potentization”–the pharmaceutical process of dilution and shaking. Higher potencies thus should be used with great care.

Homeopaths have found that injured people tend to need more frequent repetition of doses shortly after injury. One may need to prescribe a medicine every 30 to 60 minutes immediately after severe injury. After a couple of hours, the frequency of doses can diminish to every other hour or every fourth hour, depending upon the severity of pain. Doses every four hours or four times a day are common when a person has a non-severe injury. A person will generally not need to take a medicine for more than two to four days, except in fractures or severe sprains where one to three doses daily for five to seven days are common.

The basic principle of how to determine dosage is: The more severe the condition, the more often will its repetition be necessary.

It is important to remember that a medicine should only be taken as long as the person experiences pain. Do not continue taking the medicine unless there are still symptoms. The basic idea is to take as little of the medicine as possible and yet enough to lessen pain and stimulate one’s healing powers.



Administration of the Medicine


The medicine should be taken into a “clean mouth.” Food, drink, tobacco, toothpaste, and other substances should not be put into the mouth for at least 15 minutes before or after the dose. It is generally best to place the medicine underneath the tongue.

Homeopaths have found that some substances can neutralize the effects of the homeopathic medicines. Although there is some controversy around which substances are implicated more than others, it is best to avoid the following substances for at least 48 hours after taking the final dose: coffee, camphorated products (including lip balm, counter-irritant muscle relaxing cremes, Tiger’s balm), strong herbal teas, mentholated products, cough drops, and mouthwash.

Care and Storage of Homeopathic Medicines


Special handling and storage of the homeopathic medicines are needed in order to avoid possible contamination. When the medicines are correctly handled and stored, homeopaths have found that they can last for several generations. Since it is very difficult to determine if the medicines have been contaminated, one should take the following precautions to prevent potential problems.

–The medicines should be kept away fraom strong light, from temperatures higher than 100 degrees, and from exposure to strong odors like camphor, menthol, mothballs, or perfumes.

–The medicines should always be kept in the container in which they were supplied and never transferred to any other bottle which has contained other substances.

–The medicine shold be opened for administration of the medicine for the minimum time possible. One should be careful not to contaminate the cap or cork before replacement.

–If, by accident, more pills than the number specified in the prescribed dose are shaken out of the bottle, do not return them to the container; throw the excess away to avoid possible contamination.

How do I Learn More About Homeopathy?

The best source of homeopathic books, tapes, home medicine kits, and software is:

Homeopathic Educational Services

2124B Kittredge St.

Berkeley, CA 94704

(510) 649-0294

(510) 649-1955 (fax)

In essence, homeopathy is composed of two highly systematic methods: toxicology and casetaking. First, homeopaths find out the specific physical, emotional, and mental symptoms that various substances cause in overdose. Homeopathic texts have more detail on toxicology than any other source. Second, the homeopaths interview their patients in great detail to discover the totality of physical, emotional and mental symptoms the person is experiencing. The homeopath seeks to find a substance that would cause the similar symptoms the person has and then gives it in small, specially prepared dose.



It Seems Illogical to Give Doses of Substances That Cause Symptoms Similar to Those the Sick Person Has in Order to Cure Them. Explain This.

Homeopaths, like many modern physiologists, recognize that symptoms represent the best efforts of the organism to adapt to and defend against various stresses or infections. Because the body is not always successful in dealing with every stress or infection, it is important to find a substance in nature that has the capacity to mimic the symptoms the person is experiencing in order to aid the body in its efforts to defend and ultimately heal itself.

The “law of similars,” the basic principle of homeopathy, is even used in some conventional medical therapies, such as immunizations and allergy treatments. These treatments, however, are not pure homeopathy since homeopathic medicines are more individually prescribed, given in smaller doses, and used to treat sick people and to prevent disease.



Homeopaths Use Such Small Doses That They Could’nt Possibly Have Any Psychological Effect. How Can You Respond to This?

Although we don’t understand precisely how the homeopathic medicines work, there is clear evidence that the medicines are active and can heal. Homeopathy became popular in this country and in Europe during the 1800s because of its success in treating the many infectious diseases that raged during that time, including yellow fever, scarlet fever, cholera, and many others. The death rate in homeopathic hospitals was between one-half to one-eigth of those in conventional medical hospitals. Homeopathic medicines also have been shown to work on infants and on various animals (including dogs, cats, horses and even cows) where it is highly unlikely that they are acting only as a placebo. Homeopaths also find that people who are being treated with homeopathic medicine for a chronic disease sometimes experience a temporary exacerabation in their symptoms as the body’s defenses are being stimulated. Homeopaths have found that a “healing crisis” is sometimes necessary to achieve healing. It is highly unlikely that this temporary worsening of symptoms is the result of a placebo response.

There has also been some good scientific research published in medical journals and other scientific publications. A survey of research published in the British Medical Journal (February 9, 1991) indicated that there have been 107 controlled clinical trials, 81 of which showed that the homeopathic medicines had beneficial results.

Of the various studies, 13 of the 19 trials showed successful treatment of respiratory infections, 6 of 7 showed positive results in treating other infections, 5 of 7 showed improvement in digestive disorders, 5 of 5 showed successful treatment of hay fever, 5 of 7 showed faster recovery after abdominal surgery, 4 of 6 promoted healing of arthritic conditions, 18 of 20 showed benefit in relieving pain or trauma, 8 of 10 showed positive results in reducing psychological problems, and 13 of 15 showed benefit of various disorders.

For more detail about many of these studies, see my book, Discovering Homeopathy: Medicine for the 21st Century (North Atlantic Books, 1991) or see Drs. P. Bellavite and A. Signorini’s new book Homeopathy: A Frontier in Medical Science (North Atlantic, 1995).

The small doses used by homeopaths only have an effect when a person has a hypersensitivity to the small doses given. If the wrong medicine is given to a person, nothing happens. If the correct medicine is given, the medicine acts as a catalyst to the person’s defenses. In any case, homeopathic medicines do not have side effects.




If the Medicines are so Effective, Why Insn’t Homeopathy More Popular Today?


Actually, homeopathy is quite popular in many countries in the world. As for homeopathy in the U.S., it was also very popular here. At the turn of the century, 15% of physicians were homeopathic physicians. The A.M.A. was seriously threatened clinically, philosophically, and economically by homeopaths. As distinct from other unorthodox practitioners, homeopaths graduated from respected medical schools. The A.M.A. was so threatened by homeopathy that from 1860 to the early 1900s a conventional physician would lose their membership in the A.M.A if they simply consulted with a homeopath. The A.M.A. also applied pressure on various funding sources so that the homeopathic schools had difficulty staying alive. Despite the strong pressure from A.M.A. and the drug companies, homeopathy has survived and has flourished throughout the world.



Where is Homeopathy Popular?

Homeopathy is particularly popular in France, England, Germany, Greece, India, Pakistan, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, and South Africa. Approximately 40% of the French public have used homeopathic medicines, and 39% of the French physicians have prescribed the medicines. About 20% of German physicians occasionally utilize these natural medicines, and 45% of Dutch physicians consider them effective. According to a survey in the British Medical Journal (June 7, 1986), 42% of British physicians survey refer patients to homeopathic physicians, and a New York Times article reported that visits to British homeopaths is growing at a rate of 39% a year.

Despite these impressive statistics, homeopathy is particularly popular in India where there are over 120 four-year homeopathic medical schools.

Homeopathy is also growing very rapidly in the United States. Market research shows that sales of homeopathic medicines have grown at a rate of 25-50% per year during the past ten years.



Is Homeopathy Legal in the U.S.?

Certainly! Most of its practitioners are conventionally trained medical doctors who have furthered their training with the study of homeopathy. Some of its practitioners are other types of health professionals, including dentists, podiatrists, psychologists, physicians assistants, nurses, naturopaths, chiropractors, and even veterinarians.

There are also some laypeople who have seriously studied homeopathy and are very good practitioners, though the legal issues surrounding their practice remains unclear. Because homeopathic medicines are legally considered “drugs,” some authorities assume that anyone who prescribes or recommends them needs to be a physician or have the license to prescribe drugs. However, because the vast majority of homeopathic medicines are consider “over-the-counter drugs” which means that consumers do not need a prescription to purchase them, some authorities assume that one does not need a license to use them. While homeopathic practice by unlicensed individuals may be legal if they practiced under the supervision of a physician, this physician would subsume all legal responsibilities for patient care.



Are Homeopathic Medicines Safe?

The small doses used in homeopathic medicines make them extremely safe. Of course, it is important to know how to prescribe the medicines. The book I co-authored with Dr. Stephen Cummings, Everybody’s Guide to Homeopathic Medcines (J.P. Tarcher, new edition-1991) provides the step-by-step information on how to use the medicines and when it is necessary to seek medical care.

The homeopathic medicines are officially recognized by the F.D.A. as “over-the-counter drugs” and thus any person can order them without a prescription. Because they are recognized as drugs, their manufacture is regulated by the F.D.A. to assure consumers that they are getting what they ordered.



If a Person is Using Homeopathic Medicines, is it Possible for Them to Use Conventional Drugs at the Same Time?

It is possible to take them together, though the homeopathic medicines often work fast and well enough that the person does not need to take conventional drugs. Some conventional medicines, however, are so strong that they inhibit any action of the homeopathic medicine. In such situations the individual must decide if he or she wishes to use the conventional or homeopathic medicine.



There are Homeopathic Medicines Sold in Health Food Stores that are Supposedly for Specific Diseases. If Homeopathy is Based on Finding a Medicine Individually Suited to the Person, are These Medicines Really Homeopathic?


These homeopathic medicines found in most health food stores are called “combination medicines” or “formulas,” since they have between three to eight different homeopathic medicines mixed together in them. The various manufacturers choose the medicines most commonly prescribed for specific symptoms and assume that one of them will help cure the ailment that the consumer has. These combination medicines are popular in the U.S. and in Europe because they are so easy to prescribe and because they work. Because of this, the homeopathic combination medicines are “user friendly.” Also, since these medicines are much safer than conventional drugs, they are generally preferrable to a growing number of consumers.

Combination medicines are invaluable, but most professional homeopaths have found that the medicine individually chosen for the person tends to work more often and more deeply. Still, if a person does not know how to choose the individual homeopathic medicine or if it isn’t readily available, the various homeopathic combination medicines are invaluable. It is, however, generally believed that combination medicines should not be prescribed for chronic or serious acute health problems. Such conditions require the supervision of homeopathic or medical experts.

How do I Learn More About Homeopathy?

The best source of homeopathic books, tapes, home medicine kits, and software is:

Homeopathic Educational Services

2124B Kittredge St.

Berkeley, CA 94704

(510) 649-0294

(510) 649-1955 (fax)