Allergies? Why Homeopathy is better than ConMed

This article was first published on the Why Homeopathy? website

Allergies are now very common, indeed, they are at epidemic levels, levels never known before, and one of the major causes of this epidemic are conventional drugs and vaccines.

There are many substances known to trigger allergic reactions. These are called allergens, and include such everyday things as house dust mites, pollen, cat and dog fur, bee and wasp stings, feathers and a variety of foods.

Some of the most important allergic condition are Asthma, Eczema and Hay Fever. All these conditions have been linked to conventional medical drugs and vaccines.

At its most extreme, allergies can cause Anaphylaxic Shock, which can be very dangerous indeed.

Conventional Medical Treatment of Allergies

Prevention

NHS Choices says that “the best way to prevent an allergic reaction is to avoid the allergen that causes it”. Of course, this is not really prevention, as by this time the individual already has an allergy to the allergen! And as NHS Choices goes on to admit, this in itself is not easy, as allergens are usually common within the environment in which we all live. The advice given is also difficult, involving redesigning, refurbishing and redesigning your home, changing your diet, and banishing pets!

Treatment

NHS Choices admits that “medication can't cure your allergy” but only “the common symptoms of an allergy, such as a runny nose, itchy mouth and sneezing”. The drugs used by conventional medicine include:

Antihistamines which Antihistamines treat allergies by “blocking the action of the chemical histamine, which the body releases when it thinks it is under attack from an allergen”.

Decongestants which aim to relieve a blocked noses caused by hay fever, a dust allergy, or a pet allergy - but with the warning “they should not be used long-term”.

Leukotriene receptor antagonists block the effects of ‘leukotrienes’, the chemicals released during an allergic reaction that cause swelling of airways, and are used to treat asthma when other treatments have failed.

CorticoSteroid sprays which act on the nasal lining and airways to suppress inflammation, particularly nasal congestion.

Another treatment mentioned by NHS Choices is Hyposensitisation or Immunotherapy. This works by “gradually introducing more and more of the allergen into your body to make it less sensitive to it”. 

But this, of course, in Homeopathy! In other words, it is a therapy that ‘cures like with like’. The conventional medical establishment, however, refuses to admit this!

The Homeopathic Treatment of Allergies

Please click here to see the evidence basis for Homeopathy

Prevention

There is no need for Homeopathy to ‘prevent’ Allergies, except perhaps to recommend that drugs and vaccines that cause allergy, and have to a large extent given rise to the Allergy epidemic, are avoided.

Treatment

Homeopathic treatment for allergies is different to the conventional approach. It is not based on ‘avoiding’ allergens, but getting the body to react normally to them. Whilst any allergy treatment has to be individualised, and so requires the advice of a qualified Homeopath, in this scientific paper that looked at the clinical research in the homeopathic treatment of Allergies, the following remedies were highlighted:

1. *For preventive treatments in hay fever patients, Arsenicum Album was the most effective remedy, followed by Nux vomica, Pulsatilla pratensis, Gelsemium, Sarsaparilla, Silicea and Natrum muriaticum. 
2. *For Asthma patients, Arsenicum iodatum appeared most effective, followed by Lachesis, Calcarea Arsenicosa, Carbo Veg and Silicea. 
3. *And for eczema and urticaria, Mezereum was most effective, followed by Lycopodium, Sepia, Arsenicum iodatus, Calcarea Carbonica and Psorinum.

Many Homeopaths will use remedies based upon the allergen from which the patient suffers, given these in homeopathic potency, and then, as in Hyposensitisation, or Immunotherapy, begin given the allergen in tiny, but increasing doses to the patient until tolerance is achieved. By not using injections, and eginning the process with high dilutions of the allergen, the process is both safer, and more effective.

Randomised Controlled Tests (RCTs)

RCTs are the third, and decidedly the least important type of evidence supporting Homeopathy as a medical therapy.

Dana Ullman, a leading American Homeopath, has written this interesting and useful guide to scientific research into the homeopathic treatment of Allergy. The article contains full references to all the studies he mentions.

Clinical verification in homeopathy and allergic conditions. 

This paper looks at the clinical research into allergic conditions treated with homeopathy, including a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCT) for hay fever with positive conclusions, and two positive RCTs in Asthma. It also looks at cohort surveys that have shown improvement in asthma in children, and general allergic conditions and skin diseases. It also looked at some economic surveys that have shown positive results in eczema, allergy, seasonal allergic rhinitis, asthma, food allergy, and chronic allergic rhinitis, outlining some of the homeopathic remedies found to be useful in the treatment of hay fever, asthma, eczema and urticaria.

It is not surprising, then, that Homeopaths have been treating Allergies, safely and effectively, for many decades now.

Ulcerative Colitis, Irritable Bowel and Homeopathy

Ulcerative colitis is the inflammatory condition of the digestive tract, and is usually classified with  Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Ulcerative colitis is the inflammation in the large intestine (the colon) and the rectum. It affects the lining of the large intestine and rectum, and can produce painful ulcers. 

Ulcerative colitis is usually a long-term, or chronic condition. As the NHS Choices website says, the symptoms include bloody diarrhoea, abdominal pain, a frequent need to go to the toilet and weight loss. Loose stools mixed with blood are characteristic of ulcerative colitis, and the weakness caused by recurrent bloody diarrhoea can seriously affect quality of life, and lead to life-threatening complications.

However, the individual experience of Ulcerative Colitis, and IBDis very variable. It i for this reason that homoeopathy, as an individualised, and symptom based system of medicine, can be helpful in treating these conditions. 

CONVENTIONAL TREATMENT OF ULCERATIVE COLITIS

As the NHS Choices website says, “there is currently no cure for ulcerative colitis so the aim of treatment is to relieve symptoms during a flare-up and prevent symptoms from returning during remission – this is known as  maintenance therapy”.  

The NHS Choices website goes on to describe the available treatment for ulcerative colitis.

Aminosalicylates

These drugs are the first treatment option for mild to moderate ulcerative colitis. They can help reduce inflammation. NHS Choices says that the side effects of aminosalicylates can include:

• diarrhoea
• feeling sick
• headaches
• skin rashes

Corticosteroids

NHS Choices says that Corticosteroids (steroid drugs) may be used when the ulcerative colitis is more severe or not responding to aminosalicylates. Steroids act like aminosalicylates in reducing inflammation “except they are a lot stronger”. NHS Choices goes on to warn that the long-term use of steroids, especially oral steroids, is not recommended “as they can cause potentially serious side effects”. 

The side effects of short-term use of steriods mentioned by NHS Choices are:

*     changes in the skin such as acne

*     sleep and mood disturbance

*     indigestion

*     swelling

The side effects of prolonged steroid use (more than 12 weeks) include:

*     osteoporosis – weakening of the bones

*     high blood pressure (hypotension)

*     diabetes – or worsening of existing diabetes

*     weight gain

*     cataracts – where cloudy patches in the lens of the eye can make vision blurred or misty

Immunosuppressants

NHS Choices goes on to say that you may be given immunosuppressants “if your condition is still not responding to treatment, sometimes in combination with other medicines”. It says that Immunosuppressant drugs work by “reducing or suppressing your body's immune system”. 

NHS Choices describe the drawback to immunosuppressants is that “they affect your whole body, not just your colon. This may make you more prone to infection, so it is important to report any signs of infection, such as inflammation, fever or sickness, promptly to your GP. They can also lower the production of red blood cells, making you prone to anaemia. You will need regular blood tests to monitor your levels of blood cells and check for any other problems”.

Azathioprine

This drug is described as the ‘preferred’ immunosuppressant drug’ used in the treatment of ulcerative colitis, but NHS Choices says that the long-term use of azathioprine has been linked to a small increase in the risk of cancer, particularly skin cancer! It also not normally recommended for pregnant women.

“However, if it is the only treatment that successfully controls your condition, it is likely you will be advised to continue taking it. Any risk to you or your child is far outweighed by the risks presented by ulcerative colitis”.

NHS Choices continues by saying that severe active ulcerative colitis “should be managed in hospital to minimise the risk of dehydration, malnutrition and potentially fatal complications such as your colon rupturing”.

Infliximab

NHS Choices says that Infliximab is “a new type of medication only used to treat severe active ulcerative colitis if you are unable to take steroid medication for medical reasons, such as being allergic to it”. The describe the side effects of this drug to be

*     joint and muscle pain

*     itchy skin

*     high temperature

*     rash

*     swelling of the hands or lips

*     problems swallowing

*     headaches

NHS Choices then says that “there have been a number of cases where infliximab has "reactivated" a previously dormant tuberculosis (TB) infection. Therefore, it may not be suitable if you have a previous history of TB. The same is also true with the viral infection hepatitis B. Infliximab is also not recommended for people with a history of heart disease. Infliximab will make you more vulnerable to infection, so avoid contact with people who have a known chickenpox or shingles infection.

Surgery

NHS Choices says that if ulcerative colitis does not respond to intensive medical treatment, then surgery may be required, and that patients may wish to consider this if “the condition is affecting quality of life”.

According to NHS Choices, surgery involves permanently removing the colon – a colectomy, and the re-routing of the small intestine so that it can pass waste products out of your body. Apparently, according to NHS Choices, this surgery can now be done without the requirement to carry an external pouch.

Alternatively, of course, patients may want to choose a safer, more effective treatment for this disabling disease.

HOMEOPATHIC TREATMENT OF ULCERATIVE COLITIS

Please click here to see the evidence basis for Homeopathy

In comparison with conventional medicine, homeopathy has a lot to offer patients with Ulcerative Colititis (and IBD).

“Homoeopathy has an effective solution for ulcerative colitis. It can (in the long run) control and cure even the severest forms of ulcerative colitis. An additional benefit with homoeopathy is the safety of the treatment; carefully prescribed medicines for ulcerative colitis do not produce any side-effects”.

The description of the main remedies used for the treatment of Ulcerative Colitis come from the hpathy.com website. It describes a safer, and more effective treatment for this painful and disruptive disease than is offered by conventional medicine.

“As far as therapeutic medication is concerned, several well-proved medicines are available for ulcerative colitis treatment that can be selected on the basis of cause, condition, sensation and modalities of the complaints. For individualised remedy selection and treatment, the patient should consult a qualified homeopathic doctor in person. There are following well proved medicines which are much helpful for the treatment of ulcerative colitis:

Ignatia

This is a remarkable remedy for ulcerative colitis, since the emotional element is uppermost in Ignatia, relationship of this physical irritation first needs to be established. To resolve this emotional state Ignatia is much helpful.

Natrum Mur

This remedy is the ‘chronic’ of Ignatia. Ill effects of grief, fright and anger aggravations by consolation are the characteristic features. Cutting pain in abdomen and the abdominal ring, burning and stitching pain in the rectum after a copious diarrhoea.

Staphisagria

This remedy is for a nervous personality with marked irritability. This irritability is reflected in temper as well as in function of the digestion. The peristalsis is aggravated with the emotional outburst.

Aurum Met

The patient has feeling of self-condemnation and utter worthlessness, profound despondency that affects the digestion.

Nux Vomica 

An excellent medicine for ulcerative colitis, if one studies the Nux Vomica, one sees a clear picture of this condition.

Lycopodium

This is another remedy that has a very close resemblance to the condition.

Merc Sol

This remedy also has a very close relationship with the pathology of ulcerative colitis (for instance, where the symptoms are of bloody slimy stools with a strong and constant desire to pass stool, and the ‘never get done’ feeling.

Yet there are many other remedies that match the symptoms of Ulcerative Colitis, including Merc Cor, Sulphur, and Phosphorus.

Hamemelis is a useful remedy for controlling the bleeding aspect of the disease. 

Ferrum phos and Ferrum metallicum are useful for correcting anaemia.

RANDOMISED CONTROLLED TESTS

RCTs are the third, and decidedly the least important type of evidence supporting Homeopathy as a medical therapy.

Study Proves the Effectiveness of Homeopathy for Managing Ulcerative Colitis

Maas HPJA. “Ulcerative Colitis treated with Homoeopathy” British Homoeopathic Journal, July 1993, 82, 179-185.

In this retrospective case analysis, 24 people suffering from ulcerative colitis were treated in an Argentinian clinic using constitutional homoeopathy over periods of up to 19 years. Of these 24, 16 patients were assessed as having good outcomes.

Eczema/Dermatitis. Why you should use Homeopathy

This blog was first published in the "Why Homeopathy? website

The NHS Choices website describes Eczema as follows:

“Atopic eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is the most common form of eczema. It mainly affects children, but can continue into adulthood. Eczema is a condition that causes the skin to become itchy, red, dry and cracked. It is a long-term, or chronic, condition.

Eczema can be a deeply distressing illness, especially when young babies and infants suffer from the condition. Characteristically, the symptoms are red, dry, scaly skin, with intense itching, which can lead to scratching, and opening up the skin.

Eczema is now a disease reaching epidemic proportions, especially with the number of young people who now suffer from Eczema. Perhaps this is not surprising, as a large number of drugs and vaccines are now known to cause the condition.

THE CONVENTIONAL MEDICAL TREATMENT OF ECZEMA

What becomes immediately obvious, when looking at the NHS Choices website on the treatment of Eczema, there is no effective treatment, and the drugs they outline are known to have serious side effects and adverse reactions.

“Although there is no cure for atopic eczema (my emphasis), treatments can ease the symptoms. Children with atopic eczema normally find their symptoms naturally improve over time.

Medications used to treat atopic eczema most commonly include:

    * emollients - used all the time for dry skin

    * topical corticosteroids - used to reduce swelling and redness during flare-ups

NHS Choices go on to described these ameliorative, not curative treatments, and dressing with ‘dry wraps’, ‘wet wraps’, and ‘occlusive dressing’.

Then BHS Choices mentions other medications “used to ease the symptoms of eczema”:   

• Antihistamines - for severe itching
• Oral corticosteroids - for severe symptoms
• Antibiotics - for infected eczema
• Topical immunosuppresants, which reduce or suppress your body's immune system, such as pimecrolimus cream and tacrolimus ointment

So, Conventional Medicine not only causes and exacerbates Eczema, it has almost nothing to offer as far as safe or effective treatment is concerned.

The Homeopathic Treatment of Eczema

Please click here to see the evidence basis for Homeopathy

There are many homeopathic remedies known to treat Eczema successfully. It is a disease that effects individuals very differently, and these remedy pictures taken from “The Desktop Companion to Physical Pathology”, Roger Morrison, MD, show the 6 most commonly used, and the great variety between them.

Sulphur

The most common remedy for eczema. Tremendous itching (it is hard to give Sulphur when the itching is only of mild severity). Voluptuous itching. Burning itching, Pleasurable itching. Scratching until raw and oozing or until he bleeds. Worse: night, especially waking the patient at night in bed. On becoming heated, especially if heated in bed. In areas where the patient perspires. Bathing. Contact with wool. Better: cold or cold applications.

Arsenicum

Burning pains associated with itching. Must scratch until skin is raw; relieved when skin is raw. When the skin heals over, the itching returns just as intensely. Severe itching without eruption. Neurodermaatitis. Worse: Night. Open Air. Undressing. Better: Heat (opposite most eczema cases). Warm bathing.

Graphites

Dry eczema with thick yellow or honey-like discharge. Excema with deep cracks of the skin. All injuries to skin heal slowly: unhealthy skin. Worse: Night. Heat and from becoming heated in bed.

Mezerium

Intensely itching eczema; intolerable itching. Maddening eruption, often persisting despite allopathing (conventional) medications. Eruptions of scalp with thick, white flakes and pus coming under the scabs. Worse: Night. Heat. Heat of fire. Hot bathing. Touch. Better: Cold air (although patient chilly). Elderly patients.

Petroleum

The eczema is bearly always dry, so dru that it is almost painful: sometimes impels the patient to soak the sry skin in water. For patients who work with their hands using chemicals such as tar, pitch, or oils (eg carpenters, hairdressers). Scratches until bleeding; coldness in the raw spot. Unhealthy skin; wounds fester. Worse: Winter. Cold weather.

Psorinum

Easily confused with Sulphur. Desire to scratch the skin until it bleeds. Eruptions easily progress to suppuration and may be offensive. Worse: Night. Cold. Undresing. Heat of bed. Winter. Bathing. From wool. Better: from warmth. 

Randomised Controlled Tests (RCTs)

RCTs are the third, and decidedly the least important type of evidence supporting Homeopathy as a medical therapy.

This information is taken from the Homeopathy Today website, and is an article written by Tim Fior, MD

In the study of eczema (dermatitis), there have been 3 good clinical studies published. Keil and colleagues from the Institute for Social Medicine, Epidemiology, and Health Economics in Berlin, Germany studied 118 children suffering from atopic eczema. 54 children were treated with homeopathic medicine and 64 children were treated with conventional dermatology drugs. Both groups were followed for a period of 12 months. Children in both groups had their eczema symptoms improve. Disease-related quality of life improved equally in both groups. However, improvement of eczema as observed by physicians was significantly greater in the homeopathic group.

In Japan, Itamura and Hosoya studied 17 patients with intractable atopic dermatitis. These patients had previously failed conventional dermatological drug therapy. They were then treated with individualized homeopathic medical therapy, in addition to conventional dermatology therapy. The study’s follow-up period was 6 to 31 months. The efficacy of homeopathic medicine was measured by objective assessments of the skin condition and the patients’ own assessments, using a 9 point scale. 1 patient cleared completely, 7 patients partially cleared (=80% better), and 9 patients partially cleared (=50% better). Importantly, 5 of 17 patients (29%) were able to stop the use of topical steroid ointments. (Itamura R, Hosoya R. Homeopathy.  2003: 92; 108-114.)

In an observational study, Witt and colleagues studied 225 children with atopic eczema.  The children were treated with homeopathic medicine and were allowed to also use conventional dermatology drugs. They were followed for 24 months. The severity of eczema in these patients improved and the changes in severity assessment were of large effect size. Reductions in the use of conventional dermatology drugs were observed.  (Witt CM, et.al.  Acta Dermato Venereol.  2009: 89(2); 182-183.

In a randomized, placebo-controlled double-blind trial, Cavalcanti and colleagues studied the effect of homeopathic treatment on itching of hemodialysis patients. Kidney failure patients undergoing dialysis treatment often have severe itching, which is difficult to control. The researchers assessed the role of individualized homeopathic treatment in this situation. Itching was evaluated using a previously published scale. Patients were classified as responders if they had greater than 50% reduction of itching. 20 patients were analyzed. Reduction of itching was statistically significant at every point of observation.

Mousavi and colleagues studied the effectiveness of the homeopathic remedy, Ignatia 30C in the treatment of oral lichen planus, a painful inflammatory dermatological disease. In this single-blind randomized clinical trial, 30 consecutive patients with oral lichen planus were randomized into two groups: one group received homeopathic Ignatia and the other group received placebo. The patients were treated for 4 months. The results showed that the size of the oral sores decreased significantly in favor of the homeopathic Ignatia treated patients. Also, the average pain was significantly lower in the homeopathic Ignatia group. The researchers concluded homeopathic Ignatia has a beneficial effect in the treatment of oral lichen planus in selected patients.  (Mousavi F, et.al.  Homeopathy.  2009: 98, 40-44.)

Pommier, et.al. published a phase III single-blind randomized comparison trial of homeopathic calendula ointment versus trolamine ointment in the prevention of acute radiation dermatitis in women undergoing post-operative radiation treatment for breast cancer. The researchers studied 254 patients. They found that the occurrence of acute radiation dermatitis (grade 2 or higher) was significantly lower.

In an animal model study, de Paula Coelho and colleagues evaluated the homeopathic remedy Dolichos pruriens in the treatment of heat-induced itching in laboratory rats. The researchers found that in this blinded study, homeopathic Dolichos pruriens significantly demonstrated therapeutic effects in the inhibition of itching. The homeopathic remedy had no adverse effects. It is possible that the homeopathic remedy Dolichos pruriens could potentially be useful in humans with generalized itching without an eruption (e.g. “itching of unknown origin”).  (de Paula Coelho C, et.al.  Homeopathy.  2006: 95(3); 136-143.)

Insomnia and Homeopathy: safer and more effective treatment

What is insomnia?

As defined by NHS Choices, Insomnia is difficulty getting to sleep or staying asleep for long enough to feel refreshed the next morning, even though you've had enough opportunity to sleep. It describes the most common symptoms of Insomnia as:

• difficulty falling asleep
• waking up during the night
• waking up early in the morning
• feeling irritable and tired and finding it difficult to function during the day

Conventional Medical Treatment of Insomnia

Discussing treatment, NHS Choices talk first about discovering if there is any ‘underlying medical condition’ for sleeplessness, and some very simple and sensible self-help, or sleep hygiene measures, such as:

• establishing fixed times for going to bed and waking up (avoid sleeping in after a poor night's sleep)
• trying to relax before going to bed
• maintaining a comfortable sleeping environment (not too hot, cold, noisy or bright)
• avoiding napping during the day
• avoiding caffeine, nicotine and alcohol late at night 
• avoiding exercise within four hours of bedtime (although exercise in the middle of the day is beneficial)
• avoiding eating a heavy meal late at night
• avoiding watching or checking the clock throughout the night
• using the bedroom mainly for sleep and sex if possible

This is all sensible advice, and this is followed by suggestions for the use of Cognitive and behavioural treatments.

The advice then moves on to sleeping medication “if the symptoms are particularly severe” or to “help ease short-term insomnia”. However it supplies a warning here.

“.... doctors are usually reluctant to prescribe sleeping tablets as they relieve symptoms but don't treat the cause of your insomnia. If you have long-term insomnia, sleeping tablets are unlikely to help. Your doctor may consider referring you to a clinical psychologist to discuss other approaches to treatment”.

It goes on to say that sleeping pills can cause a feeling that you are ‘hungover’, and drowsiness during the day. The drugs mentioned are as follows:

• Benzodiazepine Drugs. These drugs, which include Valium, Librium and Atavan, have a long history of very serious adverse reactions, and their use is now supposed to be heavily restricted. One of the main problems was dependence or addiction, and they should not be prescribed for more than 4 weeks, but apparently often are. People who have taken Benzodiazepines have reported blackouts, epileptic seizures, memory loss, brain damage, insomnia (!) and personality change. A fuller description of the serious dangers of Benzodiazepine drugs can be read here.

• More modern ‘Z medicines’, such as Zopiclone, Zolpidem and Zalepion, which NHS Choices suggest are similar to the Benzodiazepines, and it is stated that they are unlikely to work if Benzodiazepines fail to do so.

• Melatonin (Circadin), which NHS Choices states cause adverse reactions such as irritability, dizziness, migraines, constipation, stomach pain and weight gain. Moreover, a study on Melatonin, which revisited a number of small studies, was reported in the British Medical Journal in 2006 (332: 385-8). It found that the drug did not do much to help establish a healthy sleep cycle.

More recent studies have suggested that sleeping medication can triple the risk of death (British Medical Journal, 2012; 2: e000850, reported in ‘What Doctor’s Don’t Tell You’, July 2012 and June 2013), and that it can increase the risk of fatal pneumonia by half again (What Doctor’s Don’t Tell you, February 2013). Canadian research found that the risk of death increased by 40% when patients were taking sleeping pills (Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 2010; 55: 558-67).

The Homeopathic Treatment of Insomnia

Please click here to see the evidence basis for Homeopathy

Whilst Homeopathy would also look at the kind of self-help measures mentioned above, and try to find if there is an ‘underlying cause’ of the insomnia, treatment is much more straightforward, and uses a variety of remedies. A useful description of some of these remedies, together with useful tips to get a good night’s sleep, is found on the Homeopathy Plus website (click here to read in full), with the main remedy descriptions being reproduced here

Arsenicum Album (Ars)

Key Symptoms: Those who need Arsenicum will nearly always be anxious and restless. Anxiety, fear, or worry prevents sleep. Frequent starting or jumping which wakens from sleep. Sleeplessness from physical exertion. Worse for: after midnight. Better for: warmth; warm drinks.

Supporting Symptoms: Disturbed, anxious and restless sleep. Lying awake with restlessness, tossing and turning. Cannot lie still in bed – has to get up and wander around from restlessness. Going from bed to bed to try and sleep. Can only sleep with head raised. Hard to fall asleep after waking.

Coffea Cruda (Coff)

Key Symptoms: Coffee is well known for producing sleeplessness but because of homeopathy’s ‘like treats like’ effect, it will relieve insomnia when given in crude, or especially homeopathic form. The type of symptoms it relieves are those produced by coffee. They are: sleeplessness from rapid thoughts or an active mind; constant flow of ideas; physical restlessness; nervous energy; excitement. Can also be used to counteract the effects of a caffeinated product that has been taken too close to bed-time. Worse for: surprises; strong emotions; narcotics.

Supporting Symptoms: Unable to sleep from the excitement of a surprise, or good or bad news. Palpitation with sleeplessness. Waking with every sound. Waking from frequent starting. Sleeplessness from an itching anus. Minor pains seems intolerable.

Gelsemium Sempervirens (Gels)

Key Symptoms: Sleeplessness from anticipatory anxiety. Dull, drowsy mind – hard to think yet difficult to go to sleep. Insomnia from exhaustion. Hard to get fully asleep. Worse for: bad news; thinking about problems.

Supporting Symptoms: Yawning with tiredness. Sleeplessness with teething. Sleeplessness from itching on head, face, neck, and shoulders. Sleeplessness during delirium tremens (withdrawal from alcohol).

Ignatia Amara (Ign)

Key Symptoms: Intense, repeated yawning or frequent sighing. Sleeplessness from a recent disappointment or grief.

Supporting Symptoms: Waking easily from sleep. Waking from the jerking of a limb. Itching of arms with yawning. Yawning produces tears in the eyes or threatens to dislocate jaw. Child wakes from sleep with screaming and trembling after being reprimanded before bedtime. Worse for: Coffee.

Lycopodium clavatum (Lyc)

Key Symptoms: Waking from hunger – must get up and eat. Restless sleep and anxious dreams with frequent waking. Feeling unrefreshed in morning.

Supporting Symptoms: Unable to get comfortable in any position. Falling asleep late and waking early. Sleepy all day and sleepless at night from an active mind. Children who sleep all day and cry all night. Child wakes terrified with screaming – seems not to recognise anyone (sleep terrors).

Nux Vomica (Nux-v)

Key Symptoms: Frequent yawning. Irritability from loss of sleep. Falling asleep before normal bedtime and then waking at 3–4am. Waking at 3-4am with alert and active mind and then falling asleep as daylight approaches only to then wake with difficulty, feeling tired, weak, and not wanting to get up. Worse for: stimulants and narcotics

Supporting Symptoms: Sleeplessness from the excessive consumption of coffee, alcohol, or drugs (therapeutic or recreational). Tendency to lie on back with arms under head. Sleeplessness from mental strain and stress or excessive study. Drowsy after meals an in early evening. Grogginess on waking in morning. Weeping and talking in sleep.

Passiflora Incarnata (Pass)

Key Symptoms: Restlessness, exhaustion, and sleeplessness.

Supporting Symptoms: Restless sleeplessness from excessive work. Sleeplessness with exhaustion. Insomnia of infants and the aged. Convulsions with sleeplessness.

Other Comments: Has a long history of use in herbal medicine where its homeopathic effect in the treatment of insomnia has also been exploited. It is effective in either herbal doses or homeopathic potencies.

Phosphorus (Phos)

Key Symptoms: Short naps with frequent waking. Frequent waking from feeling too hot. Sleeplessness from excitement or anxiety.

Supporting Symptoms: Sleeplessness in old people. Sleepless before midnight. Sleepy all day, sleepless and restless at night. Sleeplessness with sensation of bubbling in blood. Worse for: lying on left side.

Sulphur (Sulph)

Key Symptoms: Waking between 2 – 5am and unable to go back to sleep. Difficulty in falling asleep from itchiness of skin or perspiration. Drowsy by day and sleepless at night. Worse for: becoming hot; atmospheric changes.

Supporting Symptoms: Wakes up singing from happy dreams. Waking at night from a rush of blood to the head. Sudden waking from sleep. Constant flow of thoughts that prevent sleep. Sleep disturbed by headache. Better for: dry, warm weather.

Whilst these remedies can be safely taken on a first-aid basis, if the remedy description fits the patient symptoms, assistance from the qualified Homeopathy should be sought in of serious or long-term insomnia.

Randomised Controlled Tests

RCTs are the third, and decidedly the least important type of evidence supporting Homeopathy as a medical therapy.

The Homeopathy Research Institute undertook a review of the research evidence supporting the use of homeopathy to treat insomnia if their newsletter, dated Summer 2010. It is available at this link. Their conclusions were as follows:

“Homeopaths often treat insomnia, however, there is currently a lack of high-quality sufficiently powered studies assessing the effectiveness of either homeopathic medicines or treatment by a homeopath for this condition. There is a need for further well-conducted clinical trials of treatment by a homeopath in order to examine fully the clinical and cost effectiveness of the therapeutic system of homeopathy in the management of insomnia”.

However, this research, on Chronic Primary Insomnia, came to the following conclusion:

“The homeopathic simillimum treatment of primary insomnia was effective, compared to placebo. Homeopathy is a viable treatment modality for this condition and further research is justified.

This blog was first published on the "Why Homeopathy?" website.

Arthritis: safer and more effective treatment with Homeopathy

This blog was first published (and is regularly updated) on the "Why Homeopathy? website

If you suffer from Arthritic pain, and you are looking for medical treatment, it is advisable first to compare and contrast conventional medical treatment with alternative treatment, such as Homeopathy. Perhaps the fundamental difference between the two is that whilst conventional medicine works by providing patients with pain relief through painkilling drugs, Homeopathy seeks to deal with the underlying condition that is causing the pain.

Conventional Medical Treatment

NHS Choices http://www.nhs.uk/Pages/HomePage.aspx says that "osteoarthritis cannot be cured, but treatment can ease your symptoms and prevent them from affecting your everyday life”. It recommends exercise and weight loss. However, it is clear that the main conventional treatment for arthritis are pain-killing drugs. It says that “the aim of rheumatoid arthritis treatment is to reduce inflammation in the joints, relieve pain, prevent or slow joint damage, reduce disability and provide support to help you live as active a life as possible”.

The main drugs used by conventional medicine to treat arthritis are:

• Painkillers, such as Paracetamol and Codeine

NHS Choices says that pain killers “reduce pain rather than inflammation and are used to control the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis”. This means that they treat the pain, but not the underlying condition.

• Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs

NHS Choices says this of NSAID drugs. “NSAIDs help relieve pain and stiffness whilst also reducing inflammation. However, they will not slow down the progress of rheumatoid arthritis”.

NHS Choices goes on to say that NSAID can increase the risk of serious stomach problems, such as bleeding internally. “Taking an NSAID can break down the lining that protects against damage from acids in the stomach”.

Yet it is also true, as the NHS Choices website admits, that one type of NSAID, Cox-2 inhibitors, also have the potential to cause heart attacks and strokes. And it adds that if you take NSAIDs you will ‘almost certainly’ have to take more drugs, such as a PPI drugs to reduce the risk of damage to your stomach lining.

• Corticosteroids

NHS Choices admits that this drug can have serious side effects, including weight gain, osteoporosis, muscle weakness, thinning of skin, and can worsen diabetes, glaucoma. Therefore, they are only used on a short-term basis. The website says that long-term use of corticosteroids has been associated with an over-stimulation of the adrenal glands, producing Cushing’s Syndrome, hyperglycaemia, diabetes, muscle weakness, skin atrophy and thinness.

The Homeopathic Treatment of Arthritis

Please click here to see the evidence basis for Homeopathy

Homeopathy uses many remedies for people suffering with arthritis, and related illnesses. As is normal with Homeopathy, the correct remedy for any individual is based upon a remedy that best matches the symptoms of that individual. The main remedies used, with a brief description of the kind of symptoms they are used for, are as follows:

• Rhus Tox

Perhaps the main remedy used for rheumatism, with pain and stiffness. Pain and stiffness causing patient to shift and stretch. Restless in bed. Worse in morning, upon rising; at night; evening, with over-exertion; for cold, damp weather; sitting for a long time. Better for heat, continued gentle motion.

• Causticum

There is joint pains and deformity; remedy in advance, deformative arthritis. Stiffness can be so severe the patients feels as if the joint is paralyzed. Cracking joints.

• Arnica

Great soreness all over. Even the bed feels too hard. Feels as if bruised or beaten. Must move constantly to relieve pain.

• Aurum Met

Serious or advanced rheumatism with marked stiffness. Rheumatism with stiffness or spasms on chest wall. Severe spasm or tearing pains. Pains described as ‘paralytic’. Wandering arthritis; moving from spot to spot.

• Bryonia

Excrutiating pains, often stitching pains. Patient is averse to being examined or moved. Fears to move yet feels restless. Worse, slightest motion. Jarring. From cold, especially cold, dry weather. Better, heat, pressure, lying still, lying on painful side.

(These brief remedy descriptions have been taken from Roger Morrison, Desktop Companion to Physical Pathology. Hahnemann Clinic Publishing. 1998).

Note. There are at least 141 remedies contained in the Homeopathic Materia Medica (Synthesis) for the single rubric “General, Inflammation, Joints”, and many more for related conditions.

Randomised Controlled Tests (RCTs) on Homeopathic Remedies

RCTs are the third, and decidedly the least important type of evidence supporting Homeopathy as a medical therapy.

Whereas the main proof for the effectiveness of Homeopathy are the patients who once suffered from this condition, and there are several RCT trials that have looked into the use of homeopathy for people suffering with arthritis, and similar diseases.

• A critical examination of the evidence for the use of individualised Homeopathic treatment in Rheumatoid Arthritis.

• tp://www.hpathy.com/research/Dodding-homeopathic-treatment-rheumatoid-arthritis.asp
• Conclusions. Although the results for the active treatment group demonstrated that homeopathy may be useful in the treatment of RA, there was no statistical evidence that it was superior to placebo therapy.  However, this result may be due to a number of methodological flaws within the trial.

• Homeopathic therapy in rheumatoid arthritis: evaluation of double-blind clinical therapeutic trial

• http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1429952/?tool=pmcentrez_
• Abstract. Twenty-three patients with rheumatoid arthritis on orthodox first-line anti-inflammatory treatment plus homeopathy were compared wtih a similar group of twenty-three patients on orthodox first-line treatment plus an inert preparation. There was a significant improvement in subjective pain, articular index, stiffness and grip strength in those patients receiving homeopathic remedies whereas there was no significant change in the patients who received placebo. Two physicians were involved in prescribing for the patients and there were no significant differences in the results which they obtained. No side effects were observed with the homeopathic remedies.

• Bell IR, Lewis DA, Brooks AJ, Schwartz GE, Lewis SE, Walsh BT, Baldwin CM. Improved clinical status in fibromyalgia patients treated with individualized homeopathic remedies versus placebo. 

• Rheumatology (Oxford). 2004 May;43(5):577-82. 

• 53 people suffering from fibromyalgia took part in this trial, comparing individualised homeopathic treatment to placebo. The levels of tender points and tender point pain as well as quality of life, mood and general health were assessed by the practitioners and subjects involved in the trial. 3 months after commencing treatment, all parameters were found to be improved by the use of homoeopathy when compared to placebo.

• Fisher P., Greenwood A, Huskisson EC, Turner P and Belon P.  Effect of Homeopathic Treatment on Fibrositis. 

• British Medical Journal, 5 August, 1989, 299, 365-366. 

• Patients using Rhus tox 6C three times daily in a double blind placebo controlled crossover trial found significant relief with the medicine over the placebo.

• Fisher P. An Experimental Double-blind Clinical Trial method in Homoeopathy- Use of a Limited Range of Remedies to Treat Fibrositis. 

• British Homoeopathic Journal, 1986, July, 75, 3, 142-7. 
• 24 subjects suffering from fibrositis were treated for the condition for 3 months with Arnica, Bryonia or Rhus tox, depending upon the similarity between the individuals’ symptoms and the clinical picture for the remedy. Using scores for pain, number of tender spots, and sleep quality to determine the response to the therapy, these remedies produced a statistically significant improvement, but only when the remedy was well indicated.

• Gibson RG, Gibson SL, MacNeill AD, Gray GH, Dick WC, Buchanan WW. Salicylates and Homoeopathy in Rheumatoid Arthritis.

• British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 1978, 6, 5, 391-395. 
• In this study, carried out at the Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital, 41 people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis were treated with enteric coated aspirin and 54 people suffering from the same condition were treated with individualised homeopathic treatment. The results of the two forms of therapy were compared at the end of the trial and it was found that those on homeopathic treatment did considerably better than those on aspirin. In addition, 16 of the 41 people taking aspirin during the trial experienced side effects while those taking homeopathics experienced no side effects.

• Gibson RG, Gibson SL. Homeopathic Therapy in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Evaluation by Double Blind Clinical Therapeutic Trial.

• Br J. Clin. Pharmac. 9, 1980, 453-459. 
• 46 patients using a number of different homeopathic medicines, prescribed according to homeopathic principles, were given this medicine or a placebo with their normal anti-arthritic drug. The trial was carried out blind and significant results were achieved with the homeopathic medicine over the placebo in all areas measured.

• Gmnunder R, Kissling R. The Efficacy of homeopathy in the treatment of chronic low back pain compared to standardized physiotherapy. 

• Zeitschrift für Orthopädie und ihre Grenzgebiete, 2002 Sep-Oct;140, 5, 503-8. 
• In this controlled, randomised, prospective study, 43 people suffering from chronic low back pain were treated for two months either by homeopathy or by standardised physiotherapy. Assessment based on the initial and final clinical investigations, an Oswestry questionnaire, and visual analog scale, found that the most successful method of treatment was homeopathy.

• Shealy CN, Thomlinson PR, Cox RH, Bormeyer V. Osteoarthritis Pain: A Comparison of Homoeopathy and Acetaminophen.

• American Journal of Pain Management, 8, 3, July 1998, 89-91. 
• In this trial, 65 sufferers of osteoarthritis (OA) were split into 2 groups, and through a double blinding process were given either a homeopathic medicine or Acetaminophen, a commonly prescribed drug for pain relief in OA. Researchers found that homoeopathy provided a level of pain relief that was superior to Acetaminophen, and produced no adverse reactions.

• Labrecque G., Guilleminot J. Effect of Bryonia on Experimental Arthritis in Rats. 

• Berlin Journal of Research in Homoeopathy, 1, 3, 1991, 169, (Congress Report Poster). 

• In this study, 35 male rats suffering from arthritis were treated with placebo or 4X, 4C or 9C potencies of homeopathic Bryonia for 15 days and assessed at various stages using grip strength body weight as assessment criteria. At the end of the treatment period, all of the Bryonia potencies had improved the condition when compared to placebo, with Bryonia 4C providing the best outcomes.

This blog was first published on the "Why Homeopathy?" website.

Why Homeopathy for fractured bones?

This article was first published in the 'Why Homeopathy?' website

When a bone is broken or cracked it is sensible to go directly to your local hospital (Accident and Emergency Department) to have the fracture confirmed, by X-Ray, the bone set, and the limb immobilised to keep it in position until it heals. Healing usually takes place in about 6 and 8 weeks.

Obviously, a broken bone can be very painful, and involve local swelling and tenderness, and for post trauma treatment it is important to compare conventional and homeopathic treatment.

Conventional Medical Treatment of Fractures
Pain and Swelling.
Conventional medical treatment of pain and swelling is by painkilling drugs. Whilst these may reduce the pain, the dangers of painkillers are becoming increasingly apparent, and certainly need to be considered before taking them.

Assisting the fracture to heal.
Conventional medicine allows the bone to heal normally, and without further assistance.

The Homeopathic Treatment of Fractures

Pain and Swelling.
Homeopathy offer the remedy Arnica, which will help treat the trauma of the fracture, any bruising or pain associated with it. For pain that persists, the remedy Bryonia can often be helpful.

Assisting the fracture to heal.
Homeopathy has useful remedies that can be used to assist and promote the healing process. Foremost amongst these is Symphytum, which in the experience of many homeopaths can reduce the healing period by anything up to one-third of the time expected.

These remedy descriptions have been taken from an article on fractures on the Homeopathy Plus website.

Arnica treats a wide range of conditions but is best known for controlling bleeding and speeding healing of damaged tissue. When broken bones have been caused by trauma, Arnica is the first remedy of choice in the first 24-48 hours. Following this, one of the following two remedies usually produce better results.

Bryonia. A symptom that will always be present when Bryonia is needed is that any complaint will worsen with the slightest movement and improve for being still. For this reason it is often needed during fractured ribs where pain is always associated with the motion of breathing. Sometimes, people needing Bryonia even prefer to sleep on the side of their fractured ribs so that they can’t move at all with breathing. Unfortunately, as discussed, lack of movement also leads to pneumonia. Bryonia can reduce the pain so the person can breathe more deeply.

Symphytum is used to ease the pain of broken bones and speed their repair. Reports are common of fractures healing within one to two thirds of the time normally expected. Its common name is Comfrey or ‘Knit-bone’ indicating its herbal fame for “knitting” broken bones together. Unfortunately, it is no longer prescribed in herbal doses as it can also be toxic to the liver but if used in homeopathic potencies, is free of this problem at all. are used.

Randomised Controlled Tests (RCTs)
RCTs are the third, and decidedly the least important type of evidence supporting Homeopathy as a medical therapy. But this study supports what Homeopaths have known within their clinics for over 200 years.

“Accelerating the healing of bone fracture using Homeopathy: a prospective, randomised double-blind controlled study”. International Research Congress on Integrative Medicine and Health 2012. Portland, Oregon, USA. 15-18 May 2012. S. Sharma, N Sharma, R Sharma.

Results. “Faster healing was reported in the homeopathy group by week 9 following injury, including significant improvement in fracture line, fracture edge, callous formation and fracture union in comparison to placebo.

“There was also lower use of analgesics and less self-reported pain in the homeopathy group.

Conclusion. “The study suggests that Homeopathy could enhance anatomical and functional fracture healing”.