A hookworm infection is an infection caused by intestinal parasites called hookworm. Among various hookworms the main hookworms that can cause infection includes Ancylostoma duodena and Necator americanus. Homeopathic medicines for hookworm infection help in providing symptomatic relief from symptoms like skin rash, itching, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, colic / cramps, tired feeling, weight loss. 

This infection spreads when a person with this infection defecates in the soil or such feces are used in soil for fertilizer purposes. The eggs in such faeces hatches in 1 or 2 days and passes larvae in the soil. The survival time of larvae in the soil is about 3 to 4 weeks. A healthy person tends to get this infection when his / her skin comes into contact with such soil containing larvae of this worm. The larvae get into the body through skin contact. This usually occurs when a person walks barefoot on the soil contaminated with this worm’s larvae. Other than this there is also a possibility of getting this infection from eating contaminated food (like fruits or raw unwashed vegetables contaminated with such soil) or drinking contaminated water.

Once in the human body, the larvae gets in the bloodstream and from there are carried to the lungs. Afterwards the person can cough them up and swallow them from where they reach to the small intestine. The worms can live in the small intestine for over 2 years. People who live in places where sanitation facilities are poor or use of human faeces is done as fertilizer are at high risk of getting this infection. People  who live in areas where the climate is warm are also at risk of this infection. 

Symptoms 

There may be no symptoms at all of this infection especially if a person is healthy and has strong immunity, take an iron rich diet and the infection is of mild intensity. In cases where symptoms arise, initially there occurs itching and skin rash from allergic reaction located on the skin area from where the larvae penetrated into the skin. When the hookworm enters and grows in the intestine there appears diarrhoea (loose stool), pain in abdomen, abdominal colic / cramps, loss of appetite, nausea, blood in stool, tired feeling, weight loss and fever. In long term cases anaemia may occur. This arises because the hookworm get nutrients by feeding on the human blood. The chances of intense anaemia are high if the diet is not proper. It may also be severe in women who are pregnant or if a person is having malaria.  When red blood cell count becomes very low it may lead to heart failure. Its next complications include nutritional deficiencies, ascites (build up of fluid in the abdomen) and slow physical growth and mental development (in the children).

Homeopathic Medicines for Hookworm Infection 

Homeopathic medicines are recommended in mild-to-moderate cases of a hookworm infection. They are of natural origin which are very safe and effective in these cases. These boost the body’s defence mechanism to fight with worm infection and get rid of it. The homeopathic medicines are recommended in mild to moderate cases of hookworm. But in cases where the symptoms are severe, and ascites are present,  malnutrition is quite marked, anaemia is very intense or there are signs of heart failure, then it is highly advisable to take urgent help from conventional mode of treatment.

1. Cina – Leading Medicine for Hookworm

It is a natural medicine prepared from plant Cina Maritima also known as Artemisia Maritima that belongs to the family compositae. It is a very effective medicine for cases of worms. Its use is mainly indicated when there is pain in the abdomen. The pain can be cutting or pinching type. In some cases it is felt as twisting pain about the navel. Sometimes the abdomen can be bloated also.  Along with this there is diarrhoea. In such cases the stool is loose, watery with white mucus. Sometimes stool is blood stained.

2. Calcarea Carb – For Diarrhoea and Abdominal Distension

This medicine is very beneficial for cases where diarrhoea and abdominal distension is marked. For using it the stool is watery, slimy, that smells very fetid or sour. It may have undigested food particles in it. Sometimes it can be blood streaked also. It is attended with pain in the abdomen. The stool occurs mostly after eating. In some cases the stool may occur involuntarily also. Other than above there is marked distension of the abdomen attended with its hardness. With this there is a sensation of pressure or pain in the lower abdomen. Nausea accompanies it.

3. Spigelia – For Pain in the Navel Region

It is another prominently indicated medicine for managing these cases. It is prepared from dried herb of plant Spigelia anthelmia commonly known as pink – root. This plant falls under family loganiaceae. This medicine is very helpful to manage pain in the navel / umbilical region of the abdomen. Abdominal pains are mostly cutting, griping or pinching type where it is required.  It is attended with pressure in the umbilical region. Next symptom that appears is diarrhoea with frequent urge to pass stool. There may be passage of offensive flatus (gas) in addition to above symptoms.

4. Carbon Tetrachloride – Rare but Effective Medicine for Hookworm

This homeopathic medicine is well indicated and very effective for cases of hookworm. It is a great medicine for worms and parasitic infections. As recorded in homeopathic literature it has proved as a best vermifuge (a drug that helps to expel worms from the intestinal tract) for hookworm in the countries where this disease is very much pronounced. It remains effective in removing 95% of hook worms present in the body as per homeopathic writings.  

5. Sabadilla – For Colicky Pain in Abdomen

This medicine is prepared from seeds of the plant Sabadilla officinalis / Asagraea Officinalis having the common name cevadilla. It belongs to the family melanthiaceae of liliaceae. This medicine is useful for colicky pain in the abdomen. Along with this there is a sensation of turning, whirling and twisting in the whole abdomen. This is attended with violent urging for stool. Next it is also of help in cases where violent shootings, boring or digging type of pain in the abdomen is present. With this there is diarrhoea with liquid, stool that can mixed with blood. Abdominal bloating is also there. Lastly it is useful for burning or boring types of pain in the region of the navel.

6. Natrum Mur – When There is Weight Loss and Weakness

This medicine is prominent to bring improvement in body weight and weakness. Persons needing it have weight loss in spite of eating well and having a good appetite. They also have great weakness, tiredness and get exhausted very easily. Next they may have abdominal colic and also nausea. Sometimes they complain of cutting, griping pain in the abdomen along with much rumbling. Additionally they can have frequent, watery, profuse stool that passes out in a gush. It may be bloody also. Anaemia may be present in cases that need this medicine.

7. Silicea – Another Medicine for Colic

This is yet another medicine in the list to relieve colic due to worms. In cases that require it there is a cutting type of pain in the umbilical region. The pain may get better from warm applications. In some cases the abdominal pain is felt after a meal. This may be accompanied with excessive gas with much rumbling, gurgling and distended abdomen. Abdomen can be hard, tight and sometimes attended with pain on touching. With this bloody stool is present in a few cases. 

8. China – For Diarrhoea and Weakness 

This medicine is prepared from dried bark of plant Cinchona Officinalis also known peruvian bark. This plant belongs to family rubiaceae. It is highly valuable medicine for managing diarrhoea and weakness. It is indicated when stool is loose, copious and frequent. Excessive gas passes with it. The stool has an offensive smell. Excessive weakness occurs with this. There is also loss of appetite. Weight loss and anaemia may also be present along with above symptoms.

9. Sulphur – For Managing Skin Rash and Itching

It is a highly recommended homeopathic medicine for managing cases where skin rash and itching are present. The skin is dry and scaly where it is required. In most cases needing it the skin itching gets worse from warmth and in the evening time. When scratched burning sensation may be felt on the affected skin surface. 

10. Calcarea Phos – For Colic and Diarrhoea

This medicine is well indicated when there is sharp, cutting pain in the abdomen which is followed by diarrhoea. The colic is felt usually after eating. The abdomen pain is better by passing gas and also after passing stool. The stool is loose, green and contains multiple white flakes. The stool is very offensive. Persons needing it are thin, weak and may be anaemic. 

Inflammation in one or both the ovaries (a part of the female reproductive system that produces an ovum means the egg and the female hormones) is referred to as oophoritis. It is frequently seen in combination with salpingitis (inflamed fallopian tubes ) and in this case it is known as salpingo oophoritis. Homeopathic remedies for oophoritis  help in reducing the inflammation of ovaries and relieving the symptoms of this disorder.
As in most of the cases the inflammation doesn’t occur in ovaries alone and is accompanied by inflammation in other parts of female genitals like fallopian tubes so the term salpingo-oophoritis or  PID (pelvic inflammatory disease) are preferable terms.

Causes 

This condition is common in young females who are sexually active. Mostly it occurs due to sexually transmitted infections (STI’s). First example of such infection is gonorrhea (it is a STI caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae). Another example of this type of infection is chlamydia (this STI is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis). Next it can arise from bacterial infection that travels upwards from vagina, cervix and fallopian tubes. It may result for example during childbirth, from incorrect insertion of intrauterine device or inserting it without proper sterilization, from an abortion/miscarriage. Other than above it may occur from malfunctioning of the immune system known as autoimmune oophoritis.

Symptoms 

There may be no symptoms of oophoritis in some cases. When symptoms do arise, they can come slowly and gradually in some cases while in others they occur suddenly. The symptoms include pelvic pain or lower abdominal pain, heavy bleeding during menses, inter menstrual bleeding, excessive vaginal discharge that can be offensive, painful intercourse, bleeding during intercourse, pain / burning while urinating, difficulty in passing urine. In long run cases fever, chills and vomiting can also appear. 

If this condition is not properly treated in time then it can lead to damage of the ovaries and fallopian tubes. The damage to the fallopian tube increases the risk of ectopic pregnancy (In this case the fertilized egg in spite of attaching to the uterus is attached to outside the uterus like in fallopian tube, cervix, abdominal cavity). It also makes a female prone to infection and abscess ( a pocket containing pus) formation. In case the abscess bursts it can cause sepsis (which needs immediate medical help as it is severe and can be life threatening). It can also lead to infertility due to scar tissue and blockages.

Homeopathic Remedies for Oophoritis 

There is a good scope to manage cases of oophoritis in homeopathy. The symptoms including pelvic pain or lower abdominal pain, heavy bleeding during menses, inter menstrual bleeding, vaginal discharge, painful intercourse, bleeding during intercourse, pain / burning while urinating can be well managed with these medicines. The homeopathic medicines help in these cases by targeting to treat the root cause behind it. Use of homeopathic medicines is recommended in ovaritis cases that are of mild to moderate intensity and where no serious symptom is present. In cases where symptoms are of severe intensity and where symptoms indicate serious issues (like abscess or sepsis) then urgent help from conventional mode of treatment is strictly advised.

1. Apis Mellifica – Top Grade Medicine

It is a leading medicine for cases of ovaritis. Females needing it complain of sharp, stinging, burning or cutting pains in the ovarian region. This pain may extend down the thigh. The stinging pain may be worse during menses and also after sexual intercourse. There may be tenderness in the ovarian region during periods. The ovary on the right side may be enlarged. They may also have constant urging to urinate with passing little urine at a time. They also feel burning pain while urinating.

2. Sepia – To Manage Pelvic Pain 

It is a well indicated medicine to manage pelvic pain. In cases needing it the pain is mostly bearing down type. Pain, heavy weight and pressure is felt in the ovarian region. Congested feeling in ovaries or stinging sensation can also be felt. Along with this there may be vaginal discharges. These discharges are yellowish, greenish, lumpy or slimy and sometimes blood tinged. It has a bad smell. It gets profuse after urinating. Along with above there is frequent urging to urinate. Apart from above this medicine is also helpful for managing complaints of painful intercourse. 

3. Palladium – For Right Sided Ovarian Inflammation

This medicine is especially indicated for right sided ovaritis. The indications for using this are swelling in the right ovary with soreness. A drawing sensation in the right ovary is also there that radiates downwards. This worsens while standing and on motion. It is relieved by rubbing. A sensation of weight and bearing down in the pelvis also present. 

4. Lachesis – For Ovarian Inflammation on Left Side

This medicine is well indicated for managing left sides ovaritis. For using it the key feature is swelling of the left ovary along with pain which are sharp, shooting in nature. This worsens in the morning. There is relief in the pain during menstrual flow. Thick yellow, milky vaginal discharge may be present with this. It is profuse and leaves greenish stains. The menstrual blood is dark, dirty looking and offensive in most cases where it is required. 

5. Sabina – For Heavy Bleeding during Menses

This medicine is prepared from plant Sabina Officinalis commonly known as Juniperus sabina and Savine. This plant belongs to family coniferae. This medicine is well indicated for managing heavy bleeding during menses. Females who require it have profuse, gushing bright red bleeding during periods. The menstrual flow is mixed with dark clots. The bleeding tends to further increase from least motion. They have pain that goes from sacrum to pubis. Additionally they have vaginal discharges which are thick, yellow and very offensive. 

6. Phosphorus – When there is Inter Menstrual Bleeding

It is a very beneficial medicine for managing inter menstrual bleeding. For using this medicine the episodes of bleeding in between menses are frequent and bleeding is profuse. During periods pain in ovaries especially the left side is felt. This pain can extend down the inner side of the thigh. After periods weakness is there. 

7. Pulsatilla – To Manage Excessive Vaginal Discharge

It is prepared from plant Pulsatilla Nigricans also known as wind flower or pasque flower. It belongs to family ranunculaceae. This medicine is useful when there are thick, creamy, milky white vaginal discharges. This gets worse on lying down. It is attended with burning sensation and genital itching. Weakness occurs from vaginal discharges. 

8. Belladonna – For Pain in Ovaries during Menses

This medicine is prepared from plant deadly nightshade belonging to family solanaceae. It is beneficial for cases where ovarian pain is worse during menses. The pain is a burning or lancinating type. In most cases that need it there is enlargement, hardness of the right ovary accompanied with stitching and throbbing pains. Apart from above its use is also indicated for cases of inter menstrual bleeding. 

9. Podophyllum – For Pain in Right Ovary that Radiates down the Thigh

This medicine is prepared from plant Podophyllum peltatum also known as May Apple. It belongs to the family berberidaceae. Use of this medicine is considered in cases of pain in the right ovary that radiates down the thigh. The pain is shooting type. It gets worse before and during menses. A dragging sensation may also be felt in the ovarian regions.

10. Thuja – For Pain in Left Ovary 

It is a natural medicine prepared from fresh green twigs of plant Thuja occidentalis commonly named as Arbor Vitae. This plant is a family coniferae. It is specifically indicated for pain in the left ovary. The nature of pain for using it can be shooting, cutting, burning or squeezing type. This may radiate into the left leg sometimes. The pain gets worse from walking with need to lie down. Mostly the left ovary inflammation worsens during periods in cases needing it. 

11. Lilium Tigrinum – For Sharp Ovarian Pain

It is prepared from fresh stalk, leaves, and flowers of a plant commonly known as Tiger Lily. This plant falls under family liliaceae. This medicine is preferred in cases of sharp pain in the ovarian region. It is used for females having pain in the lower abdomen which can be cutting,  burning, stinging type. It may radiate down the leg. This region is also sensitive to pressure. Other than this it is a valuable medicine for managing dull pain in the ovary accompanied with offensive vaginal discharge.

12. Argentum Nitricum – For Painful Intercourse and Bleeding after Intercourse

This medicine is prominently indicated to manage complaint of painful intercourse and bleeding after intercourse. Other than this pain in right ovary and back is present which is mostly cutting in nature. Lastly it is indicated for inter menstrual bleeding with pain in the ovarian region. This pain may radiate to thighs.

13. Cantharis – To Manage Pain / Burning while Urinating 

It is a very effective medicine for managing pain / burning while urinating. This medicine is also useful if the pain and burning is present before urination or after urination. An attending symptom is a constant desire to pass urine. Along with above there is cutting, burning, stitching pinching type of pain in the ovaries.

Nervousness is a very common feeling that every person has experienced at some point in their lives. It is a feeling in which a person experiences fright, worry, anxiety, unrest, state of uneasiness and excitability all at the same time. Along with this palpitations are felt and sweat may appear on the palms along with shaking of the hands and blank mind. Homeopathic treatment of nervousness helps to reduce the intensity of nervousness and confront and deal with nervousness effectively.

It is normal to feel nervous in some situations. Some examples of common situations that can bring on nervousness in a person are going for an exam, attending a job interview, a doctor’s appointment, meeting strangers, business meeting or attending some major event in life  etc.

Nervousness can occur in children also. Some of the life situations that can lead to nervousness in children includes problem at school, school change, divorce of parents etc.

Causes

Nervousness may follow some fear, anticipation (an emotion that can be excited feeling, pleasure, anxiety experienced while waiting about some event that is going to happen in the near future) or apprehension (a state of fear worry that something bad or unpleasant is going to happen).

Many people tend to get nervous in certain life situations but in some people an underlying health condition intensifies the feeling of nervousness. Some of these health conditions include anxiety disorders, hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid gland). other than this use of some medicines can have nervousness as a side effect and caffeine intake is also known to cause nervousness.

Nervousness is mostly caused by stress. The feeling of nervousness arises from stress response by body from interplay between the hormonal and physiological responses which are helping to handle the fearful situation.

Under stress the body produces and releases adrenaline hormones in blood. As a result the symptoms including fast beating of heart, quick breathing and increased energy occurs. This can result in nervousness and anxiety.

Symptoms

Symptoms of nervousness include stress, fear of losing control, palpitations, sweating of the hands, shortness of breath, dryness of the mouth, trembling, confusion and dizziness.

In case of children restlessness, loss of appetite, distraction, loss of interest in favourite activities and getting tired easily are some of the symptoms.

Homeopathic treatment of Nervousness

Nervousness is a natural response by a person facing any situation new to him / her. This is temporary and it subsides when the cause gets over. But when nervousness occurs frequently and severely for very minor reasons or it is persistent that affects quality of life and interferes in doing daily chores of life then medical treatment is necessary in such cases. Homeopathy has a great role in such cases of nervousness. There are many homeopathic medicines that can help a person to help cope with persistent nervousness. These medicines are of natural origin and offer a very safe and alternative treatment option for these cases. They help to reduce the intensity of nervousness and confront and deal with nervousness effectively. Homeopathic medicines for treating these cases are selected individually for every case after detailed case analysis. Any homeopathic medicine for treating nervousness should be taken under the supervision of a homeopathic physician.

1. Argentum Nitricum – Top Grade Medicine

It is a leading medicine for these cases. Persons who need this medicine are nervous, anxious type personalities. In them the complaints usually arise from anticipation, apprehension. For example from anticipating some upcoming event which is going to be held in future, or going to a doctor etc. Along with nervousness and anxiety they may get diarrhoea from anticipation. They also have performance anxiety. They are also full of fears. Some of the common fears that they may have include fear of heights, crowds, dark, failing or as if some unpleasant event is about to happen. Other than above they are very impulsive and tend to do things hurriedly.

2. Aconite – For Nervousness, Anxiety, Panic Attacks

This medicine is prepared from plant Aconitum Napellus commonly known as monkshood. It belongs to family ranunculaceae. It is a highly recommended medicine for cases of nervousness , anxiety, panic attacks. Anxiety, fear of death and restlessness are key indications for using it. Along with above there is shaking of hands, trembling, palpitations, and tingling in fingers, arms are present. With this they do everything in great haste and move or change position frequently. Fear of going out of house, fear of crowds, of speaking in public, narrow places, darkness are there that causes nervousness, anxiety where this medicine is indicated.

3. Arsenic Album – For Anxiety With Trembling, Restlessness, Difficult Breathing

This is a great medicine for intense nervousness, anxiety, restlessness driving from place to place and flushing up. This is mostly attended with difficult breathing. Fear, trembling, cold sweating are present with this. Additionally weakness and loss of strength with desire to lie down are there.

4. Gelsemium – For Persons Who Have Sensitive, Nervous And Irritable Personality

This medicine is prepared from the bark of the root of plant Gelsemium Sempervirens commonly known as yellow jasmine. This plant belongs to family loganiaceae. This medicine is suitable for nervous, irritable, sensitive and excitable people. They feel nervous and fearful when appearing in public. They also get nervous from anticipation like when they have to attend an engagement or go to a dentist / doctor etc. In such situations along with nervousness they get emotionally excited, fearful with trembling and shaking. Diarrhoea is also an important symptom that happens along with these complaints. Apart from above they also marked anxiety about the present, future, and about health. Weakness, dizziness can also occur in addition to above given symptoms.

5. Kali Phos – For Nervousness, Anxiety With Sadness

It is a great medicine for nervousness, anxiety when arising along with sadness. Restlessness and trembling of the hands occur with this. There is also negative thinking where people view the dark side of everything. Persons who need it are very sensitive and have excessive weakness along with the above symptoms. Complaints arising from fright, grief and strong emotions calls for use of this medicine. Most people who require it have fear of crowds and open spaces.

6. Calcarea Carb – For Nervousness, Anxiety With Palpitations

This medicine is indicated when there is nervousness, anxiety attended with palpitations. Persons needing it feel shaking of body and fear of death along with anxiety. Sweating and nausea also accompany it. The anxiety usually is complained in the evening time by them. They also have some sort of fears like fear of some misfortune or something bad going to happen or of losing reason.

7. Lycopodium – For Nervousness And Panic Attacks

This medicine is prepared from plant Lycopodium Clavatum commonly known as club moss. This plant belongs to family lycopodiaceae. It is yet another prominent medicine for cases of nervousness, and panic attacks. In cases requiring it there is fear of breaking down under stress. Other than this nervousness with fear of public speaking, fear of failure and performing on the stage is present. There may also be fear in new situations attended with nervousness.

8. Ignatia – For Nervous Sensitive People

It is a natural medicine prepared from plant Ignatia Amara commonly known as St. Ignatius Bean. This plant belongs to family loganiaceae. This medicine is for persons who have a nervous and sensitive nature. Its use is considered for cases when there are ailments from fright, grief or hearing bad news. The anxiety that something terrible had happened persisted in such cases. With this anxiety there is fearfulness and terror. Fear of being embarrassed, losing control may be marked.

9. Silicea – For Nervousness And Performance Anxiety

This medicine is basically helpful for people who have nervousness and suffer from performance anxiety. They anticipate failure and are very fearful to speak in front of gathering of the people. They tend to avoid things because of fear of failure in them. They are generally over sensitive both physically and mentally. This is attended with a weeping mood. They are also very irritable and low – spirited.

10. Phosphorus – For Nervousness And Restlessness In Crowds

This medicine offers benefits when there is nervousness and restlessness in crowds. Other than this Phosphorus is useful for anxiety accompanied with feeling as if something bad is about to happen and restlessness. There is an inability to sit or stand still even for a while. Palpitations may attend it. Excessive sweating on the forehead also appears.

Pica is a disorder that refers to compulsive eating of non-food items or non-nutritive things by a person. For example, a person having pica may eat chalk, sand, ice, paper etc. The main symptom of pica is eating non-food stuff and it is diagnosed when this habit persists for at least one month duration. People with pica tend to eat a variety of non-food items. Some common ones are ice, clay, chalk, charcoal, coffee grounds, dirt, sand, soap, buttons, paper, paint, burnt matches, cigarette ashes and metal pieces. Some people with pica may eat their nose pickings, ear wax, wool, stones, wood, talcum powder, paper clips, thread, mucus, vomit, even their faeces or in some cases, faeces of animals. In some cases pain in the stomach, blood in the stool, diarrhoea (loose stool) and constipation may arise. They may also have damaged teeth from eating indigestible things.

Homeopathy offers a natural solution for mild to moderate cases of pica. With the help of homeopathic medicines, one’s desire to eat non-food items reduces gradually. Homeopathy addresses the underlying root cause of pica to provide excellent results. These are helpful for people of all age groups. They work in a very safe and natural manner without causing any type of harm at all.

Homeopathy provides individualized treatment to offer the best help in pica cases. Homeopathic medicines are selected individually for every case depending upon the type of craving and the attending symptoms that are present. The use of homeopathic medicines is recommended for some non-food cravings and for mild to moderate cases of pica in which no serious complication is present. In serious cases with attending complications, it is strictly advisable to take help from conventional mode of treatment.

Homeopathy is a 200-yr-old system of healing in which medicines boost body’s own healing forces to overcome health complaints. This also applies to pica cases where they stimulate the body to overcome pica. It is advised to take any homeopathic medicine for treating pica under the supervision of a homeopathic physician after a detailed case analysis. A complete course of homeopathic treatment under the guidance of a homeopathic doctor brings great recoveries.

Homeopathic medicines for pica have no side effects at all. These medicines are prepared from naturally occurring substances and are used in tiny and highly diluted forms that function only to relieve the complaint of pica with complete safety and no harmful reactions. Besides being safe another advantage of using homeopathic medicines is that they never cause any dependency. These medicines can be easily stopped when the results are as desired.

Top 7 Homeopathic Medicines For Pica

The top indicated homeopathic medicines for pica are Calcarea Carb, Alumina, Nitric Acid, Silicea, Veratrum Album, Nux Vomica and Lac Felinum.

1. Calcarea Carb – Top Grade Medicine

It leads the chart of homeopathic medicines for treating cases of pica. Its use is mainly recommended for persons who tend to eat non-food things like chalk, dirt, sand, slate and coal. There may be craving for eating pencils. A desire for eating soap may be present where this medicine is required.

When to use Calcarea Carb?

This medicine is suggested to manage pica where craving for chalk, sand, slate, dirt, pencils and soap is present.

How to use Calcarea Carb?

This medicine can be taken once a day in 30C power.

2. Alumina – For Craving To eat Chalk, Charcoal, Coffee Grounds, White Rags

Alumina is the next well-indicated medicine for those who desire to eat indigestible things. Its use is considered for persons who crave to eat chalk, tea or coffee grounds, charcoal. Next, it is used in cases where desire to eat white rags is there. In cases needing it, there may be constipation. The stool may be hard or even if it is soft, it is passed with great straining. The stool may not be passed daily and the person doesn’t wish to pass stool until there is a large accumulation.

When to use Alumina?

Alumina should be considered to manage pica with a desire to eat chalk, charcoal, coffee grounds, white rags, etc. This can be attended with constipation where stool passes with great straining.

How to use Alumina?

Alumina 30C can be used once a day.

3. Nitric Acid – With Desire For Lime, Chalk, Slate

It is another beneficial medicine for cases where desire for lime, chalk or slate is present. Along with these cravings, there may be some gastric complaints. In some cases, there may be attending diarrhoea (loose stool). The stool may be yellow or green and pass with a lot of gas.

When to use Nitric Acid?

It is recommended to use this medicine for cases of pica in which there is urge to eat chalk, lime or slate.

How to use Nitric Acid?

This medicine can be taken once or twice a week in 30C power.

4. Silicea – For Desire To Eat Mud

This medicine is beneficial for persons who have a desire to eat mud. They have loss of appetite and they have aversion to eating cooked food. There may be constipation with great difficulty in passing stool. The stool when partly expelled from the anus recedes back in the rectum. When stool is passed, it is followed by burning and smarting sensation at the anus. Additionally the abdomen may be hard, distended and bloated. A tendency of excessive sweating on head, hands and feet may be present where this medicine is required.

When to use Silicea?

The use of Silicea is advised for pica cases with prominent craving to eat mud. Some of its attending symptoms are constipation, bloated abdomen and a tendency of profuse sweating mostly on the head, hands and feet.

How to use Silicea?

Usually, this medicine is prescribed in 6X potency two to three times a day.

5. Veratrum Album – For Craving Of Ice

This medicine suits cases of pica where the person has a craving to eat ice. Additionally, one may suffer from diarrhoea. There is passing of frequent stool which is watery, greenish, profuse, gushing and mixed with flakes. Stool is offensive. It is accompanied with cold sweat on the forehead.

When to use Veratrum Album?

This medicine is of great help for pica cases with excessive craving for ice.

How to use Veratrum Album?

This medicine can be used in 30C potency once a week.

6. Nux Vomica – When There Is Craving For Eating Chalk

This medicine is helpful when there is a desire to eat chalk. A prominent attending symptom is constipation with ineffectual urge to pass stool. Here a person has frequent urge to pass stool but only a small quantity of stool is passed at a time. Soon after evacuating the bowels, the desire for passing stool is felt again. Along with this, pain and a sensation of weight is felt in the abdomen. This tends to get worse from eating. Stomach bloating, nausea, vomiting with excessive retching are other attending symptoms.

When to use Nux Vomica?

This medicine works well when there is craving for chalk in cases of pica. Constipation with frequent urge to pass stool is a prominent attending symptom.

How to use Nux Vomica?

One can take this medicine once or twice a day in 30C potency.

7. Lac Felinum – For Desire To Eat Paper

This medicine is particularly useful when there is a desire to eat paper. Persons needing it may also complain of soreness and sensitivity in the stomach. A heated sensation is also felt in the stomach. There is a loss of appetite along with these symptoms.

When to use Lac Felinum?

Lac Felinum is a suitable medicine to treat pica cases with desire to eat paper.

How to use Lac Felinum?

This medicine can be taken in 30C potency once in every 10 to 15 days.

Causes

Some people may eat non-food items just because they like their taste and texture and relish eating them. Sometimes in case of children who eat dirt, sand and other non-food items doesn’t indicate pica and may be it is just a child’s way of exploring his/her surroundings with senses. But in many cases, it could arise from some underlying health problem. Pica can arise in cases of nutritional deficiencies like that of iron, calcium and zinc. Mostly it is associated with iron deficiency anaemia. In some cases, may be the body is demanding non-food items to fulfil the nutritional demands of the body due to deficient nutrients. Next, it can occur during pregnancy. Pica can also be seen in persons having stress, anxiety and having some psychological condition. Few examples of these conditions include OCD – obsessive compulsive disorder (A psychological disorder in which a person has compulsions to repeatedly perform certain activities/behaviours or have repeated unwanted thoughts in mind) and schizophrenia (it is a serious psychological disorder characterised by abnormal interpretation of reality, hallucinations, delusions and disordered thinking). Persons with autism, intellectual disabilities and developmental disabilities are also at high risk of pica. Other than the above, it can be present in people belonging to certain nations where eating clay is common and is also acceptable. Also in people of some cultures eating certain non– food items is considered to have healing properties so it is considered normal.

Complications

The nature of complications depends upon the type of things eaten by the person. Eating certain things like ice doesn’t lead to any complication when the diet of a person is normal. But serious complications can occur in case a person eats other dangerous items like paint that may contain lead and cause lead poisoning. Some other complications of this condition include breaking of the teeth, choking, stomach ulcers, parasitic infections, blockage in intestines and injuries to the throat and GIT (gastrointestinal tract).

Malabsorption Syndrome refers to disorders in which the small intestines are unable to properly absorb enough nutrients (like carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals) from the food. Homeopathic remedies for malabsorption syndrome help in providing symptomatic relief and improving absorption power of the intestine.

Reasons

The small intestine plays the major role of absorbing nutrients from the partially digested food into the bloodstream. In case of malabsorption syndrome the small intestine is not able to absorb nutrients from foods properly. Malabsorption can also occur if there is a lack of the right amount of digestive enzymes.

Causes

Firstly, it can occur if there is inflammation or an infection in the small intestine that causes its damage and hinders in carrying out its normal function of absorption. The damage can also arise from some injury, trauma or surgery of the small intestine. Second important reason is celiac disease (It is an autoimmune disease in which eating gluten which is a protein found in wheat, barley and rye causes damage in the lining of the small intestine and hinder its function of absorption of nutrients from food in the sufferer. The main symptoms that result include diarrhoea, bloating, fatigue, weight loss, and anaemia). Third main cause is Crohn’s disease (It is one of the IBD-inflammatory bowel diseases that can cause inflammation in any of the segments of the gastrointestinal tract from mouth to anus. The symptoms that it causes mainly include diarrhoea, abdominal distension, pain in abdomen and weight loss). It can also result from excessive use of antibiotics and some other drugs like colchicine, tetracycline, irritant laxatives and radiation therapy. Another cause is parasitic disease (eg. giardia, or helminthiasis). Lactose intolerance or lactase deficiency is also one of the reasons behind it. Apart from these it can also occur in case of cystic fibrosis (It is an inherited disorder that mostly cause damage to lungs , but can also cause damage to also the intestines, pancreas, liver and kidneys) and from disease of liver, pancreas (pancreatitis) or gallbladder.

It can also result if the stomach does not produce enzymes properly and if there are problems with mixing of the eaten food with stomach acid and its enzymes.

Some of the rare causes includes tropical sprue (This disease is usually found in tropical regions in which there occurs inflammation of small intestine and flattening of villi which are finger like projections extending in lumen of small intestine that increase the surface area of intestine on inner side for absorption of nutrients), Whipple’s disease (It is a rare disease caused by bacteria Tropheryma whipplei that mostly affect gastrointestinal tract and the joints but may also affect other organs like brain, lungs, eyes, heart, joints, skin), short bowel syndrome (a condition in which some part of the small or large intestine has been removed / missing or damaged that doesn’t function properly)

Malabsorption syndrome may also be seen in case of congenital defects like biliary atresia which is a serious liver disorder in which the one or more bile ducts that carry bile from the liver are absent, narrowed or blocked.

Symptoms

Its symptoms depend upon the cause behind it, the type of nutrients which are not absorbed, the duration and severity of the condition. The symptoms also occur from deficiency of unabsorbed nutrients. Some of the main symptoms include diarrhoea, abdomen bloating, tiredness, gas, bad smelling stool, greasy / sticky stool, pale / white stool, bulky stool, cramps in the stomach and weight loss. Other than this if there is deficient absorption of fat then the stool is sticky, stool has an offensive odour and stool is light coloured. In case of protein deficiency there arise hair loss or dry hair and fluid retention. There may also occur anaemia, muscle wasting and bones may become brittle. In case of children the growth may be hindered and the weight gain in them is not at the right pace as compared to same age grouped children.

Homeopathic Remedies for Malabsorption Syndrome

Homeopathic medicines play a great role in managing malabsorption syndrome. These medicines help in providing symptomatic relief and improving absorption power of the intestine. Use of homeopathic medicines is recommended in these cases when they are of mild to moderate intensity. But in case the intensity of symptoms is severe or there is some serious / surgical cause behind it then it is strictly advisable to take help from conventional mode of treatment. The causes and the symptoms for this syndrome are highly variable and the homeopathic medicine is selected individually for every cause based on symptomatic picture. So one should take any homeopathic medicine for it after consulting a homeopathic physician who can best judge the medicine that will suit a given case of malabsorption syndrome after detailed case analysis.

1. Aloe – To Manage Diarrhoea

It is a natural medicine prepared from gum of a plant Aloe Socotrina that belongs to the family liliaceae. It is a very useful medicine for managing diarrhoea. The indication for using this medicine is watery, lumpy stool soon after eating or drinking anything. Sometimes mucus passes in the stool. Cramp in the abdomen is felt with this before and during stool. Another attending symptom to it is constant bearing down sensation in the rectum.

2. China – For Diarrhoea Attended With Marked Weakness

It is a natural medicine prepared from the dried root of plant Cinchona Officinalis also known as peruvian bark. It belongs to the family rubiaceae. This medicine is beneficial medicine for cases where diarrhoea is marked. In cases needing it the stool is loose, watery, profuse, frequent and passed along with much gas. The stool can be frothy and may also have an offensive smell. The stool occurs especially after eating. It is attended with intense weakness. Weight loss can also be present. Other than this there is excessive gas in the abdomen along with its bloating or distension. Persons needing this medicine may also be anaemic.

3. Lycopodium – For Gas And Abdominal Bloating

This medicine is prepared from plant Lycopodium Clavatum also known as club moss. This plant belongs to family lycopodiaceae. It is very effective for cases of gas and abdominal bloating. People who need it feel fullness and bloating in the abdomen soon after eating even a little amount. Rumbling, croaking, rattling in the abdomen is there from gas. They may also have gnawing, constrictive or burning pain in the stomach with this.

4. Silicea – For Weakness, Weight Loss, Diarrhoea

Silicea is another valuable medicine for many complaints arising when food is not properly assimilated in the body. Here this medicine firstly helps persons who have weight loss and who feel exhausted easily. Next it benefits persons who have chronic loose stool. In this condition they have frequent, liquid stool. The stool may contain undigested food particles. The stool has an horribly offensive odour. There may be bloating and hardness of the abdomen. Apart from all above this medicine also helps in cases where the bones have become weak, brittle.

5. Arsenic Album – For Managing Tiredness

Arsenic Album is a prominent medicine for managing tiredness, fatigue in these cases. Persons requiring it start to feel exhausted after little exertion. They want to lie down from fatigue. Other than this it is also well indicated for managing diarrhoea with copious stool having highly offensive odour. Lastly it is helpful for persons who are having weight loss issues.

6. Colocynth – For Relieving Stomach Cramps

It is prepared from pulp of fruit Citrullus colocynthis also known as cucumis colocynthis or bitter apple. This plant belongs to the family cucurbitaceae. It offers great help in managing stomach cramps. It gets worse by eating or drinking where it is required. Bending double, lying on stomach or pressure gives relief. Abdominal bloating can be present with this.

7. Alfalafa – To Improve Body Weight And Manage Exhaustion

This medicine is prepared from plant Medicago Sativa also known as California Clover or Lucerne. This plant belongs to the family papilionoideae. This medicine is known as a fat producer and helps in weight gain. Next it helps in managing weakness, exhaustion and improving stamina and energy levels in a person. Persons who need it may have a complaint of gas in the abdomen, distension of abdomen and cramping / griping pain in the abdomen.

8. Phosphorus – For Hair Loss Or Dry Hair And Exhausting Diarrhoea

This is a very valuable medicine for managing hair loss and hair dryness in these cases. Hair fall is excessive and is in bunches where this medicine is required. Sweating on the scalp may be present with this. Scalp may be itchy also. This medicine is also significant for cases where exhausting diarrhoea is present. In such cases the stool is yellow, or green, watery, profuse and gushing. It has a fetid or sour smell. It may have flakes of mucus or blood in it sometimes.

9. Ferrum Phos – To Manage Anaemia

This medicine is well indicated to manage anaemia in these cases. In cases needing it the face appears pale and earthy. There is marked weakness both on the mental and physical sphere. There is aversion to doing any exertion. Along with this there is thinning and weight loss. Loss of appetite may also be there.

10. Calcarea Phos – When Bones Become Weak Brittle Bones

Calcarea Phos is considered in cases where bones has become weak and brittle that are prone to break easily. The person needing it may also be anaemic. They may have green loose stool which is very fetid. Cutting or sharp pain in the abdomen may be felt before stool.

Blurred vision is a very common eyesight problem which means lack of sharp vision that causes difficulty to see clearly. It may occur in one or both the eyes. It may arise slowly gradually or all of sudden. Not all the cases are a reason for concern while others may need medical treatment sometimes urgent depending upon the cause behind it. Homeopathic medicines for blurred vision help in improving the vision as well as managing its attending symptoms like eye pain.

Causes

Firstly, it can arise from eye strain. The straining of eyes can result from using electronic devices (like mobile phone, computers) constantly for an extended period. Next it can arise from reading in dim light and driving for long hours without taking a break. 

It can also appear in case of nearsightedness (myopia – in which a person can see close objects clearly but the far away objects appear blurred to them), farsightedness (hyperopia – in this the sufferer can see distant objects clearly but the near objects are blurry to them), astigmatism (a vision problem arising from a defect in the shape of the cornea) and presbyopia (loss of your eyes ability to focus on close objects).

Its third reason is conjunctivitis (inflamed membrane covering the white of the eye) that can occur from viral or a bacterial infection. 

The fourth reason is keratitis (inflammation of the cornea). It can arise from an infection like from herpes virus or other infection. The risk of infection is raised from using contact lenses for a long time or using them without properly cleaning them. 

Another reason is iritis (inflammation of the coloured ring surrounding the pupil of the eye that controls the amount of light entering into the eye).

The sixth reason is uveitis (inflammation of middle layer of tissue in the eye wall)

A few other reasons include corneal abrasion (scratch on cornea), trauma / injury to eye, head injury, cataract (opacification of the eye lens), glaucoma (eye condition in which there occurs damage to optic nerve from abnormally high intraocular pressure).

Other than this, it can occur from age related macular (macula is an area near the center of the retina) degeneration  that results in a loss of central vision.

Dry eye syndrome (a condition arising from inadequate lubrication for the tears) is yet another reason behind it.

Blurred vision can also occur in case of diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure)

Apart from above, it can arise in case of migraine with aura, Ocular migraine (migraine involving visual disturbance), temporal arteritis (a condition arising from inflammation or damage of the temporal arteries) and optic neuritis (inflammation of the optic nerve responsible for transmitting visual information from eyes to brain).

Lastly there are some very serious causes behind it that need immediate medical treatment. These include detachment of retina (in which there is tearing of retina from the back of the eye resulting in loss of its blood and nerve supply), stroke (sudden cut off the blood supply to a part of the brain) and  transient ischaemic attack (stroke lasting less than 24 hours).

Symptoms

Some other symptoms that can occur along with blurred vision includes eye pain, redness in eyes, sensitivity to light (photophobia), double vision (diplopia), spots floating before eyes (floaters), eye discharge, itchy eyes,  headache, nausea, difficulty in speech and one sided weakness. The attending symptoms depend upon the cause behind the blurred vision.

Homeopathic Medicines For Blurred Vision

There is a good scope in homeopathy to bring improvement in cases of blurred vision. Homeopathic medicines help in improving the vision as well as managing its attending symptoms like eye pain, redness in eyes, double vision (diplopia), spots floating before eyes, eye discharge, itchy eyes, headache, nausea. These medicines are helpful in cases of mild to moderate intensity arising from mild causes. While in case of severe cases and those arising from some serious cause behind it urgent help is advised from conventional mode of treatment.

It is strictly advised to use any homeopathic medicine for cases of blurred vision under the guidance of a homeopathic physician. This is because only a homeopathic physician can find the suitable medicine needed for a case after detail case study and in case he suspects the blurring of vision to be arising from serious cause then he can advise to take urgent help from conventional mode as homeopathy has limitations in treating such medical emergencies. Some of the indications that are serious and alarm to take urgent help from conventional mode are sudden blurry vision or when it is attended with dizziness, problem in walking, numbness / weakness in one side of body or the face, leg,  arm, on one side of the body, facial droop, difficulty speaking or a severe headache and eye injury.

1. Natrum Mur – Top Grade Medicine For Blurred Vision

Natrum Mur is a leading medicine for managing blurred vision. Persons needing it have difficulty in seeing objects clearly. They also have frequent dimness of vision when reading and writing. Along with this they may also have complaints of double vision. Another symptom they have is seeing fiery, zigzag spots, streaks of light or black spots in front of the eye. They also have eye strain. Aching in eyes is also felt by them. In some cases needing it there may be redness of whites of eyes, watering from eyes, sensitivity to light, inflamed conjunctiva. Along with this there can be smarting, itching and burning in the eyes. It is also indicated for headaches accompanied with disturbed vision.

2. Gelsemium – For Blurred Vision With Headache

This medicine is prepared from the bark of the root of plant Gelsemium Sempervirens commonly known as yellow jasmine. This plant belongs to family loganiaceae. It is a significant medicine to manage blurred vision along with headache. Sometimes there is double vision also. Pain above eyes is felt with this. Next there can be black specks before eyes. There is also difficulty in reading and writing from dim vision. Heated sensation in eyes may occur with this. Pain in eyes is yet another attending symptom.

3. Phosphorus – For Dim Vision With Sensation Of Everything Covered With A Mist

This medicine is beneficial for cases in which there is dimness of vision with a sensation as if everything is covered with a mist. In such cases other symptoms that are present include double vision, and floating black spots before the eyes. It is an effective medicine for blurring of vision after reading. Lastly this medicine is well indicated to improve vision in cases of glaucoma. 

4. Ruta – For Blurred Vision With Eye Pain And Burning In Eyes

It is prepared from plant Ruta Graveolens commonly known as garden rue. This plant belongs to family rutaceae. It is a prominent medicine for cases of blurred vision with pain and burning sensation in eyes. It is also leading medicine for blurred vision with straining of eyes. It is indicated for blurring of vision from reading for an extended period of time and straining eyes at fine work like sewing. Along with above symptoms there may be watering from the eyes.

5. Physostigma – For Dim, Blurred Vision When Object Seems Mixed

This medicine is prepared from beans of plant Physostigma venenosum also called Calabar Bean.  This plant belongs to family leguminosae. It is indicated for those complaining of dim, blurred, hazy vision. To them the objects seem mixed together. They may also see black spots or flashes of light before eyes. Next they have pain in their eyes after using them. They also feel dull pain over the eyes and between the eyes. Sometimes they have double vision too.

6. Euphrasia – To Manage Blurred Vision And Itchy Watery Eyes

This medicine is prepared from plant Euphrasia Officinalis commonly known as eyebright. This plant belongs to family scrophulariaceae. It is very effective to manage blurred vision and itchy, watery eyes. Persons who require it feel better in blurred vision by wiping the eyes. They mostly have dim vision in the evening time. They feel everything is covered in a mist. With this they may have eye pain that can be burning, cutting, stitching in nature. It is a great medicine for managing cases of conjunctivitis and iritis.

7. Belladonna – For Blurred Vision, Eye Redness 

It is prepared from plant deadly nightshade. This plant belongs to family solanaceae. This medicine is useful to manage blurred vision and reduce eye redness. Along with this eye pain can be present. The pain can be aching, pressive or shooting type. Other symptoms that are there include dryness in eyes, a sensation of sand in the eyes and burning sensation in eyes. It also offers help to manage blurred vision along with headache (mostly throbbing type in the temporal region means sides or dimness of vision and eye discharge

This medicine is prepared from plant Pulsatilla Nigricans commonly named as wind flower. This plant belongs to family ranunculaceae. It is a significant medicine for managing dimness of vision and eye discharge. There appears a fog or mist before eyes where it is required. Along with this bright streak before eyes may be felt. A feeling of pressure in the eye is another accompanying symptom. It is also indicated for conjunctivitis with  profuse watering or discharge from eyes (yellow, thick) especially during the day and dimness of vision. Burning, itching and sensation of sand in the eye may appear with this.

9. Cyclamen – For Dim Vision Accompanied With Spots Before Eyes

It is a natural medicine prepared from the root of plant Cyclamen Europaeum commonly known as Sow – bread. This plant belongs to family primulaceae. This medicine is recommended when there is dimness of vision accompanied with spots or fiery sparks before eyes. There may also be flickering of different colours, glittering needles before the eyes. There is difficulty to differentiate objects clearly due to blurred vision. Headache is also present with this. 

10. Lac Caninum – For Headache With Blurred Vision And Nausea, Vomiting

This medicine is well indicated when there is headache attended with blurred vision and nausea, vomiting. Next symptoms that can be there include coloured spots before the eyes, difficulty in reading. During reading or looking at objects closely there appears a film over the eyes. Pain in eyes is also felt when reading.

Malnutrition is a condition that causes poor health from eating food that does not supply the right amount of one or more nutrients required for maintaining  healthy tissues and function of organs (undernutrition).The nutrients can be carbohydrates, fat, protein, vitamins or minerals. It may also result from over consumption of  wrong food like high calorie fat food (overnutrition). Though it can affect children of any age, it is mostly seen in young children. Homeopathic treatment of malnutrition uses natural methods to treat the root cause of the condition and should be used along side conventional treatment only.

Causes

Firstly it can occur from not taking enough food or taking diet of poor quality. Not taking a healthy and well balanced diet causes deficiency of nutrients leading to malnourishment. Poverty is one of the main causes in developing countries that cause lack of access to good nutritious diet. Next it can also occur if a child has problem with absorbing nutrients from some medical disease (eg crohn’s disease which is a type of inflammatory bowel disease in which  inflammation can occur in any section of gastrointestinal tract leading to symptoms of abdominal pain, severe diarrhoea, weakness, weight loss;  celiac disease Which is an autoimmune disease in which eating gluten – a protein found in wheat, barley and rye triggers an immune response in small intestine of sufferer. It damages the lining of the small intestine’s lining and prevents absorption of nutrients. In this condition diarrhoea, bloating, weakness, weight loss, and anaemia occur mostly). Thirdly it can result when a child takes diet having indigestible and harmful food items that may cause loss of appetite leading to malnutrition.

In case of newborns, those who are not breastfed have high chances of malnutrition because breast milk provides the important nutrients to the baby for proper development. Lack of breastfeeding can expose the child to malnourishment because it deprives the child of nutrients for growth and development. Other than this children who have premature birth or suffer from excessive vomiting, persistent diarrhoea (loose stool), pneumonia (infection that  causes inflammation of the air sacs in one or both lungs) have high chances of developing malnutrition.

Symptoms

The symptoms arising from undernutrition may include one or more of these symptoms including stunted growth (low height for age), being underweight, wasting (low weight for height or getting thin from rapid loss of weight or failure to gain weight), loss of fat and muscle mass, dry hair, brittle hair, dry and scaly skin, thin papery skin, increasing susceptibility of infections, hollow cheeks, sunken eyes, irritability, weakness, lethargy, impaired cognitive ability, slow intellectual development, mental retardation, anaemia, weak bones, weak immunity and catching the infections frequently and in severe intensity.

Intense protein deficiency leads to a condition called kwashiorkor that results in retention of fluid in the body and a protrusion of the abdomen. In this the child looks plump due to fluid retention and there is odema in legs and feet. Intense deficiency of calories results in a condition known as marasmus in which there occurs wasting and excessive loss of muscle and fat.

In case of undernutrition the signs and symptoms also depend upon the nutrient which is specifically deficient.  For example if iodine is deficient then there occur problems with thyroid gland and issues with growth and development. In case of vitamin A deficiency there may occur dry eyes, vision problems and can even increase risk of night blindness. Diet deficient in zinc may lead to diarrhoea, loss of hair, stunted growth, appetite loss. If iron is deficient then it may disturb brain function, and stomach problems and cause anemia (lack of healthy red blood cells to transport the right amount of oxygen to the body’s tissues).

In case of overnutrition there mainly occurs obesity and getting overweight. 

Homeopathic Treatment Of Malnutrition

Homeopathy offers supportive help in managing these cases. Firstly, a nutritious and well balanced diet needs to be started in these cases. Along with this and conventional help these medicines can be taken to treat the effects that have occurred from malnutrition (like weight loss, low immunity, weak bones, loss of fat, muscle mass, dry hair, dry skin). The homeopathic medicines can be taken for mild to moderate cases of malnutrition. These work by improving the body’s power to assimilate the food properly. However, in cases which are severe urgent help from conventional mode of treatment should be taken that may require intensive care and continuous monitoring. 

1. Natrum Mur 

This medicine is suitable for thin children having dry skin, earthy complexion. Their neck looks markedly thin. They are cross and irritable and cry easily. Along with this they have great weakness and tiredness. They get exhausted very easily. Hair loss may be present in them. They may be anaemic also.

2. Silicea

It is especially suited to weak, malnourished children who are thin and have emaciated bodies but with large heads. With this the colour of the face is pale waxy. They may also have swollen abdomen. They have a tendency to excessive sweating on the scalp, feet. They have poor stamina with a tendency to get easily exhausted. Their muscles and bones are weak. The hair is brittle and fragile in them. 

3. Abrotanum 

This medicine is prepared from fresh leaves and stems of plant Artemisia abrotanum commonly known as southernwood. It belongs to family composition. This medicine is well indicated for cases where emaciation of legs is prominent. Children needing it have pale, old looking faces, which are wrinkled with blue rings around the eyes. They are malnourished and have poor assimilation of food. They have decreased in muscle strength. 

4. Calcarea Phos

This medicine is prominently indicated for children who are emaciated with large abdomen. Their necks appear too thin and limbs are cold. They also have weak digestion. Next main characteristic feature to use this medicine is weak, thin and brittle bones. Along with this anaemia may be present. 

5. Lycopodium 

This medicine is prepared from plant Lycopodium Clavatum commonly known as Club moss. It belongs to the family lycopodiaceae. It is indicated for malnourished children with weakness of digestion. They have alternate diarrhoea and constipation. They also have excessive gas along with a bloated abdomen. Mostly wasting of the upper body is seen among them and the lower one has fluid retention. Their muscle power is weak. They have poor circulation of blood along with coldness, cold limbs. They are very irritable in addition to the above symptoms.

6. Baryta Carb

It is a very valuable medicine when there is stunted growth (low height), thinning of the body. In cases needing it the face of the child appears bloated and along with swelling of abdomen. He is mentally as well as physically weak. Mental dullness and slow intellectual development is also present. Low immunity with a tendency to catch cold frequently is also there.

7. China 

It is yet another significant medicine for these cases. It is prepared from dried bark of the plant Cinchona Officinalis belonging to rubiaceae. The indication for using it is excessive thinning of legs and arms. Children needing it have pale faces that look sickly with bluish rings around the eyes. Lips appear dry, blackish. Anaemia may be present in them. Another main complaint that they may have is diarrhoea along with marked weakness.

8. Alfalfa 

It is a natural medicine prepared from plant Medicago Sativa also known as California Clover or Lucerne. This plant belongs to the family papilionoideae. Its use is considered in case of malnutrition when weakness, exhaustion are marked. The child needing it is very thin with wasting of tissue and has a lack of appetite. This medicine helps to improve appetite, digestion and helps weight gain. 

9. Tuberculinum

This medicine suits children in which there is emaciation in spite of good appetite.  They have weakness, exhaustion and feel tired all the time. They have low immunity with a tendency to catch cold easily. They may have prominent diarrhoea with excessive wasting (weight loss).

10. Iodum 

Just like above medicine it is indicated where a child has weight loss and thinning even after having a good appetite. They have wasting of fat, muscles and glands in the body. With this I have excessive weakness. They have been sweating from doing slightest work. Their skin is dry, looks dirty yellow. Anxiety, restlessness, cross, irritable nature may be noted in them. Problems related to thyroid gland may be present in cases that require this medicine.

11. Natrum Carb

This medicine is indicated for children having weight loss with pale face and blue rings around the eyes or dark streaks under the eyes. Face may also look bloated. They also have marked anaemia. The skin is dry cracked in them. Exhaustion is also there. Mental weakness and slow, difficult comprehension can attend above symptoms.

Sarcoidosis is a disease in which tiny clumps of inflammatory cells (granulomas) grow in various organs of the body (most commonly the lungs and lymph nodes) causing its inflammation. Other parts affected include eyes, skin, heart, liver, brain, kidneys, bones, muscles, joints and spleen. Homeopathy for sarcoidosis should be considered only for supportive treatment, with conventional treatment being necessary for recovery or to reduce the severity of the symptoms. 

Causes

The exact cause of sarcoidosis is yet unknown. But it is thought to be arising from an autoimmune response. In this case the body’s immune system from a misdirected response to certain substances starts to destroy the body’s healthy tissue. But what triggers this response is not clear. As per few researches, bacteria, viruses, dust, chemicals or the body’s own proteins could be the trigger factor. The factors could make the immune system react abnormally that result in collection of immune cells in a pattern of inflammation called granulomas in various organs in persons predisposed to it genetically. The function of the organ in which the granulomas form gets affected. 

Any person can develop it but a person having a family history of sarcoidosis is at more risk of developing it. The chances of its development are little more in women as compared to men. The symptoms mostly appear in people between the ages of 20 and 60 years of age. 

Symptoms

In many cases no signs and symptoms arise. When these occur they depend on which organ is affected by it. In some cases the symptoms develop gradually and remain for many years. While in other cases the symptoms arise all of sudden and also get well quickly.

The general symptoms include fatigue, weight loss, swollen painful joints and swollen lymph nodes. When lungs are affected then the symptoms that arise include dry cough, chest pain, wheezing and shortness of breath. When it affects eyes then the signs and symptoms that may appear include pain in eye, blurring of vision, redness of eyes, dry eyes, itchy eyes, burning in eyes and sensitivity to light. In case of skin involvement there occur skin rash with bumps on skin mainly having red or reddish-purple colour mostly on the ankles or shin bone. These are warm and tender to touch. Other signs include dark or light coloured skin than usual, nodules under skin usually around scar tissue, sores on  nose, cheeks and ears. Next the symptoms from heart involvement includes chest pain, shortness of breath, palpitations, irregular heartbeat, fainting and edema .

Complications 

Many long term complications can arise in these cases. Firstly, it is related to lungs where it can cause fibrosis which means permanent scarring that makes breathing difficult. In these cases it may also lead to pulmonary hypertension. Secondly in case of eyes it can cause cataract (clouding of lens of the eye) and damage to the retina leading to blindness. 

Next when it affects the heart it may cause disruption of blood flow and abnormal heartbeat.  Other than this in case of involvement of kidneys it may cause kidney stones, hinder kidney function and can lead to kidney failure. Lastly when it affects the nervous system it may lead to paralysis of facial muscles.

Homeopathy for Sarcoidosis

Homeopathy offers a supportive help to manage symptoms of sarcoidosis along with conventional mode of treatment. Homeopathic medicine has a great scope to provide symptomatic relief in these cases. These medicines work by moderating the overactive immune system. Though these medicines can’t reverse the damage already occurred to the organs but can work to halt its further progression. They are effective to manage mild to moderate symptoms related to lungs, skin, joints, eyes, fatigue. The homeopathic medicines are selected based on the individual’s symptoms after thorough case analysis. So one must consider taking any homeopathic medicine under the guidance of a homeopathic physician. The homeopathic medicines are most helpful for mild to moderate cases but in severe cases one must take help from conventional mode of treatment. Some of the serious symptoms that need immediate help from conventional mode of treatment include intense difficult breathing, palpitations of heart, vision changes and facial numbness.

1. Bryonia Alba – For Dry Cough, Chest Pain

It is a natural medicine prepared from the root of the plant Bryonia Alba having commonly known as white bryony and wild hops. This plant belongs to the family cucurbitaceae. It is an effective medicine for managing dry cough and chest pain. To use this medicine the pain in chest pain is a sharp, stitching  type. Most times the pain gets worse from coughing and deep breathing. Cough is mainly dry, hard, hacking in nature. It gets worse mostly after eating and drinking. Sometimes vomiting occurs with a cough.  In some cases  brick / rust coloured sputum  is expectorated with cough. Other than coughing it also helps to manage joint pains and swelling. In this case the joint pains are worse from motion and better from rest in cases needing it.

2. Arsenic Album – To Manage Cough and Breathing Difficulty

It is a significant medicine to manage cough accompanied with breathing difficulty. Cough is short and dry for using this medicine. The shortness of breath is there which gets worse at night time. Along with this wheezing from the chest is prominently present. Sensation of contraction or tightness of chest is also there. Soreness in the chest can also be felt while coughing. An important symptom that occurs along with above is marked anxiety and restlessness.

3. Spongia – To Manage Dry Cough

Spongia is also a great medicine to manage dry cough. Persons who need it have dry, rough, short and irritating coughs. They feel extreme dryness in all the air passages. The cough gets worse mostly during night time. It may be better by taking warm drinks. Along with cough there may be difficulty in breathing and suffocation. Another attending symptom is burning sensation in the chest. Sometimes they also complain of whistling in the chest and pain in the chest on coughing.

4. Drosera – For Managing Dry, Irritative Cough

This medicine is prepared from plant Drosera Rotundifolia commonly known as round leaved sundew. It belongs to the family droseraceae. It is a suitable medicine to manage dry, deep, irritative cough. In cases needing it there occur frequent spell attacks of cough that follow each other rapidly. In some cases vomiting occurs with a cough. The cough may get worse from talking and during night time on lying down. Sometimes breathing difficulty is present with the above symptoms.

5. Arsenic Album – To Manage Fatigue

Other than cough and shortness of breath, It is a top listed medicine to manage fatigue. People needing it get tired, fatigued even from little exertion. They wish to lie down due to weakness. They suddenly feel weak Anxiety and restlessness may be present. In some cases needing it there is weakness at night time. There can also be weight loss along with above symptoms

6. Kali Phos – For Managing Weakness

Kali Phos is another well indicated medicine for managing weakness in these cases. Persons requiring it feel weak and tired. They feel fatigue for slightest causes. The weakness is present on both mental and physical spheres. This medicine helps to boost energy levels in these cases. 

7. Rhus Tox – For Swollen Painful Joints 

Rhus Tox is a very effective medicine to manage joint complaints. It is very useful to manage joint pain. It also offers help to reduce swelling of the joint and relieve stiffness of joints. Most people needing it complain of worsening joint complaints at rest. They feel relief from motion. They also feel better from warm applications.

8. Belladonna – For Redness and Pain of Eyes

This medicine is prepared from plant deadly nightshade. This plant belongs to family solanaceae. It is a well-indicated medicine for managing redness and pain in eyes. The eyes are red, congested in cases that require it. Along with this eye pain is marked. The nature of pain to use this medicine can be aching, shooting, burning type. This most times gets worse from light exposure and movement. Dryness in eyes can be marked along with above symptoms. A sensation as if there is sand in eyes may also be felt. Lastly sensitivity to light can be there in addition to above. 

9. Euphrasia – For Itchy, Burning Eyes

It is prepared from plant Euphrasia Officinalis having commonly named Eye – bright. This plant belongs to family scrophulariaceae. It works well in cases of itchy and burning eyes. Persons who need it may also have eye pain in their eyes. They usually have stitching, smarting, cutting, biting pain in the eye. The eye pain gets mostly worse at night time. Eyes are red with this. A feeling of dust or sand in the eyes attend above.

10. Apis Mellifica – For Managing Skin Rash

It is a prominent medicine for managing skin rash. Most persons requiring it complain of burning, stinging pain in the rash. They also have itching in the rash. They may have worsened itching from warmth. The skin rash may be sensitive to touch.

11. Graphites – For Dry, Rough, Skin Rash

It is well-indicated for managing dry, rough skin rash. This may be attended with itching that gets worse at night time. Other than this it is also indicated for nodules under the skin.

Delusions are defined as fixed, false, irrational beliefs despite evidence that they are false and not real. A person having delusions becomes preoccupied with the fixed beliefs that appear real to them. These beliefs can not be shaken even by providing facts or reasoning. Homeopathic Medicines For Delusions are natural, safe and very effective.  

Few examples of delusions include belief someone is spying on them, belief that some famous person is in love with them.

Causes

It is not exactly known what causes delusions. However, it is thought that certain genetic, psychological and environmental factors play a role in its development. These may run in families. Next brain damage / trauma and an imbalance between neurotransmitters (these are chemical messengers that transmit signals from nerve cells to target cells) may increase the chance of developing delusions. Mental stress and trauma can also trigger delusions. It can be a symptom of psychotic disorders (like schizophrenia – a psychological disorder in which a person interpret reality abnormally and have hallucinations, delusions, and disordered thinking), delusional disorder, major depression, paranoia, a mood disorder, a personality disorder, postpartum psychosis and parkinson’s disease. Some neurological conditions like dementia and brain cancer can also cause delusions. Certain drugs, alcohol intoxication and toxins are also known to cause delusions. 

Types

Bizarre Delusions : The delusions are said to be bizarre when the belief is physically impossible and other members of the same culture do not understand or share that belief. An example of this type is a belief that a stranger has removed his / her internal organs and then replaced them with someone else’s organs without leaving any scars.

Non – Bizarre Delusions : These delusions that though false but have possibility to occur in real life like being poisoned, being followed.

Mood – Congruent Delusions : These delusions are a part of the mood of a person like depression or mania.

Mood – Neutral Delusions : These delusions are not related to the sufferer’s emotional state.

Themes of Delusions

The delusions are based on various different themes but some themes are more common as follows.

Persecutory Delusions

Persons with these delusions believe that they are being spied on, followed, tracked, drugged, cheated on, a victim of a plot or a person is trying to hurt them or working against them. These are the most common delusions in paranoid schizophrenia.

Grandiose Delusions

Persons having these beliefs believe that they are  very powerful, important, famous, valuable and have extraordinary talent.

Delusional Jealousy 

In this type persons believe that their partners are unfaithful or having an affair without any proof.

Somatic Delusion

In this type individuals have false belief that they have something wrong with their body part, or a body part is damaged or diseased or a part of their body is missing. They may also believe that their body is infested with insects, worms, and bacteria.

Delusion Of Control 

Persons believe that their thoughts, feelings, behaviours are being controlled by another person or some external force. 

Religious Delusions

In this a person believes that he is god or chosen to act like god

Erotomanic Delusions 

Person has a belief that some famous person or a person of high social status is in love with him.

Delusion of Guilt 

it is common in people having depression with feeling of guilt 

Delusion of Infidelity 

Person has excessive jealousy or possessiveness toward another person.

Delusion of Reference 

Here a person has belief that the statement or remarks that he / she reads or hears have a personal meaning.

Cotard Delusion 

People with this believe that they have died and don’t exist.

Mixed 

The person has delusions of two or more themes.

Some other delusions include that the mind is being read by another person, that other person is thinking through his / her mind.

Homeopathic Medicines For Delusions

Homeopathy carries a great scope for treating cases of delusions. Homeopathic medicines for treating cases of delusions are natural, safe and very effective. Delusions based on various themes can be treated with them. These medicines help by gradually reducing the intensity and frequency of delusions. The results depend upon the severity and duration of the illness. Homeopathic medicines do not have any side effects and any risk of dependency. The most suitable medicine for treating delusions is selected by a detailed case analysis so any homeopathic medicine should be taken under the guidance of a homeopathic physician.

1. Lachesis – Top Grade Medicine

Lachesis tops the list of homeopathic medicines for treating cases of delusions. This medicine is mainly indicated for delusions of persecution. Persons needing it believes someone is pursuing them, they are being followed by enemies or enemies are trying to harm them. Another main belief that they may have is being poisoned. Jealousy and suspiciousness is marked among them. Other indications for using it are a person’s belief that some stronger power or superhuman is controlling them, or they are dead or there are robbers in the house  It is leading medicine for paranoid schizophrenia with delusions of persecution.   

2. Hyoscyamus – For Delusion Of Being Poisoned

This medicine is prepared from plant Hyoscyamus niger commonly known as Henbane. This plant belongs to family solanaceae. This medicine is well indicated for persons having delusions of being poisoned. They are very suspicious and fear to eat or drink for fear of being poisoned. They also have delusions of being betrayed, being sold or having some plot against them.

3. Stramonium – For Delusions Of Identity

It is a natural medicine prepared from a plant known as thorn-apple that belongs to the family solanaceae. Its use is indicated when delusions about identity are present. People needing it believe that they are tall, they are double, limbs are separated from the body, or a part of the body is missing. Another delusion they have is that all the surrounding objects are small and they are very large. Next delusion indicating its use is belief they are possessed by the devil. Other than this its use is recommended when there is delusion of being committed an unpardonable sin. Lastly, the delusion by a man that his wife is not faithful indicates use of this medicine.

4. Anacardium Orientale – For Delusion Of Being Under Superhuman Control

This medicine is prepared from a layer of nuts between the shell and kernel of the marking nut. It belongs to family anacardiaceae. This medicine is mainly indicated for cases where there are delusions of being under superhuman control. Next it is indicated for persons having delusions that they are double and delusion that mind and body are separated. Apart from these it is valuable medicine for delusion that everything is a dream and there is no reality in anything; delusion that a demon and an angel is sitting on shoulder commanding to do things.

5. Platina – For Delusion Of Superiority (Delusion Of Grandiose)

It is a prominent medicine for cases having delusions of superiority. It is indicated where a person feels as he is too large and superior and all persons around him are very small and inferior mentally and physically. Secondly it is indicated for delusions as if everyone is an enemy and all persons are devil. Lastly it is indicated for delusion of being not appreciated. 

6. Kali Bromatum – For Delusions Of Being Pursued And Of Conspiracies

Homeopathic medicine Kali Bromatum is beneficial for cases having delusions of being pursued and of conspiracies. Other than this it works well in cases of  profound depression with fits of uncontrollable weeping, indifference to life and religious delusions with persistent sleeplessness. Apart from above delusions of being a devil and fearful delusions are suggestive of its use.

7. Sabadilla – For Delusions Of Imaginary Diseases

This medicine is prepared from seeds of the plant Sabadilla Officinalis also known as Cebadilla and Cevadilla. It belongs to the family Melanthaceae of the Liliaceae. It is useful for cases presenting with delusions of imaginary diseases and sickness. It is also helpful for delusions that limbs are crooked or parts are sunken or one side of the body is longer than the other.

8. Lac Caninum – For Delusion Of Being Surrounded By Snakes

Lac Caninum is particularly indicated for delusion as if surrounded by snakes. In addition to above this medicine is also indicated for delusions of having a horrible disease and the whole body being filled with pus. Other delusions where this medicine seems indicated is delusion of spirit in the surrounding air and delusion of wearing someone else’s nose.

9. Sulphur – For Delusions Of Grandiose

It is beneficial medicine for delusions of grandiose. Person needing it believes that he is a great person. He possesses much pride and is very egotistical.

10. Hydrogen – For Delusion Of Being Separated From The World

It is well indicated for persons who have delusions of unreality and are separated from the world. It is valuable for persons having delusions that they are smaller than normal, that they are dirty or they are pulled downwards. It is also significant for cases having delusions of insects on the back of the head.