Homeopathic medicine Paeonia Officinalis is derived from a plant commonly known as ‘peony’. It belongs to family Ranunculaceae. To obtain homeopathic medicine Paeonia, fresh root of this plant particularly dug in spring undergoes potentization (process of preparing homeopathic medicines that extracts and intensifies medicinal properties from a crude substance). This homeopathic medicine has great clinical importance to treat numerous anorectal conditions among which it is extensively used for treating piles, anal fissures and anal fistula cases.

The ‘Paeonia Officinalis’ Constitution

Paeonia is the most suitable medicine for those suffering from anorectal complaints. It suits those prone to ulcers, especially, on the lower body parts like legs, foot, rectum, and additionally skin ulcers.

Drug Action

This medicine shows works wonderfully on the rectum, and related complaints — mainly piles, fissures and fistula. Other than this, it acts well in cases pertaining to skin, limbs, eyes, and throat. Lastly, it helps manage certain sleep-related problems.

Clinical Indications

Anal disorders, piles, anal fissures, anal abscess, anal fistula, ulcers, varicose veins, nightmares.

Scope As A Homeopathic Remedy

1.Rectum Complaints (Piles, Anal Fissures, Anal Abscess, Anal Fistula, Ulcers)

To pick the prime area of action of this medicine, it would undoubtedly be the rectum. It settles various concerns pertaining to the rectum. It is the best remedy to treat piles. Piles are swollen, enlarged, inflamed veins in the anus and the lower rectum. It is most beneficial when there are large piles or piles that ulcerate. Those who need it for piles-related issues, complain of intense intolerable rectal pain during and after the stool. They have swelling around the anal area. Next, there is itching, burning and a biting sensation felt around the anal along with above-mentioned symptoms. Constipation too is present.

Secondly, it is of great value for anal fissures treatment. Anal fissures refer to crack or tear in the tissue that lines the anus. Here the characteristic feature to use it are anal fissures that ooze a foul discharge. The discharge causes a constant wet feeling in the anus area. There is also intense pain during and after stool. An accompanying factor is that the anus becomes sore. The sufferer may feel a smarting pain in the region. It is also highly recommended to treat anal abscess and anal fistula cases. Anal abscess is a lump that is filled with pus near the anus. Anal fistula refers to an abnormal passage or a tunnel that forms between the anal canal and the skin near the anus. Furthermore, it proves to be highly effective in cases of ulcers that form in the rectum, anus and perineum (area between anus and genitals). Ulcers are very painful, sensitive and ooze fluid in cases that require this medicine. The ulcers around the anus and perineum are covered with thick crust of purple colour. Last indication for using it is diarrhoea (loose stool) with thin, and frequent stool, and there is burning sensation in the anus after passing the stool. It may be accompanied by a chilly feeling. Abdominal colic (pain) may be experienced along with loose stool.

Key Indicating Features

Piles that are large, ulcerated with intense, excruciating, intolerable rectal pain during and after stool

Anal fissure with oozing of foul-smelling discharge, and pain during and after stool

Anal abscess, and anal fistula

Ulcers in rectum, anus, perineum with pain and oozing of offensive fluid

2. Skin (Ulcers, Itching)

Paeonia acts well on skin to treat ulcers, varicose veins and itching. It is an important medicine to deal with cases of skin ulcers. It works well when the ulcers form mainly on the lower body parts like legs, feet and toes. It is one of the best suited medicines when ulcers occur due to pressure. For example, bedsores also named as pressure sores that may develop in a person who spend a long time in the same position that puts prolonged pressure on a particular body part. Another example is shoe bite. It is a leading medicine for healing ulcers that form due to repeated pressure and rubbing of feet against an ill-fitted shoe. It is highly recommended to treat ulcers on perineum when it tends to ooze an offensive fluid. Next ulcers forming around the sacrum (bottom part of back) also heal well with this medicine. One can also use this medicine in varicose veins (swollen, enlarged, twisted, engorged veins due to back flow of blood in veins due to defective valves in veins). Lastly, it is helpful in managing itching on the calve area (back portion of the lower leg) if it gets better from rubbing. Itching on the head, limbs, and the chest with burning, and biting sensation is another important indication pointing towards its use.

Key Indicating Features

Ulcers on the lower body parts like legs, feet, toes, around sacrum

Bedsores

Shoe bite

Ulcers on perineum that ooze an offensive fluid

3. Limbs (Pain, Ulcers, Corns)

It acts well on the skin and can effectively deal with pain, weakness of legs, ulcers, and painful corns. It can be administered to manage pain in the knees (mainly on the right side), toes, fingers, wrist, upper arm and the ankles. The pain is usually crampy in nature. If the pain is in the fingers one feels shooting pain. In case of pain in the upper arm, it is administered mostly when the pain is felt on the right-side and radiates to the elbow.

In case of pain in the toe, the pain is sticking in nature along with swelling and contracted feeling. In the wrist, the pain is mostly felt on the left side and the pain is sticking, and griping in nature. Ankle pain is weary in nature that is felt mainly while sitting. Paeonia can be used to manage weakness in legs that hinders walking. It also helps treat ulcers on the legs and the toes. This medicine is of great use when ulcers form on the right leg with intense shooting pain. It is specifically indicated for ulcers on the big toe on the left side. Besides these, it gives good results in cases of painful corns (corns are thick, hard skin area forming mainly on feet due to excessive friction and pressure).

Key Indicating Features

Cramping knee pain on the right side

Right-side upper arm pain radiating to the elbow

Ulcers on the right leg, and left toe

Painful corns

4. Eyes (Dryness, Itching, Burning, Conjunctivitis)

By acting on the eyes, Paeonia can settle complaints including dryness, itching, burning and conjunctivitis. Its use is suggested to relieve dryness of the eyes and eyelids wonderfully. Smarting sensation in the eyes can attend with difficulty in opening the eyes. One may find great relief in itching and burning of eyes too with this remedy. It can manage conjunctivitis (inflammation of the conjunctiva which is the membrane lining the eyeball and eyelid) cases when there is excessive eye watering.

Key Indicating Features

Dryness of eyes and eyelids

Itching and burning in the eyes

Conjunctivitis with profuse eye watering

5. Throat (Burning, Sticky Mucus)

Paeonia acts on the throat where it manages heated and burning sensation in throat. There can be scraping sensation in the throat as well that causes coughing and hawking. Swallowing is difficult too. It can offer relief in sticky mucus in the throat leading to hawking.

Key Indicating Features

Heat and burning in throat

Sticky mucus in throat resulting in hawking

6. Sleep Issues (Nightmares, Unrefreshing Sleep)

One may find this medicine quite helpful for certain sleep issues. Major among these is nightmares. Persons needing it have frightful dreams and may dream of ghosts, death of relatives, etc. It is of great service to a person who has had an unrefreshing sleep disturbed by multiple dreams. It can also give good results in case of restless sleep.

Key Indicating Features

Nightmares, frightful dreams, dreams of ghosts and dreams of death of relatives

Disturbed sleep from multiple dreams

Modalities

Worsening factors: Complaints get worse during stool, from touch, pressure and movement

Dosage

Its use is recommended in both low and high potencies. If using it in low potency, then repetition can be done frequently. But in higher potencies frequent repetition should be avoided.

Relationship with Other Remedies

Antidoted by: Aloe Socotrina and Ratanhia

It can be compared with some other homeopathic remedies that includes Hamamelis, Silicea and Aesculus

 

Homeopathic medicine Hamamelis Virginiana is derived from the plant ‘witch hazel’. It belongs to family Hamamelidaceae. The fresh bark of twigs and roots of this plant are potentized as per homeopathic formula that extracts and intensifies its medicinal properties. Through potentization process, it becomes a very significant homeopathic medicine Hamamelis Virginiana. It is one of the best homeopathic medicines for treating cases of bleeding piles, varicose veins and controlling bleeding from various body parts (example nose, rectum, gums, etc).

The ‘Hamamelis Virginiana’ Constitution

This medicine is well suited to persons who have a tendency to suffer from complaints related to venous blood congestion, for example piles, varicose veins, etc.

Drug Action

Among its various actions, the two most prominent ones are to control hemorrhage (bleeding) from various organs and reduce venous blood congestion. Its main action is seen on veins of rectum where it is highly suitable to relieve venous congestion and treat bleeding piles and rectal bleeding. Another important action is noted on the veins of legs where it works wonderfully to reduce venous engorgement, abnormal blood accumulation in veins and treats varicose veins. Hamamelis Virginiana manifests its action on skin, nose, mouth, eyes, urinary organs and male and female genitals.

Clinical Indications

Hemorrhages (bleeding), bleeding piles, rectal bleeding, dysentery, anal fissures, varicose veins, varicose ulcers, inflammation of veins, nose bleeding, bleeding gums, varicocele, orchitis (inflammation of testes),  bruises, joint pain, sore pains, eye pain, black eye, iritis, conjunctivitis, intraocular hemorrhage, burns, menstrual disorders, ovaritis (inflammation of ovaries), vaginismus, hematuria (blood in urine).

Scope As A Homeopathic Remedy

1. Rectal Complaints (Bleeding Piles, Rectal Bleeding, Dysentery, Anal Fissures)

Hamamelis has marked action on rectum where it helps to treat various concerns related to it. It has the highest affinity to treat bleeding piles. Piles are swollen and engorged, inflamed veins in anus and lower rectum. This medicine has shown great clinical improvements when piles bleed profusely. Due to bleeding, intense weakness is felt. It is attended with rawness and soreness of anus. There is fullness and a sensation of weight in rectum. Anal itching is also felt. Stool is constipated and hard. Hamamelis is also well indicated to control rectal bleeding of dark-colored blood from other reasons too, apart from piles. It is a brilliant medicine to help cases of dysentery that refers to intestinal infection causing loose stool with blood and mucus. In such cases, the characteristic feature is the passage of tar-like blood in stool in large amounts. The blood is dark or sometimes clots of blood with mucus is excreted in stool. There is cramping pain around navel before passing stool. Tenesmus (sensation of incomplete defecation even when nothing is left in rectum) is well marked. It is successfully used to manage ulcers in intestine with passage of dark blood. Another complaint where it is beneficial is anal fissures, with excessive pain while passing stool and burning at anus after passing stool.

Key Indicating Features

Bleeding piles that bleed profusely

Rectal bleeding of dark-colored blood

Dysentery with passage of tar-like blood in stool in large amounts

Ulcers in intestine along with passage of dark blood

Anal fissures with intense pain during stool and anal burning after stool

2. Limbs (Varicose Veins, Varicose Ulcers, Inflammation Of Veins, Joint Pain)

This medicine also acts on the limbs where it is most valuable to treat many problems. Among these, it has wide action on veins and it treats well cases of varicose veins (swollen, enlarged, twisted veins), varicose ulcers, and inflammation of veins. In varicose veins, the veins are hard and knotted. Here it is considered when there is excessive pain in the limbs with difficulty in moving about. There is dull dragging pain in legs. Hamamelis is also recommended in cases of varicose ulcers, stinging, burning, biting and pricking is marked. The ulcers are circular, black, and may discharge thin pus with bad smell or blood. For inflammation of veins (phlebitis), it is recommended when there is prickling pain. Besides veins, its action is also noted on joints and muscles. The joints and muscles feel sore. There is pain and stiffness in shoulders. Pain gets worse from motion. Elbow joint is stiff with dull pains. There is lancinating pain in wrist joint especially left side. Among muscles, there is pain in flexor muscles of hands, wrists and fingers. The right biceps muscle feels tender. There is soreness in thigh muscles as if bruised.

Key Indicating Features

Varicose veins that are hard, appear knotted with, dull, dragging sensation and pain in the limbs with difficulty in moving about

Varicose ulcers with stinging, burning, biting and pricking

Varicose ulcers that are circular, black-colored and discharge thin pus with bad smell or blood

Inflammation of veins with prickling pain

Soreness of muscles and joints

3. Eyes (Eye Pain, Black Eye, Iritis, Conjunctivitis, Intra – Ocular Haemorrhage)

With its action on eyes, Hamamelis settles complaints including eye pain, black eye, iritis, conjunctivitis. It is capable to relieve soreness in eyes. For cases of black eye (bruise around the eye from an injury to face or head), it can work wonders. It is effective for cases of iritis (the inflammation of the colored part of iris) and conjunctivitis (inflammation of transparent membrane lining the eyelid and eyeball). In case of inflammation, eyes look bloodshot (look red from congested blood vessels). It can also be given to manage headache from eyestrain.

Key Indicating Features

Soreness in eyes

Black eye

Iritis and conjunctivitis with bloodshot eyes

4. Nose (Nose Bleeding, Sneezing, Cold)

By acting on nose, Hamamelis has a great ability to manage complaints of nose bleeding. It can be used when nasal bleeding is profuse and attended with tightness at the bridge of the nose. A pressure is also felt in the forehead between the eyes. Other than this, its use is considered when there is sneezing with watery discharge from nose that causes burning in nose. Bad smell emanates from nose which also feels blocked.

Key Indicating Feature

Profuse nasal bleeding attended with tightness at the bridge of nose

5. Mouth (Bleeding Gums, Burns)

Hamamelis is of great help in treating bleeding from gums after tooth extraction. It is useful for cases where gums are spongy, sore, painful and bleed frequently and blood is dark-colored. The second important guiding feature to use it is burns on the tongue and lips. A metallic, bloody taste in mouth may accompany.

Key Indicating Features

Bleeding from gums after tooth extraction

Soreness and pain of gums with dark-colored bleeding

Burns on the tongue and lips

6. Male Problems (Varicocele, Testes Pain, Nightly Emissions)

This medicine can treat many male problems magnificently. Hamamelis is one of the best-suited medicine for treating varicocele (enlarged veins within scrotum). It also acts wonderfully to manage inflammation of testes (orchitis) and pain in testes. The testes are swollen, sore and pain gets worse from touch. The pain can be drawing, aching or excruciating type. This medicine is helpful for cases of emissions at night with sexual dreams. This is followed by sadness, weakness and pain in lower back. Its last indication is inflamed urethra (urethritis) with discharge of transparent mucus and pain.

Key Indicating Features

Varicocele

Inflammation of testes and pain worse from motion

Emissions at night with sexual dreams, followed by sadness, weakness and lower backache

6. Female Problems (Heavy Menses, Intermenstrual Bleeding, Ovaritis, Vaginismus)

In women, this medicine can be of great benefit to manage excessive menstrual bleeding of dark blood. There is soreness on abdomen, weakness and pain in lower back. This medicine is highly preferred for managing intermenstrual bleeding too. It acts well in cases of inflammation of ovaries (ovaritis). The pain in ovary can be cutting or tearing type along with swelling and tenderness. Its use is highly indicated for ovaritis resulting from a blow or an injury when soreness is felt in the entire abdomen. Additionally, it can effectively deal with vaginismus (spasm of vaginal muscles when something is trying to enter it) cases. Its use in treating sore, bleeding nipples is also noteworthy.

Key Indicating Features

Heavy menses with dark bleeding, sore abdomen, weakness and pain in lower back

Intermenstrual bleeding

Inflammation of ovaries and ovary pain of cutting or tearing type and swelling and tenderness

Ovarian inflammation after a blow or an injury with soreness in the whole abdomen

7. Urinary Issues (Blood In Urine, Kidney Pain)

Hamamelis is highly valuable for cases of hematuria (blood in urine). This is attended with a frequent urge to urinate. It is an important medicine for managing kidney pain as well. For using it here, the pain is mainly dull aching type.

Key Indicating Feature

Hematuria (blood in urine)

8. Skin (Bruises, Burns, Skin Ulcers, Chilblains)

Lastly, Hamamelis acts on skin to manage various concerns. It is a significant medicine to treat bruises. Bruises means black, blue or purple skin discoloration due to damaged blood vessels under the skin resulting in pooling of blood underneath the skin that typically arises from an injury. Its use is also done in burn cases to alleviate pain. Other than this, it is effective in treating skin ulcers with thin, watery pus having bad odor. Lastly, it is well indicated for chilblains that have turned blue.

Key Indicating Features

Bruises

Burns for pain relief

Skin ulcers with thin, watery pus having bad odor

Chilblains blue in color

Modalities

Worsening factors: Complaints get worse from motion, touch, from exertion and in open air.

Dosage

This medicine works well in both low and high potencies. The potency varies from case to case. In low potencies, it can be repeated frequently. Frequent repetition of high potencies should be avoided.

Relationship with Other Remedies

Antidoted by: Arnica, Camphora, China and Pulsatilla

Followed well by: Arnica

 

The remedy Zincum Metallicum is derived from metal zinc which undergoes potentization. With this process, zinc is converted into a very important homeopathic medicine Zincum Metallicum. Potentization is a process of preparing homeopathic medicines by arousing the medicinal properties of a crude substance.

This medicine is highly recommended to treat various complaints related to nerves mainly tremors, twitchings, nerve pain and nerve weakness.

The ‘Zincum Metallicum’ Constitution

This medicine is highly suitable for persons suffering from nerve-related complaints like tremors, twitching, numbness, etc

Drug Action

Zincum Metallicum has marked and widespread action on the brain, nervous system and nerves. Other areas of its action include mind, neck, back, spine, face, head, eyes, female genitals and skin. Zincum Metallicum manages mental issues arising from suppressed eruptions, suppressed discharges, and head injury.

Clinical Indications

Tremors, twitching, brain fag, chorea, convulsions, epilepsy, nerve weakness, neuralgias, Parkinson’s Disease, restless leg syndrome, meningitis, ataxia, formication, fatigue, back pain, neck pain, spinal irritation, spine disorders, trigeminal neuralgia, squinting, ptosis, pterygium, conjunctivitis, suppressed eruptions, varicose veins, somnambulism

Scope As A Homeopathic Remedy

1. Complaints related to nerves and brain (tremors, twitching, brain fag, chorea, convulsions, neuralgias, Parkinson’s disease, restless leg syndrome, meningitis, ataxia)

Zincum Metallicum is a great nerve remedy. Among various areas of its action the most important action is on brain, nervous system and nerves. It proves highly effective in treating numerous nerve issues.

Firstly, it acts wonderfully to manage trembling of hands and feet. It works well when hand trembling occurs at rest or while writing. Trembling of feet may result in frequent stumbling, sometimes all the limbs may tremble. There may be trembling from the slightest emotional excitement. There may be worsening of symptoms of trembling of hands and feet during menses.

Zincum Met is one of the top grade medicines to manage Parkinson’s Disease. It is a nervous system disorder beginning with tremors in hands at rest which is followed by other issues like slow movements, impaired posture, balance issues, muscle stiffness and changes in speech.

This medicine is very beneficial for managing muscle twitchings (involuntary muscle contraction). It offers help in cases of twitching of facial muscles, eyelids and muscles of the upper lip, especially on left side.

Another main use of Zincum Met is to relieve nerve pain (neuralgia). It can be used for medical conditions like facial/trigeminal neuralgia, intercostal neuralgia and post-herpetic neuralgia.

Trigeminal neuralgia refers to intense excruciating pain in the face resulting from compression, damage or injury to trigeminal nerve. Persons needing it for this complaint have worsening facial pain from touch and in the evening time.

Intercostal neuralgia is nerve pain in the area just under the ribs, Zincum Met relieves pain mostly on the left side, especially when movement and tiredness make it worse.

Post herpetic neuralgia is a complication of shingles (viral infection causing painful skin rash caused by varicella zoster virus) in which burning pain persists for a long time after the rash has healed.

Its use is recommended for chorea cases also. Chorea refers to repetitive, rapid involuntary muscle movement, here the main symptom to use it is chorea caused by fright or suppressed eruptions. The jerking occurs in the whole body during sleep, at times accompanied by screaming.

Other than these, Zincum Met gives superb results in restless leg syndrome (RLS) which is a condition in which there is uncontrollable urge to move legs due to some uncomfortable sensation in legs.

People who experience formication (sensation of insects crawling under the skin) on feet and legs may also find this medicine helpful. It gets better by applying pressure and rubbing in cases needing this remedy.

It is a valuable medicine for managing locomotor ataxia cases. In ataxia, there is lack of muscle control and coordination of muscle movement. A person has stumbling gait, sometimes there may be lightening like pain in ataxia cases with sweaty feet.

Zincum Met is a leading medicine in homeopathy for managing brain and nerve fatigue (tiredness). Brain fatigue due to excessive and prolonged studying sessions can be managed with this medicine in a very effective manner. It also has great capability in helping cases of brain fag which is a set of symptoms including loss of concentration, memory problems, confusion of mind and sleep-related problems.

Its use is considered in meningitis (inflammation of meninges – membranes covering brain and spinal cord) attended with sharp pain in head.

Lastly, it can be used for managing convulsions (fits), mainly the ones that occur during dentition. There is twitching of shingle muscle, rolling of eyes, and gnashing of teeth. Another very prominent indication is convulsion after childbirth and from suppressed eruptions.

Key Indicating Features

Trembling of hands and feet

Parkinson’s disease

Twitching of facial muscles, eyelids and muscle of upper lip on left side

Neuralgia – trigeminal neuralgia, intercostal neuralgia and post herpetic neuralgia

Jerking in whole body during sleep, at times with screaming

Restless Leg syndrome (RLS)

Formication on feet which gets better from pressure and rubbing

2. Neck And Back (Pain, Stiffness, Burning In Spine)

It shows effective action on neck, back and spine. It is well indicated to manage pain and stiffness in neck. The pain can be cramping or tearing in nature. One feel tired feels tired as pressure is mostly felt on the neck after mental exertion and from writing. There is marked pain in the neck muscles at night. Pain from the side of the neck may extend to the shoulders. Zincum Met gives excellent results in cases of lower back pain which gets worse while sitting, stooping or turning in the bed. Lower back feels weak on standing for too long but gets better from continuous walking. A very important symptom is burning sensation along the spine which gets worse on sitting.

Key Indicating Features

Pain, stiffness, tiredness in neck

Lower back pain worse when sitting, from stooping, turning in bed and better from continuous walking

Burning sensation along the entire spine worse when sitting

Sensitive spine that cannot bear touch

3. Face (Twitching And Trigeminal Neuralgia)

Zincum Met can treat twitching in the face and trigeminal neuralgia. Twitching means involuntary jerking or contraction of muscle. Along with facial twitching, there may occur nausea and vomiting. In case of trigeminal neuralgia, it can be used when the complaint gets worse in the evening. The face is sensitive to touch and sometimes stitching pain is felt as from needles piercing the face.

Key Indicating Features

Twitching of facial muscles

Trigeminal neuralgia worse in evening and from touch

4. Head And Scalp (Manage Headache, Head Injury, Hydrocephalus And Hair Fall)

This medicine successfully manages headache, head injury, hydrocephalus and hair fall. The foremost indication for its use is headache occurring from drinking wine even in very small quantity. Pain in the head is attended with low vision. There is aching in temples of head with pressive pain on top of head and root of nose. Violent throbbing and tearing pain is felt in the whole head. Zincum Met is also recommended in cases of head injury followed by constant pain in the head which gets worse on walking. Another complaint where it is useful for management is hydrocephalus (fluid build-up in the ventricles of brain). Here its use is suggested when the person shows symptoms like rolling his head from side to side in pain, presses head against the pillow to get relief, there is constant motion of his feet and keeps grinding his teeth. Lastly, it works well to reduce in hair fall cases particularly when hair fall occurs from top of the head. It is attended with soreness of the scalp.

Key Indicating Features

Headache occurring from drinking wine even in very small quantity

Head injury followed by constant pain in head worse from walking

Hydrocephalus with symptoms like rolling of head from side to side, boring head in pillow, constant motion of feet and teeth grinding

5. Eyes (Twitching, Squinting, Ptosis, Pterygium, Conjunctivitis)

The major indication for its use is twitching of eyelid specifically lower eyelid on left side. It is also recommended in cases of squinting and ptosis (drooping of upper eyelid). Further use is indicated to treat pterygium cases attended with itching, smarting and excessive eye watering (lachrymation). Pterygium refers to abnormal tissue growth on the conjunctiva. Lastly, it is helpful in treating conjunctivitis (inflammation of the membrane covering eyelid and eyeball) with redness and pain which worsens at night.

Key Indicating Features

Twitching of eyelid specifically lower eyelid on left side

Ptosis (drooping of upper eyelid)

6. Female Problems (Heavy Menses, Vaginal Discharge, Ovarian Pain, Nymphomania, Hair Fall)

Females may find this medicine quite useful for managing certain complaints. It is firstly indicated for early, and heavy menses with the flow increasing while walking. It is attended with pain and bloated abdomen. Secondly it is useful for vaginal discharge that is blood-stained after menses attended with burning and itching. It can help cases of ovarian pain, mainly in the left ovary. During ovarian pain, there occurs pain in the limbs with an urge to move them constantly. A very significant symptom is relief in ovarian pain from excessive menstrual flow. Zincum Met is well-indicated to control excessive sexual desire in women (nymphomania). It also helps to manage hair fall from genitals of females.

Key Indicating Features

Early, heavy menses with pain and bloated abdomen

Blood-stained vaginal discharge after menses attended with burning and itching

Ovarian pain which gets better from excessive menstrual bleeding

7. Sleep Issues (Jerking, Disturbed Sleep, Sleepwalking)

Certain sleep issues can be magnificently managed with this remedy. It is a well indicated medicine for jerking during sleep, cries out and wakes frightened and startled from sleep. Loud screaming occurs during sleep. It can be given for disturbed sleep from cramps in legs, and headache. Lastly, it is indicated for treating sleepwalking (somnambulism) following suppressed eruptions.

Key Indicating Features

Jerking and waking up frightened from sleep

Disturbed sleep from cramps in legs and headache

Sleepwalking following suppressed eruptions

8. Skin Complaints (Suppressed Eruptions, Itching, Varicose Veins)

Lastly it acts well on the skin. A very well-known action of this medicine is to help complaints caused from suppressed eruptions (e.g. nerve-related complaints like chorea, convulsions, etc). It helps treat varicose veins (enlarged, dilated, twisted veins) on legs and varicose veins of genital organs. It can be given in cases of eczema of hands. In cases of itching in the hollow of knees, this medicine tends to works wonderfully to relieve it.

Key Indicating Features

Complaints arising from suppressed eruptions

Large varicose veins on legs and varicose veins of genital organs

Itching in hollow of knees

Modalities

Worsening factors: Complaints get worse from exhaustion, suppressed discharges or eruptions, noise, taking wine, consuming milk, and after eating

Relieving factors: Complaints get better by discharge, movement, appearance of eruptions, rubbing, scratching and from hard pressure

Dosage

It can be used in both low and high potencies. It can be repeated frequently in low potency but taking high potencies frequently are inadvisable.

Relationship with Other Remedies

Antidoted by: Hepar Sulph, Ignatia and Camphor

It antidotes: Baryta Carb

Followed well by: Sepia, Pulsatilla, Ignatia and Sulphur

It follows well: Apis Mellifica and Belladonna

 

It is a natural medicine prepared from the kernel of the fruit of a plant called horse-chestnut. This part of the plant undergoes potentization (process to prepare homeopathic medicines that brings out the medicinal powers of a drug) which produces homeopathic medicine Aesculus Hippocastanum.

Aesculus has been used for ages as a traditional medicine for hemorrhoids, and venous stasis which means sluggish blood flow in veins. It is used for treatment of piles and for its prevention too. Some people carry chestnut as a custom with them as a preventive measure for piles. Aescin which is the active component in horse chestnut extract has been proved to possess many medicinal properties, like reducing inflammation and swelling in body parts, and improving blood flow in veins.

The ‘Aesculus Hippocastanum’ Constitution

It suits persons who have tendency to develop piles and gastric troubles. Other than this it suits those having predisposition towards varicose veins and venous stasis.

Drug Action

This medicine mainly acts on lower bowels, rectum, veins, lower back, pelvis, hip joint, sacroiliac joints, liver and throat.

Clinical Indications

Piles, constipation, backache, hip joint disease, sacroiliac joint complaints, ankylosing spondylitis, varicose veins, varicocele, liver complaints and throat disorders.

 Scope as a Homeopathic Remedy

1. Complaints of Rectum (piles and constipation)

If we talk of rectal complaints, then the foremost indication to use Aesculus is piles. Piles refers to swollen, inflamed, engorged veins in the anus and lower rectum. Aesculus can treat piles very effectively. This medicine works by toning the veins and reducing swelling of veins. Additionally, Aesculus improves blood circulation in veins and reduces venous congestion, besides relieving pain. Among the various types of piles, it is most suitable to treat external piles which is characterized by large hemorrhoids resembling a purple bunch of grapes, along with swelling. The hemorrhoids seem to block the rectum. People complaining of intense pain during or after passing stool can benefit tremendously by its use. They may also have worsening of pain specifically while standing and walking. Other than this, rawness, soreness and burning sensation at the anus is wonderfully relieved with this medicine. Though usually recommended for painful, external, non-bleeding piles, in some cases it has also resulted in bleeding piles too. It also relieves patients of itching.

Aesculus is also used when bowel action is slow and constipation occurs. Basically it helps when the stool is hard, dry and knotty, and is large and passes out with much difficulty. A very peculiar rectal symptom may be experienced by those needing it — dryness in rectum along with a very unique sensation of small sticks filling up the rectum. The medicine also effectively deals with backache that follows hard, large, and uneasily relieved stool.

Other than these, it can be of help to reduce anal irritation caused by ascarides worms. Expulsion of ascarides worms is another notable action of this medicine.

Key indicating features

1. painful external non-bleeding piles

2. constipation with hard, dry, knotty, large and difficult stool

3. sensation of small sticks filling up the rectum

2. Joint complaints (sacroiliac joint complaints and hip joint pain)

It is a brilliant medicine to treat joint complaints. This medicine has a marked affinity to treat complaints related to sacroiliac joints (a joint connecting sacrum and the iliac part of hip bone). It is helpful in reducing inflammation in sacroiliac joints (sacroiliitis), it is also capable of treating sacroiliac joint complaints that follow an injury, trauma or a fall.

It has clinical significance in treating hip arthritis and degenerative hip. It is also used when person complains of bruised aching pain in the hips.

Key indicating features

1. sacroiliac joint inflammation or injury

2. Hip joint inflammation with bruised aching hip pain

3. Back and spine complaints (lower-back pain, ankylosing spondylitis and disc prolapse)

Its action is most marked on the lower back including lumbo-sacral part and hips. Difficulty in walking and stooping due to pain are the marked features in persons in need of this medication. Sometimes the pain is so intense that it makes walking impossible. Rising up from a sitting position is difficult for the person. Not only does Aesculus relieve pain, but also works on stiffness in lower back. Weakness in the backbone along with pain is another characteristic symptom indicating its use. Lower back pain radiating down the thighs also guides its use.

Ankylosing spondylitis

This is an autoimmune disease causing chronic inflammation of joints of spine can be managed well with Aesculus. Ankylosing spondylitis usually begins with an inflammation of sacroiliac joints. It moderates the autoimmune activity, reduces the inflammation of this joint and gives relief from its symptoms including painful and stiff lower back.

This medicine is not limited to lower back pain, it can also be used to get rid of upper back pain where it works well for pain in the neck and between the shoulder blades.

Other than these, its role in managing cases of herniated or prolapsed inter-vertebral discs (shock absorbing cushions in between the vertebrae that form the backbone) is worth mentioning.

Key indicating features

1. Lower back pain worse from walking and stooping

2. Ankylosing spondylitis

4. Poor blood circulation and varicose veins

This medicine helps greatly in cases of poor blood circulation in veins (venous stasis) and varicose veins. Varicose veins refer to veins that are swollen, enlarged, engorged or overfilled with blood. By its action of improving tonicity of veins and improving blood flow, it is successful in treating varicose veins. Aesculus particularly helps when there are purplish-coloured varicose veins.

Key indicating features

1. purple-colored varicose veins

 

5. Men-related problems (varicocele, involuntary prostatic fluid discharge, seminal discharge with sexual dreams)

In this category, the main complaint where Aesculus proves effective is varicocele that refers to enlarged, dilated and swollen veins in the scrotum. Aesculus reduces swelling in the veins and improves blood flow in veins of the scrotum.

Another complaint that can be managed with Aesculus is discharge of prostatic fluid while passing urine or stool. Lastly, it helps to manage seminal discharge accompanied with amorous dreams (dreams related to sexual desire).

Key indicating features

1. varicocele

2. involuntary discharge of prostatic fluid while passing stool or urine

6. Women-related problems (vaginal discharges)

It proves to be a very beneficial medicine for managing vaginal discharge in women. The discharge is yellow, thick and sticky in nature. Females also complain of lower back pain along with this issue. This discharge increases after menses.

Key indicating features

1. thick, yellow, sticky vaginal discharges

2. vaginal discharge with lower back pain

7. Gastric and Liver issues (heartburn, navel pain, pain in liver)

Aesculus helps in managing gastric complaints like heartburn, pain in the navel area, burning sensation in stomach and empty belching of wind. A metallic taste can be felt in these gastric problems.

If there is a problem in the liver, there is mild pain in and around the liver, a feeling of fullness, and burning sensation in the liver along with nausea and vomiting is another key indication. Aesculus is also given to treat jaundice.

Key indicating features

1. pain, tenderness in and around the liver

8. Headache

It is suitable for treating pain that originates in the back of the head (occiput) which extends to the frontal part. Aesculus also helps where a person feels certain pressure in the forehead, accompanied with nausea.

Key Indicating Features

1. pain emanating from back of head to the front

2. pressure in forehead with nausea

9. Throat infections (follicular pharyngitis, throat pain, cough)

Some of the throat complaints also come within the treatment sphere of this medicine. This mainly includes follicular pharyngitis, meaning inflammation at the back of the throat. Rough dry throat along with burning sensation are the guiding symptoms to use Aesculus.  Another symptom to consider use of this medicine is throat pain of stitching type extending to ear when swallowing. Another important symptom for use is hawking (to clear the throat) of mucus that is ropy (like a rope) and has a sweet taste. Lastly it can be given for cough that is dry and short caused by soreness in the larynx.

Key indicating features

1. throat pain radiating to ear on swallowing

2. dry, short cough triggered by hurting irritation in larynx

 Modalities

Worsening Factors: The complaints get worse while walking or standing, in conditions where this medicine is prescribed

Relieving Factors: A general relief in complaints from being in cool open air.

Dosage

It can be given in both low and high potencies. In low potency, it can be repeated frequently, while using its high potency, frequent repetition is not advised.

Relationship with Other Remedies

Antidoted by: Nux vomica
Complementary medicines are Carbo Veg, Lachesis and Muriatic Acid