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Homeopathic Remedies for Urethral Stricture Treatment

Weak urine stream, straining to pass urine, splitting of urine stream and pain while urinating, especially in males, is not something normal. It is most likely an indication of the narrowing of the urethra, what doctors refer to as Urethral Stricture. The urethra is the lowermost part of the urinary tract through which urine is passed out from the urinary bladder. Urethral Stricture is more common in males than in females. Rather, Urethral Stricture in females is a very rare occurrence.

Homeopathic medicines, which are sourced from natural substances, can be very beneficial in the treatment of Urethral Stricture. They are completely safe and natural remedies, with no side effects, and ensure that the passage of urine becomes normal again and there is no pain in the process.

Top Natural Homeopathic Remedies for Urethral Stricture

The top ten homeopathic medicines for urethral stricture management are Clematis, Chimaphila, Cantharis, Thiosinaminum, Conium, Arnica, Cannabis Sativa,Merc Sol, Magnesia Mur and Sulph Iodatum.

1. Clematis – Top Medicine With Feeble Urine Stream, Straining To Urinate, Interrupted Urine Flow

Clematis is the best prescription to manage urethral stricture. This natural medicine can relieve many symptoms associated with urethral constriction. In cases needing it, there is feeble stream of urine with slow passage of urine. To pass urine, straining is required to initiate urine flow. An extreme constricted sensation is felt in the urethra while passing urine. The bladder does not empty in one go and the flow of urine starts then stops and starts again several times (interrupted urine stream). At times, urine is passed drop by drop. The patient always feels as if some urine is still left behind in the bladder. Dribbling of urine occurs after passing urine. Clematis helps in establishing the proper flow of urine in a stream. Frequency to pass urine also increases. Burning in urethra when passing urine also occurs. It is also helpful for all those patients of Urethral Stricture who have a history of gonorrhoea for a long duration.

2. Chimaphila – For Thin / Split Urine Stream and Straining To Pass Urine

Chimaphila is of great help when urine stream is thin like a thread or split urine stream. Additionally, a lot of straining is required to pass urine. In spite of the efforts, the urine passed is very less in quantity. A characteristic feature is patients needing it are able to empty the bladder when standing with feet set wide apart and body stooped forward. When such peculiar symptoms come to light, the selection of the correct medicine becomes easy. Besides the above, it can be used when there is frequent urge to urinate, like every one to two hours. Cutting and burning pain when passing urine may be felt.

3. Cantharis – For Pain Or Burning While Urinating

Cantharis is a very well-known and widely used medicine for various kinds of urinary troubles. It is beneficial in Urethral Stricture cases when the foremost complaint is pain or burning while passing urine. The burning or pain may even start before urination, and continue even after passing urine. Urine may be passed drop by drop. The urge to pass urine is almost constantly present.

4. Thiosinaminum – To Dissolve Scars in Urethral Stricture

Thiosinaminum is known for its ability to dissolve scars formed anywhere in the body. Thiosinaminum can work wonders in Urethral Stricture cases where the scar tissue is formed in urethra due to any cause. The scar resolving power of this natural remedy cannot be matched by any other medicine. Pain while passing urine and increased urination at night are the main symptoms found in persons needing this medicine.

5. Conium – For Intermittent Urine Stream

This medicine can help patients of Urethral Stricture where the main trouble is the intermittent stream of urine. It takes a lot of time to complete the act of urination. The urine starts to flow and then stops and this process of starting and stopping is repeated several times to completely drain the urine out. Burning pain after passing urine may be felt.

6. Arnica – For Urethral Stricture With A History Of Injury Or Trauma

Arnica is a highly recommended natural medicine for its universal curing action in trauma and injury cases. Arnica can be given in cases of Urethral Stricture where history of an injury is found. Injuries basically caused by blunt objects, a blow or a fall are covered by this medicine. The patient needing Arnica usually complains of frequent urge to urinate and sore and bruised pain in urethra while urinating or otherwise.

7. Cannabis Sativa – For Split Stream Of Urine

This medicine is useful when urination occurs in a split stream. Straining to pass urine is also required. Dribbling of urine occurs after urine flow ceases. Burning in urethra when urinating appears.

8. Merc Sol – For Increased Frequency Of Urine And An Urgent Need To Urinate

Merc Sol proves effective in managing increased frequency of urine and urgency to pass urine. A person has to rush/ hurry to pass urine as the urge cannot be controlled. While urinating, the stream of urine is very weak. Urination is attended with burning pain.

9. Magnesia Mur – For Stricture After Dilatation (Procedure To Stretch Urethral Sides)

This medicine works well for stricture after dilatation. It is indicated when urine passes with much straining and pressure. Urine may pass in drops. There is a sensation as if some urine always remains back.

10. Sulph Iodatum – For Stricture Following Gonorrhea

Sulph Iodatum is very beneficial when urethral stricture follows gonorrhoea. The symptoms guiding its use are urine passing drop by drop, frequent urge to pass urine and painful urination.

Signs And Symptoms Of Urethral Stricture

The symptoms of Urethral Stricture include the following:

1. Weak/feeble urine stream and straining to pass urine

2. Spraying or splitting of urine stream: It means urine flow split and goes in two directions instead of one normal urine stream in one direction

3. Sensation as if urinary bladder is not completely emptied after passing urine

4. Increased frequency of urine and an urgent need to urinate

5. Interrupted/ intermittent urine stream: Urine starts and stops several times while passing it

6. Pain or burning when passing urine

7. Loss of bladder control, urethral discharge, swelling / pain of penis, pain in lower abdomen, urine passing out in drops are other symptoms

8. Dark urine, blood in urine/semen

9. Acute urine retention when a person is unable to urinate at all (it is serious condition and should be immediately treated)

Causes Of Urethral Stricture

The main cause behind Urethral Stricture is scar formation within urethra from an injury or instrumentation or surgery. The causes are enumerated as follows:

1. Trauma or injury to the urethra: The trauma may follow any hit or blow on the urethra/ trauma to pelvis. Falling on the bar of a bicycle is very common injury that can lead to Urethral Stricture.

2. Instrumentation: Endoscopy, catheter introduction

3. Surgical operations(Post-operative Urethral Stricture): It may follow a prostate operation, kidney stone removal surgery, hypospadias surgery (to correct urethral opening position in penis)

4. Recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) and inflammatory conditions of the urethra (urethritis).

5. Sexually transmitted infections: Few infections include gonorrhoea and chlamydia infection.

6. Passage of kidney stone

7. Radiation therapy

8. Cancer of prostate or Urethra

9. Less commonly, Urethral Stricture can be congenital (present since birth) or occur from pressure by a tumour near urethra. In some cases, no cause can be ruled out.

Risk Factors

1. Males are more at risk as compared to females to develop Urethral Stricture

2. Having recent catheter use

3. Recurrent UTI (urinary tract infection) or STI (sexually transmitted infection)

4. Urethritis (inflamed urethra)

5. Enlarged prostate

Types Of Urethral Stricture In Males

1. Anterior urethral stricture: It is common type and comprises last 9-10 inches of male urethra down the posterior section. Among anterior type – bulbar urethra is most commonly involved followed by penile and panurethral stricture. These occur particularly after trauma or infection. In this, there occurs fibrosis of corpus spongiosum causing narrowing of lumen of urethra.

2. Posterior urethral stricture: It is 1- 2 inches long passes from the opening of bladder to urethral portion through prostate and pelvic floor muscles. These follow from pelvic injury/pelvic radiation.

Complications Of Urethral Stricture

Urinary retention, Urinary Tract Infection, Kidney stones, urethral fistula and Hydronephrosis (swollen kidneys from build-up of fluid inside them) are a few complications.

Investigations

1.Uroflowmetry Test: It measures the amount of urine passed out from the body and the speed of its passage, plus the total time taken to pass all urine

2.Retrograde urethrogram (RGU): In this, an X-ray film is taken after injecting a contrast agent through penis opening. It will reveal location and length of stricture in urethra if present.

3.Cystoscopy: A camera is inserted in penis to view inside urethra and to look for a stricture

4.MRI, CT scan and Ultrasound: These are done to view urethra and adjacent structures

Equisetum Hyemale: Homeopathic Medicine – Its Use, Indications And Dosage

By Dr. Vikas Sharma MD 5 Comments

Homeopathic medicine Equisetum Hyemale is derived from the plant ‘scouring rush’. It belongs to family Equisetaceae. To obtain this medicine the fresh scouring rush plant has to undergo potentization. It is a process of preparing homeopathic medicines which arouses medicinal properties from its crude form. After this process, scouring rush is converted into a magnificent homeopathic medicine — Equisetum Hyemale. It is the best medicine for treating various bladder and kidney-related problems.

Drug Action

This medicine acts best on the urinary organs. It is considered a great tonic for kidney and urinary bladder. This medicine helps treat cases of frequent urination and bedwetting. Other than this, its action is best felt on the head, gastric system, and back though in a limited manner.

Clinical Indications

Polyuria (excessive urination), bedwetting, cystitis, dysuria, bladder disorders, kidney disorders, kidney stones, kidney pain, urinary retention, haematuria

Scope As A Homeopathic Remedy

1. Urinary Complaints (frequent urination, cystitis, bedwetting, kidney pain, urinary retention)

Equisetum Hyemale is pre-eminently a remedy for managing several urinary problems. It helps treat urinary bladder and kidney-related problems. Firstly, it is the most-suited medicine to manage cases of frequent urination. Those who need it have frequent or constant urge to urinate and the urine is profuse. It can be accompanied by biting, prickling sensation or itching in urethral meatus. The frequency to urinate could worsen during the night hours, and it may have a person in and out of the bed several times. Next, it is an effective medicine to manage dull pain in urinary bladder. The bladder feels full even after it has been emptied. The bladder is tender on pressure. It is a well-known medicine that manages cases of bedwetting in children. It is particularly administered when there is no reason linked to bedwetting. In some cases, bedwetting among children is accompanied by nightmares. Next, it gives great clinical results in cases of cystitis (inflamed urinary bladder). Those who need it have burning, and stabbing sensation in the urethra while urinating. Pricking sensation may accompany. There may occur severe pain as the last urine drops trickle out. It is one of the best medicines to manage retention of urine among women after childbirth. Another main indication for its use is involuntary urination among the elderly women along with involuntary stool. Besides these, it is well-indicated to treat kidney pain. The presence of pain is felt in the right kidney and it may extend into the lower abdomen. There is urgent need to urinate even as the pain in the kidney continues.

Key Indicating Features

Frequent urge to urinate & profusely

Urgency to urinate accompanied with biting, pricking sensation or itching in urethral meatus

Fullness in the bladder even after urination

Bedwetting among children without any reason

Bedwetting among children with nightmares

Involuntary urination among elderly women along with involuntary stool

2. Head (Headache)

Equisetum manages headache very well. It works well in cases of severe headache with marked pain in the upper part of the eyes. Headache is accompanied by heat in the face. In some cases, there could be stabbing pain that keeps changing its location. Lastly, it can be used in cases where a person feels compression over the entire scalp.

Key Indicating Features

Severe headache with marked pain in the upper part of the eyes

Stabbing pain in the head that changes location frequently

Compression felt over the entire scalp

3. Gastric Problems (Abdomen Pain, Anal Pain)

This medicine can be administered if the patient feels dull heavy pain on the sides of lower abdomen with frequent urge to urinate. It can also be used if pain is felt in the lower abdomen accompanied by breaking of the wind and resultant offensive smell. Frequent urge to pass stool is felt the entire day. It also acts well on the rectum. It is particularly beneficial in case of smarting pain in the anus during and after stool. Passing of stool can be accompanied with excessive breaking of the wind.

Key Indicating Features

Dull heavy pain on the sides of the lower abdomen with frequent urination

Pain in the lower abdomen with passing of offensive smell

Smarting pain in the anus during and after stool

4. Back (Backache)

This medicine helps relieve backache. The guiding symptom to use it is when backache gets worse while sitting, and it gets better upon walking or from lying on the back. Another indication for its use is pain in the sacral lumbar joint (it is the region between the lumbar and sacral spine in the lower back) and in left hip joint radiating down the outer side of the left leg.

Key Indicating Features

Backache worsens while sitting

Back pain gets better upon walking or from lying on the back

Pain in the sacral lumbar joint and in the left hip joint radiating down the outer side of left leg

Modalities

Worsening factors: Complaints get worse upon touch, pressure, sitting down, on right side and during the last trickling of urine.

Relieving Factors: Complaints get better upon lying, in the afternoon or from continued motion

Dosage

It can be used in tincture form to 6C potency. The tincture form is recommended to be ingested in hot water to relieve urinary tract irritability, difficult and painful urination, and kidney stones.

Relationship with Other Remedies

It can be compared with other remedies including Apis Mellifica, Berberis Vulgaris, Chimaphila, Sarsaparilla, Cantharis, Cannabis Indica, Ferrum Phos and Pulsatilla

Pareira Brava: Homeopathic Medicine – Its Use, Indications And Dosage

By Dr. Vikas Sharma MD 2 Comments

Homeopathic medicine Pareira Brava is derived from the plant ‘velvet leaf’ and ‘virgin vine’. This plant is a native of the West Indies, Central America and India. It belongs to family Menispermaceae. The fresh root of this plant undergoes potentization process that extracts its medicinal properties and converts it into homeopathic medicine Pareira Brava of great clinical significance. Its use is highly recommended to manage urinary problems mainly painful, difficult urination, and also cases of prostate enlargement.

The ‘Pareira Brava’ Constitution

This medicine is highly suitable to persons prone to suffer from urinary issues like difficult painful urination, kidney stones and urethra inflammation. It is also well suited to males suffering from prostate enlargement.

Drug Action

The sphere of action of this medicine is not very widespread and is limited to urinary organs and male genitals. Then foremost and broad action is noted on urinary organs. Though it acts on male genitals as well, it does not have very vast action as that on urinary organs. In general, its action is mainly noted on the left side of the body.

Clinical Indications

Dysuria (painful difficult urination), urethritis, kidney disorders, kidney stones, kidney pain, prostate enlargement, gonorrhea

Scope As A Homeopathic Remedy

1. Urinary Issues (Dysuria – Painful Difficult Urination, Urethritis, Kidney Pain, Kidney Stones)

Pareira Brava acts extensively on urinary organs to settle down numerous complaints. The most characteristic feature to use it is dysuria means difficult and painful urination, and passage of urine with excessive straining. Persons needing it have to strain a lot in order to pass urine. In the worst condition, urine passes by going down on the hand and knee position and pressing the head strongly on the floor to pass urine. There is extreme pain while passing urine that extorts screaming. Violent pain goes down the thighs sometimes even to the feet during urination in cases that require it. Males have pain in the glans penis while urinating. Urine may pass in drops or in interrupted stream. During urination, itching and burning sensation also occurs in the urethra. After urination, shooting pain in the urethral orifice is experienced. Dribbling occurs after urination. A sense of distension in the urinary bladder is also present. There is a constant urge to pass urine. Urine may possess thick, sticky white mucus or in some of the cases red sandy particles.

This medicine gives excellent results in urethritis cases. Urethritis refers to inflammation of the urethra. For urethritis, it is indicated when there is severe pain while passing urine as well as mucus discharge from the urethra. It is a highly recommended medicine for women who have complaint of painful, difficult urination after giving birth to a child.

Pareira Brava acts wonderfully on the kidneys. Here, it is an important medicine to manage kidney pain. It is mainly used when there is bruised or contusive sort of pain in the kidney area. Urine is scanty and red. In some cases, there is pain in the kidneys that shoots down the ureter of left side and urine passes drop by drop. Besides, nausea and vomiting may occur. Pareira is among the top listed medicines for treating kidney stones. In such cases, it is used when there is dull pain in the kidney region, painful urination and urine is scanty. Urine has brick dust sediments in it. Among various types of kidney stones, it is the most helpful specifically in uric acid stones.

Key Indicating Features

Difficult and painful urination with excessive straining

Passage of urine with great straining by going in hand and knee position and pressing head strongly on floor

Violent pain going down the thighs/feet during urination

Painful, difficult urination in females since childbirth

Kidney pain shooting down the left ureter with urine in drops and nausea, vomiting

Kidney stone with dull pain in the kidney region and painful, scanty urine

Uric acid kidney stones

2. Male Problems (Enlarged Prostate, Urethritis And Gonorrhea)

Males may find this medicine quite effective to manage certain problems. These include prostate-related complaints, urethritis and gonorrhea. This medicine works magnificently in cases of prostate enlargement. It is very suitable when enlarged prostate gland is attended with painful, difficult urination. Clinically it is also known to manage cases of prostate enlargement attended with retention of urine. In such cases, great straining is required to urinate and pain goes down the thighs while urinating. Pareira is an effective medicine for urethritis treatment as well. Here it is beneficial when there is painful urination and discharge of mucus from the urethra. It also works well when urethritis complaint occurs in cases of prostate disorders. Lastly, its use can be considered in gonorrhea cases in males. Gonorrhea is a STI (sexually transmitted infection) caused by bacteria Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

Key Indicating Features

Prostate enlargement with painful, difficult urination and retention of urine

Great straining to urinate in enlarged prostate cases with pain going down the thighs when urinating

Urethritis with painful urination and discharge of mucus from the urethra

Dosage

Its use can be done in low and high potencies. It can also be used in the form of mother tincture. The potency of this medicine is selected as per individual case presentation. Its repetition also varies from case to case. In general, low potencies can be repeated often but high potencies should not be taken frequently.

Relationship With Other Remedies

This medicine can be compared with other remedies including Chimaphila (in prostate issues), Uva Ursi, Hydrangea, Berberis Vulgaris, Cocculus Indicus, Fabiana, Ocimum Canum and Hedeoma

In case of prostate complaints, it is compared with homeopathic medicine Sabal Serrulata.

Urtica Urens: Homeopathic Medicine – Its Use, Indications And Dosage

By Dr. Vikas Sharma MD 10 Comments

Urtica Urens is prepared from the plant Urtica Dioica commonly called ‘stinging nettle’ (bichhubutti). It belongs to the family Urticaceae. This homoeopathic remedy is prepared from a fresh plant when in flower via potentization. It is a process of preparing homeopathic medicines that extracts and arouses medicinal properties from crude substance. It is a superb medicine to manage complaints of urticaria/hives, gout, burns/scalds and kidney stones.

The ‘Urtica Urens’ Constitution

Urtica Urens is recommended to persons who suffer from joint pains due to high uric acid levels (gout).

Drug Action

This medicine mainly works on the skin and the joints. Other than this, its action is noted in the urinary organs, female genitals and breast.

Clinical Indications

Hives (urticaria), allergic reactions, burns, scalds, sunburn, bee stings, herpes labialis, prickly heat, gout, deltoid pain, kidney stones

Scope As A Homeopathic Remedy

1. Skin Problems (Hives, Burns, Scalds, Sunburn, Herpes, Prickly Heat)

Urtica Urens treats skin problems very well. This medicine is extensively used in the treatment of urticaria also known as hives. Urticaria is a skin complaint in which red, itchy bumps (wheals) appear on the skin from an allergic reaction. There is violent itching along with burning heat in the affected area.

Hives

Other than this, formication (sensation of insects crawling on or under the skin) accompanies. For cases where hives are formed from eating shellfish, it is the best medicine. This medicine is also prominently indicated for cases in which urticaria occurs along with or alternating with joint pains. Its use is also suggested when urticaria gets worse every year in the same season.

Urtica Urens is a powerful medicine for managing cases of burns and scalds. It is mainly prescribed in cases of first degree burns (burns that affect the first layer of the skin). Its use is recommended in the form of external application as well for internal use. Urtica Urens is also a superior remedy for cases of sunburn (red, swollen, inflamed and painful skin that arises from overexposure to UV rays from the sun). In such cases, this medicine helps to allay intense burning and itching on the skin.

Another complaint that this medicine can handle wonderfully is prickly heat (skin rash arising from sweat getting trapped under the skin). This medicine can be given in cases of herpes of lips (herpes labialis) caused by herpes simplex virus (HSV). A burning sensation on the skin is followed by painful blisters (fluid-filled bumps). In these cases, it can be used when there is marked itching and heat sensation. Lastly, its use is also considered in cases of bee stings. External application of Urtica Urens on the particular point of bee sting is known to give quick relief.

Key Indicating Features

Hives with raised red wheals with violent itching, burning and formication

Hives from eating shellfish

Urticaria occurring along with or alternating with joint pains

First-degree burns affecting the first layer of skin

Sunburn with intense burning and itching on skin

Herpes of lips with marked itching and heat sensation

Bee stings

2. Joint And Limbs Complaints (Gout, Deltoid Pain, Blisters)

Gout

Gout can be tackled magnificently with this medicine. Gout refers to pain, swelling, redness and inflammation of joints from increased uric acid levels in the blood. This medicine works equally well in acute as well as chronic cases of gout especially of wrists and ankles. Other than this, it is useful in managing stiffness and soreness on the inner side of the left knee.

Deltoid muscle on the shoulder

Its use is preferred in cases of pain in deltoid muscle (muscles that help us move our arms). It gets worse on rotating the affected arm inwards. Mostly pain occurs in right sided deltoid and is continuous type. This medicine can be given in cases of blisters on the skin of hands and fingers which are raised and red with itching.

Key Indicating Features

Gout pains in ankles and wrist

Pain in deltoid muscle, worse on rotating arm inwards

Red, itchy blisters on skin of hands and fingers

3. Urinary Issues (Kidney Stones, Strangury, Bleeding)

Urtica Urens acts well on the urinary organs. Here it is effective in treating bladder and kidney stones. This medicine can be given when there is strangury means painful, frequent urination, with scanty urine expelled slowly with straining. Lastly, it is indicated for bleeding from urinary bladder.

Key Indicating Features

Bladder and kidney stones

Painful, frequent urination with scanty urine expelled slowly with straining

4. Female Problems (Pruritis Vulvae, Breast Swelling, Diminished Breast Milk)

For females, it is recommended to manage pruritis vulvae (itching of external genitals including mons pubis, labia majora, labia minora, and clitoris). Along with itching, stinging sensation and swelling can be present in vulva. This medicine acts well on breast. It proves very effective in complaints of swollen breasts with stinging, burning pain. It is also useful for cases of diminished breast milk in females after child birth.

Key Indicating Features

Itching in vulva along with stinging and swelling

Swelling of breast with stinging, burning

Diminished breast milk in females after child birth

Modalities

Worsening factors: Complaints get worse from touch, yearly, from cool moist air

Relieving factors: Complaints get better from lying down

Dosage

Its use is recommended in mother tincture form and low potencies. This medicine can be repeated frequently depending on case presentation. In case of bee stings and burns, external application of this medicine is also suggested.

Relationship with Other Remedies

1.Urtica Urens can be compared with medicines Apis Mellifica, Natrum Mur and Astacus in case of urticaria.

2. Its comparison can be done with medicine Ricinus Communis in cases of diminished milk secretion in females after childbirth.

Sarsaparilla Officinalis: Homeopathic Medicine – Its Use, Indications And Dosage

By Dr. Vikas Sharma MD 1 Comment

The remedy Sarsaparilla Officinalis is derived from the plant Smilax Officinalis also known as ‘wild licorice’. It belongs to family Smilaceae. The dried rhizome of this plant undergoes potentization (a process to prepare homeopathic medicines by which the medicinal properties of a crude substance are aroused). It gets converted into a very beneficial homeopathic medicine Sarsaparilla Officinalis. It is an important medicine for managing certain complaints of urinary system, mainly cystitis and kidney stones.

The ‘Sarsaparilla Officinalis’ Constitution

It suits children with enlarged abdomen and have facial contours like an elderly person. Next it suits well persons who are thin, weak and look older than their age.

Drug Action

Main action of this medicine is on the urinary organs, genitals and skin. Besides, it acts on head and limbs as well.

Clinical Indications

Cystitis, kidney stones, bladder stones, kidney pain, nephritis, cracks on hands and feet, skin rash, spermatorrhea, genital herpes, swollen spermatic cord, headache, painful menses, cancer of breast, bone pain, joint pain.

Scope As A Homeopathic Remedy

1. Urinary Organs (Cystitis, Kidney And Bladder Stones, Nephritis, Kidney Pain)

Sarsaparilla acts markedly on urinary system and helps to settle many issues related to it. The main indication to use this medicine is intense pain and burning at the end of urination. The pain may extend from the urethra to the abdomen. There is frequent and ineffectual urge to pass urine. The bladder is sensitive, tender, and distended. Cramps or contractive pain in bladder is felt. Sarsaparilla works well in treating cystitis (inflammation and infection of urinary bladder). It can handle both recent as well as chronic cases of bladder infection, kidney stones and bladder stones. It is mainly indicated for renal stones with right-side kidney pain that extends downwards. Urine contains red, white or grey sand-like particles. Blood may also pass in urine. Next, it can be given for cases where urine flow is weak and urine passes in thin, feeble stream. A person is able to pass urine freely only in standing position, but it dribbles while urinating in sitting position. Urine is scanty, slimy, turbid, sandy, may have pus and blood. It is also relieves complaint of painful urination in children. The child needing it screams out of pain before and during passing urine.

Key indicating features

Cystitis with pain and burning at the end of urination

Kidney stones with right side kidney pain that extend downwards

Scanty, slimy, turbid, sandy urine, sometimes with pus and blood

Red, white or grey sandy particles in urine

Right-sided kidney pain extending downwards

Painful urination in children with screaming before and during passing urine

2. Skin (Cracks, Skin Rash)

Sarsaparilla has marked affinity to treat various skin issues. The foremost indication to use it is cracked skin on hands, fingers, feet and toes. Cracks can be deep attended with pain and burning sensation. The cracks are mostly visible on sides of fingers and toes. The skin is also dry and hard. Skin complaints that occur in summers can be magnificently dealt with it. Another indication to use it is skin rashes in spring season. It can also be given for skin rash or eruptions which is dry and itchy from exposure to open air.

Key indicating features

Cracked skin on hands, fingers, feet and toes with pain and burning

Skin complaints occurring in summers

Skin rash in spring season

Skin rash or eruptions from exposure to air

3. Male Problems (Blood In Semen, Herpes, Balanitis, Seminal Emissions)

This medicine can effectively treat some male problems. The most important indication here is blood in semen. Sarsaparilla is prominently indicated for genital herpes (a sexually-transmitted infection caused by herpes simplex virus) when eruptions are present on the prepuce (foreskin which is a skin fold covering head of the penis). It can also be used for balanitis cases in which there is inflammation, redness of glans penis. Another striking feature to use this remedy is seminal emissions along with sexual dreams. Weakness and pain in the back are the other accompanying symptoms. Sarsaparilla acts well to manage itching on scrotum and perineum, after scratching small pimples appear which ooze a moist substance. There is an intolerable offensive odour on genitals. Lastly, it is valuable to manage pain in spermatic cord after emissions or when spermatic cord swells with pain, and sensitivity in case sexual excitement is not satisfied.

Key indicating features

Blood in semen

Herpes infection with eruption on prepuce

Balanitis with red, inflamed glans penis

Seminal emissions with sexual dreams, weakness and backache

4. Female Problems (Cracked Nipples, Scanty Menses, Painful Menses, Breast Cancer)

For females, this medicine is beneficial to heal cracks of nipples, scanty late menses, and painful periods. It is used for late and scanty menses. There may be soreness on thighs and itchy eruptions on the forehead. It is helpful to relieve painful menses. There is pain in lower abdomen, back and thighs, vomiting or loose stool attend it. Sarsaparilla is an important medicine to heal eruptions on face that are worse during menses. As per homeopathic therapeutics, its use is also indicated for managing cases of breast cancer.

Key indicating features

Painful menses with pain in lower abdomen, back and thighs, vomiting, loose stool

Face eruptions worse during menses

5. Head (Headache, Eruptions)

By acting on head, Sarsaparilla can help to manage headache and eruptions on scalp. The characteristic to use it during headache is pain in back of head (occiput) radiating either to eyes or to root of nose. A tight band is felt around head. It can also be given for throbbing pain in the head. Nausea and sour vomiting may attend headache. Use of this medicine is also considered when there are moist eruptions on scalp with pus discharge which causes inflammation wherever it touches. The eruptions are marked on forehead. Scalp is sensitive to touch and falling of hair may be noted.

Key indicating features

Headache when pain from back of head radiates to eyes or to root of nose

Moist eruptions on scalp with pus discharge

6. Limbs (Joint Pains, Bone Pains)

It is mainly indicated to treat joint and bone pains. It is useful for treating stitching pain in joint of arms, hands, fingers, which gets worse from motion. Sarsaparilla is beneficial for managing knee joint pain, attended with swelling, heat and tenderness. Pain can be felt in both knees at the same time or it can alternate between two sides. It gets worse from movement especially going up and down a staircase. Besides, it can check pain in the bones that gets worse at night and in damp weather.

Key indicating features

Stitching pain in joints of arms, hands, fingers that increases from movement

Knee pain with swelling, heat, tenderness, gets worse by going up and down the staircase

Bone pains that get worse at night and in damp weather

Modalities

Worsening factors: Complaints are worse at end of urination, at night, in cold wet weather, in spring, from touch, motion, before menses

Relieving factors: Complaints are better from warmth and uncovering neck and chest

Dosage

It can be used from low to high potencies. If using it in low potency, its repetition can be done frequently. But in higher potencies, frequent repetition is usually not recommended.

Relationship With Other Remedies

Antidoted by: Belladonna, Merc Sol and Sepia

It antidotes: Merc Sol

Followed well by: Allium Cepa, Belladonna, Hepar Sulph, Merc Sol, Phosphorus, Rhus Tox, Sepia and Sulphur

Berberis Vulgaris: Homeopathic Medicine – Its Use, Indication And Dosage

By Dr. Vikas Sharma MD 5 Comments

Homeopathic medicine Berberis Vulgaris is derived from barberry plant which belongs to family berberidaceae. The bark of root of this plant undergoes potentization (process to prepare homeopathic medicines that arouses medicinal powers of a crude substance) to prepare homeopathic medicine Berberis Vulgaris. It is a renowned medicine in homeopathy to treat kidney disorders, especially kidney stones.

The ‘Berberis Vulgaris’ Constitution

This medicine is highly suitable for persons who suffer from kidney or bladder issues. It also suits persons who feel tired all the time and become prematurely old. Lastly, persons having long-term joint inflammation due to high uric acid level find this medicine very useful.

Drug Action

This medicine has widespread action on urinary organs. Its action is well marked on joints, liver and skin. Lastly, it acts well on male and female genitals.

Clinical Indications

Kidney stones, kidney pain, kidney disorders, bladder disorders, nephritis (kidney inflammation), cystitis (bladder inflammation), haematuria (blood in urine), arthritis (joint inflammation), eczema, gallstones, itching, liver disorders, back pain, painful menses, vaginismus, vaginal discharges

Scope As A Homeopathic Remedy

1. Urinary Issues (Kidney Stones, Kidney Pain, Cystitis)

The foremost action of this medicine is seen on urinary organs. It is one of the best homeopathic medicines to treat numerous urinary issues among which kidney stones is the most prominent. It is highly recommended as the first line of treatment in kidney stone treatment. It helps dissolve kidney stones and relieves pain arising from kidney stones. Berberis Vulgaris is an important medicine for treating shooting pain in kidneys that reaches the bladder. Burning sensation, bubbling sensation or pressive pain is felt in area around kidneys which is sore and sensitive to touch. Any jarring motion or jumping worsens the pain. Other than kidney stones and pain, Berberis Vulgaris can be given in cases of cystitis (bladder inflammation). Urination is difficult and painful along with increase in frequency. During and after urination, cutting and burning pain is felt. There is constant urge to urinate, however urine output is scanty. A feeling of some quantity of urine remaining behind is experienced after urinating. Thick mucus may pass in the urine. Sandy or slimy sediments may pass in urine. Its role in managing cases of haematuria (blood in urine) is worth mentioning.

Key indicating features

To dissolve kidney stones

Shooting pain which spreads from kidney to the bladder

Cystitis with painful and frequent urination, with cutting and burning pains

2. Back (Backache)

This medicine works well for managing backache. In cases needing it, back pain becomes worse on sitting or lying down. There is bruised pain in the lower back with stiffness and difficulty in rising from the seat. A sensation of having been beaten in the lower back is felt. Tension in the lower back with numbness, warmth, stiffness and lameness (unable to walk correctly) are the other accompanying symptoms. It may extend down the lower limbs. Tearing, burning or pressing pain may occur too. Berberis Vulgaris is also beneficial for managing lower back pain during menses. Next indication to use it is sharp pulsating pain in sacrum (triangular bone in lower back). It is a well-indicated medicine for pain in the lower back after surgery.

Key indicating features

Back pain worse while sitting or lying down

Tension in lower back with numbness, warmth, stiffness and lameness

Sharp pulsating pain in sacrum

3. Limbs (Joint Pains)

With its action on limbs, Berberis Vulgaris mainly helps in relieving pain in the joints. Among joints, it offers help to relieve knee joint pain wonderfully. There is stinging type of pain in the knee joint mostly on inner side. It worsens from walking. Knee feels lame, tired and bruised. Knee is swollen, stiff and sore as well. There is tension in the bend of knee. Berberis is a prominent medicine for toe joint pain. It gives good results when there is stitching pain in the toes. Pain is most marked in the big toe. Burning and crawling feeling, pricking pain and soreness is felt in the toes. One may also find Berberis helpful in alleviating shoulder joint pain. A person recovers from tearing, stinging or throbbing pain in the shoulder which gets worse with movement and applying pressure with this medicine. This medicine is useful for elbow pain. It can be given for tearing, drawing or stinging pain in the elbow. The pain can extend to the hand from the elbow, along with heaviness. Another characteristic for its use is heel pain which is of tearing, stinging type and felt when stepping up or down, and walking. Ulcerated pain in the heel is felt while standing.

Key indicating features

Stinging pain in the knee joint on inner side, gets worse while walking

Stitching pain in the toes

Shoulder pain gets worse from movement and pressure

Heel pain of tearing, stinging type while stepping and walking

4. Male Problems (Pain In Testes, Genital Itching)

Action of Berberis Vulgaris is also noted on the male genitals. This medicine can help to relieve pain in the testes which may be stitching/ constricting/ smarting/ cutting/ stinging/ pressing or burning type. This medicine also relieves pain in the spermatic cord which is smarting/burning/ piercing in nature. This medicine can help to manage itching on the scrotum as well. Another main indication for its use is suppressed sexual desire. Besides these, it works well in cases of premature ejaculation. Crawling, stinging, itching in the genitals can also be well managed with Berberis Vulgaris.

Key indicating features

Stitching, constricting, smarting, cutting, stinging, pressing or burning pain in the testes

Crawling sensation, stinging pain, itching in the genitals

5. Female Problems (Painful Menses, Leucorrhoea, Vaginismus)

There are some female problems that this medicine can treat wonderfully. First among these is painful menses (dysmenorrhoea). There is marked pain in the genitals. There is greyish blood discharge during periods. Berberis Vulgaris can be used for painful menses with pain in the kidneys radiating down the thighs. The periods are scanty and black in colour. Next it helps cases of vaginal discharge (leucorrhoea) when there is discharge of greyish mucus accompanied with painful urination. Vaginismus (involuntary contraction of vaginal muscles when something tries to enter it) cases can also be treated well with it. Lastly it is indicated for cases of suppressed sexual desire or low sexual desire.

Key indicating features

Pain in kidney down the thighs during menses

Vaginal discharge of greyish mucus

6. Liver Complaints (Liver Pain)

With its action on liver, Berberis is useful in managing liver pain. This can successfully handle cases of aching, stabbing, sticking, pressive or shooting pain in the liver. The pain gets worse if affected area is pressed. It is also well indicated for gallstones treatment. It can relieve pain in case of gall stones.

Key indicating features

Aching, stabbing, sticking, pressive or shooting pain in the liver

Gallstones with marked pain

7. Skin Issues (Itching, Eczema, Pigmentation, Warts)

Berberis Vulgaris acts wonderfully on skin. Here it gives good result in cases of skin itching. Along with this, burning and pricking sensation is felt on skin. Scratching worsens these complaints, while cold application offers relief. This medicine can be given for treating skin pigmentation that occurs in circumscribed spots (patches). Its use is also considered in eczema of anus and hands particularly. Lastly, it can treat flat warts.

Key indicating features

Skin itching and burning worse from scratching

Skin pigmentation in circumscribed spots

Eczema particularly of anus and hands

Modalities

Worsening factors: Complaints get worse from movement, rising up from seat, during urination, from jarring, standing and deep pressure

Relieving factors: Complaints get better in open air and after urinating

Dosage

This medicine can be used in both low and high potencies. But the most preferred is mother tincture (Q) form. In Q potency, 5 to 7 drops of this medicine dissolved in half a cup of water can be taken two to three times a day. Caution is required to use it in high potency frequently which is generally not recommended.

Relationship With Other Remedies

Antidoted by: Camphor and Belladonna

It antidotes: Aconite

It can be compared with other remedies including Lycopodium, Sarsaparilla, Nux Vomica and Oxalic Acid.

Benzoic Acid – Homeopathic medicine: Its Use, Indications And Dosage

By Dr. Vikas Sharma MD 3 Comments

The remedy Benzoic Acid is derived from benzoicum acidum which is obtained by sublimation from gum benzoin or from some aromatic hydrocarbons. When benzoicum acidum is potentised as per homeopathic formula which is a process of arousing the latent medicinal properties from a crude substance, we obtain a highly valuable homeopathic medicine Benzoic Acid. It is a highly recommended medicine for treating gout (inflamed joints from increased uric acid level) and some urinary problems.

The ‘Benzoic Acid’ Constitution

This medicine suits persons who have a tendency to suffer from joint inflammation due to high uric acid (gout).

Drug Action

The supreme action of this medicine is witnessed on the joints mainly joint inflammation arising from high uric acid. Benzoic Acid shows marked action on urinary organs. A strong offensive-smelling urine is a key symptom highly noteworthy for its use. Besides, its action is seen on the limbs, gastric system and lungs.

Clinical Indications

Gout, toe pain, knee pain, bunions, ganglion, foul-smelling urine, bed-wetting, kidney stones, kidney disorders, diarrhea, asthma

Scope As A Homeopathic Remedy

1. Action On Joints (Gout)

It is predominantly a medicine to treat joint inflammation. It is a top-grade homeopathic medicine for gout treatment. Gout refers to inflamed, painful, red, swollen and warm joints due to increased uric acid level. Firstly, it gives excellent results when the joints are red, swollen and sensitive to touch. Cracking sound from the joints on movement occurs. Nodes on joints, which are painful, are formed due to high uric acid. Benzoic Acid works well in cases where gouty pain gets worse at night. Its use is highly recommended for pain in the thumb toe of the foot which is tearing type. Mostly, right-side toe is affected where Benzoic Acid is required. Swelling in thumb toe is marked. Benzoic Acid is also suggested for knee joint pain along with swelling. It is also useful for swelling in the fingers and the elbow joint as well.

Key indicating features

1. Gout (inflamed joints due to increased uric acid levels)

2. Red, swollen and sensitive joints in gout

3. Pain and swelling in great toe and knee

2. Limbs (Ganglion, Bunion, Achilles Tendon Pain, Panaritium)

This medicine acts well on the limbs to treat certain complaints. First, it treats ganglion which is a round lump filled with jelly-like fluid that commonly develops on the back of the wrist.

Bunion

Benzoic Acid proves to be highly effective to dissolve ganglion of the wrist. Second, it is a beneficial medicine for cases of bunion which is a bony bump forming on the joint at the base of the big toe. Third, it relieves pain in the Achilles tendon (a tough fibrous band that connects calf muscle in the back of leg to the heel bone). This pain may begin on the right side and then move to the left side. It gets worse by standing or walking which puts pressure on the foot . In cases needing it, the feet may be cold with cold sweat. Benzoic Acid is an important medicine for treating panaritium which is an infection or inflammation of tissue with pus formation near a fingernail.

Key indicating features

1. Ganglion of wrist

2. Bunion (bony bump on the joint at the base of big toe)

3. Urinary Issues (Offensive Urine, Bedwetting, Kidney Stones, Cystitis, Nephritis, Kidney Pain, Enlarged Prostate)

Benzoic Acid shows the best action on urinary organs. The most important characteristic for its use is highly offensive (foul–smelling) urine like the urine of horse. It is hot and dark brown. Benzoic Acid is highly recommended for treating kidney stones. Another complaint where it proves beneficial is bed-wetting. In such cases, urine is very offensive and stains the bed sheets brown. It is also capable to deal with cases of cystitis (means inflammation of urinary bladder). Benzoic Acid can be used for managing cases of nephritis (inflammation of kidneys) too. It relieves kidney pain attended with red urine having strong smell. There is light pain in the kidneys. In left side kidney, burning pain is felt. On stooping, shooting pain occurs in the kidneys. Lastly, it works well for managing enlarged prostate. Here it is used when there is difficult urination, and mucus and pus appear in the urine.

Key indicating features

1. Highly offensive strong smelling urine, as foul as horse urine

2. Bed-wetting with strong-smelling urine staining the bed sheets brown

3. Kidney pain attended with red urine having strong smell

4. Gastric Problems (Pain Around Navel, Diarrhea)

With its action on the gastric system, it proves to be successful in alleviating pain around the navel. For recommending Benzoic Acid, the pain around navel is cutting type which gets better after passing stool. Heat in the stomach may also be there. There may be vomiting of bitter or salty taste. It can be helpful in managing stitching type of pain in the liver region. It is well indicated to manage diarrhea. There is watery, profuse stool that looks greyish white and is frothy with a very strong offensive smell. Before passing stool, a person feels chilly. Stitching pain and constricted feeling in the rectum attends. There may occur a feeling of insects crawling in the anus. In some cases, wart-like growths appear around the anus.

Key indicating features

1. Pain around navel, cutting type, better after passing stool

2. Diarrhea with watery, profuse, greyish white, frothy stool having a very strong offensive smell.

5. Lungs (Cough, Asthma, Chest Pain)

Lastly, Benzoic Acid is indicated for managing some complaints related to lungs. It proves helpful for managing cough when there occurs expectoration of greenish mucus with cough. It is indicated for asthma management. The main indicator here is coughing at night. It worsens from lying on the right side. Stitching pain in the chest on deep breathing can occur mostly in the evening. Cough at the slightest exposure to cold also indicates its use.

Key indicating features

1. Cough with expectoration of greenish mucus

2. Cough worse at night and on lying on the right side

3. Stitching pain in the chest on deep breathing in the evening

Modalities

Worsening factors: Complaints get worse from cold, movement, weather change and uncovered chest in winter

Relieving factors: Complaints get better from heat and copious urination

Dosage

This medicine can be used in both low and high potency. The potency and repetition of this medicine varies in every individual. As a general rule, low potency can be taken frequently but high potencies should not be repeated often.

Relationship with Other Remedies

Antidoted by: Copaiva

It can be compared with medicine Nitric Acid in cases of offensive urine like horse and with other medicines including Sabina, Calcarea Carb, Ferrum Met, Zincum Met and Tropeolum.

Cantharis Vesicatoria – Homeopathic Medicine: Its Uses, Indications and Dosage

By Dr. Vikas Sharma MD 3 Comments

The remedy Cantharis Vesicatoria is derived from Spanish fly. Through the process of potentization (process of preparing homeopathic medicines which arouses medicinal properties of a crude substance), it is converted into a very important medicine Cantharis Vesicatoria. It is pre-eminently a remedy for managing various urinary concerns and burns, scalds on skin.

The ‘Cantharis Vesicatoria’ Constitution

This medicine is particularly suitable for people suffering from certain urinary problems and kidney affections. It also works well for people with complaints of burns on skin.

Drug Action

The most prominent action of this medicine is seen on urinary organs. Its action on skin and sexual organs is also well marked. When used, it helps to control inflammatory processes in all these body parts. Its action is further noted on the throat and gastric system.

Clinical Indications

Cystitis, urinary tract infection (UTI), bladder infections, dysuria, nephritis, haematuria (blood in urine), urethral stricture, kidney stones, kidney pain, burns, scalds, sunburn, eczema, skin ulcers, painful erections, blood in semen, increased sexual desire in men (satyriasis), increased sexual desire in women (nymphomania), vaginal discharge, vaginal itching, ovaritis, sterility, sore throat, dysentery.

Scope as a Homeopathic Remedy

Urinary System (cystitis, UTI, kidney pain, nephritis, urethral stricture, kidney stone)

It is a renowned homeopathic medicine for managing complaints related to the urinary system. Among these it is highly recommended for cases of cystitis (bladder inflammation). It is extensively used to manage urinary tract infections (UTI) cases. The main indication for using it is pain and burning before, during and after urination. Pain can be a cutting type. This person feels a constant, ineffectual urge to pass urine. Even a little amount of urine in the bladder causes the urge to urinate. The urge to urinate rises even more from standing and walking, and is better from sitting. Urgency to pass urine is there. Urine is scanty. While in some cases urine passes drop by drop. Tenesmus is well marked. Tenesmus refers to a sensation of incomplete emptying of the bladder after urination even when there is no urine left behind after urinating. Bladder pain and heaviness occurs. Bladder feels sore from a little motion. In urine pus and blood can appear. It is one of the best medicines in homeopathy for dysuria (discomfort, painful or difficult urination) cases. It is well indicated for nephritis cases. Nephritis is inflammation of the kidneys. Here it works well if blood is passed in the urine.
This medicine is also suitable for managing kidney pain. In such cases the guiding feature is cutting, burning, tearing or stinging type of kidney pain. Additionally, people have sensitivity to touch the kidney region. In some cases needing it there occurs pressive sort of pain in the kidneys. Another prominent indication is urethral stricture, in these cases urine passes in thin, weak streams or divided, scattered streams. This medicine is also beneficial for kidney stone cases when there is dull, heavy pain in kidneys along with nausea and vomiting.

Key indicating features

Cystitis, UTI, dysuria with marked pain and burning before, during and after urination
Nephritis with blood in urine
Kidney pain of cutting, burning, tearing or stinging type
Urethral stricture when urine passes in thin, weak stream or divided, scattered stream
Kidney stone with dull, heavy pain in kidneys along with nausea and vomiting

Skin (burns, scalds, sunburn, eczema, ulcers)

Cantharis also has prominent action on skin. Here it is primarily indicated for cases of burns and scalds. These are extremely painful. There is marked rawness and smarting in these. There is relief from cold applications. In some cases blisters (fluid filled bumps) can be present in burns cases. Its use is also done for cases of sunburn. In such cases burning in eruptions is felt when these are touched. Next it can be used in cases of eczema or dermatitis (skin inflammation) when fluid filled eruptions occur. These are itchy. Burning and smarting is there when these eruptions are touched. The eruptions can turn black. For skin ulcers this medicine proves highly beneficial. These ulcers have itching, burning and smarting. Pain is present too which is tearing or lacerating type. The ulcers ooze profuse, yellow coloured pus that can be tinged with blood.

Key indicating features

Burns and scalds with intense pain, burning and smarting
Sunburn
Eczema with fluid filled eruptions that have itching, burning and smarting
Skin ulcers with itching, burning, smarting, pain and profuse, yellow coloured pus that can be tinged with blood

Male problems (painful erections, blood in semen)

This medicine can give solutions to some of the male problems. Firstly it is well indicated for painful erections.
It is also a prominent medicine to control increased sexual desire in men. This disturbs sleep at night. Secondly it is useful for cases in which there is blood in semen. Another indication is urethral burning after sex.

Key indicating features

Painful erections
Increased sexual desire
Blood in semen
Burning in urethra after sex

Female problems (nymphomania, vaginal discharge, vaginal itching, ovaritis, sterility)

If we talk of female problems than this medicine can be helpful for managing increased sexual desire (nymphomania), vaginal discharge, vaginal itching, ovaritis (inflammation of ovaries) and sterility. This medicine is well indicated to control excessive sexual desire in females. It can also be given for cases of vaginal discharges. It is accompanied with intense itching and sexual excitement. Further it can be used for managing vaginal itching with increased sexual desire during menopause. Besides these it is an important medicine for ovaritis cases when there is burning, stitching, pinching or cutting pain in ovaries and sensitivity. This medicine can be considered for cases of sterility in females. In cases needing it for sterility the menses can be early profuse or scanty and black coloured. Its use is also suggested to expel retained bits of placenta, moles and membranes from the uterus.

Key indicating features

Increased sexual desire
Vaginal discharges with intense itching and sexual excitement
Vaginal itching with increased sexual desire during menopause
Ovaritis with burning, stitching, pinching or cutting pain in ovaries and sensitivity
Sterility in females when the menses are early profuse or scanty and black coloured
To expel retained bits of placenta, moles and membranes from uterus

Throat (burning, inflammation, ulcers, mucus, difficult swallowing)

When it comes to throat complaints, it can be given for burning in throat, difficult swallowing, throat ulcers, throat inflammation and mucus in throat. It offers help when there is difficulty in swallowing liquids.
Another important indication is ulcers and blisters in the throat. Additionally it benefits cases of thick, sticky mucus in the throat. This is also given for throat inflammation if there is an intense burning sensation. There can also be a scraping sensation along with spitting of blood. Apart from above, one may find it useful when there are burns in the throat from eating hot food.

Key indicating features

Difficulty in swallowing liquids
Burning sensation, ulcers and blisters in throat
Throat inflammation with intense burning like fire in throat
Burns in throat from taking hot food

Gastric issues (burning sensation, dysentery)

By acting on the gastric system it settles some of its related concerns. It can give immense relief in the burning of food pipe and stomach. Cantharis is also suited for dysentery cases. Dysentery is intestinal infection in which there occurs loose stool with blood and mucus. The characteristic to use in such cases is loose stool with mucus like intestine scraping and blood, with sensation of incomplete defecation even when there is nothing left in rectum (tenesmus). During stool cutting, colicky pain occurs. After passing stool, chilliness is felt.

Key indicating features

Burning in food pipe and stomach
dysentery with loose stool with mucus like intestine scraping and blood, with sensation of incomplete defecation (tenesmus)

Modalities

Worsening factors: complaints are worse during and after urination, from touch, drinking cold water or coffee

Relieving factors: complaints are better from warmth, rest and rubbing

Cantharis Vesicatoria – Dosage

Depending from case to case it can be used from low to high potency. It can be repeated often in low potency but in high potency frequent repetition is usually not recommended. In case of burns on skin this medicine can be applied externally on skin by diluting its 1X or 2X potency in water.

Relationship with Other Remedies

Antidoted by: Aconite, Apis Mellifica, Camphor, Kali Nitricum, Pulsatilla and Rheum

It antidotes: Camphor

Followed well by: Belladonna, Kali Iod, Merc Sol, Phosphorus, Pulsatilla, Sepia and Sulphur

Sarcoidosis – Homeopathy Offers Supportive Treatment

By Dr. Vikas Sharma MD 8 Comments

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Natural Homeopathic Treatment Of Navel Pain

By Dr. Vikas Sharma MD 9 Comments

Navel (known as umbilicus and belly button) pain can be felt behind the navel or around the navel. Depending on the reason the pain may be felt in this area or may radiate to the other body areas like chest and legs. The pain can be constant, mild or dull. It may be intermittent or severe. Navel pain can arise from various reasons. The reasons vary from common/minor (like gas, constipation, indigestion) to rare and serious ones (like appendicitis). Homeopathic treatment of navel pain helps to treat the underlying cause behind it and bring great relief in the pain.

Causes

It can arise from indigestion also called Dyspepsia. Indigestion is a term to describe fullness or discomfort in the upper abdomen. In this case discomfort, pain or burning from the upper abdomen can radiate to the region of navel. Other symptoms that can attend from indigestion include gas, bloating, nausea, vomiting, fullness after eating even a small quantity of food, heartburn, excessive belching (burp).

Another reason behind discomfort or pain around the belly button is constipation. It is described as an infrequent bowel movement means less than three bowel movements per week or difficulty in passing stool. Person having constipation may pass hard or lumpy stool, has to strain to pass stool, may have unsatisfactory stool or feeling of incomplete bowel evacuation.

It can result from gastroenteritis also called stomach flu. It can arise from infection by virus, bacteria or parasite that causes inflammation in the digestive tract. It is caused by ingesting contaminated food or drink or via direct contact with an infected person. In this case navel pain, stomach cramps, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, low-grade fever, headache, muscle aches occur. It is usually not serious and gets better within a few days without problems. But it can have complications of dehydration (which is serious) due to loss of water in loose stool and vomiting. The cases having dehydration need urgent medical help mainly in children, older adults and people having weak immune systems.

It can also be caused by umbilical hernia (it refers to a bulge through the abdominal wall around the belly button. The bulge may contain tissue from the abdomen, a part of intestine or fluid). It is common in infants but can also occur in adults. It can cause discomfort, pressure or pain at hernia site. The pain worsens from coughs or anything that puts strain on the abdomen.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can also be a reason. It is a disorder affecting the large intestine. In this syndrome there occurs diarrhoea or constipation, or both, cramping / pain in abdomen ( including pain around belly button), gas, bloating.

Peptic ulcers can also result in navel pain. They are the painful sores that can form in the stomach or duodenum (first part of the small intestine). It can arise from various reasons but the main reasons are infection with H.pylori (Helicobacter pylori bacteria) and prolonged use of certain medicines like Aspirin, Ibuprofen. In this case pain of burning nature is felt around the navel or between the belly button and chest. Other attending symptoms are nausea, vomiting, bloating, heartburn, belching, loss of appetite.

Acute pancreatitis is another one of the reasons that can cause pain around the umbilicus. It is the inflammation of the pancreas. It can arise from excessive alcohol intake, gallstones, infection. The symptoms in addition to belly button pain in this case includes nausea, vomiting and fever.

Pain around the navel can also be indicative of appendicitis (inflammation of appendix). It is a medical emergency that needs immediate medical help. Because if not treated urgently appendix can rupture spreading the infection in the abdomen leading to life threatening complications. In case of appendicitis a person feels sharp pain around the umbilicus that finally moves in the right side of the lower abdomen. Other accompanying symptoms are nausea, vomiting, bloating, inability to pass gas, worsening of pain from cough, sneeze and movement, loss of appetite, constipation or diarrhoea and fever.

Another cause is crohn’s disease. It is an autoimmune disease and is one among the two types of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the other being ulcerative colitis. In crohn’s disease any part of GIT (gastrointestinal tract) from mouth to anus can be affected. It can cause severe pain in and around the umbilicus. Other attending symptoms include diarrhoea that may or may not be bloody, gas, abdominal bloating, weight loss.

Apart from above it can also occur in case of gallstones, kidney stones, bacterial stomach infection, UTI (urinary tract infections), small bowel obstruction, post surgery, during pregnancy and from belly button piercing.

Homeopathic Treatment Of Navel Pain

Homeopathic medicines are very effective for treating cases of navel pain. These medicines help to treat the underlying cause behind it and bring great relief in the pain. These medicines are of natural origin so can be taken safely without any side effects. They are recommended for cases of mild to moderate intensity of pain when no serious reason is associated. As the reasons behind the navel pain are variable ranging from mild to serious so it is advised to take any medicine under supervision of a homeopathic physician. In cases of acute, severe pain and in cases attended with blood in stool, tenderness in abdomen, jaundice, severe nausea and vomiting that doesn’t seem to go away, and fever immediate help should be taken from conventional mode of treatment as they may be occurring from serious medical conditions that can be life threatening. Homeopathy has a limitation in treating such emergency cases.

Colocynth – Top Grade Medicine

It is a natural medicine prepared from pulp of fruit of a plant Citrullus Colocynthis also known as Cucumis colocynthis and Bitter Apple. This plant belongs to the family cucurbitaceae. It is a very effective medicine to manage pain around the navel. Persons needing it complain of cramping, colicky, twisting , cutting or griping pain around the navel. They feel relief in the pain by bending double. They also feel better by passing gas. Sometimes the pain radiates from the navel to the upper parts of the abdomen. They feel restlessness with pain. They also may have cutting pain in the navel area after passing stool or after eating. The umbilical region may be tender to touch.

Nux Vomica – For Navel Pain From Eating

It is a very suitable medicine for navel pain arising from eating anything. The pain is gripping and pinching type to use this medicine. It is also helpful for pain about the umbilicus felt before the stool. Next it is a well indicated medicine for cutting pain at navel in cases of dysentery. In these cases there is frequent, ineffectual urge to pass stool and stool is scanty, slimy, watery, bloody. Jelly like mucus also passes in the stool.

China – For Pain In Umbilical Region From Flatulence (Gas)

It is a very useful medicine for managing pain in the umbilical region arising from gas. Abdominal bloating is marked with this. The pain is worse after eating where this medicine is required. The pain gets better by bending double. In some cases the pain gets worse at night time. Its use is also considered when the pain worsens before stool.

Dioscorea – When Pain From Umbilical Region Radiates To Whole Abdomen

This medicine is prepared from fresh roots of plant Dioscorea villosa commonly known as Wild yam. This plant belongs to the family dioscoreaceae. This medicine is specifically indicated for cases in which pain arises from the umbilical region and radiates to the whole abdomen. The pain may also radiate to the limbs. The pain is cutting twisting type. The pain may be attended with vomiting. Next it is prominent medicine for griping pain in the umbilical and epigastric and region. It also works well in case of constant, dull, aching pains in the entire navel region.

Cina – For Twisting Pain Around The Navel

This medicine is prepared from plant Artemisia maritima that belongs to family compositae. It is a significant medicine for managing twisting pain around the navel. The pain may feel better by pressure. Other than this it is also indicated for managing boring pain above the umbilicus. Abdominal bloating may also be there.

Aloe – For Umbilical Pain Worsening From Pressure

This medicine is prepared from gum of a plant Aloe Socotrina. This plant belongs to family liliaceae. Use of this medicine is considered when navel pain is worse from pressure. The pain can be twisting, griping, shooting or a boring type. With this frequent urging to stool is present but only passage of gas occurs. Sitting in a bent up position and passing gas help to relieve the pain.

Arsenic Album – For Burning Pain In Umbilical Region With Diarrhoea

It is a beneficial medicine for managing burning pain in the umbilical region with diarrhoea. For using this medicine the burning pain is worse before and during stool. Stool is loose and has mucus in it. It is attended with anxiety and excessive thirst for cold water.

Plumbum Met – When Pain In Umbilical Region Is Relieved By Pressure

This medicine is valuable to treat cases in which umbilical pain is better by pressure. In cases requiring it the navel pain is tearing, excruciating type. This pain may shoot to other parts of the abdomen too. Next it is indicated for constrictive pain in the umbilical region. Other than this it is indicated when there is watery diarrhoea with vomiting and pain in umbilicus.

Iris Versicolor – For Umbilical Pain Attended With Nausea, Vomiting And Loose Stool

This medicine is prepared from plants commonly known as Blue flag. It belongs to the family iridaceae. This medicine is well indicated when along with umbilical pain, nausea, vomiting and loose stool are present. For using this medicine the pain from the umbilical region may radiate upwards to the epigastric region of abdomen. With this rumbling in the bowels and belching of wind is there.

Calcarea Phos – When Pain Around Navel Gets Better By Passing Wind

Calcarea Phos is a very useful medicine when pain around the navel gets better by passing wind. The gas has an offensive odour. Along with this burning in the region of the belly button may be there that may rise up to chest and throat.