Homeopathy in the Treatment of Rheumatological Diseases

1. Homeopathy in the Treatment of Rheumatological Diseases Introduction to Homeopathy and remedies that may be beneficial

2. Principles • A system of medicine based on the principle of “like cures like” -similia similibus curentur • Uses the smallest dose possible to produce a response

3. Origins • This principle was first described in Hindu writings over 3000 years ago • Also mentioned by Hippocrates , Galen in the 2nd century and Paracelsus in16th century • More recently researched by a German physician Samuel Hahnemann who developed “Homoeopathy”

4. Examples of the similia principle • Peeling an onion leads to sore, runny eyes, itchy nose and sneezing - Allium cepa used to treat hayfever and colds • nettle stings produce a burning, itchy wheal on the skin - Urtica urens is a good remedy for similar skin lesions • arsenic poisoning causes severe vomiting and diarrhoea with burning pains and chilliness - Arsenicum alb. V. effective in gastroenteritis and food poisoning

5. Examples of the similia principle in medicine • Radiotherapy which is used to treat cancer also causes it • Amphetamines which produce hyperactivity, are used to treat hyperactive children • Immunisation • treatment of erythromelalgia with Praxilene?

6. Basis of Treatment • Homoeopathy works with the body’s response to illness and remedies are prescibed according to the symptoms • one remedy can be used to treat several ailments • one ailment may need to be treated with different remedies in different patients

7. Materia medica • Known symptoms produced by poisonings • Symptoms produced by provings • Symptoms relieved when remedy given for other symptoms

8. Selecting the remedy • Detailed Homeopathic history • Repertorization • Materia medica

9. Homeopathic history • Details of presenting complaint - aetiology, aggravations, ameliorations, modalities • Aetiology : trauma, bereavement, never well since -pregnancy, menopause, glandular fever • Aggravations : conditions that make symptoms worse • Ameliorations : improve symptoms • Modalities : conditions qualifying a symptom

10. Homeopathic history • General symptoms - patients’ reaction to their environment, heat, cold, weather • Food likes or dislikes, e.g. crave pickles,like fat • periodicity - frequency of symptoms - monthly, weekly, yearly

11. Placid, anxious, Anxious on anticipation Depressed Weepy Consolation Easily bored Jealous Tidy Fears Company Shy Routine Resentments Mind or Mental symptoms

12. Vivacious red-head Nervous Laid-back absent minded professor Prim and proper Scruffy Extremely neat and colour co-ordinated Weepy blonde Lacks energy Flabby handshake Closed Shy, hides behind mother Anxious to please, maintain eye contact General appearance

13. Repertorization • Repertory contains details of symptoms produced by remedies listed under bodily systems e.g. mind, vertigo, head, eye, vision, ear, hearing, nose, face etc. • e.g. heartburn after eating -Aesc. agar. Am.c. anac. Calc. Calc. p. carl. Chin. Cocc.c. con. Croc. Graph. Iod. Lyc. Merc. Nat. mur. Nit. Ac. Nux v. Sep. Sil.

14. Repertorisation cont. • Strong features of the history in each area - mind, generals and local symptoms • The strength of a symptom in a rubric is indicated by the type, • i.e. bold type-strongly present, • italic - moderate, • ordinarytype - symptom present for that remedy

15. Further considerations • Aetiology • Peculiar symptoms e.g. • burning sensation > warm applications • asthma > lying down • feels exceptionally well day before headache • Symptoms can then be fed into a computer

16. Remedies • These are prepared from :- • minerals, • plants, • fish, • insects, • snakes and disease products

17. Preparation of the Remedies • Whole plant is macerated in alcohol mother tincture • 1 drop added to 9 or 99 of solution results in 1X or 1C potency • Succussed in between dilutions • Standard potencies :- 6C, 30C, 200C, 1M, 10M, 50M

18. Prescription • 6C for local symptoms e.g. joint pain, skin eruptions • 30C for acute illness e.g. influenza, diarrhoea and vomiting, childhood illnesses • 200C if giving nosodes e.g. glandular fever nosode, pertussis, measles vaccine • 1M or 10M for strong emotional symptoms e.g. grief, P.M.T., depression, anxiety etc.

19. Instructions for taking remedies • Homeopathic remedies are very delicate and should not be handled. • They are absorbed from the mouth and so are sucked not swallowed. • Should not be taken near food or drink as these may interfere with the absorption. • Store away from strong smells.

20. Overall Outcome of Treatment with Homeopathy - GHHOS • 1 = No change • 2 = Slight change • Improvement in wellbeing but not PC • 3 = mod improvement • 4 = good improvement • No symptoms as long as continue with remedies • 5 = cure • Asymptomatic without remedies 68% range from 3-5

21. Conditions referred for homeopathy in 2004 • Asthma/eczema/allergies/hayfever - 17% • Menopausal and PMT symptoms – 16% • Rheumatological symptoms - 13% • Chronic fatigue syndrome - 10% • ADHD, IBS, UTIs, neuralgia, candidiasis, depression and anxiety, headaches, migraine, etc.

22. Audit of Homeopathic treatment for Rheumatology diseases • 1 – No Change • 2 – Sl Improvement • 3 = Mod Improvement • 4= Good Improvement • 5 = Complete Cure

23. Remedies for rheumatological symptoms

24. Arnica General remedy for bruising and injury. • Symptoms started after an injury or strain especially if accompanied by bleeding, for instance :- • after childbirth, after an accident, fall, after an operation. • Limbs and body feel as if beaten, sore, bruised feelings. Feeling as if the bed is too hard. • Pain in muscles and tendons particularly of back and shoulders. • Fear of being touched due to the pain. Groan during sleep. • Soreness after physical activity. • Symptoms are :- worse for the slightest touch • worse for jolting and movement, • worse for damp, cold • better for lying with head lower than feet • better for rest.

25. Belladonna • Shooting pains along limbs, • Joints, swollen, hot, shiny, throbbing pains • Throbbing headache < right side, lying down > pressure, sitting up • Irritable, acuteness of all senses • General throbbing sensations • Stiff neck, back pain < dorsal area • < touch, jarring, draughts

26. Bryonia • Dry mucous membranes with intense thirst • Pressure headaches worse by the slightest movement • Exhaustion accompanied by sweating • Joint pains - shooting, piercing • worse for slightest movement or touch • relieved by rest or light pressure • red, hot joints relieved by hot compresses • Marked feature of this remedy is that symptoms are better for keeping absolutely still and are worse for movement

27. Calc fluor • Chronic back pain, < on beginning to move > continued motion • Exostoses on finger joints • Chronic synovitis of knee joints • Swellings in fasciae, ligaments or tendons • < rest, change of weather • > heat, warm applications

28. Cinchona (quinine bark) • Good remedy for debility from chronic illness • Pains in joints and limbs, as if sprained • < slight touch, > hard pressure • Joints swollen, v. sensitive < open air • Debilitating nights sweats • < alternate days

29. Rhus tox • This remedy is often indicated when the pain in joints and muscles is : • better for moving about • better from warmth and during warmer weather • worse from damp, cold, • worse keeping still or in bed • worse from beginning to move and when very tired • If symptoms started after :- • catching cold or being wet, • catching cold after sweating due to physical effort, • muscular strain. • Pain - bruised feeling with stiffness • sciatica - tearing pain shoots along nerve

30. Rhus tox cont. • A particular feature of Rhus tox. is that all symptoms are relieved by moving about. Patients are very restless and often experience jumpy legs at night. • Rhus tox. cream can often be helpful when massaged into the neck, hands or feet if these areas are affected.

31. Ruta • Good remedy for trauma or strain to tendons, fibrous tissue or bone. • Symptoms : worse for exposure to damp, cold • worse resting and lying down, better for moving about • Tendons painful as if bruised, stiffness in limbs and joints. • Eyes tired - better for heat and worse for artificial light. • General sensation of being bruised all over particularly in limbs and joints. • Feeling of intense weariness, weakness and despair • Indicated if symptoms started after trauma to ligaments, bone or muscular strain

32. Staphysagria • Symptoms from suppressed resentment, twisted and bitter • Ailments from anger and indignation • Limbs feel beaten and painful, joints stiff • Sense of fatigue in all joints, arthritic nodosities • Recurrent styes and honeymoon cystitis

33. The rewards of homeopathy • Patient satisfaction • Effects on consultation technique • Intellectual achievement • The joy of detective work • Understanding aetiology • Personal satisfaction and fulfillment

34. Useful Addresses • British Homeopathic Association, Hahnemann House, 29 Park Street, Luton, LU1 3BE. www.britishhomeopathic.org Academic Department, Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital, 1053 Great Western Road, Glasgow, G12 0XQ