Guide to Herbal Remedies

Overlifting. If lifting or carrying heavy loads or any sudden exertion of strength produces pain, give Rhus. When from this cause very violent piercing pains are felt in the small of the back, which become worse on every motion of the body, give Bryonia. If this does not relieve entirely, Sulphur. If headache ensues, and Rhus will not remove it, give Calcarea.
Strains. If one has injured himself by violent extension and then pressure of the abdomen, as in climbing over a high fence, wrestling, etc., and afterwards feels suddenly sick at the stomach, has violent pains in a small spot internally in the abdomen, or has there a sensation as if everything was pulling downwards, which makes him anxious and restless with a face full of agony, Veratrum will give relief. When a person, who has great tendency to such injuries, meets with them often, give Sepia each time.
Missteps. sometimes cause pains in the limbs similar to over lifting. They will generally be relieved by Bryonia or Rhus; or, if the stomach is much affected, by Bryonia or Pulsatilla. If the injury occurs often, and is caused by debility, it will be cured by Phosphorus, which should be given whenever it returns.
Bruises. In the treatment of bruises, nothing is more efficacious than the application to the injured parts of cloths (linen is to be preferred), dipped in cold water, and the internal administration of Arnica. A lotion of Arnica tincture, made of the root, in the proportion of half a teaspoonful to a tumbler of water, may also be used. If a limb is crushed and flattened, or otherwise disfigured, it should be pressed -by the hand from time to time, until it returns to its proper form; or it may, if necessary, be straightened and kept in its natural position by means of a piece of pasteboard, wet with hot water and so softened that it can be molded to the limb; or thick gutta percha, treated in the same way so as to render it flexible, and capable of being adapted to the shape of the limb; a bandage must be placed over all to keep it in place. Cold water, dieting, and the above remedies will be the best treatment; all salves and lotions, except that of Arnica, are unnecessary and often injurious.
If the pain is more external, so that it is only painful to the touch, or the wound assumes a red appearance, which extends and increases like erysipelas, give Ruta internally and apply a solution in water externally. If the ordinary Tincture of Arnica, made from the cheap flowers, has been used externally — the erysipelatous appearance may arise from its application, for the flowers nearly always contain the eggs, worms or cast-off skins of a poisonous moth — camphor should then be used externally as the best antidote.

When the mixtures, which the unfortunate patient has had to swallow, contain Conium or Cicuta, Digitalis, Laurocerasus or Acidum hydrocyanicum, it is sometimes scarcely possible to save him, unless a good constitution throws off the ill-effects, assisted by proper living, fresh air, the drinking of much water, and a good homeopathic physician, both exercising much patience.
After taking Digitalis, even in small doses, if contained for a time, dangerous symptoms very often suddenly follow. These are generally relieved by repeated smelling of camphor, sometimes by vinegar or wine in drop doses, or by laudanum in moderate doses. Smelling of ether or chloroform makes them worse. Later, according to circumstances, give Glonoine, Opium, Nux vomica or Ignatia. Be careful not to give China.
Persons, who have swallowed much Asafoetida, or much Valerian and other drugs which enter largely into the composition of certain quack pills, are generally in a very critical situation. China or Mercurius sometimes counteracts the effects of Asafoetida; for indigestion and particularly belching, Pulsatilla. Coffea, Nux vomica, Chamomilla or Sulphur are to be given for the effects of Valerian; Pulsatilla and Nux vomica for those of Colchicum; the very dangerous diarrhoea, resulting from large doses of this so-called remedy for the gout, may be relieved by laudanum, to be taken one drop at a time, every two hours; this may be repeated four or five times. Belladonna, very often Sulphur, but particularly Sepia for those of Sarsaparilla.
If the application of Spanish-flies produces bad symptoms, give Aconite or Pulsatilla.
When children have taken much rhubarb, and are consequently troubled with flatulency and slimy diarrhea, give Nux vomica; if they have sour vomiting during the night, clayey stools and diarrhea, Pulsatilla; if they have sour stools, green, or mixed with blood, Mercurius; bad colic and green evacuations, Chamomilla; and if the colic does not get better, Colocynth.

When anyone passes too much urine, too often, or it is abnormal, it should always be attended to, as it is very debilitating and often the beginning of a serious disease.
If the discharge of urine becomes for some time more and scantier, it is an indication of a disease which may suddenly become dangerous; take every day a warm foot-bath, drink plenty of water, and now and then buttermilk; but beware of diuretics, such as gin, juniper berries, etc. For constant desire to urinate, pain, burning, etc., use application of warm water, a warm bath and mucilaginous drinks, particularly oatmeal gruel, and partake of nothing acid; salty or sour.
Aconite for the most common cases when there is painful urging; for children if they put their hands to the parts and scream, when no urine or very little passes, sometimes only single drops with great pain, the discharge is very red, dark and turbid, particularly for women and children. Should Aconite not relieve these symptoms, give Cantharis.
Pulsatilla, if there are pressing, cutting pains or redness and heat in the region of the bladder, especially for women, when the courses are suppressed, too tardy or scanty; also for less pain but much urging.
Arnica, if caused by a blow or fall on the bladder or back, or by a violent concussion of the whole body.
Nux vomica for parsons of a full habit who are fond of liquor; after suppressed piles, with burning, pressing and tension in the back, and the region between the ribs and hip-bones.
Belladonna, if the pains are more piercing, extending from the back to the bladder, in spells, with great anxiety, restlessness and colic. If Belladonna gives only temporary relief, take Hepar.
Mercurius for very violent, constant desire to urinate, the stream being very small, with perspiration at the same time; urine dark red, soon becoming turbid and offensive.
The Passing of Bloody Urine is often combined with other complaints; give the above remedies. If from external injuries, Arnica; from spirituous liquor, Nux vomica; after excesses, Cinchona; if it returns often, Hepar. If accompanied by burning pains at the end of the urethra; if the testicles are drawn up; cramp-like pains in the knees, thighs and groins; if contracting and cutting pains in the small of the back extend to the navel, give Pulsatilla.

Homeopathy is a holistic system which cures the person as a whole and not in isolation. Homeo medicines assist a weakened organ to regain its lost effectively, by raising the phagocytes. When a person is having constipation, he is not given laxatives, purgatives or enemas to force out faecal evacuations, rather the cause that has triggered the ailment is removed. It is a simple rule that a healthy person rarely (or never) falls ill and if at all, he falls ill, he takes a lesser time than others to recover. Homeo medicines take longer time to affect recovery since they have to treat and root out the actual cause.
Once Dr. Hahnemann was treating a patient. He asked as to what disease he (the patient) was suffering from and which medicines he was being given, Dr. Hahnemann shot back that it was none of his concern. The legendary father of Homeo system sent a clear signal to all the future practitioners that they are not to give medicines for the disease (but for the whole body) and the patient had no business to ask as to what he was suffering from and also what medicines he was being given.
All the medicines help build up body’s defense mechanism but when this system itself has been degenerated and general resistance also reaches its nadir; it is not possible to affect a permanent cure — however efficient the selected remedy might be. Medicines do help to stimulate the body’s ability to recover. Remedies, by themselves, are ineffective when patient’s willpower to recover is absent. You cannot create willpower but if it is there, even if in a weak state, you can use medicines to resuscitate the willpower. If a patient has no will to survive, no remedy on earth can create the will to survive but a weakened will can still be revived and fortified.
Remedies can help to eliminate anamolies and emotional disharmony. Certain disorders are merely offshoots of emotional disturbances which, if eliminated, will pave the way to cure. Since homeo system believes mental causes to be the major contributory factors in causing diseases, ‘we can endeavor to administer suitable remedies that can reverse the tide. The patient is not expected to show undue restively nor the physician is expected to lose patience. Not only Homeopathy but no other system can dare claim a 100% success in all kinds of disorders and if that was possible, there would have been no deaths on this earth, and Homeopathy is no exception to this basic tenet.

When to take them: At least twenty minutes before taking food, drink, smoking (which should be altogether given up) and brushing your teeth.
Taking the medication: Normally the best way is to take the medicine in globules of size no. 20 available from a pharmacy. For babies and pets (particularly birds) it is better to administer it with clean water. A few drops in 1/4 th cup of water is all that is needed and babies can easily be given their doses by a teaspoon. Animals would take it in their normal manner.
Precautions to be taken: Avoid coffee, tobacco, mint and spices with sharp smell while taking the medicines. Do not use hands for taking medicines, it is better to pour it out on a piece of clean paper and take directly without touching it.
How to take them: The effect of homeopathic medicine is enhanced by absorption through the lining of the mouth. Hence, pills should be allowed to dissolve by them and not eaten or gulped down. Water borne medicines should be held in the mouth for a few seconds before swallowing.
Storage of Medicine: Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight or strong smelling substances.
How long should you take the remedy? You should take the remedy till improvement is noticed. When your symptoms disappear, you should stop taking the remedy.
If there is no improvement after taking sufficient number of doses (say 6 to 8), the medicine needs to be changed.
Possible reactions to medication: Homeopathic medicines are safe and there are hardly any side effects. Sometimes, however, the symptoms may appear to get worse after starting the remedy. It indicates that your body is reacting to the remedy. There is, therefore, no cause of worry unless the reaction is severe, in which case the medicine should be stopped for a while and then re-started after sometime. It is unlikely that symptoms would get worse on restarting.
Caution: Some medicines are either inimical or incompatible with one another. It should be ensured that they are not administered one after the other or given concurrently.