Minor Homoeopathic Remedies A

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Aethusa cynapium

Aethusa; fool's parsley, dog parsley, dog poison, lesser hemlock This plant is a common weed that grows throughout most of Europe, including Great Britain. It resembles hemlock but is smaller and has three to five long, thin, leaflike bands that hang down beneath each flower head of small, white flowers. The leaves have an unpleasant smell although this is less strong than that of hemlock and is quite different from that of garden parsley.

The plant is poisonous, although less potent than hemlock, and has effects on the digestive organs and nervous system. The green parts of the flowering plant are used in homoeopathy, and it is used especially to treat bouts of violent vomiting, particularly in babies with an allergy to milk.

Accompanying symptoms include abdominal pains and diarrhoea. It is used to treat summer diarrhoea in children and also severe mental symptoms of confusion, fits and delirium. (These symptoms are produced in cases of poisoning with fool's parsley). It is used to help alleviate mental weakness and fatigue and inability to concentrate. Symptoms are made worse by heat, summer weather, in the evening and between 3 and 4 a.m. in the early morning. They improve out in the fresh open air and when the person has the company of others.

Agaricus muscarius

Agaricus; Amanita muscaria, common toadstool, fly agaric, bug agaric This striking toadstool, with its bright red-orange cap studded with small white flakes, grows in damp, boggy, upland woods in Scotland, northern Europe, North America and Asia. It is deadly poisonous, and juice obtained from the fungus used to be extracted and used as a fly killer. It has effects on the mind and has been exploited for its hallucinogenic properties.

These attributes mean that it must be handled with very great care and its use is banned in some countries. The whole fresh fungus is used to prepare the homoeopathic remedy, which is given for chilblains and itching, burning hot, swollen fingers and toes. Also, it is a remedy for epilepsy and disorders in which there are twitching, jerking spasms of muscles (chorea).

It is given as a remedy for dizziness and unsteadiness, confusion, delirium tremens (alcoholism) and senile dementia. People who benefit from it feel the cold at all times but particularly acutely when not well. Symptoms are made worse by cold conditions or weather, thunderstorms and after a meal. They improve with gentle, slow movements.

Ailanthus olandulosa

Ailanthus; Ailanthus altissima, shade tree, Chinese sumach, copal tree, tree of heaven, tree of the gods, ailanto A large, attractive tree that produces yellow-green flowers with a highly unpleasant smell. When inhaled, the scent causes digestive upset, and the fresh flowers are used to make the homoeopathic remedy. The tree is a native of China but was introduced into Britain during the 18th century as an ornamental species.

It is used as a remedy for glandular fever in which there is a highly painful sore throat and swollen glands. The tonsils are red and inflamed and it is difficult to swallow. The person may have a severe headache and pains in the muscles. The symptoms are made worse by swallowing and bending the body forwards. Also, for lying down and during the morning, and for being exposed to light.

Aloe socotrina

Aloe; Aloeferox, the common aloe Aloes are succulent plants, and there are a number of species flourishing in the hotter climates of the world. Juice drained from the cut leaves is dried and made into a resin that is powdered to make the homoeopathic remedy. Aloe has been used in medicine for many centuries and was given by Greek and Roman physicians for digestive and abdominal disorders.

In more recent times, it has been used as a medicine to purge the bowels. Aloe was investigated and proved by Dr Constantine Hering in the mid-1800s, and the remedy is used in homoeopathy for various congestive problems. These include headache, enlarged prostate gland in men, prolapsed uterus, haemorrhoids, or piles, diarrhoea and constipation and overindulgence in alcoholic drinks. Symptoms are made worse by heat and hot, dry summer weather. They are at their most severe in the very early morning and following meals and drinks.

Symptoms improve in cold weather and for cold applications, and also for abdominal flatulence. People who are suitable for Aloe tend to be short-tempered and cross, feeling generally displeased with themselves and those around them. They frequently feel tired and unable to face up to their daily work, and symptoms are at their most severe when the person is constipated. Aloe types enjoy beer but it upsets their digestion.

Aluminium oxide

Alumina; oxide of aluminium Aluminium is obtained from bauxite, a type of rock containing hydrated aluminium oxide. In conventional medicine, aluminium is used in indigestion remedies where there is an excess of stomach acid. The brain tissue of people suffering from Alzheimer's disease has been found to contain elevated levels of aluminium, and there is some concern that the metal may leach out from cooking utensils, especially when acid fruits are stewed. One of the main uses of the homoeopathic remedy is for the treatment of confusional states.

It is also used to treat all ailments where there is a slowness or sluggishness in the system. The remedy is given for senile dementia, confusion and memory loss, constipation, poor co-ordination, and heaviness and deadness of the limbs, poor flow of urine, and giddiness when the eyes are closed. Symptoms are worse in the morning and for being out in the cold and also following meals that are high in carbohydrate and salt.

People suitable for alumina are usually pale and thin with dry skin. They are pessimistic and gloomy, beset with feelings of impending disaster, and have a phobia about sharp, pointed objects such as knives. Alumina types may experience strange cravings for inappropriate substances to eat, but they do not like meat or beer.

Ammonium carbonicum

Ammon. carb.; ammonium carbonate, sal volatile Ammonium carbonate was long in use in medicine in the treatment of scarlet fever and as a constituent of smelling salts. The remedy was investigated and proved by Hahnemann in the 1800s and was found to be an effective treatment for a number of different disorders. The remedy is obtained from a chemical reaction between ammonium chloride and sodium carbonate.

It is of particular value if the circulation is slow and if the heart is weak. It can be used to treat post-viral tiredness and ME (my-algic encephalomyelitis). The symptoms are made worse by prolonged exertion and cloudy, overcast weather. They improve in warm, dry weather and surroundings, by lying down with the feet higher than the head and by the application of pressure. People suitable for Ammon. carb. are usually of large build and soon feel tired. They tend to be short-tempered, irritable and are prone to forgetfulness and bouts of crying. They are especially sensitive to the effects of overcast, dull weather.

Ammonium muriaticum

Ammon. mur.; sal ammoniac, ammonium chloride
Ammonium chloride has been used since ancient times and was especially prized by alchemists. There used to be only one source of the substance, which was the Fire Mountain in central Asia, but it is now prepared by chemical reaction. Ammonium chloride is used in conventional medicine in remedies for colds and coughs, and it has several important industrial uses. It is a remedy for conditions in which there is a feeling of tightness and constriction.

Ailments include coughs, bronchitis and pneumonia in which it feels as though there is a tight band around the chest, and with a sticky, thick mucus. Also for disorders affecting joints and tendons, backache, lumbago and sciatica with symptoms especially affecting the left side and being worse in the morning. Often the person experiences a frontal headache at the base of the nose and may have an irritated dry scalp and dandruff. Symptoms are worse in the early hours of the morning between 2 and 4 a.m. and also during the afternoon.

They are better in the evening and night and improve for brisk exercise, especially out in the fresh air. The person who benefits from Ammon. mur. tends to be obese, although the limbs may appear to be thin, and has a puffy skin because of fluid retention. The metabolism is slow, and the circulation is sluggish and erratic, which may cause pains of a throbbing nature. Ammon. mur. people have a somewhat pessimistic outlook on life and cry easily, and tend to have a painful heel that may be caused by an ulcer. They may take an unreasonable dislike of some people and are afraid of the dark.

Amyl nitrosum

Amyl nitrate This remedy is used for irregularities of heartbeat and anxiety. Symptoms include a racing heart (tachycardia), throbbing in the head and awareness of the heart rate with the sensation of the heart missing a beat and palpitations. There may be pain and numbness in the chest, which can spread to involve the arm and may be severe, as in angina. The person may experience hot flushes and sweats, especially if a woman going through the menopause. There is a feeling of fullness in the head and the person may flush easily.

Anacardium orientate

Anacard. or.; Semecarpus anacardium. cashew nut, marking nut
There are several products of the cashew nut tree that are useful to humans, and these have long been used for culinary and medicinal purposes. The nuts are gathered and eaten and used in cookery, and the fruits also are edible. The nut is surrounded by an inner and outer shell, and in between the two there is a thick, caustic, dark fluid that is the substance used in homoeopathy. This fluid causes blistering of the skin and has been used to treat warts, ulcers, corns, bunions and other lesions of the skin.

The fluid was also used to make an indelible ink by mixing it with chalk, and this was employed to mark cloth (hence 'marking nut'). Arabian physicians used the juice for treating psychiatric and nervous system disorders, including convulsions, paralysis and dementia. The cashew nut tree has an attractive appearance, produces perfumed pink flowers, and is a native species of the East Indies and Asia.

In homoeopathy, the remedy is used to treat symptoms of constriction, as though there are tight belts around the body. The person feels as though the digestive system is blocked by a plug, and there is pain, indigestion and constipation. Also, Anacard. or. is given for rheumatism and ulcers, and while symptoms are initially relieved by eating, they are worse once digestion is completed.

Symptoms are worse late at night around midnight and for pressure and hot baths. They are relieved by fasting. People suitable for this remedy tend to be totally lacking in self-confidence, feeling constantly inferior. They often have a poor memory and may be prone to mental disorders, particularly an inability to distinguish between reality and fantasy.

Antimonium tartaricum

Antim. tart.; tartar emetic, antimony potassium tartrate
This substance is important in the manufacture of textiles, being used to fix dyes used to colour materials. In orthodox medicine it has been used in cough remedies and as an emetic to cause vomiting. The homoeopathic remedy is obtained by means of a chemical reaction between potassium tartrate and antimony oxide. It is used in the treatment of bronchitis and conditions in which there is an accumulation of phlegm.

Breathing is difficult and laboured, and the person has a wheezing cough that is ineffective in bringing up the accumulated fluid. It is useful for young children and elderly persons who are in a weakened condition and are not able to cough effectively. Also, it may be used as a remedy for a tension headache with a feeling of tight constriction around the head.

The person generally does not feel thirsty and may have some puffiness of the skin because of fluid retention. The tongue appears to be thickly furred. Symptoms are made worse by exercise, lying flat, wet, cold conditions and in warm, stuffy, airless rooms. They are relieved by cold, dry air and resting by sitting propped up.

Apomorphia

Alkaloid of morphine This is a remedy for severe and persistent vomiting accompanied by weakness, dizziness, fainting and sweating. Nausea may or may not be present. The vomiting may be the result of a number of different causes, such as the morning sickness of pregnancy. Additionally, it may be caused by overindulgence in alcohol or too much rich food or misuse of drugs.

Aranea diadema

Aranea diad.; Aranea diadematus, papal cross spider
This spider is widely found in many countries throughout the northern hemisphere. It has a spherical brown body marked with white spots on its back that form the shape of a crucifix. It is a web-spinning spider that paralyses its prey by biting and injecting a venom.

The whole spider is used to prepare the homoeopathic remedy, which was first investigated and proved by von Grauvogl, a German doctor during the mid 1800s. He used it as a remedy for symptoms of cutting and burning neuralgic pains that are made worse by damp, cold conditions. It is used to treat any kind of neuralgic pains but especially those affecting the face. The pains usually arise suddenly and are intermittent and severe in nature, being hot and searing. There may also be sensations of numbness and symptoms are worsened by exposure to cold, damp conditions and any cold applications. They improve in warm, summer weather and with warm applications. Also, and most unusually, they are relieved by smoking.

Argentum metallicum

Argent, met.; silver Silver is usually found in association with other metallic minerals in ore deposits in ancient rocks. It has been prized throughout human history and used to make jewellery, utensils, artistic ornamentation and has modern industrial uses, e.g. in photographic film. It is widely used in dentistry in fillings and is valued in conventional medicine for its antiseptic and astringent properties.

The homoeopathic remedy is used for arthritic and rheumatic disorders, particularly those affecting the joints of the toes, ankles, fingers and wrists. The joints are painful, but usually the pain is intermittent in character and may disappear altogether for a time. Other types of pain from deep within the body may also be relieved by Argent, met. and also asthmatic and bronchitic symptoms and laryngitis.

Symptoms are made worse for movement of the affected joints and also late in the morning towards midday. They improve with resting the affected part and being out in fresh clean air. Symptoms are better at night and for the application of gentle pressure.

Arsenicum iodatum

Arsen. iod.; iodide of arsenic This homoeopathic remedy is obtained from a chemical reaction between iodine and metallic arsenic and was formerly used in the treatment of tuberculosis. It is used as a remedy for allergic conditions such as hay fever in which there is a copious watery discharge from the nose. Also, for bronchitis, psoriasis and eczema and hyperactivity in children. The symptoms are worse at night around midnight and are better if the person is out in the fresh, cool air.

Arum triphyllum

Arum triph.; jack-in-fhe-pulpit, Indian turnip, wild turnip, pepper turnip, dragon root, memory root This is a common wild plant of North America and Canada, which has unusually shaped leaves that are borne on long stalks. It has a broad, flattened root that is highly irritant if eaten, causing severe symptoms of vomiting, nausea and diarrhoea and burning inflammation of the mucous membranes of the mouth and digestive tract. ('Arum' is derived from the Arabic word for Tire', or). The fresh root is used to make the homoeopathic remedy, which is used as a remedy for colds and hay fever with symptoms mainly on the left side.

There may be cracking and bleeding of the skin around the nose and mouth and dry, sore lips. It is also given for hoarseness and laryngitis. Typically, there is a burning and profuse nasal discharge, and the person may feel hot and unwell. The symptoms may be caused by overuse of the voice, for instance if the person is a singer, or be brought on by exposure to the cold. Symptoms are made worse by cold weather, especially if exposed to biting winds, and also by lying down. They improve for drinking coffee and are also better in the morning.

Asafoetida

Ferula foetida, food of the gods, devil's dung Ferula foetida is a large plant that is a native of eastern Iran and Afghanistan, and grows to a height of several feet. It has a thick and fleshy root, and when this is cut, a white, gumlike, milky fluid is exuded that hardens into resin. The sap of the plant smells rank and unpleasant and has an effect upon the digestive system. The hardened gum is made into a powder for use in homoeopathy, and it is used for digestive disorders and hysteria. It is a remedy for indigestion, abdominal pains and flatulence, bloatedness and hysterical symptoms.

Astacus fluviatilis

Crawfish This homoeopathic remedy is used to treat allergic skin reactions that may have arisen as a result of eating shellfish. There is a raised, itchy skin rash (urticaria) and there may be a high temperature, malaise, chills and swollen glands. Symptoms are made worse by exposure to cold and draughts.

Avena sativa

Avena; wild oats Oats have been cultivated for centuries as a nutritious source of food for both people and livestock. Oats are the only known food to reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood. The fresh green parts of the plant are used to make the homoeopathic remedy, and in both homoeopathy and herbal medicine the preparations are used to treat nervous complaints. The homoeopathic remedy is given as a treatment for nervous exhaustion, stress, sleeplessness and anxiety. It helps to relieve the nervous symptoms of those suffering from alcohol abuse and may be used to treat impotence. Symptoms are made worse by consumption of alcohol and relieved by a good night's sleep.