Ruminating on Remedies, My thoughts on homeopathy

6/13/2026

Calling all studiers!

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It doesn’t matter what you call it: Studying. Revising. Cramming. “It” is overloading your brain with information.

One may be forgiven for thinking school is out for summer, but that is not the case for everyone. One person reached out the other day, saying they and their friends are sharing some problems:

needing to focus
needing to feel well-rested (see also, Stolen Sleep)
managing stress

Who can blame them? They just worked their way through law school and now they are back, hard at work, studying for the bar exam. I’m sure their minds and bodies are thinking — We are so done with this! What do you think you’re doing sitting back down at a desk while these beautiful summer days are just on the other side of the window?!

Let’s look at these problematic symptoms.

What is causing the inability to focus? Is it distraction? Is it burnout? (These people did just finish law school. I should think the desire to keep at the books right as summer hits could be pretty difficult!)

What is getting in the way of feeling well-rested? Is there insomnia? Is all the legalese swirling through your mind when you’re trying to sleep? Is the candle being burned at both ends? Are nutrition needs being met?

What is the stress that is being managed? I’ll go in reverse order this time — are nutrition needs being met? This is so hugely important! Is the stress a direct result of not getting sufficient sleep? Is there a hyper-focus on learning the law, thereby causing a lapse in attention to the rest of the details of your life resulting in new levels of stress?

I’m going to go out on a limb and say it’s a little bit of everything.

Let’s think about this in terms of the repertory. Another way of saying needing to stay focused is being distracted. Dr. Murphy ranks Phosphorus at the top of this list (in terms of remedies which are readily available).

I really hate to do this to you when you are already wiped out from studying, but you’ll have to read through these short descriptions to find the best-suited remedy to your specific symptoms!

Phosphorus
Carroll Dunham’s Lectures on Materia Medica (1878):
"Phosphorus - Sensorium - Weakness of memory, indisposition (moderate) to exertion; difficulty in collecting and concentrating thoughts; weak feeling in the head, aggravated by thinking and by loud noise, music or hard stepping; these things produce throbbing in the head, a feeling of confusion, dullness and distraction, but especially of weakness in the head."

Frans Vermeulen (2015) says it a little more simply: Phosphorus is “easily distracted.”

Clarke (1902): “Headache as if too full of blood from intense study.”

Douglass (1903): "Cannot study nor keep his mind on any particular subject long at a time.
Disinclination to study or converse."

Gibson (1987): “Is full of fears… of study (owing to mental exhaustion)…”

RELEVANT RUBRICS:

Mind - CONCENTRATION, general - difficult - studying, reading, while - learns with difficulty
Mind - LEARNING, disabilities, studying, reading - understanding, difficult
Mind - STUDY, general - aversion, to
Mind - STUDY, general - headache, causes
Mind - CONCENTRATION, general - aversion, to
Mind - CONCENTRATION, general - difficult
Mind - CONCENTRATION, general - difficult - can't fix attention
Mind - CONCENTRATION, general - difficult - eating, amel., from
Mind - CONCENTRATION, general - difficult - morning

Phosphoric acid
Douglas Borland says in Digestive Drugs (1940):
"The mental picture is that of those who are just dead tired. They feel generally indefinite, do not want to talk, cannot concentrate, their thoughts wander away from the subject. Any mental effort is liable to produce an acute headache with a sensation of extreme pressure on the top of the head. On any effort at all these patients are liable to feel giddy."

Gibson (1987) adds:
"The mind is confused, and any effort to concentrate brings on a dizzy feeling. There is great sensitivity, notably to music and also to odours. The subject is easily startled. May complain of various odd sensations such as widespread formication*; may be afflicted with homesickness."

Leeser (1935) goes a little further:
"Poor comprehension and concentration, poor memory, indifference, dullness, inability to perform mental work, lack of ideas, moreover, depression, apathy, dissatisfaction with one’s self, aversion to speaking, in particular homesickness, indicate the psychic state in phosphoric acid. But nervous excitation with sleeplessness and sensitivity to all noises is also observed… a brief sleep may often remove the fatigue and be sufficient to refresh…"

Mind - CONCENTRATION, general - difficult - studying, reading, while - learns with difficulty
Mind - LEARNING, disabilities, studying, reading - understanding, difficult
Single remedy rubrics:Mind - STUDY, general - heaviness, in head and limbs, causes: (1) PH-AC.

Picric acid
Blackwood (1906) says:
"This remedy is indicated in restoring the wasted and worn-out systems of those who are suffering from the effects of close application to study or business and become anaemic and neurasthenic** and asthenic**."

Clarke (1902):
"a patient of mine, previously a good sleeper, to lie awake a long time at nights, exhaustion after the day's studies, fatigue even from a short walk, twitchings of muscles when asleep or awake; hysterical state, loss of will power; constant headache, irregular menses.

Any attempt to study = burning along spine; with great weakness of back and legs; soreness of muscles and joints.

agg. By study or slightest mental exertion.

Inability to keep eyes open when studying."

Gibson (1987):
"The chief characteristic is extreme muscular weakness, accompanied by a compelling desire to lie down and a complete absence of anxiety. Is utterly exhausted; can neither think nor study. Darting pains may be felt in various sites, possibly involving bones."

Mind - CONCENTRATION, general - aversion, to
Mind - CONCENTRATION, general - difficult
Mind - CONCENTRATION, general - difficult - studying, reading, while
Mind - DULLNESS, mental - studies, from over-study
Mind - STUDY, general - aversion, to
Mind - STUDY, general - inability, to
Sleep - INSOMNIA, sleeplessness - exertion, agg. - mental, after
Sleep - INSOMNIA, sleeplessness - thoughts, from
Sleep - SLEEPINESS, general - daytime - sleeplessness at night, and
Sleep - UNREFRESHING, sleep
Single remedy rubrics Pic-ac:Back - WEAK, back, spine, tired feeling in - burning, with, along spine, brought on by study
Joints - SORE, pain - study, from
Mind - STUDY, general - spine, causes burning along, with weakness of legs and back, and soreness of muscles and joints

Then, of course, we have our good old Nux vomica, and, I think this would be my first stop. We know Nux is helpful when things are too much: too much studying; too much not enough sleep; too much snacking while studying.

Farrington (1955):
"Lesson twenty-five - Nux vomica - General characteristics - Ailments from ANGER; grief; EXCESSIVE MENTAL LABOR; SEDENTARY HABITS; LOSS OF SLEEP; DEBAUCHERY; SEXUAL EXCESSES; ALCOHOL; COFFEE; NARCOTICS; TOBACCO; GETTING CHILLED; suppression of sweat or HAEMORRHOIDS. HYPERSENSITIVENESS; IRRITABILITY; …IMPATIENCE; MALICIOUSNESS; IMPETUOUSNESS; hurry; sadness; …weeping; timidity; dullness; CONFUSION; DIFFICULT CONCENTRATION; weakness of memory; INDOLENCE; IMBECILITY; delirium; INSANITY; MANIA; HYSTERIA; INCREASED SEXUAL DESIRE; debility; trembling."

Those are some strong words in there. Suffice it to say, that would be an extreme picture of a Nux vomica state.

Gunavante (1998) always sums things up succinctly: “Concentration difficult while studying.”

Now, let’s look at a few applicable rubrics for Nux vomica:

Mind - DELUSIONS, general, hallucinations, visions - study, after
Mind - CONCENTRATION, general - difficult - studying, reading, while
Mind - DULLNESS, mental - studying, when
Mind - STUDY, general - palpitations, causes: (1) NUX-V. (single remedy rubric)
Mind - THOUGHTS, general - distracted
Sleep - DISTURBED, sleep - easily
Sleep - DISTURBED, sleep - thoughts, by activity of - business, of
Sleep - FALLING, asleep - sitting
Sleep - INSOMNIA, sleeplessness - cares, from daily - business, of
Sleep - INSOMNIA, sleeplessness - exertion, agg. - mental strain, after
Sleep - INSOMNIA, sleeplessness - nervousness, from

SUMMING UP THE REMEDIES
(I know your attention span is already shot, so I’ll keep this brief):

Phosphorus may be a good place to start if:

there are learning difficulties (e.g., dyslexia)
not a morning person
there is a lot of anxiety/fear
desires company/feels worse when they are alone

Phosphoric acid may be a good place to start if:

there are learning difficulties (e.g., dyslexia)
there is a physical weakness
chronic fatigue
headaches from eyestrain
homesickness (literal or figurative) is playing a role

Picric acid may be a good place to start if:

headaches are a thing
studying causes anxiety
there is a complete inability to study
studying causes physical pain and weakness in the legs and back, soreness of muscles and joints
blurred vision after working
brain fag (with or without headache)

Nux vomica may be a good place to start if:

concentration is difficult while reading/studying
delusions/hallucinations after studying
there is a mental dullness when studying
study causes palpitations
insomnia from daily business and after mental strain (in other words, stress)
irritability plays a role

Are these the only remedies? Nope. Far from it. But, I know you’re tired, so I tried to keep it simple.

Good luck on your exams!

Julia Coyte, CHom

Classically Practical homeopath

#wellnessawaits

* Formication: the feeling that bugs are crawling on your skin
**Neurasthenia: an ill-defined medical condition characterized by lassitude, fatigue, headache, and irritability, associated chiefly with emotional disturbance (Oxford University Press 2021).
**Ashtenia: abnormal physical weakness or lack of energy (Oxford University Press 2021).

Reference list
Blackwood, A. L., 1906. A Manual of Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacology. accessed through Radar Opus software. Boericke & Tafel.

Borland, D., 1940. Digestive Drugs. accessed through Radar Opus software.

Choudhuri, N. M., 1916. A study on materia medica and repertory. accessed through Radar Opus software. New Delhi: B. Jain.

Clarke, J. H., 1902. A Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica. accessed through Radar Opus software.

Douglass, M. E., 1903. Pearls of Homoeopathy. accessed through Radar Opus software.

Farrington, H., 1955. Homeopathy and homeopathic prescribing : a study course for graduate physician. accessed through Radar Opus software. New Delhi: B. Jain.

Gibson, D. M., 1987. Studies of homoeopathic remedies. accessed through Radar Opus software. Kandern, Germany: Narayana Publishers.

Gunavante, S. M., 1998. The ‘genius’ of Homoeopathic Remedies. accessed through Radar Opus software.

Leeser, O., 1935. Textbook of homeopathic materia medica : inorganic medicinal substances. accessed through Radar Opus software. New Delhi: Jain.

Oxford University Press, 2021. Oxford Dictionary of English. 14.1.1.47 ed. Oxford University Press accessed through mobisystems.com app.

Vermeulen, F., 2015. Concordant reference : complete classic materia medica : 1284 remedies. accessed through Radar Opus software. Glasgow: Saltire Books.

12/6/2024

On the 6th day of cell salts… Kali phos

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On the sixth day of cells salts, Dr. Schüssler gave to us… Kali phosporicum.

Kali phos is concentrated in the brain and nerves. It is known for its bright yellow discharges, as well as putridity.

Kali phos is the cell salt for nerves and nervous conditions. For oversensitivity: mental, physical, emotional. For fatigue. Kali phos is a nerve nutrient which can help calm the entire system.

Conditions which may benefit from Kali phos:

Allergies
- especially seasonal allergies
- hay fever
Headaches
- menstrual
- “nervous” headaches
- from emotions (anger, stress, etc.)
- from over studying/overwork
  - brain fag
- sensitive to noise
- neuralgic
Sleep
- insomnia
  - after worry or excitement
- night terrors
- twitching of muscles on falling to sleep
Nerves
- neuralgia
- neurasthenia
  - Kali phos and Mag phos work well together on nerves
Mouth/teeth
- sensitive teeth
- toothache
- bleeding gums
- no taste or bitter taste
- nervous chattering of the teeth
Respiratory
- asthma
- allergies
- thick yellow discharge/expectoration
- sneezing
- thick mucus hawked up
- hoarseness from over use
Incontinence
- of stool and urine
Skin
- irritating skin ailments, (e.g. shingles)
- eczema
Brain (Kali phos is a “brain tonic”)
- weak memory
- brain fog
- stress
- shock
Musculo-skeletal
- twitches and spasms
- muscular debility
  - after illness
Gastro-intestinal
- diarrhea
  - especially if caused by emotions
- putrid stool
- constipation
- indigestion
Eyes
- vision weak or blurred
- twitching eyelids
Ears
- foul discharge
- sensitive hearing
- noises in the ears

Mentally and emotionally, Kali phos may be very helpful, especially in cases of depression and homesickness. It may be useful in cases of burnout and exhaustion as well as anxiety and grief.

Julia Coyte, CHom
Classically Practical homeopath

#wellnessawaits

2/22/2022

Overwhelmed

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A friend texted the other day asking for a remedy suggestion “for work stress and ready to cry — not sad crying, but overwhelmed.”

My general go-to for stress and feelings of overwhelm is Ignatia, but that remedy wasn’t quite right here. I suggested Nux vomica to her.

Surprisingly, these two homeopathic remedies have a lot in common in the mental and emotional realm. It’s not really this simple (because there is a lot of nuance to homeopathic remedies), but to me, the difference comes down to this: Ignatia is a bit sadder and Nux vomica is a bit angrier.

In the homeopathic repertory (the big, marvelous book of symptoms), the remedies are listed on a scale of 1-4, with 4 being the strongest association of the remedy to the symptom. Here is how Ignatia and Nux vomica stack up in a few mental/emotional symptoms:

Nervous excitement: Ignatia 3 & Nux 2
Grief & sorrow: Ignatia 4 & Nux 2
Inconsolable: Ignatia 4 & Nux 3
Sulky behavior: Ignatia 4 & Nux 2
Sadness: Ignatia 3 & Nux 2
Feeling dispirited: Ignatia 3 & Nux 2
Brooding behaviour: Ignatia 4 & Nux 1

Where is Nux vomica more highly indicated? Funny you should ask… I have that info right here:

Feelings of hatred: Nux 4 & Ignatia 1
Apathy & indifference: Nux 3 & Ignatia 2
Easily irritated: Nux 3 & Ignatia 2
Easily offended: Nux 4 & Ignatia 3
Disposition to quarrel: Nux 4 & Ignatia 1
Tendency to scold others: Nux 3 & Ignatia 1
Oversensitive… to noise: Nux 4 & Ignatia 3; to voices: Nux 3, Ignatia 1

See what I mean? These two remedies are very similar but just ever so slightly different (in the mental & emotional arena, anyway).

Homeopathic Nux vomica has a reputation of being a good remedy for “the businessman.” Picture the old stereotype of the stressed out, overworked, chain smoking, hard drinking, stressed out, short-tempered business man … the characters from Man in the Grey Flannel Suit* or Mad Men, or, heck, even Darren Stevens from Bewitched!

We’re now in a world where the smoking and heavy daytime drinking may have been dropped away from being societally acceptable, but the stress and the resulting grumpiness remains for all the desk jockies (not just the men in the grey flannel suits).

Homeopathic Nux vomica also addresses issues that stem from work, otherwise known in the repertory as the rubric, “ailments from being overworked".

Indigestion from the stress of being overworked.
Angst and problems stemming from business failures
Worries about business matters
Business matters infiltrating your dreams while you sleep
Headaches with irritability
Just plain worn out from work

All of this stress and worry can then lead to sleep problems which can be addressed nicely by Nux vomica:

Disturbed sleep
Stupefaction, after sleep or just generally feeling worse when you wake up
Falling asleep while sitting
Insomnia, especially if as a result of business worries

Just because the homeopathic literature speaks of the benefits of Nux vomica to businessmen does not mean it only benefits men or only benefits ailments from work related issues… but, it’s a helpful way to remember the remedy.**

Keep calm and carry a tube of Nux vomica…

Julia Coyte, CHom
Classically Practical homeopath

#wellnessawaits

*Aucoin (2015) has a nice overview of The Man in the Grey Flannel Suit.

**For more information on Nux vomica, see these previous articles: Calming the Cold, My Little Bag of Wellness, The Eagle has Landed!, Too Much!

11/8/2021

Stolen Sleep

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Sleep is too important to just throw it away, like we do twice a year. Daylight Savings Time affects your health. Period. End of discussion. We think the “fall back” isn’t as hard on the body and mind as the “spring forward,” but it’s still a thing (Harrison 2013). Every year this stupid practice screws me up for days. I instinctively knew this was the case and just a little bit of digging proved me right.

Manfredini (et al. 2019) found a significantly higher risk of heart attack during the two weeks following the clock change.

Poteser and Moshammer (2020) found during the week after the spring transition a significant increase in daily total mortality of about 3% per day was observed.

Even simple things like making it to medical appointments is affected by this arbitrary clock change (Ellis et al. 2018).

People assume falling back gives us an extra hour of sleep and is therefore a bonus, but research shows (Harrison 2013) there is little evidence of getting extra sleep on this night and in fact the early risings for the following days result in a net loss of sleep for the week.

See! I told you Daylight Savings time was a bad idea!

Homeopathy has many ways to address sleep problems, and, like all things homeopathy — choosing the “right” homeopathic remedy can be very specific to the individual and their sleep patterns and habits. But, from a practical homeopathic perspective, Coffea cruda 200c, twice a day, can often do more than an adequate job and may be all that is needed to help you get some good ZZZzzzzs.

Coffea cruda really shines when your mind is keeping you from sleeping. (Think of Twitchy the squirrel from Hoodwinked.) Your mind is going a million miles a minute, flipping from subject to subject … when you just can't turn off your brain.

Sleep that is easily disturbed (like from noises), when falling asleep is difficult and when waking too easily or even when startling in your sleep.

Homeopathic Coffea cruda can also help with full blown insomnia, in general and more specifically insomnia following childbirth, or drinking too much coffee, or after too much excitement or after nursing sick loved ones and even sleeplessness from excessive joy! Do you see the pattern here? Your brain is working overtime in all these situations and keeping you from the elixir of sleep.

Sleepless children, too, can benefit from Coffea cruda, either in general or when there has been too much excitement or even when the pain of teething is keeping them (and you!) awake.

Not your busy mind keeping you up? Coffea cruda can also help to tame the interfering itching (as from a bug bite or eczema) or coughing -- shutting down the physical disturbance and allowing that much needed healing sleep.

Don't underestimate both the power of sleep and the destructive nature of a lack of sleep. Your mind, your heart and your wellbeing depend on those hours of shutdown.

Sleep well and don't let the bed bugs bite. (But, if they do, Coffea cruda can help you sleep through that, too!)

Julia Coyte, CHom
Classically Practical homeopath

#wellnessawaits

For more information on Daylight Savings Time -- how it came about and why it's still around, check out Spring forward : the annual madness of daylight saving by Downing, M., 2009. Berkeley: Counterpoint.*

* I have no affiliation with this book, I just enjoyed reading it.

REFERENCE LIST

Daylight Savings Time
Ellis, D. A., Luther, K., and Jenkins, R., 2018. Missed medical appointments during shifts to and from daylight saving time. Chronobiology International [online], 35 (4), 584–588.

Harrison, Y., 2013. The impact of daylight saving time on sleep and related behaviours. Sleep Medicine Reviews [online], 17 (4), 285–292.

Manfredini, R., Fabbian, F., Cappadona, R., De Giorgi, A., Bravi, F., Carradori, T., Flacco, M., and Manzoli, L., 2019. Daylight Saving Time and Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Meta-Analysis. Journal of Clinical Medicine [online], 8 (3), 404.

Poteser, M. and Moshammer, H., 2020. Daylight Saving Time Transitions: Impact on Total Mortality. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health [online], 17 (5), 1611.pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28679595/

Homeopathy & Insomnia
Harrison, C. C., Solomon, E. M., and Pellow, J., 2013. The effect of a homeopathic complex on psychophysiological onset insomnia in males: a randomized pilot study. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine [online], 19 (5), 38–43.

Hellhammer, J. and Schubert, M., 2013. Effects of a homeopathic combination remedy on the acute stress response, well-being, and sleep: a double-blind, randomized clinical trial. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine (New York, N.Y.) [online], 19 (2), 161–169.

Michael, J., Singh, S., Sadhukhan, S., Nath, A., Kundu, N., Magotra, N., Dutta, S., Parewa, M., Koley, M., and Saha, S., 2019. Efficacy of individualized homeopathic treatment of insomnia: Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Complementary Therapies in Medicine [online], 43, 53–59.

Naudé, D. F., Stephanie Couchman, I. M., and Maharaj, A., 2010. Chronic primary insomnia: Efficacy of homeopathic simillimum. Homeopathy [online], 99 (1), 63–68.‌

Waldschütz, R. and Klein, P., 2008. The homeopathic preparation Neurexan vs. valerian for the treatment of insomnia: an observational study. TheScientificWorldJournal[online], 8, 411–420.‌

Sleep & Health
Lyall, L. M., Wyse, C. A., Graham, N., Ferguson, A., Lyall, D. M., Cullen, B., Celis Morales, C. A., Biello, S. M., Mackay, D., Ward, J., Strawbridge, R. J., Gill, J. M. R., Bailey, M. E. S., Pell, J. P., and Smith, D. J., 2018. Association of disrupted circadian rhythmicity with mood disorders, subjective wellbeing, and cognitive function: a cross-sectional study of 91 105 participants from the UK Biobank. The Lancet Psychiatry [online], 5 (6), 507–514.

Minkel, J. D., Banks, S., Htaik, O., Moreta, M. C., Jones, C. W., McGlinchey, E. L., Simpson, N. S., and Dinges, D. F., 2012. Sleep deprivation and stressors: Evidence for elevated negative affect in response to mild stressors when sleep deprived. Emotion [online], 12 (5), 1015–1020.

Pillai, J. A. and Leverenz, J. B., 2017. Sleep and Neurodegeneration. Chest [online], 151 (6), 1375–1386.

Sprecher, K. E., Koscik, R. L., Carlsson, C. M., Zetterberg, H., Blennow, K., Okonkwo, O. C., Sager, M. A., Asthana, S., Johnson, S. C., Benca, R. M., and Bendlin, B. B., 2017. Poor sleep is associated with CSF biomarkers of amyloid pathology in cognitively normal adults. Neurology [online], 89 (5), 445–453.

11/1/2021

Too Much!

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Pumpkin created by Nick Coyte.

Too much!

If there was ever a holiday that was just too much, it’s Halloween! Too much excitement and anticipation. Too much scariness and visual stimulation. And, of course, too much candy!

Nux vomica is the homeopathic remedy to think of when there has been an overindulgence of any kind, but Halloween is like a tailor made holiday for Nux vomica.

Nux vomica is well indicated in fullness with gas (from either end). When your tummy is full and feels like a stone is sitting in there. Indigestion, nausea and even vomiting can be signs pointing toward Nux vomica. Add in some irritability and you can be pretty certain you're on the right track!

Many years ago following a Halloween night indulgence, one of my kids got into bed and wanted the rest of us to be quiet. He had a tummy ache and was not feeling well. He wanted quiet and he wanted no lights. I remember saying he looked and sounded like he had “tied one on.” (And, yes, it’s good for that, too!) It was literally like he was hungover. Were this situation to rear itself again today, I would give a dose of Nux vomica 200c. I suspect he would have fallen into a peaceful sleep and would have awakened feeling much better about life.

Homeopathic Nux vomica for “TOO MUCH”… collapse and fatigue states from over work… burning the candle at both ends… too much stimulation (lights, noise, odors, etc)… too much anger and frustration… too much coffee or chocolate… too much no sleep, (like after a sleep over)… too many thoughts disturbing sleep… too much and too frequent sneezing… too much coughing, (often leading to a headache)… I think you get the picture.

If your little one (or you!) experienced too much Halloween, try homeopathic Nux vomica and see if a little relief can come your way.

In good health and moderation,

Julia Coyte, CHom
Classically Practical homeopath

#wellnessawaits

10/24/2021

PTSD

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Rufus was acting strangely tonight. He was pacing back and forth from the door to his bed to the other side of me and back again. I talked to him. I opened the door for him. He went out once, walked around the house and came back in through his personal door and then he continued this strange behavior. I petted him. I gave him water. He didn’t seem particularly distressed, just really restless.

Additionally, he was panting. The panting is not unusual, in and of itself. He’s a big dog with a lot of hair and we live in a desert. But, tonight, it’s a cool autumnal evening, so it was definitely out of the ordinary behavior. Panting can be a sign of anxiety in dogs (Helmer 2020) and we have seen other signs from him showing some anxiety over the years.

What to do?

Homeopathic Ignatia 200c delivered to him in a small bowl of bone broth. Within a few minutes the pacing stopped and he was lying on his bed. The panting stopped and started for a few more minutes but then stopped all together and he eventually settled into a nice, rhythmic breath.

How did I come to the idea of giving him Ignatia?

Ignatia Amara 200c is part of the Banerji protocol for mental shock, both immediate and in the past, making it an excellent remedy for PTSD — for dogs and for humans.

PTSD or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder can be an absolutely debilitating condition stemming from any number of situations: abuse of all kinds and occurring at any age, now or in the past; being in or witnessing an accident; experiencing a natural disaster; combat exposure; physical assault or any life-threatening event. As renown homeopath Dr. Robin Murphy says, a person has a toxic memory that haunts them; they can’t eliminate it. The person is on heightened alert and the toxic memory is overwhelming their life.

PTSD can lead to depression and anxiety; substance abuse; eating disorders; sleeplessness; irritability or angry outbursts; overwhelming guilt or shame.

Farokh Master, MD and homeopath notes that stress causes disease and disease causes stress leading to a vicious circle. Dr. Master cited a study finding that individuals diagnosed with a stress-related disorder were more likely to be diagnosed with an auto-immune disease*. It's important to address these mental and emotional issues before they lead to further physical or emotional degeneration.

If PTSD is the diagnosis, try Ignatia 200c and Coffea cruda 200c, each twice daily until significant improvement is seen. (Note: this may take many weeks or even months). Ignatia is not the only remedy for PTSD. If you do not see any improvement, work with a professional homeopath to find a better suited remedy.

Coffea cruda is an excellent remedy for insomnia in general and those repeating thoughts that plague in the night… when you just can't shut your brain off.

In the case of an acute mental shock, give one dose of Ignatia and see if any relief is found. If there is some improvement but the symptoms return, repeat the remedy until very much better. An acute mental shock could be: a parent dealing with a sick child; witnessing an accident; experiencing the death of a loved one; receiving bad news or experiencing a fright; sadness or worry; separation anxiety as well as experiencing general anxiety or any psychological stress short term.

Back to Rufus. A few years ago, Rufus came to us following what appeared to be a pretty hard life. He was only 80 pounds (now he’s about 130) and his coat was a mess and he was very itchy. His teeth were in a bad way. He stunk. He cowered easily, expecting who knows what. He was afraid of traffic. Though the vet judged him to be about 4 or 5 years old, he had to be taught how to walk on a leash. Yes, we are pretty sure he had it pretty rough before he got here.

What could have been troubling him tonight? I’m not sure. There was a particularly hyped up teenage on-line video game going on in the next room, but that isn’t completely out of the ordinary. A little wind outside tonight, but not too bad. Or, just doggie senses on high alert, perhaps.

Often when the correct homeopathic remedy is given in an acute situation, sleep follows soon after. In the case of old Rufus who spends a lot of time sleeping anyway, it’s kind of hard to tell if it was the Ignatia or if he was just doing his normal thing. But, given his odd behavior 10 minutes earlier and the almost immediate change following the Ignatia, I’m going with the idea that this was the correct remedy for him at this moment.

PTSD can put an enormous damper on living a full and happy life and homeopathy may help. Contact me to see if homeopathy could possibly help you or your loved one.

Julia Coyte, CHom
Classically Practical Homeopathy

#wellnessawaits
#homeopathycanhelp

* Apologies, I was listening to this lecture and missed the details of the study to which he referred.

RESOURCES used in this article:
Banerji, P. and Banerji, P., 2013. The Banerji protocols : a new method of treatment with homeopathic medicines. India: Pratip Banerji.

Helmer, J., 2020. Why is My Dog Panting and Restless? Great Pet Care.

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