OHM is an excellent homeopathic pharmacy located in Texas. They make a nice little kit aimed at pain management. Unfortunately, OHM doesn’t sell to the general public; but, that doesn’t stop you from creating your own little kit based on their suggested remedies.

Let’s see why these 12 11 remedies are included in this select little kit and why you may want to consider having some handy.
Note: this is a quick list to get you started — it is far from complete.


Aconite 200c

• Pains that come on suddenly and intensely; may follow shock.
• Sharp, shooting, stabbing pains; may be quite severe.
• Nerve/neuralgic pains, especially when they are accompanied by anxiety or restlessness.
• Burning pains, particularly in the face or extremities.
• Throbbing pains; headaches.
• Pains are worse from the cold and may improve with warmth.
• Sore throats, sudden colds and coughs.
• Mentally/Emotionally: marked restlessness and anxiety; with a fear of death or disaster.
• Particularly good when used as soon as possible when the symptoms arise.

Arnica 30 & 200

• Bruised and sore pain, especially after physical trauma or injury. Soft tissue injury.
• Muscle and joint pains and stiffness from overexertion or strain.
• Helpful following surgical or dental procedures.
• Headaches that feel bruised or sore; following head injury/concussion.
• Aggravation from touch or pressure.
• Restless and unable to find a comfortable position.
• Useful where the body or mind is in a state of shock due to a recent injury or traumatic event.

Bryonia 30c

• Sharp, stabbing pains — may be quite intense and are often localized.
• Worse with any movement or jarring; complete stillness is preferred.
• Joint pain, especially when movement makes it worse.
• Headaches that feel heavy and are worse from movement; may be described as “bursting.”
• Chest pain which is worse from deep breathing or coughing.
• Abdominal pain: sharp and worsens with movement. Constipation.
• May feel restless but only find relief when completely still.
• Dryness: dry, sore cough; dry mucous membranes.
• Irritability and thirst.
• Acute inflammatory conditions affecting the joints, lungs and abdomen.

Calc phos 6c

• Growing pains, especially during periods of rapid growth.
• Bone pains or soreness, particularly in cases of fractures or delayed healing.
• Neck and back pain; may be associated with weakness or poor posture.
• Joint pain may be worse in cold, damp weather and improve with warmth.
• Headaches resulting from mental exertion or stress — a dull ache.
• Abdominal discomfort or colic, especially in children

Calendula 30c

• Pain associated with cuts, scrapes and other wounds; abscesses or infected wounds.
• Burns or burning pains (including sunburns); burning sensations.
• Sore and tender skin: dermatitis, rashes, cuts, abrasions.
• Helpful to alleviate pain and promote healing after surgical procedures, especially in soft tissue.
• Joint pains which are worse movement and better with rest; sprained joints or muscles.
• Sensitive to touch or pressure.

Chamomila 30c

• Particularly effective for teething pains, characterized by irritability and discomfort.
• Colicky abdominal pain, often accompanied by cramping and restlessness.
• Intense headaches with irritability or anger. (See also, Caffeine Withdrawal.)
• Neuralgic/nerve-y pains that are sharp and shooting.
• Sore or tense muscles, especially after exertion.
• Mental/Emotional: often indicated when pain is exacerbated by emotions like anger or frustration. Sensitive to pain, feeling overwhelmed by even mild discomfort. May seek comfort from being held or cuddled, particularly in cases of teething or colic. Oversensitive to pain.
• Worse at night or during emotional distress. Better from warmth and warm applications.

Hypericum 30c

• Nerve pain: sharp, shooting, tingling or burning sensations. Nerve trauma.
  • Nerve-related pain following surgical procedures.
• Pain resulting from injuries to nerve-rich areas (fingers, toes, spine).
• Cuts or lacerations involving nerve endings.
• Headache with a neuralgic component.
• Shooting pains; may radiate from one area to another.
• Sensitivity to touch.
• Worse from movement.
• Mental/Emotional: emotional distress related to injuries or trauma.

Phosphorus 30c

• Burning pains, especially in the chest, stomach or extremities.
• Neuralgic/nerve pains: sharp and shooting, often with heightened sensitivity.
• Headaches: intense and throbbing; often described as bursting.
• Joint pains worse in the cold weather; improves with warmth.
• Crampy or colicky abdominal pain with digestive issues.
• Pain associated with bronchitis or pneumonia.
• Vascular trauma.
• Post-anesthesia effects.
• Often very sensitive to external stimuli, including touch, noise and light.
• Worse at night and during times of emotional stress.
• Thirsty for cold drinks which may temporarily relieve the burning sensations.
• There may be an emotional aspect to the pain: anxiety or fear accompanying physical symptoms.

Rhus tox 30c

• Stiffness and soreness in muscles and joints; worse after periods of rest. Muscle or tendon sprains.
• Rheumatic (deep aching or throbbing) pains, worse in cold, damp weather and better with movement and warmth.
• Burning sensations.
• Pains following overexertion or strain.
• Restlessness due to discomfort — feel they need to move to relieve the pain.
• Skin sensitivity or rashes; eczema.
• Worse at night or at rest.

Ruta 30c

• Bruised, sore and aching pains, especially after trauma or injury.
  • Injuries to bones and periosteum; sprains and dislocations.
• Useful for tendons and ligaments — often described as stiffness or strained; following injuries.
• Back pains which are worse from lying down or sitting but improves with movement.
• Eye strain — may lead to aching eyes and headaches.
• Deep pains in the bones; following injury or over-doing it.
• Sensations: strained and bruised, particularly in joints and tendons.
• Worse from cold and damp; better from warmth and rest.
• Good for mechanical injuries; overuse of muscles and tendons.

Symphytum 30c

• Deep, aching bone pains, particularly after fracture or injury. Injuries to bones, cartilage and periosteum.
  • NOTE: do not use Symphytum with suspected fracture until after imaging and the bone is properly set.
• Pain from injuries to bones and soft tissues. Joint pains often better with movement.
• Bruised or sore sensations.
• Pain following surgical procedures involving bones or joints.
• Nerve pain occurring in conjunction with bone injuries.
• Sensitive to touch — even the slightest touch can cause discomfort.

This kit suggests using the appropriate remedy every 15 minutes in acute situations. Reduce frequency repetition upon improvement.
​
I have a number of longer homeopathic pain remedy articles still in the works. Sit tight!


Julia Coyte, CHom
Classically Practical homeopath

#wellnessawaits

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).

I have written specifically about the Banerji Protocols and the Narayani combinations (here, here, and here. The Boiron over-the-counter combos are sprinkled throughout my articles. I have mentioned the BHI combos only once in my Digging Deeper article about hemorrhoids. Perhaps it’s because I don’t see these too often any more that they are not front and center in my mind. BHI/HEEL — I’m honestly not certain what the technicalities are between these/this company/companies. MediNatura (maker of Traumeel,) is another name that is part of this company puzzle. I do know they at least were based in New Mexico - maybe that’s why I saw their products on the shelves. Not so much these days, though.

They are still out there, however — for purchase through the internet.

What are they?

They are a smaller line of homeopathic combinations, compared to the Narayanis and they do not use the mega potencies that some Narayanis do; in fact, most (all?) of their combos are made using low x potencies.

You may be familiar with their T-Relief and Traumeel (a personal favorite combo of mine). What else do they have? In addition to the Hemorrhoid combo listed above, to list just a few more:

• They have a T-Relief for Arthritis.
• A cold/flu combo called ReBoost
• Wellmind Calming tablets (also called Calming with different packaging) (this looks like a really lovely combination, but I haven’t tried it)
• Spasm for cramp and spasm relief
• Mucus
• Nausea

Plus a handful of remedies for animals. It appears the ingredients are the same but there is a price difference — generally the pet product is more expensive for fewer tablets as the “human” version. I do see there is a difference in the inactive ingredients.
​
Since we are in the middle of cold and flu season, let’s take a very quick (and by no means complete) look at BHI’s ReBoost combo and why they have included the remedies they have (including one I have never heard of so let’s learn together):

• Zincum aceticum and Zincum gluconicum
  • it could be argued that these low potencies (2x and 1x) of zinc could be equated to using a zinc supplement (more akin to a cell salt) which has shown to be beneficial in respiratory viral infections (Sadeghsoltani et al. 2021)
  • according to Synergy VIVA AI homeopathic software, Zincum gluconicum is generally used for immune support, especially in reducing the duration and severity of cold symptoms and Zincum aceticum is known more for its effects on the nervous system relating to restlessness and irritability.
• Asclepias vincetoxicum (homeochord: 6x, 10x, 30x), aka Vincetoxicum officinale
  • I’ve never heard of this remedy and this exact remedy name does not come up in either of my software programs; however, it does show up in Similia, (but just barely), as Vincetoxicum officinale, (and, under this name it does show up in both my software programs) with Murphy saying it’s a gastrointestinal irritant. Murphy references Boericke, but I’m not finding Asc-v there, either, relating to influenza, at least.
  • the package says: relieves chills, headaches and bodyaches
• Anas barbariae (homeochord: 20x and 200c)
  • also known as Oscillococcinum — indicated for early stages of the flu
• Aconitum napellus
  • for fever and aches and pains during the flu
• Bryonia
  • bursting headaches, limb pain, aching muscles
• Ipecacuanha
  • coughing, difficult respiration, vomiting, nausea
• Sulphur (homeochord: 4x and 10x)
  • difficult respiration, cough, fever, bruised (as if) pain
• Hydrasatis
  • sore or tickling throat; dry, harsh cough; thick, sticky mucus; headache
• Eupatorium perfoliatum
  • aching pains, especially in the bones; bursting headache; aching muscles; profuse sweat; extreme fatigue
• Phosphorus
  • dull headache; lots of snot; watering eyes; sore throat; lots of hawking of mucus; cough; weakness; fever; fatigue
• Lachesis
  • a racking, spasmodic cough - tickling and tormenting; fever

As you see, a few of their combos contain homeochords, specifically in what I would call the “target” remedy for the main concern. For example, the Clearlife Allergy Relief shows in their 15 remedy combo that two of the ingredients (Histaminum and Sabadilla) are in multiple potencies.

What else about the BHI combos? If you want to spend a little time searching the internet, you can find old copies of their manuals. Apparently, they used to make an awful lot more combinations. Alas. Like the Narayani books, I find these BHI guides helpful for learning remedies.

As I have said in previous articles about combos which are no longer available, you can make your own. You don’t have to be perfect. If their combo calls for a potency that is not readily available to you, choose the nearest potency you can find. For instance, their old “Exhaustion” combo contains Sepia 12x — not so easy to find. Sepia was also used in the Hyland’s no longer available combination called “Awake” in a 30x. But, if you were making your own combination reflecting these remedies, a 6c would be a good substitution. (Margriet Plouvier-Suijs equates 12x-14x to a 7c**, another not so easy to find potency, but we can be pretty sure a 6c is pretty close to a 7c in it’s action.)

When I first really got interested in homeopathy, years before becoming a homeopath, I had a whole line up of Heel containers on a spice rack shelf in a kitchen cupboard. It was so nice to have an alphabetical line up of go-to remedies: Headache, Nausea, Spascupreel, Traumeel… The names may change but the idea remains the same — an excellent way to cover lots of homeopathic bases right there at your fingertips - no thought required!


Julia Coyte, CHom
Classically Practical homeopath

#wellnessawaits


*I have zero affiliation with any of these companies — I just like their products.
** France seems to use odd numbers, the rest of the world even🤷‍♀️

Reference list
​Plouvier-Suijs, M., 2014. About potencies. Emryss Publishers.

Sadeghsoltani, F., Mohammadzadeh, I., Safari, M.-M., Hassanpour, P., Izadpanah, M., Qujeq, D., Moein, S. and Vaghari-Tabari, M., 2021. Zinc and Respiratory Viral Infections: Important Trace Element in Anti-viral Response and Immune Regulation. Biological Trace Element Research [online]. 

I used to think I wanted to live forever. My then-young son told me that wasn’t a good idea. He couldn’t really explain to me at the time what he was thinking, but he was adamant. Later, we read one of his school assigned-reading books together, Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt, and the penny finally dropped for me. (Forget the fact this is a children’s book and pick up a copy — it’s excellent.)

I was recently speaking with a man in his early 90s, who said, “My mom is dead. My dad is dead. My brother is dead. My sister is dead. My wife is dead. I’ve outlived them all.”

For some, this could be touted as a victorious feat and worn with a badge of honor; for others, it could be a desolate situation.

If one is not feeling triumphant in this position, that is a heavy place to sit. This particular gentleman still has his best friend (same age), and he has lots of younger people around him all the time, including some good friends who are a decade or so behind him. But, it seems to me after talking to him that there is a different level of loneliness when you’re the last of your ilk.

There is a tendency, I think, to assume one who is lonely is also sad. Though this may not always be the case, Julia Métraux in Everyday Health says depression and loneliness appear to reinforce each other. From that same article, Drew Maygren, DO, a psychiatrist at Kaiser Permanente in Oakland, California says, “Among a cohort of older adults in the UK, there was a 29% increase in depressive scores of those that reported loneliness compared with those who did not report loneliness.”

For other reasons, loneliness is also increasing among young people with 1 in every 3 young adults reporting feeling lonely. Gone are the days of mandatory human interaction, replaced, instead by technological interfacing which some say can make loneliness “more like virtual isolation.”

In some respects, you can’t fix normal. This is simply a sad situation. I think, though, homeopathy can help one cope with this heavy, lonely burden.

Let’s look at some possible MIND rubrics, using various repertories (Mangialavore*; Murphy (both Homeopathic Remedy Guide and Meta*); Saine; Schroyens), followed by the number of remedies listed in each, including the remedies I have chosen to highlight (note: when rubrics were available in multiple repertories, I chose to use the one with the largest number of remedies listed):

• abandoned, forsaken feelings; elderly, people in (5: ars; aur; nat-m; puls)
• abandoned, forsaken feelings; friendless, feels lonely (6: ars; nat-m; phos; puls)
• age - old people - forsaken feeling (25: aur; bell-p)
• ailments from - death of loved ones (134: arg-n; ars; bell-p; puls)
• alone, ailments from being (43: ars; nat-m; phos; puls)
• anxiety, alone, when (25: arg-n; ars; phos)
• delusions**; alone; world, in the (24: none of my chosen remedies are in this rubric)
• delusions, imaginations; alone; always (3: nat-m; puls)
• depression, sadness, alone, when (28: ars; aur; nat-m; phos; puls)
• fear, alone of being (16: none of my chosen remedies are in this rubric)
• fear, death, of - alone, when - evening in bed (5: ars; phos)
• fears, phobias, general; alone, of being (82: arg-n; ars; nat-m; phos; puls)
• fears, phobias, general, alone, of, being, die, lest he (7: ars; phos)
• forsaken feeling - isolation, sensation of (38: arg-n; puls)
• homesickness, nostalgia, general (60: aur; nat-m; phos; puls)
• loneliness, feelings (75: arg-n; ars; aur; nat-m; phos; puls)
• sadness, despondency, depression, melancholy - company - desire for (3: arg-n)

There are other, smaller, more specific rubrics which I will not throw into the mix, such as: “being a castaway” or “imaginations, alone, graveyard, in a” — but it’s useful to know these rubrics exist.

**Continuing the theme from the Language of Rubrics earlier this month:
Delusion: in modern parlance, we may equate this with someone who is “delusional,” implying someone with a mental illness. That is not necessarily the case in the language of rubrics.

Delusion = a false judgement of objective things.

Dr. Muhammed Rafeeque’s Reverse Repertory of the Mind explains further:

• Delusion — False belief or idea.
• Hallucination — Perception of something that is not present.
• Illusion — Wrong interpretation of an existing thing.

“In repertory, all are given together as each one of them is a different grade of wrong perception.”
“Wrong perception” sums it up nicely, I think.

Now, let’s see what remedies are indicated for these thoughts…

Rafeeque lists some of the important drugs for delusions/hallucinations and illusions (The bold remedies in this list are also represented in our rubrics listed above): Argentum nitricum; Belladonna; Coccinum; Hyoscyamus; Ignatia; Lachesis; Petroleum; Phosphoric acid; Sabadilla; Stramonium; Sulphur (which is found only in the large “loneliness” rubric). 

It’s important when choosing a remedy to consider the following differentiation: is this a rubric to lift the delusion or idea, or, is this a rubric addressing the loneliness? What are we trying to achieve?

There are many, many homeopathic remedies which may be relevant here, but I have chosen just a couple of commonly available remedies to compare.

Natrum muriaticum, Aurum metallicum, Phosphorus, Pulsatilla, Argentum nitricum and Arsenicum album are all well indicated; in fact, all of them are also in Murphy’s “elderly constitutions” rubric (90). For each head to head comparison, both remedies are indicated, but one may be a little more indicated than the other and I tried to simply give a flavor of each remedy in regard to how they may relate to loneliness.

Nat mur and Aurum are both excellent sadness/depression remedies.

• Nat mur often likes to be alone — or, another way to say it is they are aggravated while in company; they may have a desire for solitude. That doesn’t mean there may not be sadness or depression when they are alone, but they may feel better when they are by themselves, despite the loneliness. Or, they may be able to cry when alone but buck themselves up when with others. Nat mur may be a little more angry, specifically they may have anger with silent grief. They may hide their true feelings more.
• Aurum metallicum is indicated in all the Nat mur symptoms, too, but perhaps not so prominently. They may have an aversion to being spoken to. A fear of people may develop. Aurum may have a violent anger. There may be a sense of doom and despair and apathy or joylessness. Difficulty sleeping. Weakness.

Phosphorus and Pulsatilla both hate to be alone. In very broad terms, Phosphorus is more fearful and Pulsatilla is sadder.

• Pulsatilla may have more of a feeling of abandonment and may have some level of anthropophobia (fear of people). Clinging behavior and they may be worse in crowds. There may be weeping and they feel better for doing so. Feelings of helplessness and isolation and they may demonstrate jealousy. Moodiness/ changeable moods.
• Phosphorus has a lot of fear and anxiety. They may be distracted and are better by being occupied by mental diversions. Phosphorus may be reserved and weary of life. Difficulty sleeping. Weakness.

Arsenicum album and Argentum nitricum are two more "fearful/anxious” remedies (both are level 4 in Murphy in the anxiety rubric). Again, both of these remedies are in all of these rubrics; I have just highlighted the higher ranked remedies.

• Arsenicum album… anxiety: with anger; when alone; about their health; on waking. Losing the desire to eat. Desires company. May have a presentiment of death. Depression. Filled with despair, particularly about their salvation. Fastidious/obsessive compulsive. Fearful: of death; impending disease or of being incurable; of robbers. They may feel helpless. Desires to talk to others.
• Argentum nitricum… anxiety: anticipatory; compelled to do something when (“fruitlessly busy”); about the future (anticipatory, essentially). Mental confusion. Disagreeable/irritable. Worse in crowds. Not very talkative. Exhaustion from mental exertion. Fearful: of losing control; in crowds; of evil; something bad will happen; imaginary things; insanity. Impulsive behavior. Stubborn. Panic attacks. Overly sensitive. Persistent and/or tormenting thoughts.

Bellis perennis showed up very strongly in Massimo Mangialavore’s*** rubric: Age - old people - mind - forsaken feeling… so I went looking a little further and I was surprised to see it in the ailments from death of loved ones rubric. Most people know Bellis as a “deeper” Arnica — something to try when Arnica doesn’t quite do what it is needed to do on a physical level.

Let’s take a little look at some prominent mental symptoms of Bellis perennis (Schroyens & Murphy’s Meta*):

Anxiety about their or their or loved one’s health. Indifference: to pain; to loved ones; stoical to what happens. (The word “stoical” is in this rubric so I am going to assume this is different than “apathy.” note: Mangialavori has this remedy in both “heroic” and “stoic.”) Too much sense of duty. Dictatorial/domineering. Aversion to being touched. Aggravated by consolation. Abandoned/forsaken feelings. Ailments from agony/anguish; ailments from grief. Anger alternating with indifference. Fastidious. Fearful of impending danger and heart disease. Panic attacks. Feels friendless; forsaken feeling. Silent grief; cannot cry. They feel better from physical exercise. Aggravated by company. Oversensitive to criticism/reprimands.

All of these, ultimately overlapping, remedies may help regardless of age, or reason for the loneliness. Look a little beyond the surface of loneliness and see what lies underneath to find the most well-suited remedy.


Julia Coyte, CHom
Classically Practical homeopath

#wellnessawaits


*Both Mangialavore’s and Murphy’s Meta repertory are (will be?) available in Similia.io†.

**This note is beneath the list of rubrics, within the text.

***I recently listened to a webinar with Massimo Mangialavore and he was talking about the idea that perhaps we don’t need more homeopathic remedies but that maybe we should work on the quality of the information we have on our existing remedies rather than keep adding more. He also says he doesn’t “consider a good case something where the follow-up is not at least four, five years.” With that, I put a little more stock in the remedies in his repertory because they generally come with a lot of reflection.

†I have no affiliation with this company other than they have been kind enough to open up the full software for me to play around with it. I have to say, I really like Similia and I enjoy using it.



Reference list
Métraux, J. and Vann, M. R., 2012. Dealing With Depression and Loneliness [online]. EverydayHealth.com.

MUHAMMED., D. and Salini, J. P., 2021. Reverse Repertory of the Mind. B. Jain Publishers (P.) Ltd.

Newport Institute, 2022. Loneliness and Depression in Young Adults [online]. Newport Institute. 

I’m traveling this week and I had the great pleasure of experiencing an exciting storm taking place on a river (not the river pictured below). Watching all the boats racing to cover with thunder all around and then the lightning strikes were close — Boom! Boom! Boom! I thought for sure something had been struck very close and expected so smell smoke and hear the fire engines but fortunately, nothing like that happened.

Red Cross tells us that “lightning can ‘flash’ over a person’s body or it can travel through blood vessels and nerves to reach the ground. The electrical energy can cause burn injuries and cardiac arrest. The force of throwing the person can lead to traumatic injuries as well.”

I had long been under the impression that if someone has been struck by lightning that one should not touch them lest they, too, would be affected by the electricity, but apparently that is not the case. Red Cross tells us that it is safe to give first aid immediately. This article goes on to say that showering, cell phones and cordless phones are safe to use but not if they are connected to a charger via an outlet and that “it’s best to not use a corded phone during a lightning storm.”

The National Weather Service has a 34-page downloadable guide” Dr. Lightning’s Guide to Lightning and Thunder: Victims which is full of interesting factoids, like:

• about 30 people a year are killed by lightning in the US
  • cardiac arrest is the immediate cause of death for those who die
• most people survive a lightning strike (Good to know!) though some are left with permanent disabilities
  • effects on the heart and nervous system are the biggest concerns, along with burns
• this guide, too, says it’s safe to administer first aid

The mental effects of a lightning strike range from forgetfulness and irritability to personality changes and depression. Physically, there may be headaches, body pain, fatigue and difficulty sleeping.

What to do if someone has been struck by lightning?
For a start… Call 911 and start CPR, if necessary. Check for spinal injuries and burns. Check the eyes and ears. Keep the person calm. See here for more details.

How to protect yourself?
This same site says if the time between seeing a flash of lightning and hearing the thunder is less than 30 seconds, take shelter. It also says that if your hairs are standing on end or you see blue halos around objecys or hear crackling in the air — a strike is imminent! (Yikes! Is there time to get to shelter?!)

If you can’t get to shelter (Jones 2022):

• Move away from bodies of water or beaches.
• It’s better to get wet than stand under a single tree or other tall objects.
• Stay away from metal objects.
• Cars with the windows closed are safe because if it is struck, the electricity will go through the metal in the car and into the ground, not through it.
• If stuck in the open, find a ditch and make yourself into a ball shape — make yourself as small as possible.
• If you’re up high, move lower.
• If you’re with others, spread apart.

Guess what? Some homeopathy may be useful here, too.
I remember learning from a Robin Murphy lecture years ago that Phosphorus is the remedy to turn to if someone has been struck by lightning*. It is one of only 8 remedies in the rubric: Lightning strike, ailments from.

Phosphorus is a fearful remedy in general, and it is also specifically for the fear of lightning. Another rubric is loss of vision after a lightning strike. (I will say this rubric is not clear as to whether this is being struck by lightning or watching a lightning strike.🤔 Looking further, some rubrics state: blindness after lightning stroke. Venice.ai* says that “strike” and “stroke” are often used interchangeably but says it can be that the “strike” refers to the event or action of lightning hitting a particular object or location and a “stroke” describes the actual discharge of electricity itself.)

Another remedy to consider is Nux vomica. If it appears the person has died but actually is still alive (phew!) as well as asphyxia (oxygen deprivation) after lightning.

Vertigo from lightning: Crotalus horridus. It doesn’t mention being struck by lightning, so I’m going to go with watching the lightning caused the vertigo. Note: Crot-h is one of the 8 listed remedies for ailments from lightning strikes.

An injury is an injury, so don’t forget Arnica to help with any shock as well as pains.

Seek (good!) shelter if lightning is near by and don’t forget to take a little kit of remedies with you on your adventures!


Julia Coyte, CHom
Classically Practical homeopath

#wellnessawaits

​*As I recall, Dr. Murphy also talked about covering the lightning strike victim in dirt to help discharge the electricity. I can’t be certain because it was years ago and it was an audio lecture. I do know that he scoured all the old books and that’s where a lot of his information originated. I asked Venice.ai** this question and it said that “while covering a victim with earth is not a common practice, the underlying principle of grounding is sound. However, it’s important to prioritize standard first aid procedures and seek medical attention as quickly as possible.” I share this for whatever it’s worth.

**I have no affiliation with this company. I have just started using it because it has given me more accurate information than others I have tried (so far) and it says it keeps your stuff private.

Reference list

American Red Cross, 2024. Red Cross Training & Certification, and Store [online]. Red Cross. 

Jensenius, J., n.d. National Weather Service NOAA Dr. Lightning’s Guide To Lightning and Thunder 

Jones, C., 2022. First Aid for Lightning Strike [online]. Firstaidtrainingcooperative.co.uk. 

Venice.ai, 2025. Venice | Private and Uncensored AI [online]. Venice AI.  

I don’t know many people or animals who like things that go boom in the night but some of us 2 and 4 legged creatures get a little out of sorts when they happen.
Where I live, the night time booming started a few days ago — pre 4th of July excitement, I guess.
If you or your pet are troubled by the fireworks, here are a couple of ideas to try.

• Aconite, rhymes with fright, can help calm the nerves.
• Bach Rescue Remedy. (See: A Remedy to the Rescue for more information.)
• Borax for when the disturbance comes from the suddenness of the noise — a startled sensation.
• Coffea for painful sensitiveness. The noises seem to penetrate into you… disturbing sleep.
• Ignatia — fears and phobias triggered by noise. (See also: PTSD.)
• Phosphorus -- is a very fearful remedy in general, including fears stemming from noise.

What else can help? Back when we still had our dog, Rufus, I would put him in an air conditioned room with all the doors and windows closed, with a nice playlist on at a pretty decent volume to help drown out the booms. I added both Bach Rescue Remedy and Ignatia in his water dish. I chose Ignatia because this poor fellow came to us in a pretty traumatized and fearful state.
​
I hope you have a safe, exciting, fun and joyous 4th Of July weekend and are able to enjoy the booms!


Julia Coyte, CHom
Classically Practical homeopath
#wellnessawaits

I was beginning to think the flu season may have just skimmed over the world this year, but here it is … a little later than usual, but, just like always, it is no fun. And, just like always, a little prevention can go a long way.
​
(See also: Calming the Cold; Flu Remedies to Consider; Ho Ho Ho, (not Oooooh No!); Ahh-choo; On the 4th Day of Cell Salts… Ferr Phos.)

Let’s jump ahead to the unfortunate situation we see in the picture above where those early signals were missed (or, ignored) and, here we are, unable to get out of bed … feeling just awful and the kids are hungry. (Oh, man, I remember those days. So painful!) So, where would one start in this scenario?

​Below are seven MAIN COMPLAINTs, followed by 4 or 5 commonly found remedies with 4 or 5 symptoms each which may help to choose a remedy to get back on your feet quickly. Remember! We are not looking for perfection. We are looking for improvement. We are looking to move the worst symptom out of the way for a minute so you can do what you need to do and then, when that’s done, get back into bed to rest properly.

This is far from a complete flu repertory. The intent here is to put as many remedies as possible in a quick list. Note: All of these homeopathic remedies could (pretty much) be listed under all of the headings. In other words, they are (for the most part) wide-reaching flu remedies.

Choose the worst MAIN COMPLAINT (found in BOLD CAPS) you are experiencing at the moment and then choose the remedy that best fits your current symptoms.

GASTRO:​​

Arsenicum album

• nausea and vomiting worse from anything being put in the stomach (even thinking of food makes it worse); no relief from vomiting
• stomach pain, nausea during fever
• burning pains: excoriating diarrhea
• anxious/restless
• thirsty for small sips
• Ipecac
  • constant nausea; diarrhea with nausea
  • vomiting, violent; no relief from vomiting; headache during vomiting; vomiting during cough
  • lots of salivation
  • thirstless
• Nux vomica
  • nausea and vomiting; lots of retching; feels better from being able to vomit; vomiting with urge for bowel movement at the same time
  • lots of burping; sour burps
  • headache during nausea
  • cramping pains
  • mental dullness; irritability; sensitive; 
• Phosphorus
  • craves ice cold things/drinks but vomits as soon as those drinks warm up in the stomach
  • exhausting diarrhea; painless diarrhea
  • great weakness after bowel movements
  • lots of burping; burps coming on suddenly
  • fearful

It’s important to remember that there are many, many homeopathic remedies for each of these main symptoms. This is just a brief list which may help to get dinner on the table or that important email answered.



Julia Coyte, CHom
Classically Practical homeopath


#wellnessawaits


* Be sure to seek treatment if the fever is very high, continues to climb or is accompanied by seizure or fainting or severe headache or stiff neck (to name but a few concerning symptoms). For more information:

• Johns Hopkins Medicine
• Mayo Clinic
• Merck Manual

If you have already been through the worst of the flu, check out “Get Well Soon” to find a few helpful tips on recuperating.

No matter what you want to call it … (if you’re squeamish, just know we’re talking about diarrhea and skip forward to the next paragraph). If toilet humor is your thing, here we go: Number 3, Chocolate Thunder, Poo Stew, Rectum Rapids, Turd Tea, Emergency Evacuation, The Squirts, Brown Bomb, Liquid Lunch, Poop Soup … I’ll stop now. (If you would like a few more unseemly names, see Travelers’ Diarrhea.)

Don’t worry, I won’t continue with the graphic descriptions. What follows is a long list of situations where one might experience diarrhea and the most highly indicated remedies for each.

Once again, if you are experiencing diarrhea beyond an acute bout, please seek professional medical advice.

Before embarking on my long list of unfortunate bottom-related circumstances, let me share one of my first amazing homeopathic "wowee!" moments. We were traveling and my then young teenage son was very sick in the night with suspected food poisoning. I was hemming and hawing, trying to remember what I had learned about remedies. I went with Veratrum album and within minutes everything stopped. I mean, everything completely stopped. He slept the rest of the night and woke up fine and dandy. “Better out than in” is what we say around here! As a result of this experience, I keep a little vial of Veratrum album in my little travel kit that accompanies me every time I leave the house with my suitcase.

Veratrum album is my go-to homeopathic remedy for if things are coming out of both ends. What else may point to the use of this remedy? The diarrhea (or vomiting) may be violent, voluminous and relentless. Collapse following diarrhea (not the only well indicated remedy in this rubric, but a good place to start). The person may be cold: cold limbs, generally chilly, and/or clammy. Diarrhea with perspiration. Diarrhea after eating fruit; diarrhea after eating cucumbers (technically a fruit, after all). Diarrhea during menses. Diarrhea which is made worse by movement/motion (Bryonia is another one to think of for this symptom). And, here’s one more unusual concomitant symptom for Veratrum album: hiccups during diarrhea. Isn’t that just what you need in that situation?!

Children & Diarrhea:
If you have an infant with diarrhea, administer Podophyllum on the way to see the doctor — dehydration can set in quickly.

Diarrhea while cutting teeth: Chamomilla. Chamomilla is such an excellent remedy for children, in general, and it doesn’t let us down in this situation, either (but these symptoms are not confined to children. With everything homeopathy, if the symptoms match, the remedy would be effective for man, woman, child or animal. Diarrhea with abdominal pain. Diarrhea: following anger; after taking a cold; after eating and, specifically after eating rhubarb. Emotional diarrhea or from excitement. During hot weather. Painless diarrhea. And, here is a rubric unique to Chamomilla (but hopefully you wouldn’t find this in a child!): diarrhea after smoking.

The Elderly & Diarrhea:
Like children, the elderly, too, have some remedies with great affinity to their age. In this particular situation, I would lean toward China officinalis.

China is so good for enfeebled people, as can often be found in the later years. In particular, China is useful for weak digestion; dyspepsia/indigestion; flatulence; chronic belching.

Dysentery, in simple terms, involves frequent bowel movements with blood and mucus in the stool, often accompanied by cramps and pain. Give some China while on the way to see a doctor. Please seek medical assistance if you are experiencing these symptoms.

If diarrhea and constipation alternate in older individuals, consider Antimonium crud.

On to the general list…

If experiencing abdominal pain, and it feels like diarrhea is imminent, Aloe would be my first recommendation. There may be accompanying weakness. Diarrhea after eating and in particular, diarrhea following the slightest dietary indiscretion. Walking makes it worse. Lots of toots during the diarrhea.

There are a few rubrics where Aloe and Sulphur “tie” when it comes to diarrhea: burning pain in the rectum; being driven out of bed in the morning, needing the toilet desperately (Sulphur has the specific times of 5-6 am); painless diarrhea; standing makes it worse.

Where Sulphur “wins out” over Aloe: diarrhea after beer and nighttime diarrhea, especially after midnight.

If the diarrhea alternates with another symptom, such as:

• rheumatism: Kali bich
• a heat sensation in the head: Belladonna
• headaches: Podophyllum
• asthma, especially at night: Kali carb
• diarrhea every other day: China

Diarrhea and emotions:

• after anger: Colocynthis
• after anticipation/anxiety: Argentum nitricum or Gelsemium. If nausea is part of this picture, also consider Nux vomica.
• feeling cheerful despite chronic diarrhea: Calc carb, which is a little unusual when it comes to elimination — they don’t mind being constipated and apparently chronic diarrhea doesn’t bother them, either!
• irritability: Bryonia
• with mental restlessness: Arsenicum album

Feeling wiped out after all that wiping? China is a good place to start. If the weakness is particularly pronounced, also consider Phosphoric acid. If the act of wiping actually causes pain: Graphites.

Diarrhea during pregnancy: Phosphorus

Diarrhea during menopause: Lachesis

Diarrhea following an injury: Arnica

If it’s coming out as from a hydrant: Podophyllum

If it has a really noxious smell: ​Baptisia

Diarrhea following the consumption of:

• after a debauch: Nux vomica
• ice cream: Arsenicum album or Pulsatilla
  • if ice cream after diarrhea makes you feel better: Phosphorus
• chocolate, sugar or sweets: Argentum nitricum
• pastries: Pulsatilla

If you find your appetite increases with diarrhea: Petroleum.

Cold hands with diarrhea: Phosphorus
Cold feet: Lycopodium
Cold limbs: Arsenicum album, Camphora and Veratrum album

Positionally speaking:
If lying down make it worse: Dioscorea
If lying down makes it better: Bryonia (though it may be worse lying on your side)
Sitting upright makes it worse: Bryonia

Time of day:
If it starts after you have risen from bed and moving around: Bryonia or Nat sulph
After midnight: Arsenicum album or Sulphur
If the diarrhea causes sleeplessness: Phosphorus

I changed my mind. I will use one more dysphemism: the sharts, also commonly referred to as “gambled and lost” (Flanagan 2010). If you are having diarrhea during rectal flatus, there are a number of well indicated remedies, but I would start with Aloe — the remedy for an insecure rectum (click that link to read the previous article with the same name.)

What would cause an “insecure rectum?” Let’s go back to Giulia Enders’ Gut for this explanation. Apparently we have a pair of “sophisticated” sphincters which Enders takes a few pages to explain and I am going to try and shrink it down to the bare essentials using her words, (but her full explanation is certainly worth a read). “The outer muscle is a faithful servant of our consciousness. When our brain deems it an unsuitable time to go to the toilet, the external sphincter obeys and stays closed with all its might. … Our internal sphincter is a no-nonsense little guy. His motto is, ‘If it’s gotta come out, it’s gotta come out!’ … The external sphincter, on the other hand, has to deal with the vagaries of the outside world and its many options.” Suffice it to say, we need these two sphincters to communicate well.

A few more remedies for involuntary stool (not necessarily diarrhea):

• on bending over/stooping: Ruta
• during coughing or sneezing: Phosphorus or Sulphur
• on laughing: Sulphur
• on moving: Phosphorus or Phosphoric acid
• on beginning to move: Rhus tox
• during sleep: Podophyllum
• on walking: Aloe

As you can see, homeopathy can be invaluable when it comes to diarrhea — there is a homeopathic remedy for almost any situation!

​
Julia Coyte, CHom
Classically Practical homeopath

#wellnessawaits

References:

Enders, G., 2015. Gut : the Inside Story of Our Body’s Most Underrated Organ. Greystone Books.

​Flanagan, D., 2010. Everybody poops 410 pounds a year : an illustrated bathroom companion for grown-ups. Berkeley, Ca: Ulysses Press.

Murphy, R., n.d. Homeopathic Remedy Guide. accessed through Radar Opus software.

Chocolate. 😍 Sigh. 

Such a marvelous thing, chocolate. I don’t think I will ever stop being surprised when someone tells me they don’t like chocolate.

When my youngest was turning 3, I asked him what he wanted for his birthday dinner. “Chocolate. Just chocolate,” he said in his little sing-songy voice.

I happen to agree with him. Chocolate, (100% cacao is my preference), any time of day. (Click here for a link to my current favorite.) 

Just before flying to England last year I read about a study in a Mark Sisson email: “Chocolate for breakfast prevents circadian desynchrony in experimental models of jet-lag and shift-work.” I didn’t even check to see if there is good science behind this study because I am more than happy to do some self-experimentation when it comes to chocolate! Did it help? It seemed to. However, when we crossed the pond again a few months later, I forgot to bring the chocolate and I still did as well as last year on the jet lag front. NOTE: I did use homeopathic remedies on both flights, so I’m going to go out on a limb and say that was the more important factor. But, next time I make that physically painful trip, I shall do both — just in case!😉

As you may (or, may not) know, classical homeopathy loves basic information about a person — their preferred weather; if the person runs hot or cold; if they are aggravated by damp places; early bird or night owl; sensations they may experience and food likes and dislikes as well as how certain foods affect them.

This homeopathic fact-gathering point brings us to chocolate and homeopathy.

There are two main remedies associated with the desire for chocolate: Argentum nitricum and Phosphorus. Today, I shall focus on Argentum nitricum.

Arg-nit, as it is known, is a homeopathic remedy made from silver nitrate. One of Arg-nit’s keynote symptoms is a desire for sugar, which at the same time makes the person feel worse. I have written a few times about Arg-nit: Hoarseness; What goes up; Feel the Fear; Back to School.

Anxiety is a big part of Arg-nit as a homeopathic remedy picture: anxiety for health; anticipatory anxiety; anxiety when alone; anxiety in the morning on waking; anxiety about the future; anxiety when hungry; diarrhea from anxiety. So, I went looking for links to chocolate and anxiety. Turns out there are some interesting studies out there.

• A tiny little study out of France found that “self-labeled ‘chocoholics’ do not seem to suffer from eating disorders, but may represent a population of psychologically vulnerable and depression—or anxiety—prone people. They seem to use chocolate as a light psychotropic drug able to relieve some of their distress” (Dallard et al. 2001).
• Jackson (et al. 2019) found that those who consumed chocolate, “particularly dark chocolate, may be associated with reduced odds of clinically relevant depressive symptoms.” 
• Martin (et al. 2012) found eating a piece of chocolate after a meal decreased anxiety. Note: Arg-nit is also in the rubric for Anxiety while or after eating.
• Take the chocolate away for 2 weeks, say Moreno-Dominguez (et al. 2012) and the anxiety increased for “high-cravers.” 
• In rats, Yamada (et al. 2009) concluded that chronic consumption of cacao mass did not show an anxiolytic effect. (See below for further random studies on chocolate.)

Maybe we chocoholics are just self medicating? 🧐

Back to Arg-nit and chocolate…

Homeopathic Argentum nitricum may be helpful for people who suffer abdominal pain or diarrhea after eating chocolate. Additionally, if a pet gets into chocolate, I have been told that giving them some Arg-nit ASAP can be very important!

Those who experience acne as a result of eating chocolate may also benefit from Arg-nit. Note: the chocolate/acne connection is disputed in conventional science. See (Daszkiewicz 2021), (Goh et al. 2011), (Vongraviopap and Asawanonda 2015). Regardless of the scientific controversy, Argentum nitricum may benefit those who suffer ill-effects after eating chocolate, regardless of what those effects are.  

For those who have chocolate cravings, that tendency could be addressed through a number of remedies, but Arg-nit and Phosphorus are particularly well indicated*.

If there is a tendency to become addicted to chocolate, homeopathic Chocolate may be the remedy to turn to.

Chocolate as a homeopathic remedy was proven** by Jeremy Sherr after seeing frequent complaints from patients resulting in adverse effects after eating chocolate as well as “the impressive” number of his patients who were seriously addicted to chocolate.

There’s not a lot in this remedy that stands out in terms of symptoms, actually. In my never-to-be-humble opinion, it’s because they didn’t actually do the proving on the important part of the chocolate. For the proving, Sherr used the “purest form of processed chocolate” (Sherr 2015). That, to me, is like doing a proving on a Starbucks Caffeè Mocha instead of doing a proving on the important ingredient which, in this case would be the coffee bean. (Note: we have good information on Coffea cruda, the raw coffee bean, which was originally proved by Dr. Samuel Hahnemann and again in modern times.)

Similar to Arg-nit, anxiety is also part of the Chocolate remedy picture: anticipatory anxiety as well as anxiety about health and money and anxiety in the morning.

Frans Vermeulen in his Synoptic Reference (2011) notes that homeopathic chocolate has an affinity for the reproductive system, the central nervous system and hormones.

I’ve never used homeopathic Chocolate with a client. Maybe I will have to try it out on myself one day to get a better feel for it. But, I eagerly anticipate reading a full proving on Cacao one day. I have no doubt it would be a much more impressive remedy than Chocolate. (Cacao does appear in "Encyclopedia of Pure Materia Medica" by T. Allen but all that is stated is about the separating out of theobromine from the butter of cocoa and no actual symptoms are listed.)

So, the good news on chocolate is, according to the above listed studies, it appears we chocoholics have nothing to fear with a daily indulgence of our favored treat. Phew!

Reference list:

Chocolate Class, 2016. Understanding The Chemical Compound that Confirmed Chocolate was Consumed by the Maya [online]. Chocolate Class. 

Dallard, I., Cathebras, P., Sauron, C. and Massoubre, C., 2001. [Is cocoa a psychotropic drug? Psychopathologic study of a population of subjects self-identified as chocolate addicts]. L’Encephale [online], 27 (2), 181–186.

Daszkiewicz, M., 2021. Associations between diet and acne lesions. Roczniki Państwowego Zakładu Higieny [online], 137–143. 

Fusar-Poli, L., Gabbiadini, A., Ciancio, A., Vozza, L., Signorelli, M. S. and Aguglia, E., 2021. The effect of cocoa-rich products on depression, anxiety, and mood: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 62 (28), 1–13.

Goh, W., Kallianpur, K. J., Chow, D., Almeida, P. G., Brown, A. C., Pager, S. and Sil, P., 2011. Chocolate and acne: How valid was the original study? Clinics in Dermatology [online], 29 (4), 459–460. 

Jackson, S. E., Smith, L., Firth, J., Grabovac, I., Soysal, P., Koyanagi, A., Hu, L., Stubbs, B., Demurtas, J., Veronese, N., Zhu, X. and Yang, L., 2019. Is there a relationship between chocolate consumption and symptoms of depression? A cross‐sectional survey of 13,626 US adults. Depression and Anxiety [online], 36 (10), 987–995. 

Martin, F.-P. J., Antille, N., Rezzi, S. and Kochhar, S., 2012. Everyday Eating Experiences of Chocolate and Non-Chocolate Snacks Impact Postprandial Anxiety, Energy and Emotional States. Nutrients [online], 4 (6), 554–567. 

Martin, F.-P. J., Rezzi, S., Peré-Trepat, E., Kamlage, B., Collino, S., Leibold, E., Kastler, J., Rein, D., Fay, L. B. and Kochhar, S., 2009. Metabolic Effects of Dark Chocolate Consumption on Energy, Gut Microbiota, and Stress-Related Metabolism in Free-Living Subjects. Journal of Proteome Research [online], 8 (12), 5568–5579. 

Martinez-Pinilla, E., Oñatibia-Astibia, A. and Franco, R., 2015. The relevance of theobromine for the beneficial effects of cocoa consumption. Frontiers in Pharmacology [online], 6. 

Moreno-Dominguez, S., Rodríguez-Ruiz, S., Martín, M. and Warren, C. S., 2012. Experimental effects of chocolate deprivation on cravings, mood, and consumption in high and low chocolate-cravers. Appetite [online], 58 (1), 111–116.

Sathyapalan, T., Beckett, S., Rigby, A. S., Mellor, D. D. and Atkin, S. L., 2010. High cocoa polyphenol rich chocolate may reduce the burden of the symptoms in chronic fatigue syndrome. Nutrition Journal [online], 9 (1). 

Sherr, J., 2015. Homoeopathic Proving of Chocolate. B Jain Pub Pvt Limited.

Vermeulen, F., 2011. Synoptic reference. B Jain Publishers Pvt Ltd.

Vongraviopap, S. and Asawanonda, P., 2015. Dark chocolate exacerbates acne. International Journal of Dermatology [online], 55 (5), 587–591.

Yamada, T., Yamada, Y., Okano, Y., Terashima, T. and Hidehiko Yokogoshi, 2009. Anxiolytic effects of short- and long-term administration of cacao mass on rat elevated T-maze test. The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry [online], 20 (12), 948–955.