​I touched on the idea of remedy repetition in my recent “broad and shallow sweep through homeopathic potency.” In that article, remedy repetition was more related to various homeopathic ideas that certain potencies (generally low) are more suited to repetition than others.

I understand there are plenty of “classical” homeopaths who work with multiple remedies at a time (for example: a weekly “constitutional” remedy and a daily cell salt and perhaps an occasional “lesional” remedy — all used in the same time frame), but for this article, I will use the term “classical” in regard to homeopaths who practice with one remedy at a time.

“Practical” homeopaths, in this article, are referring to those who use multiple remedies simultaneously or even combination remedies. (I am aware that there are plenty of “classical” homeopaths who apply homeopathy in a “practical” manner, but do not use polypharmacy, for instance.)
--
As we learned in the above mentioned Homeopathic Potency article, it’s important to remember, as always in homeopathy, the individual is the driving and deciding force.
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Digging through my bookshelves, it’s clear that repetition of remedies during acute conditions is pretty universal and considered to be sometimes necessary even. Let’s take a look at a few different authors and see what they recommend. (All emphases are from original authors.)

Dr. Ratera (2020, p 19), writing about First Aid with Homeopathy (so ostensibly dealing only with acute situations) says:

"Use low potencies (from 6 to 30D and C or K) for milder cases, repeat several times in dry dose or diluted in mineral water…. In severe cases, the frequency of administration initially must be high (every 1-5 minutes in severe poisoning), progressively decreasing the frequency with improvement. In medium and mild cases, every 2-8 hours the first day, and reduce the frequency to 1-2 times daily for 1 or 2 days.… Stop or reduce remedy administration when the patient starts improving. Prolonged, unnecessary repetition of homeopathic remedies can produce proving symptoms in the patient."

Dr. Colin B. Lessell’s The World Travellers’ Manual of Homoeopathy (1999, p 5) in discussing remedies for a sun headache:

"… in an average case, one dose of Belladonna 30c should be given initially every two hours. The strength of the treatment may be varied, however, according to the severity of the case. A mild case may require dosage repetition every four hours, and a severe case every hour, or half hour. For the beginner, it is best to start with the directive of the text. Nevertheless, it should be noted that the frequency of repetition should be reduced as the patient improves, and in most instances the remedy should be discontinued once significant improvement has occurred.

Occasionally, after the administration of a remedy, the patient experiences what is termed homoeopathic aggravation (see below for further explanation). This is a transient worsening of the patient’s symptoms, and may be caused by the use of too high a potency, or by too rapid dose repetition. In fact, it signifies overstimulation of the bodily healing response. Should this occur, the remedy should be discontinued, whereupon the phase of aggravation will be followed by one of remission, often proceeding to cure. However, it sometimes happens that this phase of remission is short-lived, and is followed by a resumption of the previous symptoms, although they are often less severe. In this case, the remedy should be reapplied, but less aggressively. Reduce the frequency of dosage, or select a lesser potency."

Dr. Andrew Lockie’s The Family Guide to Homeopathy (1993, p 30):

"In acute conditions, doses should be taken every 1/2 or 1 hour to begin with, up to a maximum of 10 doses. But as soon as there is some improvement, the interval between doses should be increased to 8 or 12 hours for 2 or 3 days at most. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO POINT IN CONTINUING TO TAKE A REMEDY ONCE THE SYMPTOMS HAVE STARTED TO DISAPPEAR."

Drs. Jonas & Jacobs in their Healing with Homeopathy state:

"The cardinal rule of homeopathic treatment is that once a remedy begins to work, it should be tapered off and/or stopped. This is because the remedies stimulate the natural healing mechanisms of the body, and once that process begins it continues on its own.… Marked improvement can sometimes occur after only one dose, especially in a particularly intense situation… at other times several doses are necessary before the effects of the remedy are noticed. At the point where an effect is noticed, stop the medicine and wait."

Miranda Castro in The Complete Homeopathy Handbook (Castro 1991, p 26):

"Having selected the remedy for your patient, you will need to decide on the dose. This will depend upon the urgency of the case: frequent doses for an acute illness that has come on suddenly and strongly, and less frequent doses for a slowly developing illness. Some earaches with very severely distressed patients need their remedies repeating every five minutes; a head injury may need the remedy repeating every half hour; and a slowly developing flu may need a remedy every four hours or three times a day.

Once you see that a homeopathic remedy has started to work — once you notice a definite reaction or change resulting from the remedy — then continue with the same remedy but give it less often (that is, increase the gaps between the doses) as the patient continues to improve.

Once there is a marked improvement — once a strong positive reaction has occurred — it is essential to stop taking the remedy altogether. This is the absolute opposite of the instructions you receive when taking orthodox medicines (for example, antibiotics), where it is often necessary to finish the whole course of pills. A homeopathic remedy acts as a trigger, a catalyst — it stimulates the body to begin to heal itself, and once that has happened the body’s own healing process will take over. In some cases, taking another tablet after this reaction has occurred can actually stop the remedy working and even exaggerate the symptoms and consequently you can be persuaded into thinking it was a poor prescription."

With these, we see the theme of remedy repetition for acute situations from what I would term the more classical homeopaths and they are all pretty much in agreement, with just a little fine tuning here or there.

Let’s talk about the homeopathic aggravation a little bit.
Dr. Hahnemann in §158 says:
"A small homeopathic aggravation is a good indication in an acute disease.

This small homeopathic aggravation in the first hours is a very good portent that the acute disease will be mostly finished by the first dose. Such an aggravation is not infrequent, since the medicinal disease must naturally be somewhat stronger than the malady in order to over-tune and extinguish it…"

Translation:
Unlike conventional (allopathic) medicines, which treat disease with “anti” remedies — meaning “against” or “opposite,” as in antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, antipyretics (fever reducers), etc, homeopathy is based on similarities (Homoeo means “similar” or “same”). (See also, Hom, not home). A homeopathic remedy for a fever would match the totality of the patient’s symptoms, including the unique symptoms of the person’s fever (sudden onset, throbbing, causing restlessness, etc). This remedy would then gently stimulate (“over-tune”) the vital force* — the body’s self-regulating life principle — creating a similar but slightly stronger “medicinal disease” (the dynamic, artificial disturbance produced by the potentized homeopathic remedy). This “medicinal disease” gently nudges the vital force in a similar direction to the existing illness, enabling the body to kick in and extinguish the fever on its own. It’s important to mention here that it’s not literally about inducing a full-blown fever in an already sick person — it’s about matching the energetic signature of an illness to a potentized homeopathic remedy which would support the body’s own self-healing process.

“Similia similibus curentur” — Like cures like. If a remedy or substance can create or provoke a symptom in a healthy person, that same remedy or substance in homeopathic form can help relieve that symptom in an unwell person. (See also, The original drug testing… Homeopathic Provings.)

What about the Banerjis? What do they say to do for acutes?
Interestingly, their written instructions show that remedies are actually given a little less frequently than the traditional homeopaths. To be fair, their book isn’t really aimed at treating acutes.

For example, their first line remedies for influenza suggest:

• Rhus tox 30c and Bryonia 30c, one dose every 2 hours alternately.

Being the Banerjis, they also suggest other remedies to be taken in conjunction with the main remedy/ies.

• in case of temperature — Belladonna**, one dose every one hour (SOS***)
• for nausea and vomiting — Arsenicum album**, one dose every 30 minutes (SOS)

The Narayanis, on the other hand, address the full range of issues in their selection of remedies (see also, Quickie: Narayani Books). It’s important to note that potency selection has already been done for us with Narayanis — there’s nothing to do except purchase the ready-made combo and decide how often to take it.
​
Contrary to classical homeopathy, the Narayanis repeat remedies quite frequently, regardless of potency. Here are some examples:

• Throat, mix 30, (200c) repetition is suggested every 15 minutes for acute sore throat. Reduce on improvement.
• Cold, mix 11 is in a 6x and they suggest it every 15 minutes until eased, then reduce to three times a day (which is technically equivalent to every 8 hours but is more often used upon waking, in the afternoon and before bed).
• Flu Pack, mix 79 is a 10M combination and they say: “as soon as one feels flu is coming on, take this remedy every 15 minutes. Take 2 pills once a day as a preventative. Every 15 minutes in an attack.”
• Injury, mix 20, (200c): 6 times a day (which is equivalent to every 4 hours). Reduce as condition eases.

Let’s recap the general rules of thumb for acutes:

• Remedies are repeated, depending on the intensity and severity of the symptoms.
  • Very intense symptoms may warrant repetition every few minutes and once there is some level of improvement, then the remedies are spaced out further (e.g., severe injury).
  • Less intense symptoms would warrant repetition every hour or two (e.g., sore throat).
  • Milder symptoms would be repeated every 2-4 hours (e.g., feeling like you are beginning to come down with a bug).
• Use dry doses or pellets diluted in mineral water
• If there is an aggravation/worsening of symptoms, space the timing out further. (Note: sometimes this may be a result of an incorrect remedy. If there is no improvement, move to a different remedy.)
• If the symptoms return, repeat the remedy.
• The Banerjis standard repetition is twice daily, though they often mix in other remedies to address accompanying concerns making the actual dosing more frequent.
• Narayani remedies often begin with every 15 minutes and taper off with improvement.
  • A standard repetition for many of their acute remedies is 6 times a day, reducing on improvement.

We see, a good deal of common ground between classical and practical homeopaths in terms of remedy repetition when it comes to treating acute conditions.

When we get to chronic treatment next week, however, that’s where the waters start to part…


Julia Coyte, CHom
Classically Practical homeopath


#wellnessawaits


*Vital Force is Hahnemann’s term for the dynamic, spirit-like power that maintains health and produces symptoms when it is “untuned.”
**Their book does include potencies but they are not readily available potencies so I left them off — 30c is a good alternative.
***SOS stands for, as needed. Translation: no fever = don’t repeat the remedy.

Reference list
Banerji, P. and Banerji, P., 2013. The Banerji protocols : a new method of treatment with homeopathic medicines. India: Pratip Banerji.

Castro, M., 1991. The complete homeopathy handbook : a guide to everyday health care. New York: St. Martin’s Press.

Hahnemann, S. and Brewster O’Reilly, W., 2001. Organon of the medical art. Kindle. Palo Alto, Ca: Birdcage Books.

Jonas, W. B. and Jacobs, J., 1998. Healing with homeopathy : the doctor’s guide. New York, Ny: Warner Books.

Lessell, C. B., 1999. The World Travellers’ Manual of Homoeopathy. Random House UK.

Lockie, A., 1993. The family guide to homeopathy : the safe form of medicine for the future. New York: Simon & Schuster.

Ratera, M. M., 2020. First aid with homeopathy. Kandern, Germany Narayana Verlag.

Last week I wrote about the Narayani remedies, primarily because I had just used TapRoots* fabulous kit again and I wanted to sing its praises. (See below for information on their Banerji Protocol kits.)

My first homeopathic combination love, though, needs a little attention: the Banerji Protocols.

I have told this story before, but the amazingly wonderful and powerful Banerji Protocols are what convinced me to become a homeopath. Two weeks after beginning a bunch of combination remedies, in addition to a couple of individual homeopathic remedies all taken according to the schedule provided by my homeopath at the time, Joette Calabrese, — (I didn’t do this on my own!), I felt better than I had in many years. Just two weeks and the relief I felt was nothing short of miraculous. It was truly, truly life-changing stuff. So life changing that I immediately began taking classes in the Banerji Protocols offered by Joette Calabrese** and after a few months when I had finished all there was on offer that way, I enrolled in homeopathy school. (It’s funny. When I first spoke with Joette she mentioned her classes and asked if I would be interested. I responded that I didn’t have any time, as interesting as they sounded. Little did I know how much time I would want for studying all this new-to-me stuff called homeopathy! There simply aren’t enough hours in the day, even all these years later! I literally abandoned all my other interests at that point and dove straight in -- never even coming up for air!)

I think it’s fair to say that not all classically trained homeopaths are overly fond of practical, or, what is also referred to as clinical homeopathy. Some can be rather snooty about it, actually. (I have clients who have been "fired" by their classical homeopath because the individual took additional homeopathic remedies on their own accord.)

In particular, classical homeopaths seem to take umbrage with the Banerji Protocols. Why they do this, I can’t be certain, but I have my suspicions.

The Banerji Protocols were developed by the Drs Banerji (father and son) in Calcutta, India. This is a 4th generation family of homeopaths and for all that time, their clinic has been keeping records of which remedies helped which conditions. They have 10 doctors/homeopaths in their clinic who each see 100 patients a day. That’s 1,000 patients a day (!) upon which to base their information. They have some marvelous success rates and those results are replicated over and over again. It is truly impressive.

How do the Banerji Protocols differ from the Narayani remedies?

The Banerji Protocols are elegant combinations of homeopathic remedies. The Narayani remedies are still wondrous creations, but they are much larger combinations of homeopathic remedies — often mixing not just individual homeopathic remedies but also adding homeopathic nosodes, sarcodes and even Bach flower essences into the mix, too.

The Banerji Protocols use some combination remedies (generally combinations of only 2 remedies at a time) but mostly using individual remedies, but taking them as part of the same protocol (see below for an example). Remember, at it's core, classical homeopathy involves using one single remedy and then waiting and seeing what comes from that. The Banerji Protocols repeat remedies … sometimes weekly; sometimes daily; sometimes multiple times a day.

Because it has been in the news lately, let’s look at the Banerji’s first line (more on this later) protocol for the Measles***:

• Bryonia alba, twice daily

If there is a high temperature, add in:

• Belladonna, every 30 minutes until the temp is stable

If there is an accompanying cold or cough, add in:

• Ipecac, every hour, as needed.

So, as you see, this is not classical in that the protocol is using 3 different remedies to treat one specific condition.

If it works so well, why do classical homeopaths balk at that and not embrace it?
Even though these protocols have been used for decades in India, they’re fairly new to us in other corners of the world.

More importantly, as a classically trained homeopath, I can tell you that we are taught that every remedy we suggest to a client needs to be based on meticulous case-taking and that (single) remedy needs to be tailored to the specific symptoms that person is expressing — the Similimum. This is the really impressive aspect of homeopathy that differentiates it from every other form of medicine out there. Classical homeopathy doesn’t treat a disease, it treats the individual. And, what a beautiful thing it is!

I agree… in principle.

However, in today’s day and age where we have excellent diagnoses available to us through imaging and testing, finding the similimum is not always necessary. This is where the Banerji Protocols can step right up and take their very valuable spot. (See also: The Importance of a Proper Diagnosis.)

The Banerjis, with all their many thousands of case histories to rely upon, have learned what works for commonly diagnosed conditions. To name but a few:

• Warts
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Sinusitis
• Parkinson's Disease
• Infertility

Common conditions which often respond beautifully to homeopathic protocols.
​
The Banerji Protocols: A New Method of Treatment with Homeopathic Medicines is, in my never-to-be-humble opinion, an indispensable book. My copy is well loved and beginning to fall apart as I have read through and studied the approximately 200 conditions over the years.

For each condition addressed, they (generally speaking) list 3 “lines”:

• First Line medicines, which they claim offer relief, in 80% of the cases.
• Second Line medicines can help the remaining approximately 20% of the cases.
• If the first and second line “do not give proper response, in a reasonable time frame,” the third line is standing by and waiting.

And, if these “lines” don’t do the trick, the next step is to fall back on classical homeopathy.

We’re also taught in classical homeopathy schools that remedies should never be combined with other remedies. The logic here is sound: homeopathic remedies are tested or “proved” (using the homeopathic terminology) one at a time. To my knowledge, there has not been any official testing or provings of combined homeopathic remedies (just long, positive track records, like the records the Banerjis keep).

Having said that, to my understanding, there have not been any problems with using said combined remedies. There are certainly plenty of them out there*: Boiron, Hylands, Heel, UNDA, Narayani, Dr. Reckeweg — (there are more but this list should suffice to get anyone who has an interest in such things started). 

How else do the Banerji Protocols differ from classical homeopathy?

• Classical homeopathy does not repeat remedies often (sometimes no repetition at all). The Banerjis often repeat their suggested remedies daily or even multiple times a day. 
• Classical homeopathy puts a large emphasis on mental and emotional states and symptoms. Banerji Protocols, not so much.
• Classical homeopathy involves (generally speaking) long, in-depth case taking. Banerji Protocols cut to the chase, similar to how western medicine would prescribe certain medicines for certain conditions.
• Classical homeopaths would spend a great deal of time repertorizing (looking up symptoms in a repertory -- a book of symptoms expressed in the form of rubrics). The Banerjis have removed that step by stating exactly what to take and when and how often.

Now, let’s turn to Dr. Samuel Hahnemann, the father of homeopathy.
​The other most important aspect of homeopathy is found in aphorism #1 in Hahnemann’s Organon of Medicine: “The physician’s highest and only calling is to make the sick healthy, to cure, as it is called.”

This beautiful ideal is from 1842, written in the 6th edition of Dr. Hahnemann's magnum opus, 32 years after his first edition. During these years, his methods changed and grew and who knows where his experimentation would have ended up if he had been able to get to the 10th or 20th editions of The Organon? I happen to believe that Dr. Hahnemann would have eventually come around to the idea of combination remedies, but that’s just my opinion.

What does it matter if one remedy at a time is used or if multiple remedies are combined… as long as the person experiences relief?

I know of successful classical homeopaths who say they use a particular remedy in their practice weekly. I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that is not necessarily truly classical homeopathy. This, to me, does not really sound like they are getting the single best remedy that is “homeopathic to the case.” It can’t possibly be. If these homeopaths were going about their homeopathy in a completely classical fashion, the chances of them using the same remedy as the similimum for multiple clients in the same same week or month (outside of an epidemic/pandemic) are quite low.

Or, they say, “I use this remedy for this condition.” Again, this is essentially using a protocol — they are just their own protocols. After all, protocols are procedures based on previous experience to deliver an expected outcome.

I am certainly not knocking these homeopaths for doing this. On the contrary! This is exactly the point of practical or clinical homeopathy. Lots of people need similar or even the same remedies to help treat the conditions from which they suffer.

For this reason, I incorporate many ways of finding remedies for my clients. I suggest remedies based on how my clients want to work: if they want a single remedy, great! I’m on it. If they want a schedule of combination remedies, I can do that, too. If they want a mix of everything - done! I am happy to work with people in whichever way makes them comfortable.

My goal as a homeopath is to help people feel better. 

Julia Coyte, CHom
Classically Practical homeopath

#wellnessawaits


* I have no affiliation with these companies or people — just a big fan!

** Joette Calabrese is THE person from whom to learn the Banerji Protocols. Her many great webinars (and Facebook Live videos) are personable, interesting, entertaining and absolutely chock-a-block full of information. The hows and whys, the stories, her time spent with the Drs Banerji… definitely well worth the investment of time and money if you have any interest in learning about the Banerji Protocols.

*** I have intentionally left out the potencies. The Banerji Protocol book is a marvelous resource to have on your shelf and it will fill in the rest of the protocol information for you. Note: Some of their protocols call for remedies prepared in a liquid. Additionally, occasionally, they list potencies which we do not use in the west (in fact, sometimes these potencies are not even available in the west). Please be sure to take this into consideration if you purchase this terrific book and use caution when you encounter potencies which seem “unusual” to you.

TapRoots* also offers not one, but two (!) Banerji Protocol kits. The first one, The Banerji Protocols Combination set is $199 ($269.99 with a booklet). This is a little 50-remedy kit full of their handy-dandy combinations, like:

• Bryonia + Aconite  (See: here, here, and here for previous articles talking about this must-have combination.)
• Lycopodium + Arsenicum album for gas and bloating (see here) 
• Sanguinaria + Belladonna for sinus issues (see here)​

TapRoots also offers a double kit of the remedies most frequently used in the Banerji Protocols. These are not combination remedies, they are individual homeopathic remedies in various potencies. This kit sells for $649. (A big chunk of change, but one would be set for pretty much anything that would come their way if they had these delicious little boxes of 200 remedies in potencies ranging from 3x to 1M in their arsenal.)

Reference list

​Banerji, Dr. P., n.d. The Diaries of a Stubborn Homeopath.

Banerji, P. and Banerji, P., 2013. The Banerji Protocols : a New Method of Treatment with Homeopathic Medicines. India: Pratip Banerji.

Boiron, 2020. Boiron USA - World Leader in Homeopathic Medicines [online]. BoironUSA. 

Calabrese, J., 2024. JoetteCalabrese.com - Homeopathy works with us...not on us. [online]. JoetteCalabrese.com. 

Dr. Reckeweg, 2022. Home [online]. Dr. Reckeweg.
 
Hahnemann, S. and Wenda Brewster O'reilly, 1996. Organon of the Medical Art. Palo Alto, Ca: Birdcage Books.

Homeopathy School international, 2025. Home - HOMEOPATHY SCHOOL INTERNATIONAL [online]. HOMEOPATHY SCHOOL INTERNATIONAL. 
​
Hylands, 2025. Hyland’s [online]. Hyland’s. 

MediNatura, 2021. MediNatura [online]. MediNatura. 

Narayani Remedies, n.d. NARAYANI REMEDIES [online]. narayaniremedies.com. 

SHASTRI, D. and LEE, M., 2025. What to know about measles outbreaks in Texas and New Mexico [online]. AP News. 

TapRoots, 2025. Homeopathic Kits [online]. TapRoots. 

​One of the first remedies I gave my (then) young son after beginning to study homeopathy was Stramonium.

He was about 9, I think, and my previously easy-going young fellow had become pretty surly. To paint the picture, he had previously had a good relationship with the after-school tutor who had been helping all 3 of my boys at various times for a few years. They would sit at the dining room table when I was cooking dinner and they chatted nicely and joked as she explained to him how this thing called “math” worked. Then, one day, he just became unpleasant and rude to her. It was not just with the tutor, but that relationship provided the clearest display of what was happening. 

I had learned recently about the homeopathic remedy Stramonium and I ordered a tube because it sounded like a pretty good fit for him. As the days went by, waiting for the remedy to arrive in the mail, I hoped that it was actually just a passing phase and my pleasant son would return. My hopes went unanswered.

As luck would have it, the Stramonium arrived in the middle of a tutoring session. I opened the package and popped a couple of pellets in his mouth. A few minutes later, he said, “what did you just give me? It has made me really angry!”

I have to admit that I panicked for a minute. What had I done? (In hindsight, a lower potency probably would have been better.) But, a few minutes later, he calmed way down after a short-lived aggravation*. I don’t think I ever actually gave him a second dose of Stramonium and his old, pleasant self soon returned.

What is Stramonium and how can it possibly have this effect?

Stramonium is made from jimson weed, a nightshade relative of tomatoes, eggplants and tobacco, and is known to trigger psychosis when ingested (Mental Health Daily 2015). All parts of this plant are toxic and in its raw state can cause convulsions, hallucinations and even death if ingested (Nafici 2016).

The bloom itself is quite striking, but the seedpod (see top photo) is a better depiction of what this plant is all about. Jimson weed, also known as “locoweed,” “mad-apple” “thorn-apple” and “stinkweed” is “UNSAFE [original author's emphasis] when taken by mouth or inhaled” and “contains chemicals such as atropine, hyoscyamine and scopolamine” which “interfere with one of the chemical messengers (acetylcholine) in the brain and nerves” (Rxlist.com 2021) and can be fatal in high doses (Charmley 2022).

Alrighty then! Message received — keep a safe distance from the plant itself! (If you or your pet do come in contact with this plant, call Poison Control at 1.800.222.1222.)

“Jimson weed poisoning is found primarily among adolescents who seek the hallucinogenic effects of the plant” (Chan 2002) but it can also harm animals (Guthrie 2014) and makes the list of the “10 common poisonous plants” (Charmley 2022). (A quick search of the internet turns up many news articles of teens ending up in trouble from smoking or ingesting this weed.)

Many of homeopathy’s most powerful medicines come from the most poisonous substances on the planet: Belladonna, Hemlock, Aconite… the list goes on because as we know in homeopathy, “Like cures Like.”

What does that even mean? "Like cures like" means the symptoms or conditions which can be created or caused by a substance in its natural state can then be “cured” through the use of the potentized homeopathic version of the same substance. (See also, “Hom, not home”.)

Indeed, one of the ways we find out the healing properties of homeopathic remedies is through historical accounts of poisonings. Take for instance Socrates, the Greek philosopher who was sentenced to death in 399 BC by drinking a hemlock liquid mixture — his symptoms were recorded by Plato in his book Phaedo (Dayan 2009). Plato told of the slowly ascending paralysis which crept up his legs and resulted in death when the paralysis reached the respiratory muscles. Enid Bloch (n.d) researched the veracity of this account and discovered Scottish toxicologists of the 19th century conducted their own experiments and found similar effects. John Harley, author of The Old Vegetable Neurotics, poisoned himself and recorded the physiological effects, again confirming Plato’s account. As a result, we have a good homeopathic picture of what Conium maculatum (Poison Hemlock) can do. (For this article, suffice it to say that homeopathic Conium can help with feelings of constrictions, indurations, nodules and tumors; conditions where the symptoms move upwards; it is highly indicated in a number of coughs, especially when lying down; sensations of heaviness and weakness, and, finally, paralysis.)

Samuel Hahnemann, the father of homeopathy, “found that the more he diluted his medicines, the more the toxic impact of their original substance was washed away. And he found something else that was even more surprising: that the more dilute the medicines became, the more powerful they became in terms of their healing power” (McCabe 2010).

McCabe goes on to speak of the homeopath E.B. Nash (1838-1917) who said, ‘the stronger the poison the stronger the cure.’ “Homeopathic remedies, when given in micro dose, have no toxicity left. But it is also true that they retain their inherent medicinal strength, making the remedies taken from poisonous substances particularly curative.” How these diluted solutions actually work eludes scientists to this day.

Back to jimson weed…

Along with the hallucinations, Charmley lists “aggressive or unusual behavior” as one of the dangers of consuming this plant. Dewitt (et al. 1997) lists “combative” behavior. This is where I found the homeopathic version of this plant useful all those years ago.

Homeopathyonline.org (2013) says “the idea of Stramonium is we have lived through a night of terror … but more commonly the terror is internalized.” A person or a child has seen or experienced something frightening and that fright got stuck inside them.

Morrison (1998) lists a “change of character” and “rages.” “Terror. Night-terrors. Feeling of threat or violence.” Boger (2015) lists “DREADS DARKNESS … Fearful, desires company or wants to escape … talks incessantly … wildly excited … or does all sorts of crazy things. Raving mania … cursing … Awakes in fear or screaming.” 

How do these internal terrors express themselves? Often through rage which shows itself with a red face. Or, rage alternating with laughing; rage with cursing and hitting, even an uncontrollable, violent rage. Stramonium is one of only 5 remedies listed in Murphy’s Repertory for rage and fury in children.

It doesn’t have to get to this level though. Those symptoms listed above are extreme examples. Like all homeopathic remedies and their symptoms, there is a range of expression. Stramonium is also used for plain old anger: those who are easily angered and those who are angry from being frightened. It’s a good remedy for those who get angry as a result of anxiety and for temper tantrums. 

It was the idea of temper tantrums that caught my attention all those years ago. I realized that was what my young son was doing. It wasn't like the temper tantrums of a toddler, this was different, but very much the same -- an unreasonable bout of anger, out of reach of logic.

Where else is Stramonium useful? For those suffering from fear: fear of being alone, (especially children), as well as fear of being alone in the darkness — they want light and company. Fear of animals and dreams of scary creatures. Fears of being attacked or bitten. Claustrophobia, the fear of going to the doctor, fear of ghosts and imaginary things. The fear of being injured, the fear of mirrors in a room, and being afraid of monsters and scary noises. 

As you can see, Stramonium is an excellent homeopathic remedy for frightened and/or angry children.

Was my son exhibiting fearful behavior at this same time? I don't remember now and I didn't have the knowledge to look for such things then. Did my son see some show or read some story that freaked him out and got stuck in his head? Possibly, but I’ll never know for sure. What I do know is homeopathic Stramonium removed that layer of anger from him, regardless of where it originated, and returned to me the sweet young fellow I knew him to be.


Julia Coyte, CHom
Classically Practical homeopath


#wellnessawaits

​* Remember, an aggravation is considered a good thing in classical homeopathy. It is an exacerbation of the existing problem. The pendulum swings further in the direction of the problem and then corrects itself soon after, resulting in equilibrium.

Reference list:

Bloch, E., n.d. Hemlock Poisoning and the Death of Socrates: Did Plato Tell the Truth? Academic Paper. [online]. State University of New York at Buffalo, NY, USA. 

Boger, C. M., 2015. Synoptic key of the materia medica : a treatise for homeopathic students. New Delhi: B. Jain.

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