Twice this week I have watched Calendula tea do some lovely things.

The first person had a literal scratch on their throat which was very painful.

The second person had a very sore throat due to days of coughing.

Both of these people drank some Calendula tea and both of them were very pleased they did.

As I mentioned in A Calendula Quickie… for inner bits… (and, bites!), I have used Calendula when I have had a sore in my mouth but I had never tried it for a sore throat.

Dr. Robin Murphy mentions it in his complaints following throat surgery rubrics and when there is a “lacerating” sensation to the throat. Knerr shows it in a few throat rubrics beyond injuries: swallowing painful, and, bitter mucus (a one remedy rubric); Luke Norland’s Synoptic Guide shows Calendula has an affinity to the mouth and throat (along with 366 other remedies). Schroyens mentions it as one of 117 remedies for a “tickling” cough, but it also shows up in 52 other throat rubrics.

I now get it. It now makes sense to me why I hadn’t considered it until just the other day for a sore throat — one person had an actual injury to their throat; a couple days later, another person had sort of an injury to their throat — it was “injured” and sore from coughing. Those two cases back-to-back enabled me to make this a-ha connection.

Here are a few links of how to use Calendula tea: a nice list*; Get Well Soon book* mentions using it in tincture form mixed into a gargle concoction for sore throats; this place offers a recipe for an herbal tea recipe* and this tea company* has a nice write up on the herb itself; and, this site* tells you how to make your own Calendula tea from the marigolds in your garden.
​
So, ahem — (clearing my throat a little bit to cover my slight embarrassment for not making this connection earlier), if a sore throat comes your way, try either a little herbal calendula tea or some homeopathic Calendula, either in it’s pellet form directly, or a few pellets or as a tincture dropped into some water or into your own tea of choice.

​

Julia Coyte, CHom
Classically Practical homeopath

#wellnessawaits


*I have no affiliation with this or any other company — I’m just sharing interesting information as I find it.

​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.
--
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.

On the 4th day of cell salts… Ferrum phosphoricum.

Ferr phos is what Dr. Schüssler called the “true form of iron phosphate that occurs naturally in the human system” (McCabe 2009). "It is the cell salt most concerned with blood because it is part of hemoglobin, the substance that takes up oxygen from the inhaled air and carries it through the bloodstream to all parts of the body. Because of Ferr phos’s important role in carrying oxygen, it is recommended in nearly all conditions" (Weintraub 1999).

Ferr phos is considered an important remedy for acute conditions, especially fever and inflammations. When taken at the first sign of illness, it all might be nipped in the bud!

Conditions which may benefit from Ferr phos:

• Anemia
• Hemorrhages
  • nose bleeds
• Circulatory disorders
• Neuralgic pain
• Diarrhea
• Ear infections
  • especially in children
  • with burning or throbbing pain
• Eyes
  • burning or sore
  • sensation of sand under eyelid
• Fevers
• Gastro-intestinal
  • diarrhea with watery stools
  • hemorrhoids
• Headaches
• Injuries
• Musculo-skeletal
  • arthritis
  • sciatica
  • sprains
• Respiratory system
  • colds
  • coughs
  • croup
  • flu
  • laryngitis
    • from sickness or after heavy use
  • sore throat
    • red and inflamed
  • whooping cough
    • with vomiting
• Cystitis

Mentally and emotionally, Ferr phos may be helpful for those who just want to be taken care of. They may seem indifferent to their illness.


Julia Coyte, CHom
Classically Practical homeopath


#wellnessawaits

Reference list
Carey, G. W., 1996. The Biochemic System of Medicine. Health Research Books.

Chapman, E., 1960. How to Use the Twelve Tissue Salts. Nutri Books.

Dewey, W. A. and Boericke, W., 2022. The Twelve Tissue Remedies of Schüssler: Comprising the Theory, Therapeutic Application, Materia Medica, and a Complete Repertory of These Remedies. H. Legare Street Press.

Hyland's, 2024. Cell Salt #1 Calc Fluor [online]. Hyland’s.

McCabe, V., 2009. The Healing Echo. ReadHowYouWant.com.

Schuesslertissuessalts.com.au, n.d. Schuessler Tissue Salts - 150 Years Of Natural Medicine In Australia [online]. Schuessler Tissue Salts. 

Schüssler, W. H., 2003. Schüssler’s twelve tissue remedies : comprising the theory, therapeutic applications, materia medica and a complete repertory of tissue remedies. Sittingbourne, Kent: Homæopathic Book Service.

Strbac, L., 2024. Schuessler’s Tissue Salts Rediscovered.

Weintraub, S., 1999. Natural healing with cell salts. Pleasant Grove, Ut: Woodland Pub.

Hepar sulph has been touted as the homeopathic antibiotic. Taken literally, those two words don’t go together because hom (meaning “same”) is the opposite of anti (meaning “against”). (For more information, see Hom, not Home.) With that in mind, let’s talk a little bit about why homeopathic Hepar sulph has acquired this incongruous reputation.

Hepar sulph is reputed to combat infections and reduce pain. If we take a look at the Banerji Protocols book (Banerji and Banerji 2013), we will find Hepar sulph listed 40 times. Beginning with acne vulgaris and venturing through such ailments as impetigo, pharyngitis (sore throat) and tonsillitis — all conditions which the internet tells me are generally, or at least often, treated with antibiotics*.
​
Dr. Manuel Mateu Ratera, in his excellent book First Aid with Homeopathy, recommends Hepar for “serious and destructive situations: tendency to suppuration and an exaggerated sensitivity to pain.”
​
Technically, the full name of this homeopathic remedy is Hepar sulphuris calcareum. When I ask my Brave search engine, it tells me that “in the past, ‘hepar’ referred to the liver or a preparation made from it. Although this term is no longer commonly used today, it is a direct borrowing from the Greek word ‘hepar’, meaning liver.” Interesting. Dr. Robin Murphy (2006) tells us that “Liver of Sulphur” is the name given “by the old alchemists to several sulphur compounds whose color was supposed to resemble that of liver.” SIDE NOTE: With all this talk of liver, I took a peek in the repertory to see how Hepar sizes up for liver symptoms and yes, there it is.
​
The second part of the name comes from the “pure flowers of sulphur.” Nope, not that kind of flower. Webster’s Dictionary clears this up as: “sublimed sulfur in the form of a fine yellow powder used especially in agriculture and in medicine” (2024).

Back to Murphy (this time accessed via Radar Opus 2.2.16) for the final installment of the understanding of how this remedy comes about: “an impure Sulphide of Calcium prepared by burning in a crucible the white interior of oyster shells with pure flowers of sulphur” bringing the calcareum into the picture. As you may know, our beloved homeopathic remedy Calc carb (aka Calcarea carbonica) is made from the extract from the middle layer of the oyster shell, so all that goodness is part of the Hepar sulph calc picture, too. In fact, Samuel Hahnemann prepared this mineral compound because he was trying to combine the effects of two of homeopathy’s biggest remedies (AKA polycrests) Sulphur and Calc carb.

​Ok, after a brief side journey to learn how we get this remedy, let’s get back to understanding how Hepar sulph can be applied.
​
Hepar is known physically for exquisite pain and sensitivity: think of ingrown toenails, hang nails, those tender zits that can pop up which cause unbearable pain at the slightest touch. Mentally: anger; being contrary; irritable; extremely sensitive in general as well as to pain; sensitive to air and cold … Put the physical and mental pain and sensitivity together and that pretty much describes a Hepar sulph moment.

What general conditions may be helped by Hepar? In no particular order:

• Sore throats
• Hoarse voice
• Coughs
• Croup
• Skin nodules and indurations
• Ear infections
• Skin complaints: boils, pimples, nodules and indurations, especially with pus discharges
• Yellow-ish discolorations: of the skin; stool; discharges (from wherever they may originate); expectorations; sweat that leaves yellow stains.
• Toothaches
• Sinusitis

​
Cold may worsen any condition which may be helped by Hepar. For instance, think of the cough or discomfort that may come on after breathing in cold air when unwell or the throat pain that is worse after swallowing a cold drink or a toothache that really zings when you breathe in cold air or swallow a cold drink. And, on top of that, the person may be chilly in general.
​
What unusual symptoms might Hepar sulph tackle?

• A splinter-like pain in the throat — like a fish bone stuck in there, or, pains as if splinter (and, wounds from splinters, too).
• A cough which is worse when closing the eyes at night.
• High sensitivity to pain with fainting.
• “Fine” pains — they hurt more than they “should” (think paper cuts)
• and, cheese.

Cheese?
​
Yes, cheese.
Stools which smell like cheese.
Cheesy discharges from any part of the body.
Conditions which smell like cheese.
Breath which smells cheesy.
Experiencing the odors of cheese (or old cheese) — be they imaginary odors or real odors.
Cheesy smelling sweat.
Coughing up “cheesy lumps.”
​
Homeopathy is so effective in so many conditions and Hepar sulph is an excellent remedy to have in your kit, especially if you are adventuring where modern medicine is limited. A well-timed early dose of Hepar sulph could help to avoid bigger problems down the road.


Julia Coyte, CHom
Classically Practical homeopath


#wellnessawaits

* Given the fact that many of these conditions are treated via antibiotics in conventional medicine, please make sure to work with a physician alongside a certified homeopath.

Sore throat complaints are keeping me busy this month! Some people have the dreaded Covid, some have the flu, some may have strep throat and some people just have a sore throat.

What to do about this pharyngitis? (Pharynx is the part of the throat behind the mouth and nasal cavity and “itis” for inflammation.)

Well, at the first sign of feeling unwell, I like the Banerji protocol of Aconite 200c mixed with Bryonia 30c. Taking this right away can often nip things in the bud and send the yucks away before they can settle in.

Another option for those who are quick on the draw is Ferrum phos 6x. This, too, can often turn things around in short order.

Once the yucks have made themselves at home and one is definitively feeling unwell, let’s look at a few homeopathic remedies which may help. (Note: There are many remedies which can be helpful for sore throats, these are just a few of my favorites.) See also: Calming the Cold; Some Flu Remedies to Consider and Tis the season for the crud.

Baptisia
Extremely painful, dark red throat, where swallowing liquids is the only option and even that is very difficult, despite being thirsty; tiny bites of food gags them. They may have swollen glands and/or bad breath.

Belladonna
The sore throat appears suddenly and generally hurts more on the right side with burning or throbbing pain. The throat and the tip of the tongue may be red. Pain is worse from turning the head, touching the throat and swallowing, especially liquids. Face will often be red and hot but the hands and feet tend to be cold.

Gelsemium
Burning and rough sore throat with pain that extends from the throat to the ear. May feel like there’s a painful lump in the throat that cannot be swallowed. Pain in the sternocleidomastoid — the long muscles on either side of your neck. Paralysis of the vocal cords. Swallowing solid foods is difficult.

Hepar sulph
Homeopathic Hepar is known for a sticking sensation in the throat, like a splinter or a bone. Pain extends to the ear on yawning and swallowing. May hawk up thick, yellow, sticky mucus. Wrapping up the external throat feels good. Cold drinks or becoming cold makes them feel worse but warmth in general and warm drinks can help. There may be a pulsation felt in the throat and they may feel worse in the evening and at night. Very sensitive to the pain and sensitive to everything else, too, actually and they may be irritable and impatient.

Lachesis
A purple throat, often on the left side (or starts on the left and moves to the right) and feels worse when swallowing liquids — even saliva is difficult — empty swallowing makes the throat hurt even worse (though they may have a constant desire to swallow). Swallowing solids may be easier. May have a disturbing constricting sensation, causing them to loosen clothes around the throat. Ear pain with sore throat. There may be a sensation of breadcrumbs or a painful sensation of a lump or plug which is not relieved by swallowing. They may choke easily, especially on falling to sleep and may have a suffocative feeling. Often feel worse on waking.

Lycopodium
Often on the right side with a dryness in the throat and they may not be very thirsty. A stitching pain on swallowing which is better with warm drinks and worse with cold drinks. Choking on swallowing. They may feel like there is a lump or a plug in the throat. They are chilly but they also want fresh air but are worse becoming cold or eating/drinking cold things. May have digestive issues at the same time as the sore throat.

Mercurius sol
Lots of saliva and a raw, rough and burning feeling in the throat. Lots of slime gets stuck in the throat and there may be drooling while sleeping. Swollen glands. A bad or metallic taste in the mouth and may have bad breath. The throat may be copper colored. Throat pain on coughing. The throat may be worse at night and they may also experience night sweats. Finding the right temperature is often difficult.

Rhus tox
Body aches and restlessness may accompany the sore throat. The tip of the tongue may be red. The throat becomes irritated and the voice becomes hoarse and is often worse from talking. The pain is worse from swallowing at first, but improves with more swallowing. Warmth is helpful and moving around may help, too — feeling worse when they are resting. Like the swallowing, they may feel worse when first moving around but better as they keep moving.

When to see a doctor?
According to the Mayo Clinic, see a doctor if:

• sore throat is accompanied by tender, swollen lymph glands
• sore throat lasts longer than 48 hours
• a fever
• sore throat is accompanied by a rash
• there are problems breathing or swallowing
• if strep has been diagnosed, a lack of improvement after taking antibiotics for 48 hours

TONSILLITIS
A few quick notes relating to tonsillitis. (Note on type: Most highly indicated, highly indicated and indicated.) Again, there are many homeopathic remedies for tonsillitis and I am just focusing on the throat remedies already mentioned for sore throats.

Tonsillitis, in general — in order of importance: Belladonna, Ferrum phos and Mercurius. Hepar & Lachesis. Baptisia and Lycopodium.
Tonsillitis with pus: Hepar, Mercurius. Belladonna, Lycopodium, Lachesis
Hardness of hearing with tonsillitis: Hepar, Lycopodium and Mercurius
Chronic or recurring tonsillitis: Hepar, Lachesis and Lycopodium
Painless tonsillitis: Baptisia
Burning pain in tonsils: Belladonna and Mercurius
Purple tonsils: Hepar and Lachesis
Bright red tonsils: Belladonna and Ferrum phos
Dark red tonsils: Baptisia and Lachesis
Tonsillitis in children: Ferr-phos, Lachesis, Lycopodium and Mercury
Sharp pain in tonsils: Belladonna, Lachesis, Lycopodium and Mercury
Tearing pain in tonsils: Belladonna
Throbbing pain in tonsils: Belladonna

STREP THROAT
Strep throat is another possibility and can lead to long term problems in rare cases. Unlike most sore throats, strep is caused by bacteria. Strep A is big in the news this year, especially in the UK, but there are other strains of strep which can cause throat problems, too (A, C & G are the primary throat culprits).

I never messed around with strep throats when my kids were young because I know two people who suffered terribly as a result of untreated strep. “Untreated strep throat can cause an autoimmune reaction in which the body attacks its own tissues and may lead to rheumatic fever, chorea and kidney damage” (Berkow et al. 1995).

How can you tell the difference between a sore throat and Strep throat?
Ultimately, for a full diagnosis of strep throat, you need to see a doctor and get a throat culture.

According the the Merck Manual and the Mayo Clinic, strep throat symptoms typically appear suddenly and include:

• sore throat
  • throat is “beefy” red
  • tiny red spots on the area at the back of the roof of the mouth (soft or hard palate) (see photo above)
• lymph nodes in the neck may be enlarged and tender
• tonsils are swollen
  • sometimes with white patches or streaks of pus
• general feeling of being unwell
  • chills
  • fever
  • headache
• nausea
• vomiting
• rapid heart beat
• rash

A cough, laryngitis and stuffy nose are not common in strep infections.

In very young children (under 4), the only symptom may be a runny nose. (When my kids were little, I learned that strep infections in littles may present with only stomach problems, so keep that in mind.)

“People with strep throat generally get better in 2 weeks, even without treatment. … antibiotics can shorten the duration of symptoms in young children and prevent serious complications such as rheumatic fever” (Berkow et al. 1995). (Note: There are homeopathic remedies which can be helpful in strep throat, but that is beyond the scope of this article.)

If you are suffering from a sore throat, try one of these homeopathic remedies so you can get back to some painless Fa La La-ing before the festive season is behind us.


Julia Coyte, CHom
Classically Practical homeopath


#wellnessawaits

Reference list:
Berkow, R., Beers, M. and Fletcher, A., 1995. The Merck Manual Home Edition. Merck Research Laboratories.

Mayo Clinic, 2018. Strep throat - symptoms and causes [online]. Mayo Clinic. 

A few weeks ago, I had a nagging sore throat for days. The sore throat wasn’t enough to interfere with my life, but it was annoying. I didn’t feel ill in any other way. I had no other symptoms pointing to allergies. I tried a few homeopathic remedies and had no success. I was stumped.

Then, I bit my tongue and that was the ticket!

One of the beautiful aspects of homeopathy is taking all the symptoms into consideration at one time to find the best remedy.

Mercurius sol is one of many homeopathic remedies for sore throats, and I didn’t think of it right off the bat. But, when I kept biting my already bitten tongue, the penny finally dropped. Merc sol is also well known for aphthae (small ulcers in the mouth or on the tongue) and aphthous stomatitis, a.k.a. canker sores. Aha!

The niggling pain in my throat was lessened significantly in very short order and the tender little lump on the tip of my tongue was gone. By the next day, the re-injuring of my tongue was a thing of the past and my sore throat was just a ghost of itself.
​
When looking for the best homeopathic remedy, remember to include all the relevant information in the case. My generic, not terribly painful sore throat didn’t give me enough information to quickly find the remedy needed. In this case, I had to bite my tongue to fix my throat!

If you are experiencing similar issues, contact classicallypractical.com to see if homeopathy can help you.