Recently, I posted To repeat, or not to repeat? Acute version. I gave many examples of “classical”* homeopaths recommending the rather frequent repetition of the remedies for acute cases.

If classical homeopaths are in agreement it’s OK to repeat remedies acutely, why do a lot of classical homeopaths think it’s not OK to repeat remedies when addressing chronic issues?

Let’s recap from last week:

• Repeating homeopathic remedies during acute treatment is fine and dandy.
• Sometimes there may be a homeopathic aggravation, which is considered a good thing.
  • if there is an aggravation, space the timing out further. (Note: it may be telling you the remedy is not quite right and may warrant further investigation.)
• Remedies can be repeated in dry dose or diluted in mineral water.
• If symptoms return, repeat the remedy.

When we get to chronic treatment, these guidelines are often set to the side… pushed away… locked up… verboten.

Small Doses, Big Results by Karl Robinson, M.D. (2014, p xv) begins his introduction thusly: "There is only one medicine, holistic or otherwise, that treats mind and body at the same time with only one medicine and does so with one dose repeated infrequently."

Lisa Strbac (2024, p 22) explains the classical thinking quite succinctly in The Trailblazer’s Insight into Homeopathy:

"‘I felt so good on my remedy; why can’t I keep taking it?’
Homeopathy follows the principle of the minimum dose — using the smallest amount of remedy needed to stimulate the body’s healing response. Repeated doses of a well-matched remedy, especially when not needed, can disrupt the healing process with a risk that the individual may prove the remedy. Once improvement is noted, it’s best to stop taking the remedy and only repeat if symptoms return."

​Dr. Lockie (1993) adds: "In chronic conditions, 6c remedies are usually taken 3 times a day for up to 14 days, and 30c remedies every 12 hours for a few days.”
“for a few days”… hmmm

I have noticed classical homeopaths actually often repeat doses, especially at the beginning of treatment, even when they otherwise do not recommend repeating doses. I frequently hear or read of classical homeopaths opening a case with a “split dose” (another name for a single repeated dose, e.g., take a dose at night and repeat it the following morning); or, they may repeat a dose for 3 to 5 days in a row, right off the bat (as above), and then stop and see what happens. Aren’t they risking disrupting the healing process?

I could spend hours listing all of Hahnemann’s aphorisms and Dr. James Tyler Kent’s lecture points and digging through all my books, but I’m not going to do that. I am going to ignore them when it comes to whether or not it is OK to repeat dry remedies.

​What?! You’re going to ignore the masters?!
Yes. Instead, I am going to turn to Dr. Francisco Xavier Eizayaga** (1991, p 211) who decided to test these theories:

"This subject has always worried us. After about eighteen years of collecting a rich experience with many thousands of patients, we decided to put some order to the matter. We have usually followed certain traditional rules according to the powerful influence Kent exercised with instructions stated in his Homoeopathic Philosophy [first published in 1900]. In the chronic cases we employed only one dose followed by placebo… We had always started with a 200c or MC potency and we waited for the results. The great majority of our patients suffered the initial homeopathic aggravation followed by the different contingencies described by Kent in his Lecture XXXV.…"

"-Some patients only feel well while they are having the remedy, not while they are having the placebo.…

-There is no difference between the homoeopathic aggravation due to a unique dose or due to repeated doses, even when taking a remedy during the reaction.

-The late aggravation of which Hahnemann speaks takes place in 4% of cases, some of them susceptible to being interpreted in another way, and, in any case, it never is anything more than a temporary bother with no other pathological significance.…
​
When an individual has daily and repeated doses, we are referring to a chronic case, only one of those doses will modify that susceptibility, by either aggravating first and then causing recovery, or causing recovery directly…. The proof of this is that the patient’s response to the therapeutic action is the same one with a unique dose as with repeated ones…."

As a reminder, I was “raised” on the Banerji Protocols which repeat doses often, so, to me, this was normal and “right.” Then, I attended classical homeopathic training which told me repeating doses was very bad. I was left a little perplexed for a few years. Repeating doses was working for myself and it was working for my clients. What was I missing?

Then I read Dr. Eizayaga and it turns out I wasn’t missing anything! The research conducted by Dr. Eizayaga was enough for me to put any hesitation I had been harboring about repeating dry doses away for good. Phew!

So, what are we talking about in terms of repeating doses for chronic situations?
#1 — the individual is the most important piece of this decision making process. I can’t stress this enough.

• Banerji Protocols? They repeat often — twice daily is a standard repetition.
• Narayani Remedies? They repeat even more often — three times daily is common and some of the combos suggest six times a day.

Like Dr. Eizayaga, the Banerjis and the Narayanis have decades-long track records of success with many thousands of patients repeating dry doses daily.

Now, let’s do a little comparison between “classical” and “practical” dosing. Most of the books written for home users list primarily acute conditions, so I turned to Hemorrhoids which is often a chronic condition for many people.

Drs. Jonas & Jacobs (1998, p 222):
"For acute†† hemorrhoidal problems, take the remedy twice daily in the 30c potency or 4 times a day in the 12x. Stop the remedy as soon as improvement occurs, or after two days if it is not giving relief." [They recommend one of 5 remedies: Aesculus, Sulphur, Nux vomica, Nitric acid or Hamamelis.]

​​Dr. Andrew Lockie (1993, p 258) recommends the same selection of remedies, plus, Aloe, Collinsonia, Pulsatilla, Ammonium carb or Causticum “to be taken 4 times daily for up to 5 days.”

The Banerjis (2013), on the other hand, recommend for hemorrhoids in their first line of treatment:

• Sulphur 200c, every other day
• Nux vomica 30c, once daily

And, in acute conditions:

• Sulphur 200c + Ratanhia 200c, twice daily, with instructions to repeat every 3 hours until complete remission of the pain or burning. This is quite an amazing combination!

Narayani remedies would most likely call for Mix 32: Veins & Piles which contains 8 different remedies and recommends using it 3 times a day and up to 6 times a day “if very bad.

Interestingly, in this instance, we see a similar repetition of remedies between classical and practical methods††.

So, to repeat or not repeat? Is it even still a question?

Julia Coyte, CHom
Classically Practical homeopath

#wellnessawaits

​*For this article, “classical” refers to homeopaths using one remedy at a time; “Practical” refers to homeopaths who use multiple remedies at one time.
**If you can find this book, buy this book… You won’t be disappointed.
***Plus Method, according to Eizayaga (1991, p 213):
"…if the succeeding dose is changed slightly every time, namely potentized somewhat higher then the vital principle may be altered without difficulty by the same medicine (the sensation of natural disease diminishing) and thus the cure brought nearer.”
†Eizayaga does not clarify what he means by “high potency.”
††To be accurate, the “classical” recommendations are not necessarily referring to chronic hemorrhoids, but let’s be real — hemorrhoid pain is hemorrhoid pain!

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

Eizayaga, F. X., 1991. Treatise on Homoeopathic Medicine. Estilos Graficos S.A.

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

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

Robinson, K., 2014. Small doses big results : how homeopathic medicine offers hope in chronic disease.

Strbac, L., 2024. The Trailblazer’s Insight into Homeopathy.

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]. 

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.

“So putrescent, so feculent, so foul.” These words, borrowed from Colleen Paeff’s The Great Stink: How Joseph Bazalgette Solved London’s Poop Solution Problem (2021) really get to the heart of the matter.

What’s the first thing you think of when you think of poop? The smell, of course! Poop and stink go hand in hand. (See Rooty Toot Toots for remedies which may help for stinky gas.)

Why are poops stinky?

Referring back to the first article in this series, dead bacteria, which makes up 30% of poop, is the cause of the smell. Mental Floss, citing Val Curtis from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine says, “that we think poop stinks for our good. Our disgust towards certain sights and smells is a ‘behavioral immune system’… that evolved to keep us from coming into contact with infection and disease (Soniak 2013).

So, how does homeopathy fit into stinky stools? Well, if you are a regular reader of Ruminating on Remedies, I’m hoping you are now catching on to the idea that after the 220+ years that homeopathy has been around, homeopathy pretty much has a remedy to address pretty much everything… even stinky stools.

Most stools stink and that’s normal. However, sometimes there may be a particular odor that is new to a person. In these instances, that new poop smell may help guide one to a helpful remedy.

There are a few homeopathic remedies which keep popping up for specifically stinky stools. In particular, Dioscorea, Colocynthis and Sulphur. Generally speaking, I try to keep the remedies mentioned in this blog to those that are readily available. Dioscorea and Colocynthis aren’t unusual remedies, but unlike Sulphur, they are definitely not found in my local stores which sell homeopathic remedies, nor are they always included in remedy kits, but they are well worth seeking out to have in your homeopathic remedy stash.

Interestingly, in terms of gastrointestinal disorders, Dioscorea and Colocynthis are opposite each other in regard to colicky pains. Dioscorea has a tendency to stretch backwards to relieve abdominal pains whereas Colocynthis would bend forward to relieve those pains.

As for smelly stools, Colocynthis, according to Schroyens, has stools which smell like:

• burning paper
  
• burnt, as if
  
• cadaverous
  
• musty
  
• offensive
  
• putrid
  
• sour

Dioscorea, on the other hand, is mentioned in Murphy’s Repertory in 86 rubrics relating to stools but it is the only remedy listed in the only rubric for those acutely sensitive to the odor of stools to the point of fainting. (Dioscorea is also mentioned in a number of other repertories for offensive stools in general.) Sulphur is another remedy to consider for those oversensitive to stool odors.

A Synoptic Key (Boger 2015) is an excellent get-to-the-point materia medica (the book also includes “a brief repertory” which also gets right to the point). Dr. Boger lists Stool, bad odor, including 3 really good stool remedies: Arsenicum album, Carbo-veg and Podophyllum. (That’s a heck of a lot easier than parsing through the 297 remedies listed in Schroyens under offensive stools. See what I mean -- he gets right to the point, kind of like a "start here" sort of repertory.)

However, if the stools are offensive only in the morning, consider Graphites.

If the stools smell like rotten cheese, try Bryonia or Hepar sulph.

If the stools have a penetrating odor: Sulphur or Podophyllum.

If the odor cannot be removed, even with washing: Sulphur.

Putrid (meaning decaying or rotting smell) stools: there are lots of well indicated remedies here, but start with Podophyllum or Arsenicum album. If these putrid stools are found in the elderly, try Baptisia. If they smell putrid only at night, try Sulphur.

Back to Boger for stools that smell like carrion (decaying flesh of dead animals): Carbo veg.

Like rotten eggs? Chamomilla.

Like sour milk? Tabacum. Sour, in general? Calc carb, Hepar sulph, Mercurius or Sulphur.

For an odorless stool, look to Veratrum album.

If you would like to keep your bathroom smelling decent for those visitors who have not yet discovered the wonders of homeopathy, try some Poo-Pourri.*  They make products to spray into the toilet “before-you-go” and claim it “trap[s] bathroom odor under the water’s surface, so it never enters the air.” It works and it also makes for a funny present with names like: “Trap-a-Crap” and “Royal Flush” and “Heavy Doody” and they even come in seasonal scents.

Now, I must admit that I am pooped. I have crapped out on the Doo-Doo Documents for now but there is more to be said on this topic and perhaps one day we shall revisit this extraordinarily important topic.


Julia Coyte, CHom
Classically Practical homeopath


#wellnessawaits

* I have no affiliation with this company, I just like their products.

RESOURCES

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

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

Paeff, C., Carpenter, N. and Mcelderry, M. K., 2021. The great stink : how Joseph Bazalgette solved London’s poop pollution problem. New York: Margaret K. Mcelderry Books.

Schroyens, F., 2012. Synthesis : repertorium homeopathicum syntheticum. Accessed through Radar Opus software. London: Homeopathic Book Publishers.

Soniak, M., 2013. Why Does Poop Stink? [online]. www.mentalfloss.com. Available from: https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/49033/why-does-poop-stink.

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.

So there I was, basking in the purity of the White Sands. The day before was unbearably hot… all… day… long. I mean seriously hot. In fact, we were supposed to visit White Sands yesterday afternoon but the thought of said dunes in that heat was too much. We opted for an early morning visit the next day instead.

Excellent choice!

The sand, (well, the gypsum,) felt amazingly cool as we climbed the first dune. I left the rest of the hiking of the dunes to the more intrepid among us and I wallowed in the marvel that is this amazing place.

I was lying on my back, hat over my face, loving every second of this and contemplating making a sand angel cuz it felt like the appropriate thing to do. My arms were stretched out to either side, just about ready to go and, “Ow!”

I frantically brushed at my arm and as I looked to see what got me, a little red head was still attached to my bicep.

How could something so awful be hanging out in such a pure and marvelous landscape?

To be fair, shortly after arriving on the top of the dune, I looked down and saw a red ant. Then I saw many more red ants. I knew they were there and I should have paid heed. Alas. Live and learn.

Back to the red menace… I leapt up and got down the dune incredibly quickly. (Bounding down the dune was so much fun — if you go, forget the sled! They sell you a sled at the ranger station and then they buy it back from you for less than you paid. Sometimes you can find a perfectly good sled in the garbage, FYI.) I dug out my kit of 100 miniature vials of homeopathic remedies that always travels with me and immediately went for the Apis. 

I did a couple doses of Apis but the thing was still incredibly painful. I then switched to Ledum. Still really not any improvement. Then, I looked at the bite and saw a large welt developing, coupled with the intensely painful itching… Staphysagria.

That one brought some relief, both to my arm and to my mood. I then alternated between Staphysagria and Apis every few hours for the rest of the day.

This was on a Sunday. By Tuesday, it felt like it was getting worse. It was hot. It was itchy. It hurt. It felt like it was getting much bigger. Infection setting in?

I moved to Hyper/Ars: Hypericum mixed with Arsenicum album. This, too, was helpful. It contained the spread and it shrunk in size just a little bit, but then it began to spread again.

I tried a little Plantain ointment. That certainly didn’t hurt, but it wasn’t the answer. By Wednesday morning, I had decided to try a completely different route and I dug out my little canister of PRID Drawing Salve*. 

My one little bite was pretty big by now so I dabbed the sticky brown stuff on my arm and had to use 2 bandages to keep it from getting on everything.

PRID Drawing Salve has been around for over 50 years, and, as the package says, it is a “pain relief & irritant drawing salve” for splinters, thorns, ingrown hairs, insect bites, boils, minor cuts and scrapes.

What’s in it?

As I mentioned above, this stuff is sticky. Among its ingredients: beeswax and wood rosin (the internet tells me this is a natural resin from the sap of pine trees.)

Homeopathically speaking, PRID contains low X potencies of Arnica, Calendula, Echinacea, Hepar sulph, Ichthammol, Silicea and Sulphur -- all excellent choices for infection. 

I have written previously about Arnica, Calendula, Echinacea, Hepar sulph, Silicea and Sulphur. (You can search for articles on these remedies on Ruminating on Remedies.)

While digging a little deeper into Echinacea, I have learned some interesting things from herbalist Matthew Wood (I highly recommend picking up Wood's Earthwise Herbal books). (Note: I accessed this through Radar Opus software and I don't see which of his many books correlates to this title.)

The Indians of the Great Plains used the western purple coneflower, Echinacea, "to treat snake bites, insect bites, septicemia and various kinds of poisonings" (Wood).

Dr. Robin Murphy notes that homeopathic Echinacea is a great remedy "when boils progress to the stage where they appear about to point then stop and do not suppurate. Echinacea helps in carbuncles with similar symptoms, a bluish-red color and intense pain" (Murphy n.d.). (I have to say, this sounds a little like where it felt my ant bite was going.)

Ichthammol (or, Ichthyolum), however, is a new remedy for me.

Dr. Robin Murphy tells us this is an “unproved” remedy**, (made from shale oil), which comes to us from old-school therapeutics as an external application which has been used for psoriasis, eczematous dermatitis, leg ulcers, seborrheic dermatitis and furuncles (Boyd 2010).

Like Echinacea, Ichthammol is said to be a powerful anti-septic.

When I removed those first 2 bandages a couple hours later, the swelling and redness had shrunk considerably. I did feel the need to apply the PRID two more times and then that was the end of that. I am now a day shy of two weeks ago from getting this bite and I have no pain, but I do have a residual reddish mark. The other day I could see and feel 4 little white bumps so I think I suffered more than 1 nibble.
​
The downside of using a combination remedy is that it is impossible to know which remedy worked. Having said that, who cares? I am interested in positive results -- it really doesn't matter to me how I get there. Might it be more elegant to take a single dose of the appropriate homeopathic remedy. Sure! In this case, might the drawing part of this salve have played a role? Could be.


Julia Coyte, CHom
Classically Practical homeopath

#wellnessawaits


* I have no affiliation with this company or this person.

** Ichthammol is listed in Bradford’s Index of Homeopathic Provings (1898), so 🤷‍♀️.

As summer winds down, the cicadas seem to be winding up. Boy, they have been noisy this year! When they take a break, the silence makes me realize that living with something like tinnitus must be very trying, indeed!

Tinnitus (National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders 2018), the perception of outside noise when no actual external stimulus is causing the sound, affects 15-20% of people of all ages but it is especially common in older adults. Sometimes there is an underlying cause that can be addressed to fix the tinnitus, but usually, treatments to make the tinnitus less noticeable are used (things like hearing aids, sound generators). Common causes are hearing loss, ear infection or ear canal blockage, head or neck injuries and medications (Mayo Clinic 2018).

Like so many chronic conditions, we are told there is no cure. Half the people who experience tinnitus do not have measurable hearing loss. A small percentage of people suffering from tinnitus experience serious debility in their daily lives (Prutsman 2023).

Homeopathically speaking, there are some remedies that can help though it’s not usually a quick fix, so be prepared to be patient. 

There are a lot of rubrics and remedies associated with hearing noises in the ears — some of them quite specific as to the sound (for example, hearing bagpipes in the distance — Nat carb) or, specific circumstances or specific times of day when the noises occur.

A few remedies pop up more often than others: Petroleum, Lycopodium, and China officinalis, in particular. There is a theme amongst these remedies of sensitive hearing, hyperacusis, which is a common complaint of tinnitus sufferers (Hebert et al. 2013). It never ceases to amaze me how homeopathy figured this stuff out a hundred plus years before the research was done! 

Petroleum is associated with chronic eustachian catarrh, (mucus or gunk in laymen’s terms). Conversely, there may be a dryness or a disagreeable feeling of dryness in the ears. There may be itching deep inside the ear or, diminished hearing in general. There could be an over-sensitiveness of not only hearing, but also of touch and smell, too.

Impaired hearing with noises in the ears; impaired hearing in old people or, progressive hearing impairment.

The sounds which may be heard for which Petroleum may be of benefit: bells; humming; constant roaring or rushing water; cracking; whizzing or the sound of wind.

Lycopodium may help when there is a swelling of the ear with discharge. Perhaps, a sensation as if hot blood has rushed into the ears.

Impaired hearing with discharge from the ear. Sensitive to noises and sounds, particularly music.

The noises which may be helped with Lycopodium are: roaring, humming, whizzing and rushing.

China officinalis is for a great over-sensitiveness of the nervous system — all sights, smells, hearing and taste are too strong. The external ear may be sensitive to touch.

Impaired hearing with constant noises in the ears, possibly with a headache.

The noises which may be helped by China officinalis are humming; ringing, especially with an accompanying headache; roaring; ticking as of a distant watch; buzzing; noises as if hearing singing.

Back to the bagpipes of Natrum carbonicum… this remedy isn’t as prominent as the remedies listed above, but there are some interesting things associated with it.

There may be a stopped sensation with diminished hearing. Sensitive hearing, particularly to music - they can’t bear it or, the rumpling of paper.

Bubbling noises or as if a bubble is bursting; sounds seem to come from the left side when they really come from the right; and, the illusion of hearing singing. And, though they can’t stand hearing music, they have the delusion they are hearing music — that must be frustratingly awful!

A list of a few noise rubrics and some corresponding remedies:

• If you hear noises in your ears when blowing your nose: Calc carb or Hepar sulph.
• Buzzing is a big one with a lot of possibly indicated remedies, but some good places to start would be Argentum nitricum, China off, Lycopodium, or Nux-vomica.
• If the noises occur only at night, try Dulcamera or Graphites.
• Cracking sound: Kali carb or Petroleum.
• In bed, or, lying down makes it worse: Sulphur
• Hearing noises during a headache: China off.
• Humming: China off, Lycopodium, Phosphorus or Sepia
• Difficulty hearing with the noises: Causticum or Lycopodium
• Rushing water: Chamomilla
• Boiling water: Lycopodium
• As of wind: Petroleum
• If it is synchronous with the pulse, it’s an easy one to remember: Pulsatilla, or, Puls for short.

Book a focused consultation and see if we can take the focus off those noises for you.

Julia Coyte, CHom
Classically Practical homeopath

#wellnessawaits

Reference list
Cleveland Clinic, n.d. Tinnitus: Causes, Treatment & Prevention [online]. Cleveland Clinic. 

Hebert, S., Fournier, P. and Norena, A., 2013. The Auditory Sensitivity is Increased in Tinnitus Ears. Journal of Neuroscience [online], 33 (6), 2356–2364. 

Mayo Clinic, 2018. Tinnitus - Symptoms and causes [online]. Mayo Clinic.

​National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, 2018. Tinnitus [online]. NIDCD. 

Prutsman, Dr. J., 2023. Tinnitus [online]. Sound Relief Tinnitus & Hearing Center. 

​Let’s take a look at toots — you know, gas… bottom burps… farts… stink bombs… fluffer-doodles. While there certainly can be some instances which may indicate a serious medical problem for which medical treatment should be sought*, for the sake of this article, we’re going to just stick to common, everyday gas.

If you go to a conventional medical practitioner for your gas problem, they will most likely offer you one of the following:

• Enzymes to help break down the carbohydrates, (e.g. Beano)
• Lactase supplements to help digest the sugar in dairy products, (e.g. Lactaid)
• Years ago, our pediatrician suggested simethicone for our gas-prone little fellows which help break up the gas bubbles, (e.g. Gas-x.) (Looking back, I so wish I had known about homeopathy, I could have helped them much more!)
• Activated charcoal (a supplement of which I am exceedingly fond, I have to say)
• A change in diet

*According to Mayo Clinic, if you have chronic or unusual abdominal pain, severe heartburn, persistent vomiting or nausea, chronic diarrhea, bloody or black stool, weight loss and loss of appetite, severe bloating, constipation or difficulty emptying your bowels, seek medical attention.

All of these conventional treatments may help now and again and in the moment, but, to my knowledge, they don’t help get rid of the underlying problem.

Homeopathy, on the other hand, has many remedies for many kinds of toots. When I enter “flatulence” into my homeopathic software, Dr. Robin Murphy’s repertory comes back with 849 “different” rubrics. (I put different in quotes because there are overlaps, to be sure, but it’s a clear indication of how homeopathy differs from conventional medicine.) Remedies for specific complaints stemming from gas. How cool is that? Tailored toot remedies, you might say!

What kinds of flatus are there? Here are just a few descriptions from Dr. Murphy:

• Painful abdomen with flatulence. Abdominal pain with flatulence after eating. Painful distended abdomen.
• Distended abdomen in the evening. Flatulence in the morning on waking.
• “Incarcerated flatus” is one of my favorite homeopathic terms — trapped gas.
• Back pain which is better from passing gas.
• Flatulence during menses.
• Offensive flatulence. Offensive, sulphur-like odor. (And from Boger, we have a rather eloquent description: “copious, silent discharge of hot, bilious-smelling flatus.")
• Odorless flatulence.
• Flatulence from sour foods.
• Rumbling in the intestines which improves after passing gas.
• Flatus from anxiety.
• Burning pain in the rectum after passing gas.
• Then there’s the worst gas of all — the kind where the rectal gate keepers fail in their job.😳

I could go on — it’s a long and fascinating list -- but, you get the idea.

One of the most beautiful aspects of homeopathy is that it can not only help in the moment by relieving symptoms, it can help to lessen the problem altogether.

When you are using homeopathy, you should be looking for overall improvement: the problem should be less intense and less frequent. In short, you should be looking for the problem to be getting better in general, not just in the moment. For instance, if you suffer severe gas and bloating every evening, once you are taking the “right” remedy (there are many remedies which can help with many given symptoms), the amount of gas should be less and the abdominal pressure should be less and the rumbling should quieten. Soon, it won’t be happening every night, it will be every other night and then every few nights and then only once in a while. That’s what we’re looking for -- overall improvement in the complaint.

So, what are some go-to remedies for common gas?

My first thought when somebody is suffering from gas and bloating is Lycopodium.

Homeopathic Lycopodium is a very highly indicated remedy for gas and bloating, especially when said toots are a result of eating offending foods. Where else might Lycopodium be helpful in gaseous complaints? Abdominal pain; back pain stemming from gas; flatulence in the elderly; wind accompanying stool; evening flatus, and, rumbling guts which improve when you are able to release some air.

How about that “incarcerated flatus”? Trapped wind causing cramping pain might be Lycopodium, but it might also be Carbo vegetablis (which is actually made from charcoal). If all that trapped gas makes your belly so full it can be difficult to breathe, Carbo veg is probably gonna' be your new favorite remedy. Gas during diarrhea; offensive gas; so much trapped gas that the abdomen feels hard and maybe even tender.

Those poor little babies, scrunching up their legs trying to get some relief? Mag phos would be my first thought.

Toots which smell like spoiled eggs? Sulphur, or, even Arnica.

Another good gas remedy is Nux vomica for flatulence from anxiety; flatulence after eating or even while eating and toots which accompany coughing.

If you have a potent, musical bottom, give some homeopathic remedies a try. Your loved ones will thank you!

Julia Coyte, CHom
Classically Practical homeopath

#wellnessawaits