Clinical homeopathy for allergies and respiratory disorders
Allen M. Kratz
My initial column introduced the concept of clinical homeopathy for consumer self care of common complaints. A contemporary approach is to use combinations of time-tested homeopathic medicines, primarily from herbal sources. These oral formulations are without side effects and also have another distinct clinical advantage — their non-interaction with other drugs or nutraceuticals. They offer a safer option to conventional over-the-counter drugs and are becoming more popular with consumers and in natural pharmacies.
The following index includes clinical comments taken from classical homeopathic repertories. (1,2,3) Let’s look at allergies and common respiratory disorders that you are often asked about … along with their frequently combined homeopathic medicines.
Allergies (Hay Fever)
* Allium Cepa: Worse in afternoon.
* Arsenicum Album: Violent sneezing. Thin, watery discharge.
* Dulcamara: Worse nights.
* Euphrasia Officinalis: Relieves symptoms and may be used as preventative during hay fever season.
* Silicea: Worse on waking up.
Bronchitis
* Antimonium Tartaricum: Chest congestion and rattling cough.
* Bryonia Alba: Dry cough. Tough mucous, hard to cough up. Dry mouth and excessive thirst for cold drinks.
* Phosphorus: Cough, hoarseness, painful larynx. Loss of voice. Made worse by talking and change of temperature.
Colds & Flu
* Allium Cepa: Relieves more common cold symptoms than any other single ingredient.
* Aconitum Napellus: For the first stages. For ailments with sudden and violent onset. Fever. Cough. Sore throat. Stuffed-up nose.
* Belladonna: High fever with hot, red skin and flushed face.
* Bryonia Alba: Cold in chest. Dry, painful cough. Excessive thirst for cold drinks.
* Eupatorium Perfoliatum: Flu with aching bones and muscles. Runny nose. Fever with chill preceded by thirst.
* Gelsemium Sempervirens: Sneezing. Profuse, watery, runny nose. Rough, dry throat. Flu symptoms. Chills and fever. Headache. Aches all over.
* Phosphorus: Cough. Nasal and respiratory inflammation. Laryngitis. Hoarseness. Loss of voice.
Cough
* Bryonia Alba: Dry, hacking cough.
* Drosera Rotundifolia: Dry, spasmodic cough. Sudden, violent onset.
* Dulcamara: Moist cough with hoarseness.
* Ipecacuanha: Difficult to catch breath. Accompanied by vomiting.
* Phosphorus: Hoarseness. Loss of voice. Bronchitis.
* Spongia Tosta: Dry cough. Croup, asthma typically occurring around midnight.
Earache
* Belladonna: Hot, red and throbbing.
* Calcarea Carbonica: Repeated earaches.
* Chamomilla: Tinkling and buzzing in ears. Ears feel stopped up.
* Hepar Suiphuris Calcareum: Extremely sensitive to touch.
* Mercurius Vivus: Worse at night.
Headache
* Antimonium Tartaricum: Dull headache, mostly in the forehead.
* Arnica Montana: Headache from head or brain injury.
* Belladonna: Relieves a wide variety of headaches; throbbing, pressing, boring.
* Bryonia Alba: Bursting, splitting headache.
* Cinchona Officinalis: Intense, throbbing headache, as if skull would burst.
* Eupatorium Perfoliatum: Periodic. Pressure as if cap pressed down on skull.
* Gelsemium Sempervirens: As if tight band around head. Headache with muscular soreness in neck and shoulders.
* Hamamelis Virginica: Dysmenorrhea with severe back and leg pains.
* Ignatia Amara: As if a nail were driven through the side of the head.
* Natrum Muriaticum: Chronic throbbing headache, with pale face or after menstruation. Blinding migraine headache from sunrise to sunset.
* Natrum Sulphuricum: Violent, throbbing, especially in temples. Headache after eating.
* Nux Vomica: Mainly in mornings. After overindulgence in food or alcohol. Made worse by mental exertion.
* Silicea: Chronic headache accompanied by chilly feeling.
* Sulphur: Periodic, occurring every week. Headaches made worse by stooping or standing, better by motion.
* Veratrum Album: Migraine headaches. Pain on one half of head only with nausea. May be preceded by visual symptoms. Patient usually knows in advance that he or she is about to have a headache.
Laryngitis (Hoarseness)
* Drosera Rotundifolia: Deep, hoarse voice with spasmodic, barking cough. Worse after midnight.
* Eupatorium Perfoliatum: Cough with soreness in chest.
* Ignatia Amara: Hacking cough that irritates throat.
* Phosphorus: Painful laryngitis, hurts to talk. Hard, dry cough. Made worse by change in temperature.
* Spongia Tosta: Barking cough. Larynx is dry, burns and feels constricted.
Nosebleed
* Ferrum Phosphoricum: Especially in children.
* Hamamelis Virginica: Profuse. Frequent.
* Phosphorus: Marked flow of blood.
Runny Nose
* Allium Cepa: Watery discharge that burns.
* Arsenicum Album: Thin, watery, irritating discharge. Sneezing. Hay fever.
* Euphrasia Officinalis: Profuse. Hay fever.
* Hepar Sulphuris Cakareum: Thick, offensive discharge.
* Natrum Muriaticum: Thin, copious discharge, as if water faucet had been turned on.
* Pulsatilla: Thick, yellow/green discharge.
Sinusitis
* Kali Bichromicum: Look for tough, stringy discharge.
* Silicea: Nose bone sore to touch.
* Thuja Occidentalis: Chronic sinusitis. Dryness of nasal cavities.
Sore Throat
* Aconitum Napellus: Harsh, dry cough.
* Arsenicum Album: Burning feeling in throat.
* Belladonna: Dry, red throat.
* Drosera Rotundifolia: Excess of saliva.
* Phytolacca Decandra: Dark red throat. Painful swallowing.
All of the homeopathic substances listed above are monographed in the Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States, Revision Service (HPRS) and are officially recognized as drugs by the USFDA. Their production is also regulated by the FDA under their current good manufacturing practice (CGMP) and marketing compliance policies.
Many wholistic physicans view allergies and acute respiratory symptoms as signs of detoxification and/or of “deeper” constitutional problems. They may actually incorporate a cellular detox protocol along with a combination formulation indexed above for the acute symptoms. (4) A physician practicing classical homeopathy will prescribe a single homeopathic drug, often termed a constitutional or the “simillimum,” based on the totality of the patient’s symptoms and according to standard homeopathic principles.
The repertories above can be purchased from Homeopathic Educational Services at www.homeopathic.com or call 800-359-9051 and Minimum Price Books at www.minimum.com or call 800-663-8272. Information on homeopathic companies and their available consumer information on self-care formulations can be obtained from the American Association of Homeopathic Pharmacists at www.homeopathicpharmacy.org or call 800-478-0421. An abstract of the HPRS-HPUS of interest to pharmacists is available from the Homeopathic Pharmacopoeial Convention of the US (HPCUS) at 610-783-0987.
REFERENCES
(1.) Kent JT. Repertory of the Homeopathic Materia Medica and a Word Index. 6th edition, B. Jam Publishers, New Delhi, India.
(2.) Boericke W. Pocket Manual of Homeopathic Materia Medica with Repertory. 9th edition, Boericke and Tafel, Santa Rosa, CA.
(3.) Clarke JH. A Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica. 3 volumes. B. Jam Publishers, New Delhi, India.
(4.) Corsello S. Ghen M, et al. “Cellular Detoxification… an integrative approach to anti-aging.” International Journal of Integrative Medicine, 2000; 2(6): 19-26.
About the Author
Allen Morgan Kratz received his BSc and MSc degrees in Pharmacy from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science. After receiving a MSc in Radiological Health from Temple University, he returned to PCP&S to serve on its faculty. His Doctor of Pharmacy degree was conferred in 1968. Academically, Dr. Kratz is affiliated with two universities. He is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice at the Medical University of South Carolina, College of Pharmacy and also a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine at the College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Dr. Kratz was a contributor, editor or author of several professional reference texts including Remington’s ‘s Practice of Pharmacy (14th and 15th editions and the United States Dispensatory (2 7th edition). He was appointed to the Editorial Board of The Merck Manual (12th edition) as the first pharmacist to serve in that capacity. He was a board member for the 13th edition as well.
Currently, Dr. Kratz serves as co-editor of the “Journal of the American Nutraceutical Association” (JANA) and was recently appointed editor of a new book titled Nutraceuticals and Pharmaceuticals: An Integrative Approach to be published by CRC Press LLC. He is a member of Advisory Boards to the International Academy of Nutrition and Preventive Medicine, The Society of Natural Pharmacy and the American Nutraceutical Association. He is also the co-author of a chapter on Complementary Health Care in the 19th and new 20th editions of Reimington: The Science and Practice of Pharmacy and is afrequent contributor to professional publications and peer-reviewed journals. Dr. Kratz is a member of the Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia Convention of the US (HPCUS) and is the founder and CEO of HVS Laboratories in Naples, FL. He may be contacted by phone at (800)801-9494 or by email at amkratz@aol.com.
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