Archives: Remedies

Caladium is commonly used for the treatment of tobacco addiction
and this is what it is famous for. However, it is not just for this limited
use. It has many more prominent f eatures. Its mental manifestations
are unique. Caladium poi son adversely affects the memory of a
person. He forgets as soon as he has done something. Caladium
could be used for the treatment of epilepsy. It is also related to the
hardening of the arteries (arteriosclerosis) but it is not a specific
treatment for arteriosclerosis. After having done a task, a Caladium patient will typically keep
wondering whether he did it or not. He cannot recall if he said what
he had to, or did not say it, or in fact did write a letter to somebody, or
not. In short, he is very unsure in his day-to-day life, but this
symptom does not relate to his eat ing and drinking. For example, he
will not forget having taken breakfast. Routine things are forgotten
because a person usually remains lost in his own thoughts and cannot
remember if he has done what he had to. It is correct to think that a
Caladium patient is under great mental pressure. His mind is occupied
by two kinds of activities. One is the routine activity and the other is
being mentally preoccupied. This is the reason why a Caladium
patient is absent-minded, like the philosophers who also tend to forget
things. Such patients get mentally fatigued and cannot perform any
literary work. Caladium is also the treatment for sexual weakness, secondary to
tobacco addiction . In this respect, it is similar to Picric Acid and
Selenium. The Caladium patient is in a state of constant fear; fear of
darkness, fear of future, so much so that he becomes even scared of
his own shadow. The Caladium patient suffers from vertigo that worsens on closing the
eyes. In contrast, the vertigo ge ts in Conicum worse on opening the
eyes. The patient feels dizzy ev en on lying down and moving the
eyes. In this kind of vertigo, C onium alone is not effective, but
becomes a powerful treatment when given with Cocculus. In both
Caladium and Conium, movement intensifies the symptoms. Caladium symptoms intensify with heat. Hot weather or a heated
room aggravate the symptoms, while cooling relieves them. Although
the stomach symptoms aggravate by taking cold things, it is the
opposite of Phosphorus. In Phosphorus , the stomach feels relief by
taking cold drinks. A Caladium patie nt’s sleep is disturbed even with
the slightest noise. Once awakened it is extremely difficult for him to
go back to sleep. In Caladium, the skin feels a tingling sensation, as if some insect is
creeping on it. The sweat has a sweet smell that attracts flies. The
skin is very itchy for no specific re ason. When the creeping sensation
intensifies, the entire body starts it ching all the time. There is no rash
or eczema. Some women may suffer from internal itching which can
cause severe irritability. Caladium symptoms intensify on movement and are relieved by
sweating and with sleep. Adjuvant: Nitric Acid
Antidote: Aurum Triphylum
Potency: 30

Cadmium Sulph is a profoundly eff ective homoeopathic remedy. Its
patients do not like to do any physical or mental work. They hate
doing anything. Sulphur patients are also lethargic. They keep
planning to become rich but do noth ing to attain their goals. The
Opium patient also remains in his imaginary world and thinks about
the same way, but does not want to move himself or do any kind of
work. The salient features of Cadmium Sulph are anguish and restlessness.
In this way it resembles Arsenic, but an Arsenic patient has one
typical feature opposite to Cadmiu m Sulph. An Arsenic patient
cannot tolerate any irregularity in his day-to-day life. He keeps
everything in its proper order and is not afraid of hard work, while the
patient of Cadmium Sulph is lazy, like a Sulphur patient, and his
things are in great disarray. Cadmium Sulph acts on the stomach like Arsenic. There is irritation
inside the stomach that sometimes may not even let the patient sleep.
Cadmium Sulph is a good treatment for this condition. Another
distinguishing feature is that the Arsenic patient keeps on turning sides
and cannot lie in one position fo r long, while the Cadmium patient
feels pain on movement. Even if he is restless, his tiredness and
laziness are more pronounce d. He does not like to move at all. His
expression of restlessness is merely verbal. In Cadmium Sulph, like
Zinc, there is cramping of the musc les. The Zinc patient keeps on
moving the affected part of body, placi ng his one foot on the other, or
keeps on shaking his legs. Unlike Zinc, the Cadmium Sulph patient
feels restlessness all over, yet does not make any movement at all. Cadmium Sulph is useful in the diseases of the eye . It is very useful
for swollen eyelids, pain in the eye, as well as sores and ulcers of the
eye. It is also useful in the treatment of drooping eyelids (ptosis). It is
useful for invigorating the nerve fi bres of the eye, in addition to
working on external eye conditions. Cadmium Sulph is mostly
indicated in the treatment of dise ases affecting one side. I have
mostly found it useful in the treatment of strokes affecting the left side
of the body. The paralysis affects one eye or one side of the body. If apoplexy leaves behind the we akness of one arm or one leg,
Phosphorus may also be beneficial. In the Cadmium Sulph patient, nu mbness of the sk in is well known
but it should not be overlooked th at, before the actual numbness sets
in the skin has been oversensitive for some time. Over the affected
parts of the body, there is aching and a feeling of pins and needles.
Some parts of the body become numb, such as the nose or ears only.
One big problem is that swallowing becomes weak and swallowing
food becomes difficult. Many a time, swallowing becomes weak, as
the person ages, and the food may choke the air passage, which proves
very dangerous. In such patients, Cadmium Sulph is not only useful
but it becomes absolutely necessary to administer. Some children
may also exhibit similar symptoms. Cadmium Sulph also works on the bones. When the cold in a
Cadmium Sulph patient becomes chr onic, the bones of the nose start
decaying. Like Cadmium Sulph, this is also a symptom of Mercury. In Cadmium Sulph, minute spots form on the skin as in goose skin.
These can be compared to the skin of a waterfowl, after its feathers
have been plucked. In English, it is known as goose flesh. This is
also present in Capsicum. Cadmium Sulph is very useful for the proper functioning of the
stomach. It proves very effective to treat the failing stomach ,
indigestion or rotting of the food inside the stomach, foul-smelling
belches and severe nausea and vomiti ng. It is also useful in the
treatment of cancer of the stomach. It does not cure but offers
significant relief of the ailment. Cadmium Sulph restores the strength
of a patient whose muscles start wasting , leading to progressive
weakness. In Cadmium Sulph, movement and sleep both aggravate the
symptoms. Resting after taking food offers relief. The patient feels
hungry constantly. The hunger remains strong even if the digestive
system of the stomach has significa ntly failed. Cadmium Sulph has
the capability of reviving a seriously sick patient who has strong
appetite, throws up dark vomit and whose condition is so grave as if
he is about to die. In such a grave situation, Cadmium Sulph rather than Carbo Veg will virtually revive the patient, unless destiny so
prevails. Potency: 30

The Cactus plant grows in the desert . Although it is considered as an
unattractive plant, in the desert it exhibits its own unique beauty.
Blooming in full all around, it is pleasing to the ey e. The fruit of the
Cactus is very nice and looks good too, while its juice is also quite
tasty, though it leaves an unpleasant odour. Excessive use of its fruit
affects the kidneys adversely. Urination becomes very painful . A
burning sensation is also associated with cramping of the bladder. In
Cantharis also, there is severe burning sensation on passing urine.
The urine dribbles with severe sc alding. In Cactus, along with the
burning sensation, there is also cram ping at the bladder. The special
feature of the cactus is that wherev er there is pain, there must be
spasms/cramps also. Cactus adversely affects the circular muscle fibres and valves. Its
ailments come on suddenly. The heart also gets afflicted suddenly
as if somebody has been caught in a powerful vice. Cactus proves to
be very effective in the treatment of those diseases of the heart in
which there is dilatation of the muscles and the damage to the valves.
The spasm of the muscles at the throat can cause the sensation of
tightness. The blood tends to accumulate everywhere. The
congestion of the heart, kidneys, intestines and face with accumulation
of blood is also found in Belladonna. Palpitations and cramps are also
present in both. But in Cactus, there is no fever. In Belladonna, the
affected part of the body becomes wa rm. Warmth is a special sign of
Belladonna. In Cactus, the affected part gets congested with blood,
but there is no feeling of warmth and there is no fever. Cactus
patients become extremely terrified with sudden attacks of the
disease, and symptoms resembling t hose of Aconite appear. In view
of the sudden onset of the illness and the specific nature of Cactus, it
is only natural to have a fear of death. The severe muscular cramps
of the affected part of the body resembles the feeling of being tied
up in steel wires. There is f eeling of tightness and generalized
suffocation. The patient cannot even tolerate a buttoned-up collar.
This symptom, to some extent, is also found in Lachesis and
Glonoine. In Cactus, the affected part becomes badly hurt due to
severe muscular contraction. A similar situation develops inside the uterus. Cactus is a very important remedy for the treatment in newly
wed women for severe pa in due to spasm (Vaginismus). The feeling
of tightness and cramps in that part of the body which does not usually
suffer from actual cramps, is a salient feature of Cactus. Violent
muscle spasms are well known in rheumatoid arthritis and
rheumatism. Blood accumulates locally. In Colchicum and Benzoic
Acid, the big toe swells but does not show any cramping. In Cactus
such an afflicted part also has cramps. Cactus will be of use for the heart. If the ailment is confined to the
heart and there is the feeling of tightness, the pain over the central
bone of the chest called sternum, is angina. When the heart becomes
enlarged and beats irregularly, there is a piercing pain in the chest,
along with hissing. Such a patient is not only relieved by Cactus but
by the grace of God can be cured permanently. When the diseases of the kidneys become chronic, soft pitting edema
develops in the body, especially at the feet and the legs. If other
symptoms of Cactus are also evident, Cactus can offer cure of the
whole body by God’s grace. Sometimes, even if the salient symptoms
of Cactus are not present, sudden tightness and its extreme severity
may be indicative enough of Cactus . In these kinds of symptoms,
Cactus should be administered without any hesita tion. If the
symptoms of the patient match that of Cactus, the relief will be
prompt and if the patient is not of Cactus, no harm will be done. So
Cactus should always be kept in the emergency kit for use. Rheumatic pains indicative of Cactus do not present signs of
tightness and spasms in the arm and thigh muscles because Cactus is
related only to circular (smooth) muscle fibres . It does not have an
effect on long (skeletal) muscles. Colocynth is an important remedy
which works on the long muscles. Belladonna also is useful whereas
Cactus has no effect on the long musc le fibres. In Belladonna, when
there is an excessive flow of blood towards the brain, there will be a
feeling of severe tightness at the h ead as in Cuprum. But in the case
of Cactus, there is no such feeling at the brain because there are no
circular muscle fibres within the brain substance. In Cactus, when the
brain is afflicted, the patient becomes unconscious or semi-conscious
but exhibits no convulsions. In Be lladonna, the tension in the brain
can show its effect and even reach the big toe which may present
severe cramps or spasms. In Cactus, giddiness is very common which gets worse with physical labour and fatigue, and is relieved by rest.
Movement makes it worse. The headache is on the right side, and is
aggravated by noise and bright light. In Cactus, palpitation is also
present. Sometimes, the entire bod y throbs. This also happens in
Belladonna, where the body is warm a nd feverish, but is absent in
Cactus. The tendency of numbness of the left arm along with the feeling of
pull demands the use of Cactus. These symptoms sometimes develop
in the beginning of a heart problem. However, it is not necessary that
the pain in the left arm should always be due to a heart ailment. This
can be caused by acidity of the stomach. In case there is tightness and
sensation of suffocation (as if somebody has strongly squeezed the
chest) or there is palpitation and numbness, the obvious treatment
should be Cactus. In Cactus, if at all there is fever, it starts at 11 o’ clock in the morning.
Before noon, the patient feels seve re chill. Al ong with thirst,
headache and the feeling of warmth at the time of contracting fever,
there is difficulty in breathing. Th e feeling of warmth on the head on
mental exertion is a characteristic of Cactus. The head feels as if
caught in a vice. There is a fear of having apoplexy. The eyes are
red. The hearing is affected due to congestion of ears with blood. The
feeling of warmth and buzzing in the ear, spasm at the gullet
(oesophagus), dryness of the tongue and difficulty in swallowing food
without water, the feeling of tightness and twitching of the stomach,
with the sensation of heaviness, blood-mixed vomiting, hard and dark
stools, morning diarrhoea, painful swelling of piles and heaviness at
the anal verge, are all the symptoms of Cactus. In malarial fever, as
well as during heart trouble, the intestines may also bleed. In Cactus, there is contracti on of the bladde r neck, causing difficulty
in passing urine. Sometimes, there is bleeding in the bladder and the
blood may clot in the urethra, maki ng the suffering still more grave.
Swollen hands and feet , soft ice-cold hands a nd the feeling of feet
being big, with restlessness in the legs, are all symptoms of Cactus
which aggravate at night and on ly ing on the left si de, along with
noise light heat sun and hard work. Antidotes: Camphor, Aconite, China
Potency: 30

Bufo is prepared from the secretions of toad neck glands. Its main
function is on the mental faculties and the mind . Its patients suffer
from a loss of memory . The mind is cloudy and there is a feeling of
severe mental fatigue. Bufo is the best remedy for neurosis.
Neurosis, the feeling of numbness, and muscular convulsions are
benefited with Bufo. The small mu scles exhibit paralytic condition.
Twitching of the eye or some othe r parts of the body is typical of
Bufo. In Bufo, sores tend to develop on the skin . Many homoeopathic
experts use it in the treatment of se xual diseases but rarely use it for
the treatment of skin diseases and vi olent muscle cramps. Bufo is the
ideal treatment for a young man who becomes involved in sexual
misconduct. It prevents one from self-abuse and its bad
consequences. Some young men, w ho have wronged themselves and
contracted epilepsy, will significantly benef it from Bufo. Such an
epileptic should first be treated with Bufo. In case it fails, other
remedies should be sought. In Bufo, also like Sarsaparilla, premature ageing is found. This is
also a symptom of Baryta Carb. In Bufo, the premature ageing is not
in the physical form of skin tightness and wrinkles but it relates to the
mental functions. The patient does not become crazy but simply looks
naive. Bufo should also be used for a sixty-year old mature person
behaving like a teenager. If such a person is not treated on time, he
will become insane. He becomes incapable of communicating with
others and making people understand what he means to say. In Bufo, there are contradictions. The patient likes to be alone and
away from others, but at the same time feels frightened when alone.
This makes him angry, and he shows his anger by way of biting
things. He expresses his helplessne ss but does not harm others. He
laughs, cries and jumps around like a child. The conduct of a Bufo
patient is of innocence and childishn ess. Occasionally, this state may
progress to insanity. Bufo works profoundly and continuously in this
condition for a very long period. In Bufo, there is tendency towards partial paralysis. As a result of
paralysis of various organs, the overlying skin becomes numb. In Bufo, violent muscle cramps are common. Before epileptic
seizure, the mouth opens wide due to muscular spasm. Blood pours
out of the mouth and the tongue or lips get caught between the teeth,
causing severe discomfort. Along with this comes headache, the
pupils of the eye get dilated and fixed. The patient cannot tolerate
light. Sores and ulcers develop on the skin. The eye becomes
congested with blood. Ulcers form on the cornea of eye. Blisters also
form on the eye and various parts of the body in the form of clusters.
Antimonium Crude and Antimonium Ta rt are also described to be
useful in the treatment of such blisters. Other symptoms also being
present, Bufo is useful in the treatment of all skin conditions. As in
Ambra Grisea, the Bufo patient hate s music. The patient, gradually
tends to stutter and stammer, making it difficult to understand him,
and this upsets him. Use of Bufo is ideal to treat a patient who
suddenly becomes drawn and mute. His eyes are bewildered and
completely indifferent to his surroun dings, even if he does not exhibit
the complete picture of epilepsy. This condition is only temporary.
When the patient regains consciousness, he has no knowledge of what
had happened to him. Being also related to sexual im potence, some Bufo patients may
develop epileptic fits during sexual intercourse . The Bufo women
patients either have their period befo re time or their periods cease all
together. There is burning sensation and cramps in the uterus with the
formation of blisters inside, emitting foul leucorrheol discharge
mixed with pus or blood, resemb ling offensive gangrene-like
discharge. Bufo proves to be very effective in the treatment of this
condition. Bufo is also very useful in the treatment of breast cancer. It does not
cure the cancer but does offer re lief from suffering and works as
adjuvant for other remedies. The cough of a Bufo patient is very bothersome. The blood mixes
with sputum along with a signi ficant burning sensation. Bufo
sicknesses come on rapidly and spread fast, leading the patient
towards his end. Its symptoms a ggravate in a warm room and on waking up from sleep while taking a bath and soaking the feet in
warm water offers relief. Adjuvants: Baryta Carb
Antidotes: Lachesis, Senega
Potency: 30 to 200 or higher

Bryonia Alba is a wild creeper plant, found on forest trees and bushes.
Its root is very poisonous and bitter. The root is ground in the form of
a powder and then homoeopathic potencies are made from it. Bryonia
is related to most of the vital or gans of the body in cluding the lungs,
liver and heart. It acts more eff ectively over the outer linings of these
organs (pleura and pericardium) but its effect on the liver is much
more pronounced. Similarly, it proves very effective in the treatment
of deep-seated illne sses of the lungs like pneumonia and its
aftereffects. Although it is not of much use in the treatment of
tuberculosis and other chronic illnesses of the lungs, it enhances the
action of other profoundly acting remedies. In addition to its effects on the muscles, it also works on the lining of
the intestines. A Bryoni a patient is generally constipated, but
sometimes blood-mixed dysentery also occurs. Due to the dryness of
the intestines, the lining ulcerates leading to a painful type of severe
dysentery. Bryonia will be immediat ely effective in this type of
dysentery, provided other signs and symptoms of Bryonia are present. Some homoeopathic doctors beli eve that Bryonia Alba is the
homoeopathic remedy of flail, flaccid and easily fatigable muscles,
but this is not right. In fact, Bryonia is also the best remedy for strong
and toned-up muscles. For the proper functioning of Bryonia, the
weakness of the muscle fibres is not a precondition. In Bryonia,
generalised body ache is, as in malaria, a salient feature. Some people are afflicted with such illnesses that as a result they do
not have the strength to move around. The weakness is not
generalised. But after walking for some time, the body starts feeling
heavy and this heaviness turn s into severe pain. The legs become
lifeless. Bryonia is very useful in such patients, but it has to be given
over a long period. Before going for a long walk or resorting to
intense physical activity, admini stration of Bryonia 200 combined
with Arnica proves to be very beneficial. Some women develop swelling of the leg after childbirth called white
leg. This is probably due to clotting of the blood and slowing down of
the circulation. When the conditio n becomes chronic and disables them, and blue and black spots develop on the legs along with the
development of varicose veins, it is already too late for the treatment
of this condition with Arnica and Br yonia. However if in addition,
Aesculus 30 is administered, a better response will be expected. If the
condition affects the left side, Arnica 200 should be combined with
Lachesis 200 as well as Aesculus 30. When given alternately with long-acting remedies such as Sulphur and
Lycopodium, Bryonia can cure chroni c illnesses as well. In the deep
intrinsic illnesses of the liver , the following formula is very
effective: Bryonia 200 once or twic e a day, Sulphur 30 three times a
day and a few drops of Mother Tinc ture of Carduus Marianus mixed
in water, three times a day. This prescription has proven very effective in Hepatitis B, as well as
in cancer of the liver . In my experience, I have seen patients with
cancer of the liver who, following tr eatment with radiation and other
medicines, the doctors had declared untreatable. Thinking that the
patient’s end is very near, they had discharged the patient home.
When the particular prescription mentioned above was used, instead
of dying in three days, the patient started showing signs of recovery to
health. The first hopeful sign noted in such patients was that the thirst
and appetite that had completely disappeared returned. Many other
patients of liver diseases have also benefited from this treatment and
are still alive. Sometimes the liver diseases shift to the spleen, especially in chronic
malaria. First, there is liver disorder and then the spleen enlarges.
Such patients should be given Carduus Marianus as well as Ceanothus
in the form of Mother Tincture. Ceanothus is the best treatment for
the spleen. Sometimes these pa tients develop distension of the
abdomen. There is painful swelling and induration over the spleen
and the liver . When treated with the above combination and
Ceanothus, such patients recover re markably in a period of two to
three months, so much so that their abdomen reverts to normal size
and there is no pain on pressure. In areas where malaria is common
and such ailments prevail, this prescription must be put to use. The development of pain on every movement and worsening of the
affected part of the bo dy is typical of Bryonia. This resembles Rhus
Tox somewhat. Commonly, it is thought that rest increases the pain of Rhus Tox and movement relieves it; this is not exactly right. In Rhus
Tox, when the patient walks, this increases his pain which gets
somewhat better after walking a little. However, the pain never
disappears completely. In fact, it becomes worse when one stops
walking or resorts to rest. The Bryonia patient feels much relieved on
resting for a few days continuously, but the pain of a Rhus Tox patient
becomes worse on resting. For most conditions that develop in the beginning of the summer after
the winter is over, Bryoni a is of great use. In this changing weather,
pneumonia is very common. With the sudden onset of hot weather,
the outer body feels discomfort but th e inside of the body is not ready
for this change. Therefore when the warm clothes are taken off,
various kinds of ailments overtake wh ich are not the direct result of
the heat but are due to e xposure to the cold in warm weather. For this
kind of seasonal pneumonia , Bryonia is the best. The kind of
pneumonia that occurs in Bryonia usually affects the right lung and
does not shift from the right to the left. The pneumonia in
Lycopodium starts on the right side and then also affects the left
where it settles. In Bryonia, th e symptoms travel from above
downwards and gradually settle in the lower part of the lungs.
Bryonia is not a chronic remedy as suc h. Therefore, in such an illness
other remedies need to be given. Kali Carb is an important remedy in
this condition, acting on the lower pa rt of the lungs. Arsenic Iodide
and Kali Iodide are also useful. If due to tuberculosis, spots a nd cavities develop in the lungs , the
combination of Merc sol and Kali Carb is very useful. Once a woman
had developed cavities in the lungs and in the view of the doctors it
was incurable. When she was treated with Merc sol 200 and Kali
Carb 30, she completely recovered within a few months. When the x-
rays on the chest were done in the hospital, no cavities were found.
The doctors did not believe that the x-rays belonged to the same
patient who previously had the cavities in their lungs! Homoeopathic remedies can work miraculously, showing that Allah
Almighty has blessed our body with great defensive power that the
doctors of today do not fully unders tand in spite of their extensive
research. This great defensive power is deeply related to the
chemistry of the body. For example, the liver is given a message to
produce an appropriate chemical for a particular ailment and so it happens. This can never happen due to a blind evolutionary type of
reaction. How is it possible that this profound mechanism could
develop by sheer chance, as a result of long evolutionary process in
the form of a strong interrelated defence mechanism of the body and
then work with such precision, and this effect remain in the body
indelibly? If the general health of a person is good, there is no need
for any kind of formal treatment because the defence mechanism of
the body will automatically overcome the illnesses, but when the body
defences are at fault they have to be activated by homoeopathic
treatment. Simple, hard-working people usually do not suffer from
the complicated illnesses of the rich, because their body has a sound
defence system against those diseases. This is in spite of the fact that
they live in the same environment and area where other people are
overcome by many diseases. The defence system of the body points
vividly to the existence of God a nd His magnificence. This system
must be well remembered by homoeopa thic physicians. It is this
system which makes the working of homoeopathic remedies more
conspicuous, bringing it to the limelight. The joint pains of the Bryonia patient subside by heat. The cough
becomes aggravated generally by movement and noise, resembling
Belladonna with one difference, that in Bryonia there is no suddenness
of the symptoms. The Bryonia symp toms start gradually and then
become more and more severe, till every movement sound and noise
becomes troublesome, so much so that the patient does not even like
people visiting him, and in fact is vexed on their arrival. The reason
for the anger and vexation is that every movement bothers him. The
movement of his own lips to talk also bothers him and he does not like
to speak. He feels weak. If su ch a patient develops pneumonia or
headache, he should not even be asked to talk. He remains in the state
of drowsiness. When the ailment prolongs, he may become
permanently unconscious. Movement and speaking are of no avail to
him at all. The headache of a Bryonia patient feels better in cold. The headache
is usually on the back of the head or on the forehead. Intense thirst is
a characteristic symptom of Bryonia. The patient likes to have very
cold water as it offers him relief. Soon afterwards he feels awfully
thirsty again. Intense thirst remi nds one of Bryonia. But in certain
situations, the thirst may be to tally absent. The stomach gets
inflamed, the mouth becomes dry and the tongue is dry hard, but there is no thirst. There are yellow depos its on the tongue. Primarily, this
is the particular symptom of Gelsemium, which occasionally may
appear in Bryonia. In his book, Dr. Kent has also written that in
Bryonia, sometimes the thirst may be totally absent. Feeling dizzy in a Bryonia patient may be due to some problem in
the ear or with movement . Dizziness and associated nausea are
commonly present in motion sickness, in a motor car or a ship. For
such patients, some ready prescrip tions may be put into use and are
very useful. Generally, it is not possible to ask everybody
individually about the symptoms. This prescription includes Bryonia,
Cocculus, Nux Vomica and Ipecac. Co cculus is also related to the
vertigo associated with ear problems. In fact, this is the most effective
remedy for this purpose. As a ma tter of fact, Bryonia and Cocculus
are very similar in this respect. In the tubes of the middle ear (semi-
circular canals), there is a fluid. When one’s head is tilted, it sends an
impulse through the nerve giving the sensation of balance or
imbalance. Rapid change in the position can cause vertigo. When the
vertigo is due to rapid movement or an ailment of the ear causing
hypersensitivity of the internal ear, this can be tr eated with Bryonia
and Cocculus. There is a slight di fference. In Bryonia, it is the
inflammation of the ears that causes vertigo, whereas in Cocculus, it is
the irritability of the nerves that causes vertigo. When there is vertigo
but no apparent problem in the ear, Cocculus is useful. In the case
where there is infectio n of the ear causing vertigo, Bryonia would be
better. Bryonia is also useful in the treatment of glaucoma, but if there is no
associated thirst, Gelsemium would be the most appropriate treatment.
Gelsemium is also a good remedy for vertigo due to irritation of the
nerves. But Bryonia is more widely e ffective, as it is able to work on
the internal membrane of the ear as well as the nerves. Glaucoma is
mostly related to the nerves. When Calcaria Phos 6X and Kali Phos
6X are given along with Bryonia and Gelsemium, the effect is more
pronounced. Sometimes after the admi nistration of Bryonia, the thirst
disappears. At that time Gelsem ium may be given and both Bryonia
and Gelsemium may be used altern atively. These remedies are good
for headaches also. A Gelsemium headache gets worse in cold air
and a Bryonia headache feels relieved in the cold. However, the effect
of cold or heat does not always hold good in Gelsemium, because
when the headache becomes severe, neither cold nor heat has any effect. A Bryonia headache essentially settles in the nape, forehead or
the eyes. When it settles in the eyes , the headache becomes very
severe in the form of waves and undulations . Sometimes, when
joint pains are controlled with a strong medication, the eyes may
become the centre of severe pain. The slightest movement of the eye
feels as if somebody is being poked with a knif e. This particular
feeling may be related to Bryonia as well as Berberis. Gelsemium
headaches radiate down the back of th e head, in addition to the entire
head, neck and then along the arms. Gelsemium headaches may also
be related to a change in the daily routine of a person. If the planning
for retiring to bed or taking th e food gets disturbed, the person
develops headache which will respond to Gelsemium. A Bryonia
headache is more closely related to the generalised joint pains,
stomach upset or fever. Bryonia is very effective in the treatment of both malaria and
typhoid. In Bryonia, when the body hurts headache must also be
present. In the state of fever, sometimes the headache may lead to
delirium and the patient becomes absu rd and meaningless in his
conversation. Otherwise, the Bryo nia patient does not talk much in
simple delirium i.e. without fever. The delirium associated with
Hyoscyamus, Stramonium, Sulphur and Belladonna is much more
severe and results from the toxic or poisonous products of the feverish
conditions. By making a proper dia gnosis of the headache, one may
easily diagnose the nature of the sickness. The Belladonna kind of
headache caused by typhoid or some other sickness would be of
sudden onset. In addition to the headache, the face would be flushed,
even if the patient were anaemic. The patient is not frightened but
tends to be aggressive instead . In spite of physical weakness, the
patient reacts with unusual strength and it becomes difficult to control
him. In Hyoscyamus, when the patient is delirious, his talk is so
obviously obscene that not only the fa mily but also the doctor feels
embarrassed. This does not reflect immorality on the part of the
patient but is simply due to the inflammation of the sexual organs
which disturbs the mind also. All these symptoms together produce a
state of severe delirium. Anot her point of recognition for the
Hyoscyamus patient is that he keeps on pinching his body and picking
his clothes. This does not happen in the case of Bryonia. One sign of Bryonia is that there is fissuring at the corners of the
mouth, scabs form on the lips which when attempted to be removed by the patient, start bleeding. This also happens in Natrum Mur.
Natrum Mur is chronic of Bryonia. When the excretions or discharges of a Bryonia patient get blocked,
they cause significant discomfort. The sweating becomes a source of
blessing to the patient. In the Bryonia cough, the expectoration is
very dry, sticky and difficult to expel . To help get rid of dry and
sticky sputum, Hepar Sulph and Coccus are also very important
remedies in addition to Bryonia and Ipecac. In Bryonia, when the
lungs get diseased, the inner linings of the lungs tear and ulcerate
causing light bleeding, which mixes up in the sputum. The sputum
appears rusty. This is typical of Br yonia. Bryonia works as a useful
adjuvant to Phosphorus in the treatment of can cer of the bone. It
should be used in potency 30, alternating with Phosphorus. In women, Bryonia can be useful in the treatment of diseases of the
right ovary. For the lumps in the breast glands which are firm and
hurt on movement, due to cancer or otherwise, the first remedy to be
used should be Bryonia. The Bryonia patient with pneumonia of the
right lung usually sleeps on the right side, because lying down on the
same side helps minimise the movement of the chest wall during
breathing. Sometimes during sleep, the patient wa kes up with sudden jerking
of the body. In homoeopathy, there are th ree terms used for fever, as
follows:
1. Continuous fever which once it starts, will either prove fatal, or
when it subsides will never return.
2. Remittent fever is the one which shows peaks. Sometimes it is
low and sometimes high, but does not subside completely.
3. Intermittent fever which can totally subside but returns. Malaria is
one such example. Typhoid fever is of remittent type which may subside but does not go.
Bryonia may be useful in the treatme nt of remittent and intermittent
fevers but not in continuous fever. Often it is needed in the treatment
of malaria but is also useful in the treatment of typhoid. The diseases of the glands in Bryonia begin very slowly and then
intensify to become chronic, like in Causticum. In Causticum too, the
illnesses progress gradually but cont inuously, and involve the fibrous and glandular tissues. Th e toxic material settles in the glands. When
the glands become chronically inflamed and their appearance changes,
Bryonia may be the remedy. Bryoni a should be remembered in
relation to Arnica as well. In regard to the diseases of the glands , Bryonia also resembles
Phytolacca. In both, the glands swe ll. Phytolacca should be used if
Bryonia does not work to satisfaction. In the chronic diseases of the
glands, the effective prescription is Kali Mur, Silicea, Ferrum Phos,
Calcarea Phos, Calcarea Flour, et c., mixed together and given
repeatedly. An infectious fever originating from the infection of the
throat may prove to be very chr onic and dangerous because the
infection settles in the deeper pa rt of the glands not effectively
accessible to the blood circulation, so the protective materials cannot
reach the affected part either. If the above combination does not show
beneficial effect in the first two to three days of the sickness, more
effective, appropriate remedies should be considered. Sometimes, there is high fever due to infection of the tonsils and it
keeps on increasing everyday, and in particular shows a high peak in
the latter part of the night. One should not take its relative subsiding
in the morning as a sign of recovery. The family or the doctor would
become somewhat carefree towards the treatment. The next evening,
the fever becomes still more elevated and so on. Two to three such
episodes of high fever may even prove fatal. Therefore, the high fever
of infection of the tonsils must not be taken lightly. The allopaths
commonly prescribe antibiotics for it. The fever subsides but tends to
recur again and again. In fact, a new bout of feve r sets in right after
the previous one subsid es. More and much stronger antibiotics have
to be used. These destroy the liver function, resulting in the loss of
appetite. The sick child becomes a skeleton devoid of flesh. The
tonsils enlarge in size with every su ccessive episode of fever. As a
word of caution, antibiotics should be avoided as much and as long as
safely possible. Sulphur and Pyrogenium 200 are generally very
beneficial in controlling infection. Similarly, Silicea in high potency
may also prove very useful at times. If all these prove ineffective, a
combination of Belladonna, Phytolac ca, Calcarea Flour, Ferrum Phos
and Baptisia in potency 30 repeat ed frequently may control the
sickness in one night. In add ition, the mixture of Ferrum Phos,
Silicea, Kali Mur, Calcarea Phos, Mag Phos 6X may be administered 6 to 7 times a day to a significant benefit. The fever will gradually
subside in two to three nights if not on the first. Like Nux Vomica, if Bryonia is used more than necessary, it causes
headaches. The antidote for both is Gelsemium. In Bryonia, the
illness presents two patterns. Firstly, when the discharges or sweating
stop, the suffering worsens. With the treatment the excretions begin
again. The inner linings of the organ become moist and the normal
perspiration starts from the skin. Secondly, when there is cessation of
periods in women, they suffer nosebleeds . By administering
Bryonia, the condition is relieved. The thick sticky expectoration may block the main air passages
temporarily causing a state of asthma . Repeated coughing is needed
to expel it out of the air passages. If the sputum is like a thread,
Coccus definitely is the best remedy. If the cold deteriorates and deep
infection sets in, the expectoratio n becomes greenish, showing further
deterioration. In Bryonia, the symptoms progress gradually but it does not mean that
they take many days to become ev ident. If the Bryonia patient is
exposed to cold in the morning, by the evening he will start showing
symptoms of cold, and by the next morning the sickness is in full
swing. The pain in the joints and muscles becomes severe and
chronic. Bryonia behaves the same way in acute illnesses also. The
Bryonia symptoms become more inte nse by 9 o’clock in the evening
and persist all night. The symptoms of Chamomilla and Natrum Mur
are at their peak at 9 o’clock in the morning. There is no definite
explanation of the periodicity and punctuality of these symptoms, but
this is how it has been designed by nature. Like Chelidonium, Bryonia is the remedy for the illnesses of the right
side. It is deeply related to liver disorders . Its discharges are
yellowish in colour, including the sputum from the lung. In
Chelidonium, the liver pain radiates towards the back like the pain of
the gall bladder, getting wo rse on movement. When a pregnant
woman becomes exhausted or there is danger of aborting
following heat stroke , Bryonia should be administered. If combined
with Arnica 200, this will also pr event against the aftereffects of
physical exhaustion. In the cas e of trauma, Bryonia and Arnica
together prevent the danger of abortion. It is very useful for this purpose and should be administered at once and better still with
Aconite. Adjuvants: Rhus Tox, Alumina
Antidotes: Aconite, Chamomilla, Nux Vomica
Potency: 30 to 1000

Bromium was once considered to be the special treatment for
Diphtheria. For a long time this was the favourite of new
homoeopaths. In the West preventive vaccination has almost
eliminated Diphtheria, but in poo r countries this disease may still
spring up as an epidemic, from time to time. In treating Diphtheria,
compared to Bromium, Muriatic Acid Kali Mur and Diphterinum
prove much more effective. In Bromium, when compared with Diphtheria, other throat
conditions are more common. The glands at the neck swell, harden
and and keep on growing in size, they do not disappear by suppuration
(pus formation). Bromium is deeply related to all kinds of
inflammation of the glands but most homoeopaths do not use it. It is
very useful in the treatment of all thyroid conditions. Bromium must
be remembered if the glands become very hard, and keep on gradually
increasing in size when other remedi es are not effective. Bromium
has the capability of gradually so ftening the hardened lymph glands
but it must be used in increasing potencies over a long period of time.
It should be started in potency 30, then it should be increased to 200,
and then after some time, it should be given in 1000 and then in still
higher potency, and then stopped. In Bromium, ulcers often develop in the stomach . Bromium is
extremely useful when the vomitus is of ground coffee colour and
there is an ulcer in the stomach w ith the tendency of enlargement of
the glands. In fact, it is very important for the treatment of cancer of
the stomach . Bromium is also very useful for the treatment of
laryngitis, as it has a tendency towards ulcer formation. Even if such
patients become asthmatic they would favourably respond to
Bromium. The burning sensation a nd pain at the sternum is also a
sign of Bromium. Convulsions also occur. It is useful for the
treatment of suffocation. Bromium patie nts feel very relieved at the
seaside but their symptoms aggravat e when they move away from the
sea to dry areas.
Adjuvants: Conium, Spongea, Iodum, Argentum Nitricum
Antidotes: Ammonium Carb, Camphor
Potency: 30 to CM

In everyday English, Bovista is also known as Puff-Ball. It has been
used for treating the eczema of children. It is an excellent treatment
for patients who have eczema and also have a tendency to bleed and
stammer. Compared to normal people, Bovista patients feel more
suffocation in the presence of sm oke from burning wood. When the
wood is partially burnt, its smoke contains carbon monoxide which
can be absorbed into the bloodstream of every person and may put one
to deep sleep. This sleep is not healthy due to the poisonous effects of
carbon monoxide. If the person is not treated immedi ately and taken
out into the fresh air, his apparently calm sleep may lead him to death.
The skin becomes blue. Its immediate effective treatment is Arnica
and Carbo Veg 30 mixed together. But in some books, Bovista has
also been mentioned to be a good treatment for this condition. In Bovista, ulcers form at the opening of the mouth and the nose .
The sores become covered with a layer of thick crust. This symptom
is also present in Natrum Mur, but its sores rather feel raw and do not
form scabs. In Bovista, like in Coccus, the catarrhal discharge is
thready. The nose and the gums blee d. There is itching of the scalp,
along with the sensation of faint headache. In Bovista the person feels
uncomfortable in tight clothes. In fact, any kind of tight fit is
bothersome. This symptom is also present in Lachesis. In Bovista, sometimes the patient gets diarrhoea between two
menstrual periods. The bleeding is before time and plentiful. This
can also be followed by thick greenish leucorrhoea. Sometimes there
is light inter-menstrual bleeding or spotting. The pain is at around the
navel and feels relieved on bending forwards. Sometimes, during a
colicky abdominal pain, the urine may become red in appearance.
One peculiar sign of Bovista is th at food somewhat relieves the
colicky pain. In Bovista, there is sweating of the armpits, smelling of onion .
There is eczema on the back of th e hands. The skin symptoms are
aggravated by excitement and mental anguish. In Bovista, when the
skin is pressed, the skin pits and stays for some time. The skin
symptoms become worse with heat. For a chronic type of urticaria that does not re spond to Rhus Tox,
Bovista may offer a complete cure. Its effect may be compared with
Calcarea, Rhus Tox, Sepia and Cieuta. This comparison will help the
treating physician to better diagnos e and treat. Some books mention
the use of potency 3 to 6 but expe rience shows that potency 30 is the
best in daily situations. The Bovist a patient may feel itchiness at the
anus even in the absence of any eczematous symptoms. Pimples form
on the entire body. The urticaria develops in the morning and taking a
shower proves harmful. Bovista is said to be the best antidote for Coal
tar.

In allopathic medicine, Borax is used in the treatment of eye diseases.
In addition to this, it is also used mixed with honey in the treatment of
a sore throat. In the homoeopathic system of treatment, Borax is a
vastly effective medicine that works tremendously well in deep-
seated, serious illnesses of women. Borax is the best remedy to treat
ulcers in the mouth of lactating women when their children also
suffer from the same condition. In Borax, there is a tendency to
develop sores and blisters. Red painful blisters develop on the tongue.
The women of Borax nature suffer from leucorrhoea, in which the
discharge is plentiful, hot and bur ning in nature. Women suffering
from such leucorrhoea are mostly infertile. Unless they are treated
with Borax, they cannot conceive. This symptom must be kept in
mind when treating women for infertility. Borax is a unique remedy
in this connection. The periods of Borax patient occur before time
and are copious in amount. During the periods, there is intense pain in
the abdomen which radiates towards the back. Borax is a useful medicine for whooping cough also. It works very
effectively on all spasmodic type s of cough. The bout of coughing is
very severe and there is a rattling sound inside the chest. The chest
hurts along with the sensation of pins and needles. The pins and
needles are also felt on the soles of the feet. The special characteristic of Borax is that the person feels scared on
descent. If the child is lowered into the bed, he feels scared and
screams out of fright. The symptom may be present in grown-ups too.
The person gets terrified while comi ng down the elevator or when the
car is descending down a sloping road. The person is oversensitive to
noise and loud talking. He gets st artled on hearing a sudden noise or
blast. In Borax, there is a tendency of hoarseness of voice . The
excretions or discharges of Borax patients have the nature of heat.
The tears are also warm but they do not cause any burning. Instead
they are catarrhal in nature. Bo rax is useful in trachoma. The
discharge from the nose dries up and turns greenish. In Borax, when the stomach is upset, it feels bloated with gas. The
patient has the tendency of vom iting which, once it begins, does not
stop. The vomit is greenish in colour and sour in taste. Due to nervous exhaustion, the person sweats at night. Borax is very useful
when there is sexual weakness resulting from a severe illness. Regarding pleurisy, the symptoms of Borax resemble those of
Bryonia. If Bryonia does not work or stops working further, Borax
will take its action further. Borax is also considered useful in the
treatment of epilepsy. The sympto ms of Borax worsen in a hot
climate. Adjuvants: Bryonia, Sulphur, Calcarea Carb
Antidotes: Chamomilla, Coffea
Non-
compatible: Acetic Acid, Vinegar, Alcohol
Potency: 30

In olden days, Bismuth was used by allopathic doctors for the
treatment of diarrhoea. Although it controls th e diarrhoea it does not
cure the disease of the intestine ca using diarrhoea. The pain stays
nonetheless. In homoeopathy, the mental symptoms of Bismuth are
more pronounced. The patient does not like to be alone for even a
moment. He must have somebody nearby. In old age, many such
patients need somebody by their side at all times. They want to relate
their story to them. Bismuth is useful in toothache. The gums are swollen; the tongue is
whitish and swollen. On its margins are darkish ulcers, resembling
those of gangrene. The Bismuth patient has poor digestion , and like Phosphorus and
Aethusa, the stomach does not accept water. As soon as the fluid
becomes warm, the patient vomits. However, the patient does not
vomit after solid food. The patient belches out foul gas. The pain in
the abdomen resembles that of dioscorea. The patient bends
backwards. The nature of the pain in the abdomen is different from
ordinary pain but the patient canno t explain it. Du ring diarrhoea,
there is no pain in the abdomen. When, after administration of
Bismuth the diarrhoea stops, the pain in the abdomen returns. The
stomach feels inflamed. Bismuth is also useful in the treatment of angina. In the case of
Bismuth, the chest pain starts at the left side of the heart and radiates
to the shoulder and down to the fingertips, instead of the pain
normally starting from the sternum. Many a time, chest pain can be
due to ulcers in the stomach or inflammation of the stomach . In
both conditions, Bismuth can be used. In Bismuth, as in Hyoscyamus, ther e is a tendency of experiencing
violent sexual dreams. It seems as if there is some kind of injurious
material in the diarrhoea of Bismut h, which after being absorbed from
the intestines into the blood affects the mind, as a result of which the
person experiences strange dreams. Adjuvants:
Arsenic, Belladonna, Kreosotum
Antidotes: Nux Vomica, Capsicum
Potency: 30 to 200

The plant of Berberis Vulgaris grows in hilly areas. Its fresh leaves
are used in the treatment of typhoid fever. Berberis is normally used in
the form of Mother Tincture and most homoeopath physicians use it in
the treatment of kidney problems. However, it is a very effective
remedy for gall bladder stones and deeply-rooted illnesses of the
liver. When liver dysfunction has affected the heart also, Berberis
Vulgaris will be useful, though by itself it is not a tonic for the heart.
Primarily, it is a remedy for liver dysfunction. The ailment of the
heart, secondary to the liver failure would certainly be responsive to
Berberis Vulgaris. Berberis is also very effective for joint pains. Its use promotes the
excretion of injurious acidic substances through the urine and the body
feels relieved. The joint pains decrease. The Berberis patient feels
irritation and itching as if somethi ng is creeping inside the nose.
Often, the cold settles in the left nostril and becomes chronic. The
mouth is dry and the tongue sticks due to dryness. It feels burnt and
abrased. Sometimes, there is frothy sputum at the mouth with the
consistency of thrashed cotton which does not, however, make the
mouth moist. Sometimes blisters develop on the tongue. In men, there is undulating pain al ong the course of the spermatic
cord, which becomes worse during infection of the kidney and the
bladder. The patient cannot empty his bladder completely and keeps
on straining to evacuate himself full y. Sometimes the urine contains
pus or mucus and sometimes, also red cells. The urine smells
extremely foul. The undulating type of pain at the shoulders, arms,
hands, legs, feet and the nails, asso ciated with generalised weakness,
are the special symptoms of Berberis Vulgaris. The typical sign of Berberis pain is that it starts at one point and
spreads out, radiating like the spokes of a bicycle wheel. The kidney
pain also behaves in the same way. The throbbing pain radiates
downwards towards the bladder and upwards towards the back and the
liver. The pain radiating downwards reaches the testicles through the
nerves. Often, the patient feels inte nse desire to pass urine when he stands or walks, and the urge is un controllable. At the urinal, when
one passes urine, although a major por tion is passed, the weak stream
of urine is never-ending. It app ears as if the kidney is continuously
making urine. Regarding the urinary symptoms of Be rberis, either the urine is plenty
and dilute or sparse but thick and smelly due to an excess of waste
products. The frequency or relative infrequency of urination are both
present in Berberis Vulgaris. When the urination is copius, the
kidneys are washed out and the bad smell of the urine dissipates.
When the urine becomes less in qu antity, it becomes deep-coloured
and offensive. When the quantity of the urine is decreased, the patient
feels a burning sensation along the urethra. The kidney pain of Pareira Brav a usually radiates only in one
direction and that is often from the kidney down into the thigh. In
Berberis Vulgaris, however, the pain from the kidney or the gall
bladder radiates in all directions . In this particular symptom
pertaining to the gall bladder pain , Berberis is very effective. In a
week to ten days, the stones of the gall bladder start breaking and are
excreted in the stools. In Berberis Vulgaris, the joint pains resemble gout in that they affect
the small joints of the hands and th e feet much more, as compared to
the joint pains involving the big join ts (in Rheumatism). The pains in
the hands and the fingers, like Benz oic Acid, are deeply related to
Berberis Vulgaris. The pain at the hip or the leg starts as soon as the
person stands up and worsens after wa lking a short distance. The feet
also hurt, especially th e heels and the soles. In gouty pains, Benzoic
Acid may prove to be the best substitute of Berberis Vulgaris. Both
may also be used alternately. Experienced homoeopaths believe that when the heart becomes weak
secondary to liver failure, Berberis first corrects the state of the liver
and as a result, the heart becomes normalized automatically. When
there is a retention of acidic produ cts and urea in the body, Berberis
Vulgaris mobilizes them from there and redirects them to the blood.
They are then excreted through th e kidneys. When acidic matters
increase in the blood, they can affect the heart. The heart will not
improve unless these acidic waste pr oducts are excreted. Otherwise,
Berberis Vulgaris does not have an y direct effect on the condition of the heart. If during the use of Berberis Vulgaris, the heart is adversely
affected, the patient should be made to drink a lot of water so that the
amount of urine increases. The wa ste products and acidic matter can
be washed out of the body rapidly thus preventing them from affecting
the heart again. During a severe cr amp, the Berberis Vulgaris patient
cries uncontrollably. The gouty pains of Berberis become worse on
movement. The patient walks very slowly and guardedly. The
symptoms take time to disappear. The patient feels as if the head is wrapped in something. In Glonoine
also, there is a feeling of the head being tied up in a bandage. A cap
and buttoned-up collars are unbearable . But in Berberis Vulgaris,
even if there is nothing covering the head, the person feels as if
something is holding tight. As in Psorinum, the patient also feels
bouts of hunger pains. One symptom of Berberis is that the person
feels as if he has been stabbed in his liver and gall bladder with a
knife. The pain radiates like fire works in all directions from the
affected part of the body. In Berberis, the patient is jaundiced and the stools become clay-
coloured. In this condition, Card uus Marianus may also be given
along with Berberis Vulgar is to enhance its beneficial effect. These
two remedies work as adjuvants to each other. In the case of liver
diseases, I give Berberis Vulgaris in the form of mother tincture,
while in kidney troubles and gout, I use it in potency 30. Berberis
Vulgaris and Carduus Marianus have similar constitutions. Berberis Vulgaris is useful in the treatment of severe kidney pain as
well as kidney stones, but it has to be used over a long period so that
the stones gradually dissolve and are excreted. Berberis Vulgaris has
no affect on the Oxalic Acid stones. The oxalate stones are very hard,
and they are treatable by using ul trasound rays. In my experience,
Silicea and Calcarea Flour 6X given together for some time, dissolve
and then expel the oxalate stone. In Berberis Vulgaris, one of the symptoms is that the mouth feels
sticky due to thick, sticky sputum. Small spots develop on the
tongue that feels raw. In the morn ing, one feels nauseated and has a
burning sensation in the chest. In Berberis, with movement and on
standing, the legs start hurting, and the urinary symptoms intensify. Antidotes: Camphor, Belladonna
Potency: Mother Tincture (Q)