Stress

1. Stress Homoeopathic remedies that may be beneficial

2. Principles • A system of medicine based on the principle of “like cures like” -similia similibus curentur • Uses the smallest dose possible to produce a response

3. Examples of the similia principle • Peeling an onion leads to sore, runny eyes, itchy nose and sneezing - Allium cepa used to treat hayfever and colds • nettle stings produce a burning, itchy wheal on the skin - Urtica urens is a good remedy for similar skin lesions • arsenic poisoning causes severe vomiting and diarrhoea with burning pains and chilliness - Arsenicum alb. V. effective in gastroenteritis and food poisoning

4. Examples of the similia principle in medicine • Radiotherapy which is used to treat cancer also causes it • Amphetamines which produce hyperactivity, were used to treat hyperactive children • Immunisation • treatment of erythromelalgia with Praxilene?

5. Hahnemann • Disillusioned physician • Tried cinchona bark • Gave preparations to family and students to prove • Diluted medication • Remedies

6. Materia medica • Known symptoms produced by poisonings • Symptoms produced by provings • Symptoms relieved when remedy given for other symptoms

7. Selecting the remedy • Detailed Homeopathic history • Repertorization • Materia medica

8. Homeopathic history • Details of presenting complaint - aetiology, aggravations, ameliorations, modalities • Aetiology : trauma, bereavement, never well since -pregnancy, menopause, glandular fever • Aggravations : conditions that make symptoms worse • Ameliorations : improve symptoms • Modalities : conditions qualifying a symptom

9. Homeopathic history • General symptoms - patients’ reaction to their environment, heat, cold, weather • Food likes or dislikes, e.g. crave pickles,like fat • periodicity - frequency of symptoms - monthly, weekly, yearly

10. Placid, anxious, Anxious on anticipation Depressed Weepy Consolation Easily bored Jealous Tidy Fears Company Shy Routine Resentments Mind or Mental symptoms

11. Vivacious red-head Nervous Laid-back absent minded professor Prim and proper Scruffy Extremely neat and colour co-ordinated Weepy blonde Lacks energy Flabby handshake Closed Shy, hides behind mother Anxious to please, maintain eye contact General appearance

12. Repertorization • Repertory contains details of symptoms produced by remedies listed under bodily systems e.g. mind, vertigo, head, eye, vision, ear, hearing, nose, face etc. • e.g. heartburn after eating -Aesc. agar. Am.c. anac. Calc. Calc. p. carl. Chin. Cocc.c. con. Croc. Graph. Iod. Lyc. Merc. Nat. mur. Nit. Ac. Nux v. Sep. Sil.

13. Repertorisation cont. • Strong features of the history in each area - mind, generals and local symptoms • The strength of a symptom in a rubric is indicated by the type, • i.e. bold type-strongly present, • italic - moderate, • ordinarytype - symptom present for that remedy

14. Further considerations • Aetiology • Peculiar symptoms e.g. • burning sensation > warm applications • asthma > lying down • feels exceptionally well day before headache • Symptoms can then be fed into a computer

15. Remedies • These are prepared from :- • minerals, • plants, • fish, • insects, • snakes and disease products

16. Definition of Stress • Stress = Load • _______________ • Area

17. Argentum nit • Fearful, nervous, hurried, anxious • < anticipation→diarrhoea • Irrational, does strange of foolish things • Overworked, overtired, mental exhaustion, trembling • Desires sweet, salt and fat but < • Time goes too slowly

18. Arsenicum alb • V. anxious and restless, hurried • Fear of death, being alone, • Anxious about health • Fastidious about appearance, dress • Symptoms < after midnight • Chilly, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, palpitations, breathlessness • Sleep – anxious, restless, dreams full of cares and fears

19. Ignatia • Grief, sighing and sobbing • V. changeable, contradictory, perverse • Sensation of lump in throat • Light sleeper, limbs jerk on going to sleep, insomnia from grief • Sensitive to noise, light, odours especially cigarette smoke • Intuitive and perceptive

20. Lycopodium • Depressed, lack self-confidence • Afraid to be alone, undertake new things • Constant fear of breaking down under stress • Confused – spelling mistakes or writes wrong words • Irritable, symptoms all < 4 – 8 p.m., right sided • Heartburn, abdominal bloating, wind • Desires sweet, warm food and drink • < Heat

21. Nux vomica • Impatient, critical, sensitive to noise, smells, light • Perfectionist, expect others to be also • Overwork, overindulge – food and drink, smoke, drink lots of coffee • Irritable, angry, violent • Male remedy • Desires rich food, spicy, fat, pickles

22. Passiflora • Has a calming effect on the nervous system • Insomnia • Worried and overworked • Violent headache as if top of head would lift off

23. Rescue Remedy • Shock, bad news, family upset, trauma, bereavement, • Driving test, public performance, • Relieves apprehension and “uptight” feeling • Any stressful situation • 2 - 4 drops as required or regularly if necessary

24. Other Bach Flower Remedies • Agrimony – mental torture behind a brave face • Aspen – fear of the unknown • Cherry plum – fear of losing control and reason • Elm – overwhelmed by responsibility • Gorse – hopelessness and despair • Impatiens – impatient • Oak – despondent but struggles on • Vervain – tense, overanxious

25. Preparation of the Remedies • Whole plant is macerated in alcohol mother tincture • 1 drop added to 9 or 99 of solution results in 1X or 1C potency • Succussed in between dilutions • Standard potencies :- 6C, 30C, 200C, 1M, 10M, 50M

26. Prescription • 6C for local symptoms e.g. joint pain, skin eruptions • 30C for acute illness e.g. influenza, diarrhoea and vomiting, childhood illnesses • 200C if giving nosodes e.g. glandular fever nosode, pertussis, measles vaccine • 1M or 10M for strong emotional symptoms e.g. grief, P.M.T., depression, anxiety etc.

27. Instructions for taking remedies • Homeopathic remedies are very delicate and should not be handled. • They are absorbed from the mouth and so are sucked not swallowed. • Should not be taken near food or drink as these may interfere with the absorption. • Store away from strong smells.