Anger & Rage

I noticed an interesting thing after I posted my last article … An increase in people finding my site by searching for the term “rage.”

Whether you are raging at governmental mask mandates or raging at fellow citizens who refuse to follow the governmental mask mandates, it is clear to me that anger and rage are alive and well in 2022.

Does anger follow chronic illness or does anger contribute to chronic illness? Is the grumpy old man with a bad back grumpy because he has a bad back or does he have a bad back because he’s grumpy?

Carson (et al. 2007) suggests patients who have more difficulty expressing emotions may experience higher pain and anger. Burns (et al. 2012) suggests suppression of anger may be linked to heightened pain.

Suppressed anger seems to be the biggest problem. Where does all that energy go if it doesn’t have an outlet? There is a word for this in Korean: Hwabyung: a culture-related anger syndrome known to occur due to continued repression of anger. Suh (et al. 2021) says this phenomenon affects patients’ physical, psychological and social functions. Mills (and Dimsdale 1993) found men who routinely suppressed their anger had increased beta-adrenergic receptor sensitivity. These receptors play an important role in regulation of heart function (Wallukat 2002).

Homeopathy takes anger very seriously. Frederik Schroyens Synthesis (2012) repertory lists hundreds of rubrics in regard to anger, for example: Mind, anger, morning; evening; causeless; easily angered; from noise; throwing things in anger; when touched; weeping from anger… the list goes on.

Let’s take a look at the top 5 anger remedies (general anger, not suppressed or differentiated in any way. Though, suppressed anger is really fascinating and is worth a look in the future!)

Bryonia: Homeopathic Bryonia is known as “the grumpy bear” remedy and this aspect is very clear when talking about how Bryonia relates to anger. Headaches from anger. Anger resulting from pains. Not wanting to talk when angry. Exceedingly irritable. There can be chilliness with the anger. A red face when angry.

Chamomilla: Homeopathic Chamomilla is often indicated in children with anger — or children who become angry and irritable due to their physical situation — think teething. Those who have difficulty breathing after their anger or suffer convulsions after anger. Anger associated with PMS/menses. Those easily angered. A red face when angry. Temper tantrums. Vomiting after anger. A person needing Chamomilla may get hot and sweaty with their anger.

Hepar sulph: Homeopathic Hepar sulph is highly indicated in violent anger. Sensitive to noise and odors. Irritable and angry. Easily angered and abusive. Anger “at the least trifle” — oversensitive mind. Peevish. 

Lachesis: Homeopathic Lachesis is highly indicated in anger associated with jealousy. Violent anger. Anger from disappointed love. The mingling of melancholy/sadness and anger. In children, they awaken angry or suffer anger from dentition or jealousy and during sleep.

Nux vomica: Homeopathic Nux vomica is one of the first remedies I think of for anger. Nux vomica is highly indicated in liver issues and where is anger processed? According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the liver (Suttie 2022; Traditional Chinese Medicine World Foundation 2021; Cutler 2011). Convulsions following anger. Angry dreams. Anger associated with anxiety. Anger from business failures or work related issues. Easily angered. Angry in the morning, upon waking. Anger at little things. Violent anger. A red face when angry. Vomiting after anger.

Anger vs Rage: what is the difference? According to Psychologydictionary.org, rage occurs when anger cannot be controlled.

Emotional Healing with Homeopathy (Chappell 2003, p. 126) differentiates homeopathic remedies for rage thusly:

Chamomilla: with contrary behavior, great irritability, impossible to meet demands, worse evening.

Nux vomica: with great irritability, impatience, frustration, and gastric upsets. Road rage.

Back to the original thought of why there may be an increase of people who may be angry at this point in history: anger at mandates and anger at those who won’t comply with said mandates. Homeopathic Causticum, though very highly indicated in anger, is not in the top 5 remedies for anger, but is definitely worth a mention here.

Causticum: inclined to fits of anger with scolding. Great anger over injustices toward himself or others. Stammering on account of anger. Angry against the system. Sensitive and inclined to anger, while the nerves are much affected.

Now, take some deep breaths and a dose of whichever remedy suits your symptoms best and go forth in peace.

Julia Coyte, CHom
Classically Practical homeopath


#wellnessawaits

---

Reference list & Further reading:
Bailey, P. M., 1995. Homeopathic psychology : personality profiles of the major constitutional remedies. Berkeley, Calif.: North Atlantic Books.

Burns, J. W., Quartana, P. J., Gilliam, W., Matsuura, J., Nappi, C., and Wolfe, B., 2012. Suppression of anger and subsequent pain intensity and behavior among chronic low back pain patients: the role of symptom-specific physiological reactivity. Journal of Behavioral Medicine [online], 35 (1), 103–114. 

Carson, J. W., Keefe, F. J., Lowry, K. P., Porter, L. S., Goli, V., and Fras, A. M., 2007. Conflict about expressing emotions and chronic low back pain: associations with pain and anger. The Journal of Pain [online], 8 (5), 405–411. 

Castro, M., 2008. Homeopathic guide to stress. New Delhi: Health Harmony.

Chappell, P., 2003. Emotional healing with homeopathy : treating the effects of trauma. Berkeley, Calif.: North Atlantic Books.

Cutler, N., 2011. Anger Inflames Liver Disease [online]. LiverSupport.com. 

Frederik Schroyens, 2012. Synthesis : repertorium homeopathicum syntheticum. London: Homeopathic Book Publishers.

Jenner, R. C., Strodl, E. S., and Schweitzer, R. D., 2009. Anger and depression predict hospital use among chronic heart failure patients. Australian Health Review: A Publication of the Australian Hospital Association [online], 33 (4), 541–548. 

Mills, P. J. and Dimsdale, J. E., 1993. Anger suppression: its relationship to β-adrenergic receptor sensitivity and stress-induced changes in blood pressure. Psychological Medicine [online], 23 (3), 673–678. 

Russell, M. A., Smith, T. W., and Smyth, J. M., 2015. Anger Expression, Momentary Anger, and Symptom Severity in Patients with Chronic Disease. Annals of Behavioral Medicine [online], 50 (2), 259–271. 

Sam, N., 2016. How to Know the Difference Between Rage and Anger [online]. Psychology Dictionary. 

Sayar, K., Gulec, H., and Topbas, M., 2004. Alexithymia and anger in patients with fibromyalgia. Clinical Rheumatology [online], 23 (5), 441–448.

Soyda Akyol, E., Karakaya Arısoy, E. Ö., and Çayköylü, A., 2013. Anger in women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder: Its relations with premenstrual dysphoric disorder and sociodemographic and clinical variables. Comprehensive Psychiatry [online], 54 (7), 850–855. 

Suh, H.-W., Lee, K.-B., Chung, S.-Y., Park, M., Jang, B.-H., and Kim, J. W., 2021. How Suppressed Anger Can Become an Illness: A Qualitative Systematic Review of the Experiences and Perspectives of Hwabyung Patients in Korea. Frontiers in Psychiatry [online], 12, 637029. 

Suttie, E., 2022. Anger and the Liver : Chinese Medicine Living [online]. chinesemedicineliving.com. 

Traditional Chinese Medicine World Foundation, 2021. Emotions: The Liver, Stress, and Chronic Anger [online]. TCM World.

Wallukat, G., 2002. The β-Adrenergic Receptors. Herz [online], 27 (7), 683–690. 
‌