​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?

​"This question intrigued us for a very long time as certain clinical experiences of ours seemed to deny this presumed truth. After a lot of thought, we decided that the only acceptable way to solve this problem was the objective, strict, clinical experimentation, leaving all theoretical speculation aside… We thus decided to experiment on ill individuals under homeopathic treatment, not with healthy individuals as Hahnemann required for his pathogenesis."

Cutting to the important bit for this article [emphasis from original text, pp 214-218]:
​"The second point was whether the administration of identical (‘unchanged’ according to Hahnemann’s terminology) doses which were repeated every day during weeks and months could cause the damage announced by Hahnemann and Kent.…

We carried out strict experimentations on more than a thousand patients during more than three years.… Two hundred and fifty (250) cases treated with the method of potency repeated in globules.…

- Therapeutic result: high efficacy in all cases studied. Without appreciable differences to the Plus Method,*** but with results very superior to those obtained with the unique dose followed by placebos. We do not think we are cheating ourselves if we affirm that we have obtained the highest satisfactions of our life as physicians by employing this simple, positive method.

We do not ignore that these conclusions will cause surprise and will even be resisted by many traditional homeopaths who blindly believe in Kent’s and in some of Hahnemann’s statements. … Instead, his opposition to the method of repeated potency is seemingly not confirmed by experimental or clinical facts.…"

So, what’s the upshot?

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!

a quick look at what I affectionately call "rhoids"

They are very common. 1 in 20 Americans and almost half of people older than 50 have them (Fox et al. 2014). Sometimes they are embarrassing to talk about. There’s no such thing as an embarrassing topic in my world. This stuff is important and needs to be talked about!! They are sometimes painful. They are objectively a pain in the rear!

I’m talking about hemorrhoids, also known as piles, which “are tortuous masses of dilated and inflamed veins situated in the ano-rectal area” (Rahmathullah 2003). These can be inside the rectum (internal) or outside (external), or, if you’re really unlucky, the internal hemorrhoids can prolapse and can actually then be on the outside.

They can bleed. They can become irritated. They can be irritating. They can be painful. They can burst. These veins are at risk of becoming thrombosed if a blood clot forms inside the hemorrhoid. I have been told that it is at this point that the bearer of such piles doesn’t care who is in the operating room when these get addressed!

How does this little pile of goodies arrive in the nether regions? I’m glad you asked…
Apparently, “everyone has them, the pillow-like clusters of veins that lie just beneath the mucous membranes lining the lowest part of the rectum and the anus” (Harvard Health Publishing 2019). The problematic part shows up if these veins get enlarged.

How do they get enlarged?
Chronic constipation and straining at toilet. Pregnancy: up to 35% (Lawrence and McLaren 2020). Sitting on the toilet for long periods of time. (If this is a thing for you, you may want to leave your phone by the sink to keep things moving along.) Heavy lifting. Being overweight. A couple of other possible causes: uterine displacement and pelvic inflammatory diseases (Enache and Soare 2022).

The internal hemorrhoids are often painless, though they may bleed. The external hemorrhoids are easily irritated, as one might imagine and as Harvard Health Publishing tells us, “When a hemorrhoid protrudes, it can collect small amounts of mucus and tiny stool particles that may cause an irritation called pruritis (a tingling or faintly burning skin sensation that prompts a person to rub or scratch; an itch (Venes 2017) ani (around the anus). Wiping constantly to try to relieve the itching can worsen the problem.” That indeed sounds like a problem. Maybe somebody should invent some 4-wheel drive toilet paper to get around all the obstacles!

Could it be something other than hemorrhoids you’re feeling down there?
You bet. Click here and read the “Differential Diagnosis” paragraph. Fox (et al. 2014) recommends that even if hemorrhoids can be seen on examination, patients with rectal bleeding who are at risk of colorectal cancer should still undergo colonoscopy to exclude cancer as the etiology.

What can help?
Drinking lots of water and eating foods high in fiber to help prevent constipation and straining during bowel movements. Avoiding harsh toilet paper. Some companies seem to take the “paper” word too seriously! Since we don’t have a soft, “off-road” toilet paper yet, here are a few options to help keep the nether regions clean:

• Witch hazel wipes* can soothe the area.
• Bidets can help keep things clean.
• These famed Japanese toilets* are helpful, or, they even make a little handheld unit if you don’t want to invest in the entire toilet.

If things really go south, western medicine offers surgical removal or non-surgical treatment for non-thrombosed hemorrhoids.

Why witch hazel wipes?
I first learned about these lovely little things after the birth of my first son. Witch hazel is an astringent, meaning it can cause tissues to tighten or shrink and it has been shown to be beneficial on pain, bleeding and swelling, as well as preventing recurrence (Admuthe et al. 2025).

Witch hazel has another name: Hamamelis virginiana and it is, wait for it… a homeopathic remedy! In fact, this homeopathic remedy is part of the Banerji protocol for varicose veins which is relevant here because hemorrhoids are essentially varicose veins of the rectum.

The full protocol is Hamamelis 200c mixed with Arnica 3c taken twice daily. If things are particularly acute and uncomfortable, repeat this every 3 hours.

A hemorrhoid which may respond well to Hamamelis may be chronic; external or internal; large and swollen and it may disturb your sleep.

Why is Arnica part of this protocol? I thought Arnica was for sore muscles?
Well, part of the reason Arnica is used for sore muscles is because Arnica can help reduce inflammation and pain and bruising and trauma. If you think those little dangly bits don’t suffer any trauma, think again! Arnica is also helpful to improve circulation which can definitely help because a hemorrhoid is part of the vascular structure (remember from above, a hemorrhoid is an inflamed vein).

Are there any readily available homeopathic remedies that can help?
Absolutely, though the Ham/Arn combination is a very good place to start.

Boiron* makes a couple of combos, all with the name HemCalm. Each of these contain similar, but slightly different ingredients. HemCalm pellets and tablets contain the following remedies for the following reasons (looking at Murphy’s high level symptoms in the top row, as well as their small rubrics (unique symptoms) in the bottom row)**:

• Aesculus hippocastanum (aka “horse chestnut” which, like "witch hazel" is also used traditionally in a tincture form)
  • Hemorrhoids that are: chronic; external or internal; large and swollen; protruding, grape-like; worse after walking or wiping.
  • with lower back pain; with chills up and down the back; heat makes them worse; worse at menopause; with splinter-like pain — like sticks; worse standing
• Hamamelis, in addition to what’s listed above, may have hemorrhoids that are bursting; accompany general debility; during or after pregnancy; pulsating and may be accompanied by low back pain.
• Nux vomica is a very helpful homeopathic remedy for constipation. (See also, The Eagle has Landed!)
  • irritability from the hemorrhoids; hemorrhoids during pregnancy; chronic; congested (full of blood) with a tendency to bleed; internal; large and swollen
  • hemorrhoids following laxative use; with constipation and/or straining at stool; with headaches; with cramping intestinal pain; better for cold.

Boiron’s HemCalm ointment adds in

• Collinsonia:
  • Painful periods may accompany hemorrhoids; chronic; during pregnancy; with obstinate constipation
  • with straining at stool/during pregnancy; indigestion with hemorrhoids

Boiron’s HemCalm suppositories add two more homeopathic remedies:

• Paeonia hemorrhoids are congested (full of blood); may be strangulated and are worse wiping after stool.
• Ratanhia hemorrhoids are external and protruding, grape-like and swollen and are aggravated by touch.
  • Headaches and irritability may accompany the hemorrhoids; they are better from cold; may accompany anal fissures; the hemorrhoids may feel like broken glass; may feel splinter-like pain (like sticks).

Forces of Nature* is another homeopathic combination which is for topical use only. It contains both Aesculus and Hamamelis and is combined with essential oils.

WHP Be gone* from Washington Homeopathy is an ointment with Aesculus, Collinsonia and Hamamelis.

Are there other combinations out there?
Yes! A quick look on the internet turns up all sorts of hemorrhoid relief — some of them are homeopathic, most are not. Choose carefully! To see why you may want to choose the homeopathic remedies over the others, see these studies:

• Treatment of hemorrhoids with individualized homeopathy: An open observational pilot study  
• Management of Haemorrhoids with Individualized Homoeopathy in Improving Quality of LIfe: An Observational Study.

If you have tried everything and are still struggling, consider booking a consult.


Julia Coyte, CHom
Classically Practical homeopath


#wellnessawaits


*I have no affiliation with this or any other company.
** Many of these remedies may be found in many of these rubrics. I have only highlighted the level 3 & 4 rubrics as well as small (fewer than 5 remedies) rubrics.

Last week I wrote about the Narayani remedies, primarily because I had just used TapRoots* fabulous kit again and I wanted to sing its praises. (See below for information on their Banerji Protocol kits.)

My first homeopathic combination love, though, needs a little attention: the Banerji Protocols.

I have told this story before, but the amazingly wonderful and powerful Banerji Protocols are what convinced me to become a homeopath. Two weeks after beginning a bunch of combination remedies, in addition to a couple of individual homeopathic remedies all taken according to the schedule provided by my homeopath at the time, Joette Calabrese, — (I didn’t do this on my own!), I felt better than I had in many years. Just two weeks and the relief I felt was nothing short of miraculous. It was truly, truly life-changing stuff. So life changing that I immediately began taking classes in the Banerji Protocols offered by Joette Calabrese** and after a few months when I had finished all there was on offer that way, I enrolled in homeopathy school. (It’s funny. When I first spoke with Joette she mentioned her classes and asked if I would be interested. I responded that I didn’t have any time, as interesting as they sounded. Little did I know how much time I would want for studying all this new-to-me stuff called homeopathy! There simply aren’t enough hours in the day, even all these years later! I literally abandoned all my other interests at that point and dove straight in -- never even coming up for air!)

I think it’s fair to say that not all classically trained homeopaths are overly fond of practical, or, what is also referred to as clinical homeopathy. Some can be rather snooty about it, actually. (I have clients who have been "fired" by their classical homeopath because the individual took additional homeopathic remedies on their own accord.)

In particular, classical homeopaths seem to take umbrage with the Banerji Protocols. Why they do this, I can’t be certain, but I have my suspicions.

The Banerji Protocols were developed by the Drs Banerji (father and son) in Calcutta, India. This is a 4th generation family of homeopaths and for all that time, their clinic has been keeping records of which remedies helped which conditions. They have 10 doctors/homeopaths in their clinic who each see 100 patients a day. That’s 1,000 patients a day (!) upon which to base their information. They have some marvelous success rates and those results are replicated over and over again. It is truly impressive.

How do the Banerji Protocols differ from the Narayani remedies?

The Banerji Protocols are elegant combinations of homeopathic remedies. The Narayani remedies are still wondrous creations, but they are much larger combinations of homeopathic remedies — often mixing not just individual homeopathic remedies but also adding homeopathic nosodes, sarcodes and even Bach flower essences into the mix, too.

The Banerji Protocols use some combination remedies (generally combinations of only 2 remedies at a time) but mostly using individual remedies, but taking them as part of the same protocol (see below for an example). Remember, at it's core, classical homeopathy involves using one single remedy and then waiting and seeing what comes from that. The Banerji Protocols repeat remedies … sometimes weekly; sometimes daily; sometimes multiple times a day.

Because it has been in the news lately, let’s look at the Banerji’s first line (more on this later) protocol for the Measles***:

• Bryonia alba, twice daily

If there is a high temperature, add in:

• Belladonna, every 30 minutes until the temp is stable

If there is an accompanying cold or cough, add in:

• Ipecac, every hour, as needed.

So, as you see, this is not classical in that the protocol is using 3 different remedies to treat one specific condition.

If it works so well, why do classical homeopaths balk at that and not embrace it?
Even though these protocols have been used for decades in India, they’re fairly new to us in other corners of the world.

More importantly, as a classically trained homeopath, I can tell you that we are taught that every remedy we suggest to a client needs to be based on meticulous case-taking and that (single) remedy needs to be tailored to the specific symptoms that person is expressing — the Similimum. This is the really impressive aspect of homeopathy that differentiates it from every other form of medicine out there. Classical homeopathy doesn’t treat a disease, it treats the individual. And, what a beautiful thing it is!

I agree… in principle.

However, in today’s day and age where we have excellent diagnoses available to us through imaging and testing, finding the similimum is not always necessary. This is where the Banerji Protocols can step right up and take their very valuable spot. (See also: The Importance of a Proper Diagnosis.)

The Banerjis, with all their many thousands of case histories to rely upon, have learned what works for commonly diagnosed conditions. To name but a few:

• Warts
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Sinusitis
• Parkinson's Disease
• Infertility

Common conditions which often respond beautifully to homeopathic protocols.
​
The Banerji Protocols: A New Method of Treatment with Homeopathic Medicines is, in my never-to-be-humble opinion, an indispensable book. My copy is well loved and beginning to fall apart as I have read through and studied the approximately 200 conditions over the years.

For each condition addressed, they (generally speaking) list 3 “lines”:

• First Line medicines, which they claim offer relief, in 80% of the cases.
• Second Line medicines can help the remaining approximately 20% of the cases.
• If the first and second line “do not give proper response, in a reasonable time frame,” the third line is standing by and waiting.

And, if these “lines” don’t do the trick, the next step is to fall back on classical homeopathy.

We’re also taught in classical homeopathy schools that remedies should never be combined with other remedies. The logic here is sound: homeopathic remedies are tested or “proved” (using the homeopathic terminology) one at a time. To my knowledge, there has not been any official testing or provings of combined homeopathic remedies (just long, positive track records, like the records the Banerjis keep).

Having said that, to my understanding, there have not been any problems with using said combined remedies. There are certainly plenty of them out there*: Boiron, Hylands, Heel, UNDA, Narayani, Dr. Reckeweg — (there are more but this list should suffice to get anyone who has an interest in such things started). 

How else do the Banerji Protocols differ from classical homeopathy?

• Classical homeopathy does not repeat remedies often (sometimes no repetition at all). The Banerjis often repeat their suggested remedies daily or even multiple times a day. 
• Classical homeopathy puts a large emphasis on mental and emotional states and symptoms. Banerji Protocols, not so much.
• Classical homeopathy involves (generally speaking) long, in-depth case taking. Banerji Protocols cut to the chase, similar to how western medicine would prescribe certain medicines for certain conditions.
• Classical homeopaths would spend a great deal of time repertorizing (looking up symptoms in a repertory -- a book of symptoms expressed in the form of rubrics). The Banerjis have removed that step by stating exactly what to take and when and how often.

Now, let’s turn to Dr. Samuel Hahnemann, the father of homeopathy.
​The other most important aspect of homeopathy is found in aphorism #1 in Hahnemann’s Organon of Medicine: “The physician’s highest and only calling is to make the sick healthy, to cure, as it is called.”

This beautiful ideal is from 1842, written in the 6th edition of Dr. Hahnemann's magnum opus, 32 years after his first edition. During these years, his methods changed and grew and who knows where his experimentation would have ended up if he had been able to get to the 10th or 20th editions of The Organon? I happen to believe that Dr. Hahnemann would have eventually come around to the idea of combination remedies, but that’s just my opinion.

What does it matter if one remedy at a time is used or if multiple remedies are combined… as long as the person experiences relief?

I know of successful classical homeopaths who say they use a particular remedy in their practice weekly. I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that is not necessarily truly classical homeopathy. This, to me, does not really sound like they are getting the single best remedy that is “homeopathic to the case.” It can’t possibly be. If these homeopaths were going about their homeopathy in a completely classical fashion, the chances of them using the same remedy as the similimum for multiple clients in the same same week or month (outside of an epidemic/pandemic) are quite low.

Or, they say, “I use this remedy for this condition.” Again, this is essentially using a protocol — they are just their own protocols. After all, protocols are procedures based on previous experience to deliver an expected outcome.

I am certainly not knocking these homeopaths for doing this. On the contrary! This is exactly the point of practical or clinical homeopathy. Lots of people need similar or even the same remedies to help treat the conditions from which they suffer.

For this reason, I incorporate many ways of finding remedies for my clients. I suggest remedies based on how my clients want to work: if they want a single remedy, great! I’m on it. If they want a schedule of combination remedies, I can do that, too. If they want a mix of everything - done! I am happy to work with people in whichever way makes them comfortable.

My goal as a homeopath is to help people feel better. 


​
Julia Coyte, CHom
Classically Practical homeopath

#wellnessawaits


* I have no affiliation with these companies or people — just a big fan!

** Joette Calabrese is THE person from whom to learn the Banerji Protocols. Her many great webinars (and Facebook Live videos) are personable, interesting, entertaining and absolutely chock-a-block full of information. The hows and whys, the stories, her time spent with the Drs Banerji… definitely well worth the investment of time and money if you have any interest in learning about the Banerji Protocols.

*** I have intentionally left out the potencies. The Banerji Protocol book is a marvelous resource to have on your shelf and it will fill in the rest of the protocol information for you. Note: Some of their protocols call for remedies prepared in a liquid. Additionally, occasionally, they list potencies which we do not use in the west (in fact, sometimes these potencies are not even available in the west). Please be sure to take this into consideration if you purchase this terrific book and use caution when you encounter potencies which seem “unusual” to you.

Well, it appears Whole Foods has failed us. Despite receiving a tremendous number of requests in a short amount of time, they have decided at a corporate level to stop carrying single homeopathic remedies.

I am terribly disappointed, but I’m not surprised. (Though I haven’t heard an official word, I have noticed Whole Foods had stopped carrying most of the Bach essences recently, too.)

Ever since Amazon purchased Whole Foods, nothing has been as good as it was. At all. By far. The selection of products, the quality of prepared foods and even the offerings at the butcher counter are not as nice as they once were. It’s a real bummer on many fronts.

So, where to buy your homeopathic remedies locally?

If you have a Sprouts in your town, that is your best bet. Sprouts carries a much larger selection of homeopathic remedies than Whole Foods ever did.

Natural Grocers is another store that carries individual homeopathic remedies.

If you have a local independent herb store, they often have a few individual remedies for sale. If they don’t, ask them to do so!

Other than that, it’s to the internet we turn. (For all examples, I looked at Bryonia alba in both 30c and 200c for pricing.)

If you want the familiar blue and purple tubes, go to Boiron*. Online, Boiron actually offers a much wider range of remedies and potencies. Their 30c is $8.49 and 200c is $11.99. (Note: Boiron tubes contain 80 pellets or 16 doses.) Additionally, they sell some Gemmos (see here for a little information on those.) Bonus! At the time of this writing, Boiron has 10% off Calendula and “On the Go” medicines. I also see “free shipping is automatically applied to all orders.” It’s not clear if this is all orders all the time or just the above mentioned promo.

Washington Homeopathics is an excellent US pharmacy. They can be found at homeopathyworks.com. Their prices are $9.49 for a 30c and $16.29 for 200c. (Note: Washington sells their individual remedies in a 4 dram vial, so 900 pellets, which is a lot of pellets!) They also sell some of their remedies in 1/2 dram kit refills (containing 350 pellets) in nice little glass vials for $4.19 and $5.29 respectively. Additionally, they sell Bach Flower Essences and offer a nice selection of books and even a home-school curriculum. Bonus! Washington Homeopathics always has a few remedies on 20% sale each month.

Hahnemann Labs is another superb US pharmacy. They offer a wide range of remedies and potencies and their glass tubes are $10.95 for 1/2 dram and $12.95 for a 2 dram 30c; 200c is $16.95 and $22.95 respectively. (The number of pellets is different and a little confusing: for up to 99c potencies, 80 pellets in the 1/2 dram and 240 pellets in the 2 dram.) For 100c potencies and up: 1/2 dram = 240 pellets and 2 dram = 730 pellets.) Note: Hahnemann 1/2 dram do not fit in standard kits; they are short, fat tubes. Bonus! I just got off the phone with a nice woman at Hahnemann Labs who confirmed that there is $2 discount on each remedy when ordering on-line.

Olloïs sells nice remedies. They don’t have a huge selection but what they have, I like. Their claim to fame is lactose-free remedies. Their 30c is $8.49 and 200c is $9.49. (Approximately 80 pellets per tube.) Additionally, they offer a free 7-day video course on homeopathy if you want to learn more. Bonus! Free shipping on orders over $29.

On to distributors in the US…

I have written about Tap Roots before in regard to their kits, which I really like. They sell some individual remedies from both Washington and Boiron (similar or identical prices to buying those directly). They also sell Narayani mixes (which appear to be $22.99 each) and some Banerji protocol combination remedies (ex. Aconite 200c + Bryonia 30c for $20.99. As a reminder, Acon/Bry is the Banerji go-to protocol to use at the first sign of feeling unwell.) Additionally, they have cell salts and a nice selection of homeopathic books. Bonus! Tap Roots offers free shipping on $75+ orders.

Vitamin shoppe sells a few Boiron single remedies, also for $8.49 each. 

Vitacost has a few Boiron and Olloïs remedies on offer. Prices seem to vary more than the other sites. 
​
Looking further afield (if you are in the US these are further afield anyway)…

Helios in the UK ships to the US, though don’t expect it to arrive immediately. They have an excellent selection of remedies but their site can be a little cumbersome. If you like the self-dispensing tubes (similar to Boiron), choose: “Pills (No 6) (sucrose) in a 4g dispenser)”. Generally speaking, it appears these tubes run £5.85. They offer a huge range of potencies and a really nice selection of books and other products. Additionally, when I was in the UK at Christmas I discovered A. Vogel’s Echinacea Bioforce tablets that you might want to consider. (Not homeopathic, but good stuff!)

Ainsworths is another UK homeopathic pharmacy. One feature I like about Ainsworths is you can build your own combo remedy. They, too, have a huge selection of remedies offered in a selection of pellets/tablets. 7g vial is the closest to the size we’re used to in the US. Though, their 1g vial (with the cute little cork stopper) is good for travel or, if you are in need of a “specialty” remedy. A 7g vial of a 30c or 200c is £7.50. I recently purchased “tablets” and that has been a nice change from the little pellets, though it doesn’t feel like the quantity will go very far.

Weleda in the UK sells a nice “counter range” of 30c remedies for £7.65. Note: these bottles are not pocket friendly tubes. I have purchased these in the UK but I have not tried ordering from the US.

If you feel so inclined, Amazon also sells some remedies. However, proceed with caution as they sell some brands which are unknown to me and I have heard some not great things from some of the “off-brand” remedies they have on offer.

This is a short list of the pharmacies and distributors I know to be of good quality. I have no affiliation with any of these companies. I’m sure there are more, but this should be a good start.

So, not quite as easy as picking up a remedy while you’re buying your groceries, but with a little planning, you won’t be disappointed with purchasing remedies on-line.


Julia Coyte, CHom

​

Classically Practical homeopath
#wellnessawaits

* As I was finishing up this article, I received an email from Boiron letting practitioners know where their clients can continue to purchase Boiron single remedies. Here is the image shown at the bottom of that email:
​

​I’ve been hearing that ringworm is going around. Is it true? I must confess, it’s getting pretty hard to tell what is true these days when you’re looking at the news.

Regardless of all that nonsense, it’s important to be pro-active and know what to do if whatever is going around is coming your way.

With that, let’s talk about ringworm.

Ringworm is a fungal rash, named because of the ring that encircles the rash — no worms are involved. It is related to athlete’s foot and jock itch and it’s important to remember that fungal infections are likely to be contagious. They can spread through contact with the infected skin of others (including animals) or objects like towels, bedding or clothing.
What to look for, according to Mayo Clinic:

• a scaly, ring-shaped area (on the bottom, the trunk, the limbs)
• itching
• slightly raised rings with a round, flat patch of itchy skin
• the rings may overlap

“Ringworm may cause bald patches and consistent scratching leads to oozing and blistering” (Alton and Alton 2021).

Sounds kind of miserable. How can homeopathy help?

My first homeopathic stop would be from the Drs. Banerji who recommend the following protocol:

• Graphites 200c, one dose taken every 3 days
• Kali sulph 3x, taken twice daily
• and, if the itching is really bad, Coffea cruda 200c, every hour until better.

They also caution that if one member of the family has it, it may spread to the whole family (Prasanta Banerji and Pratip Banerji 2013), so be prepared!

Now, let’s look at these remedies individually and see why they might help.

Graphites is a big skin remedy. In this instance, it can be helpful for moist, crusty eruptions and has thick borders. Blisters which itch and ooze. Skin that comes off in scales or flakes. It is well indicated for eruptions which burn or itch as well as “smarting” — they just hurt. Itching skin, with the need to scratch it until it is raw. It’s also helpful for spots of falling hair (bald patches).

Kali sulph is the primary cell salt which is indicated in ringworm, according to Natural Healing with Cell Salts ((Weintraub 1999). I’ll just let George W. Carey, MD sum up the skin conditions noted in his book, The Biochemic System of Medicine (1896):

“All sores on the skin, when exuding a thin, yellow, watery matter, sometimes with dryness and desquamation of the surrounding skin. Skin scales freely on a sticky base… This salt also greatly aids desquamation in eruptive diseases and assists in the formation of new skin.” [author’s emphasis, not mine]

Coffea cruda, a homeopathic remedy made from raw coffee, helps to keep one’s mind off of things. In my mind, I have somehow squashed the squirrel from Hoodwinked with the dog from Up to represent this remedy. The squirrel becomes hyper-focused when he has coffee and Dug the Dog’s attention leaves whenever there is the mention of a squirrel. So, my mind justifies this craziness in this way… when your mind is hyper-focused on the itching (think: squirrel from Hoodwinked) take the Coffea cruda remedy and it can remove the attention of the itching to the “squirrel” over there (think: Dug the Dog). In other words, the remedy removes the hyper focus and allows your mind to go elsewhere.

Here’s to being prepared for the real stuff as well as the (possibly) over-hyped stuff. May we one day be able to easily decipher truth from fiction again.


Julia Coyte, CHom
Classically Practical homeopath


#wellnessawaits

Tis the season for… Sore Throats.

Sore throat complaints are keeping me busy this month! Some have the dreaded Covid, some have the flu, some may have strep throat and some people just have a sore throat.

What to do about this pharyngitis? (Pharynx is the part of the throat behind the mouth and nasal cavity and “itis” for inflammation.)

Well, at the first sign of feeling unwell, I like the Banerji protocol of Aconite 200c mixed with Bryonia 30c. Taking this right away can often nip things in the bud and send the yucks away before they can settle in.

Another option for those who are quick on the draw is Ferrum phos 6x. This, too, can often turn things around in short order.

Once the yucks have made themselves at home and one is definitively feeling unwell, let’s look at a few homeopathic remedies which may help. (Note: There are many remedies which can be helpful for sore throats, these are just a few of my favorites.) See also: Calming the Cold; Some Flu Remedies to Consider and Tis the season for the crud.

Baptisia
Extremely painful, dark red throat, where swallowing liquids is the only option and even that is very difficult, despite being thirsty; tiny bites of food gags them. They may have swollen glands and/or bad breath.

Belladonna
The sore throat appears suddenly and generally hurts more on the right side with burning or throbbing pain. The throat and the tip of the tongue may be red. Pain is worse from turning the head, touching the throat and swallowing, especially liquids. Face will often be red and hot but the hands and feet tend to be cold.

Gelsemium
Burning and rough sore throat with pain that extends from the throat to the ear. May feel like there’s a painful lump in the throat that cannot be swallowed. Pain in the sternocleidomastoid — the long muscles on either side of your neck. Paralysis of the vocal cords. Swallowing solid foods is difficult.

Hepar sulph
Homeopathic Hepar is known for a sticking sensation in the throat, like a splinter or a bone. Pain extends to the ear on yawning and swallowing. May hawk up thick, yellow, sticky mucus. Wrapping up the external throat feels good. Cold drinks or becoming cold makes them feel worse but warmth in general and warm drinks can help. There may be a pulsation felt in the throat and they may feel worse in the evening and at night. Very sensitive to the pain and sensitive to everything else, too, actually and they may be irritable and impatient.

Lachesis
A purple throat, often on the left side (or starts on the left and moves to the right) and feels worse when swallowing liquids — even saliva is difficult — empty swallowing makes the throat hurt even worse (though they may have a constant desire to swallow). Swallowing solids may be easier. May have a disturbing constricting sensation, causing them to loosen clothes around the throat. Ear pain with sore throat. There may be a sensation of breadcrumbs or a painful sensation of a lump or plug which is not relieved by swallowing. They may choke easily, especially on falling to sleep and may have a suffocative feeling. Often feel worse on waking.

Lycopodium
Often on the right side with a dryness in the throat and they may not be very thirsty. A stitching pain on swallowing which is better with warm drinks and worse with cold drinks. Choking on swallowing. They may feel like there is a lump or a plug in the throat. They are chilly but they also want fresh air but are worse becoming cold or eating/drinking cold things. May have digestive issues at the same time as the sore throat.

Mercurius sol
Lots of saliva and a raw, rough and burning feeling in the throat. Lots of slime gets stuck in the throat and there may be drooling while sleeping. Swollen glands. A bad or metallic taste in the mouth and may have bad breath. The throat may be copper colored. Throat pain on coughing. The throat may be worse at night and they may also experience night sweats. Finding the right temperature is often difficult.

Rhus tox
Body aches and restlessness may accompany the sore throat. The tip of the tongue may be red. The throat becomes irritated and the voice becomes hoarse and is often worse from talking. The pain is worse from swallowing at first, but improves with more swallowing. Warmth is helpful and moving around may help, too — feeling worse when they are resting. Like the swallowing, they may feel worse when first moving around but better as they keep moving.

When to see a doctor?
According to the Mayo Clinic, see a doctor if:

• sore throat is accompanied by tender, swollen lymph glands
• sore throat lasts longer than 48 hours
• a fever
• sore throat is accompanied by a rash
• there are problems breathing or swallowing
• if strep has been diagnosed, a lack of improvement after taking antibiotics for 48 hours​

TONSILLITIS
A few quick notes relating to tonsillitis. (Note on type: Most highly indicated, highly indicated and indicated.) Again, there are many homeopathic remedies for tonsillitis and I am just focusing on the throat remedies already mentioned.

Tonsillitis, in general — in order of importance: Belladonna, Ferrum phos and Mercurius. Hepar & Lachesis. Baptisia and Lycopodium.
Tonsillitis with pus: Hepar, Mercurius. Belladonna, Lycopodium, Lachesis
Hardness of hearing with tonsillitis: Hepar, Lycopodium and Mercurius
Chronic, recurring tonsillitis: Hepar, Lachesis and Lycopodium
Painless tonsillitis: Baptisia
Burning pain in tonsils: Belladonna and Mercurius
Purple tonsils: Hepar and Lachesis
Bright red tonsils: Belladonna and Ferrum phos
Dark red tonsils: Baptisia and Lachesis
Tonsillitis in children: Ferr-phos, Lachesis, Lycopodium and Mercury
Sharp pain in tonsils: Belladonna, Lachesis, Lycopodium and Mercury
Tearing pain in tonsils: Belladonna
Throbbing pain in tonsils: Belladonna

STREP THROAT
Strep throat is another possibility and can lead to long term problems in rare cases. Unlike most sore throats, strep is caused by bacteria. Strep A is big in the news this year, especially in the UK, but there are other strains of strep which can cause throat problems, too (A, C & G are the primary throat culprits).

I never messed around with strep throats when my kids were little because I know two people who suffered terribly as a result of untreated strep. “Untreated strep throat can cause an autoimmune reaction in which the body attacks its own tissues and may lead to rheumatic fever, chorea and kidney damage” (Berkow et al. 1995).

How can you tell the difference between a sore throat and Strep throat?
Ultimately, for a full diagnosis of strep throat, you need to see a doctor and get a throat culture.

According the the Merck Manual and the Mayo Clinic, strep throat symptoms typically appear suddenly and include:

• sore throat
  • throat is “beefy” red
  • tiny red spots on the area at the back of the roof of the mouth (soft or hard palate) (see photo above)
• lymph nodes in the neck may be enlarged and tender
• tonsils are swollen
  • sometimes with white patches or streaks of pus
• general feeling of being unwell
  • chills
  • fever
  • headache
• nausea
• vomiting
• rapid heart beat
• rash

A cough, laryngitis and stuffy nose are not common in strep infections.

In very young children (under 4), the only symptom may be a runny nose. (When my kids were little, I learned that strep infections in littles may present with only stomach problems, so keep that in mind.)

“People with strep throat generally get better in 2 weeks, even without treatment. … antibiotics can shorten the duration of symptoms in young children and prevent serious complications such as rheumatic fever” (Berkow et al. 1995). (Note: There are homeopathic remedies which can be helpful in strep throat, but that is beyond the scope of this article.)

If you are suffering from a sore throat, try one of these homeopathic remedies so you can get back to some painless Fa La La-ing before the festive season is behind us.


Julia Coyte, CHom
Classically Practical homeopath


#wellnessawaits

Reference list
​
Berkow, R., Beers, M. and Fletcher, A., 1995. The Merck Manual Home Edition. Merck Research Laboratories.

Mayo Clinic, 2018. Strep throat - symptoms and causes [online]. Mayo Clinic.

​Practicing homeopathy is a lot like doing a puzzle or decoding a mystery  — there is a lot of sleuthing to figure out the right remedy. In taking a classical homeopathic case, accurate details are the key — the more, the better!

Practical homeopathy is often much easier — the majority of the puzzle has been worked out already through tried and true symptom/remedy matches and often you just have to fill in the blanks, so to speak.

What both of these homeopathic methods have in common is the gathering of symptoms… which makes sense since homeopathy is a methodology based on symptoms, symptom gathering is very important!

So, though practical or clinical homeopathy has made figuring out the correct homeopathic remedy for a given situation much easier, (especially when it comes to the Banerji Protocols!), details are still very important.

For instance, headaches.

What’s in a headache? An awful lot, as it turns out. 

Headaches can be very difficult to treat because no two people experience the same headache pain. What one person calls a sinus headache is often very different to what another person calls a sinus headache. Sometimes people say they have sinus headaches and, yet, their sinuses don’t seem to be involved in the pain … at all. According to the Mayo Clinic, many people (up to 90%!) who claim to have sinus headaches may actually be suffering from migraines (Mayo Clinic 2018). I have come to understand that when someone tells me they suffer "sinus headaches", they just mean that it’s worse than their “normal” headache, or what they interpret to be a "normal" headache. 

Regardless of whether it’s a sinus headache or a migraine or a tension headache, getting the details on how a person experiences their headaches can be difficult. In the moment, the pain can be too great to be able to get much detail. After the fact, many people don’t even want to go there — to put themselves back into that pain — to remember what the details were. 

A while back, I encountered a young man who asked if I had any headache medicine. He was looking for mainstream over-the-counter meds, but, I being a homeopath, began down the homeopathic road, instead.

He proceeded to tell me about his usual headaches that he has been experiencing for years, which he described as “sinus headaches.” So, I started to question the quality of the pains and the location of the pains, etc.

This was not a formal consultation, just a casual encounter. I tried a headache combo remedy for him, but nothing happened. Then, based on his description, I moved to the Banerji Protocol for “sinus headaches with acute pain,” Sanguinaria 200c mixed with Belladonna 3c, taken every 30 minutes (Banerji and Banerji 2013, p. 118). Well, that did something, but it did the wrong something and he soon began to feel nauseous.*

Then, I learned the all important missing piece to this particular headache puzzle. He had a few too many drinks the night before. It didn’t matter that he thought he was experiencing his “usual” headache pain because on top of that usual pain was sitting a few alcoholic drinks which likely had a causative effect. 

More importantly, homeopathically speaking, he left that detail out of the information he provided. If he had included that little nugget, my homeopathic questioning most likely would have stopped abruptly and I would have given him a dose of homeopathic Nux vomica.

The go-to remedy for one who has had “a few too many” is Nux vomica. According to Schroyens Synthesis repertory (2012), there are 102 remedies applicable to symptoms following intoxication, with Nux vomica (and one other) being the most highly indicated homeopathic remedy.

Why? Because Nux vomica is very highly indicated in the following headache symptoms, according to Murphy’s Repertory:

• A heavy sensation in the head, especially in the morning
• When your head feels as if you are intoxicated 
• A pulsing/throbbing sensation on the top of your head.
• As if your head is being squeezed
• Pain when shaking your head, particularly a sharp pain in the temples when shaking your head
• A headache that feels better by wrapping your head
• A headache with chills
• Pain in the eye with a headache that is felt in the back of your head 
• Headache during vomiting

Nux vomica is also one of the largest liver remedies in homeopathy and as the medical literature has taught us, the liver is involved to help you cope with ridding your body of the toxins from the alcohol (Jung and Namkoong 2014).

Homeopathic Nux vomica is very highly indicated in the following liver symptoms, again, according to Murphy: pain in the liver, atrophy of the liver, enlarged liver, a sensation of fullness in the liver; hepatitis infection, jaundice; congestion in the portal system. **If you are experiencing chronic liver issues, please work with a professional homeopath alongside your physician.

What other symptoms does homeopathic Nux vomica address which may be experienced after “tying one on?” — according to Phatak (2005):
​

• Stool issues: Diarrhea, constipation, (see also, The Eagle has Landed) or frequent stools
• Feeling better following bowel movement (after all, you're bound to feel better when you get that poison out of your system!)
• Abdominal pain
• Irritability and bad temper — little things irritate
• Aversion to food
• Lying in bed makes you feel better, but rolling over in bed makes you feel worse
• Moving makes everything feel worse — with an inclination to sit
• Offensive breath
• Bad taste in the mouth
• “Dull, beclouded, difficult comprehension, stupefied” — thinking is difficult.
• Sour burps
• Gas, and/or noisy guts
• Heartburn
• Feeling lethargic
• Noise makes everything feel worse
• An acute sense of smell 
• Feeling worse in the morning
• Trembling
• Dizziness
• Heart palpitations
• Vomiting — (better out than in!)

These keynote symptoms for Nux vomica sound to me like a pretty comprehensive list of symptoms which follow intoxication (Jung and Namkoong 2014; Mayo Clinic 2017).

Getting an accurate account of one’s symptoms is imperative to getting the best-matched homeopathic remedy. Without the details, well, it’s GIGO (TechTerms.com) — “garbage in, garbage out.”

On that note of garbage, I recommend you keep the garbage out of your body, too, but if you find yourself in this compromised position, Nux vomica may well help set things back in order.

Julia Coyte, CHom
Classically Practical homeopath


#wellnessawaits



* REMEMBER, when you take a remedy which is not well indicated, the homeopathic remedy can actually cause you to experience some of the symptoms the remedy is intended to treat.

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

Jung, Y. and Namkoong, K., 2014. Chapter 7 - Alcohol: intoxication and poisoning – diagnosis and treatment [online]. ScienceDirect. 

Mayo Clinic, 2017. Hangovers - Symptoms and causes [online]. Mayo Clinic. 

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

Murphy, R., n.d. Repertory, version 3. Accessed through Radar Opus software.

Phatak, S. R. and C Jeevanandam, 2005. A concise repertory of homoeopathic medicines : alphabetically arranged. New Delhi: B. Jain Pub.

Rozencwajg, J., 2010. Organotherapy Drainage & Detoxification. Emrys Publisher.

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

TechTerms.com, n.d. GIGO (Garbage In, Garbage Out) Definition [online]. techterms.com. 

* Keep an eye out for an upcoming article on homeopathic “provings” which will bring a little clarity on how we know how homeopathic remedies affect individuals. You can sign up to have the latest articles delivered to your email here.


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Banerji, P. and Banerji, P. (2013). The Banerji protocols : a new method of treatment with homeopathic medicines. India: Pratip Banerji.
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Tasca, C. (2012). Women And Hysteria In The History Of Mental Health. Clinical Practice & Epidemiology in Mental Health, [online] 8(1), pp.110–119.