Homeopathy Homeopathy

Introduction to Introduction to Homeopathy and its use Homeopathy and its use

in Breast and in Breast and Menopausal SymptomsMenopausal Symptoms

PrinciplesPrinciples

A system of medicine based on the A system of medicine based on the principle of “like cures like” -similia principle of “like cures like” -similia similibus curentursimilibus curentur

Uses the smallest dose possible to Uses the smallest dose possible to produce a responseproduce a response

Examples of the similia Examples of the similia principle principle

Peeling an onion leads to sore, runny Peeling an onion leads to sore, runny eyes, itchy nose and sneezing - Allium eyes, itchy nose and sneezing - Allium cepa used to treat hayfever and coldscepa used to treat hayfever and colds

nettle stings produce a burning, itchy nettle stings produce a burning, itchy wheal on the skin - Urtica urens is a good wheal on the skin - Urtica urens is a good remedy for similar skin lesionsremedy for similar skin lesions

arsenic poisoning causes severe vomiting arsenic poisoning causes severe vomiting and diarrhoea with burning pains and and diarrhoea with burning pains and chilliness - Arsenicum alb. V. effective in chilliness - Arsenicum alb. V. effective in gastroenteritis and food poisoninggastroenteritis and food poisoning

Examples of the similia Examples of the similia principle in medicineprinciple in medicine

Radiotherapy which is used to Radiotherapy which is used to treat cancer also causes ittreat cancer also causes it

Amphetamines which produce Amphetamines which produce hyperactivity, are used to treat hyperactivity, are used to treat hyperactive childrenhyperactive children

ImmunisationImmunisation treatment of erythromelalgia with treatment of erythromelalgia with

Praxilene?Praxilene?

Basis of TreatmentBasis of Treatment

Homeopathy works with the body’s Homeopathy works with the body’s response to illness and remedies response to illness and remedies are prescibed according to the are prescibed according to the symptomssymptoms

one remedy can be used to treat one remedy can be used to treat several ailmentsseveral ailments

one ailment may need to be one ailment may need to be treated with different remedies in treated with different remedies in different patientsdifferent patients

Selecting the remedySelecting the remedy

Detailed Homeopathic Detailed Homeopathic historyhistory

RepertorizationRepertorizationMateria medicaMateria medica

Homeopathic historyHomeopathic history

Details of presenting complaint Details of presenting complaint - aetiology, aggravations, - aetiology, aggravations, ameliorations, modalitiesameliorations, modalities

Aetiology : trauma, bereavement, Aetiology : trauma, bereavement, never well since -pregnancy, never well since -pregnancy, menopause, glandular fevermenopause, glandular fever

Dr Christine Underwood, Homoeopathy Clinic, NHS Tayside

Homeopathic historyHomeopathic history

General symptoms - patients’ General symptoms - patients’ reaction to their environment, reaction to their environment, heat, cold, weatherheat, cold, weather

Food likes or dislikes, e.g. crave Food likes or dislikes, e.g. crave pickles,like fatpickles,like fat

periodicity - frequency of periodicity - frequency of symptoms - monthly, weekly, symptoms - monthly, weekly, yearlyyearly

Mind or Mental symptoms Mind or Mental symptoms – features of their – features of their personalitypersonality

Anxious on Anxious on anticipationanticipation

DepressedDepressed WeepyWeepy ConsolationConsolation Easily boredEasily bored

JealousJealous TidyTidy FearsFears CompanyCompany ShyShy RoutineRoutine ResentmentsResentments

General appearanceGeneral appearance

Vivacious red-headVivacious red-head NervousNervous Laid-back absent Laid-back absent

minded professorminded professor Prim and properPrim and proper ScruffyScruffy Extremely neat and Extremely neat and

colour co-ordinatedcolour co-ordinated

Weepy blondeWeepy blonde Lacks energyLacks energy Flabby handshakeFlabby handshake ClosedClosed Shy, hides behind Shy, hides behind

mothermother Anxious to please, Anxious to please,

maintain eye maintain eye contactcontact

The relevant kingdomThe relevant kingdom

Animal, Mineral or Vegetable (Plant)Animal, Mineral or Vegetable (Plant) Animal – hunter/ hunted, victim, prey, Animal – hunter/ hunted, victim, prey,

pursued, escaping, nurturing, flying, pursued, escaping, nurturing, flying, pouncing, caged, freepouncing, caged, free

Mineral – structural terms, cracking, Mineral – structural terms, cracking, crumbling, stable/ unstable, falling apartcrumbling, stable/ unstable, falling apart

Plant – sensitive to surroundings e.g Plant – sensitive to surroundings e.g light, warmth, smells, cold, damp, light, warmth, smells, cold, damp,

RemediesRemedies

These are These are prepared from :-prepared from :-

minerals,minerals, plants,plants, fish, fish, insects,insects, snakes and snakes and

disease productsdisease products

Instructions for taking Instructions for taking remediesremedies

Homeopathic remedies are very Homeopathic remedies are very delicate and should not be handled.delicate and should not be handled.

They are absorbed from the mouth They are absorbed from the mouth and so are sucked not swallowed.and so are sucked not swallowed.

Should not be taken near food or Should not be taken near food or drink as these may interfere with drink as these may interfere with the absorption.the absorption.

Store away from strong smells.Store away from strong smells.

The clinical place for The clinical place for homeopathyhomeopathy

Where there is no effective Where there is no effective allopathic alternativeallopathic alternative

Where conventional medication is Where conventional medication is unsafeunsafe

Where allopathy has unacceptable Where allopathy has unacceptable side-effectsside-effects

To minimise the use of allopathyTo minimise the use of allopathy

Homeopathic Treatment of Homeopathic Treatment of Breast DiseaseBreast Disease

In cancer, it can be useful In cancer, it can be useful alongside conventional therapiesalongside conventional therapies

Improves well being and gives Improves well being and gives symptomatic reliefsymptomatic relief

Can relieve hot flushes even if due Can relieve hot flushes even if due to Tamoxifento Tamoxifen

Can relieve breast pain associated Can relieve breast pain associated with menstruationwith menstruation

Asterias – red starfishAsterias – red starfish

Breasts swollen and painfulBreasts swollen and painful < lt side, feels as if pulled inwards< lt side, feels as if pulled inwards Pain extends from breast down to Pain extends from breast down to

fingersfingers Breast cancer, enlarged axillary glands,Breast cancer, enlarged axillary glands, V. irritable, cannot bear contradictionV. irritable, cannot bear contradiction Symptoms disappear with menstruationSymptoms disappear with menstruation Heat in head as if surrounded by hot airHeat in head as if surrounded by hot air

Belladonna- deadly Belladonna- deadly nightshadenightshade

Mastitis – throbbing, redness, streaks Mastitis – throbbing, redness, streaks radiate from nippleradiate from nipple

Breasts feel heavy , hard and redBreasts feel heavy , hard and red Acute conditions, sudden onset, Red, Acute conditions, sudden onset, Red,

hot, dry,hot, dry, Intense throbbing, burning pains. Jerks, Intense throbbing, burning pains. Jerks,

spasms.spasms. Night terrors, hallucinations, deliriumNight terrors, hallucinations, delirium < draught, light, noise, touch, jar.< draught, light, noise, touch, jar. Desires lemonsDesires lemons

Dr Christine Underwood, Homoeopathy Clinic, NHS Tayside

CarcinosinCarcinosin

Breast cancer especially with FHBreast cancer especially with FH Indications – family history, Indications – family history,

perfectionist, fear of cancer, perfectionist, fear of cancer, glandular fever, chronic mastitisglandular fever, chronic mastitis

Anxiety on anticipationAnxiety on anticipation Swelling and tenderness in breasts Swelling and tenderness in breasts

premenspremens Retraction of nipples, bloody Retraction of nipples, bloody

dischargedischarge

Conium – poison hemlockConium – poison hemlock

Breasts feel hard, tense, < touchBreasts feel hard, tense, < touch Enlarged axillary glands with numb Enlarged axillary glands with numb

feeling down armfeeling down arm Nodules in breast, cancerNodules in breast, cancer Enlarged and painful breasts before Enlarged and painful breasts before

and during menses < every stepand during menses < every step < lying down, turning over in bed < lying down, turning over in bed

Dr Christine Underwood, Homoeopathy Clinic, NHS Tayside

PhytolaccaPhytolacca

Pain from front to backPain from front to back Breasts hard, painful and bluish Breasts hard, painful and bluish

tingetinge Mastitis, hard and very sensitiveMastitis, hard and very sensitive Pain from nipple radiates all over Pain from nipple radiates all over

bodybody Shooting pains like electric shocksShooting pains like electric shocks < exposure to damp, motion, night< exposure to damp, motion, night Used for mastitis in cowsUsed for mastitis in cows

Outcome of Menopausal Outcome of Menopausal SymptomsSymptoms

Outcome of Treatment for Menopausal symptoms

0

5

10

15

20

25

1 2 3 4 5

Improvement

No

. o

f p

atie

nts

Series110

20% no change20% no change 10% improvement 10% improvement

in wellbeingin wellbeing 30% some 30% some

improvementimprovement 34% 34%

asymptomatic - asymptomatic - on remedieson remedies

6% asymptomatic 6% asymptomatic - no remedies- no remedies

Remedies for Remedies for menopausal menopausal symptomssymptoms

Amyl nitrosumAmyl nitrosum

Sensation of blood surging to face Sensation of blood surging to face and head followed by sweating. and head followed by sweating. Sensation as if blood would burst Sensation as if blood would burst through skin with heat and through skin with heat and redness. Throbbing in head and redness. Throbbing in head and throughout body. throughout body.

Feeling of anxiety. Palpitations.Feeling of anxiety. Palpitations. Feel cold and clammy after Feel cold and clammy after

flushing has died down.flushing has died down.

Argentum nitArgentum nit

Flushes occurring with the following Flushes occurring with the following personality:personality:

Very anxious particularly on Very anxious particularly on anticipation. Impulsive, hurried, time anticipation. Impulsive, hurried, time goes too slowly.goes too slowly.

Desires sweet and fat foods. Abdominal Desires sweet and fat foods. Abdominal pain and flatulence.pain and flatulence.

Chilly when uncovered but too hot if Chilly when uncovered but too hot if wrapped up.wrapped up.

LachesisLachesis

Good remedy for the menopause in Good remedy for the menopause in general or premenstrual symptomsgeneral or premenstrual symptoms

Very talkative, suspicious and jealous. Very talkative, suspicious and jealous. Sad in the morning, does not want to go Sad in the morning, does not want to go to work or mix with people.to work or mix with people.

Flushes, palpitations, headaches, feel Flushes, palpitations, headaches, feel faint.faint.

Worse for sleep, ailments come on Worse for sleep, ailments come on duringduring sleep.sleep.

PilocarpusPilocarpus

Intense sweating, hot flushes, Intense sweating, hot flushes, sometimes accompanied by sometimes accompanied by nausea and excess saliva.nausea and excess saliva.

Excessive perspiration from all Excessive perspiration from all parts of the body followed by parts of the body followed by chilliness.chilliness.

Sweating of face, ears and neck.Sweating of face, ears and neck.

SepiaSepia

Classic premenstrual and menopausal Classic premenstrual and menopausal remedyremedy

Frequent flushes and then shiveryFrequent flushes and then shivery Irritable, indifferent, depressed, weepyIrritable, indifferent, depressed, weepy Wants affection but rejects it, poor libidoWants affection but rejects it, poor libido Nausea a.m, loves pickles, vinegar, acidsNausea a.m, loves pickles, vinegar, acids All symptoms relieved by dancing or fast All symptoms relieved by dancing or fast

movementmovement

Typical prescription for Typical prescription for Mneopausal symptomsMneopausal symptoms

Lachesis 1M Sig 1 Tab t.d.s. on 1 Lachesis 1M Sig 1 Tab t.d.s. on 1 day each monthday each month

Amyl nitrosum 6C - Sig 1 tab t.d.s.Amyl nitrosum 6C - Sig 1 tab t.d.s. Pilocarpus 6C – Sig 1 tab t.d.s.Pilocarpus 6C – Sig 1 tab t.d.s.

Outcome of Homeopathic Outcome of Homeopathic treatment of Menopausal treatment of Menopausal SymptomsSymptoms

Outcome of Treatment for Menopausal symptoms

0

5

10

15

20

25

1 2 3 4 5

Improvement

No

. o

f p

atie

nts

Series110

20% no change20% no change 10% improvement 10% improvement

in well beingin well being 30% some 30% some

improvementimprovement 34% 34%

asymptomatic - asymptomatic - on remedieson remedies

6% asymptomatic 6% asymptomatic - no remedies- no remedies

Dr Christine Underwood, Homoeopathy Clinic, NHS Tayside

Useful AddressesUseful Addresses

British Homeopathic Association,British Homeopathic Association,

Hahnemann House, 29 Park Street,Hahnemann House, 29 Park Street,

Luton, LU1 3BE.Luton, LU1 3BE.www.britishhomeopathic.org

Academic Department, Academic Department,

Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital, Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital,

1053 Great Western Road, Glasgow, G12 1053 Great Western Road, Glasgow, G12 0XQ 0XQ