Homeopathy Tips for 5/01/12 Body Pain

Body aches and pains are one of the most common forms of suffering. The more allopathic approach is to take some pain reliever and hope it goes away. Most people in the western world live with some degree of body aches and pains and rely on over the counter medications for pain. Some people use them on a daily basis and even though they are marketed as safe, chronic use can lead to many direct effects (there is no such thing as a side effect) that can cause  organ damage and new forms of disease. Iatrogenic disease is the leading cause for return visits to the doctor.

More drug therapy will increase the chance of new body pains. I always ask my clients what drugs they are taking. Often the unknown reason for the aches and pains are related to drugs they have been taking. Stopping the drugs will usually clear the pain. 

Pain management is not a cure for the source of the problem. This is where an understanding of the body and homeopathy can be of great service. As with all expressions of disease, the homeopathic approach aims at understanding the root of the problem and the sensations that the body is producing to help find the correct remedy. Most aches and pains are acute and self-limiting. If the person simply rests and allows the body to do its own healing then often the condition improves. 

In the western world though, the days are long and it is not always so easy to give the body rest. This is where simple acute pains and injuries can become chronic.  The body is based on two sides and for a pain-free existence the two sides must be in balance. When we hurt our foot it can throw the body out of balance and the problem compounds as the body tries to compensate for the imbalance. It might not be noticeable at first but, after a pattern of compensation, a slight limp as a result of the foot pain for example can throw the back out of alignment. Months or years later a new problem can appear out of nowhere.

A book that I have found to be the most helpful for understanding the nature of chronic body pain of a structural nature is Pain Free by Pete Egoscue. He gives the most common reasons for why we hurt and the simplest exercises to correct the bodies imbalances. It is a best seller for a reason; the exercises he recommends work. They are easy to do and simple to follow. I highly recommend this book to everyone that has chronic body pain, anywhere in their body.

Homeopathic treatment of body pain can be best understood by its nature and duration. Pain after injury is acute and should be treated with remedies that address the physical injury. This does not preclude the need to take the case but the focus is much more on the injury. In long-standing, chronic body pain, a bigger picture is necessary to prescribe accurately. One needs to be very clear “what is asking to be healed” for the person. Most chronic body pain has its origins in either a drug therapy or injury. But the treatment will be for the whole person and all of the ways they compensate because of the pain. The homeopath must also look at other ways the person suffers. The remedy may not be one that is common for an acute condition and could be a remedy that only in a minor way be associated with the pain. Remember, in all chronic prescribing (body pain is no different) treat the person and not the dis-ease.

Common remedies for acute pain, usually the result of injury, are;

• Arnica – This is the first remedy to think of in any injury to the body. It will help remove the shock of injury and especially if there has been any contusion or internal bleeding, think of Arnica.
• Argentum Nitricum – This is often an under prescribed remedy especially for soreness after over-exertion. Arnica is more commonly prescribed but think of Argentum Nitricam when a person has over-done it. They have worked too hard or over exerted themself and are sore. It can work wonders.
• Bryonia – Another often missed remedy when the body pain forces to person to be still and is worse from any movement. There can be swelling of the joints with distention.
• Rhus Toxicodendron – This is the “squeaky gate” remedy. Rest always helps but the initial movement aggravates. Continued movement is tolerated until it becomes too much again. Then the person starts the cycle all over again. Rest ameliorates and initial movement aggravates but continued movement ameliorates.
• Ruta Graveolens – After injuries to the bones or joints. Helps connective tissue to heal. Tendons sore. Cracking in the joints. Pains feel like the part is broken or has been beaten. Swelling of the joints. Worse in open air.
• Symphytum – Often follows Arnica and Ruta well after an injury. Injuries to the sinew, tendons and bone coverings.  Joints swollen. Helps promote healing of bone in non-union fractures.

This is by no means a complete list. Always receive the case and prescribe to the biggest perceived totality. Look for what is strange, rare or peculiar about the person or their suffering. Give the remedy for the person. Even in acute pain there can be something that the person reports that is different from a normal response to the pain. Find the reason why the pain exists and how it affects the person. Often in acute cases the 30C potency works well. If it does not hold then go to the 200C or 1M potency. The remedy can be given as necessary in acute cases. Sometimes it may need to be repeated often if a higher potency is not available. If the pains are chronic then a lower potency like the 6C is a good place to start with a daily repetition of the remedy.