Homeopathy
Introduction to
Homeopathy and its use in
Breast and Menopausal
Symptoms
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
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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
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Examples of the similia
principle in medicine
Radiotherapy which is used to treat
cancer also causes it
 Amphetamines which produce
hyperactivity, are used to treat
hyperactive children
 Immunisation
 treatment of erythromelalgia with
Praxilene?
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Basis of Treatment
Homeopathy works with the body’s
response to illness and remedies are
prescibed according to the symptoms
 one remedy can be used to treat
several ailments
 one ailment may need to be treated
with different remedies in different
patients
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Selecting the remedy
 Detailed
Homeopathic history
 Repertorization
 Materia medica
Homeopathic history
 Details
of presenting complaint aetiology, aggravations,
ameliorations, modalities
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Aetiology : trauma, bereavement, never
well since -pregnancy, menopause,
glandular fever
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
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Dr Christine Underwood,
Homoeopathy Clinic, NHS Tayside
Mind or Mental symptoms –
features of their personality
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Anxious on
anticipation
Depressed
Weepy
Consolation
Easily bored
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Jealous
Tidy
Fears
Company
Shy
Routine
Resentments
General appearance
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Vivacious red-head
Nervous
Laid-back absent
minded professor
Prim and proper
Scruffy
Extremely neat and
colour co-ordinated
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Weepy blonde
Lacks energy
Flabby handshake
Closed
Shy, hides behind
mother
Anxious to please,
maintain eye contact
The relevant kingdom
Animal, Mineral or Vegetable (Plant)
 Animal – hunter/ hunted, victim, prey,
pursued, escaping, nurturing, flying,
pouncing, caged, free
 Mineral – structural terms, cracking,
crumbling, stable/ unstable, falling apart
 Plant – sensitive to surroundings e.g light,
warmth, smells, cold, damp,
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Remedies
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These are prepared
from :minerals,
plants,
fish,
insects,
snakes and disease
products
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.
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The clinical place for
homeopathy
Where there is no effective allopathic
alternative
 Where conventional medication is
unsafe
 Where allopathy has unacceptable sideeffects
 To minimise the use of allopathy
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Homeopathic Treatment of
Breast Disease
In cancer, it can be useful alongside
conventional therapies
 Improves well being and gives
symptomatic relief
 Can relieve hot flushes even if due to
Tamoxifen
 Can relieve breast pain associated with
menstruation
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Asterias – red starfish
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Breasts swollen and painful
< lt side, feels as if pulled inwards
Pain extends from breast down to fingers
Breast cancer, enlarged axillary glands,
V. irritable, cannot bear contradiction
Symptoms disappear with menstruation
Heat in head as if surrounded by hot air
Belladonna- deadly nightshade
Mastitis – throbbing, redness, streaks radiate
from nipple
Breasts feel heavy , hard and red
 Acute conditions, sudden onset, Red, hot,
dry,
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Intense throbbing, burning pains. Jerks, spasms.
Night terrors, hallucinations, delirium
< draught, light, noise, touch, jar.
Desires lemons
Carcinosin
Breast cancer especially with FH
 Indications – family history,
perfectionist, fear of cancer, glandular
fever, chronic mastitis
 Anxiety on anticipation
 Swelling and tenderness in breasts
premens
 Retraction of nipples, bloody discharge
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Dr Christine Underwood,
Homoeopathy Clinic, NHS Tayside
Conium – poison hemlock
Breasts feel hard, tense, < touch
 Enlarged axillary glands with numb
feeling down arm
 Nodules in breast, cancer
 Enlarged and painful breasts before and
during menses < every step
 < lying down, turning over in bed
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Phytolacca
Pain from front to back
 Breasts hard, painful and bluish tinge
 Mastitis, hard and very sensitive
 Pain from nipple radiates all over body
 Shooting pains like electric shocks
 < exposure to damp, motion, night
 Used for mastitis in cows
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Dr Christine Underwood,
Homoeopathy Clinic, NHS Tayside
Outcome of Menopausal
Symptoms
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Outcome of Treatment for Menopausal symptoms
No. of patients
25
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20
15
Series1
10
10
5
0
1
2
3
4
5
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Improvement
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20% no change
10% improvement
in wellbeing
30% some
improvement
34% asymptomatic on remedies
6% asymptomatic no remedies
Remedies for
menopausal
symptoms
Amyl nitrosum
Sensation of blood surging to face and
head followed by sweating. Sensation
as if blood would burst through skin
with heat and redness. Throbbing in
head and throughout body.
 Feeling of anxiety. Palpitations.
 Feel cold and clammy after flushing has
died down.
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Argentum nit
Flushes occurring with the following
personality:
 Very anxious particularly on anticipation.
Impulsive, hurried, time goes too slowly.
 Desires sweet and fat foods. Abdominal pain
and flatulence.
 Chilly when uncovered but too hot if wrapped
up.
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Lachesis
Good remedy for the menopause in general
or premenstrual symptoms
 Very talkative, suspicious and jealous. Sad in
the morning, does not want to go to work or
mix with people.
 Flushes, palpitations, headaches, feel faint.
 Worse for sleep, ailments come on during
sleep.
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Pilocarpus
Intense sweating, hot flushes,
sometimes accompanied by nausea and
excess saliva.
 Excessive perspiration from all parts of
the body followed by chilliness.
 Sweating of face, ears and neck.
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Sepia
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Classic premenstrual and menopausal remedy
Frequent flushes and then shivery
Irritable, indifferent, depressed, weepy
Wants affection but rejects it, poor libido
Nausea a.m, loves pickles, vinegar, acids
All symptoms relieved by dancing or fast
movement
Typical prescription for
Mneopausal symptoms
Lachesis 1M Sig 1 Tab t.d.s. on 1 day
each month
 Amyl nitrosum 6C - Sig 1 tab t.d.s.
 Pilocarpus 6C – Sig 1 tab t.d.s.
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Outcome of Homeopathic treatment
of Menopausal Symptoms
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Outcome of Treatment for Menopausal symptoms
No. of patients
25
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20
15
Series1
10
10
5
0
1
2
3
4
5
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Improvement
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20% no change
10% improvement
in well being
30% some
improvement
34% asymptomatic on remedies
6% asymptomatic no remedies
Useful Addresses
British Homeopathic Association,
Hahnemann House, 29 Park Street,
Luton, LU1 3BE.
www.britishhomeopathic.org
Academic Department,
Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital,
1053 Great Western Road, Glasgow, G12 0XQ
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Dr Christine Underwood,
Homoeopathy Clinic, NHS Tayside