HOMEOPATHIC APPROACH TO POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER
Have you survived through a traumatic experience and are finding it difficult to reconcile with your routine
life, then you may be undergoing Post traumatic stress disorder. Post traumatic stress disorder or PTSD
is an overpowering and intimidating psychosomatic anxiety disorder that can unfold after withstanding or
witnessing an unpleasant event in which an individual is either endangered or victimized to serious
physical or emotional trauma. PTSD can occur at any age from incidents that precipitates extreme fear or
helplessness further posing a threat to physical or emotional well being of an individual. Some of the
shocking events that can engender PTSD include brutal physical and sexual abuse, rape, natural
mishaps, accidents, warfare, life threatening medical ailment, sudden and unexpected death of a loved
one, divorce, unemployment, and many more. PTSD may not always be manifested soon after
encountering any atrocity, but may sometimes take weeks, months or even years to capitulate.
Repercussions of an untreated PTSD can be detrimental and can have an impact on normal functioning,
social relationships with family and friends, general well being, poor memory and other psychological
complications.
Causes of PTSD:
• Inherited predisposition to psychiatric illness, anxiety and depression.
• Traumatic life experience.
• Hormonal imbalance.
• Stress in life.
Symptoms of PTSD:
• Recurring night mares making you relive the trauma again and again.
• Obsessive fear of places and people.
• Hyper vigilance - exaggerated intensity of behaviors.
• Profuse sweating with palpitations.
• Feelings of restlessness, anger, shock, insecurity, depression, anxiety, helplessness and guilt.
• Anxiety disorders like Obsessive compulsive disorder, bipolar disorder, etc.
• Lack of interest in activities.
• Difficulty sleeping.
• Bedwetting.
• Unable to talk or forgetting to talk.
• Hypersensitivity to sounds and light.
• Bodily aches and pains.
• Chest pain.
• Breathing difficulty.
• Substance abuse.
• Suicidal.
Homeopathic approach to PTSD:
Prolonged untreated Post traumatic stress disorder can contribute to other psychological ailments,
alcohol and drug abuse, furthermore devitalizing the immune system and accelerating the aging
process. A healthy immune system controls our body's healing process and safeguards it against
infections and diseases. The aptitude to reinforce mental calmness promotes wellness, liveliness and
longevity. Homeopathic remedies work towards stabilizing your hormones and the chemical levels in the
brain. Homeopathic constitutional treatment will help eliminate Anxiety disorders, phobias, prevent
relapses as well as help build self-esteem and self-confidence. The remedies will aide in healing and
promoting mental health by strengthening the body to heal itself. Homeopathic remedies are harmless
and effective for adults as well as children and will entourage to a permanent long-lasting cure.
Another exceptional thing about Homeopathy is that people on multiple medications can safely take
Homeopathic medicines. Homeopathic drugs are non-habit forming and have no addictive characteristics.
Below, I have noted some important Homeopathic remedies which can be used for PTSD under
the supervision of an experienced Homeopath. These remedies are just a few of the commonly
used Homeopathic remedies and are mentioned only to create awareness about the effectiveness
of Homeopathic medicines in PTSD. It is not advisable to resort to self medication for any disease.
Homeopathic remedies for PTSD:
Aconite: This is an indicated remedy for PTSD where the patient is in a state of fear, anxiety,
unhappiness and restlessness. These patients do not want to be touched and music makes them sad.
They are apprehensive about their future, and are afraid of being in a crowd and crossing the street. They
get delirious and predict the day of their death. They complain of palpitation with pain in left shoulder and
tingling in fingers. Their pulse is hard, tense and bounding. They get startled and restless at night with
anxious dreams.
Ambra Grisea: This remedy is suited to hypersensitive, hysterical, volatile and thin individuals. These
patients complain of numbness of the whole body. They dread people and desire to be alone, cannot do
anything in the presence of others, are shy, and loathe life. Music exasperates all symptoms. Time
passes too slowly for them and they keep dwelling on unpleasant things. They are unable to sleep from
worry and anxious dreams, and feel coldness of body with twitching of extremities.
Arnica: This is an impressive remedy for emotional trauma, grief, remorse or sudden realization of loss.
These patients complain of aches and pains with sore lame bruised feeling all over the body. They fear
touch or the approach of anyone. They are unable to perform continuous active work, are indifferent, like
to be left alone, and suffer from Agoraphobia, fear of space.
Aurum Metallicum: This remedy works brilliantly in mental states of great depression. These patients
feel hopeless, lifeless, self condemned, morose with aversion to life and suicidal tendencies, but with
great fear of death. At every opportunity they seek self destruction. They develop Hypertension with
oversensitiveness to noise, excitement and confusion.
Ignatia: This is an excellent remedy for PTSD, where there is a marked hyperaesthesia of all senses and
disrupted co-ordination of function. These patients are hysterical with sorrow, and express a rapid change
in physical and mental conditions. They are contradictory, alert, nervous, anxious, rigid and their
symptoms are always worsened by coffee. They are also unable to tolerate tobacco. These patients have
a changeable mood, are introspective, brood silently, non-communicative and tearful all the time. Their
sleep is very light and their dreams continue for a long time.
Opium: This is another outstanding remedy for PTSD. These patients are frightful, depressed, drowsy,
sluggish and are numb to physical pain. They lack self control, power of concentration and judgement.
They desire nothing and are always overcome by anger with frightful fancies, are unable to understand or
appreciate their own sufferings, they talk deliriously and think that they are not in their own home. They
fall into a deep sleep with loss of breath on falling asleep. They pick at bed clothes and get recurrent
dreams of cats, dogs, black forms.
Stramonium: This remedy is very effective in PTSD when the patient is delirious and feels as if their
limbs were separated from their body or they are tall and double. These patients are very religious,
talkative, laugh, sing, swear and pray all the time. They see ghosts, hear voices and talk with spirits. They
undergo sudden mood changes from joy to sadness and get violent. They cannot bear to be alone, must
have light and company. Anything glittery or sight of water brings on spasms. They have hallucinations of
sounds. Men behave and talk indecently with hands constantly kept on genitals. Their symptoms get
worse in a dark room, when alone and on looking at bright or shining objects.
Self - care measures for PTSD:
• Keep your self occupied and prolific.
• Get enough rest.
• Eat a well balanced diet.
• Maintain your balance of blood sugar levels to stabilize your moods.
• Avoid caffeine, Nicotine and alcohol.
• Follow an exercise schedule.
• Avoid stressful situations.
• Don’t become socially isolated and take emotional support from family and friends.
Hence, treat your emotional trauma wtih Homeopathy and curtail, expunge the blemishes that have
affected your personality and health. Constitutional Homeopathic treatment can help you conquer your
fears, shrink your jitteriness, feel more assured, optimistic, remain composed during difficult times, be
phobia free and lead a normal and wholesome life.
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About the author:
Neepa Sevak (DHMS, DHom, DIHom, DHM, CCH, RSHom (NA), HMA) is experienced and registered
with the Arizona Homeopathic Board of Medical Examiners, and certified by the Council of Homeopathic
certification. She is currently practicing Classical Homeopathy, is a Supervisor, Clinical Faculty and is on
the Board of International Affairs at the American Medical College of Homeopathy. Neepa is also
serving as a specialist at ACA (Autism Community of Africa, an organization that is helping heal Autistic
children in Africa, with the help of Homeopathic remedies). Her mission is to “Promote Health through
Homeopathy with a Holistic, Totalistic, and Individualistic approach”.
Phone: (480) 363 0758
Email: homeopathiccure@cox.net
Website: www.homeopathic-cure.com