MATERIA MEDICA of 36 SELF-HELP REMEDIES
No. 1 Remedy for nipping colds in the bud. Useful in the early stages of colds, fevers, inflammations. Suits healthy people whose complaints come on suddenly. Possible causes: cold/ dry wind; fright / shock. Characterised by extreme restlessness and fear. May specifically have an unfounded fear of death. Dry. hot skin. Symptoms worse evening / around midnight. Thirsty for cold drinks. May say everything tastes bitter, except water. Better: fresh air. Worse: touch. Buy
Important (rattling) cough remedy, where patient is unable to expectorate (cf. Ipecac) and is "drowning in mucus". Feels suffocated, weak, drowsy and limp. May be irritable. Much yawning and sweating.Tongue is coated white. Better: expectoration; sitting up; cold drinks. Worse: warmth; Iying down; 4pm; company. Buy
No. 1 Remedy for bites and stings. For the remedy to be effective symptoms should generally fit the following picture: Oedematous swellings. Redness. Pains burning and stinging. Restlessness. Thirstlessness. Better: cold applications. Worse: heat; 4-6pm. Buy
No. 1 Remedy for fear of flying. Useful for anticipatory anxiety and gastro-intestinal problems (belching / flatulence). Suits warm-blooded people with a tendency to feel hurried and impulsive. They may have a fear of failure when having to perform in public. Their fear is justified, as they often rush through things and get into a mess. (cf Gelsemium & Lycopodium). Pains splinter-like. Better: open air; walking fast. Worse: crowds; sweets (gets diarrhoea). Buy
No. 1 Remedy for accidents / shock / physical exhaustion. Should be a first choice after most accidents, injuries or physical ordeals. Given early it will reduce swelling and bruising. Patient has a fear of being touched because of the pain, and may want to be left alone. May claim to be alright when they clearly are not. Classic response of someone in shock. Upper body is hot, whilst lower is cold. Memory may also be poor. Better: Iying down. with head low. Worse: jarring; Iying on injured part. Buy
No. 1 Remedy for food poisoning. Characterised by great physical prostration with mental restlessness. Patient does not want to be left alone. May have a fear of death. Pains and discharges are burning, yet the patient feels chilly and all symptoms, except headache, are better for heat. Thirsty for frequent sips of usually hot drinks. Better: warmth; Iying down; Worse: midnight - 3am. Buy
No.1 Remedy for very high fevers. Inflamed area or entire patient (!) is burning, and hot. The eyes are glassy and the pupils dilated.Onset of complaints is sudden. Possible cause: chill to the head. Pains are violent and throbbing. Rapid pulse. Patient is angry, may be delirious and even have visions. Thirsty, may crave lemonade. Better: Iying down. Worse: touch or jarring movement; 3pm. Buy
No. 1 Remedy for dry, painful coughs. Dryness of all mucous membranes. Great thirst for large amounts at long intervals (opposite of Arsenicum). Patient lies absolutely still; all symptoms are much worse for the slightest movement. Pains are stitching. A"bear with a sore head" who is irritable and resentful of being questioned or fussed over. Better: firm pressure. Worse: 9pm; after eating cabbage or beans. Buy
No. 1 Remedy for slow difficult teething. Often needed when growing up or going through major developmental changes. Classically fat, fair and flabby. Chilly. Easily over exerted aand very sweaty (esp. back of head). Sour smelling. May fear many things (eg the dark; monsters;animals;insects). Slow developers, particularly poor at assimilating their food, which may cause problems in bone and teeth formation. Crave boiled eggs. Better: constipation; dry weather. Worse: heights; getting cold or wet; teething; milk Buy
No. 1 Remedy for healing wounds. Very useful first-aid remedy for cuts; superficial burns or scalds; ulcers; scalp wounds; after teeth extraction or childbirth. It stimulates formation of healthy scar tissue (without lumps). Use externally in cream, ointment or tincture form. Take internally if there is much discomfort or suppuration (cf. Hepar sulph). Better; warmth; walking or lying absolutely still. Worse; damp dull weather; evening. Buy
No. 1 Remedy for the intense pain of burns. Often effective in the treatment of cystitis, where there are burning pains before, during or after urination. Intense mental and physical irritation. Onset is sudden and violent. pains are cutting and burning. Patients have a burning, intense thirst, but are worse after drinking (especially cold drinks). Better: cold applications. Worse: touch. Buy
No. 1 Remedy for resuscitation. Tyler's Drug Pictures describes this remedy as "the homeopathic corpse reviver". Symptoms at their most extreme are complete state of collapse due to oxygen starvation. Body (even breath) is cold. May appear limp, pale or blue. Less severe cases have extreme sluggishness. Many digestive disorders, especially wind (cf Lycopodium). Upper abdomen/stomach very bloated. May be brought on by over-indulgence. Better: cool air; being fanned; burping. Worse: warmth; dehydration; before sleep; tight clothing. Buy
No. 1 Remedy for teething children especially if child has one red cheek. Characterised by over-sensitivity. Pains are intolerable and appear to be out of all proportion to the illness or injury. Suited to bad-tempered children who are only quiet when carried and constantly request, then reject things. They are hot and sweaty (esp the head). Better: for being uncovered. Worse: 9pm to midnight. Buy
No. 1 Remedy for dehydration. Delicate types whose senses are too acute. Emotionally and physically exhausted. Complaints often arise after loss of fluids / severe dehydration (eg after fever or diarrhoea). Bloated abdomen, but not relieved by burping
(cf Carbo veg). Better: hard pressure; lying down; fasting; loose clothes. Worse: light touch. Buy
No. 1 Remedy for whooping cough. Excellent (whooping) cough remedy (cf Ant tart & Ipecac), where cough is violent, spasmodic and leads to gagging / vomiting or nosebleed (cf Ipecac). Better holding chest. Sensation of feather in throat. Restlessness. Emotionally stubborn or suspicious. All symptoms improve after midnight. Better: sitting up; open air. Worse: lying down; talking; warmth. Buy
No. 1 Remedy for flu especially if there is shivering up and down the spine. Characterised by paralysis. The remedy is known as the "glass coffin" because although there is complete physical prostration, it is coupled with mental alertness. Patient trembles, has aching muscles and heaviness especially of the head and eyes - even the eyelids droop. Better: for sweating or urination. Worse: physical exertion. Buy
No. 1 Remedy for painful, infected wounds. Characterised by hyper-sensitivity to everything: pain, touch, cold, noise, exertion. One of the chilliest known remedies. Emotionally can be violent and intense. Tendency to form pus. Pains stitching and splinter-like (cf Arg Nit). Better: heat, damp, Iying in warm bed. Worse: uncovering, cold. Buy
No. 1 Remedy for injury to nerves. Useful first aid treatment for lacerated wounds from sharp instruments or any injury to nerve-rich areas (e.g.from slamming door on fingers or falling on the coccyx). Pains are extreme and shoot along the nerves. Reputed anti-tetanus properties. Worse motion or pressure. Buy
No. 1 Remedy for recent bereavement/emotional shock Useful for treating symptoms which follow acute loss, grief or disappointed love. May not be able to accept what has happened and reacts with a sense of disbelief. Other signs may include hiccoughs, involuntary sighing or yawning. Can be used to treat fainting and hysteria. Better:warmth. Worse: tobacco: fresh air
No. 1 Remedy for constant, violent nausea. Vomiting brings no relief. Sudden bright red haemorrhages (nosebleeds; piles; periods). Spasmodic respiratory complaints. Dry cough with choking / gagging, difficulty expectorating (cf Ant Tart). Thirstless. Constant salivation and clean tongue. Better: open air. Worse: over-eating. Buy
No.1 Remedy for painful sinuses. Excellent remedy for colds and sinusitus, although chronic sinusitus is best treated by a qualified homceopath. Its main characteristic is a very stringy, sticky thick yellow / green discharge, which smells (cf. Pulsatilla). Suits those who become ill after getting chilled and are chilly whilst sick. Despite this chilliness they feel worse in summer Pains are often in a small well-defined spot, but they can "wander". Better: warmth. Worse: on waking; at night; after eating. Buy
Left-sided complaints or begin on left, move to right (especially sore throats). Warm-blooded. Talkative, amusing but with an over-active mind. Can be suspicious and jealous. Intense. Better: open air; cold drinks; during or after period. Worse: menopause; alcohol; anything tight around the neck; after sleep; heat; heavy weather. Buy
No. 1 Remedy for puncture wounds and black eyes. Like Hypericum has reputed anti-tetanus properties. Use to treat deep wounds (e.g. those caused by nails) and bites from both animals and insects. Pains are sticking, tearing and throbbing. Area is swollen, blue and cold but, strangely, feels hot to the sufferer Better: cold applications. Worse: heat. Buy
Anxious. Lack self confidence especially when doing new things / speaking in public. Fine once they get started (cf Arg Nit who hurries too much and does fail). Can be charming, but may be dictatorial at home. Complaints right-sided or move from right to left (opposite of Lachesis). Lots of wind. Bloated stomach and abdomen. Tendency to flatulence. Better: warm drinks; sweets; motion; open air; passing wind. Worse: 4pm-8pm. Buy
Known as the homoeopathic aspirin. Very effective if crushed in warm water and sipped. Useful for neuralgia of the head and face, cramping or shooting pains. Relieves headaches' toothaches' menstrual pain. Those who respond well to this remedy may be sensitive or nervous types who often talk about their pains. Always seek professional homÏopathic treatment if symptoms persist. Better: heat; firm pressure. Worse: cold; uncovering; touch. Buy
No. 1 Remedy for mouth ulcers. Suits those people who are human thermometers, incredibly sensitive to both heat and cold, better moderate temperatures. They have very smelly breath and discharges (which may be streaked with blood). They are prone to swollen glands / colds and sweat profusely. Excessive saliva, especially at night, but they are extremely thirsty. Worse: in bed at night. Buy
No. 1 Remedy for cold sores if on the lips (with no other strong symptoms). Very sensitive people who remember the smallest slights for a long time. Feel everything so acutely they tend to protect themselves by shutting themselves off. They feel worse for consolation, except from a chosen few (or one). An important remedy for silent grief (the stiff upper lip). The middle of the lower lip may be deeply cracked. Discharges like egg white. Crave salt. Better: lying down; resting; sweating. Worse: heat especially of the sun. Buy
No. 1 Remedy for hang-overs ... and over-indulgence in rich food. People who need this remedy are very chilly. Emotionally they tend to be tense, irritable and over-sensitive. They suffer from digestive complaints and although they feel much better for vomiting, they find it difficult to do so. They often work and play very hard, surviving on a 'diet' of coffee, alcohol and tobacco, despite the effect it has on them. For best results take the remedy a few hours before going to bed. Better: rest; warmth and hot drinks. Worse: in the morning. Buy
Lovely, bubbly, affectionate and sympathetic types. Unfortunately their poor boundaries mean they can become exhausted by the problems of others. Overly impressionable. Riddled with fears and anxieties. Burning heat and pains. Tendency to bleed easily. Desire spicy food; ice-cream. Better: cold drinks; eating; sleep (even a short nap). Worse: sudden weather change (especially storms); missing a meal; lying on left. Buy
No. 1 Remedy for childhood ear infections. With this remedy the symptoms and the patients themselves are very changeable. Emotionally they are moody, tearful and crave company. Children are clingy and whine. Pulsatilla types are thirstless and are much worse for being in a stuffy room; their mood improves dramatically when they go out in the fresh air. Discharges are thick, bland and yellow-green. Complaints may come on after getting wet, chilled feet. Better: bathing; crying; movement; pressure. Worse: twilight; wet, windy weather. Buy
No. 1 Remedy for sprains and strains. Stiffness, coupled with terrible restlessness. Pains usually around joints, which ache, feel sore, bruised. The pain gets worse on first movement, with a tearing or stitching sensation, but this eases after continued movement, provided it is not too strenuous. During colds, fevers, flus, a triangular red tip at the end of their tongue is an excellent confirmatory symptom. Children who need this remedy crave cold milk. Better: heat; gentle motion. Worse: damp, cold weather. Buy
No. 1 Remedy for injuries to tendons and bone surface. Ruta's action is deeper, but it has a less distinctive picture than Rhus Tox. It is less restless. Bone feels damaged. Useful for injuries to wrists, knees, ankles or bones with a thin covering of flesh (e.g shins). Better for movement. Worse: lying on the affected part. Buy
Useful remedy for conditions brought about by hormonal changes in women. Suits those who are worn out and have a dragged-down, heavy feeling. Indifferent to loved ones. Chilly. Weepy. Dislike sympathy, prefer to be alone. Desires acidic things and chocolate. Better: vigorous exercise; eating; warmth; open air. Worse: during menstruation; missing a meal; pregnancy. Buy
No. 1 Remedy for forcing out splinters, etc. In first aid treatment excellent for forcing foreign bodies out, but beware if you have a pacemaker, grommets, metal pins etc. In acute illnesses suits chilly types, who keep getting infections which are very slow to clear up. Thirsty. Perspire easily. Better: heat. Worse: cold, damp, wet weather. Buy
No. 1 Remedy following episiotomy. Appear sweet and calm, but may feel angry, resentful, humiliated. Feels boundaries have been violated. Doesn't want to be touched. Very useful after cuts with sharp instruments. Better: warmth; rest; breakfast. Worse: missing a meal; tobacco; exertion. Buy
Warm-blooded, wants doors and windows open. Empty sinking feeling in stomach at 11am. Desires sweets; spicy food. Burning pains. Offensive corrosive, burning discharges. Itchy. Do not use routinely for skin complaints, always see a qualified homoeopath. Better: fresh air. Worse: warmth; bathing; 10-11am. Buy
