Homeopathy Explained - 3 Articles

Homeopathic Remedies for Common Injuries
A growing number of professional athletes and weekend warriors are using homeopathic remedies for relief of symptoms. Although homeopathic medicines have a reputation of helping people who are suffering from chronic diseases, these natural medicines are wonderfully effective in treating common sports injuries.

In fact, using homeopathic medicines for injuries is easier than treating common diseases because treatment for injuries does not require a high degree of individualizing of remedies that is typical in treating diseases. When two people have sprained ankles, they each need a similar homeopathic remedy to heal them, while two people suffering from arthritis generally require different remedies, which are individualized to their unique pattern of symptoms.

Homeopathic medicine should be taken in conjunction with, not in replacement of, conventional first aid measures.

Single Remedies and Formulas Homeopathic medicines are available as single remedies or as formulas of two or more remedies mixed together. Formulas are a more user-friendly way to use homeopathic medicines since the indications for their use are extremely clear. The use of several remedies in a formula provides a more broad-spectrum effect not available in a single remedy. Because injuries sometimes involve muscle, nerve, and bone tissue, it sometimes makes sense to use formulas to help to heal the various tissues involved.

Single remedies are recommended for injuries when you know the specific indications and when you want to use a higher potency of a remedy than is available in formulas. Formula products usually contain remedies in the 3, 6, or 12C potencies, while people with severe pain may receive more rapid benefit from the 30C potency.

The "X" after the potency number (as in 6X) refers to the number of times in which a medicine is diluted 1:10, while the "C" after the potency number (6C) is diluted 1:100 (it will be easy to remember the difference between "X" and "C" by simply remember their meaning as Roman numerals). Two hundred years of homeopathic clinical experience has found that the higher the potency, the more powerful and faster the medicine acts. However, the higher the potency used, the more accurate the remedy must be for the injured or sick person. Because of this, it is recommended to use the 30C potency when the user is very confident that the remedy used is the correct one. When one is not as confident, the 6C or 12C potency is indicated, or one can consider using a homeopathic formula.

Frequency of Dose When taking homeopathic medicines it is recommended to take as few doses as necessary but as many as are required when experiencing pain. At first when there is the greatest amount of pain and discomfort, you may need to take the remedy every hour. Usually after four doses, you can reduce the frequency to every other hour, and as the intensity of pain diminishes, taking a dose every four hours is common.

If no improvement is noticeable after one or two days, it is not recommended to take further doses.

External Applications Although most homeopathic remedies are in pill form to be taken internally, there are a few homeopathic remedies that are available in external applications. I recommend the gel form that is not in a petroleum base. Some external applications like Traumeel only come in a petroleum base so they are not washed off as easily as the gel ointments.

List of Symptoms and Corresponding Remedy

Shock and trauma of injury - Arnica 30C
Injury to the soft tissue/muscle - Arnica 30C
Externally use Arnica cream or Traumeel (a homeopathic formula for soft tissue)
Injury to nerves - Hypericum 30C

Sprains/strains - Arnica 30C (immediately after injury for swelling)
Rhus tox 30C - (Rhus tox is indicated when there is great pain upon initial motion but some relief on continued motion.)
Bryonia 30C - (Bryonia is indicated when the person experiences increased pain and discomfort the more motion they do.)
Tendonitis - Rhus tox 30C - better on moving
Bryonia 30C - worse on movement

Severe sprains -  Rhus tox 30C, Bryonia 30C Ruta 30C (if Rhus tox or Bryonia aren't effective)

Dislocation - Arnica 30C Hypericum 30C (if shooting pains)

Injuries to knee or elbow - Ruta 30C Shin splints - Rhus tox 30C

Fractures - Symphytum 30C (Take Arnica 30C for shock of injury and to reduce swelling) Head injury (immediately after injury to reduce swelling) - Arnica 30C

Old head injury - Natrum sulphuricum 30C
Slow repair of fractures - Calcarea phos. 6C
Bruises/Contusions - Arnica 30C
Nosebleeds - Phosphorus 30C
Blisters - Calendula cream
Cuts - Calendula cream

Recommended Books Discovering Homeopathy: Medicine for the 21st Century, by Dana Ullman Homeopathy, Medicine that Works, by Robert Wood The Family Guide to Homeopathy, by Andrew Lockie Everybody's Guide to Homeopathic Remedies, by Stephen Cummings and Dana Ullman 
 
 
Homeopathy Explained
Homeopathy is based on the philosophy "like cures like." The theory itself is very simple. In a simplified example, if you had a fever, you would treat it with a small doses of a substance that would cause a fever in larger doses. The premise of "like curing like" dates back to the fourth century B.C. when Hippocrates used opposites and similars to treat disease. In the 15th century, Paraclesus treated with similars, using minute doses of hellebore to treat diarrhea, knowing that larger doses could cause diarrhea.

Samuel Hahneman began his career as a doctor and a chemist. When he no longer bear the extreme medical practices of his fellow physicians, he gave up medicine and turned to translating books to earn his living. It was while translating A Treatise on Materia Medica by Dr. William Cullen that Hahneman made a discovery that would be the basis for a completely new science of healing. Hahneman read in Cullen's book that cinchona could be used in treating malaria because of its astringent properties. Hahneman knew that there were other astringents available that were more powerful than cinchona, yet they had no affect on malaria. He decided to investigate further by experimenting on himself. Hahneman discovered that when he took a dose of cinchona, he experienced symptoms that were similar to those of malaria. Every time he took a dose of cinchona, the symptoms would reoccur and then gradually disappear. If he didn't take the cinchona, there were no symptoms. Hahneman tested these findings by giving cinchona to healthy friends. His friends' symptoms mirrored his own. Hahneman expanded his experiments. He and his associates would take a substance and carefully record their reactions to the substance. Hahneman called these tests "provings." Symptoms that occurred regularly as reactions against a substance were added to its profile or "drug picture."

From this simple start, Hahneman proceeded to document "provings" on other substances that were being used as medicine by his contemporaries. What kind of details would have been recorded? Belladonna was one of the herbs that Hahneman and his friends examined in their early "provings." A healthy person who took a non-homeopathic dose of belladonna might have experienced a sudden high temperature, dry mouth and intense thirst. Other symptoms manifested might have been a red and hot face with glaring eyes and dilated pupils, delirium or hallucinations and sensitivity to light or noise. A homeopathic dose of belladonna would be used in cases where someone suffers from a sudden high fever with intense symptoms. Clinical applications of homeopathic belladonna could be appendicitis, menopausal flushes or seizure disorders.

After creating hundreds of "drug pictures," Hahneman preceded to the next stage of his research — testing the substances to see if his theories were correct. Hahneman's examinations of his patients were very thorough. Not only did he examine the patient physically but he developed a profile of their mental outlook, their likes, their dislikes and their fears. He called this profile a "symptoms picture." The key to Hahneman's new medical science was to match the "symptoms picture" as closely as possible to one of his "drug pictures." He found that the most successful treatments occurred with the maximum correspondence of patient symptoms to drug symptoms. Hahneman called his new science "homeopathy" derived from the Greek "homeo" (meaning same) and "pathos" (meaning suffering).

Hahneman's Classic Theory of Homeopathy is based on three principles. The first, that "like cures like." The second, that a patient should be treated with the single remedy that matches most closely their particular "symptom picture." And third, is the principle of minimum dose.

"Like cures like" has already been described. The second principle evolved from the complex list of symptoms recorded in the drug provings. If you remember, Hahneman achieved the best success matching as closely as possible the symptoms of the "symptom picture" to those of the "drug picture." These profiles are very complex, each with a unique set of multiple symptoms. A practitioner who attempts to combine remedies would have to match a patient's profile to twice the number of symptoms, some of which might be contradictory. If one adds a third remedy, the amount of different symptoms would be truly daunting.

The third principle of minimum dose developed as Hahneman's experience with the remedies increased. Hahneman observed that even minuscule doses of certain substances would sometimes worsen his patient's condition. He called this reaction "aggravation." In order to avoid aggravations, Hahneman devised a 2-step process of diluting and succussing (shaking vigorously) the original substance. He repeated this process until the original substance was so diluted, that, in some cases, not a single molecule was left. All that was left of the original substance was an electric magnetic "memory" or, you might say, its "energy." The more Hahneman diluted the remedy, the more potent it became. He called these dilutions "potentizations" or what is presently called "potencies."

Critics of homeopathy have asked "if not one molecule of the original substance is left, how can a remedy be more than a placebo?" Although homeopathic research is in its infancy and no-one knows "how" homeopathy works, clinical trials have indicated that the remedies have real beneficial effects. According to the June 1999 issue of Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, two Italian researchers compared homeopathically treated water to control water. They found that 92% of the test solutions had higher than expected heat emanations when acid or salt was added to them. In other words, some source of energy was causing a reaction.

Numbers on potencies can be confusing. The lowest potency that one commonly finds is 6X. Remedies with 6X potency act faster and last for shorter lengths of time, they can be given every hour, and in some cases, every fifteen minutes. They are usually used in acute situations such as bee stings, muscle sprains or a sudden bout of diarrhea. Remedies with 30C potency are a medium high potency. They are given in cases where the ailment is more self-limiting, such as a cold, and are usually taken every 3 hours. High potency remedies, such as 200C, are the strongest. They have longer lasting and more profound effects and are usually reserved for chronic ailments, such as recurrent infections or degenerative diseases like arthritis, and best used under the care of a physician or homeopathic practitioner.

If you seek treatment from a homeopathic practitioner, you will undergo a very detailed examination. No blood tests, no x-rays nor any other invasive procedures are involved. Instead, the homeopath will ask you numerous questions about your physical symptoms, your state of mind, your likes and dislikes, your fears, your eating habits and anything else that might help in forming your personal profile. The homeopath would then match your profile to one of the hundreds of "drug pictures" available to him.

Homeopathy is popular all over the world. It is very common in Europe and Great Britain. Queen Elizabeth's personal physician is a homeopath. Homeopathy is a safe and inexpensive form of therapy and is used in many third world countries whose citizens can't afford pharmaceutical medicines.

Constitutional RemediesIt is recognized in Homeopathy that certain people fit into a very specific personality type that matches both their physical and mental symptoms.  This is referred to in homeopathy as a “constitutional type”. By recording a detailed profile of the a person’s health history, current and reoccurring health challenges, personal likes and dislikes, and mental and emotional patterns and sensitivities we can begin to match them to a number of common remedies used in homeopathy. The constitutional remedy chosen will be the best match to most of their symptoms.

Constitutional remedies are used more often when there are chronic problems or when mental / emotional symptoms are being displayed.  When a person is experiencing an acute illness like a cold or injury, then it is better to use another specific remedy for the current health challenge. The constitutional type is named after a specific remedy, and addresses the various physical, emotional, and mental problems that it clears. Here is a list of various constitutional remedies and the symptom profiles that they match best.

Arsenicum Album
This remedy is for the person who is very detail-orientated. They like everything to be in order. Their surroundings are neat and organized. They are obsessed with having their homes clean. They are very tense and restless types. They have very high standards for themselves and will set goals for themselves that are difficult to obtain.  Then they will fell guilty about not reaching them.  Keeping their home clean is one of these goals to help them maintain a sense of control. They are restless, tense and fussy people who become irritable when things don't go their way.

Arsenicum helps people who have many fears and anxieties.  They specifically fear being alone and do not like to go out alone at night. They have a fear of illness and of death. Arsenicum helps people who are labeled as hypochondriacs. They are prone to compulsive behaviors and panic attacks.
Arsencium also helps people with eating disorders. They tend to be sensitive to various foods. They will sip their water, yet be very thirsty all the time. They will have chronic diarrhea when they eat the “wrong” foods. They will also tend toward digestive problems such as ulcers, indigestion, and irritable bowel syndrome. They also tend to have respiratory symptoms. Symptoms of hay fever, respiratory allergies, a constant runny nose, and even asthma are found in the Arsenicum remedy profile. They will have more energy in the morning and less in the evening. Their symptoms are often worse around midnight.

Gelsemium
The emotional state of a Gelsemium type is anxiety before an exam, interview or public speaking. They have a desire to be alone and they tend to worry a lot. They sometimes can become paralyzed with fear before any kind of performance or going to the doctor or hospital for an operation. They suffer from frequent urination and diarrhea when they are anxious. When Gelsemium types are stressed they become physically exhausted. If they hear bad news, it brings on their physical ailments. The physical stresses include ailments that arise from travel or a lengthy period of convalescence. They are very sensitive to the sun especially in the summer months. They feel weary. When they succumb to the flu, they usually feel very heavy and dragged out with no thirst. They are usually quite exhausted from this. The headache they experience is sometimes relieved by urination.

Ignatia
The Ignatia type is sometimes depressed from a deeply bottled up suppressed grief. They worry a great deal, and this worry can lead them to a borderline type of hysteria. They are bright, and very excitable, with very high-strung personalities. The Ignatia types are very sensitive to noise. Many are unable to cope with the stresses they feel and they may sometimes act out irrationally. They have a tendency to sigh often, which is a sign that it is difficult for them to express some of their emotions.This remedy is needed when a person has suffered from some sort of shock, such as the death of a loved one. If the pressures have built up enough, they can have outbursts to release some of that stored up emotion. They can hold back their tears and eventually will have to let off some of the grief by yawning, sighing, or alternately laughing and crying.

Lycopodium
The Lycopodium type feels deeply insecure at his core and lacks self-confidence. They are resistant to changing themselves because of this insecurity. This type avoids deep commitments in relationships. They can be easily embarrassed and offended. Their memory is weak and they can be very forgetful. They dislike being alone, but feel more confident if someone else is in the house. Their physical symptoms are worse between 4-8p.m. It is called the right-sided remedy because it helps to clear a great deal of symptoms whose origin is on the right side of the body. They hate wearing tight clothes around their waists. Digestion is very vulnerable in the Lycopodium type. They cannot miss meals or it leads to nausea and exhaustion. They can't digest their food well and can get quite bloated. Males may have a problem with impotence and can benefit from this remedy. Prostate disease and premature ejaculation can also be addressed with this remedy. Irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn's disease, and colitis are often cured using Lycopodium. Men are usually the types that need this remedy. It is indicated for men who feel weak, impotent and lack self worth.

Many of these types feel claustrophobic and feel panic upon entering into an elevator. Some may even have a fear of ghosts. They do not want to be alone. Their symptoms become worse between 4-8p.m. when they usually develop a headache or feel very exhausted.

Phosphorus
This remedy type paints a picture of the expressive, imaginative, flamboyant personality always looking to charm everyone around them. They are often very artistic and creative. They love to have company and enjoy being surrounded by people who can admire them and help them feel popular.

They worry a lot and are scared of thunderstorms, sometimes feeling very startled by every loud sound. The overall theme of this remedy type is they like to manipulate people by using their charm. They have a deep talent for being empathic. They are very sensitive to electricity. They may get headaches before a storm because they are so sensitive to static electricity. They can sense the change of weather coming up. All sorts of upper respiratory diseases fit the physical picture of this remedy. They can suffer from bronchitis, pneumonia, colds, flu and asthma. They also may be susceptible to any kind of excessive bleeding following an operation or medical procedure. Phosphorus types love to sleep. They can sleep over ten hours at a time with exciting dreams.

Many Hollywood personalities are phosphorus types, usually with a tremendous need to perform and be admired. Phosphorus types are susceptible to coughs that settle deep down in the lungs and have a barking sound. They also have a tendency to gastric bleeding ulcers. As a group type they are very, very thirsty. They cannot sleep on their left side and prefer sleeping on the right side usually sleeping in a fetal position.

Pulsatilla
When discussing the constitutional type of Pulsatilla, the first thing that comes to mind is that this is predominantly a female remedy. The emotional temperament is one of change, weepiness, mood swings, and upsets. It basically addresses women's health issues, including PMS, pregnancy, puberty, menopause, ovaries, allergies, respiratory complaints, bronchitis, and colds and flues in their final stages.

The typifying sentiment here is that Pulsatilla is for the vulnerable, changing, soft female. These types allow themselves to be manipulated and shaped by the world. The Pulsatilla type will always let her emotions release. They make excellent mothers and teachers and are the feminine nurturing types. They are very involved in their children's lives. Hormone shifts are responsible for the changes in the Pulsatilla constitution. Such periods in life as pregnancy, puberty, and menopause are some of the most decisive times when Pulsatilla is needed to create a calming stability.
They are better for fresh air and become worse in warm stuffy rooms. They cannot digest fats. They are worse for having a menstrual period. There is a complete absence of thirst. They are sensitive to the wet and windy days and can usually catch a cold easily. It is the remedy of choice for earaches, indigestion, and menstrual periods that are scanty and irregular and blocked painful sinuses.

Natrum Muriaticum
The chief sign of this constitutional remedy type is retention. They hold in their emotions, their grief, their misery, and crystallize it deep within the body. The remedy itself is made up of sodium chloride, simply salt, and like salt it is a crystalline structure, hardening, and unchangeable. The person needing Natrum Muriaticum is the caretaker of everyone else. She or he is always denying their own needs and lives in a state of denial, with deep grief and feelings of abandonment. They dislike being consoled and would rather store their pain within themselves. Physical ailments include migraine headaches, colds and flu, edema and swellings throughout the body, ulcers, gastritis, low back pain, sciatica, with pain in the spine, obesity and skin conditions like eczema.

The Natrum Muriaticum type has stored the hurts of their life deep into the body's systems and strangely cannot even recall now what they were. This grief and loss becomes her identity and a widow who lives in the constant memories of her husband's past dwells in this retention. Mothers whose children have all grown up and left for college or have moved out still retain the children's rooms exactly as they were when they did live there. They have a terrible time trying to express their feelings. They cannot cry although they would like to. Young children feel abandoned when their mother goes back to work. The oldest child, especially if it's a girl, assumes the Natrum Muriaticum personality when she winds up raising the other children and carries all the responsibility. They are drawn to the ocean but are often overwhelmed by it. They crave salt and are very thirsty people, needing to drink large quantities of water.

The Natrum Muriaticum remedy type also corresponds to the child who suffers deeply throughout her parent's divorce. The child feels like it is not loved and although it was previously a very happy personality type, he or she may suddenly grow very silent and start to feel responsible for the parents' breakup. The parents may notice that the child is quietly keeping out of the way and may not think there is anything wrong with him. This type of child cannot really express their feelings or let out their emotions and they store it away deeply into the subconscious. Natrum Muriaticum types generally like to bite their nails. This is because they hide their feelings well and use this habit to let out their anxiety. Children don't like to be bothered or teased and hate to be touched.

The Natrum Muriaticum type loves salty, sour, and starchy foods. They generally exhibit dryness in some area of the body. This can be manifested as a kind of eczema, dryness of the eyes, chapped lips, or cracked skin. They are generally very thirsty for large quantities of water. They feel better at the seashore, and feel better after they have worked up a good sweat. Some feel worse after eating and are sensitive to heat and hot water. Although they crave being at the seashore they are very affected by hot midday sun.

Nux Vomica
This remedy is made of the seeds of strychnine, and is also known as the Poison nut plant. It is the ideal remedy for people who are always feeling angry and frustrated and they become sick when things don't work out according to their plans. This remedy is one of the choices for the high strung business professional, who finds himself doing tremendous loads of mentally straining work. They spend excessive numbers of hours in the office, and worrying about their work continuously. Being indoors constantly takes its toll on the human body, and the Nux Vomica type constantly seeks out stimulants such as coffee, alcohol, medications, and tobacco keep him going. This personality type overindulges in rich foods, wines, and such to help him forget the strain of the day. This remedy has previously been a male remedy but in our modern day and age, the female has begun to adapt to these habits as well.

They are usually always plagued by constipation. Many of the Nux Vomica types are indeed plagued by Crohn's disease, hemorrhoids, colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, heart disease, high blood pressure, fibrositis, insomnia, kidney stones, and sometimes diarrhea from their irritability. They are Type A personalities. Many of them are so busy that they will never have time to listen to you. They always seem like they are involved in some sort of struggle. This struggle causes a great deal of bitterness on the inside. Many have absolutely no communication skills and they don't even know how to talk to people. Although they sometimes appear to be very angry, it is really their deep inner fears that motivate them into action.

They tend to have red faces, and if they continue to keep up the pace that they live, they are headed for their first heart attack not before long. Many are always in a constant rage. If they eventually do wind up with a heart attack, it is usually their saving grace, because this forces them to change and calm down in order to recover. Nux Vomica types are solid and stocky in their body frame. Many men who need this remedy have already gone bald. They are very sensitive to the cold. Most of these types rarely smile. Some may even walk around with a belligerent look on their face that says, "If you mess with me, I'll kill you." They can be very intimidating, and they'll always be looking to pick a fight. Their greatest fears are failing in business, interactions with people, and death.

They feel better after taking a short nap or sleeping. They like firm pressure on the body and feel better from washing. They hate cold, wintry weather, and are worse between 3a.m. and 4a.m. Although they desire rich spicy foods to eat they usually are worse from it and wind up with indigestion. They are mean in the morning, and their wives and secretaries know to have the coffee ready. Some Nux types will drink over eight to ten cups of coffee a day accompanied by several cigarettes, which really keep them going. They are constipated because they never get enough exercise. At the end of the workday they usually indulge in drinking in order to relax. They usually desire steak and potatoes for dinner and afterwards fall asleep in their chairs in front of the TV. After this early nap they are now ready for bed after a difficult stimulating day.

People who live under high-tension wires may also acquire the Nux Vomica constitution. This is because of the tremendous stimulation to their nervous systems. Chronic migraine headaches are also a part of this lifestyle and they are usually very sensitive to bright light. High blood pressure here is key. They are plagued with heart symptoms, which eventually may lead to heart attack. Many Nux Vomica types, who suffer from indigestion, may think that they are having a heart attack because of the severe chest pains they experience. This is an outstanding remedy to ease the tensions and stresses of this type.

Sepia
Many of women's health issues are addressed within this remedy. For example, PMS, vaginitis, menopause, pregnancy, miscarriage, endometriosis, anemia, chronic fatigue syndrome, digestive disorders, loss of libido, mental disorders, depression and hysteria. This remedy is made from the ink given off by the cuttlefish to camouflage itself in self-defense and protection.

Women needing this remedy are usually strong and hardy, until they are overstressed. Then they become emotional wrecks resulting in depression, irritability, crying jags, and apathy towards their loved ones. This is one of the best remedies for women who have become worn out from all their toils of life. Single mothers, and mothers with many children who have just reached the ends of their limits benefit from this remedy.
As a result of this exhaustion they feel, they just come to a halt. They feel too tired to move, lose their vitality, and enjoy absolutely nothing. The main guideline of this remedy is the person's indifference to any of their family members. Whereas they previously were loving spouses and mothers, now they are just too tired to care. They feel their only saving grace is to run off to exercise and this lifts them out of their rut. They don't like people to sympathize with them and would rather be left alone and avoid any more stress. They are subject to outbursts of anger, with screaming, nagging and shouting and this most often is precipitated by the onset of their menstrual cycle or uneven shifts in female hormone levels, such as during menopause. Everything feels heavy for the Sepia type. They sometimes feel their insides are coming down and they must sit with their legs crossed to have some support for their pelvic floor. Some Sepia types feel that they are ruling queens and princesses and everything they say has to be obeyed. They make difficult employers and often go through many employees because no one can work up to their standards. They are perfectionists at heart and tend to get their jobs absolutely perfectly executed.

The Sepia type is unable to love others in general. In females, they generally have an aversion to men. If men need this remedy, they often have an aversion to females. This type generally has no desire for sex and avoids having sexual intimacy with their spouses, as their libido is very low. This can also be due to hormone imbalances. The favorite exercises for Sepia types are swimming and dancing. They exercise ritually as this helps them feel fit and wards off the feeling of gravity and heaviness they are generally feeling. Many Sepia types have the hidden urge to run away from it all and start all over in a place where no one knows them. They really enjoy being alone and love their solitude. Sepia is the primary remedy for menopause. The symptoms of exhaustion, hot flashes, irritability, heaviness and menstrual irregularities are all maintained in check with the use of this remedy. Although they have hot flashes, they are at other times mostly chilly. They have many headaches that usually come on right before the period. They usually begin on the left side and from the base of the head. The use of this remedy is most often in potencies of 30c to lM (l000c) A single dose works well and should not be repeated too often.

Silica
Silica is a remedy that is made of pure flint or quartz. Silica is a substance that offers support and strength to anything it is found in. Hence the use of Silica as a homeopathic remedy. It offers great strength both physically and psychologically and emotionally to those in need of it. The need for this remedy is lack of strength and feelings of cowardice with low self-esteem. The person exhibits a weakness in the joints. There is a weakness in the bones. There are TMJ problems. Other medical problems include, tooth decay, fractures, bursitis, hip-joint pain, ingrown nails, chronic swollen glands, ear disorders, and wounds that won't heal. The Silica type is usually very weak in its physical build. They don't have much of a muscle or bone development and tend to have very slim skeletons. As children, they learn that they can manipulate their parents when they are sick. Especially chronically ill children find out that their illness can be personally empowering when it comes to their relationship with their parents. If they are helpless, they can get the attention they need.

They have a very bad self-image. This may be the result of being weak in their childhood when they usually had many illnesses and they started thinking of themselves as being vulnerable. They feel as if they have a weak memory, and often feel very confused and overwhelmed. Their diets have to be kept very simple because they have difficulty digesting a lot of different foods. Sometimes they are better off eating more frequent smaller meals a day, rather than the standard three. The Silica type tends to be small or underweight, but those who are overweight have a tendency to gain it all in their abdominal area. Silica types have a fear of tests and also a panicked feeling about speaking in public. Their feeling of low self-esteem is responsible for this. As children they have a slow development and are susceptible to every cold and sore throat that goes around. Many find that they miss several days of school because of this. They have weak bones, weak teeth, weak fingernails and toenails. Their gums have a tendency to bleed and they also are prone to abscesses. This remedy is usually given in a very low potency and then built up to higher doses. It can be taken for very long periods of time, gradually helping the person to build up his substance. Sweat is a key feature in this remedy type. Silica personality types usually sweat a lot, including their heads and their feet. Some have such sweaty feet that they can make holes in their socks. They have cracks in between their toes, and their toenails can become big and distorted, sometimes being associated with athlete's foot. This is an excellent remedy for abscesses at the roots of the teeth. It can also be used for sore stiff backaches, fractures that heal slowly, and injuries that heal slowly.

Sulphur
Sulphur has been used for thousands of years for healing treatments to the body. It was used early on in civilization and known as brimstone. This remedy is the most used in homeopathy above all the other remedies. It can often bring to the surface any symptom or disease that has been suppressed. Most humans can benefit from taking a dose of Sulphur and it has the power to transform the body on many different and subtle levels. The Sulphur remedy is indicated when there are various skin conditions such as eczema, rashes, acne, ringworm, and herpes. It can be used to treat food allergies, digestive disorders, irritable bowel, diarrhea, and constipation. The key word here is the patient has an itching feeling which leads to restlessness.

Sulphur types need to be constantly entertained. They have all the latest toys including the best computers, and the best software. They like really spicy foods because they love the heat of the food. They like to dress up in bright colors, choose exciting hair colors, and look for anything that is exciting. They like to be the first one on their block to own the latest thing. Sulphur's personality types are great collectors. They will have garages and rooms stocked with piles and piles of books, magazines, and collectible items. They can't resist the urge to stop off at every garage sale and buy things that are useless but collectible. They like to wear one particular shirt over and over again. They dislike bathing, but they need lots and lots of cold water because they are so thirsty. They are always feeling very hot. They dislike wearing lots of heavy clothing when they sleep and often throw off their covers at night because they are so hot. As soon as they enter the room, they must open a window because they are so hot. They also sometimes have a typical red-faced look right across the cheeks. Their clothes are sometimes wrinkled and stained. Their desks are always loaded with junk in high piles.

Any type of suppression of diseases can manifest a Sulphur type. A good example of this is the regular use of antiperspirant deodorants. The act of holding back the sweat can create a need for the Sulphur remedy. This is also true of any kinds of rashes that are treated with creams and preparations. When a baby develops a diaper rash, the mother uses an ointment to suppress the rash. Following this, the baby may develop an ear infection. This also is treated with an antibiotic. A pattern is set up and there is a recurrence of ear infections until this too finally resolves itself, but then the mother notices that now the child has allergies. If this is also suppressed it leads to other body conditions. Hence, the creation of the Sulphur type. Sulphur is found in the base of a volcano. The action of the volcano is to spew forth all of its inner contents. The Sulphur remedy works in the same way. It will take the deep, hidden symptoms, and bring them out to the surface. One of the best pictures of the Sulphur type is the executive who is loaded with enthusiastic plans and ideas but cannot bring them through to completion. His desk is loaded with clutter but he lacks the initiative to do anything about it. They love french fries and sweet foods. They are better in fresh dry, warm weather. They feel terrible in stuffy rooms and in a hot bed. The weak time of the day for a Sulphur personality type is 11 a.m. when they have a serious craving for a snack of something sweet. They are generally untidy and look unkempt.

Lachesis
This remedy is made of the venom of the Bushmaster snake from South America. The Lachesis type is usually very jealous, talkative, suspicious, and vindictive. They are very excitable and very lively. Emotionally they can be very depressed. They work hard and they play hard and they express their emotions very easily. If they suppress their feelings they usually become very jealous. The best example of this is children who feel like they are pushed out of the way by the birth of a newborn baby. They can become deceitful and spiteful and sometimes attempt to harm the new baby because of their jealousy. When these Lachesis types become depressed they can be very suspicious and sarcastic. They desire alcohol and like to eat starchy foods. This remedy is usually indicated for left sided pains or pains that start on the left side and shift to the right. It is also indicated for ailments that affect the left side of the body. They usually suffer from hot flushes, headaches, and exhaustion. They are usually better off during the winter months. They hate the pressure of tight clothes and can't stand to wear anything tight around their necks. It is an excellent remedy for left sided sore throat complaints. It is also a useful menopausal remedy. This is also a useful remedy for stomach poisonings and stomach viruses.

Calcarea Carbonica
These Calcarea types are usually large, rotund, and plump. They are calm, sensitive and lazy people. They have a hearty appetite that can lead to excessive weight gain. This eventually leads to the sluggishness they feel. They are devoted to their work that they perform well. When they are not well they can be depressed. They like sweet foods, including cookies and cakes and lots of pastries. They prefer cold drinks and like ice cream and eggs. They feel better when they are constipated. They experience digestive disorder and malnutrition. They have frequent bouts of heartburn. They have food allergies, asthma, respiratory disorders, and inflammations. The Calcarea type is frequently found amongst babies. They have large heads and they tend to get tired very easily. They love to put things in their mouths and this sets up a pattern for a lifetime. It also may account for the fact that they are usually overweight.Their metabolism is slow and because of this they have a tendency to gain weight. This can cause backaches, sprained ankles, stiff neck and joint pains. They sometimes feel worse after eating.
 
Additional Reading on Homeopathy and Constitutional Types:
Everybody’s Guide to Homeopathic Medicine by Stephen Cummings and Dana Ullman
Homeopathic Treatment of Children by Paul Herscu
Portraits of Homeopathic Medicines, Part 1 and Part 2, by Catherine Coulter