Following on from my last blog Mental Health: Creating Positive Change
https://www.siharding.com/blog I wanted to write about some possible Homeopathic treatments for anxiety and anxiety states.
Anxiety can be completely debilitating for some people but in my experience, Homeopathy can provide a gentle and effective means of treatment, allowing the person to engage more fully with their world again. Life can then become something to be truly enjoyed, not endured.
Homeopathy can be used alongside more conventional treatments for chronic anxiety such as CBT or counselling. I also have found meditation to be an incredibly effective tool to help process feelings of anxiety and to alleviate the effects of adverse past experience. It is always best to seek professional advice when treating chronic conditions.
Homeopathy is essentially a matching game, so the more closely you can match your symptoms with a picture of a Homeopathic medicine the higher the chances of success. We are all unique, and as Homeopathy is a highly individualised form of medicine it is uniquely placed to help resolve our healthcare concerns, be they physical, emotional, mental or spiritual.
Anxiety can manifest in many ways and there are many Homeopathic medicines that can help with it. Below is a selection of some of the best known Homeopathic treatments for anxiety states and their related complaints.
Aconite Napellus (a plant also known as monkshood or wolfsbane)
Intense, sudden anxiety that can come on with a sense of panic which makes the person very nervous and restless. The fear may be so intense the person even fears that they will die. The cause of the state is often a fright or shock and the anxiety may be so intense as to impede breathing and cause palpitations. Their face may be flushed red or deathly pale. Great anxiety, fear or worry can accompany the slightest complaint.
Argentum Nitricum (silver nitrate)
This can be a very useful treatment for any kind of stage fright, for example, anxiety or fear about a forthcoming exam or performance. It has a strong action on the stomach and gastrointestinal tract so there may be a lot of bloating, belching and diarrhoea. There may be very impulsive and hurried behaviour.
Arsenicum Album (arsenic trioxide)
Arsenicum album has great anxiety and restlessness, along with exhaustion. Burning pains are a keynote of this medicine. There may be excessive concern with order and security, any departure from which - in the form of chaos or confusion - can precipitate intense anxiety and fear. The anxiety can be worse at night and is often accompanied by a fear about health and of being alone. The person often feels very cold especially if unwell.
Calcarea Carbonica (calcium carbonate)
Like Arsenicum album, the person (often a child) needing this medicine can be restless and need company. Typically, the individual tends to be fair-haired, of pale complexion, weak and slightly overweight. Again, like Arsenicum album, there is a need for order and control but in this medicine picture there tends to be more focus around the home and security. Fear of bad news brings further distress.
Gelsemium (a plant also known as Yellow Jasmine)
This is another excellent Homeopathic treatment for anticipatory anxiety states. The person may experience intense worry, dread or apprehension about a future event; they tremble or feel shaky and dizzy. The person can feel very irritable but they can also feel very heavy, dull and lethargic.
Phosphorous
People needing Phosphorous tend to be very sociable and open with a vivid imagination and so can I have fears and anxiety about multiple things. A key feature here is fear of thunderstorms. They are sensitive, sympathetic and nervous people who can get burnt out easily. They have a strong desire for cold, refreshing things, especially ice cream!
Pulsatilla (a perennial plant also known as Pasque flower)
Like Arsenicum, people who may need this medicine feel much better for company. Their anxiety is much better for support and reassurance. This medicine can often be good for clingy children who feel better for being comforted. They tend to be quite hot, so stuffy rooms can aggravate things whilst being outside and exercise tend to alleviate the symptoms. Pulsatilla can be very helpful with anxiety brought on by hormonal changes, for example, menstruation or menopause.
Stramonium Datura (a plant also known by the common name of Thorn Apple)
Like Aconite, the person needing Stramonium may be experiencing intense fear and anxiety brought on by a trauma or shock. It can be indicated in children with night terrors who are desperate for company, and are so afraid of the dark they have to sleep with the light on. There may be a great fear of violence.