With increasing stress and the need to perform at every stage of life, anxiety has become an inevitable part of life. No one is spared, right from a school going child to a working professional. This anxiety, in the long run, may predispose a variety of illnesses, one of them being Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). 20% of adults are affected globally and 30% people are at a risk of developing it at some point in life.
56-year-old Bharat, a Senior Manager in an MNC, complained of irregular bowel habits with an increased urge to pass stools, especially in the mornings. This disrupted his routine, as he was unable to go for his regular walks. He often landed up being late for work. Although his investigation reports were normal, he had lost
5 kg. He had no hope of recovery. His excessive hurriedness and anxiety, along with despair of recovery, lead to the selection of Arsenic Album. A few doses not only took care of the symptoms, but instilled new confidence in him.
IBS, a functional disorder, is linked with stress. Homeopathy, being mind and body medicine, helps by reducing the intensity and frequency of the symptoms and dependence on conventional medicines, thereby improving the quality of life.
Double-blind trials have indicated that participants undergoing homeopathic treatment improve to a greater extent than those on placebo. Although there is no fixed diet for IBS, eating selectively may help. Reduce the intake of fatty foods, red meat and carbonated drinks. Include fruits and vegetables in your diet. Have small frequent meals and maintain a food diary to know what aggravates your condition.
Yoga, meditation and breathing exercises can help to reduce stress.
Homeopathic medicines:
Argentum nitricum – for anxious and hurried people;
Nux vomica – for type A personalities.
Published in Hindustan Times on 06 June 2009
HOMEOPATHIC TREATMENT(s) FOR SINUSITIS / HEADACHES / MIGRAINES :-SINUSITIS :-Right sided frontal sinsiitus; discharge thick, yellowish; worse by cold,damp and exertion Penicillinum 30 or 200, 6 hourly Sinusitis after mastoid operation Helka lava 3X or 6X, 4 hourly In acute or chronic sinsiitus; catarrh with stringy discharge Kali Bich 30 4 hourly Tearing pain in head; from root of nose, extending to forehead with nausea; dryness of mucous passages Natrum Mur 30, 4 hourly Pain begins at the back of head and settles over the eyes; worse under a fan Silicea 1M, weekly (6 Doses) Chronic cold with loss of smell and yellow green phlegm; better in cool, open air Pulsatilla 30 or 200 4 hourly Intercurrent remedy Bacillinum 200 or 1M fortnightly (3 Doses) Complaints worse early morning; aversion to take bath Sulphur 200 weekly (3 Doses) HEADACHE :-With constant nausea; clean tongue Ipecac 30, 3 hourly With severe throbbing and rush of blood towards head Belladonna 30, 3 hourlyDue to over eating; stomach disorders; tongue thickly whitish coated; worse bathing specially after river bathing Antim Crud 30 or 200 4 hourly(3 Doses) Due to exposure to dry, cold wind; sudden with anxiety Aconite Nap.30 or 200, 1/2 hourly (3 Doses) With watering of eyes and sensitiveness to bright light Euphrasia 30, 3 hourly Headache; better by bending backwards; due to nerve injury Hypericum 30, 3 hourly Headache with humming in ears; due to nervous weakness Kali Phos.6X or 30, 3 hourly Hammering headache; worse during menstrual cycle going in sun; school girls head ache, Natrum Mur.30Xor 200, 4 hourly Headache starts from nape of neck and shift over to the head; patient desires to lie down quietly; better passing urine Gelsemium 30 or 200, 3 hourlyViolent headache due to working under gas light; sunstroke Glonoine 6 or 30, 2 hourlyBursting headache; worse by stooping and movements; excessive thirst and constipation Bryonia 30 or 200, 3 hourly (6 Doses) Nervous headache; after grief, disappointment; worse inhaling smoke Ignatia 200 or 1M, 3 hourly (3 Doses) Headache; due to sinsiitus, pressure and pain at the root of nose Kali Bich 30, 4 hourly Due to eating rich fatty food, loss of thirst, better in open cold air Pulsatilla 30, 4 hourly Due to eye strain; disturbances of accomodation of eye sight Ruta Grav 30, 4 hourly After taking alcoholic drinks; sedentary habits; chilly patient Nux Vomica 30, 4 hourlySun haedcahe; aggravation from sun rise to sunset; from cardiac origin Kalmia Lat.30 or 200, 6 hourlyOf school children; crushing headache, pressure on top of head Acid Phos 30, 4 hourlyHeadache localised; at the nape of neck; worse by walking and noise Pneumococcin 200, 10 min (3 Doses)Frontal headache; neuralgic pain above and behind the right eye; heaviness of head. Better by rest, lying down and eating Penicillinum 30 or 200, 10 min (3 Doses) Headache worse early morning; empty gone sensation at 10 -11 A.M. Sulphur 200 or 1M, weekly (3 Doses) MIGRAINES :-From mental work; cold, uncovering head, pressure, sitting upright or sun-stroke Glonoinum 30, 3 hourly For nervous, gastric, bilious individuals. Migraine due to mental over exertion in teachers and students. Right sided, specially Sunday migraine, blurred vision, hemiopia; blindness; often burning pain in entire gastro-intestinal tract with violent acid vomiting at the height of attack; worse hot weather; spring and fall; better after vomiting or sufficient night sleep Iris Ver.200 or above, 10 min (3 Doses)For irritable hypochondriacs of bad temper; cholerics, neuropathics; from abuse of alcohol, coffee, spices, tobacco, vexation and worry, mental over exertion, business worries, sexual excesses, sedentary habits, cold dry air and winds Nux Vomica 30 or 200, 4 hourly For pronounced vasomotor individuals (irritable and full of fear) during pre-climacteric and menopausal stage.Tired expression, head congestion, circumscribed red cheeks; pain above right eye, throbbing, stitching, rhythmic pain, often in every 8 days, early morning, beginning in nape, extending upwards, locating in the region of eye, rising and falling with the sun; sensation of heavy congestion Sanguinaria C 200, 10 min (3 Doses) For weak, fat and irritable patient; often apathetic, changing moods, strange changes of character (egocenteric), memory weak, due to disturbance during climacteric period, results of tobacco abuse. Person with shallow complexion, yellow saddle across the nose; pain located on left temple; throbbing, stitching pains Sepia 200, 10 min (3 Doses) For neuropathic persons, full of fear caused by noises, change of weather or worms; with face pale, located above left eye; specially left pupil (ciliary neuralgia); sharp, shooting, tearing, stitching, periodical pain from occiput to left eye; slowly rising in intensity with sun. Bile vomiting at the h