Erysipelas


Dr. Dewey discusses the homeopathy treatment of Erysipelas in his bestselling book Practical Homeopathic Therapeutics….


Belladonna. [Bell]

      **Belladonna is perhaps more frequently indicated in commencing erysipelas than any other remedy and it is often specific. True, **Aconite should rather be the remedy, but the **Aconite stage is passed when the physician is called, for this remedy corresponds only to the marked febrile symptoms of sthenic cases. The erysipelas corresponding to **Belladonna is of the smooth variety; the skin is shining and tense and dark red or bright red, the swelling is rapid and there are sharp, lancinating pains or throbbing in the parts. Accompanying this condition there is throbbing headache, fever perhaps delirium, swollen glands and tenseness of the parts. It may occur on the scalp, face, or, in fact, anywhere, and there is great heat of the parts.

**Atropine 3 is recommended by Kafka if **Belladonna fails in this condition. **Stramonium. Adynamia with brain symptoms.

Rhus tox. [Rhus-t]

      This remedy corresponds to the vesicular variety; the skin is dark, covered with vesicles. It is especially adapted to erysipelas attacking the scalp, skin of face, or genital organs. It has shivering followed by high fever; there is intense headache. The cause of the trouble calling for **Rhus may be exposure to cold or getting wet. It is also a remedy for the graver forms which show a typhoid tendency and go on to suppuration, the pus being thin, ill conditioned and offensive.

A further indication for **Rhus is the aching of the limbs accompanying an attack, as well as the intense itching and burning.

**Arnica. Phlegmonous erysipelas, with tenderness and pain on pressure, and lameness. This condition is sometimes produced by lotions of **Arnica, when Camphor will be the antidote. **Calendula is a valuable topical application in phlegmonous erysipelas.

Apis mellifica. [Apis]

      The erysipelas of this remedy is of a rosy pink hue at first, later becoming livid and purple as the oedema which is characteristic of the drug appears. The oedema appears quickly and the parts feel sore and bruised. It is especially indicated where the disease spreads from a hard centre. It stands between Belladonna and **Rhus, but it does not control the intense inflammation as well as Belladonna or the tendency to form vesicles as Rhus. Bojanus recommended it in traumatic erysipelas. Umbilical erysipelas in children, stinging pains, urine suppressed and no thirst. There is a tendency for the **Apis erysipelas to extend into the tissues, but the remedy requires the presence of oedema to be well indicated. It has even more swelling than Rhus.

**Cantharis. Erysipelas with formation of large vesicles; these break and discharge & excoriating fluid Erysipelas beginning on dorsum of the nose and spreading. There are fine stinging, burning pains and thirst. The urinary symptoms of the drug may or may not be present.

**Euphorbium. Large yellow vesicles form; the fever is violent. It is excellent in erysipelas of the head and face, with boring and digging pains and these large vesicles.

Lachesis. [Lach]

      Erysipelas commencing on the left side and spreading to the right, at first bright red, then dark bluish or purplish. The cellular tissues are especially involved and infiltrated. The patient is drowsy, has a delirium which is perhaps loquacious and the parts affected threaten gangrene.

**Stramonium. Useful in the brain complications with violent delirium.

**Arsenicum. Useful in sudden attacks, rapid course and profound constitutional symptoms, oedema, restlessness vomiting, diarrhoea. Migrating erysipelas.

**Sulphur. Protracted migrating erysipelas. “Boiled lobster appearance.” It is very useful remedy to interpolate in many cases. **Veratrum viride. A fine remedy in the first stage of phlegmonous erysipelas for the intense inflammation.

Graphites. [Graph]

      Goodno lauds **Graphites as the best remedy in erysipelas. It seems to correspond, however, to the repeated and chronic form occurring about the nose and face and is especially useful after Iodine has been applied externally to the detriment of the case, as it always is. Another indications for **Graphites is found in the ease with which an attack is brought on; the slightest irritation to the skin brings on an attack. Recurring cases. No local applications are ever necessary in treating erysipelas, and they frequently cause complication and danger.

W.A. Dewey
Dewey, Willis A. (Willis Alonzo), 1858-1938.
Professor of Materia Medica in the University of Michigan Homeopathic Medical College. Member of American Institute of Homeopathy. In addition to his editoral work he authored or collaborated on: Boericke and Dewey's Twelve Tissue Remedies, Essentials of Homeopathic Materia Medica, Essentials of Homeopathic Therapeutics and Practical Homeopathic Therapeutics.