MATERIA MEDICA (Alphabetically arranged)
THE following drugs are most frequently indicated in cases of skin diseases. But certainly they are not the only ones. We must sometimes choose the drug in a special case in accordance with a symptom which has nothing to do with the skin disease. A good homoeopath always acts according to our fundamental law: “Let like be cured by like.” That means, the homoeopath takes the totality of all subjective and objective symptoms. Only such a treatment is homoeopathic, if the drug prescribed is the similimum for the special patient; that means, if the drug- picture and the symptom-picture are alike.
ACONITUM
General Indications. Acute diseases. High temperature due to catarrhal inflammations coupled with the greatest unrest and anxiety. Peripheral neuralgic pains.
Key Symptoms. Restlessness, fear of death. Onset of colds due to dry coldness or draught. Dryness of the skin. Thirst. Suddenness of all symptoms. Aggravation of all symptoms in the evening and during night. Better by perspiration.
SKIN DISEASES. Pruritus, urticaria, herpes zoster during the first stage characterized by fever, sharp neuralgic pains.
Aconite should be given in low potencies.
AGARICUS
General Indication and Key Symptoms. Disorders of the nervous system. Convulsions and trembling of the extremities. The skin troubles usually due to disorder of the circulation and the glands. Skin of face and head reddened, burning, itching, sensation of stinging by ice-needles. Aggravation of all symptoms by rest, in the morning. Better by motion, in the evening.
SKIN DISEASES. Acne, seborrhoea, erythema multiforme. Agaricus should be given in the 4-6 decimal potency.
AMMONIUM CARBONICUM
General Indications. Acute feverish diseases with nervous disorders. Erysipelas.
Key Symptoms. Weakness of memory. Irresolute-system.
Especially women with low vitality, always sensitive and ailing. Bleeding from the nose, when washing the face.
SKIN DISEASES. Rashes in cases of scarlet fever, measles, Psoriasis, burns, eczema with burning and itching.
Low potencies should be given.
ANACARDIUM ORIENTALE
General Indications. Chronic diseases. Neurasthenia.
Hypochondria. Illusional depression. Indigestion and skin diseases.
Key Symptoms. Hypersensibility of the nervousness. Despair. Itching and burning sensations, aggravated late in the evening.
SKIN DISEASES. Herpes zoster, herpes labialis and genitalis.
Pemphigus, urticaria, warts, vesicles and bulbous eczema.
Low potencies are effective.
ANTHRACINUM
The drug is indicated in the blue boils with burning pains, and in hard carbuncles accompanied by serious cerebral symptoms and exhausting perspiration.
Anthracinum, must be given in high potency. Only a few doses are necessary (Anthracinum 30x).
ANTIMONIUM CRUDUM General Indications. Metabolic disorders. Nausea. Indigestion. Corpulence. Gout. Uric acid. Eczema. Urticaria.
Key Symptoms. Very irritable and peevish. Tongue with thick white coat. Skin hardened with honey-like scabs. Aggravation by wet cold, cold bath, by sun or fire heat, during the night. Better by rest and in the open air. Especially indicated in children and old men.
SKIN DISEASES. Pimples and pustules on the face, yellowish scabs. Urticaria, impetigo, subacute eczema about the nostrils and mouth, ears and eyelids. Horny warts and rhagades of the hands and feet. Impetigo contagiosa.
Low potencies are most effective.
ANTIMONIUM TARTARICUM
Stimulates the secretions of the skin, giving rise to papules, vesicles and pustules. It depresses the functions of circulation and respiration, causing nausea, faintness and prostration.
SKIN DISEASES. Acne, herpes, impetigo and impetigo contagiosa.
The best potency is 3x.
APIS
General Indications. Inflammatory oedematous conditions resulting in the formation of exudates. The cutaneous eruptions are especially located on the face (the lower eyelid) and extremities.
Key Symptoms. Thirstless during fevers. Weakness. Sensation of stinging, burning pricking, itching. Aggravation in the afternoon, by heat, better by cold.
SKIN DISEASES. Urticaria, boils, carbuncle. Erysipelas. Bites of insects. Erythema nodosum.
Potencies 3x to 5x are the most frequently used.
ARNICA General Indications. Mechanical injuries. Haemorrhages. Bruises.
Key Symptoms. Serious pains in the whole body. Face hot, reddened, General lassitude. Throbbing, burning, stitching pains.
SKIN DISEASES. Boils, symmetrically distributed, bluish red.
Erysipelas with tendency to vesicles and bulbae. Dermatitis, psoriasis, acne, diabetic gangrene.
Low and high potencies are useful. Mother tincture for local application.
ARSENICUM ALBUM
General Indications. Infectious diseases. Bright’s disease.
Septic conditions. Diseases of the circulatory organs and of the blood.
Key Symptoms. Restlessness, anxiety, fear of death. Great thirst, relieved by drinking little water. Aggravation by cold and wetness, better by warmth. Worse during midnight.
SKIN DISEASES. Erysipelas, herpes zoster, eczema of the squamous type, psoriasis, ichthyosis, ulcers of the legs, carbuncles, epithelioma.
Low and high potencies can be used. The high potencies must be given when the general local symptoms and modalities of the disease correspond to the drug-picture.
ARSENICUM IODATUM It is superior to Arsenicum album in some skin diseases, characterized by papules, vesicles or pustules. It is especially indicated in tuberculous, weakened patients with enlarged lymphatic glands, burning pains, worse from washing the affected parts of the skin.
SKIN DISEASES. Acne, lichen, Prurigo, impetigo contagiosa, epithelioma.
Low potencies are advisable.
BARYTA CARBONICA ACETICA, IODATA and MURIATICA
General Indications. The barium salts are indicated in children and senile men; especially in chronic ailments. All barium cases are psoric or scrofulous.
Key Symptoms. Lack of vitality. Aggravation by alcoholic beverages and in the morning.
SKIN DISEASES. ECZEMA, pruritis senilis, lipoma, warts characterized by intolerable itching, acne, alopecia.
Potencies from 6x-12x are most frequently used.
BELLADONNA
General Indications. Acute infectious diseases, acute rashes with hyperaemia and hypersensibility of the skin.
Key Symptoms. Congestion to the head, pupils dilated. All pains come very suddenly, increase slowly and vanish suddenly. All senses oversensitive. Skin hot, reddened.
SKIN DISEASES. Erysipelas, acute rashes, boils, acute dermatitis.
Low potencies are necessary.
BRYONIA
General Indications. Feverish catarrhal and rheumatic acute or subacute inflammatory conditions.
Key Symptoms. Choleric, meagre patients with yellowish complexion, angry, inclined to perspiration. Aggravation by movement, by touching, in the open air, during the night and early in the morning. Better when lying on the diseased side, by strong pressure on the diseased part, when keeping quiet and by warmth. Very thirsty. Pains are pricking.
SKIN DISEASES. Acute eczema, urticaria, acute rashes (measles, scarlet fever), purpura, seborrhic dermatitis.
Low potencies are advisable.
BUFO This drug acts on the nervous system and the skin. It is especially indicated in conditions characterized by vesicles and bullae, couple with itching or burning sensations.
SKIN DISEASES. Pompholyx, pemphigus.
Potencies 6x or 10x are most reliable.
CALCAREA CARBONICA
General Indications. Constitutional disorders, scrofula, rickets, anaemia; fatty patients with fair skin, large abdomen, free perspiration, sensitive to cold and easily fatigued.
Key Symptoms. Hands and feet cold and moist, constipation, increased perspiration. Aggravation by cold, wetness, exertion. Better in the morning, in the open, dry air.
SKIN DISEASES. Eczema on the head, urticaria, disappearing in cool air. Alopecia, due to constitutional weakness.
CALCAREA FLUORATA
General Indications. Diseases due to disorders in the fibroelastic tissues of the blood-vessels, lymphatics and the skin.
Key Symptoms. Aggravation by cold, better by warmth.
Dilation of the blood vessels. Indurated lymphatic glands.
SKIN DISEASES. Chronic eczema with thickening and cracking of the skin. Psoriasis of the extremities.
Low potencies are useful.
CALCAREA PHOSPHORICA
General Indications. Asthenic scrofulous patients. Anaemia, chlorosis, tuberculosis of the lungs.
Key Symptoms. Aggravation of all symptoms by movement, wetness, mental work. Better in the morning, when taking the recumbent position. Patients with dark hair and dark eyes. Craving for condiments.
SKIN DISEASES. Acne, alopecia prematura, papulopustular eczema in young people; itching worse from changes of weather, especially to cold or wet. Pruritus senilis, prurigo anaemic, thin children.
High potencies are advisable.
CALCAREA SULPHURICA
General Indications. Tendency of all diseases to suppurate.
Key Symptoms. Aggravation from contact with water.
SKIN DISEASES. Acne, eczema of the head in infants and children with abundant purulent exudation and yellowish crusts. Eczema about the ears. Scabies. Boils and carbuncles in the stage of persistent suppuration.
Potencies from 6x-30 can be used.
