The Magic of ‘Sweet Pills’ in Pain Relief

Many are known to dismiss the homoeopathic ‘sweet little pills’ packed in tiny bottles as nothing more than a candy or a placebo. What they don’t know is that the right ‘sweet pill’ packs the power to relieve the most chronic and intense of the pains!

In my 25 years of clinical practice, I’ve come across numerous cases of acute and chronic inflammations that have responded well to Homoeopathy. There are a large number of remedies each with its own specific indications, action, and affinity for particular body tissues.

Acute injuries like strains, sprains, swellings, bruises, hematomas or chronic conditions like arthritis, tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, and frozen shoulder are damage to muscles, ligaments, and tendons. They are commonly caused by repeated overuse of a muscle group or joint, a sudden impact or overloading of the muscles. This causes an inflammatory response leading to pain and disability and we can’t help but pop-in a pain killer.

Inflammation is a normal response, however, too much inflammation can reduce healing, delay recovery and cause further tissue damage. Your Physician will suggest rest, cryotherapy (ice), compression and elevation of the injured part. This is done in order to minimize the extent of the injury by decreasing the injury-induced bleeding into the tissues. Medications are often used to provide pain relief.

NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) reduce pain and inflammation, however, their side effects are inevitable. Gastrointestinal side effects are the most common, consisting of ulcers and gastritis. There is also a risk of heart attack, heart failure, high blood pressure, liver damage, blood disorders, skin problems or vision and hearing impairments if these are continued for long. Homoeopathic remedies available both in oral and topical forms can help with pain and inflammation. Using a natural combination of mineral and biological extracts, they are a great option to taking NSAIDs, for those who either don’t prefer or cannot take them.

Ms. YM, 68, a renowned classical dancer since her teens, with a glorious past and present, winning many awards of national and international repute, came to me complaining of pain in various joints, particularly the knees. She had had numerous injuries and strains to her joints, especially feet and knees, during her career. On many occasions, she had danced despite an injury. She had had many operations on her knee cartilages. On examination, I found her to be extremely supple, able to touch the floor with the palms of her hands with straight legs despite her pain! She had large nodes on her fingers and toes too.

It was clear that she had osteoarthritis relating to overuse and injury. She had been advised to have her knee joints replaced, but was reluctant to do so, because she felt that the previous knee operations had done more harm than good in the long run, not to mention the immense pain she underwent post-surgery! In addition, she was also on medication for Diabetes and high blood pressure. Guided by her peculiar and individual symptoms, she was put on homoeopathic treatment.

For the last six months, pains in her joints are under control. Other than the oral sweet pills, the topical ointments she’s been given to apply are providing her several hours of relief. She probably will need to have her knee joints replaced eventually, but for the time being, she finds her symptoms quite tolerable.

Homoeopathic anti-inflammatory relief for injuries usually begins with Arnica, a member of the sunflower family, along with ice and plenty of rest. When Arnica no longer helps, there are other remedies. Rhus tox is excellent for painful injuries that develop stiffness. Like a ‘rusty gate’, the pain is worse on first movement but improves while moving about. Bryonia is excellent for sharp pains that come on from the littlest movement. Ruta is used long after the initial swelling and heat are gone. It is the main remedy for stubborn and repetitive strains, such as tennis elbow and runner’s knee.  Apis for very swollen, red, hot joints that sting or burn. Colchicum has exquisitely sensitive joints, aggravated by the littlest movement again, but in this case, the pain wanders from joint to joint. Ledum helps treat a sprain with swelling that appears bruised, mottled purple and feels cold and numb. Despite the chill, only ice can be applied to the injury, as warmth aggravates the pain.

If you are battling Back Pain and Sciatica, remedies like Rhus tox, Nux vomica, Kalium carbonicum, Arnica, Phosphorus and Hypericum are of great help. These remedies are excellent anti-inflammatories, as long as the symptoms fit and your lower back pain is not due to a herniated disc or kidney infection, that might require specific treatment.

While I have found all these remedies a valuable ally against unwanted inflammations, there is also a need to identify and remove the underlying causes for these chronic inflammatory responses.