Homeopathic medicine, treatment and remedies for anxiety

• Aethusa Cynapium
  Common Name: Fool’s parsley
  Symptom: Aethusa Cynapium works well for the conditions of the brain and the nervous system. Individuals who benefit from this remedy cannot digest milk. Common symptoms where aethusa cynapium is prescribed are:
  • Restlessness
  • Anxiety along with sobbing
  • Trouble concentrating or doing a task
  • Brain fag (condition where the brain is fatigued, resulting in impaired functions of the body)

The condition of the individual worsens during the evenings of summer months and early mornings around 3 to 4 am. Being in company and in open-air helps relieve the symptoms.

• Amylenum Nitrosum
  Common Name: Amyl nitrite
  Symptoms: Amylenum nitrosum acts rapidly and helps alleviate the following symptoms:
  • Throbbing in head
  • Palpitations due to extreme anxiety
  • Suffocation, with a need for fresh air 

• Argentum Nitricum
  Common Name: Nitrate of silver
  Symptoms: Argentum nitricum is an effective remedy for neurosis. It is often prescribed to those who have a marked intolerance to heat. Common symptoms that it helps relieve are:
  • Nervousness
  • Overthinking every action
  • Impulsive behaviour

The individual’s condition worsens on exposure to heat in any form and on consuming sweets. Fresh air and cold weather help control the symptoms. 

• Arsenicum Album
  Common Name: Arsenious acid
  Symptoms: Arsenicum album is a widely used remedy for conditions associated with signs of restlessness, fear and worry. This remedy helps relieve the following symptoms of anxiety:
  • Restlessness
  • Fear of death
  • Fear accompanied by sweating
  • Suicidal tendency

The individual suffers from heightened symptoms under wet and cold conditions and feels better in warm weather or after having hot drinks. 

• Belladonna
  Common Name: Deadly nightshade
  Symptoms: Belladonna is a very active remedy for conditions related to the nervous system. It is given to those who experience the following symptoms:
  • Social phobia
  • Fearful hallucinations
  • Strong affinity to run away or escape from situations

Individuals prescribed with belladonna often have escalated symptoms when lying down, mostly during the noon. 

• Calcarea Carbonica
  Common Name: Carbonate of lime
  Symptoms: Calcarea carbonica is usually prescribed to individuals who have a physically and mentally tiring work routine. It is suited to large-bellied people with pale skin and children who grow fat. Calcarea Carbonica helps relieve the following symptoms:
  • Increased anxiety leading to palpitations
  • Fear of losses or misfortune

Any kind of exertion or demanding work and cold weather often worsen the condition, while warm and dry weather improves the symptoms. 

• Cannabis Indica
  Common Name: Hashish
  Symptoms: Cannabis indica is a strong remedy, which soothes the mental state of the individual to a great extent. It is prescribed in case of the following symptoms: 
  • Anxiety along with depression
  • Restlessness
  • A sudden episode of withdrawal accompanied by trembling, shaking and sweating

The complaints often worsen in the morning, on drinking strong caffeinated beverages and or alcohol. Fresh air and cold water often improve the condition.

• Ignatia Amara
  Common Name: St. Ignatius bean
  Symptoms: Ignatius amara is mainly given to those dealing with emotional distress. It is prescribed to individuals who have an alert but nervous mind. Such individuals are sensitive, easily excited, dark and fast-footed. They show the following symptoms:
  • A lingering sadness
  • A tendency to cry
  • Shock or grief

Symptoms often worsen symptoms in the morning and after consuming caffeine or tobacco. Symptoms improve while the person is eating. 

• Kalium Carbonicum
  Common Name: Carbonate of potassium
  Symptoms: Symptoms that can be relieved by kalium carbonicum are:
  • General fearfulness
  • Hypersensitivity to noise and touch
  • Fear of being left alone
  • A feeling of anxiety in the stomach

The symptoms get worse in cold weather and during the morning. Individuals feel much better during summers and on moving about. 

• Lycopodium Clavatum
  Common Name: Club moss
  Symptoms: A patient who benefits from lycopodium is generally thin, extremely sensitive and has gastric issues. This remedy helps alleviate the following symptoms:
  • Melancholy
  • Low self-confidence
  • Fear of being alone
  • Apprehension and aversion to undertaking new things 
  • Confusion of thoughts, such that the person writes or spells wrong syllables and words 
  • Constant fear of having a breakdown under stress

The condition is worsened by hot weather or warmth in general. The person feels better on moving about and in cold weather. 

• Medorrhinum
  Common Name: The gonorrhśal virus
  Symptoms: This remedy is given to patients with the following symptoms:
  • A tendency to cry while talking
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Nervousness
  • Restlessness
  • Suicidal tendencies

Symptoms often get worse when the individual overthinks about his condition or in warm weather. Symptoms improve in rainy or humid weather.

• Phosphorus
  Common Name: Phosphorus
  Symptoms: Common symptoms where phosphorus is prescribed are:
  • Sadness and low spirits
  • Fearfulness
  • Sensitive nature
  • Restlessness
  • Mental exhaustion
  • A tendency to get startled easily
  • The person is anxious about death whenever he/she is alone

Warm and wet weather, mental exertion and warm food or drink escalate the symptoms. Cold weather and cold food reduce the symptoms 

• Psorinum
  Common Name: Scabies vesicle
  Symptoms: Psorinum produces a chilly effect upon ingestion so the person requires warm clothing even in warm weather. The most common symptoms that can be relieved using this remedy are:
  • A deep state of sadness and melancholy
  • Depressing thoughts; the person feels hopeless
  • Sadness and anxiety, with religious thoughts
  • Suicidal tendency

These symptoms tend to get worse with caffeine and weather changes. Symptoms improve in warm weather.

• Rhus Toxicodendron
  Common Name: Poison ivy
  Symptoms: Poison ivy is an effective remedy for the following symptoms:
  • Restlessness
  • Suicidal thoughts
  • The person fears that he/she may be poisoned
  • Fear of a mishap, so the person is not able to sleep

The individual's condition tends to get worse while sleeping and in cold and humid weather. On the other hand, dry and warm weather improves the symptoms. 

• Silicea Terra
  Common Name: Silica/pure flint
  Symptoms: Silicea terra is prescribed to treat the following symptoms:
  • Nervousness and timidity
  • Oversensitivity to everything with a fear of pins

Individuals who benefit from this remedy report worsening of symptoms in the morning and during cold weather and notice improvement in symptoms in warm weather.

An individual’s lifestyle and dietary habits have a great impact on their social appearance and their ability to deal with life in a positive way. People who lead a solitary life tend to take things hard and often turn to alcoholism or other harmful addictions to deal with their issues.

Activities like physical exercises have been proven to be of great help in people suffering from panic disorder or phobia. Yoga and other calming exercises are also great ways of dealing with uncontrollable emotions.

Also, since homeopathic medicines are highly diluted preparations, their action gets easily affected by various lifestyle and dietary factors. So, homeopathic practitioners suggest the following do's and don'ts to a patient with anxiety:

Do’s: 

• Take a balanced diet with nutritious food.
• Keep your living conditions clean and tidy to prevent any negative aura.
• Maintain personal hygiene as it is the very first step in being confident and positive.
• Keep the temperature and conditions in your room as per your liking

Don’ts: 

• Avoid consumption of excessive caffeine and alcohol.
• Avoid food that is too sour or salty as it negatively affects the action of the medications.
• Avoid extreme weather and unhygienic living conditions.

Homeopathy is based on the principle ‘like cures like’, which means that substances that produce certain symptoms when given in large doses, can help relieve the same symptoms when given in diluted doses.

Obtained from natural sources, homeopathic remedies help the body fight off diseases without causing any side effects or addiction in the long run. Homeopathic treatment involves treating the individual as a whole and not just the symptoms. It has been scientifically proven that homeopathic medicines help manage anxiety.

An observational study including 220 anxiety patients, both male and female in the age group of eight to 67 found that remedies like arsenicum album, argentum nitricum, ignatia amara are effective in the management of anxiety symptoms. Out of the 220 individuals, 157 were considered cured, with the resolution of symptoms. A few of the remaining 63 individuals continued taking the remedies for control of their symptoms. 

In a case study done at the American Institute of Homeopathy, a female nurse suffering from adjustment disorder with anxiety got symptomatic relief on using vanadium.

Homeopathic remedies are prescribed after extensive examination of the individual, keeping every possible aspect in mind, including the physical and mental state of the person and the symptoms of the condition.

Since the remedies are prescribed in minute doses, the chances of side effects are practically nil. Moreover, as the remedies are obtained from natural sources, the side effects are negligible in a majority of cases. 

However, in certain cases, the symptoms tend to get slightly aggravated before the effect of the remedies kicks in. This is a normal dip in the healing process. If the symptoms continue to worsen, the possibility of a new development or the body’s rejection of the remedy should be considered and a consultation must be made for a new prescription.

Most people opt for conventional therapy sessions and anti-anxiety medicines or antidepressants to manage anxiety symptoms. However, homeopathy is an effective alternative choice. 

Homeopathy does lag behind in terms of the treatment period, and conventional methods are the first choice even of homeopaths for extreme cases where suicidal tendencies are dominant.

In cases where suicidal thoughts are less prevalent, homeopathy has an excellent treatment plan. Unlike conventional treatment that only suppresses the symptoms, homepathic treatment aims at uprooting the condition to prevent its recurrence. Homeopathy has an array of cost-effective medications tailored to the symptoms of anxiety. It is always advisable to talk to a doctor before taking a homeopathic remedy as not every remedy suits everyone.