One of the many things that I love about homeopathy is how medicines are made from toxic and poisonous substances. Have you ever had poison ivy? Not a very pleasant experience for sure. But, did you know that homeopathic poison ivy is a really useful medicine. All medicines in the homeopathic materia medica are classified using latin names. So, the latin name of poison ivy is Rhus Toxicodendron.
I have treated many bad backs with Rhus tox. with great success. Great success in these cases means no more pain. Let’s see some of the main characteristics of Rhus tox.
Great stiffness, better with motion. Low back pain and sciatica. Back pain, worse sitting still which causes stiffness. Back pain , worse after muscle strains as In car accidents or over-lifting. Back pain, better heat or hot baths or showers. Back pain, better motion which forces one to get up and move about. Back pain better from hard pressure and massage. Stiffness and pains in the trapezius muscles into the neck. Cervical stiffness which causes the patient to stretch and move the head, worse from being irritated, worse cold damp, better heat. The stiffness may go to the occiput and cause headache.
Acute sprains or chronic arthritis, neuralgia. Restless and Stiff. One of the most important joint remedies. Pain: tearing, drawing, burning, stitching, shooting pains. Bruised soreness. As if sprained or beaten. Affinity to connective tissue, especially ligaments. Rhus may be useful and effective for literally any joint in the body. Chronic inflammation at the site of sprains. Treats pain in the whole spine. Also treats pain in the shoulder, arms, hands, elbows, wrists, hips, knees, ankle, feet.
Keep this in mind when considering Rhus. Pain, stiffness is worse with initial motion especially after rest, or after excess motion or activity. Lying of the part causes pain. Pain is better with continued motion, stretching, change of position, lying on hard surface, warmth, warm weather, hot bath, wrapping up. Dry weather. Warming up from exercise. Rubbing (massage).
So you see one of the main characteristics of Rhus is pain is worse when you start to move, but as you move about the pain gets better. But, if you move too much or over do activity the pain gets worse again. Limbering up and stretching, warming up, are all helpful for the Rhus type of pain.
I have had great success with intense low back pain by using Arnica 1M followed by Rhus. tox 1M. Often the pain is completely eliminated with 1 or 2 doses.
If anything is not clear read and study. There are great refence materials available for all homeopathic medicines.
Here is a question for all of you readers. How do poisonous and toxic substances become safe for use as homeopathic medicines?
References for this article:
Homeopathy for Musculoskeletal Healing, Asa Hershoff N.D., D.C.
Desktop Guide to Keynotes and Confirmatory Symptoms, Roger Morrison, M.D.