Homeopathy in Arthritis Treatment

Before I write what homeopathy can do to treat patients we have to see what arthritis really is? Arthritis is actually a complex family of musculoskeletal disorders consisting of more than 100 different diseases or conditions that can affect people of all ages, races and genders.

Arthritis can take many forms, but three of the common diseases that make up arthritis are:

• Osteoarthritis (OA), the most common form of arthritis, is a progressive degenerative joint disease characterized by the breakdown of joint cartilage associated with risk factors, such as overweight/obesity, history of joint injury and age.
• Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), a systemic disease characterized by the inflammation of the membranes lining the joint, which causes pain, stiffness, warmth, swelling and sometimes severe joint damage.
• Juvenile Arthritis (JA) is an umbrella term used to describe the many autoimmune and inflammatory conditions that can develop in children ages 16 and younger.

Let us see what homeopathic treatment can do to treat arthritis.

Homeopathy is a science of individualization. While taking the case we must give utmost importance to seek individual information of the patients. If we find a clear case with strong and clear modalities, there is a greater chance to cure the case. In the following example we will see what information we exactly need in order to cure arthritis patients.

First of all, we need the following information about the pattern of arthritis:

We have to examine whether the patient is suffering from arthritic nodosities or not. Discoloration of joints especially redness of joint is a remarkable symptoms. There may be heat in the affected parts along with inflammation. There may be wandering or shifting pain in the joints that can take place at any particular time of day i.e. particular hours in the morning or night. The joint pain may be alternating with heart symptoms. Sometimes we see pain in the joints along with offensive smelling in the urine. The joint pain may be worse in bed, after exposure to cold, from taking cold, in cold weather, damp weather. The joint pain may be like gouty type which alternates with asthma or with pain in the forehead. There are some peculiar modalities. The pain may be aggravated while lying in the bed especially in the left side. It can also be aggravated during any kind of motion or it may be ameliorated during motion. The patient may feel better if the area of pain is given gentle or hard pressure. Sometimes we see the joints pain like rheumatic pain which is suppressed by gonorrhea. Small joints are affected which are worse while walking, any kind of warmth aggravate the condition. Sometimes warmth can ameliorate also. The patient may be aggravated by warmth of bed. Some seasons may be very difficult for the arthritis patients especially in the winter or damp weather. Small joints are affected with gouty type pain in the knee. There is aching pain in the knee joints. The rheumatic pains of the joints are sometimes stitching especially in the evening. There is also stiffness and swelling of different joints.

Then it is very significant that sometimes there is eye inflammation alternating with swelling of feet. We also see diarrhea alternating with rheumatism. Affections of the heart alternating with sediment in the urine is a critical condition. These are all peculiar to arthritis.

There are so many general modalities. These are:

The patient may generally feel better from cold applications, from lying on painful side, from continued motion or slow motion, from total rest, warm applications, from wet weather.

On the other hand, the situation of arthritis patients may be worsened by some general symptoms. These are:

Lying especially on sides (left or right side) or painful sides, at the beginning of motion can aggravate the patient’s condition. Sometimes warm application, change of weather, windy and stormy weather, wet weather or getting the feet wet may aggravate the patient. Stretching or tendency to stretch is an important symptom.

In some cases we see personal or family history of gonorrhea which was basically suppressed by allopathic treatment.

If we look into the above facts with minor details and analyze the case properly it may lead us to the correct remedy which can cure the patients.