Direct to organ remedies
INTRODUCTION
In herbal medicine it is understood that
certain remedies have an affinity for specific organs
or systems and this is also true in homeopathy but unlike
the herbal tradition, homeopathy usually only apportions
one single remedy to the entire gamut of the patient's
symptoms.
Knowing organ affinity can help deduce the
homeopathic remedy e.g. where the liver function dominates
the problem we might consider chelidonium, prompting us
to look it up in the materia medica and hence learn more
about it's homeopathic application.
What I personally find specially fascinating
is that sometimes the indications for herbs are the same
as their homeopathic counterpart, sometimes different
(e.g. Abrot., Absin.,) and sometimes a bit of both. This
prompts research in the materia medicas and provings!
A very high proportion of the organ remedies
listed in fact have herbs or plants as their source material
e.g. Ruta has an affinity for the periosteum and rectum,
Hypericum for the nerves and coccyx, Solidago for the
lungs and kidneys, and so on. - for many organ remedies
it's a fine line between using traditional herbalism and
herbs potentised. The mother tincture (MT) may be useful
as an adjunct to homeopathy or the herb may be potentised
and given in very low potency which will then act partially
as herb and partially as potentised remedy, emparting
the benefits from both worlds much like the tissue salts.
Although outside the 'classical' paradigm,
there are times when using potentised remedies based in
part on organ affinity is of distinct therapeutic benefit
to the patient. Prescribed to support the weaker organs
so the 'constitutional' remedy can work without causing
aggravations, these organ remedies are often referred
to as 'support' remedies or 'drainage' remedies, as they
assist detoxifying.
Many plant remedies of course have their
herbal use regulated due to their toxicity (Agar., Dig.,Op.,
etc) but even these can safely be used in potency as this
removes their toxic nature whilst retaining the therapeutic
effect. Remember this is how dilution and 'dynamisation'
or 'potency' in homeopathy was first developed - to remove
toxic effects of therapeutic agents. With organ remedies
that are not herbs, their therapeutic effect or safe application
is only realised through dynamisation, so they are always
given in potency
Those therapists who practiced herbalism
prior to learning homeopathy will find this second nature,
but it may be harder to grasp for those without previous
understanding of the benefits of synergistic prescribing.
POSOLOGY
Organ remedies are often prescribed either
in mother tincture (if herbs) or in the lower dilution
'X' (decimal) range rather than the higher centissimal
'C' range and in the lowest potencies, i.e.1x to 6x; tds
or qds. Unless also qualified in the use of herbs it is
safer for homeopaths to use the potentised remedy rather
than the mother tincture (MT or 'Ø') E.g. chelidonium
quickly becomes toxic if given in material doses above
a certain level.
The organ remedy list is a guide, always
refer to the matera medica
NOTES ON:
Remedies for use in Organ Support and Drainage
Remember that what we eat has a therapeutic
effect as there is no definite cut off point where a plant
ceases to be a herb and becomes a food. Plants can range
from being neutral, to those with a slight medicinal effect,
through to those which are downright poisonous. In the
same way some plants can be therapeutic in small quantities
but harmful in too large quantities; {eg. chocolate? :-)}.
With others, although perfectly safe as a homeopathic
potency, it may rapidly become intolerable for compromised
systems even in drop doses whilst stronger systems may
yet tolerate it. Equally some plants designated as poisons
or borderline poisons can be used as medicines in the
tiniest quantities.
Homeopathic drainage was first thought of
by E A Maury. It’s useful if a patient has weak
organs, especially the eliminating organs. High potencies
of remedies may cause rapid detoxing and so put a strain
on the eliminating organs, e.g. the liver, so if these
organs are weak or have energy blocks they can be strengthened
and toned before giving a higher potency constitutional
remedy i.e. strengthen the weakest link.
Potentised herbs can be given in combination
if they are in very low potency i.e. from 1 x to 6x. It
is not uncommon to give a herbal tincture with a homeopathic
potency added. The higher the potency of the constitutional
remedy, the more important drainage is so that the remedy
can act without aggravations. Also indicated for people
with low vitality and if there is no clear picture for
prescribing but you know which organ(s) need support.
It bears mentioning that this is not intended
to be a list of herbs or remdies for the conditions/organs
given but is intended to show the homeopathic Rx's which
are also regularly used as herbs, amongst other things,
and as an aide memoire to their organ affinities. The
philosophy behind the administration of herbs is akin
to that of homeopathy in that it is 'holistic' so please
don’t consider that because they are here presented
as 'support rx's " that they are to be thought of
as specifics in an allopathic sense. Differentiate as
usual using the MM's.
Bear in mind then, that opposite to homeopathic
tradition, herbs are usually given synergistically in
combination and most herbs have more than one sphere of
action. Do explore the herbal field as much as possible,
even if not actually using herbal MTs, it broadens our
understanding of the medicinal action and affinity of
these remedies and so can only be of benefit to the homeopath.
(There are many good books on Herbalism, a good introduction
is is " The New Holistic Herbal" by David Hoffmann.)
Remember if you will be using the actual
MT that with all herbs there is a physical component -[i.e.
mother tincture 'MT"] and therefore the danger of
side effects or toxicity - it can be easy for homeopaths
to forget this, so dosage needs to be considered respectfully
when using material doses rather than just in potency.
Some herbs are safe for general use in MT others are not
and should only be used by medical herbalists; so unless
qualified to prescribe herbs only use the remedy in its
potentised form. ALWAYS double check for possible interaction
with medication if using ANY herbal MT's. Buy professionally
prepared tinctures if you’re going to use material
doses or get the herbs from a professional source as it
is easy to mistake one version of a herb with another.
Misc. comments:
Some remedies appear in more than one section,
eg. Berberis-v: Liver-kidneys-spleen
Calendula (Marigold) MT is widely useful
in all healing needs, unlike Arnica (Leopards Bane) ,
it can be applied to broken skin. The herb Arnica must
not be applied to broken skin
Fucus Vesiculosis (Sea Kelp) and Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa)
are said to be useful when taken together.in MT if needing
to gain weight e.g.after prolonged illness or wheight
training. Caution in Thyroid problems
Crateagus not to be given if patient is
on warfarin - i.e. always check interactions of medicines
Some herbs only become toxic in high or
prolonged doses e.g. Uva Ursi, - i.e.double check dosage.
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