02/04/2026
How To Compare And Group Remedies:
Many would -be Homoeopaths have fallen by the wayside, and given up all hope of ever studying and applying the Homoeopathic art, after browsing through a Homoeopathic Materia Medica and nothing the manifold symptoms recorded under each drug. They find that against many remedies, similar symptoms relating to the pains and aches of the body are recorded.
They cannot decide which medicine to give, what symptoms to prescribe, and the deciding factors which differentiate one drug from another.
I can well understand this attitude of mind, and unless some guidance is obtained as to how to study Materia Medica and compare one drug with another,then disillusion, discouragement, and eventually contempt for Homoeopathy will be the inevitable result.
The first thing the beginner should do is to group remedies under the following headings those of temperature.
(a) The Cold Remedies or those remedies which are worse by cold in every form.
(b) The Hot Remedies, or those remedies which are worse heat every form.
The reason why this grouping is so very important is that when a person is adversely affected in every way by a given temperature, for example Heat, Then It Is Utterly Useless to prescribe one of the remedies that are included in the group of Cold Remedies, No Matter If The External Pains And Aches Are Covered By A Remedy In The Cold Group of remedies.
Your remedy must be found - in this example - amongst the Hot Remedies, or those which are worse by heat.
This temperature modality is not only Most Important, but it narrows down your search to the group of remedies, which cover the temperature modality in the person concerned.
Having to live in an island as we do in Great Britain, which is susceptible to rapid changes in temperature, mostly of the cold and wet variety, I propose in this article to study the principal Cold Remedies and compare them.
The following is by no means a complete list of the Cold Remedies,that is, those aggravated by cold in general, but a thorough knowledge of the peculiarities of the following, will enable one to deal with the majority of acute troubles, Where The Cold Modality Is Very Pronounced. A complete list of these cold remedies can be found in Dr. Kent's Repertory. I propose to deal with the following.
Arsenicum alb, Calcaria carb, Causticum, China, Dulcamara, Graphites, Herper sulp, Nitric acid, Nux vomica, Phosphorus, Rhus tox, Sepia, Silicea.
Now for one word of warning,
If a patient says he dislikes the cold, you must be able to distinguish between Coldness, which is a lack of vital heat, and aggravation from cold in its various forms.
A person who craves warmth and cannot keep warm is obviously cold, but his particular symptoms, that is, his pains and aches, May Be Aggravated by Warmth and ameliorated by cold.
This point will be made clear in our first remedy.
Arsenicum alb:
The Arsenicum patient himself is a Very COLD One suffers a general aggravation from cold, and hugs the fire, except when he has a HEADACHE, For His Headache Will Be Relieved by Cold and cold applications. The typical Mr.or Mrs. Arsenicum would be quite happy if they had their body in an oven and their head in an ice - box, So you see in this case, the Arsenicum patient himself is worse by cold, but his particular symptom Headache Is Better by cold. This is why it is so Important when using this list of cold remedies to get the fullest information from the patient as whether the patient As A Whole is worse from cold.or only some part of him.
He also has terrible Burning Pains, and these may be anywhere in the body, but they Are Always Better By Heat, hot applications, hot drinks,etc, Add to this great prostration, mentally restless, dread of death, generally worse after midnight, and you have a pretty good picture of Arsenicum.
Causticum:
Is so cold that warmth does not relieve. His cough is, however, ameliorated by sips of Cold Water. A peculiarity of Mr. Causticum, it is that he is Better In Warm Damp Wet Weather. He is worse, especially in cold, dry winds, and is susceptible to sudden paralysis of single parts, especially facial paralysis brought on by dry, cold winds. His chief sensations are Rawness and Soreness, no matter whether of the scalp, throat, larynx, trachea, chest, re**um, a**s, urethra, etc. Causticum also has many Burning sensations, no matter where, but these burnings are Always Associated with Soreness.
Calcaria Carb:
Is very chilly and dislikes open air, and is Very Sensitive To Cold Damp Air And Weather. His pains and ache আরs are worse from the slightest draught. The head sweats profusely. Stockings or socks always feel damp. Takes cold very easily. Is fat and flabby, and gets easily out of breath. Is always tired, and full of fear. Is generally Better In Every Way in dry warm weather.
CHINA:
Great Chilliness with Coldness of internal parts . Sensitive to cold air and becomes easily chilled. His pains are brought on by exposure to wind and cold air. Old malarial sufferers , who are subject to neuralgias.Nerves always in a fret. Ailments from loss of VITAL fluids, such as hemorrhages, diarrheas, etc. Sensitive to touch, to draught of air, excessive flatulence, belching gives no relief. His Complaints are usually worse every other day. Pains are better by HARD PRESSURE and worse by the SLIGHTEST TOUCH.
DULCAMARA:
Ailments brought on by cold, damp weather and from living in damp places. The coryza, cough and neuralgias are worse from cold and wet. His Complaints are caused or aggravated by sudden changes in weather from warm to cold and wet. Dr. Kent states " The Dulcamara patient is disturbed hy every change in the weather from warm to cold, from dry to moist, and from sudden cooling the body, while perspiring. He is ameliorated in dry, even weather, cold and damp aggravate all his conditions . He is worse evening and night and during rest. No matter what the symptoms are the Constitutional State Is Worse In Cold Damp Weather" (caps mine) . This remedy is very suitable to the English climate, when a patient has the above modalities.
GRAPHITES:
Is predominantly chilly, and wants plenty of warm clothing. The coryza, bone pains, and stomach are worse from cold, whereas the skin symptoms are worse from warmth. The Graphites patient is prone to eruptions, no matter where, but they always exude a thick, honey - like, sticky fluid. The finger and toe nails grow thick and out of shape. The stools knotty and large, and the lumps are united by mucous threads, and mucous often follows the stool. The Graphites patient tends to obesity. When you have present the obesity, the characteristic glutinous eruption, the peculiar stool, and the condition of the nails, Graphites will cure ailments of many kinds.
HEPER SuLPHUR :
Is also a very chilly patient - extremely sensitive to the slightest draught. Is worse from cold winds and cold drinks. Its strongest characteristic is its hypersensitiveness to Touch, Pain, and Cold Air. This is both mental and physical. Another characteristic is " Coughs whenever any part of the body becomes uncovered" . A standard remedy in croup, when it has become loose. The HEPER SuLPHUR Asthma is Better In Damp Weather. In throat affections, it has a peculiar senation of a splinter or fishbone stuck in the throat. In cases of quinsy, it should be one of the first remedies to the study.
NITRICUM ACID:
Is very sensitive to cold, always chilly, and is worse from the least exposure. Soles of the feet cold. The coryza and chilblains are worse from cold, but the cough is Better from cold. Always catching cold. A grand characteristic of Ntric acid is that pains are Sticking, but especially Splinter - like. Wherever the pains occur, in the a**s, mouth, nose, etc, the sensation is " a splinter" . It may occur in any part of the body, even in in-growing toe- nails. It affects especially the mucous outlets of the body, where skin and mucous membranes join, mouth, nose, re**um, a**s, urethra, va**na. The urine is very strong smelling " like horse's urine" and Cold when it passes. Many kinds of warts with the characteristic sticking or splinter pain on touch.
NUX VOMICA:
Is generally very chilly, oversensitive to open air, to a draught of air. Always taking cold. Aversion to uncovering. His coughs and headaches are worse from cold. Very irritable and sensitive to external impressions such as noise, odours, light, and music. Catches cold from sitting in cold places, or from sitting on cold steps. His colds are fluent by day, dry at night, worse in a warm room, and better in cold air. Hahnemann states; " Serious ailments from catching cold are often removed by Nux vomica. NUX VOMICA has Chilliness on the slightest movement, on the slightest exposure to open air . Chilled by the slightest draught. Cannot get warm. Great Coldness not removed by the heat of the stove, nor by bed coverings" . In fevers, the whole body is burning hot, face red and hot, yet the patient Cannot Move or Uncover Without Feeling Chilly.
PHOSPHORUS:
Is worse in cold weather. The patient is generally sensitive to cold. All his Complaints are worse from cold and cold applications, and better from heat and warm applications,Except the complaints of the head and stomach which are better from cold. In stomach complaints, the Phosphorus patient craves very cold water, which as soon as it becomes warm in the stomach is immediately vomited. The headaches are congestive and throbbing, and they are better from cold and cold applications and worse from heat. Another characteristic of Phosphorus is " Burning " , Dr. Nash tells us, " Burning prominent in every place, the mouth, stomach, intestine,a**s, between the shoulder blades, running up the spine, palms of the hands. The heat begins in the hands and spread to the face" . He fears being left alone, in the dark, in a thunderstorm. He has horrible sinking, faint, empty feelings everywhere. In diarrhea,a characteristic is a sensation as if the a**s remained open.
RHUS TOX:
Is very susceptible to cold,damp weather. Rhus tox is generally sensitive to cold air; all complaints are worse from cold and better from warmth. Ailments from getting wet when perspiring. Its grand characteristic is that the pains and aches are worse at rest and better from motion. Great restlessness, must keep constantly changing position to relieve the pain. A grand remedy for sprains or straining a single part, muscle or tendon. For over lifting, especially from stretching high up to reach things. Dr . Nash says; " If the great characteristic, lameness and stiffness and pain on first moving after rest, or on getting up in the morning, relieved by continued motion, is present, Rhus tox is the first remedy to think of" .
The characteristics of worse rest and better motion can be applied to numerous ailments. For example, Dr. Kent states: " A nursing mother may have sore ni***es, and when the child begins to nurse,the ni**le hurts exceedingly, but on continued nursing, it becomes much better" . The means Worse Rest, Better Motion. Again - " Hoarseness on the first begining to sing, which wears off in singing a few notes, or wears off after talking a little white " . Once more, this means Worse Rest, Better Motion. So you see how this modality can be applied.
SEPIA:
Has coldness over the whole body. Feels cold even in a warm room. Very sensitive to cold air and chills easily. Lack of vital heat. INDIFFERENCE is its strong characteristic, which means natural love and affection no longer exists, especially for those near and dear, such as children, husband, wife, and so on. Lack of ability to register any affection. This remedy applies more to women than the men, but not always so.
The SEPIA woman is cold, unyielding, tired, joyless, and feels as if the whole of her inside is about to drop out, so she has to sit and cross her limbs to prevent it. Her one desire is to get away from everything and have rest and peace. Her face is sallow, waxy, and anaemic, and she has a yellow saddle across her nose. She has flushes of heat with perspiration and faintness, with weakness in the small of the back. She has a terrible feeling of goneness and hunger, which is not relieved by eating. She suffers from constipation, with a sensation of a " Ball in the re**um" , Dr. Kent states: "When these symptoms group themselves together,the gnawing hunger, the constipation, the dragging down, and the mental condition, it is Sepia and Sepia only" .
SILICEA:
There is general Chilliness; always cold; cold weather, cold water, and cold in general aggravate. In Boericke's MATERIA MEDICA, it is stated: " The Silicea patient is cold, chilly,hugs the fire, wants plenty of warm clothing, hates draughts,hands and feet cold,worse in winter" . Very offensive sweat of feet, hands, and axilla. Lack of vital heat . The typical Silicea characteristic is " WEAKNESS" - Silicea is nervous, irritable,weak, fainthearted, yielding, giving -up disposition - No grit at all.
From the rough snapshot given of the peculiarities of these cold remedies,the beginner will have a good base on which to study these remedies in a full Homoeopathic Materia Medica.
Heal Thyself,May,1950.
Dr. Md Saiful Islam DHMS Dhaka.
Chamber: Sifat Homeohall Hall, Salban mistrepara, Haragach road, Rangpur. 01575360688.
