Homeopathy relieves joint aches effectively

Homeopathy relieves joint aches effectively

Sixty-four-year-old Meera (name changed) was extremely conscious and wary when she would get up from bed, every morning. The reason was her joints “seemed to be as rigid and stiff as iron and aching ‘mad’ during winter and monsoon,” as she put it in her own words. The interesting part was she felt much better when she moved about, or kept herself busy. The more the movement, the better she felt during the course of the day. Her husband’s complaints were different — his osteoarthritis (OA) pains were so severe that he refused to move all through the day, lest it got worse.

Homeopathy is evidence-based medicine (EBM). Homeopathic remedies have been clinically proven to reduce OA inflammation, relieve pain and repair the tissues. They also have the ability to stimulate the body’s natural ability to heal from the inside-out, and not just on the joint surface. The key to homeopathic treatment is how best one can first categorise the symptoms, based on the unique nature and temperament of the individual, and then match the appropriate homeopathic remedy to them. The homeopathic remedy, Rhus Toxicodendron, is effective for rigid, painful joints that are worse after getting up from bed, but feel better with sustained movement. This remedy is most useful when the joints become painful in cold weather, or when there is dampness in the air. Warm baths, or poultice, also relieve the pain and stiffness. The homeopathic remedy, Bryonia, likewise, relieves sharp joint pains, brought on especially with the least movement. The typical Bryonia individual complains of pain, while lying down on the painful side. Taking absolute rest gives momentary relief. If the person is bad-tempered, or irritable, and wants to be just left alone with his/her joint despair, Bryonia can be most effective.

In a clinical study, published in the American Journal of Pain Management, a group of OA patients were split into two groups. Through a “double-blinding” process, the two groups were given either a suitable homoeopathic remedy, or acetaminophen, a commonly-prescribed conventional drug for pain relief in OA. Researchers found that homoeopathy provided a level of pain relief that was superior to acetaminophen and produced no side-effects.