If you are prescribing for yourself, then do consider asking someone
who knows you to help you in this process; it's difficult to be objective
about yourself, and others may notice things that you have missed or
discounted.
As always with homeopathy, if the picture isn't clear, or the symptoms
are chronic (long-term) and complex, then you will need to seek the advice
of a professional homeopath.
Remedy |
Emotional Symptoms |
Common Symptoms in the Elderly |
General Symptoms |
| Alumina: dry and slow |
Confused and depressed, especially in
the morning. Mind slows down, forgetful and absentminded. Easily
disoriented: gets very distressed if hurried. |
Skin is dry and itches without an eruption.
Severe constipation even with a soft stool. Weakness with trembling.
Dry, hacking cough. Bladder weak: urination slow, has to wait for
it to start. |
Aversion to/Aggravation from potatoes.
Worse from warmth in general. |
| Ambra grisea: erratic
and embarrassed |
Many bereavements and losses. Forgetful
and confused. Easily embarrassed: shy and anxious in company (especially
with strangers). "Prattles" and asks questions without waiting for
answers. Prefers to be alone. |
Constipation: with anxiety and ineffectual
urging and straining. Can't pass stool or urine if others are within
hearing distance. Dry, nervous cough which is worse from talking
and is followed by burping. Insomnia: finds it difficult to fall
asleep before midnight. Vertigo: with feeling of weakness in the
stomach. Numbness, twitching and/or trembling anywhere. |
Generally worse from company (from conversation)
and from music. Symptoms are erratic and worse when lying down. |
| Arsenicum album: anxious,
fussy, and restless |
Very scared of disease, of cancer, of
death. Fears are worse when alone; to the point of despair. Extremely
tidy, cannot rest until everything is in its place. |
Indigestion with burning pains and nausea.
Loss of appetite and weight. Diarrhea, which is worse in the morning.
Involuntary urination: day and night. Insomnia with restlessness
and anxiety. Skin eruptions: itching without eruption. Palpitations
with anxiety. |
Chilly. Burning pains which are better
for heat. Symptoms are generally worse from midnight to 3 a.m. Thirsty
for warm drinks; sips them frequently. |
| Baryta carbonica: childish
and petty |
Absent-minded, confused and forgetful.
Revisits childhood in old age. Has great difficulty making decisions.
Extremely anxious about little (unimportant) things. Gets upset thinking
others are talking about them. |
Vertigo: when getting up or bending down.
Headache when bending. Indigestion and weakness after eating. Constipation
with straining and an unfinished feeling. Weak bladder with involuntary
urination: frequent urination at night with great urgency. Rattling
cough with difficulty coughing anything up. Insomnia: restless sleep,
wakes frequently from getting overheated. |
Much worse from the cold and damp. |
| Carbo vegetabilis: sluggish
and gassy |
Great indifference and apathy. Sudden,
recurring loss of memory and difficulty concentrating. Rude and irritable,
especially with relatives. |
Indigestion, flatulence, and diarrhea.
Severe, painful bloating with gas, better for burping. Rattling cough
with breathlessness, better for burping. Sluggish mentally and physically. |
Worse eating rich foods and fats; worse
overeating. Much worse for getting overheated. Wants to be fanned; wants
fresh air and breezes. |
| Conium maculatum: withdrawn,
slow, and dizzy |
Absent-minded, forgetful, and confused.
Difficulty understanding when reading. Tired of life: becomes withdrawn; doesn't
want company. Superstitious. |
Everything is slow: thinking, answering,
moving. Digestion, respiration, pulse, healing are all slow. |
Vertigo: worse lying down, when rolling
over in bed or turning the head, better for closing the eyes; everything
swirls. Dry tickling cough which is worse at night. Weak bladder:
frequent, dribbling urination. |
| Ignatia amara: loss and
grief |
Very upset after a loss or a big disappointment.
Wants to be alone and doesn't want any comforting. Finds it difficult
to cry but eventually sobs hysterically. Sighs a tremendous amount.
Feels as if there's a lump in the throat. |
Headache, indigestion, diarrhea, palpitations,
insomnia and/or weakness from grief. Twitches and spasms and unexplained
numbness anywhere. |
Contradictory symptoms accompany physical
complaints (e.g., cough worse coughing). Can't stand tobacco smoke. |
| Lycopodium: irritable,
anxious, and gassy |
Depressed and anxious: worries about absolutely
everything. Any changes or responsibilities are very stressful. Lacks
self confidence. Becomes absent-minded and forgetful. Snappy: irritable
and critical. Sentimental: cries when thanked. |
Thin and gassy. Appetite poor: feels full
after only a few bites. Everything turns to gas, terrible indigestion
with bloating. Frequent urination especially with prostate problems
(in men). Rattling cough with lots of expectoration (mucus). |
Craves sweet things and chocolate. All
symptoms are worse between 3 and 4 p.m. and between 4 and 8 p.m. |
| Phosphoric acid: weakness
and apathy |
Overwhelmed by loss especially bereavements.
Ailments from grief and disappointment. Forgetful; mind is too weak
to even think. |
Severe weakness. Painless diarrhea, palpitation,
headache, and extreme weakness after grief. Headache. |
Wants refreshing things (like fruit and
fruit juices) to eat and drink. Feels better after a nap. |
| Rhus toxicodendron: restless,
stiff, and achy |
Anxious and forgetful. Terrible restlessness; can't
rest in any position (because of the aching). |
Joint and back pains (rheumatism and arthritis)
which are worse on first motion and better for continued motion and
stretching. Shingles. |
Symptoms are worse at night; worse for
cold and for damp in any form; better for warmth. |
Here
are my favorite top ten remedies for common complaints in the elderly.
As with all other home prescribing, please use these remedies judiciously
and responsibly. If one strikes you as a clear description of someone
close to you, you might consider suggesting homeopathy as a safe and
gentle solution for some of their problems. If a short course of a homeopathic
remedy helps them, you will want to coach them on how and when to repeat
the remedy. Use the Home Prescribing Guidelines (below) as reminders.