From the days of studies in homoeopathy I was in search of a good and simple book for the beginners but I could not get any book to satiate my requirement. This thing had been haunting my mind since then. My idea began to mature after I passed my degree from Homoeopathic Medical College, Chandigarh. During my college days, my teachers helped me to reach to the flash point. My parents had been of immense help in fully maturing my idea. In this way, the total environment upto the time contributed in the writing and preparation of this book. So I earnestly hope that the book in the present form will prove to be a boon to the new students as well as to the beginners. The language has been kept simple so as to be understood by any body and every body. In one compact volume I have tried to introduce the reader to the system of homoeopathic healing, how it originated, what are the scientific theories underlying it and what are its advantages in terms of healing of disease and cost of treatment. In the part on materia medica a number of carefully chosen drugs have been discussed in detail. I hope that these chapters would provide a rewarding experience to the readers of this book. While preparing this book, I have taken help from works of pioneer such as Dr. Samuel Heinemann, Dr. C. Hering, Dr. T.F. Allen, Dr. J.T. Kent. I hope that the "Secrets of Homoeopathy" would be used and referred to in every home. I also hope that this book be of immense advantage to students of homoeopathy. The work has been undertaken to supply the practioners of homoeopathic medicine with reliable, practical and condensed indications for the more important remedies in disease. It is devoted to homoeopathy and from works on materia medica.

The homoeopathic system of medicine is one of the finest systems of cure available in the world. It achieves in totality the ideal laid down by its founder, Dr. Samuel Hahnemann: "The highest ideal of cure is rapid, gentle and permanent restoration of the health, or removal and annihilation oftlie disease in its whole extent, in the shortest, most reliable, and most harmless way, on easily compreltensible principles". In homoeopathy, not a single drug is used without knowing its effect on healthy human beings. Hence there is no shooting in the dark. The system operates, by and large, without laboratory tests and other expensive means of diagnosis, which are being used when not needed and that too, unfortunately on patients who can hardly afford the expenses. Cost wise, there is no medical system in tlie world, which is as inexpensive as homoeopathy. No patient who requires a speedy cure without side effects can ignore homoeopathy; no doctor who has nothing but the good of his patient at heart can overlook the utility and effectiveness of homoeopathy and no Government which has to balance its budget can afford not to use homoeopathy in hospitals and other institutions run for the health and care of the sick and thus it is the most cost effective treatment The discovery of homoeopathic system of medicine makes a fascinating story.

Dr. Samuel Hahnemann laid down the fundamentals of the then new doctrine of homoeopathy in organon of medicine. As observed by him in the 'Introduction7 to this work, till then no one had ever taught this homoeopathic mode of cure, no one had carried it out in practice. Dr. Hahnemann was of the view that the art of the medical practice "should. Rapidly and mildly, effect an unalloyed and permanent cure, and restore to health by means of the smallest doses of a few simple medicines carefully selected according to their proved effect, by the only therapeutic law comfortable to nature, that is Similia Similibus Curentur". Homoeopathy is based on the following principles: "The physicians high and only mission is to restore the sick to health, to cure, as it is termed" The highest ideal of cure is rapid, gentle and permanent restoration of health or removal and annihilation of the disease in its whole extent in the shortest, most reliable and most harmless way on easily comprehensible principles. Unprejudiced observer of a sick person takes note of nothing in every individuars disease except the changes in the health of the body and of the mind, which can be perceived externally by means of the senses. "All these perceptible signs represent the disease in its whole extent, that is, together they form the true and only conceivable portrait of the disease"

This individualizing examination of a case of disease, for which Dr. Hahnemann give general directions, of which the practitioner will bear in mind only what is applicable for each individual case, demands of the physician nothing but freedom from prejudice and sound senses, attention in observing and fidelity in tracing the picture of the disease. The patient details the history of his sufferings; those about him tell what they heard him complain of, how he has behaved and what they have noticed in him; the physician sees, hears, and remarks by his other senses what there is of an altered or unusual character about him. He writes down accurately all that the patient and his friends have told him in the very expressions used by them. Keeping silence himself, he allows them to say all they have to say, and refrains from interrupting them (every interruption breaks the train of thought of the narrators, and all they would have said at first does not again occur to them in precisely the same manner after that.) unless they wander off to other matters. The physician advises them at the beginning of the examination to speak slowly, in order that he may take down in writing the important parts of what the speaker says. He begins a fresh line with every new circumstance mentioned by the patient or his friends, so that the symptoms shall be all ranged separately one below the other. He can thus add to any one that may at first have been related in too vague a manner but subsequently more explicitly explained.

Homoeopathic treatment is based on an overall understanding of the symptoms in the body and mind created by a sickness. Dr. Samuel Hahnemann, the founder of the homoeopathic science of healing, after years of experiment and trial, came to finding that symptom - similarity is the curative method of medically curable diseases. In paragraph 25 of the 'Organon of Medicine7, he formulated the principle of 'like cures like' in these words: " Now, however, in all careful trials, pure experience, the sole and infallible oracle of the healing art, teaches us that actually that medicine which, in its action on the healthy human body, has demonstrated its power of producing the greatest number of symptoms similar to those observable in the case of disease under treatment, does also, rapidly, radically and permanently remove the totality of the symptoms of this morbid state, that is to say, the whole disease present, and change it into health; and that all medicines cure, without exception, those diseases whose symptoms most really resemble their own, and leave none of them uncured." The aforesaid indicates the importance of symptoms in the diagnosis and treatment in homoeopathy. If a drug creates a symptom during the course of proving, then it can be cured by a potencised dose of the drug; whatever may be the name of the disease. For instance, in proving GLONOINE produces a bursting, throbbing sensation in the head in a healthy person. Conversely any surging of the blood to the head requires GLONOINE. This can happen in a sun - stroke, in high blood pressure, in cerebro - spinal meningitis. KALI BICROMICUM produces in proving, a tough, stringy discharge of mucus. In homoeopathy, KALI BICROMICUM cures a similar discharge whether from the nose inwards from mouth, from fauces, from pharynx, from larynx, trachea, bronchi, vagina, and uterus or from any mucus membrane. CACTUSGRANDIFLORUS produces in pure form and gross doses, constriction of the heat and a constriction, anywhere in the body, which is like an iron band being tightened. The same sensation of constriction leads us to the use of CACTUS in a homoeopathic dose and it need not be confined to the heart. There can be constriction of the scalp, in the oesophagus, in the chest, in the abdomen, bladder, uterus, vagina or rectum.

The homoeopathic materia medica consists of around 1000 drugs, the characteristics of which have been verified or proved. Homoeopathy is unique in that it uses no drug, which has not been proved. The proving has been done by administering pure medicines to healthy human beings and recording in minute detail the effects, mostly adverse, produced by such administration. The tests were conducted on men and women who were mostly medical people and students who were not sick. The drugs were administered in doses consisting of crude drugs or homoeopathic potencies. These volunteers were then asked to describe the effects of the drugs in their own words. These descriptions were noted down by the doctors conducting the experiments and were carefully recorded. Hundreds of thousands of such symptoms were recorded while proving the homoeopathic drugs and the materia medica forms a record of the best proving along with other data collected as a result of laboratory tests and experiments. In paragraph 25 of the 'Organon of medicine', Dr.Samuel Hahnemann the founder of the system laid down the basis of homoeopathy in the following words: "Now, however, in all careful trials, pure experience, the sole and infallible oracle qi healing art, teaches us that medicine which, in its action on the healthy human body, has demonstrated its power of producing the greatest number of symptoms similar to those observable in the case of disease under treatment, does also, in doses of suitable potency and attenuation, rapidly, radically and permanently remove the totality of the symptoms of this morbid state, that is to say the whole disease present, and change it into health; and that all medicines cure, without exception, those diseases whose symptoms most nearly resemble their own, and leave none of them uncured."

Homoeopathy system of medicine is the system of healing suited to all the young, and the old, the rich and the poor, the people in the developed as well as the underdeveloped countries and for persons in any place or climate. This is not to take away from the value and utility of the other prevalent systems of medicine. The aim of every science of healing is the relief of sick. Every system is successful in its own fashion. Homoeopathy too fights sickness and does so with remarkable results. Additionally the cost of diagnosis in this system is negligible because the diagnosis is by and large symptomatic. The medicine itself is inexpensive. Notable efficacy and low costs are the strong points of homoeopathic medicine. There are no toxic effects of the drugs, no side effects. The time taken for the medicine to show improvement is not long. Homoeopathic medicines are easy to store and have a long life. Homoeopathy has been attacked again and again on the ground that the potencised drugs cannot be tested in a laboratory. But that way a number of phenomenon is still outside the pale of conventional science. However, laboratory tests have been going in many countries and certain phenomenon not acceptable to conventional scientific beliefs have been observed. The homoeopathic system of medicine develops for its special use, the inner medicinal powers of the crude substances by means of a process peculiar to it and which has never been tried, whereby they only all become immeasurably and penetratingly efficacious and remedial. Even those that in the crude state give no evidence of the slightest medicinal power on the human body. This remarkable change in the qualities of natural bodies develops the latent, hidden powers, which influence the body, change the well-being. This is affected by mechanical action upon their smallest particles by means of rubbing and shaking and through the addition of an indifferent substance, dry or fluid. This process is called dynamization; potencizing and the products are dynamizations or potencies in different degrees.

This chapter provides a readily available means of reference for helping in life threatening emergencies, accidents and for providing first aid, where any delay caused by the lack of medication or non-availability of the doctor can have serious consequences either in terms of life or in terms of resulting serious sickness. As soon as possible competent medical help should be availed of in emergencies and accidents. In the meanwhile the homoeopathic medicines suggested hereafter would provide relief, would halt deterioration in most cases and may save life in many instances. Emergencies can be life threatening. One of these can be severe haemorrhage, where copious bleeding can lead to death. Obstruction of breathing for different reasons is a matter for concern. Serious accidents are life threatening because there may be unmanageable bleeding, shock and pain. Below, a list of few medicines and other items required for first aid in emergencies has been given. This can be helpful in homes, in factories and offices.

Pimples are very common in young people during their teen years. This condition, which is also known as acne, is apparently due to certain hormone changes in the body. It is particularly prevalent during early adolescence, from 12 to 16 years of age, and is more likely to occur in those who have an oily skin. In the early stages a blackhead or comedone blocks the outlet of an oil gland within the skin. This is not a serious problem, for it leaves no permanent effect. If the sebaceous duct ruptures and the oily material ooze out between the layers of the skin instead of coming to the surface, there may be a cyst or swelling known as a sebaceous cyst. These are somewhat disfiguring, but not harmless unless they become infected and form small abscesses. When these heal they may leave ugly scars. Severe acne may occur on the shoulders, the back and chest, as well as the face and neck. Effects of diet: Acne is not caused by diet, but certain foods definitely aggravate this condition, especially in some patients. Rich foods, such as chocolate, nuts, cola drinks, ice-cream, fatty meats, and excessive amount of sugar, all seem to aggravate this condition. Certain drugs, such as those containing bromides and iodides, may also play a part in some people. Some girls develop one to two pimples just before menstruation. These only last a day or two and are of no consequence. But when acne continues over months or years, it is very distressing, especially to a young woman, and something should definitely be done to clear up the condition. Nervous tension due to family trouble may also play a part in continuing this difficult problem. Even in its mildest form, acne usually persists for a year or more until the hormone system of the body has become fully adjusted.

For ages, man has consumed alcohol to forget his sorrows, to lead him into the realm of happiness. John Keats (1795 -1821), the great romantic English poet, listened to the full-throated music of a nightingale and wanted to become one with that moment of happiness. He thought of taking 'a beaker full of the warm south, of vintage, that has been cooled a long age in the deep delved earth7, drinking which he could ' leave the world unseen', and fade away into the dim forest with the singing bird. But Keats was romanticizing the effect of wine on the human mind. A moment later, he decided to give up the idea of taking the assistance of Bacchus and his leopards and switched over to reaching the bird and its music on 'the viewless wings of poesy7. This was definitely a wise decision because the alleged euphoric effect on alcohol is a myth. In fact alcohol dulls the brain and retards its activity. Alcohol is basically a drug. Man consumes it more than any other drug. No form of alcohol, however mild, whether wine or beer or cider, can do good to the human system and health. It is fallacy to believe that alcohol stimulates the brain. In reality, alcohol depressed the brain. It slows down various centers of control. When alcohol is swallowed, it goes into the stomach where a fraction of the dose enters the blood stream through the blood vessels of the stomach walls. From the stomach, alcohol has to pass into the small intestine. The carbon dioxide in soda water accelerates this flow of alcohol from the stomach into the intestines. This is what makes whisky and soda more dangerous than whisky and water.

Asthma is a condition of sudden paroxysmal, expiratory, wheezing dyspnoea caused by an abnormal response of the respiratory center to stimulus causing hyperactivity of the vagal endings in the broncho-constricting muscles resulting in bronchial spasm; with it, hyperaemia oftlte mucous membrane followed by excessive bronchial secretion is associated. This is true spasmodic asthma and in this other conditions of periodic expiratory dyspnoea with a different primary factor should not be included. The disease has in most a family history and is more common in males; sometimes found in young children but more frequently begins in early adult life. Some of these have definite bronchitis also but in the most, the main is paroxysmal bronchospasm no physical sign obtained in the lungs. The factors concerned in asthma are (i) bronchospasm from causes central and peripheral, (ii) oedema of the bronchial mucous membrane from allergy. Neuropathic predisposition. The more immediate causes are (i) allergy, (ii) peripheral stimuli from their site of production, grouped as (a) naso-pharyngeal, (b) alimentary, (c) endocrine (d) broncho-pulmonary (iii) constitutional disturbances.

Partial or complete loss of hair on the scalp is rather common among them. This is more or less to be expected in the female. Premature baldness is a tendency in certain families. Thinning of the hair is often seen in older women, but complete baldness in the female is fortunately rare. Temporary baldness may occur following a fever or some prolonged illness. The hair usually returns after the patient has recovered from the illness. Sudden loss of the hair in certain areas, a condition called alopecia areata, may sometimes follows extreme nervous shock. This may clear up in a few weeks, although sometimes it will recur. In females excessive hair loss is seen after delivery and during lactation. This is only due to hormonal changes in the body and due to suckling of the milk by the child. This disappears after the child stops weaning. It is not a permanent problem. In children falling of hair occurs due to many reasons such as severe headache, dim eyesight, after a prolonged illness, use of different shampoos and soaps, after a severe head injury and a familial tendency. Generally it is observed that if the parents have thin hair and early loss of hair in their life so is their children. Many people use various shampoos and creams to prevent hair loss but with no gain. Homoeopathy has a very good treatment for hair loss. Some of the important medicines indicated in the hair loss are given below:

By the time a child reaches the age of two he can usually keep himself dry during the day. However, it may be another year or more before he can keep dry all through the night. Even then, the best-trained child may fail to live up to expectations on certain occasions when he is highly excited. Older boys and girls may also have occasional problems at night, especially when sleeping in a strange bed after a highly exciting evening. The bladder is emptied unconsciously especially during sleep at night; may be associated with enlarged tonsils, thyroid deficiency, phimosis, intestinal worms, blanitis or vulvitis also sometimes pyelitis, cystitis, oxaluria even minor epilepsy. There are many causes for this condition, ranging all the way from simple neglect of the calls of nature to degenerative changes in the spinal cord. The condition is found in all classes and at all ages. Nocturnal bedwetting is very common in weak, neurotic children. The next most numerous class is that of women who have born children and who have passed the fiftieth milestone. A laugh, a sneeze, a fright and the urine spurt from the bladder. Probably this is want of proper adjustment of the function of the nervous mechanism of the sphincter and the detrusor and the former fails to inhibit the later.

Bronchitis may be defined as a distressing and often serious type of inflammation affecting the windpipe, or bronchial tubes, in the chest. There are two types of bronchitis: Acute Bronchitis Chronic Bronchitis Acute bronchitis: In acute bronchitis the larynx, trachea and bronchial tubes are acutely inflamed. The tissues are swollen because of irritation; large amount of mucus is secreted and poured into the bronchial tubes to protect the inflamed mucous membrane. Unless this thick, sticky material is removed, it may obstruct the windpipe, causing more severe diseases like atelactasis and pneumonia. The common cold is probably the most frequent cause of acute bronchitis. During the acute stage of bronchitis there is usually a high fever and some difficulty in breathing. There is a constant cough. Hoarseness may also be present and some pain in the chest. Difficulty in breathing continues until the inflammation has decreased. And thick secretions have removed. Chilliness is present with internal coldness, also cold hands and feet, rawness beneath the sternum, some tightness and oppression of the chest, cough may be dry, hard, ringing, expulsive, paroxysmal, tearing which leaves great soreness under the sternum. After few days the cough, which was at first dry, becomes moist and is accompanied by slight expectoration of mucus and occasionally some blood. As the amount of expectoration increases all the other symptoms decreases, and then in turn abnormal secretion and expectoration also decreases at the end of 7 to 10 days.

It may be defined as a chronic condition of the liver in which there is an increase of the connective tissue, a decrease in its size, and a degeneration of the parenchyma. Alcohol is the most common cause of the cirrhosis of liver. Alcohol reaches the liver through blood stream. Other causes may include improperly prepared foods, poisonous substances, drugs like arsenic, phosphorus, the infectious diseases like syphilis and obstruction of the bile ducts. Cirrhosis of the liver produced by alcohol abuse is known as portal cirrhosis where as cirrhosis caused by some obstruction such as a stone in the common duct or some narrowing of the bile duct leading from the liver to the small intestine is called as Biliary cirrhosis.

Although the common cold affects all parts of the body, it usually begins in the nose and throat. Colds are so common we hardly give them a second thought, yet they can be rather serious. Most colds are due to virus infections of one type or another. Unfortunately, none of these viruses are susceptible to our present antibiotic medicines. Adenoviruses produce the more serious type of colds, and they are often followed by tonsillitis and sore throat even virus pneumonia, particularly in children. Sometimes the membranes of the eyes are also involved. The common cold is the most prevalent of all diseases known to man. The average person seems to have two or three colds a year. The condition is highly contagious. When one member of the family has a cold, the others are very likely to have one within a few days. What makes a person susceptible to a cold? Probably his lowered resistance is a chief factor. Allergic disorders of the nose and throat also make a person more susceptible to colds and other virus infections. Chilling of the body does seem to play a part, particularly in those whose resistance is already weak. Lack of sleep may be another factor. Any person may carry the cold virus. However, children under six years of age seem readily to pass the infection from one to another, and soon all the family is involved. Colds are always more serious in the younger children.

Constipation means difficult or infrequent passage of the feces. In some cases it is due to mechanical obstruction of the intestines, such as cancer, diverticulitis, or perhaps to some functional cause, such as an irritable colon discussed above. In most cases there is no actual obstruction. Many elderly people suffer from constipation; probably they do not take sufficient fluid. They may think they are drinking enough, but careful observation may reveal that they are having only two or three glasses of liquid a day. For normal bowel habits, one should drink from six to eight glasses of fluid each day. Sometimes constipation results from ignoring the normal call of nature. Many people suffering from constipation become dependent upon laxatives in early childhood. This is most unfortunate, for it means that the child may be dependent on drugs for the rest of his life. As far as possible do not use an enema on a child unless absolutely necessary. Laxatives and enemas are only for unusual conditions. Nature will provide for the normal needs of the body.

This is the commonest symptom of nearly all respiratory diseases and is indicative of an effort to expel a foreign substance causing irritation on any place in the cough reflex path. The center is in the medulla close to the respiratory centers. This is activated reflexly by the afferent impulses traveling up mostly along the vagus and to a less extent, the vagus and the phrenic (to bronchi and diaphragm), the spinal accessory, intercostals and other nerves supplying the accessory muscles of respiration. The peripheral fibres of the vagus and the phrenic are also sometimes directly affected causing cough reflex. The medullary center itself may also be excited or restrained by impulses from superior cerebella centers, so that cough may be induced or controlled by voluntary efforts.

The term dandruff includes several different conditions of the scalp. There is scaling in which the entire scalp may be covered with loose dry scales. When the hair is combed or brushed, or when the scalp is scratched, these scales fall like snow on the shoulders. Often there is itching, as well, and the scalp may be red from scratching. What is at first thought to be dandruff may later prove to be some other conditions, such as. seborrhoeic dermatitis, or worse still psoriasis and even neurodermatitis. Neurodermatitis : It is a chronic type of itching and inflammation of the skin. The itching area may be in some localized spot or it may extend over large areas of the body. The condition may even develop in infants. It may disappear after the age of two and return in the early teens of later. The condition is more often seen in those who suffer from fever, hives and asthma. True cause is not known for most of the people are allergic to many things. Many of them are tense and restless and are troubled with a dry skin. They are hypersensitive and are often given to itching, especially in the bend of elbow or behind the knee. The constant scratching leaves deep scratch marks and causes thickening and furrowing of the skin.

Individuals suffering from the more pronounced types of mental disorder are sometimes said to be insane, but the term insanity is a legal one, not a medical term. An insane person is one who cannot distinguish right from wrong or assume responsibilities for his own actions. In the case of a psychotic patient the whole personality is involved. And he is completely out of touch with real world around. Not so the neurotic patient. Only a small part of his personality is involved. Psychotic patients often require hospitalization; neurotic patients rarely do, unless they have some additional physical problem. Another distinction between these two major groups is that his friends usually bring the psychotic patient to the doctor, while the neurotic comes of his own accord. He knows he is sick, and he usually wants help. Most often he is suffering from a nervous depression.

Eczema is a troublesome skin condition characterized by redness, cracking, oozing and scaling of the skin. Extremes of heat and cold and even emotional stress seem to play a part in this condition. The patient usually complains of itching and burning in the skin, especially at the night. Sores appear on various parts of the body, but most often on the hands, feet, ears and legs. Eczema may come on at any time of life and in either sex. The commoner manifestations are erythema changing to papule, vesicle, crust, scale and fissure, with serous exudation. In chronic cases, thick scales accumulate. This is the effect of local irritation by chemical, thermal, actinic or mechanical agents in a hypersensitive individual, subject of an allergy or constitutional disabilities such as gout, chronic nephritis, rheumatism, local sepsis, dyspepsia, alcoholism, uterine disturbances also teething. In some cases heredity may be found. Papules, vesicles and pustules with some degree of local oedema are found; exudation, crusting and scaling with inflammation of varying severity may be present. These tend to spread to the contiguous areas. One or both cheeks of an infant or the ear, limbs or trunk are occasionally involved. In adults also similar papulo- vesicular eruptions appear. Sensations of burning, smarting, throbbing or itching are present, according to the acuteness of the process and severity of the inflammation.

The gall bladder is a small/pear shaped, muscular organ closely attached to the under surface of the liver. Its only function is to store and concentrate the bile between meals so there will be a plentiful supply when needed. Bile from the liver is a clear, golden colour when formed, but after being concentrated in the gall bladder it turns a deep green. This concentrating process sometimes results in the formation of stones in the gall bladder, particularly following pregnancy in commonly over weight women. Many people with gallstones seem to have no problem at all, especially if there is one large stone. But when a number of smaller stones are present in the gall bladder, the patient may feel sharp, cramp like pains all over the upper abdomen. The predisposing causes are stagnation of bile, due to an excessive diet of starch and fat, constipation, obesity, pregnancy, tight lacing or other obstruction to the flow of bile. The exciting causes are catarrhal and infective inflammation of the gall bladder, like sepsis, typhoid etc., and tumors. Old patients and women are most susceptible.

Gastric Ulcer a well defined ulcer involving the mucous membrane of the stomach with a tendency to progressive destruction, beginning in the mucosa and sometimes extending to and even through the deeper layers of the walls of the stomach. We have not been able to name a definite cause. "Altered composition of the blood and the resulting insufficient nourishment of the cells'7. Riegel says the ulcer is due "to a self-digestion of the stomach at the limited spot." He calls attention to the fact that the gastric juice is always hyperacid in these cases and thinks it is more than a mere coincidence. Virchow says the cause is emboli or thrombi, which form in the nutrient gastric arteries, which have lost their tonicity. He claims that an ulcer forms at the point of obstruction. Gastric ulcers occur most frequently between twenty and thirty years of age. This is an average, which we arrive at from the fact that in females it is from fifteen to thirty and in males from forty to forty-five. The predominance of women over men as shown by clinical statistics is two to one, but pathologically the numbers are about equal in two sexes. No occupation seems to grant exemption. Cooks seems to be more predisposed. Next come metal workers in those factories where there is much dust. Some claim that shoemakers and tailors are also prone to the condition.

Inflammation of the mucous membrane of the stomach, sometimes accompanied by more or less severe constitutional manifestations.

Headache is the most common of all nervous complaints. The causes are varied and so also its mode of onset, duration, intensity and other conditions associated with it. Structures of the head, which are sensitive to pain, are:

Cholesterol is present in the diet of all people, and it can be absorbed slowly from the gastrointestinal tract into the intestinal lymph. It is highly fat soluble but only slightly soluble in water and is capable of forming esters with fatty acids.

Many thousands of people today are heavy smokers, not by choice, but because they have found no way of escape. They are caught in the grip of a habit developed during their teen-age years when so many young people think it is 'smart' to smoke. The strange thing is that most of these people never wanted to smoke in the first place. There was only doing what they thought everyone else was doing at the time. Yet there is another odd thing. Smoking in not a normal habit. A person has to learn to smoke. Smoking is by and large, an acquired habit. People start smoking because they think it is fashionable to do so or because their friends and companions are able to persuade them to start smoking. Some smokers feel that they look more attractive to the opposite sex when they are smoking. Others hold that a social gathering becomes more intimate if people are smoking. In reality all this is a product of smokers imagination. Because he wants to justify his habit, he invents enough reasons for it.

It is a contagious, infectious disease. It is of short duration usually sporadic, characterized by malaise, headache, severe pain in the body and catarrh of the respiratory passage. Metrological conditions are predisposing causes. The bacillus of Pfeiffer is generally acknowledged to be the exciting cause. The bacilli enter the system through respiratory organs. The disease is highly infectious. Incubation period is 1 or 2 days and one attack does not give any immunity, rather increases the susceptibility. There is much discrepancy and disagreement among over authorities on the question. In a case of simple uncomplicated flu, but find no characteristic anatomical lesions other than congestion and catarrhal secretions of the mucous membranes of the respiratory and alimentary systems. Death is usually caused by some complication and post-mortems show all the changes found in the complicating diseases.

Inability to go to sleep or to get sleep for a period insufficient for the needs of an individual is known as insomnia. Chronic inability to sleep. None of us can do without sleep. An infant sleeps 14 to 18 hours a day. This period is slowly reduced. An adult may be happy with 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night. There are people who require 5 hours or even 4 hours of sleep in 24 hours. Sleep has a definite purpose and that is why all mammals sleep. Lack of sleep apparently does not cause any physical harm. But anyone who gets less than his normal sleep experiences a decrease of efficiency and concentration.

Worms and other intestinal parasites are found in every part of the world. They are more common in tropical and sub tropical areas and are more common during the rainy season. Most of these worms and parasites enter in the human body either through the mouth or through the skin of the feet. Round worms, are the giant worms present in the intestines that cause the disease kwon as ascariasis. It is found in almost all the countries. These worms are off-white in colour, are long and thick and are most frequently seen in children. Eggs produced by them are passed in stools. When children play in the soil contaminated with the eggs, particularly children living under unhygienic conditions easily transfer them to the mouth via dirty fingers. Roundworm eggs may remain alive in the soil for many months. There is always greater danger of contamination where human wastes are used in fertilizing vegetables. Great care must be taken to be sure all foods are thoroughly cleansed and sterilized by cooking before being used.

Jaundice is a disease marked by a yellow discoloration in the skin, or in the whites of the eyes. This is due to excessive amounts of bile in the blood stream. Jaundice may arise from a number of different causes. Some types of jaundice arise from conditions outside the liver. Also in some cases the patient may have jaundice in a sub clinical form. That is, the bile pigment may be elevated but not sufficiently to actually discolour the skin. Normally there is a certain rate at which the red blood cell are broken down and destroyed in the body. The average life of a red cell is about four months. But certain disease conditions may cause an excessive breakdown of red cells and this increases the bile pigment in the blood. Such a rapid breakdown of cells may be seen in haemolytic anaemia, sickle cell anaemia, pernicious anaemia, jaundice of the newborn child, as well as in malaria, pneumonia, yellow fever and certain bacterial infections of the blood. Obstructive jaundice means that the bile is backing up into the blood stream because of some obstruction involving the larger bile ducts. The normal liver produces one pint of bile every twenty-four hours. This is transported to the gall bladder where it is concentrated and becomes green, or else passes directly to the small intestine where it acts as a lubricant. Bile is also necessary for the absorption of fats and for its laxative effect in the large intestine.

The common stones found in the kidneys are of calcium oxalate, uric acid, urates, triple phosphates or a combination of these. The patients are often males between 30 to 50 years.

Most backaches seem to begin while bending forward to pick up some object from the floor. The pain usually comes on suddenly without warning, and it may be very difficult to straighten up to a standing position again. In most cases it is felt either in the middle of the back or lower down on one side. If a spinal disc is involved, the pain may radiate down the thigh and leg along the sciatic nerve on that side. The most common cause of backache probably arises from failure to get enough exercise to keep the muscles of the back strong and healthy. Flabby muscles then produce a wobbly spine, followed by pain, spasm and misery especially if a disc is ruptured.

Low blood pressure or hypotension is far less common than hypertension or high blood pressure. Sometimes the pressure falls rapidly because of hemorrhage or loss of blood. Low blood pressure may also come on gradually because of slow bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract or through the kidneys or bladder. Any lack of normal protein in the diet may also lower the pressure because of malnutrition or actual starvation or because of some endocrine disturbance, such as hypothyroidism. In rare cases an islet cell tumor may form in the pancreas producing an excessive amount of insulin and lowering the blood sugar level. Such patients always tend to feel tired and worn out. Emotional problems are a far more frequent cause of low blood pressure. For instance, some people will fall into a dead faint on hearing bad news. This shock like state is probably brought on by temporary disturbance in the vasomotor system, causing the patient to collapse. To a lesser degree, prolonged disappointment and frustration may also result in a subnormal blood pressure. Relieving the chronic stress of mind may be all that is needed to bring the blood pressure back to normal. One should also add a little more protein to the diet, and be sure to take sufficient rest and exercise. Homoeopathic treatment for low blood pressure is given below:

A neurotic headache, usually reflex in origin and paroxysmal in character. The causes are many and varying in kind, making both the diagnosis and treatment the most difficult the general practioner encounters, Migraine is clearly a hereditary condition, and the inheritance is passed down through the females rather than the males. Nervous abnormalities of the female generative organs are the most frequent of the exciting causes. Eye strain; shock; grief; worry; gastro-intestinal irregularities; mental emotions, i.e., anger, fear, love, jealously and remorse may cause migraine at one time and hysteria at another. Many patients have lived, to suffer from the disease, for fifty years. On the other hand, many are permanently cured. The time needed to complete the cure will depend upon your ability to determine the tissue or organ, which is the cause of the disease, and the faithfulness with which the patient will follow directions. Next to epilepsy, no disease so frequently presents premonitory symptoms as Hemicrania. These may be blurring of visions, flashes of light, balls of fire, etc.; chilliness; flashes of heat; dizziness; depression or excitation; confusion of ideas; numbness, etc. then comes the pain which is usually one sided, and may be any or all sensations, sharp or dull, continuous or intermittent, etc. There may or may not be tenderness of the affected part.

It is an acute specific infection of the salivary glands especially of the parotids sometimes submandibular and sublingual glands also; occasionally the latter glands are affected first. The most affected are the children or young adults of both sexes often living in a school or a barrack and the disease spreads rapidly from one person to another in close contact by droplets. This virus reaches the salivary glands by bloody or lymphatic because mumps is a systemic disease and may cause in addition, inflammation of the meninges, brain, pancreas and the gonads. The disease is more prevalent in winter and spring months. The incubation period is about 3 weeks. The affected parotid glands and the surrounding tissues become hyperaemic and oedematous, the acinar cells disintegrate with round cell infiltration but later on, heal completely without any scarring. Testes when involved have much oedema, perivascular infiltration with lymphocytes, localized haemorrhage, destruction of the germinal epithelia and blocking of the tubules with cellular debris. Only certain localized areas are affected, other parts remain unaffected.

An inflammation of the muscular substance of the heart. The condition may be acute or chronic. Acute myocarditis may be sub-divided into three varieties: Acute Parenchyma. Acute Diffuse Interstitial. Acute Circumscribed. In the first of three classes, there is a glandular degeneration of the muscular fibres of the parenchyma of the heart and an increase in the number of their nuclei. Severe cases of this class often terminate in fatty degeneration. In the second class, we have round-cell infiltration of connective tissue of the myocardium.

It is very important to watch weight, not allowing oneself to become too thin or too fat, but trying to remain neat ideal. Most youngsters in their teens, if they are healthy and active, are fairly close to the ideal weight for their size and age. Changes often come in the late twenties, reducing a person's physical fitness. Sluggish habits begin to develop as the individual loses his skill in running, swimming or healthy activities. When greater quantities of energy (in the form of food) enter the body than are expended, the body weight increases. Therefore, obesity is caused by excess energy input over energy output. In other words, extra weight is due to extra eating. For each 9.3 Calories of excess energy that enters the body, one gram of fat is stored. Excess energy input occurs only during the development phase of obesity. Once a person has become obese, all that is required to remain obese so that the energy input equals the energy output. For a person to reduce in weight, the input must be less than the output. People with large bones and well-developed muscles may seem somewhat overweigh compared with those of lighter build. But actually the lighter person may carry around more fat. His muscles may be weak and underdeveloped.

Haemorrhoids or piles are due to swelling or enlargement of the veins that supply the rectal outlet of the body. Localized inflammation and bleeding, and also thrombosis in many cases often complicate this painful condition. People who suffer from constipation and other bowel disorders are more likely to develop haemorrhoids. Piles are also more common in pregnancy, and in conditions affecting the liver and upper bowel.

Pneumonia was once one of the most dreaded diseases known to man. It is no longer so. But pneumonia is still a serious disease. Germs causing pneumonia re of various types, such as streptococcus, staphylococcus, and pneumococcus varieties. Certain viruses are also responsible at times. Pneumonia may be defined as an acute infectious disease of the lung, caused by the micrococcus lanceoaltus affecting principally the parenchyma.

The testis is composed of up to 900-coiled seminiferous tubules, each averaging more than 0.5 meter long, in which the sperm are formed. The sperm than empty in to the epididymitis, another coiled tube about 6 meters long. The epididymis leads into the vas deferens, which enlarges in to the ampulla of the vas deferens immediately before the vas enters the body of the prostrate gland. A seminal vesicle, one located on each side of the prostrate, empties into the prostatic end of the ampulla, and the contents from both the ampulla and the seminal vesicle pass into an ejaculatory duct leading through the body of the prostrate gland to empty from the prostrate gland into the ejaculatory duct. Finally the urethra is the last connecting link from the testis to the exterior. The prostrate gland secretes a thin, milky fluid that contains citrate ion, calcium, phosphate ion, a clotting enzyme, and a profibrinolysin. During emission, the capsule of the prostrate gland contracts simultaneously with the contractions of the vas deferens so that the thin, milky fluid of the prostrate glands adds further to the bulk of the semen. Slightly characteristic of the prostatic fluid may be quite important for successful fertilization of the ovum because the fluid of the vas deferens is relatively acidic owing to the presence of citric acid and metabolic end products of the sperm and consequently, helps to inhibit sperm fertility. The vaginal secretions of the female are acidic. Sperm do not become optimally motile until the pH of the surrounding fluids rises to about 6.5. Consequently, it is probable the prostatic fluid helps to neutralize the acidity of these other fluids after ejaculation and thus enhances the motility and fertility of the sperm.

This is characterized by formation of erythematous papules or patches with clear margins and covered with white scales, in different parts of the body without any constitutional disturbances. It is more common among young adults of either sex and occasionally a family history is present. This has a seasonal prevalence often appearing in winter and clearing up in summer. The course in chronic is very obstinate and tends to recur after an apparent cure. It disappears without leaving scars or pigmentation. It is not infectious. The epithelial layer is thickened and intercappilary processes and papillae are elongated, the horny layer is defective and there is cellular infiltration between the horny cells and blood vessels.

It is a constitutional disease of infancy and childhood, characterized by impairment of the general health, and arrested growth, abnormal proliferation of the developing bone. Heredity is a frequent predisposing cause. Poor nutrition, poor housing facilities, want of cleanliness, want of sun light are both predisposing and exciting causes. Age plays a great part. Climate also has its influence, more prevalent in moist than in dry climates. Diathesis influences are second only to heredity. Hyperemia of all the structures of the bone, periosteum, osseous tissue, cartilage and marrow, is the first step in the development of the rachitic lesion. As a result, we have proliferation of cartilage cells, retarded and irregular development of bone, softening of matrix, undue vascularity of the cancellous tissues, and weakness and deformity of the bones in various parts of the body. The weight of the bones is lessened. The vascularity of the bones is increased. In some cases the blue discoloration is due to the increased vascularity may be seen even through the thick scalp. Outside of the bones they may find blurring of striation of muscles, excessive fat in connective tissue between the muscle fibre and rare cases of fatty degeneration of the muscle fibres themselves. The liver is occasionally enlarged the spleen more rarely so.

It is an inflammatory condition that mainly affects the children and young people in their teens. It is considered to be an allergic condition that mainly attacks the connective tissues of the body, causing joint pains and St. Vitus' dance due to central nervous irritation and skin lesions. The most serious damage that this disease brings is the damage to the valves does the heart. Certain streptococcus germs present in the throat are sometimes responsible.

It is caused by the entry of the bacteria in to the blood. The pathogenetic bacteria or their products usually enter the blood through some break in the skin or mucous membrane. Although sepsis may be more easily traced to infection through tears in the parturient canal and other wounds, yet many cases have their origin in the respiratory organs, digestive tract including the teeth and other organs or tissues. Suppuration in any part of the body like otitis, dental or rectal fistula may give rise to sepsis. Gonorrhea or the infections may be directly the cause of sepsis or indirectly by leaving channels for the invading organisms. The most frequent organisms are the staphylococci, although ten or twelve others have been found. Sepsis affects both sexes and all ages. In the pyemic cases, the abscesses, emboli, thrombi, degeneration of the surrounding tissues, etc., were found most frequently in the lungs then kidneys, spleen and liver. Changes found: blood dark and disintegrated; spleen large and soft; fatty degeneration of the heart; kidney large, pale with prechynmatous changes; liver large with fatty degeneration.

MALE STERLITY, or failure to fertilize female egg cells, may be due to several causes. In some cases the trouble is due to an emotional factor, such as a mental block. It may be caused by an absence or atrophy of the testes, or perhaps by some obstruction in the male genital organs. Infections involving the 'genital organs may result in the production of unhealthy or even dead sperm cells. In such cases special tests may locate the seat of the trouble, which may be treated surgically. FEMALE STERLITY, or failure to have children may arise from several different causes. Sometimes the trouble is due to the husband. The ovum remains viable and capable of being fertilized after it is expelled from the ovary probably no longer than 24 hours. Therefore, sperm must be available soon after ovulation if fertilization is to take place. On the other hand, a few sperm can remain fertile in the female reproductive tract for up to 72 hours, although most of them for not more than 24 hours. Therefore fertilization to take place, intercourse usually must occur sometime between 1 to 2 days before ovulation and up to 1 day after ovulation

Sinusitis or accessory sinus suppuration is bacterial inflammation of the nasal and contiguous sinuses following acute rhinitis especially streptococci. Sometimes the infection travels from the second bicuspid and first two molar teeth whose roots are near to the antral floor. Sinusitis is an important etiological factor in the causation of many diseases of the lower respiratory tract. Inflammation of the paranasal sinuses often follows the common cold, influenza, and other general infections. Germs that would normally be eliminated from the body may sometimes find their way into these little sinuses or chambers on each side of the nasal passages. Trouble may be due to inadequate drainage resulting from a deviated septum, or perhaps to the presence of polyps. Any chronic infection within the nose may lead to sinuses. Acute Sinusitis is characterized by moderate degree of fever and local pain. The latter depends on the site affected: if frontal sinus, forehead; antrum, on one cheek: sphenoidal sinus, deep-seated headache. Headache is more marked in the afternoon.

The pharynx, or back of the throat, frequently becomes inflamed when a person has a cold or an attack of influenza. This inflammation may also involve the tonsils and adenoids if these have not already been removed. This is due to many causes: i) Inflammation of thefauces, soft palate and uvula.

Sunstroke results from direct heat rays of the sun. The victim may be mentally confused and complain of a bad headache. He may become delirious. His blood pressure may fall to a low level and the pulse become rapid and weak. An abnormal condition due to exposure to excessive heat. The predisposing cause is anything, which lowers normal resistance; the chief of which are worry, excitement, mental or physical fatigue, alcoholic excesses, and lack of nourishment etc. The exciting causes are prolonged exposure under the direct rays of the sun, unusual exertion in a hot, moist, sultry, breezeless atmosphere. The occupations, which furnish most of the cases, are breakers, boiler tenders, soldiers on the march, masons etc. Different stages, or forms or different degrees of severity of the same condition have produced different results and been given different names, viz., heatstroke, sunstroke, heat exhaustion, insulation, thermic fever, heat prostration.

Stress and depression can ruin your life and affect your health. Seeking support, being realistic and planning ahead can help ward off stress and depression. For some people, the holidays bring unwelcome guests — stress and depression. And it's no wonder. In an effort to pull off a perfect Hallmark holiday, you might find yourself facing a dizzying array of demands — work, parties, shopping, baking, cleaning, caring for kids on school break or elderly parents, and scores of other chores. So much for peace and joy, right? Holiday stress and depression are often the result of three main trigger points. Understanding these trigger points can help you plan ahead on how to accommodate them. Here are the three issues that commonly trigger holiday stress or depression:

Tetanus is a specific infectious disease caused by the exotoxin of tetanus bacilli, usually growing in necrosed tissues, absorbed by the motor end plates of the peripheral nerves, carried to the central nervous system and manifested as lockjaw and paroxysmal spasmodic contraction of other muscles. Tetanus bacilli present in the soil especially one contaminated by faeces of a horse or of a similar animal, enters through some skin abrasions and remain localized at the site. These are thereafter removed by phagocytes but if any lacerated tissue is present, more so if contaminated by pyogenic bacteria, these multiply and manufacture a highly potent exotoxin which is absorbed through the motor nerve end-plates in the muscles carried to the motor cells of the central nervous system, the sensory ones not being affected. The posterior root ganglia act as filter preventing the toxin from entering into the spinal cord, the anterior root is thus only affected.

It is a small mass of tissue present on either side of the trachea or windpipe. It is a very important structure that helps in the metabolism of the body. When the basal metabolism is below normal, a person tends to be slow in his movements. He feels cold more and may have marked dryness of the skin, along with constipation and a tendency to put on weight. His hair is dry, thin, and coarse and the skin appears dry, scaly and thickened. There may be puffiness in the face, especially around the eyes. The tongue is usually large, the pulse is slow and regular, and the patient often complains of vague pains in the back and stiffness in the joints. Hypothyroidism: It is a condition that results from the insufficient amount of thyroid hormone in the body. The trouble may also develop from pituitary deficiency, but is more likely due to some inborn error of the thyroid gland. The change usually comes gradually and involves the patients personality and also his ability to think. Hypothyroidism is seen in both sexes, but is more common in women. Most of these are overweight and may complain of heavy flow during menstruation. The heart is often enlarged, and there is high level of cholesterol in the blood stream.

At the back of the mouth on each side there are two small lymphoid organs known as tonsils. Normally they are about the size of a Lima bean, but they can become very larger if severely infected. The lingual tonsil is located at the back of the tongue close to other tonsils. There are two more lymphoid masses of tissue behind the soft palate known as adenoids. They make protective ring at the back of the nose & throat to keep infection from spreading throughout the body. Most of the germs enter through the mouth, nose and throat. After becoming an adult the adenoids have largely disappeared. In childhood both the tonsils and adenoids may become very large. It makes swallowing painful and breathing difficult. In childhood large tonsils are common. The main reason of infection is due to certain types of streptococcus germs. Mouth breathing, nasal speech, a chronic cough are caused by the enlarged adenoids. The patient may also have halitosis or bad breath.

As the blood returns to the heart it passes through special thin walled vessels called veins. Unlike the tough strong arteries, these vessels are easily distended. One can demonstrate by pressing the finger on a vein on the back of hand and watching it swell as the blood builds up behind it. Blood flowing from the head and upper chest flows downward toward the heart. On the other hand, blood coming from the lower extremities must flow upward. To make this possible nature has provided valves in the veins so that the blood can flow only toward the heart, never in the other direction. In human beings there are two sets of veins. The deeper veins are located within the muscles where they are given good support. But the veins on the surface just under the skin have little support and are easily damaged. These surface veins are often subject to inflammation or phlebitis. In some people the veins in the legs are weak and may swell easily. Varicose veins, seems to run in families. Anything that increases the pressure in the pelvis or abdomen may slow the flow of blood back to the heart from the lower extremities. One frequent cause of varicose veins is pregnancy; other is obesity. Anything that increases the pressure within the veins of the legs and thighs may weaken or break down the little valves, so that the veins become enlarged and the blood does not finds its way back to the heart as it should.

Whooping cough is highly infectious specific disease, commonly of children characterized by respiratory catarrh and a special type of cough with inspiratory laryngeal spasm producing a characteristic sound. This is common in children below 6 years, females are attacked more. Atypical cases are sometimes seen in adolescents and adults. The disease occurs sporadically and less commonly in epidemics. It occurs mostly in winters and spring and is more common in temperate areas. The causative organism is Haemophillus pertusis present in the upper respiratory tract, conveyed by the infected sputum droplets of the patient to the contacts during the earlier stages of catarrh and paroxysmal cough. The incubation period is 7 to 15 days or more. A moderate degree of laryngeal, tracheal and bronchial catarrh with peribroncholitis and acute localized emphysema of the lungs are often associated. The tracheobronchial glands are sometimes enlarged. Rarely the right heart may be dilated and there may be haemorrhage in the brain and the meninges.

The word Aconite is derieved from ACONIS, a city of Bithynia (in Asia Minor). Also ACON means dart because the darts were poisoned with Aconite. Also, from Greek word ACONITUM means without soil, as this plant grows on a stony ground. History and Authority: Master Hahnemann introduced it in homoeopathy in 1805. A state of fear, anxiety; anguish of mind and body. Physical and mental restlessness, fright, is the most characteristic manifestation of Aconite. Acute sudden and violent invasion, with fever, call for it. There is no medicine like Aconite Nap when a complaint is caused by exposure to dry cold weatlier or by fright or both. Aconite should be thought of as the first medicine in inflammation, inflammatory fevers, when an attack is acute, sudden and violent, when there is physical and mental restlessness and if the problem is recent and when all this is on account of exposure to dry cold weather. The parts of the body affected can be larynx, bronchi, pleura joints and even heart.

The name ARNICA is derived from ARNAKIS means lambskin due to the wooly appearance of the leaf. MONTANA from Latin word MOUNTAINOUS from the place that is grows. History and Authority: Hahnemann introduced it in homoeopathic practice in 1805. The part used is the entire fresh plant, including root. Arnica is one of the most frequently used remedies in the homoeopathic materia medica. We think of it whenever injury, however remote, appears to be the cause of the trouble. The injury may be recent or remote. It may be a blow or a contusion. The patient has a bruised, sore feeling all over. Any surface on which the body lies appears to be hard. Various limbs of the body ache as if these have been beaten. Arnica is the remedy in such cases.

It is a deep acting remedy on every organ and tissue. Its clear-cut characteristic symptoms amid correspondence to many severe types of diseases make its homoeopathic employment constant and certain. Its general symptoms often alone lead to its successful application. Arsenic should be thought of in ailments from alcoholism, ptomaine poisoning, stings, dissecting wounds, chewing tobacco; ill effects from decayed food or animal matter; order of discharges is putrid: in complaints that return annually. Anemia and chlorosis. Degenerative changes. Gradual loss of weight from impaired nutrition. Reduces the refractive index of blood serum (also China and Ferr. Phos.) Maintains the system under the stress of malignancy regardless of location. Malarial cachexia. Septic infections and low vitality.

The word Belladonna is derived from two Latin words Bella means fine or beautiful and Donna means lady. Its generic name ' ATROPA' comes from the Greek fate ATROPOS, 'THE INFLEXIBLE ONE'. Think of Belladonna if you see a red surface because this medicine is associated with red, blood shot eyes, red, puffed face, red, swollen throat, red skin, which radiates heat. This redness indicates inflammation. Thus a large number of acute inflammatory diseases respond well to Belladonna. Belladonna problems come on suddenly, with violence, run a regular course and then disappear as suddenly as they come. When an inflammation is localized, Belladonna is the remedy in the first stage. Such inflammation comes suddenly, is red, painful and throbbing. This can be in the head, throat, breast or anywhere else in the body. This can be in the form of a carbuncle or a boil, on a hand or on a foot. Belladonna controls and aborts the problem in its first stage.

The word BRYONIA means growing rapidly, as the stem grows rapidly. ALBA, from Latin word ALBUS means white as the roots and flowers are yellowish or white. Bryonia affects especially the constitution of a robust, firm fiber and dark complexion, with tendency to leanness and irritability. It prefers the right side, the evening, and open air. Warm weather after cold days, to manifest its action most markedly. Bryonia acts on all serous membranes and the viscera they contain. Bryonia gives remarkable relief in muscular pain, which aggravates on motion, in the treatment of bronchitis and inflammatory and congestive headache. The character of the pain is "Stitching and tearing". An interesting feature of Bryonia pain is that patient feels better, ameliorated if pressure is applied to the painful part. The patient is comfortable when lying on the painful side.

The name CACTUS was originally given by Theophrastus, to a spiny plant of Sicily in Italy. Act on circular muscular fibres, hence constrictions. It is the heart and arteries especially that at once respond to the influence of Cactus, producing very characteristic constrictions as of an iron band. This sensation is found in various places, oesophagus, bladder, etc. The mental symptoms produced correspond to those found when there are heart affections, sadness and melancholy. Haemorrhage, constrictions, periodicity, and spasmodic pains. Whole body feels as if caged, each wire being twisted tighter. Atheromatous arteries and weak heart. Congestion; irregular distribution of blood. Favors formation of clots speedily. Great periodicity. Toxic goiter with cardiac symptoms. Cactus is pulseless, painting and prostrated. We use Cactus for constriction of the heart. It feels as if an iron band were preventing the normal movement of the heart. The pain is worse when the patient is lying on the left side. Cactus has four leading indications, viz. haemorrhage, constriction, periodicity and spasmodic pain. The whole body feels as if it is caged, with each wire being twisted tighter. In case of heart problems, there is a fluttering and palpitation of the heart, an irregularity in the action of the heart. The patient suffers from endocarditis, an inflammation of the layer of the epithelial cells which lines the cavities of the heart. There may be mitrial insufficiency with palpitation. There may be swelling of the left hand, of the left leg and foot. The left arm is numb. The circulation of the blood is spasmodic, irregular.

This great Hahnemannian antipsoric is a constitutional remedy. Its chief action is on the glands, skin and bones. Increased general and local perspiration, swelling of glands, scrofulous and rachitic conditions generally offer numerous opportunities for the application of Calcarea. A jaded state, mental or physical, due to overwork. Persons of scrofulous type, who take cold easily, with increased mucous secretion, children who grow fat, are large bellied, with large head, pale skin, chalky look, affections caused by working in water. Children crave eggs and eat dirt and other indigestible things; are prone to diarrhoea. Calcarea patient is fat, fair, flabby and perspiring. In cases of deficient or irregular bone development, deformed extremities, a crooked spine, a softening of the bone, Calcarea Carb comes handy. While the Sulphur patient might be usually thin, lean and wiry, the Calcarea patient might be obese. But like Sulphur, Calcarea carb helps in easy relapses, interrupted convalescence.

The typical Carbo patient is sluggish, fat and lazy and has a tendency to have chronic complaints. Blood seems to stagnate in thq capillaries, causing blueness, coldness and ecchymosis. Body becomes blue icy-cold. Bacteria find a rich soil in the nearly lifeless blood stream and sepsis and typhoidal state ensues. Weakness due to excessive diarrhoea, menstruation or other debilitating diseases. The patient may be almost lifeless, but the head is not, coldness, breathe cool, pulse imperceptible, oppressed and quickened respiration and must have air, must be fanned hard, must have all the windows open. The patient faints easily, are worn out must have fresh air. Haemorrhages from any mucous surface. Indicated for persons who have never fully recovered from the effects of some previous illness. General venous stasis, bluish skin, limbs cold.

Manifests its action mainly in chronic rheumatic, arthritic and paralytic affections, indicated by the tearing, drawing pains in the muscular and fibrous tissues, with deformities about the joints; progressive loss of muscular strength, tendinous contractures. Broken down senile. In catarrhal affections of the air passages, seems to choose preferably dark - complexioned and rigid fibered persons. Restlessness at night, with tearing pains in joints and bones, and faint - like sinking of strength. This weakness progresses until we have gradually appearing paralysis. Local paralysis, vocal cords, muscles of deglutition, of tongue, eyelids, face, bladder and extremities. Children are slow to walk. The skin of Causticum person is of a dirty white sallow, with warts, especially on the face. Emaciations due to disease, worry etc. Burning, rawness and soreness are characteristic. Causticum is indicated in the treatment of chronic rheumatism and paralysis accompanying it. Here, Causticum ranks with Rhus Tox and Sulphur.

The word CHAMOMILA is derived from CHAMAEMELUM and MATRICARIA from MATRIX means apple on the ground, because the plant grows to the ground and has an odour like that of apples. It has been used since long as a domestic remedy by the name chamomile. The chief guiding symptoms belong to the mental and emotion group, which lead to this remedy in many forms of disease. Especially of frequent employment in diseases of children, where peevishness, restlessness, and colic give the needful indications. A disposition that is mild, calm and gentle; sluggish and constipated bowels contra-indicate Chamomilla. Chamomilla is sensitive, irritable, thirsty, hot, and numb. Oversensitiveness from abuse of coffee and narcotics. Pains unendurable, associated with numbness night-sweats. The child patient wants to be carried in the arms. His mood is very irritable and snappy. He does not know what he wants. He needs a dose of Chamomilla. Even in elders, the patient is cross, ugly, spiteful and snappish. He cannot bear others. He cannot bear pain. He wants things but on getting them throws them away. He is uncivil.

CINCHON, a place where the Countess Ann, a wife of the 4th Count of CINCHON lived. She was cured by tertian fever in 1638 by the use of cinchona bark. Its virtues were made known to Europe in 1640. The botanists identified it in 1717. This drug shows the pathway for the establishment of homoeopathy. The key word in the prescribing of China is 'debility' or weakness caused by excessive loss of blood or other fluids from the body, through nursing or salivation or excessive and bloody leucorrhoea, menstruation or long-continuing diarrhoea or through profuse pus formation or after an attack of influenza. There may be haemorrhages from the wounds, the lungs, the bowels or from the nose, a sudden depletion leading to fainting, loss of sight, ringing in the ears or to an over all weakness of the body. China acts as a marvelous remedy in such cases. The dose should be frequently repeated in 200 potency.

The word GELSEMIUM is derived from Latin word GELSIMINO meaning jasmine and SEMPERVIRENS meaning ever green. Gelsemium is one of the most effective remedies in the treatment of influenza where there is body pain, pain in the head at the base of the brain, that is, in the occiput, and where there are accompanying throat problems. Mentally, the Gelsemium patient desires to be left alone in peace. He is torpid, sleepy and dreads movement. He is dull. He cannot think clearly or concentrate. As indicated above, Gelsemium is one of the remedies used in the treatment of influenza where there is body pain, a feeling of chill going upwards in the spine and congestion on the occiput. The eyes burn and itch with great discomfort. The patient sneezes and experiences coolness at the root of the nose. There may be acute running nose with dull headache and fever. At times the nose is blocked. The face is hot, flushed, dark red and looks like that of fool. The skin is very hot. The temperature goes up. There is itching and tickling in the soft palate, in the throat and in the nasopharynx. The throat feels rough; it burns. At times there is the feeling of a lump in the throat, which cannot be swallowed. There is pain in the temples, in the throat, radiating towards the ear. The entire system of the ears, nose and throat appears to be affected.

Like all the carbons, this remedy is an antipsoric of great power, but especially active in patients who are rather stout, of fair complexion, with tendency to skin affections and constipations, fat, chilly, and costive, with delayed menstrual history, take cold easily. Children impudent, teasing, laugh at reprimands. Anaemia with redness of face. Tendency to obesity. By and large, Graphites is a skin remedy. Eruptions oozing out at thick honey - like fluid require Graphites. Such eruptions may be on any part of the body. These would be especially found on or beyond the ears, on the head, the face and the genitals or on the eyelids. Graphites is indicated in eczema of the legs where there is a thick oozing of sticky fluid. Eczema of the eyelids, where the eruptions are moist and the margins of the eyelids are fissured, also requires Graphites.

Suits especially scrofulous and lymphatic constitutions that are inclined to have eruptions and glandular swellings. Unhealthy skin. Blondes with sluggish character and weak muscles. Great sensitiveness to all impressions. Sweating patient pulling blanket around him. Chilliness, hypersensitiveness, splinter-like pains, craving for sour and strong things are very characteristic. The tendency to suppuration is more marked, and ahs been a strong guiding symptom in practice. The side of the body on which he lies at night becomes gradually insufferably painful; he must turn. Hepar Sulph is the medicine for abscess, for the tendency to suppuration. Every little injury suppurates. Accompanying this suppuration is shooting pain. Suppuration or pus formation can be on any part of the body. If throbbing and shooting pain accompany it, it requires a does of Hepar Sulph in a high potency of 200 and above. Hepar Sulph can abort pus formation if given at the earliest stage of suppuration. Later it will hasten the pointing and discharge and help in healing the ulcer.

The name Ipecacuanha is from the Portuguese meaning, 'Road-side-sick-making plant7, and mention of it as a remedy for the bloody flux or dysentery goes back as far as the late sixteenth century. The principle feature of Ipecacuahna is its persistent nausea and vomiting, which form the chief guiding symptom. Indicated after indigestible food, raisins, cakes, etc. especially indicated in fat children and adults, who are feeble and catch cold in relaxing atmosphere, warm moist weather. One cannot think of treating persistent nausea without Ipecac. This is a nausea in which there is no relief by vomiting. The patient is as sick after as before. The second major problem for which Ipecac is a great cure is a chest complaint, bronchitis in infants, bronchitis with coarse rattling. Ipecac is also a remedy for infections of the upper respiratory tract wherein a peculiar wheezing sound is produced on breathing out. Old incurable cases of asthma are relieved by Ipecac. Ipecac is useful in uterine haemorrhages.

Kali Bi is one of the finest remedies for the treatment of sinusitis, in diphtheric croup and in chronic, old cases. The mucous membrane of the nose responds to the administration of Kali Bi in acute as well as chronic cases. The discharge is tough, stringy, green and goes inwards into the throat. The mucus is very difficult to take out. The patient can be heard from a distance trying to take it out but without success. One dose of Kali Bi. loosens this mucus. There is pain in the sinuses. There is neuralgia in the orbits above the eyes. The sense of smell has been lost. The nose is stuffed. At times, there is violent sneezing. The patient suffers from chronic inflammation of the frontal sinuses. Only Kali Bi. gives relief and cure to such a patient. Catarrhal laryngitis cough has a brassy sound. True membranous croup, extending to larynx and nares. Cough with pain in sternum, extending to shoulders. Pain at bifurcation of trachea on coughing from midsternum to back.

Like all snake poisons, Lachesis decomposes the blood rendering it more fluid; hence a haemorrhagic tendency is marked. Purpura, septic states, diphtheria, and other low forms of disease when the system is thoroughly poisoned and the prostration is marked. Delirium tremens with mucfrtrembling and confusion. Very important medicine during menopause and for patients of a melancholic disposition. Diphtheria carriers. Sensation of tension in various parts. Lachesis treats the worst of throat problems, hot flushes in women during menopause, and diptheric paralysis. It is indicated in high blood pressure with constriction and in heart disease when the face is purple and bloated. Also religious insanity. As a red inflammation leads us to use Belladonna, so Lachesis is to be thought of when the colour is purple. The face is purple; the eyes are engorged. An inflamed spot is purple and so are the inflamed glands. Ulceration bleeds, blood coagulates and the surface looks purple. There is extreme sensitivity to touch. The throat is purple and not red because the blood under the skin has coagulated. There is nothing like Lachesis if these indications are present.

The word LYCOPODIUM is derived from LUCOS meaning wolf and PES meaning the foot, as the shoots has an appearance of the wolfs foot. CLAVATUM derived from Latin word CLAVATUS meaning club-like. This drug is inert until the spores are crushed. Its wonderful medicinal properties are only disclosed by trituration and succussion. In nearly all cases where Lycopodium is the remedy, some evidence of urinary or digestive disturbance will be found. Lycopodium is adapted more especially to ailments gradually developing functional powers, where the function of the liver is seriously disturbed. Atony. Malnutrition. Mild temperaments of lymphatic constitution, with catarrhal tendencies; older persons, where the skin shows yellowish spots, earthy complexion, uric acid diathesis, etc.; also precocious, weak children. Symptoms characteristically run from right to left, act especially on right side of body, and are worse from 4 to 8 PM. Lycopodium is most useful in troubles relating to digestion. These troubles arise from the consumption of food, which ferments in the digestive system. That is why Lycopodium relieves a bloated and full abdomen wherein the wind is pressing downwards.

Every organ and tissue of the body is more or less affected by this powerful drug; it transforms healthy cells into inflamed and necrotic cells; decomposes the blood producing a profound anaemia. This is converted into useful life saving and life preserving service if employed homoeopathically, guided by its clear-cut symptoms. The lymphatic system is especially affected with all the membranes and glands, and internal organs, bones, etc. lesions produced by Mercury are very similar to those of syphilis. Very often indicated in the secondary stage of syphilis where there is a febrile chloroanaemia, rheumatoid pains around joints, etc. all mercury symptoms are worse at night, from warmth of bed, from damp, cold, rainy weather, worse during perspiration. It is also known as human 'thermometre'. Sensitive to heat and cold. Breath, excretions and body smell foul. Tendency to pus formation, which is thin, greenish, putrid, streaked with thin blood.

The prolong taking of excessive salt causes profound nutritive changes to take place in the system, and there arises not only the symptoms of salt retention as evidenced by dropsies and oedemas, but also an alteration in the blood causing a condition of anaemia and leucocytosis. There seems also to be retention in the tissues. It is a great remedy for certain forms of intermittent fever, anaemia, chlorosis, many disturbances of the alimentary tract and skin. Great debility; most weakness felt in the morning in bed. Dry mucous membranes. Constrictive sensation throughout the body. Great weariness and weakness. Oversensitive to all sorts of influences. Hyperthyroidism. Goiter, Addison's disease. Diabetes. According to Dr. E.B. Nash, Nat Mur is one of the best homoeopathic remedies for anemia. This anaemia can be caused by loss of fluids, by menstrual irregularities, by grief or mental diseases. The patient is pale, emaciated and in spite of eating very well he is anaemic. He suffers from a throbbing headache, soreness while climbing steps, exhaustion or physical exertion, constipation to some degree and overall depression. Some women have scanty flow of blood during menses.

The main action of this drug is on the outlets of the body where the mucous membrane and the skin meet; these pain as from splinters. Marked improvement of symptoms while riding in a carriage. Acts best on the dark complexioned and past middle life. Syphilis after abuse of mercury. Pains appear and disappear rapidly. All discharges very offensive especially urine, faeces, and perspiration. Persons who have chronic diseases and take cold easily and disposed to diarrhoea. Excessive physical irritability. The human body has many outlets where the mucous membranes and the skin meet. Any pain on account of problems in these regions is severe. It is a sticking pain. It is a pain as if somebody is piercing the surface with splinters. Nitric Acid is the remedy for problems of this type. The skin and the mucous membrane join at the corners of the mouth, in the nose and at the anus. On the lips the corners crack, get ulcerated and swollen. In the mouth there are blisters with a lot of pus and swelling. The gums are swollen, ulcerated and spongy. Fissures occur in the canthi. Nitric Acid is the first remedy in such cases.

The word NUX VOMICA is derived from Latin word NUX meaning nut and VOMERE meaning vomiting because of the peculiar property of the nut. Is the greatest of polychrests, because the bulk of its symptoms correspond in similarity with those of the commonest and most frequent of diseases. It is frequently the first remedy, indicated after much dosing, establishing a sort of equilibrium of forces and counteracting chronic effects. Nux is pre-eminently the remedy for many of the conditions incident to modern life. The typical Nux patient is thin, spare, quick, active, nervous and irritable. He does a good deal of mental work; has mental strains and leads a sedentary life, found in prolonged office work, over study and close application to business with cares and anxieties. This indoor life and mental strain seeks stimulants, coffee, wine, possibly in excess; or again, he hopes to quiet his excitement, by indulging in the sedative effects of tobacco, if not really a victim, to the seductive drugs, like opium etc. Nux is preeminently a male remedy. These conditions produce an irritable, nervous system, hypersensitive and over impressionable, which Nux will do much to soothe and calm. Especially adapted to digestive disturbances, portal congestion and hypochondriacal states depending thereon. Nux patients are easily chilled, avoid open air. Nux always seems to be out of tune, inharmonious spasmodic action.

The common acid " debility" is very marked in this remedy, producing a nervous exhaustion. Mental debility first, later physical. A congenital soil for the action of Phos. Acid is found in young people who grow rapidly, and who are overtaxed, mentally or physically. It is useful when the body is exposed to acute diseases, excesses grief, loss of vital fluids. Useful in relieving pain of cancer. An excellent use of phosphoric Acidum is made in curing mental and physical debility and in acute and chronic diseases where the patient is tired in mind and body. The mental debility is a result of nervous exhaustion in persons who have been working overtime at a young age. Physical debility comes as a result of acute disease, sexual excesses, grief, and loss of vital fluids from the body. Haemorrhages in typhoid, therefore require Phosphoric Acidum.

Phosphorus irritates, inflames and degenerates mucous membranes, irritates, and inflames serous membranes, inflames spinal cord and nerves, causing paralysis, destroys bone, especially the lower jaw and tibia; disorganizes the blood, causing fatty degeneration of blood vessels and every tissue and organs of the body and thus gives rise to haemorrhages. Produces a picture of destructive metabolism. Causes yellow atrophy of the liver and sub-acute hepatitis. Tall, slender persons, narrow chested, with thin, transparent skin, weakened by loss of animal fluids, with great nervous debility, emaciation seems to be under the special influence of Phosphorus. Great susceptibility to external impressions, to light, sound, odors, touch, thunderstorms. Polycythaemia, fatty degeneration, cirrhosis, and caries are pathological states calling for this remedy, inflammations of the respiratory tract. Paralytic symptoms. Ill effects of iodine and excessive use of salt, worse lying on left side. The first indication for Phosphorus is given by an intense sensation of burning in various parts of the body like the mouth, the lungs, the stomach, the small intestines, the anus, up the spine, the palm of the hand, and even the face. The patient craves for cold food, but this food is vomited as soon as it reaches the stomach. There is an insatiable hunger, an empty gone feeling in the stomach, in the whole abdomen.

The word PULSATILLA is derived from PULSATUS meaning to beat or to strike as it pulsates from the blowing winds. The weathercock among remedies. The disposition and mental state are the chief guiding symptoms to the selection of Pulsatilla. It is pre-eminently a female remedy, especially for mild, gentle, yielding disposition. Sad crying readily; weeps when talking; changeable, contradictory. The patient seeks the open air; always feels better there, even though he is chilly. Mucous membranes are all affected. Discharges thick, bland, and yellowish green. Often indicated after abuse of Iron tonics, and after badly- managed measeals. Symptoms ever changing. Thirstless, peevish and chilly. When first serious impairment of health is referred to age of puberty. Great sensitiveness. Pulsatilla cures chronic colds, fatty dyspepsia, and painful and scanty menstruation. One of the leading indications for the use of Pulsatilla is a thick, bland, yellowish or green discharge from mucous membranes in the body. Such discharges are to be found in nasal catarrh, in expectoration from the ears, the eyes, the lungs, ulcers, leucorrhoea and in gonorrhoea. In most such cases Pulsatilla leads to a cure. In the vagina, however, this discharge is excoriating and not bland.

The word RHUS means red because its flowers and leaves are red in colour. TOXICODENDRON means poison tree. The effects on the skin, rheumatic pains, mucous membrane affections, and a typhoid type of fever, make this remedy frequently indicated. It mainly affects fibrous tissues, joints, tendons, sheaths producing pain and stiffness. Ailments from strains, over lifting, getting wet while perspiring. Rheumatism in the cold season. Rhus Tox is the first remedy one should think of in any muscular pain where the cutting pain and soreness are temporarily relieved by movement. This is in direct contrast to Bryonia where movement aggravates pain.

It produces contraction of the unstriped muscular fibers, hence a constringent feeling throughout the whole body. This produces an anemic condition, coldness, numbness, mortification and gangrene. A useful remedy for old persons with shriveled skin- thin, scrawny old women. All the Secale conditions are better from cold; the whole body is pervaded by great heat. Haemorrhages continued oozing, thin, fetid, watery black blood. Debility, anxiety, emaciation, though appetite and thirst may be excessive. Facial and abdominal muscles twitch. Secale lowers the flow of pancreatic juice by raising the blood pressure. Menstrual colic, with coldness and intolerance of heat. Passive haemorrhages in feeble, cachetic women. Burning pains in uterus, brownish, offensive leucorrhoea. Menses irregular, copious, dark, continuous oozing of watery blood until next period. Threatened abortion about the third month. During labor no expulsive action, though everything is relaxed. After-pains. Suppression of milk; breasts do not fill properly. Dark, offensive lochia. Puerperal fever, putrid discharges, tympanitis, coldness, suppressed urine.

Acts especially on the portal system, with venous congestion. Stasis and thereby ptosis of viscera and weariness and misery. Weakness, yellow complexion, bearing-down sensation, especially in women, upon whose organism it has most pronounced effect. Pains extend down to back, chills easily. Tendency to abortion. Hot flashes at menopause with weakness and perspiration. Upward tendency of its symptoms. Easy fainting/ Ball" sensation in inner parts. Sepia acts best on brunettes. All pains are from below up. One of the most important uterine remedies. Tubercular patients with chronic hepatic troubles and uterine reflexes. Feels cold even in warm room. The most important indications of Sepia are in the problems of women relating to the uterus. It has been called the best uterine remedy available. The patient feels that all her internal organs would come out of the pelvic region. She has to sit with legs crossed to relieve this feeling. Sepia is a chronic remedy. It can take care of long standing problems.

Imperfect assimilation and consequent defective nutrition, it goes further and produces neurasthenic states in consequence, and increased susceptibility to nervous stimuli and exaggerated reflexes. Diseases of bones, caries and necrosis. In TB it must be used with care, for here it may cause the absorption of scar tissue, liberate the disease, walled in, to new activities. It is a deep acting remedy and slow in action. It is meant for scrofulous children with large head, open fontanels and sutures, distended abdomen, slow in walking. Ill effects of vaccination. It is related to all fistulous openings. Ripens abscesses since it promotes suppuration. Silica patient is cold, chilly, hugs the fire, wants plenty warm clothing, and hates drafts, hands and feet cold, worse in winter. Lack of vital heat. Prostration of mind and body. Great sensitiveness to taking cold. Intolerance of alcoholic stimulants/Ailments attended with pus formation. In inflammation with pus formation, which has become chronic, silicea is of great help. It is equally useful in grandular or bony ulceration. Think of silicea in whitlow, unhealthy skin, smelly feet, mammary abscess, mammary cancer, TB of the skin, the bone or of the abdomen,

This is a great Hahnemannian anti- psoric. Its action is centrifugal - from within outward - having an elective affinity for the skin, where it produces heat and burning, with itching; made worse by heat of bed. Inertia and relaxation of fibre; hence feebleness of tone chracterizes its symptoms. Ebullitions of heat, dislike of water, dry and hard hair and skin, red orifices, sinking feeling at stomach about 11.00am, cat-nap sleep; always indicate sulphur homoeopathically. Standing is the worst position for sulphur patients it is always uncomfortable. Dirty, filthy people, prone to skin affections. Aversion to being washed. When carefully selected remedies fail to act, especially in acute diseases, it frequently arouses the reactionary powers of the organism. Complaints that relapse. General offensive character of discharge and exhalations. Very red lips and face, flushing easily. Often use in beginning the treatment of chronic cases and in finishing acute ones.

Glossary ACIDITY-Excessive acid quality, as of the gastric juice. ACRID - biting, sharp to taste or smell. ADENOIDS- Characterized by debility, low blood pressure and a brownish skin discoloration. ALVEOLI- Air sacs in the lungs. AMENORRHEA - Abnormal suppression or absence of menstruation. ANEMIA - Lack of red blood corpuscles. ANAESTHESIA - Loss of sensation induced by anesthetics. ANEURYSMS - A sac formed by dilatation of a blood vessel. ANGUISH - Agonizing physical or mental pain.