<![CDATA[Homeopathy Works: Latest News]]> https://www.homeopathyworks.com Tue, 29 Sep 2026 13:57:44 +0000 <![CDATA[Homeopathy for Styes: Which Remedy Fits Your Symptoms?]]> https://www.homeopathyworks.com/dr-samets-insights/homeopathy-for-styes-which-remedy-fits-your-symptoms/ Mon, 28 Sep 2026 07:22:29 +0000 https://www.homeopathyworks.com/dr-samets-insights/homeopathy-for-styes-which-remedy-fits-your-symptoms/ A stye is a small, painful swelling that develops along the eyelid, usually when a gland near an eyelash becomes inflamed. The lid may become red, tender, swollen, or sensitive, and some people are particularly prone to styes that return repeatedly.

In homeopathy, the presence of a stye alone does not determine the remedy. The location of the stye, whether it is painful or hard, whether the eyelids itch or burn, the type of discharge, and the tendency for styes to recur can all help you find the remedy you need.

Here are several remedies with prominent stye and eyelid symptoms:

Conium maculatum

Conium maculatum is an important remedy to consider when styes keep coming back and have a tendency to become hard.

Several styes may develop and remain as firm areas in the eyelid, then periodically become inflamed again. The eyelids themselves may also feel thickened or hardened. There may be burning along the inner surface of the lids, and the eyes may be stuck together on waking in the morning.

Other factors to consider…  someone needing Conium tends to be a chilly person who is sensitive to cold air and air drafts. They are also sensitive to injustice. They tend to like being in the sun but are extremely sensitive to sunlight and, to a lesser degree, to summer heat. They also tend to have sore breasts prior to menstruation.

The tendency for recurring styes to become hard and then flare up again is an especially useful feature when considering Conium.

Graphites

Graphites is an important remedy to consider when styes occur on the lower eyelid.

The lids may be red and swollen, with crusting or scaling along their edges. One of the most characteristic features of Graphites is a tendency toward sticky, glue-like discharges. They may also complain of skin issues that release thick, sticky (almost honey-like) and offensive discharges, with fissures and cracking skin, and discharges around the ears, lips, and elsewhere.

Hepar sulphuris

Hepar sulph should be considered when the eyelids are markedly inflamed and extremely sensitive.

The lids may be red and swollen with eruptions or small pimples around the eyes. The eyes may water, and the eyelids can become stuck together, particularly at night.

The extreme sensitivity associated with Hepar sulph can help distinguish it. A person needing this remedy will be very sensitive to touch, pain, and cold air. They also tend to be irritable, avoid bright light, and feel better from warmth.

Lycopodium

Lycopodium has styes occurring near the inner corner of the eye.

Dryness and itching of the eyes may accompany the stye. The dryness can be particularly noticeable at night or when first opening the eyes after sleep. Redness may also be present, and the lids can become stuck together during the night from discharge. Lycopodium tends to be a right-sided remedy in general. They love sweets, room temperature drinks, and are typically worse in general from 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm each day.

Pulsatilla

Pulsatilla has a strong affinity for inflammation of the eyelids and styes, particularly those involving the upper lid.

The eyelids may itch and burn, and a thick discharge can cause them to stick together, especially during sleep. The discharge is often yellowish.

The eye symptoms are important here, but the general Pulsatilla picture may help confirm the choice. The person is often uncomfortable in a warm room and feels better in fresh, open air. Thirstlessness is another characteristic feature frequently associated with the remedy.

Sepia

Sepia is another remedy with styes and redness of the eyelids.

There may be discharge from the eyes during the night, leaving the lids sticky or crusted on waking. There may also be heaviness and irritation of the eyelids among the eye symptoms of Sepia.

Sepia patients tend to have an aversion to their loved ones when sick. They also tend to feel much better from vigorous exercise and from long exposure to the heat of the sun.

As with the other remedies, Sepia should not be selected simply because a stye is present. The accompanying symptoms should resemble the larger symptom picture of the remedy.

Staphysagria

Staphysagria is one of the remedies most strongly associated with a tendency toward repeated styes.

For this patient, styes recur, sometimes one after another. They may be hard or nodular, and itching of the eyelids may accompany them. Dryness of the eyes, particularly on waking, may also be present. While tending to appear mild-mannered, patients needing this remedy can be explosively angry at times with a tendency to throw things when angered.

A tendency toward one stye following another is an especially useful feature when considering Staphysagria.

Sulphur

Sulphur is also associated with recurring styes.

Burning, itching, redness, and irritation of the eyelids are prominent in the Sulphur patient. The eyes and lids may feel worse from heat, and the person in general is warm-blooded, worse from heat (often uncovers in sleep – particularly the feet), worse at 11:00 am, and craves spicy food.

When styes repeatedly return and are accompanied by marked burning and itching of the lids, Sulphur may be worth considering.

Choosing a Remedy

Several homeopathic remedies include styes among their symptoms, so the diagnosis itself is only the beginning. Always seek to find symptoms that characterize you.

Is the stye on the upper or lower lid? Does it occur near the inner corner of the eye? Is it hard and painful or primarily itchy and burning? Are the lids crusted or stuck together in the morning? Is there a history of one stye appearing after another?

These details help differentiate one remedy from another. Homeopathy is individualized, and the goal is to choose the remedy whose characteristic symptoms most closely resemble the symptoms you are experiencing.

Once you have selected a remedy that appears to match your symptoms, a 30C or 200C potency may be used to start, placing one pellet under the tongue or dissolving one pellet in water, stirring vigorously, and taking teaspoon doses as needed. Stop dosing when improvement begins and repeat only if symptoms begin to worsen again.

Eye problems that are severe, worsening, unusually painful, affecting vision, or failing to improve should be evaluated by a healthcare professional. Seek medical care whenever you are uncertain about the nature or severity of any eye condition.

About Dr. Lisa Samet:

Dr. Lisa Samet, N.D., provides Washington Homeopathic Products with a regular column on using homeopathy for the family. She's a naturopathic physician who specializes in homeopathic medicine. Dr. Samet graduated from the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in 1998 and has been practicing in Montreal since then. She was born and raised in New York.

Dr. Samet has chosen to focus on homeopathy because, in her experience, it is the deepest healing modality available, as it does not just soothe or palliate symptoms but actually stimulates the body to begin healing itself. Dr. Samet sees patients in her Montreal office as well as long-distance using Zoom, Skype, or FaceTime. Learn more here: Dr. Lisa Samet. You can follow her on Facebook as well. 

]]> A stye is a small, painful swelling that develops along the eyelid, usually when a gland near an eyelash becomes inflamed. The lid may become red, tender, swollen, or sensitive, and some people are particularly prone to styes that return repeatedly.

In homeopathy, the presence of a stye alone does not determine the remedy. The location of the stye, whether it is painful or hard, whether the eyelids itch or burn, the type of discharge, and the tendency for styes to recur can all help you find the remedy you need.

Here are several remedies with prominent stye and eyelid symptoms:

Conium maculatum

Conium maculatum is an important remedy to consider when styes keep coming back and have a tendency to become hard.

Several styes may develop and remain as firm areas in the eyelid, then periodically become inflamed again. The eyelids themselves may also feel thickened or hardened. There may be burning along the inner surface of the lids, and the eyes may be stuck together on waking in the morning.

Other factors to consider…  someone needing Conium tends to be a chilly person who is sensitive to cold air and air drafts. They are also sensitive to injustice. They tend to like being in the sun but are extremely sensitive to sunlight and, to a lesser degree, to summer heat. They also tend to have sore breasts prior to menstruation.

The tendency for recurring styes to become hard and then flare up again is an especially useful feature when considering Conium.

Graphites

Graphites is an important remedy to consider when styes occur on the lower eyelid.

The lids may be red and swollen, with crusting or scaling along their edges. One of the most characteristic features of Graphites is a tendency toward sticky, glue-like discharges. They may also complain of skin issues that release thick, sticky (almost honey-like) and offensive discharges, with fissures and cracking skin, and discharges around the ears, lips, and elsewhere.

Hepar sulphuris

Hepar sulph should be considered when the eyelids are markedly inflamed and extremely sensitive.

The lids may be red and swollen with eruptions or small pimples around the eyes. The eyes may water, and the eyelids can become stuck together, particularly at night.

The extreme sensitivity associated with Hepar sulph can help distinguish it. A person needing this remedy will be very sensitive to touch, pain, and cold air. They also tend to be irritable, avoid bright light, and feel better from warmth.

Lycopodium

Lycopodium has styes occurring near the inner corner of the eye.

Dryness and itching of the eyes may accompany the stye. The dryness can be particularly noticeable at night or when first opening the eyes after sleep. Redness may also be present, and the lids can become stuck together during the night from discharge. Lycopodium tends to be a right-sided remedy in general. They love sweets, room temperature drinks, and are typically worse in general from 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm each day.

Pulsatilla

Pulsatilla has a strong affinity for inflammation of the eyelids and styes, particularly those involving the upper lid.

The eyelids may itch and burn, and a thick discharge can cause them to stick together, especially during sleep. The discharge is often yellowish.

The eye symptoms are important here, but the general Pulsatilla picture may help confirm the choice. The person is often uncomfortable in a warm room and feels better in fresh, open air. Thirstlessness is another characteristic feature frequently associated with the remedy.

Sepia

Sepia is another remedy with styes and redness of the eyelids.

There may be discharge from the eyes during the night, leaving the lids sticky or crusted on waking. There may also be heaviness and irritation of the eyelids among the eye symptoms of Sepia.

Sepia patients tend to have an aversion to their loved ones when sick. They also tend to feel much better from vigorous exercise and from long exposure to the heat of the sun.

As with the other remedies, Sepia should not be selected simply because a stye is present. The accompanying symptoms should resemble the larger symptom picture of the remedy.

Staphysagria

Staphysagria is one of the remedies most strongly associated with a tendency toward repeated styes.

For this patient, styes recur, sometimes one after another. They may be hard or nodular, and itching of the eyelids may accompany them. Dryness of the eyes, particularly on waking, may also be present. While tending to appear mild-mannered, patients needing this remedy can be explosively angry at times with a tendency to throw things when angered.

A tendency toward one stye following another is an especially useful feature when considering Staphysagria.

Sulphur

Sulphur is also associated with recurring styes.

Burning, itching, redness, and irritation of the eyelids are prominent in the Sulphur patient. The eyes and lids may feel worse from heat, and the person in general is warm-blooded, worse from heat (often uncovers in sleep – particularly the feet), worse at 11:00 am, and craves spicy food.

When styes repeatedly return and are accompanied by marked burning and itching of the lids, Sulphur may be worth considering.

Choosing a Remedy

Several homeopathic remedies include styes among their symptoms, so the diagnosis itself is only the beginning. Always seek to find symptoms that characterize you.

Is the stye on the upper or lower lid? Does it occur near the inner corner of the eye? Is it hard and painful or primarily itchy and burning? Are the lids crusted or stuck together in the morning? Is there a history of one stye appearing after another?

These details help differentiate one remedy from another. Homeopathy is individualized, and the goal is to choose the remedy whose characteristic symptoms most closely resemble the symptoms you are experiencing.

Once you have selected a remedy that appears to match your symptoms, a 30C or 200C potency may be used to start, placing one pellet under the tongue or dissolving one pellet in water, stirring vigorously, and taking teaspoon doses as needed. Stop dosing when improvement begins and repeat only if symptoms begin to worsen again.

Eye problems that are severe, worsening, unusually painful, affecting vision, or failing to improve should be evaluated by a healthcare professional. Seek medical care whenever you are uncertain about the nature or severity of any eye condition.

About Dr. Lisa Samet:

Dr. Lisa Samet, N.D., provides Washington Homeopathic Products with a regular column on using homeopathy for the family. She's a naturopathic physician who specializes in homeopathic medicine. Dr. Samet graduated from the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in 1998 and has been practicing in Montreal since then. She was born and raised in New York.

Dr. Samet has chosen to focus on homeopathy because, in her experience, it is the deepest healing modality available, as it does not just soothe or palliate symptoms but actually stimulates the body to begin healing itself. Dr. Samet sees patients in her Montreal office as well as long-distance using Zoom, Skype, or FaceTime. Learn more here: Dr. Lisa Samet. You can follow her on Facebook as well. 

]]> <![CDATA[Need Help Finding the Homeopathic Remedy You Need?]]> https://www.homeopathyworks.com/dr-samets-insights/need-help-finding-the-homeopathic-remedy-you-need/ Tue, 22 Sep 2026 07:36:01 +0000 https://www.homeopathyworks.com/dr-samets-insights/need-help-finding-the-homeopathic-remedy-you-need/ I sometimes get the comment - "I tried homeopathy for my health problem, but it didn't work."

Has that been your experience too?

Don't be discouraged.

Homeopathy is based on a law of nature, that what causes disease symptoms can cure them or "like cures like."

So what does “like cures like" really mean? The Greek philosopher Hippocrates was one of the first to talk about it. The phrase means that a patient suffering from a set of symptoms can be treated and cured by a dose(s) of a substance capable of producing similar symptoms when given to a healthy person.

Hundreds of thousands of physicians and over 500 million consumers worldwide rely on it.

So why might homeopathy be failing you at this moment?

The key to choosing the correct/helpful remedy is ALWAYS the same. One must match the patient's characteristic symptoms to a remedy capable of producing similar characteristic symptoms to succeed. If you choose a remedy with characteristics most similar to the characteristic symptoms of the patient, you will have a happy outcome with great frequency. If you don't choose a good match, you (or your family member) will either feel no effect, or one that is mild at best.

So just what is meant by the term “characteristic” as used above? Actually, that’s the key question here.

In ordinary medicine, when you arrive at your doctor's office with something like a cough or stomach bug, your physician simply asks for basic information. In the case of a cough, they may listen to your chest for a moment and ask you a few basic questions such as "have you been running a fever, and have you been bringing anything up with the cough?" In fairly short order, your doctor will then likely recommend a cough suppressant and, in some cases, prescribe an antibiotic, which are likely the same drugs he or she gives to each patient presenting with a cough in a given timeframe.

It's important to remember that with any named ailment, there is a set of symptoms routinely associated with it. But there is more to the story…

Homeopaths long ago recognized that each person also expresses ailments in ways that are idiosyncratic, or unique, to them. Take that cough again as an example... you and your husband and a coworker may all have what is known as ‘a cough.' But in your case, the cough is worse when talking, laughing, eating, lying on your left side, and going from a warm room into cold air. You are also very thirsty for cold drinks. With your husband, his cough is particularly worse in a warm room, better in cool, open air, and worse in the evening and when lying down. He is also completely thirstless. Your coworker - well, she seems to be most troubled by her cough at 3:00 AM. She also complains of small stitching pains in her chest when coughing and is most comfortable when leaning forward to cough.

In homeopathy, we use individualized treatments by recommending remedies that are chosen to match the unique symptoms expressed by the patient. Makes sense, right?

Looking again at the cases cited above, each person clearly expresses their ailment uniquely and needs an individualized prescription. In homeopathy, the remedy treats the sick person and not the named ailment.

To use homeopathy well, one needs to probe much deeper to better understand how each person is uniquely expressing their ailment. It is those unique expressions of an ailment, particularly those with intensity, that are considered the characteristic symptoms of a case and that light the way to a helpful remedy.

Let's look at one more example - stomach bugs.

Almost all stomach bugs come with nausea. Some may also come with vomiting and/or loss of appetite and/or diarrhea. These are symptoms considered common to this ailment.

As I stated above, characteristic symptoms are those that are unique to the patient. Again, these are symptoms that appear and are not common to all patients with a given complaint. Again, using stomach bugs as an illustration, examples of characteristic symptoms to look for include the following (partial list):

A thirst for water, but only for small quantities at a time

A burning thirst with no desire to drink

Burning pain in the region of the stomach

Vomiting that is particularly violent and accompanied by retching

A desire to vomit, but an inability to do so

Ice cold perspiration, particularly on the head

A sudden sense of great fear and anxiety

Great weakness and prostration with a strong desire to sleep after vomiting

Nausea that is persistent, even after vomiting

Vomiting and diarrhea that are violent and nearly, if not in fact, simultaneous

Or any variation on the above, that seems unique or peculiar

Helpful tip:

Things or circumstances that make a person with an illness feel better or worse (particularly if they strongly impact how your loved one feels) are always good symptoms to explore and often characteristic.

Where can you learn more about the characteristic symptoms you need to see when choosing a particular remedy for your loved ones?

I have written a number of articles available to you in this section of the Washington Homeopathic Products website (Dr. Samet’s Insights) that may help. There are also many self-help books in circulation (also available on the WHP website) that can assist in guiding you in remedy selection.

It's important to realize that finding the helpful remedy you need is not always easy. Why? Most self-help articles and books list some, but not all, remedies useful for various ailments, and for those remedies, they give only a few characteristics. That makes your job more difficult.

Never get discouraged. Sometimes a well-trained homeopath, someone who works with homeopathy and patients on a daily basis, is required to help find the remedy you need.

Remember, as with any medical condition, consult with your physician if you have any concerns about the severity of your illness, as it may first require medical diagnosis and/or intervention and monitoring.

About Dr. Lisa Samet:

Dr. Lisa Samet, N.D., provides Washington Homeopathic Products with a regular column on using homeopathy for the family. She's a naturopathic physician who specializes in homeopathic medicine. Dr. Samet graduated from the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in 1998 and has been practicing in Montreal since then. She was born and raised in New York.

Dr. Samet has chosen to focus on homeopathy because, in her experience, it is the deepest healing modality available, as it does not just soothe or palliate symptoms but actually stimulates the body to begin healing itself. Dr. Samet sees patients in her Montreal office as well as long-distance using Zoom, Skype, or FaceTime. Learn more here: Dr. Lisa Samet. You can follow her on Facebook as well. 

]]> I sometimes get the comment - "I tried homeopathy for my health problem, but it didn't work."

Has that been your experience too?

Don't be discouraged.

Homeopathy is based on a law of nature, that what causes disease symptoms can cure them or "like cures like."

So what does “like cures like" really mean? The Greek philosopher Hippocrates was one of the first to talk about it. The phrase means that a patient suffering from a set of symptoms can be treated and cured by a dose(s) of a substance capable of producing similar symptoms when given to a healthy person.

Hundreds of thousands of physicians and over 500 million consumers worldwide rely on it.

So why might homeopathy be failing you at this moment?

The key to choosing the correct/helpful remedy is ALWAYS the same. One must match the patient's characteristic symptoms to a remedy capable of producing similar characteristic symptoms to succeed. If you choose a remedy with characteristics most similar to the characteristic symptoms of the patient, you will have a happy outcome with great frequency. If you don't choose a good match, you (or your family member) will either feel no effect, or one that is mild at best.

So just what is meant by the term “characteristic” as used above? Actually, that’s the key question here.

In ordinary medicine, when you arrive at your doctor's office with something like a cough or stomach bug, your physician simply asks for basic information. In the case of a cough, they may listen to your chest for a moment and ask you a few basic questions such as "have you been running a fever, and have you been bringing anything up with the cough?" In fairly short order, your doctor will then likely recommend a cough suppressant and, in some cases, prescribe an antibiotic, which are likely the same drugs he or she gives to each patient presenting with a cough in a given timeframe.

It's important to remember that with any named ailment, there is a set of symptoms routinely associated with it. But there is more to the story…

Homeopaths long ago recognized that each person also expresses ailments in ways that are idiosyncratic, or unique, to them. Take that cough again as an example... you and your husband and a coworker may all have what is known as ‘a cough.' But in your case, the cough is worse when talking, laughing, eating, lying on your left side, and going from a warm room into cold air. You are also very thirsty for cold drinks. With your husband, his cough is particularly worse in a warm room, better in cool, open air, and worse in the evening and when lying down. He is also completely thirstless. Your coworker - well, she seems to be most troubled by her cough at 3:00 AM. She also complains of small stitching pains in her chest when coughing and is most comfortable when leaning forward to cough.

In homeopathy, we use individualized treatments by recommending remedies that are chosen to match the unique symptoms expressed by the patient. Makes sense, right?

Looking again at the cases cited above, each person clearly expresses their ailment uniquely and needs an individualized prescription. In homeopathy, the remedy treats the sick person and not the named ailment.

To use homeopathy well, one needs to probe much deeper to better understand how each person is uniquely expressing their ailment. It is those unique expressions of an ailment, particularly those with intensity, that are considered the characteristic symptoms of a case and that light the way to a helpful remedy.

Let's look at one more example - stomach bugs.

Almost all stomach bugs come with nausea. Some may also come with vomiting and/or loss of appetite and/or diarrhea. These are symptoms considered common to this ailment.

As I stated above, characteristic symptoms are those that are unique to the patient. Again, these are symptoms that appear and are not common to all patients with a given complaint. Again, using stomach bugs as an illustration, examples of characteristic symptoms to look for include the following (partial list):

A thirst for water, but only for small quantities at a time

A burning thirst with no desire to drink

Burning pain in the region of the stomach

Vomiting that is particularly violent and accompanied by retching

A desire to vomit, but an inability to do so

Ice cold perspiration, particularly on the head

A sudden sense of great fear and anxiety

Great weakness and prostration with a strong desire to sleep after vomiting

Nausea that is persistent, even after vomiting

Vomiting and diarrhea that are violent and nearly, if not in fact, simultaneous

Or any variation on the above, that seems unique or peculiar

Helpful tip:

Things or circumstances that make a person with an illness feel better or worse (particularly if they strongly impact how your loved one feels) are always good symptoms to explore and often characteristic.

Where can you learn more about the characteristic symptoms you need to see when choosing a particular remedy for your loved ones?

I have written a number of articles available to you in this section of the Washington Homeopathic Products website (Dr. Samet’s Insights) that may help. There are also many self-help books in circulation (also available on the WHP website) that can assist in guiding you in remedy selection.

It's important to realize that finding the helpful remedy you need is not always easy. Why? Most self-help articles and books list some, but not all, remedies useful for various ailments, and for those remedies, they give only a few characteristics. That makes your job more difficult.

Never get discouraged. Sometimes a well-trained homeopath, someone who works with homeopathy and patients on a daily basis, is required to help find the remedy you need.

Remember, as with any medical condition, consult with your physician if you have any concerns about the severity of your illness, as it may first require medical diagnosis and/or intervention and monitoring.

About Dr. Lisa Samet:

Dr. Lisa Samet, N.D., provides Washington Homeopathic Products with a regular column on using homeopathy for the family. She's a naturopathic physician who specializes in homeopathic medicine. Dr. Samet graduated from the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in 1998 and has been practicing in Montreal since then. She was born and raised in New York.

Dr. Samet has chosen to focus on homeopathy because, in her experience, it is the deepest healing modality available, as it does not just soothe or palliate symptoms but actually stimulates the body to begin healing itself. Dr. Samet sees patients in her Montreal office as well as long-distance using Zoom, Skype, or FaceTime. Learn more here: Dr. Lisa Samet. You can follow her on Facebook as well. 

]]> <![CDATA[Homeopathy for Simple Joint Pain]]> https://www.homeopathyworks.com/dr-samets-insights/homeopathy-for-simple-joint-pain/ Mon, 17 Aug 2026 14:22:42 +0000 https://www.homeopathyworks.com/dr-samets-insights/homeopathy-for-simple-joint-pain/ Most of us know what aching joints feel like. It may be a sore knee after gardening, stiff fingers first thing in the morning, or a hip that seems to complain every time the weather changes. Joint pain becomes more common as we get older, but it can affect people at almost any age.

While there are many causes of joint pain, symptoms often include pain, stiffness, and sometimes swelling around the affected joint.

Homeopathy has long been used to help with these kinds of complaints. The important thing to remember is that homeopathy is individualized medicine. Two people may have pain in the very same joint and yet require completely different remedies because the symptoms are different.

Here are a few remedies that are commonly considered when the symptoms fit.

Arsenicum album

Arsenicum album is often thought of when the pain is accompanied by marked restlessness. The person cannot seem to get comfortable. They move about because of the pain, even though they feel tired and worn out.

The pains are frequently burning in nature and are often much worse after midnight, especially between one and two o'clock in the morning. Warmth usually brings relief, while cold tends to make the symptoms worse. Anxiety often accompanies the physical discomfort.

Bryonia alba

Bryonia is one of the easiest remedies to recognize because movement makes nearly everything worse. Even the smallest motion may increase the pain, so the person prefers to keep perfectly still. Pressure makes the pain better, as it braces the area from movement.

The joints may be swollen, warm, and painful, with stitching or tearing pains. Cold, dry weather often aggravates the symptoms. There is often a characteristic high thirst, along with a tendency toward dry constipation. The person can easily be grumpy with the pain.

Pulsatilla

Pulsatilla pains rarely stay in one place for very long. They tend to wander from joint to joint, and the pain's intensity may change from hour to hour.

The joints can be red and swollen. The pains can be of a tearing or drawing nature that are a bit better from motion. The pain is typically worse in a warm room and better with cold applications. The person generally feels better in cool, fresh air. Warm rooms and getting overheated usually make the symptoms worse. Another well-known feature of Pulsatilla is thirstlessness, even when the person is not feeling well. Emotionally, they may become tearful while describing their symptoms and feel better from sympathy and consolation.

Rhus toxicodendron

Anyone who has needed Rhus tox usually remembers one thing: the first movement hurts.

Getting out of a chair, taking those first few steps in the morning, or moving after sitting still for a while can be quite painful. Once the joints loosen up, however, the discomfort often improves. If the person rests again, the stiffness and aching pain returns.

Cold, damp weather commonly aggravates the symptoms, while warmth and continued motion bring relief. The pains are often described as drawing, tearing, or as though the joint had been strained or sprained. Pain is often worse at night. Restlessness and difficulty finding a comfortable position can make sleep difficult.

The Remedy Must Fit the Person

One of the most common mistakes beginners make is choosing a remedy without considering the characteristics of the pain or the patient. Homeopathy doesn't work that way.

The remedy is chosen because it matches the person's symptoms, not because it matches the name of the disease. The location of the pain is only one small part of the picture. What makes it better or worse, the time of day the symptoms appear, the type of pain, and even the person's general characteristics all help guide remedy selection.

If the pain is severe, follows an injury, or persists despite treatment, it is important to seek a proper medical evaluation. Joint pain can sometimes be a sign of a condition that requires diagnosis and ongoing medical care.

About Dr. Lisa Samet:

Dr. Lisa Samet, N.D., provides Washington Homeopathic Products with a regular column on using homeopathy for the family. She's a naturopathic physician who specializes in homeopathic medicine. Dr. Samet graduated from the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in 1998 and has been practicing in Montreal since then. She was born and raised in New York.

Dr. Samet has chosen to focus on homeopathy because, in her experience, it is the deepest healing modality available, as it does not just soothe or palliate symptoms but actually stimulates the body to begin healing itself. Dr. Samet sees patients in her Montreal office as well as long-distance using Zoom, Skype, or FaceTime. Learn more here: Dr. Lisa Samet. You can follow her on Facebook as well. 

]]> Most of us know what aching joints feel like. It may be a sore knee after gardening, stiff fingers first thing in the morning, or a hip that seems to complain every time the weather changes. Joint pain becomes more common as we get older, but it can affect people at almost any age.

While there are many causes of joint pain, symptoms often include pain, stiffness, and sometimes swelling around the affected joint.

Homeopathy has long been used to help with these kinds of complaints. The important thing to remember is that homeopathy is individualized medicine. Two people may have pain in the very same joint and yet require completely different remedies because the symptoms are different.

Here are a few remedies that are commonly considered when the symptoms fit.

Arsenicum album

Arsenicum album is often thought of when the pain is accompanied by marked restlessness. The person cannot seem to get comfortable. They move about because of the pain, even though they feel tired and worn out.

The pains are frequently burning in nature and are often much worse after midnight, especially between one and two o'clock in the morning. Warmth usually brings relief, while cold tends to make the symptoms worse. Anxiety often accompanies the physical discomfort.

Bryonia alba

Bryonia is one of the easiest remedies to recognize because movement makes nearly everything worse. Even the smallest motion may increase the pain, so the person prefers to keep perfectly still. Pressure makes the pain better, as it braces the area from movement.

The joints may be swollen, warm, and painful, with stitching or tearing pains. Cold, dry weather often aggravates the symptoms. There is often a characteristic high thirst, along with a tendency toward dry constipation. The person can easily be grumpy with the pain.

Pulsatilla

Pulsatilla pains rarely stay in one place for very long. They tend to wander from joint to joint, and the pain's intensity may change from hour to hour.

The joints can be red and swollen. The pains can be of a tearing or drawing nature that are a bit better from motion. The pain is typically worse in a warm room and better with cold applications. The person generally feels better in cool, fresh air. Warm rooms and getting overheated usually make the symptoms worse. Another well-known feature of Pulsatilla is thirstlessness, even when the person is not feeling well. Emotionally, they may become tearful while describing their symptoms and feel better from sympathy and consolation.

Rhus toxicodendron

Anyone who has needed Rhus tox usually remembers one thing: the first movement hurts.

Getting out of a chair, taking those first few steps in the morning, or moving after sitting still for a while can be quite painful. Once the joints loosen up, however, the discomfort often improves. If the person rests again, the stiffness and aching pain returns.

Cold, damp weather commonly aggravates the symptoms, while warmth and continued motion bring relief. The pains are often described as drawing, tearing, or as though the joint had been strained or sprained. Pain is often worse at night. Restlessness and difficulty finding a comfortable position can make sleep difficult.

The Remedy Must Fit the Person

One of the most common mistakes beginners make is choosing a remedy without considering the characteristics of the pain or the patient. Homeopathy doesn't work that way.

The remedy is chosen because it matches the person's symptoms, not because it matches the name of the disease. The location of the pain is only one small part of the picture. What makes it better or worse, the time of day the symptoms appear, the type of pain, and even the person's general characteristics all help guide remedy selection.

If the pain is severe, follows an injury, or persists despite treatment, it is important to seek a proper medical evaluation. Joint pain can sometimes be a sign of a condition that requires diagnosis and ongoing medical care.

About Dr. Lisa Samet:

Dr. Lisa Samet, N.D., provides Washington Homeopathic Products with a regular column on using homeopathy for the family. She's a naturopathic physician who specializes in homeopathic medicine. Dr. Samet graduated from the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in 1998 and has been practicing in Montreal since then. She was born and raised in New York.

Dr. Samet has chosen to focus on homeopathy because, in her experience, it is the deepest healing modality available, as it does not just soothe or palliate symptoms but actually stimulates the body to begin healing itself. Dr. Samet sees patients in her Montreal office as well as long-distance using Zoom, Skype, or FaceTime. Learn more here: Dr. Lisa Samet. You can follow her on Facebook as well. 

]]> <![CDATA[Choosing a Homeopathic Remedy for Your Headache]]> https://www.homeopathyworks.com/dr-samets-insights/choosing-a-homeopathic-remedy-for-your-headache/ Mon, 10 Aug 2026 09:58:38 +0000 https://www.homeopathyworks.com/dr-samets-insights/choosing-a-homeopathic-remedy-for-your-headache/ Few complaints are as common as a headache. Nearly everyone experiences one from time to time. Sometimes the pain is little more than an annoyance. Other times, it can stop you in your tracks.

Homeopathy has been used for headaches for more than two hundred years. The challenge is not finding a remedy for a headache. The challenge is finding the right remedy for the person with the headache.

In homeopathy, the location of the pain is only part of the picture. How the pain feels, what brings it on, what makes it better or worse, and the symptoms that accompany it all help point toward the correct remedy.

Here are a few of the remedies frequently considered when the symptoms fit.

Aconitum napellus

An Aconite headache comes on suddenly and with great intensity. The pain may be bursting, tearing, or accompanied by a feeling of fullness in the forehead. Some people describe the sensation as though the head were tightly bound.

The person is usually restless and anxious, often with considerable fear accompanying the attack. The headaches frequently follow exposure to cold, dry winds or a sudden chill.

Belladonna

Belladonna produces some of the most violent headaches found in the materia medica.

The pain is often throbbing, pounding, or bursting, as though the head would split open. Every jar, every step, and even light or noise may increase the suffering. The face is commonly flushed and hot, the eyes bright, and the pupils dilated.

Pressure against the head may bring some relief. Belladonna is also an important remedy to consider for headaches following exposure to the sun.

Bryonia alba

The person needing Bryonia wants one thing above all else. They do not want to move.

Motion aggravates the headache, even turning the head or moving the eyes. The pain is often bursting or splitting in character, causing the person to hold the head perfectly still or support it with the hands.

Dryness is another characteristic of Bryonia. The lips and mouth are often dry, and there is frequently a desire for large drinks of cold water taken at long intervals.

Glonoine

Glonoine is a well-known remedy for congestive headaches.

The pain is violent, throbbing, and pulsating, with a sensation that the blood is rushing to the head. Every heartbeat seems to increase the pain. The face may become deeply flushed, and the least exposure to the heat of the sun can bring on or aggravate the attack.

Bending over, shaking the head, or becoming overheated commonly makes the headache worse. Glonoine headaches can be even more severe than Belladonna headaches.

Natrum muriaticum

Natrum muriaticum has several very characteristic headache symptoms.

Many people describe the pain as though little hammers were beating inside the head. Others experience a sensation as if the head were tightly compressed. The headaches often begin in the morning, particularly around ten or eleven o'clock, and may continue well into the afternoon.

Exposure to the sun is a common cause of these headaches. It can also be called for in headaches that follow grief, disappointment, or emotional distress.

Sepia

Sepia headaches frequently involve the back of the head and may be accompanied by nausea.

The pain is often aggravated by stooping, coughing, or jarring the body. Bright light can also increase the discomfort.

Many people needing Sepia find relief from sleep. A good nap may leave the headache greatly improved or entirely gone. Hering also notes that vigorous exercise may relieve the pain in some cases.

The Remedy Must Match the Symptoms

Headaches may look alike on the surface, but the details often tell a very different story.

One person may feel worse from the slightest movement, another from bright sunlight. One may crave cold drinks, another may be restless and anxious, while someone else simply wants to lie quietly in a dark room. These individual differences are what guide remedy selection.

If you are new to homeopathy or your symptoms do not clearly point to a single remedy, a well-formulated combination product such as Washington Homeopathic Products' Be Gone™ Headache may be a reasonable place to begin.

As always, a severe headache, a sudden headache unlike any you've experienced before, or a headache accompanied by neurological symptoms, fever, or injury should be evaluated promptly by a healthcare professional.

About Dr. Lisa Samet:

Dr. Lisa Samet, N.D., provides Washington Homeopathic Products with a regular column on using homeopathy for the family. She's a naturopathic physician who specializes in homeopathic medicine. Dr. Samet graduated from the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in 1998 and has been practicing in Montreal since then. She was born and raised in New York.

Dr. Samet has chosen to focus on homeopathy because, in her experience, it is the deepest healing modality available, as it does not just soothe or palliate symptoms but actually stimulates the body to begin healing itself. Dr. Samet sees patients in her Montreal office as well as long-distance using Zoom, Skype, or FaceTime. Learn more here: Dr. Lisa Samet. You can follow her on Facebook as well. 

]]> Few complaints are as common as a headache. Nearly everyone experiences one from time to time. Sometimes the pain is little more than an annoyance. Other times, it can stop you in your tracks.

Homeopathy has been used for headaches for more than two hundred years. The challenge is not finding a remedy for a headache. The challenge is finding the right remedy for the person with the headache.

In homeopathy, the location of the pain is only part of the picture. How the pain feels, what brings it on, what makes it better or worse, and the symptoms that accompany it all help point toward the correct remedy.

Here are a few of the remedies frequently considered when the symptoms fit.

Aconitum napellus

An Aconite headache comes on suddenly and with great intensity. The pain may be bursting, tearing, or accompanied by a feeling of fullness in the forehead. Some people describe the sensation as though the head were tightly bound.

The person is usually restless and anxious, often with considerable fear accompanying the attack. The headaches frequently follow exposure to cold, dry winds or a sudden chill.

Belladonna

Belladonna produces some of the most violent headaches found in the materia medica.

The pain is often throbbing, pounding, or bursting, as though the head would split open. Every jar, every step, and even light or noise may increase the suffering. The face is commonly flushed and hot, the eyes bright, and the pupils dilated.

Pressure against the head may bring some relief. Belladonna is also an important remedy to consider for headaches following exposure to the sun.

Bryonia alba

The person needing Bryonia wants one thing above all else. They do not want to move.

Motion aggravates the headache, even turning the head or moving the eyes. The pain is often bursting or splitting in character, causing the person to hold the head perfectly still or support it with the hands.

Dryness is another characteristic of Bryonia. The lips and mouth are often dry, and there is frequently a desire for large drinks of cold water taken at long intervals.

Glonoine

Glonoine is a well-known remedy for congestive headaches.

The pain is violent, throbbing, and pulsating, with a sensation that the blood is rushing to the head. Every heartbeat seems to increase the pain. The face may become deeply flushed, and the least exposure to the heat of the sun can bring on or aggravate the attack.

Bending over, shaking the head, or becoming overheated commonly makes the headache worse. Glonoine headaches can be even more severe than Belladonna headaches.

Natrum muriaticum

Natrum muriaticum has several very characteristic headache symptoms.

Many people describe the pain as though little hammers were beating inside the head. Others experience a sensation as if the head were tightly compressed. The headaches often begin in the morning, particularly around ten or eleven o'clock, and may continue well into the afternoon.

Exposure to the sun is a common cause of these headaches. It can also be called for in headaches that follow grief, disappointment, or emotional distress.

Sepia

Sepia headaches frequently involve the back of the head and may be accompanied by nausea.

The pain is often aggravated by stooping, coughing, or jarring the body. Bright light can also increase the discomfort.

Many people needing Sepia find relief from sleep. A good nap may leave the headache greatly improved or entirely gone. Hering also notes that vigorous exercise may relieve the pain in some cases.

The Remedy Must Match the Symptoms

Headaches may look alike on the surface, but the details often tell a very different story.

One person may feel worse from the slightest movement, another from bright sunlight. One may crave cold drinks, another may be restless and anxious, while someone else simply wants to lie quietly in a dark room. These individual differences are what guide remedy selection.

If you are new to homeopathy or your symptoms do not clearly point to a single remedy, a well-formulated combination product such as Washington Homeopathic Products' Be Gone™ Headache may be a reasonable place to begin.

As always, a severe headache, a sudden headache unlike any you've experienced before, or a headache accompanied by neurological symptoms, fever, or injury should be evaluated promptly by a healthcare professional.

About Dr. Lisa Samet:

Dr. Lisa Samet, N.D., provides Washington Homeopathic Products with a regular column on using homeopathy for the family. She's a naturopathic physician who specializes in homeopathic medicine. Dr. Samet graduated from the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in 1998 and has been practicing in Montreal since then. She was born and raised in New York.

Dr. Samet has chosen to focus on homeopathy because, in her experience, it is the deepest healing modality available, as it does not just soothe or palliate symptoms but actually stimulates the body to begin healing itself. Dr. Samet sees patients in her Montreal office as well as long-distance using Zoom, Skype, or FaceTime. Learn more here: Dr. Lisa Samet. You can follow her on Facebook as well. 

]]> <![CDATA[Tennis Elbow, Golfer's Elbow, and the Homeopathic Approach: Different Symptom Patterns Will Point to Different Options]]> https://www.homeopathyworks.com/dr-samets-insights/tennis-elbow-golfers-elbow-and-the-homeopathic-approach-different-symptom-patterns-will-point-to-different-options/ Wed, 08 Jul 2026 12:03:36 +0000 https://www.homeopathyworks.com/dr-samets-insights/tennis-elbow-golfers-elbow-and-the-homeopathic-approach-different-symptom-patterns-will-point-to-different-options/ Pain on the inside or outside of the elbow can make even simple activities frustrating. Opening a jar, carrying groceries, gardening, typing, or lifting a coffee mug may suddenly become painful.

These conditions are often called tennis elbow or golfer's elbow, but you don't have to play either sport to experience them. Repetitive strain from work, hobbies, exercise, or everyday activities can all contribute to irritation of the tendons around the elbow.

When it comes to homeopathy, however, the diagnosis is only the starting point.

Looking Beyond the Diagnosis

One of the unique aspects of homeopathy is that two people with the same diagnosis may need entirely different remedies.

Rather than asking, "What remedy is used for tennis elbow?" a homeopath asks a different question:

What’s Characteristic About This Person’s Symptoms?

The answer often provides the most important clues.

What Does the Pain Feel Like?

Some people describe their discomfort as bruised or sore, as though the arm has been overworked.

Others experience sharp, tearing pains that travel down the forearm.

Some notice stiffness when they first begin moving the arm after rest, while others find that any movement at all aggravates the pain.

These differences matter.

In homeopathy, the characteristics of the pain (and the patient) help guide remedy selection.

What Makes It Better or Worse?

Another important consideration is what changes the symptoms.

For example:

  • Does the elbow feel worse after periods of rest?
  • Does gentle movement improve the stiffness?
  • Is the pain aggravated by continued use?
  • Does warmth bring relief?
  • Does keeping the arm still help?
  • Did the symptoms begin after a strain, injury, or period of overexertion?

The answers can be just as important as the location of the pain itself.

Remedy Pictures Commonly Considered

The following remedy pictures illustrate why homeopathy looks beyond the diagnosis and focuses on the individual's experience.

When Stiffness Improves with Movement

Some people find the elbow is especially stiff and painful when they first begin moving after rest. Once they get going, the joint gradually loosens and feels better.

This pattern often points toward Rhus toxicodendron, a remedy long associated with stiffness, strain, and symptoms that improve with continued motion. Someone needing this remedy can be restless with their pain, which is often worse at night, and feel relief from heat and warm applications. Rarely will Rhus tox be called for if your patient is not made worse by cold, damp conditions.

When Movement Makes Everything Worse

Others experience the opposite pattern. Even small movements aggravate the pain, and they instinctively want to keep the arm still.

This symptom picture may suggest Bryonia, a remedy often associated with pains that worsen from motion and improve with rest. The person feels better holding the sore part perfectly still and when pressure is applied to the area. Bryonia patients also tend to feel better lying on the sore part (which acts as a brace for the area).

When the Area Feels Bruised or Beaten

Sometimes the dominant sensation is soreness, as though the tissues have been bruised or overworked. The tendon will tend to feel sore and painful as if bruised – and there may be some discoloration in the area of the injury.

If the symptoms began after unusual exertion, repetitive activity, or a minor injury, Arnica montana may be considered.

 

When the Problem Follows Repetitive Strain

For some people, the pain develops after repeated use of the arm, wrist, or hand. The tendons feel strained, sore, weak, or overworked.

In these situations, Ruta graveolens is often studied because of its strong association with injuries involving tendons and their attachments. It’s important to note that Ruta and Rhus-tox are often hard to choose between in these cases – both are very helpful for injury or pain of tendons, both are better from heat and continued motion (which loosens up the area), both are worse from rest. Each of these symptoms point more frequently to Rhus tox… and less often to Ruta. If you can’t decide, my advice is to try a few doses of Rhus tox and if not better, switch to Ruta!

When Pain Shoots Along the Arm

Occasionally elbow pain is accompanied by tingling, burning, or shooting sensations that extend into the forearm, wrist, or hand.

When nerve-related symptoms are prominent, Hypericum perforatum may be considered.

The Story Behind the Symptoms

Two people may both have pain on the outside of the elbow, yet their experiences can be very different.

One person may have developed symptoms after spending a weekend pruning shrubs or painting a room.

Another may notice pain that gradually appeared after months of repetitive computer work.

A third may trace the problem back to a specific injury or strain.

Homeopathy takes these details into account. The circumstances surrounding the problem are often part of the remedy picture.

Why Individualization Matters

Homeopathy has long recognized that symptoms are more than a label or diagnosis. The exact way a condition presents in each individual helps determine the most appropriate remedy.

For this reason, there is no single homeopathic remedy for tennis elbow or golfer's elbow.

Instead, the goal is to understand the complete symptom picture, including:

  • The location of the pain
  • The sensation of the pain
  • What makes it better or worse
  • How the symptoms began
  • The individual's overall experience

The more clearly these details are understood, the easier it becomes to identify a remedy that closely matches the person experiencing them.

A Different Way of Looking at Elbow Pain

Whether elbow pain develops after sports, work, exercise, or daily activities, homeopathy offers a highly individualized approach. Rather than focusing solely on the name of the condition, it considers the unique pattern of symptoms each person experiences.

Sometimes the smallest details, how the pain feels, when it occurs, or what changes it, can provide the most valuable clues of all.

As with any medical condition, consult with your physician if you have any concerns about the severity of your condition as it may first require medical diagnosis and/or intervention and monitoring.

About Dr. Lisa Samet:

Dr. Lisa Samet, N.D., provides Washington Homeopathic Products with a regular column on using homeopathy for the family. She's a naturopathic physician who specializes in homeopathic medicine. Dr. Samet graduated from the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in 1998 and has been practicing in Montreal since then. She was born and raised in New York.

Dr. Samet has chosen to focus on homeopathy because, in her experience, it is the deepest healing modality available, as it does not just soothe or palliate symptoms but actually stimulates the body to begin healing itself. Dr. Samet sees patients in her Montreal office as well as long-distance using Zoom, Skype, or FaceTime. Learn more here: Dr. Lisa Samet. You can follow her on Facebook as well. 

 

 

]]> Pain on the inside or outside of the elbow can make even simple activities frustrating. Opening a jar, carrying groceries, gardening, typing, or lifting a coffee mug may suddenly become painful.

These conditions are often called tennis elbow or golfer's elbow, but you don't have to play either sport to experience them. Repetitive strain from work, hobbies, exercise, or everyday activities can all contribute to irritation of the tendons around the elbow.

When it comes to homeopathy, however, the diagnosis is only the starting point.

Looking Beyond the Diagnosis

One of the unique aspects of homeopathy is that two people with the same diagnosis may need entirely different remedies.

Rather than asking, "What remedy is used for tennis elbow?" a homeopath asks a different question:

What’s Characteristic About This Person’s Symptoms?

The answer often provides the most important clues.

What Does the Pain Feel Like?

Some people describe their discomfort as bruised or sore, as though the arm has been overworked.

Others experience sharp, tearing pains that travel down the forearm.

Some notice stiffness when they first begin moving the arm after rest, while others find that any movement at all aggravates the pain.

These differences matter.

In homeopathy, the characteristics of the pain (and the patient) help guide remedy selection.

What Makes It Better or Worse?

Another important consideration is what changes the symptoms.

For example:

  • Does the elbow feel worse after periods of rest?
  • Does gentle movement improve the stiffness?
  • Is the pain aggravated by continued use?
  • Does warmth bring relief?
  • Does keeping the arm still help?
  • Did the symptoms begin after a strain, injury, or period of overexertion?

The answers can be just as important as the location of the pain itself.

Remedy Pictures Commonly Considered

The following remedy pictures illustrate why homeopathy looks beyond the diagnosis and focuses on the individual's experience.

When Stiffness Improves with Movement

Some people find the elbow is especially stiff and painful when they first begin moving after rest. Once they get going, the joint gradually loosens and feels better.

This pattern often points toward Rhus toxicodendron, a remedy long associated with stiffness, strain, and symptoms that improve with continued motion. Someone needing this remedy can be restless with their pain, which is often worse at night, and feel relief from heat and warm applications. Rarely will Rhus tox be called for if your patient is not made worse by cold, damp conditions.

When Movement Makes Everything Worse

Others experience the opposite pattern. Even small movements aggravate the pain, and they instinctively want to keep the arm still.

This symptom picture may suggest Bryonia, a remedy often associated with pains that worsen from motion and improve with rest. The person feels better holding the sore part perfectly still and when pressure is applied to the area. Bryonia patients also tend to feel better lying on the sore part (which acts as a brace for the area).

When the Area Feels Bruised or Beaten

Sometimes the dominant sensation is soreness, as though the tissues have been bruised or overworked. The tendon will tend to feel sore and painful as if bruised – and there may be some discoloration in the area of the injury.

If the symptoms began after unusual exertion, repetitive activity, or a minor injury, Arnica montana may be considered.

 

When the Problem Follows Repetitive Strain

For some people, the pain develops after repeated use of the arm, wrist, or hand. The tendons feel strained, sore, weak, or overworked.

In these situations, Ruta graveolens is often studied because of its strong association with injuries involving tendons and their attachments. It’s important to note that Ruta and Rhus-tox are often hard to choose between in these cases – both are very helpful for injury or pain of tendons, both are better from heat and continued motion (which loosens up the area), both are worse from rest. Each of these symptoms point more frequently to Rhus tox… and less often to Ruta. If you can’t decide, my advice is to try a few doses of Rhus tox and if not better, switch to Ruta!

When Pain Shoots Along the Arm

Occasionally elbow pain is accompanied by tingling, burning, or shooting sensations that extend into the forearm, wrist, or hand.

When nerve-related symptoms are prominent, Hypericum perforatum may be considered.

The Story Behind the Symptoms

Two people may both have pain on the outside of the elbow, yet their experiences can be very different.

One person may have developed symptoms after spending a weekend pruning shrubs or painting a room.

Another may notice pain that gradually appeared after months of repetitive computer work.

A third may trace the problem back to a specific injury or strain.

Homeopathy takes these details into account. The circumstances surrounding the problem are often part of the remedy picture.

Why Individualization Matters

Homeopathy has long recognized that symptoms are more than a label or diagnosis. The exact way a condition presents in each individual helps determine the most appropriate remedy.

For this reason, there is no single homeopathic remedy for tennis elbow or golfer's elbow.

Instead, the goal is to understand the complete symptom picture, including:

  • The location of the pain
  • The sensation of the pain
  • What makes it better or worse
  • How the symptoms began
  • The individual's overall experience

The more clearly these details are understood, the easier it becomes to identify a remedy that closely matches the person experiencing them.

A Different Way of Looking at Elbow Pain

Whether elbow pain develops after sports, work, exercise, or daily activities, homeopathy offers a highly individualized approach. Rather than focusing solely on the name of the condition, it considers the unique pattern of symptoms each person experiences.

Sometimes the smallest details, how the pain feels, when it occurs, or what changes it, can provide the most valuable clues of all.

As with any medical condition, consult with your physician if you have any concerns about the severity of your condition as it may first require medical diagnosis and/or intervention and monitoring.

About Dr. Lisa Samet:

Dr. Lisa Samet, N.D., provides Washington Homeopathic Products with a regular column on using homeopathy for the family. She's a naturopathic physician who specializes in homeopathic medicine. Dr. Samet graduated from the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in 1998 and has been practicing in Montreal since then. She was born and raised in New York.

Dr. Samet has chosen to focus on homeopathy because, in her experience, it is the deepest healing modality available, as it does not just soothe or palliate symptoms but actually stimulates the body to begin healing itself. Dr. Samet sees patients in her Montreal office as well as long-distance using Zoom, Skype, or FaceTime. Learn more here: Dr. Lisa Samet. You can follow her on Facebook as well. 

 

 

]]> <![CDATA[Homeopathy for Back-to-School Stress]]> https://www.homeopathyworks.com/dr-samets-insights/homeopathy-for-backtoschool-stress/ Tue, 30 Jun 2026 15:25:12 +0000 https://www.homeopathyworks.com/dr-samets-insights/homeopathy-for-backtoschool-stress/ For many families, the start of a new school year brings a mix of excitement and apprehension. New teachers, new classmates, academic expectations, and changes in routine can be challenging for children of all ages. While some children adapt quickly, others struggle with worry, sadness, shyness, or nervous anticipation.

Particularly for the youngest set, starting daycare for the first time or kindergarten and a new school can be traumatic for the child and even for the parent. For the more established school-goers, memories of the previous year, where it didn’t go so well academically or socially, can be daunting.

Homeopaths have long recognized that children respond to stress in different ways. Rather than focusing solely on the situation itself, homeopathy considers the unique way each child experiences and expresses their emotions.

Here are several remedies that may be worth considering when a child is struggling with anxiety about school:

Pulsatilla: The Child Who Doesn't Want to Be Left

Some children become tearful and clingy at the thought of separation. They may cry easily, seek affection, and want constant reassurance from a parent.

Children who benefit from this remedy are gentle, yielding, and emotional. They are usually quite shy by nature, blushing with embarrassment when addressed, often weep readily, and feel better from sympathy, comfort, and company. Being alone may feel especially difficult, and their distress is often relieved by loving attention and reassurance.

Some additional indications for Pulsatilla: This remedy is more suited to a child with low thirst, and who always feels better outdoors in the fresh, cool air. They often have a history of frequent colds.

When a child seems inconsolable until they are held, comforted, or reassured, Pulsatilla may deserve consideration.

Ignatia: Grief, Disappointment, and Emotional Upset

Not every child expresses distress through clinginess. Some become intensely emotional, alternating between crying, irritability, and withdrawal.

Ignatia is a remedy for acute emotional suffering, grief, disappointment, and suppressed emotions. Sighing is a prominent feature, as are sudden mood changes. A child who needs Ignatia may seem deeply affected by a loss, separation, or an upsetting transition.

Unlike the Pulsatilla child, they may not always welcome consolation and can appear sensitive, conflicted, or difficult to comfort.

 

Silicea: Timid and Self-Conscious

School can be especially challenging for children who are shy and lack confidence in social situations.

Silicea is a great remedy to consider for children who are timid, embarrassed easily, and lack self-confidence. These children may hesitate to participate, fear being observed, or avoid situations that place them in the spotlight. They often appear reserved and may struggle with anticipation before events they perceive as demanding.

Their anxiety is frequently quiet and inward rather than dramatic.

A Silicea child does not like to be consoled and can get very angry if they are approached when sad or scared.

Those needing Silicea are typically chilly and sweat a lot, especially from the feet or head in sleep. The sweat often has a sour or “off” smell. They are frequently picky eaters, may have digestive problems, and are often thinner than average as a result. They can be pale and undernourished-looking. They often have a history of late teething.

Lycopodium: Fear of Failure Despite Ability

Many parents recognize the child who studies hard, prepares thoroughly, and still worries excessively about performance.

A child needing Lycopodium is often characterized by anticipatory anxiety, lack of self-confidence, and fear of undertaking new responsibilities. The child may doubt their abilities even when they are well prepared. Public speaking, tests, recitals, and classroom presentations can provoke considerable nervousness.

A characteristic feature is that confidence often improves once the event has begun. The greatest anxiety is frequently beforehand. In general, these kids get angry very easily, especially when contradicted, are bossy by nature, and have a hard time making decisions. When stressed, they frequently have digestive problems, as that is a weak point.

Gelsemium: Stage Fright and Examination Nerves

Some children become overwhelmed by anticipation. Instead of appearing emotional, they become quiet, sluggish, weak, or mentally dull from nervousness.

Gelsemium is a great remedy for the effects of fear, fright, and anticipation. The child may feel shaky, tired, heavy, or unable to think clearly before an examination, performance, or presentation. They may complain that their minds go blank when they need them most. Loose stools may also be present before a big event.

When nervousness produces weakness, trembling, or a sense of paralysis rather than emotional outbursts, Gelsemium may be considered.

Many kids in my practice have taken this remedy before important exams and felt immediately calmer. Try it!

Remember (particularly if you’re new to homeopathy), the key to choosing the correct/helpful remedy is always the same. One must match the “characteristic symptoms” (i.e., unusual or peculiar) of the person you are caring for (not the common ones like a headache, sore throat, cough, fever, etc.) to a remedy capable of producing similar characteristic symptoms to have success. If you choose a remedy with characteristics most similar to the characteristic symptoms of your family member, you should have a happy outcome every time. If you don't, they will either feel no effect or one that is mildly positive at best, but there is never a bad effect from choosing the “incorrect” remedy.

Once you have chosen a remedy that appears to match your symptoms, dose with a 30C or 200C potency to start, by placing one pellet under the tongue or one pellet in water, stirring vigorously (the pellet does not need to be completely dissolved before dosing), and then giving a teaspoon dose as needed. Always cease dosing when relief begins, and only redose if symptoms worsen again. And as with any medical condition, consult with your physician if you have any concerns about the severity of the problem, as it may first require medical diagnosis and/or intervention and monitoring.

About Dr. Lisa Samet:

Dr. Lisa Samet, N.D., provides Washington Homeopathic Products with a regular column on using homeopathy for the family. She's a naturopathic physician who specializes in homeopathic medicine. Dr. Samet graduated from the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in 1998 and has been practicing in Montreal since then. She was born and raised in New York.

Dr. Samet has chosen to focus on homeopathy because, in her experience, it is the deepest healing modality available, as it does not just soothe or palliate symptoms but actually stimulates the body to begin healing itself. Dr. Samet sees patients in her Montreal office as well as long-distance using Zoom, Skype, or FaceTime. Learn more here: Dr. Lisa Samet. You can follow her on Facebook as well. 

]]> For many families, the start of a new school year brings a mix of excitement and apprehension. New teachers, new classmates, academic expectations, and changes in routine can be challenging for children of all ages. While some children adapt quickly, others struggle with worry, sadness, shyness, or nervous anticipation.

Particularly for the youngest set, starting daycare for the first time or kindergarten and a new school can be traumatic for the child and even for the parent. For the more established school-goers, memories of the previous year, where it didn’t go so well academically or socially, can be daunting.

Homeopaths have long recognized that children respond to stress in different ways. Rather than focusing solely on the situation itself, homeopathy considers the unique way each child experiences and expresses their emotions.

Here are several remedies that may be worth considering when a child is struggling with anxiety about school:

Pulsatilla: The Child Who Doesn't Want to Be Left

Some children become tearful and clingy at the thought of separation. They may cry easily, seek affection, and want constant reassurance from a parent.

Children who benefit from this remedy are gentle, yielding, and emotional. They are usually quite shy by nature, blushing with embarrassment when addressed, often weep readily, and feel better from sympathy, comfort, and company. Being alone may feel especially difficult, and their distress is often relieved by loving attention and reassurance.

Some additional indications for Pulsatilla: This remedy is more suited to a child with low thirst, and who always feels better outdoors in the fresh, cool air. They often have a history of frequent colds.

When a child seems inconsolable until they are held, comforted, or reassured, Pulsatilla may deserve consideration.

Ignatia: Grief, Disappointment, and Emotional Upset

Not every child expresses distress through clinginess. Some become intensely emotional, alternating between crying, irritability, and withdrawal.

Ignatia is a remedy for acute emotional suffering, grief, disappointment, and suppressed emotions. Sighing is a prominent feature, as are sudden mood changes. A child who needs Ignatia may seem deeply affected by a loss, separation, or an upsetting transition.

Unlike the Pulsatilla child, they may not always welcome consolation and can appear sensitive, conflicted, or difficult to comfort.

 

Silicea: Timid and Self-Conscious

School can be especially challenging for children who are shy and lack confidence in social situations.

Silicea is a great remedy to consider for children who are timid, embarrassed easily, and lack self-confidence. These children may hesitate to participate, fear being observed, or avoid situations that place them in the spotlight. They often appear reserved and may struggle with anticipation before events they perceive as demanding.

Their anxiety is frequently quiet and inward rather than dramatic.

A Silicea child does not like to be consoled and can get very angry if they are approached when sad or scared.

Those needing Silicea are typically chilly and sweat a lot, especially from the feet or head in sleep. The sweat often has a sour or “off” smell. They are frequently picky eaters, may have digestive problems, and are often thinner than average as a result. They can be pale and undernourished-looking. They often have a history of late teething.

Lycopodium: Fear of Failure Despite Ability

Many parents recognize the child who studies hard, prepares thoroughly, and still worries excessively about performance.

A child needing Lycopodium is often characterized by anticipatory anxiety, lack of self-confidence, and fear of undertaking new responsibilities. The child may doubt their abilities even when they are well prepared. Public speaking, tests, recitals, and classroom presentations can provoke considerable nervousness.

A characteristic feature is that confidence often improves once the event has begun. The greatest anxiety is frequently beforehand. In general, these kids get angry very easily, especially when contradicted, are bossy by nature, and have a hard time making decisions. When stressed, they frequently have digestive problems, as that is a weak point.

Gelsemium: Stage Fright and Examination Nerves

Some children become overwhelmed by anticipation. Instead of appearing emotional, they become quiet, sluggish, weak, or mentally dull from nervousness.

Gelsemium is a great remedy for the effects of fear, fright, and anticipation. The child may feel shaky, tired, heavy, or unable to think clearly before an examination, performance, or presentation. They may complain that their minds go blank when they need them most. Loose stools may also be present before a big event.

When nervousness produces weakness, trembling, or a sense of paralysis rather than emotional outbursts, Gelsemium may be considered.

Many kids in my practice have taken this remedy before important exams and felt immediately calmer. Try it!

Remember (particularly if you’re new to homeopathy), the key to choosing the correct/helpful remedy is always the same. One must match the “characteristic symptoms” (i.e., unusual or peculiar) of the person you are caring for (not the common ones like a headache, sore throat, cough, fever, etc.) to a remedy capable of producing similar characteristic symptoms to have success. If you choose a remedy with characteristics most similar to the characteristic symptoms of your family member, you should have a happy outcome every time. If you don't, they will either feel no effect or one that is mildly positive at best, but there is never a bad effect from choosing the “incorrect” remedy.

Once you have chosen a remedy that appears to match your symptoms, dose with a 30C or 200C potency to start, by placing one pellet under the tongue or one pellet in water, stirring vigorously (the pellet does not need to be completely dissolved before dosing), and then giving a teaspoon dose as needed. Always cease dosing when relief begins, and only redose if symptoms worsen again. And as with any medical condition, consult with your physician if you have any concerns about the severity of the problem, as it may first require medical diagnosis and/or intervention and monitoring.

About Dr. Lisa Samet:

Dr. Lisa Samet, N.D., provides Washington Homeopathic Products with a regular column on using homeopathy for the family. She's a naturopathic physician who specializes in homeopathic medicine. Dr. Samet graduated from the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in 1998 and has been practicing in Montreal since then. She was born and raised in New York.

Dr. Samet has chosen to focus on homeopathy because, in her experience, it is the deepest healing modality available, as it does not just soothe or palliate symptoms but actually stimulates the body to begin healing itself. Dr. Samet sees patients in her Montreal office as well as long-distance using Zoom, Skype, or FaceTime. Learn more here: Dr. Lisa Samet. You can follow her on Facebook as well. 

]]> <![CDATA[Helping Burns Heal: Homeopathic Remedies to Know]]> https://www.homeopathyworks.com/dr-samets-insights/helping-burns-heal-homeopathic-remedies-to-know/ Thu, 25 Jun 2026 10:40:00 +0000 https://www.homeopathyworks.com/dr-samets-insights/helping-burns-heal-homeopathic-remedies-to-know/ Most of us have experienced a minor burn at some point. A splash of hot water, a touch of a hot pan, or a burst of steam can leave skin red, painful, and tender for days. While most minor burns heal without complications, discomfort can be significant, and many people worry about lingering marks or scarring.

To help you understand your homeopathic options in these cases, I turn to great advice offered years ago by one of the best homeopathic physicians who ever lived – Dr. Adolph Lippe, MD.

Dr. Lippe is considered by many medical historians to have produced the best results recorded in the history of medicine. Certainty about his exemplary results is possible because he was required by law to submit his patient records annually to the Board of Health in the city of Philadelphia, where he had a very large and prosperous practice.

Regarding treating burns using homeopathy, he wrote the following:

"Every individual case will require its individual treatment according to the law of cure (similia similibus curantur), and, therefore, many remedies, not mentioned in this short essay, may be indicated in some cases as the symptoms accompanying such injuries, as well as the causes may indicate them.

First Degree Burns:

The first degree (burn) is often caused by steam or from the contact of more or less hot substances; it produces a deep, not circumscribed redness of the skin without swelling, which vanishes when pressed upon the fingers. The skin peels off in a few days.

Remedies to consider: Arsenicum album, Belladonna, Euphorbium, Hammamelis, Rhus tox., and Terebinthina correspond with that condition of the skin. I have found Hammamelis the most efficacious remedy; the distilled preparation externally applied, will reduce the pain immediately.

Second Degree Burns:

The second-degree burn causes the epidermis to become either spontaneously or gradually elevated to a smaller or larger blister, filled with a yellow or transparent fluid. The redness and swelling of the skin are more intense than in the first degree, the pain more severe—burning. The vesicles shrink and dry up; the fluid is absorbed; the skin is thrown off; or, if they burst or are opened, the fluid is emptied, the blister sinks in and dries up, a new epidermis is formed, or the place festers.

Remedies to consider: No remedies correspond closer to this condition than Cantharis, which if early enough applied will prevent the blisters from forming to any extent. Where they have formed, the tincture (or 30C potency in water) of Cantharis applied with a brush (or a wet paper towel) externally, will soon relieve the pain…”

As with any medical condition, consult with your physician if you have any concerns about the severity of your condition as it may first require medical diagnosis and/or intervention and monitoring.

About Dr. Lisa Samet:

Dr. Lisa Samet, N.D., provides Washington Homeopathic Products with a regular column on using homeopathy for the family. She's a naturopathic physician who specializes in homeopathic medicine. Dr. Samet graduated from the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in 1998 and has been practicing in Montreal since then. She was born and raised in New York.

Dr. Samet has chosen to focus on homeopathy because, in her experience, it is the deepest healing modality available, as it does not just soothe or palliate symptoms but actually stimulates the body to begin healing itself. Dr. Samet sees patients in her Montreal office as well as long-distance using Zoom, Skype, or FaceTime. Learn more here: Dr. Lisa Samet. You can follow her on Facebook as well. 

]]> Most of us have experienced a minor burn at some point. A splash of hot water, a touch of a hot pan, or a burst of steam can leave skin red, painful, and tender for days. While most minor burns heal without complications, discomfort can be significant, and many people worry about lingering marks or scarring.

To help you understand your homeopathic options in these cases, I turn to great advice offered years ago by one of the best homeopathic physicians who ever lived – Dr. Adolph Lippe, MD.

Dr. Lippe is considered by many medical historians to have produced the best results recorded in the history of medicine. Certainty about his exemplary results is possible because he was required by law to submit his patient records annually to the Board of Health in the city of Philadelphia, where he had a very large and prosperous practice.

Regarding treating burns using homeopathy, he wrote the following:

"Every individual case will require its individual treatment according to the law of cure (similia similibus curantur), and, therefore, many remedies, not mentioned in this short essay, may be indicated in some cases as the symptoms accompanying such injuries, as well as the causes may indicate them.

First Degree Burns:

The first degree (burn) is often caused by steam or from the contact of more or less hot substances; it produces a deep, not circumscribed redness of the skin without swelling, which vanishes when pressed upon the fingers. The skin peels off in a few days.

Remedies to consider: Arsenicum album, Belladonna, Euphorbium, Hammamelis, Rhus tox., and Terebinthina correspond with that condition of the skin. I have found Hammamelis the most efficacious remedy; the distilled preparation externally applied, will reduce the pain immediately.

Second Degree Burns:

The second-degree burn causes the epidermis to become either spontaneously or gradually elevated to a smaller or larger blister, filled with a yellow or transparent fluid. The redness and swelling of the skin are more intense than in the first degree, the pain more severe—burning. The vesicles shrink and dry up; the fluid is absorbed; the skin is thrown off; or, if they burst or are opened, the fluid is emptied, the blister sinks in and dries up, a new epidermis is formed, or the place festers.

Remedies to consider: No remedies correspond closer to this condition than Cantharis, which if early enough applied will prevent the blisters from forming to any extent. Where they have formed, the tincture (or 30C potency in water) of Cantharis applied with a brush (or a wet paper towel) externally, will soon relieve the pain…”

As with any medical condition, consult with your physician if you have any concerns about the severity of your condition as it may first require medical diagnosis and/or intervention and monitoring.

About Dr. Lisa Samet:

Dr. Lisa Samet, N.D., provides Washington Homeopathic Products with a regular column on using homeopathy for the family. She's a naturopathic physician who specializes in homeopathic medicine. Dr. Samet graduated from the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in 1998 and has been practicing in Montreal since then. She was born and raised in New York.

Dr. Samet has chosen to focus on homeopathy because, in her experience, it is the deepest healing modality available, as it does not just soothe or palliate symptoms but actually stimulates the body to begin healing itself. Dr. Samet sees patients in her Montreal office as well as long-distance using Zoom, Skype, or FaceTime. Learn more here: Dr. Lisa Samet. You can follow her on Facebook as well. 

]]> <![CDATA[Stiff and Sore After Working in the Yard? Four Homeopathic Remedies That Can Help]]> https://www.homeopathyworks.com/dr-samets-insights/stiff-and-sore-after-working-in-the-yard-four-homeopathic-remedies-that-can-help/ Tue, 09 Jun 2026 10:32:49 +0000 https://www.homeopathyworks.com/dr-samets-insights/stiff-and-sore-after-working-in-the-yard-four-homeopathic-remedies-that-can-help/ Anyone who has ever done strenuous yard work knows the pain and stiffness that can sometimes follow.

Here are four homeopathic remedies to consider when sore after a hard day's labor.

Aconite
This remedy is worth considering when pain and stiffness occur soon after working in cold, dry weather. The joints may be sore, and the pain is often worse at night. Symptoms may come on suddenly after exposure to cold winds or becoming chilled while working outdoors. There is often restlessness with the pain.

Arnica
A classic Arnica picture after gardening might be someone who spent all day digging, weeding, hauling mulch, splitting wood, raking leaves, or trimming shrubs and wakes up the next morning feeling as though they "went ten rounds with a heavyweight boxer."

Arnica is strongly associated with the effects of overexertion, excessive muscular strain, trauma, and physical labor.

  • There is often a bruised, beaten, sore-all-over feeling
  • The muscles feel overworked, strained, or as if they have been pounded
  • The body may feel exhausted from prolonged exertion
  • There can be soreness after lifting, carrying heavy loads, digging, chopping, or other strenuous manual labor
  • The person may complain that the bed feels too hard, as though the body is bruised
  • The muscles and soft tissues may be tender to the touch
  • The limbs can feel weak, lame, or powerless after overexertion
  • There may be stiffness and soreness after unusual physical effort or after doing more work than the body is accustomed to
  • It should also be considered when minor bumps, falls, strains, or knocks during outdoor work leave lingering soreness and bruising

Arnica is one of the most frequently mentioned remedies in homeopathic literature for the after-effects of excessive physical exertion and overuse.

Bryonia
Choosing this remedy is often relatively easy. The most characteristic symptom is that the person worsens with the slightest movement and prefers to remain completely still.

  • Every motion aggravates
  • The pains are often sharp, stitching, or tearing in nature
  • Pressure on the painful part and movement aggravate the discomfort
  • The person may avoid moving the affected muscles or joints whenever possible
  • Warmth often aggravates
  • The person is frequently irritable and prefers to be left alone
  • There is often marked thirst for large quantities of water at long intervals

Rhus toxicodendron
This remedy should be considered when stiffness and pain are worse on first movement but improve with continued motion.

  • Stiffness is often most noticeable after resting, and as a result, at night in bed
  • The person feels compelled to keep moving, even at rest, to obtain relief
  • Continued motion improves the discomfort
  • Symptoms are typically worse during cold, damp, rainy weather
  • Warmth and warm applications frequently bring relief
  • The person may be restless, constantly changing position, because remaining still becomes uncomfortable

A common Rhus toxicodendron picture after yard work is someone who feels extremely stiff when getting out of bed or standing up from a chair, but gradually loosens up and feels better once they get moving.

Ruta graveolens

This remedy should be considered when one has the sensation of strain, sprain, or injury to tendons, ligaments, or periosteal tissues from overuse or overexertion.

  • Lameness after strain
  • Soreness as if beaten, but especially involving tendons and joints
  • Pain from overexertion of flexor muscles and tendons
  • Sprains and strains
  • Weakness and aching after lifting or physical labor
  • Bruised pain in bones and periosteum (covering of the bones)

A classic Ruta yard-work picture might be someone who spent all day shoveling, pruning, or pulling weeds and now feels deep soreness around the wrists, elbows, knees, or ankles. Unlike Arnica's bruised feeling, Ruta often has a more strained, sprained, or overused quality.

As with any medical condition, consult with your physician if you have any concerns about the severity of your problem, as it may first require medical diagnosis and/or intervention and monitoring.

About Dr. Lisa Samet:

Dr. Lisa Samet, N.D., provides Washington Homeopathic Products with a regular column on using homeopathy for the family. She's a naturopathic physician who specializes in homeopathic medicine. Dr. Samet graduated from the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in 1998 and has been practicing in Montreal since then. She was born and raised in New York.

Dr. Samet has chosen to focus on homeopathy because, in her experience, it is the deepest healing modality available, as it does not just soothe or palliate symptoms but actually stimulates the body to begin healing itself. Dr. Samet sees patients in her Montreal office as well as long-distance using Zoom, Skype, or FaceTime. Learn more here: Dr. Lisa Samet. You can follow her on Facebook as well. 

]]> Anyone who has ever done strenuous yard work knows the pain and stiffness that can sometimes follow.

Here are four homeopathic remedies to consider when sore after a hard day's labor.

Aconite
This remedy is worth considering when pain and stiffness occur soon after working in cold, dry weather. The joints may be sore, and the pain is often worse at night. Symptoms may come on suddenly after exposure to cold winds or becoming chilled while working outdoors. There is often restlessness with the pain.

Arnica
A classic Arnica picture after gardening might be someone who spent all day digging, weeding, hauling mulch, splitting wood, raking leaves, or trimming shrubs and wakes up the next morning feeling as though they "went ten rounds with a heavyweight boxer."

Arnica is strongly associated with the effects of overexertion, excessive muscular strain, trauma, and physical labor.

  • There is often a bruised, beaten, sore-all-over feeling
  • The muscles feel overworked, strained, or as if they have been pounded
  • The body may feel exhausted from prolonged exertion
  • There can be soreness after lifting, carrying heavy loads, digging, chopping, or other strenuous manual labor
  • The person may complain that the bed feels too hard, as though the body is bruised
  • The muscles and soft tissues may be tender to the touch
  • The limbs can feel weak, lame, or powerless after overexertion
  • There may be stiffness and soreness after unusual physical effort or after doing more work than the body is accustomed to
  • It should also be considered when minor bumps, falls, strains, or knocks during outdoor work leave lingering soreness and bruising

Arnica is one of the most frequently mentioned remedies in homeopathic literature for the after-effects of excessive physical exertion and overuse.

Bryonia
Choosing this remedy is often relatively easy. The most characteristic symptom is that the person worsens with the slightest movement and prefers to remain completely still.

  • Every motion aggravates
  • The pains are often sharp, stitching, or tearing in nature
  • Pressure on the painful part and movement aggravate the discomfort
  • The person may avoid moving the affected muscles or joints whenever possible
  • Warmth often aggravates
  • The person is frequently irritable and prefers to be left alone
  • There is often marked thirst for large quantities of water at long intervals

Rhus toxicodendron
This remedy should be considered when stiffness and pain are worse on first movement but improve with continued motion.

  • Stiffness is often most noticeable after resting, and as a result, at night in bed
  • The person feels compelled to keep moving, even at rest, to obtain relief
  • Continued motion improves the discomfort
  • Symptoms are typically worse during cold, damp, rainy weather
  • Warmth and warm applications frequently bring relief
  • The person may be restless, constantly changing position, because remaining still becomes uncomfortable

A common Rhus toxicodendron picture after yard work is someone who feels extremely stiff when getting out of bed or standing up from a chair, but gradually loosens up and feels better once they get moving.

Ruta graveolens

This remedy should be considered when one has the sensation of strain, sprain, or injury to tendons, ligaments, or periosteal tissues from overuse or overexertion.

  • Lameness after strain
  • Soreness as if beaten, but especially involving tendons and joints
  • Pain from overexertion of flexor muscles and tendons
  • Sprains and strains
  • Weakness and aching after lifting or physical labor
  • Bruised pain in bones and periosteum (covering of the bones)

A classic Ruta yard-work picture might be someone who spent all day shoveling, pruning, or pulling weeds and now feels deep soreness around the wrists, elbows, knees, or ankles. Unlike Arnica's bruised feeling, Ruta often has a more strained, sprained, or overused quality.

As with any medical condition, consult with your physician if you have any concerns about the severity of your problem, as it may first require medical diagnosis and/or intervention and monitoring.

About Dr. Lisa Samet:

Dr. Lisa Samet, N.D., provides Washington Homeopathic Products with a regular column on using homeopathy for the family. She's a naturopathic physician who specializes in homeopathic medicine. Dr. Samet graduated from the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in 1998 and has been practicing in Montreal since then. She was born and raised in New York.

Dr. Samet has chosen to focus on homeopathy because, in her experience, it is the deepest healing modality available, as it does not just soothe or palliate symptoms but actually stimulates the body to begin healing itself. Dr. Samet sees patients in her Montreal office as well as long-distance using Zoom, Skype, or FaceTime. Learn more here: Dr. Lisa Samet. You can follow her on Facebook as well. 

]]> <![CDATA[Homeopathy for Skin Wounds]]> https://www.homeopathyworks.com/dr-samets-insights/homeopathy-for-skin-wounds/ Tue, 09 Jun 2026 10:24:29 +0000 https://www.homeopathyworks.com/dr-samets-insights/homeopathy-for-skin-wounds/ Superficial skin wounds, whether they be scrapes, cuts, or puncture wounds, happen to us all.

Before the advent of OTC and prescription sprays, lotions, and creams, an old standby used by physicians and consumers alike was iodine and iodine cleansers. And boy did they sting when applied!!!

Happily, homeopathy is a wonderful option for gently, safely, and effectively treating minor wounds.

Here’s a short list of remedies everyone should have on hand for these moments:

Calendula

Prepared from the common pot marigold, Calendula has long been recognized as helpful with cuts, scrapes, and other skin injuries.

Calendula is often considered when:

  • The skin has been cut, scraped, or torn
  • The injured area is tender and sensitive
  • The wound is superficial and involves the soft tissues

Calendula is commonly used topically in ointments, gels, and sprays. WHP's Be gone Lil’ Cuts and Scrapes is made with Calendula and is great to have in the medicine chest!

Hypericum perforatum

Hypericum is particularly noteworthy when injuries involve parts rich in nerves.

Characteristic symptoms include:

  • Sharp, shooting pains extending from the wound
  • Tingling, numbness, or nerve-related discomfort
  • Injuries to fingers, toes, neck, coccyx, and other highly innervated areas
  • Puncture wounds accompanied by shooting pains

A finger caught in a door or struck by a hammer is a classic situation in which Hypericum may be considered.

Ledum palustre

Ledum is one of the principal remedies for puncture wounds. Here are important characteristic indications for its use :

  • The injured area feels cold to the touch
  • Cold applications relieve the discomfort
  • Warmth aggravates

Minor skin injuries are a part of life, and these remedies have been included in homeopathic medicine kits for generations. As always, serious wounds, deep punctures, signs of infection, or injuries requiring medical attention should be evaluated promptly by a qualified healthcare professional.

About Dr. Lisa Samet:

Dr. Lisa Samet N.D. provides Washington Homeopathic Products with a regular column on using homeopathy for the family. She's a naturopathic physician who specializes in homeopathic medicine. Dr. Samet graduated from the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in 1998 and has been practicing in Montreal since then. She was born and raised in New York.

Dr. Samet has chosen to focus on homeopathy because, in her experience, it is the deepest healing modality available, as it does not just soothe or palliate symptoms but actually stimulates the body to begin healing itself. Dr. Samet sees patients in her Montreal office as well as long-distance using Zoom, Skype, or FaceTime. Learn more here: Dr. Lisa Samet. You can follow her on Facebook as well. 

]]> Superficial skin wounds, whether they be scrapes, cuts, or puncture wounds, happen to us all.

Before the advent of OTC and prescription sprays, lotions, and creams, an old standby used by physicians and consumers alike was iodine and iodine cleansers. And boy did they sting when applied!!!

Happily, homeopathy is a wonderful option for gently, safely, and effectively treating minor wounds.

Here’s a short list of remedies everyone should have on hand for these moments:

Calendula

Prepared from the common pot marigold, Calendula has long been recognized as helpful with cuts, scrapes, and other skin injuries.

Calendula is often considered when:

  • The skin has been cut, scraped, or torn
  • The injured area is tender and sensitive
  • The wound is superficial and involves the soft tissues

Calendula is commonly used topically in ointments, gels, and sprays. WHP's Be gone Lil’ Cuts and Scrapes is made with Calendula and is great to have in the medicine chest!

Hypericum perforatum

Hypericum is particularly noteworthy when injuries involve parts rich in nerves.

Characteristic symptoms include:

  • Sharp, shooting pains extending from the wound
  • Tingling, numbness, or nerve-related discomfort
  • Injuries to fingers, toes, neck, coccyx, and other highly innervated areas
  • Puncture wounds accompanied by shooting pains

A finger caught in a door or struck by a hammer is a classic situation in which Hypericum may be considered.

Ledum palustre

Ledum is one of the principal remedies for puncture wounds. Here are important characteristic indications for its use :

  • The injured area feels cold to the touch
  • Cold applications relieve the discomfort
  • Warmth aggravates

Minor skin injuries are a part of life, and these remedies have been included in homeopathic medicine kits for generations. As always, serious wounds, deep punctures, signs of infection, or injuries requiring medical attention should be evaluated promptly by a qualified healthcare professional.

About Dr. Lisa Samet:

Dr. Lisa Samet N.D. provides Washington Homeopathic Products with a regular column on using homeopathy for the family. She's a naturopathic physician who specializes in homeopathic medicine. Dr. Samet graduated from the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in 1998 and has been practicing in Montreal since then. She was born and raised in New York.

Dr. Samet has chosen to focus on homeopathy because, in her experience, it is the deepest healing modality available, as it does not just soothe or palliate symptoms but actually stimulates the body to begin healing itself. Dr. Samet sees patients in her Montreal office as well as long-distance using Zoom, Skype, or FaceTime. Learn more here: Dr. Lisa Samet. You can follow her on Facebook as well. 

]]> <![CDATA[Homeopathy for First Aid. Essential Remedies for Summer Travel, Camp, and Everyday Mishaps]]> https://www.homeopathyworks.com/dr-samets-insights/homeopathy-for-first-aid-essential-remedies-for-summer-travel-camp-and-everyday-mishaps/ Thu, 28 May 2026 11:32:59 +0000 https://www.homeopathyworks.com/dr-samets-insights/homeopathy-for-first-aid-essential-remedies-for-summer-travel-camp-and-everyday-mishaps/ Summer camps, family vacations, beach days, hikes, and backyard adventures often come with their share of bumps, bites, bruises, and unexpected illnesses. Keeping a simple homeopathic first aid kit on hand can help you respond quickly and naturally to many common summer complaints.

Below are some of the most important remedies to know, along with the characteristic symptoms you will want to see to consider using each one, drawn from traditional homeopathic sources.

Aconitum napellus

Sudden illnesses, fright, and shock

Aconite is one of the first remedies to consider when symptoms come on suddenly and intensely, especially after exposure to cold, dry wind or a sudden chill.

Classic indications include:

  • Sudden fever or cold symptoms
  • Fear, panic or restlessness
  • Shock after fright or injury
  • Anxiety after nightmares or being away from home

The hallmark of this remedy is restlessness and anxiety with ailments coming on suddenly. This remedy is especially helpful for children struggling with fear or panic during sleep-away camp or travel.

Suggested use: One dose every few hours as needed. Often, only 1 to 2 doses are required.

Arnica montana

The premier remedy for injuries and trauma

Arnica is one of the most widely used first aid remedies in homeopathy and belongs in every travel kit.

Think of Arnica for:

  • Falls and blunt injuries
  • Bruises and sore muscles
  • Sprains and strains
  • Overexertion
  • Injuries where the person says, “I’m fine,” even when clearly hurt

A classic symptom of this remedy is the sensation of being “sore and bruised, as if beaten.”

Many parents are amazed watching swelling and bruising improve quickly after a timely dose of Arnica.

Suggested use: One pellet 1 to 3 times daily for a day or two, depending on severity. Arnica cream or gel may also be used topically on unbroken skin.

Apis mellifica

Stings, bites, redness, and swelling

Apis is often the first remedy to consider for:

  • Bee stings
  • Wasp stings
  • Mosquito bites
  • Puffy allergic skin reactions
  • Hot, swollen, itchy skin

Keynotes include:

  • Burning and stinging pains
  • Redness and swelling
  • Symptoms that improve with cold applications
  • Sensitivity to heat

Suggested use: One or two doses are often enough for mild reactions.

Arsenicum album

Traveler’s stomach issues and food poisoning

Arsenicum album is a valuable remedy for:

  • Mild food poisoning
  • Traveler’s diarrhea
  • Upset stomach with anxiety
  • Exhaustion after gastrointestinal illness

Classic features include:

  • Burning pains
  • Restlessness
  • Anxiety
  • Weakness
  • Chilliness
  • Thirst with small sips of water taken frequently
  • Symptoms after eating spoiled food

Suggested use: 1 to 3 doses over the first 12 hours for mild cases.

Belladonna

Sudden fever and heat

Belladonna is often indicated at the very beginning of an acute illness when symptoms appear rapidly and intensely.

Think of:

  • Sudden high fever
  • Red, flushed face
  • Hot skin
  • Throbbing pain
  • Heat and sensitivity

It can also be helpful in early sunburn when the skin is bright red, hot, and radiating heat.

Suggested use: One dose every hour for up to 3 doses in acute situations.

Calendula officinalis cream

Cuts, scrapes and skin healing

Calendula cream or ointment is a staple for:

  • Scrapes
  • Minor cuts
  • Abrasions
  • Skin healing support

Known traditionally as one of homeopathy’s best topical remedies for promoting healthy tissue repair.

Important: Always clean wounds thoroughly before applying.

Gelsemium sempervirens

Summer colds with fatigue and heaviness

Gelsemium is often useful when someone feels:

  • Weak
  • Chilly
  • Heavy and exhausted
  • Drowsy
  • Thirstless

A classic Gelsemium picture is “dullness, dizziness, and drooping.”

This remedy is often helpful for vague symptoms when no clearer remedy picture stands out.

Suggested use: One dose every 12 hours for up to 3 doses.

Hypericum perforatum

Nerve injuries and crushed fingers or toes

Hypericum is one of the best remedies for nerve injuries.

Think of:

  • Slammed fingers
  • Stubbed toes
  • Tailbone injuries
  • Sharp, shooting pains
  • Tingling or radiating pain

Suggested use: Depending on severity, repeat every few hours as needed.

Ignatia amara

Homesickness, grief and emotional upset

Ignatia is especially useful for emotional distress, such as:

  • Homesickness
  • Crying spells
  • Disappointment
  • Emotional sensitivity
  • Sighing and lump-in-the-throat feelings

It is a wonderful remedy to pack for sleep-away camp.

Suggested use: One dose is often enough. Repeat only if symptoms return.

Ledum palustre

Puncture wounds, black eyes and cold-feeling bites

Ledum is a key remedy for:

  • Puncture wounds
  • Insect bites
  • Black eyes
  • Bruises that feel cold rather than hot

Unlike Apis, Ledum complaints are often relieved by cold and may actually feel cold to the touch.

Suggested use: One pellet 1 to 3 times daily for a day or two, depending on severity.

Rhus toxicodendron

Poison ivy and stiffness

Rhus tox is one of the classic remedies for:

  • Poison ivy rashes
  • Sprains and strains
  • Stiffness on first movement
  • Symptoms improving with continued motion

A classic symptom of this remedy: “Restlessness with relief from motion.”

This remedy is often used after Arnica when stiffness becomes the dominant complaint.

Suggested use: One pellet every 2 hours for several doses during acute flare-ups.

Ruta graveolens

Tendon and ligament injuries

Ruta is often confused with Rhus tox, but has a stronger affinity for:

  • Tendons
  • Ligaments
  • Periosteum
  • Overuse injuries

Consider Ruta when Rhus-tox has not fully helped or when the injury feels tendon-related.

Silicea

Splinters and foreign body expulsion

Silicea is traditionally used to help encourage the body to expel:

  • Splinters
  • Thorns
  • Embedded debris

Suggested use: One pellet every 12 hours for up to 3 doses.

A Few Important Reminders

Homeopathy can be a wonderful addition to a summer first aid kit, but it is not a substitute for emergency medical care when needed. Allergic reactions, injuries, dehydration, difficulty breathing, or persistent symptoms should always be evaluated by a qualified healthcare professional.

When used appropriately, these remedies can provide gentle support for many common summer complaints and help keep adventures on track all season long.

About Dr. Lisa Samet:

Dr. Lisa Samet N.D. provides Washington Homeopathic Products with a regular column on using homeopathy for the family. She's a naturopathic physician who specializes in homeopathic medicine. Dr. Samet graduated from the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in 1998 and has been practicing in Montreal since then. She was born and raised in New York.

Dr. Samet has chosen to focus on homeopathy because, in her experience, it is the deepest healing modality available, as it does not just soothe or palliate symptoms but actually stimulates the body to begin healing itself. Dr. Samet sees patients in her Montreal office as well as long-distance using Zoom, Skype, or FaceTime. Learn more here: Dr. Lisa Samet. You can follow her on Facebook as well. 

]]> Summer camps, family vacations, beach days, hikes, and backyard adventures often come with their share of bumps, bites, bruises, and unexpected illnesses. Keeping a simple homeopathic first aid kit on hand can help you respond quickly and naturally to many common summer complaints.

Below are some of the most important remedies to know, along with the characteristic symptoms you will want to see to consider using each one, drawn from traditional homeopathic sources.

Aconitum napellus

Sudden illnesses, fright, and shock

Aconite is one of the first remedies to consider when symptoms come on suddenly and intensely, especially after exposure to cold, dry wind or a sudden chill.

Classic indications include:

  • Sudden fever or cold symptoms
  • Fear, panic or restlessness
  • Shock after fright or injury
  • Anxiety after nightmares or being away from home

The hallmark of this remedy is restlessness and anxiety with ailments coming on suddenly. This remedy is especially helpful for children struggling with fear or panic during sleep-away camp or travel.

Suggested use: One dose every few hours as needed. Often, only 1 to 2 doses are required.

Arnica montana

The premier remedy for injuries and trauma

Arnica is one of the most widely used first aid remedies in homeopathy and belongs in every travel kit.

Think of Arnica for:

  • Falls and blunt injuries
  • Bruises and sore muscles
  • Sprains and strains
  • Overexertion
  • Injuries where the person says, “I’m fine,” even when clearly hurt

A classic symptom of this remedy is the sensation of being “sore and bruised, as if beaten.”

Many parents are amazed watching swelling and bruising improve quickly after a timely dose of Arnica.

Suggested use: One pellet 1 to 3 times daily for a day or two, depending on severity. Arnica cream or gel may also be used topically on unbroken skin.

Apis mellifica

Stings, bites, redness, and swelling

Apis is often the first remedy to consider for:

  • Bee stings
  • Wasp stings
  • Mosquito bites
  • Puffy allergic skin reactions
  • Hot, swollen, itchy skin

Keynotes include:

  • Burning and stinging pains
  • Redness and swelling
  • Symptoms that improve with cold applications
  • Sensitivity to heat

Suggested use: One or two doses are often enough for mild reactions.

Arsenicum album

Traveler’s stomach issues and food poisoning

Arsenicum album is a valuable remedy for:

  • Mild food poisoning
  • Traveler’s diarrhea
  • Upset stomach with anxiety
  • Exhaustion after gastrointestinal illness

Classic features include:

  • Burning pains
  • Restlessness
  • Anxiety
  • Weakness
  • Chilliness
  • Thirst with small sips of water taken frequently
  • Symptoms after eating spoiled food

Suggested use: 1 to 3 doses over the first 12 hours for mild cases.

Belladonna

Sudden fever and heat

Belladonna is often indicated at the very beginning of an acute illness when symptoms appear rapidly and intensely.

Think of:

  • Sudden high fever
  • Red, flushed face
  • Hot skin
  • Throbbing pain
  • Heat and sensitivity

It can also be helpful in early sunburn when the skin is bright red, hot, and radiating heat.

Suggested use: One dose every hour for up to 3 doses in acute situations.

Calendula officinalis cream

Cuts, scrapes and skin healing

Calendula cream or ointment is a staple for:

  • Scrapes
  • Minor cuts
  • Abrasions
  • Skin healing support

Known traditionally as one of homeopathy’s best topical remedies for promoting healthy tissue repair.

Important: Always clean wounds thoroughly before applying.

Gelsemium sempervirens

Summer colds with fatigue and heaviness

Gelsemium is often useful when someone feels:

  • Weak
  • Chilly
  • Heavy and exhausted
  • Drowsy
  • Thirstless

A classic Gelsemium picture is “dullness, dizziness, and drooping.”

This remedy is often helpful for vague symptoms when no clearer remedy picture stands out.

Suggested use: One dose every 12 hours for up to 3 doses.

Hypericum perforatum

Nerve injuries and crushed fingers or toes

Hypericum is one of the best remedies for nerve injuries.

Think of:

  • Slammed fingers
  • Stubbed toes
  • Tailbone injuries
  • Sharp, shooting pains
  • Tingling or radiating pain

Suggested use: Depending on severity, repeat every few hours as needed.

Ignatia amara

Homesickness, grief and emotional upset

Ignatia is especially useful for emotional distress, such as:

  • Homesickness
  • Crying spells
  • Disappointment
  • Emotional sensitivity
  • Sighing and lump-in-the-throat feelings

It is a wonderful remedy to pack for sleep-away camp.

Suggested use: One dose is often enough. Repeat only if symptoms return.

Ledum palustre

Puncture wounds, black eyes and cold-feeling bites

Ledum is a key remedy for:

  • Puncture wounds
  • Insect bites
  • Black eyes
  • Bruises that feel cold rather than hot

Unlike Apis, Ledum complaints are often relieved by cold and may actually feel cold to the touch.

Suggested use: One pellet 1 to 3 times daily for a day or two, depending on severity.

Rhus toxicodendron

Poison ivy and stiffness

Rhus tox is one of the classic remedies for:

  • Poison ivy rashes
  • Sprains and strains
  • Stiffness on first movement
  • Symptoms improving with continued motion

A classic symptom of this remedy: “Restlessness with relief from motion.”

This remedy is often used after Arnica when stiffness becomes the dominant complaint.

Suggested use: One pellet every 2 hours for several doses during acute flare-ups.

Ruta graveolens

Tendon and ligament injuries

Ruta is often confused with Rhus tox, but has a stronger affinity for:

  • Tendons
  • Ligaments
  • Periosteum
  • Overuse injuries

Consider Ruta when Rhus-tox has not fully helped or when the injury feels tendon-related.

Silicea

Splinters and foreign body expulsion

Silicea is traditionally used to help encourage the body to expel:

  • Splinters
  • Thorns
  • Embedded debris

Suggested use: One pellet every 12 hours for up to 3 doses.

A Few Important Reminders

Homeopathy can be a wonderful addition to a summer first aid kit, but it is not a substitute for emergency medical care when needed. Allergic reactions, injuries, dehydration, difficulty breathing, or persistent symptoms should always be evaluated by a qualified healthcare professional.

When used appropriately, these remedies can provide gentle support for many common summer complaints and help keep adventures on track all season long.

About Dr. Lisa Samet:

Dr. Lisa Samet N.D. provides Washington Homeopathic Products with a regular column on using homeopathy for the family. She's a naturopathic physician who specializes in homeopathic medicine. Dr. Samet graduated from the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in 1998 and has been practicing in Montreal since then. She was born and raised in New York.

Dr. Samet has chosen to focus on homeopathy because, in her experience, it is the deepest healing modality available, as it does not just soothe or palliate symptoms but actually stimulates the body to begin healing itself. Dr. Samet sees patients in her Montreal office as well as long-distance using Zoom, Skype, or FaceTime. Learn more here: Dr. Lisa Samet. You can follow her on Facebook as well. 

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