Homeopathic Treatment of Sore Throats
Use these remedies at 30c or 200c potency, and repeat every 2-3 hours depending on severity. If there is no improvement in 48 hours, you may wish to consult a homeopath. The main homeopathic remedies used in the treatment of Diphtheria are: Diphtherinum , Mercurius Cynatus , Lac Caninum , Apis and Phytolacca .
1. Aconite
- First 24 hours of sore throat.
- Sudden symptoms, often after exposure to cold dry air. Great thirst and dryness.
- Worse in evening, before 12 midnight.
2. Belladonna
- Sore throat worse on right side.
- Worse 3pm or 3am. Tonsils red & inflamed. Throbbing, burning pains. Constant desire to swallow even though it hurts. Constricted feeling in throat. High fever. Head hot, limbs cold. Can be delirious with fever.
- Radiates heat.
3. Apis
- Great deal of oedema and inflammation.
- Uvula can look like a bag full of water. Lots of redness and puffiness. Stinging pains. Throat can look shiny. Worse for swallowing, hot food and drink, right side. Better for cold. No thirst. Dirty grey patches of membrane. Tonsils covered with deep grey ulcers. Pains extend to ears. Breath smelly. Restless and fidgety when ill. A sense of suffocation as air passages swell.
- Reduced flow of urine.
4. Lachesis
- The membrane, soreness and pain start on the left and may spread to the right.
- Throat is a purple-red colour. Feeling of constant tickle or of a fishbone caught in the throat. Worse for empty swallowing of saliva, hot drinks, on waking. Better for cold drinks, swallowing food. Throat is very sensitive to touch. Hates any pressure on neck and throat. The tongue may dart in and out to moisten lips.
- All symptoms worse on waking.
5. Lac Caninum
- Membrane and pain change from side to side.
- Membrane is whitish and shiny. Tongue coated with red edges. Dribbling of saliva. Cracks in corners of mouth. Worse for empty swallowing. Skin worse for touching. Pains shoot to ears. Pains are sticking pains.
- When swallowing fluids, can return through the nose.
6. Lycopodium
- Starts on right side and may move to left (opposite direction to Lachesis).
- Better for warm drinks and worse for cold drinks (opposite to Apis). Worse 4pm-8pm.
- Abdomen may be distended, uncomfortable and flatulent.
7. Arsenicum
- May begin with nasal discharge.
- Throat oedematous like Apis. Burning pain in throat. Worse right side. Chilly, anxious, restless. Great thirst; frequent sips. Better for warm food & drink (opposite to Apis).
- Worse for cold food & drink; worse soon after midnight.
8. Phytolacca
- Sensation of a hot ball or lump in throat.
- Very sore and painful on swallowing. Throat is dark bluish red and puffy. White-grey spots on tonsils. Tongue has fiery red tip and is heavily coated. Most of pain is at base of tongue, especially when poking it out. Worse for hot drinks. Glands swollen and hard. Vertigo and faintness.
- Pains extend to ears on swallowing.
9. Hepar Sulph.
- Sensation as if a stick or splinter is in throat.
- Very chilly. Sore throat starts after exposure to cold. Tonsils are enlarged with throbbing pains. Swallowing gives pain radiating to ears.
- Feels hypersensitive to touch and cold, and very irritable.
10. Ignatia
- Sore throat even when not swallowing.
- Feels like lump in throat. Related to expression of strong emotion. Hoarseness or loss of voice.
- Takes deep breaths or sighs.
11. Mercurius
- Use this later in the illness.
- Cold settles in the throat. Wants to swallow constantly. Choking sensation on swallowing. Raw burning pain. Much saliva. Swollen flabby tongue. Swollen tonsils, lymph glands. Throat pain extends to ear. Throat ulcerated. Worse on right side. Very bad breath. Easily chilled or overheated.
- Profuse sweating.
12. Diphtherinum
- This is the Diphtheria nosode.
- Glands in neck swollen. Tongue red and swollen. Breath very offensive. Nose bleeds. Profound prostration. Severe sore throat. Tonsils very inflamed.
- Swallows without pain but fluids are vomited or returned through the nose.
13. Mercurius Cynatus
- Cyanide of Mercury.
- Swallowing very difficult. Ulcerations of throat. Very painful to talk.
- Diphtherinum and Mercurius Cynatus are almost specific to symptoms of Diphtheria.
Commonsense Measures
- Drink frequently.
- Take vitamin C supplements.
- Rest the voice, rest yourself, take time off.
- Avoid extremes of temperature.
- Gargle with diluted Hypercal® tincture (3 drops in water).
- Zinc lozenges and echinacea herbal tincture boost the immune system.
- If a sore throat lingers, consult a homeopath.