All adverse health conditions, according to homeopathic tenets, are a result of imbalances in our physical, emotional and/or mental energy systems.
Fortunately, our bodies have a built-in alarm system which continuously alerts us to problems and this alarm system continues to function in our senior years constantly making us aware whether or not we are out of balance at one or more of these levels.
While seniors may share many common complaints, each is an individual with a unique hereditary, health history, and mental, emotional and physical make-up. Accordingly, homeopathy recognises that it is the person and not the common symptomatology that must be addressed.
The homeopath proceeds by carefully observing the symptom-picture exhibited by the patient, and then matches this picture to that which has been recorded in the ‘provings’ of substances which have been meticulously documented in the homeopathic Materia Medica — an encyclopaedia of homeopathic remedy characteristics and symptoms.
The basic doctrine of homeopathy is described in the phrase, ‘like cures like.’
Crux Of the Matter
Alzheimer’s disease is one of the biggest challenges for many seniors today — an affliction of the brain causing the gradual deterioration of brain cells and resulting in loss of memory, cognitive abilities and intelligence. It is also the primary cause of dementia, and a decline in brain performance, thinking and reasoning. The disease progressively worsens over time.
The patient may experience persistent memory loss, which begins with the short-term memory as well as difficulty in thinking, reasoning, and communicating. Acquiring new information and remembering recently acquired details and facts, misplacing things and struggling to finding the right words, in conversations are common symptoms.
Such mental symptoms may be accompanied by depression, mood swings, irritability and aggressive behaviour. And, in addition to the symptoms of confusion, memory failure, disorientation, restlessness, and speech disturbances, Alzheimer’s may also be characterised by agnosia [the inability to recognise objects, faces etc.,], hallucinations, and an incapacity to carry out purposeful movements.
There may be loss of sphincter control, refusal to eat, talkativeness, excitability, heightened sexual interest, and a tendency to anger easily.
There are several progressive stages of the disease and homeopathic remedies can address each stage and state.
Three Paradigms
The following are three homeopathic remedy examples of Alzheimer’s addressed through the use of Hyoscyamus niger, Alumina, and Baryta carbonica.
Hyoscyamus Niger [Henbane]
During the homeopathic assessment, it becomes apparent that while many symptoms common to Alzheimer’s may be present, each person afflicted by the disease puts out a distinct profile. This calls for the fine-tuning of the remedy.
When the homeopath sees an Alzheimer’s patient in whom the sexual element is strongly emphasised the remedy Hyoscyamus comes to mind.
The patient requiring Hyoscyamus may recite lewd verses, play openly with the genitals, and boast of frequent sexual encounters. The patient may be extremely suspicious, excited and experience a problem with involuntary stools as a result of the excitement.
Upon questioning, the homeopath may uncover the patient’s feeling of being an outsider, a strong desire or longing, to be attached to someone and a sense of being let down, betrayed, or deserted. We see a loss of inhibitions and jealousy too.
The symptomatology produced by Hyoscyamus covers behaviours after the memory is lost [touching, gestures]. There is confusion and accusations. Patients may pick at and count things. They may stare restlessly and not recognise others. All these are symptoms are widely found in patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.
Alumina [Aluminium]
Alumina is a second remedy exhibiting a symptom-picture similar to that of Alzheimer’s.
Alumina is known to be highly toxic to brain neurons and is found in many foods and vaccines. The homeopathic symptom-picture includes difficulty in expressing thoughts, mistakes in speaking and writing, mental confusion as to their identity, inability to recognise relatives and loss of memory.
The Alzheimer’s patient who exhibits the Alumina profile may have sunken features and constipation. They may start to lose physical control in walking as the mind knows what it wants to do, but just can’t make the connection.
There is physical dullness; the disorders begin with absent-mindedness, weak memory, and difficulty in concentrating.
The Alumina patient cannot be hurried. Hurrying causes great distress.
There is slowness in answering questions, disorientation and also loss of identity in the remedy-picture.
Baryta Carbonica [Carbonate of Barium]
This remedy presents yet another Alzheimer’s profile — of a person who exhibits slow mental and physical functioning, memory loss, aphasia, backwardness, thoughtlessness and foolishness.
There is childish behaviour and the need for reassurance; also, lack of self-confidence and a sense of inferiority.
This patient is timid and may feel awfully uncomfortable in the presence of strangers, even to the point of hiding behind the furniture. There may be suspicion with the delusion of being watched, criticised, or laughed at. The patient may appear childish and irresolute to a fault.
The underlying feeling is one of tremendous incapacity. These Alzheimer’s patients are dependent and appear dysfunctional. There is a marked resistance to change.
On the physical side, an aversion to food may manifest while eating. The remedy, in this instance, is Baryta Carbonica.
It is also one of the most widely used homeopathic remedies in the treatment of several imbalances in the senior years, in addition to addressing the distressing symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.
