a body-mind approach to chronic illness
Homeopathic Medicines
For Brain Fog And Memory Loss
This homeopathic medicines for memory loss listed below are simply the ones that are most often used. There are many other homeopathic medicines that may better suit an individual’s symptom profile. What the list does show, however, is how memory and concentration-related symptoms vary from person to person.
Ambra Grisea helps those who are shy and easily embarrassed. They blush easily, dread the company of unfamiliar people, are anxious about what people think of them, and want to be left alone. While forgetful and dreamy, they may also jump from one subject to another when talking, or ask questions without waiting for an answer. They find it difficult to understand what has just been read and have trouble with calculations – even simple mathematics. Sometimes they will sit for hours or days crying from sadness. Premature aging and senility often indicates the need for Ambra Grisea.
Anacadium Orientale is for those who have sudden loss of memory as though something is blocking their thoughts. They become hesitant, suddenly forget the names of people and things, and can even feel as if they are going insane. It’s a useful remedy for the sudden forgetfulness of anxious and under-confident students before an exam but also treats forms of senile dementia. Anacadium types are often confused about their identity, feeling and behaving as if they have ‘an angel on one shoulder and a devil on the other.’ They can be cruel, irritable and hard-hearted with a tendency to swear but also struggle with lack confidence or feeling helpless, hopeless and needy.
Cannabis Indica helps those whose memory-related symptoms are very similar to someone who smokes marijuana. Things seem unreal to the point of disorientation or ecstasy and they may describe out of body experiences or say their body, or parts of their body, feel as if floating. The person is forgetful, often unable to finish a sentence and has a fear of losing control and of insanity. They feel confused and lose their way even in well-known streets.
Helleborus Niger helps for dullness, haziness and blankness of mind. It is often needed for poor memory following a stroke. The person finds it hard to concentrate and has a weakness of memory for what was just read, said or done. Often, things are not heard or seen properly. They are apathetic, concentration is difficult and they answer slowly.
Lycopodium Clavatum suits those who once may have enjoyed intellectual activities but, because of their gradually deteriorating memory, now feel confused. It also helps people with dyslexia, learning difficulties and behavioural problems. They often misspell words or misplace words or syllables while talking. They are bossy and rude at home, irritable in the morning on waking, but polite and friendly with strangers.
Nux Moschata is indicated for those who feel vague or spaced-out – as if intoxicated. They are absent-minded, forgetful of what they were about to do, and use the wrong words, especially during headaches. Their minds are dull and they feel confused or bewildered. Thoughts suddenly vanish while talking, reading or writing and there may be complete loss of memory about the past.
Phosphoricum Acidum is for those who slip into indifference and apathy from grief or a significant disappointment. They brood, avoid talking to people, and dread the future. They cannot collect their thoughts, answer slowly, and are forgetful – especially for words – they hunt for words when talking. Their weakness of memory gradually leads to physical weakness.
Sulphur is for those who become increasingly absent-minded and find it difficult to concentrate. They have trouble thinking of correct words when talking or writing, often replacing correct words with incorrect ones. They may also repeat the question before answering to give their brain time to catch up and have a reputation of being itchy, lazy, tired, untidy or selfish.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
The main symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) are severe and debilitating fatigue that is either persistent or comes and goes. The fatigue is not made better from rest.
Physical symptoms include painful muscles, joint pains, sore throat, headache, dizziness, flu-like symptoms or difficulty regulating ones temperature, disturbed sleep.
Mental symptoms include poor short-term memory and concentration; depression is also common.
There is no known cause of CFS, and as of yet no laboratory tests exist to confirm a diagnosis. Personally I don’t believe that a laboratory test will ever be found. The reason I say this is because CFS is not a specific and clearly definable disease but is rather a collection of symptoms. These symptoms are themselves the secondary result of a deeper primary cause.
As a homeopath I spend a lot of time interviewing my patients, and as a result I get to know them really well: their personalities, their lifestyles, and their medical histories. After a time you begin to see a certain pattern emerge.
Firstly, most people with CFS have a history of respiratory or gastrointestinal viral infections.
Secondly, most sufferers tend to lead the typical modern lifestyle - processed food, sedentary habits, and high stress levels.
Thirdly, some kind of turmoil or major stressful event usually occurred just before the symptoms began: an accident, the loss of a loved one, etc.
In most cases simply prescribing the well indicated homeopathic medicine by itself will do very little. To beat this stubborn condition you need to see the whole picture and take a more encompassing approach.
One. Help the patient shift to a more nourishing and wholesome lifestyle that include gentle exercise.
Two. Use counseling to address any stress or unhappiness in the person’s life.
Three. Use sequential therapy to deal with past traumas that might still linger.
Four. Use homeopathic medicines to treat the symptoms. In the homeopathic repertory there are at least 900 homeopathic medicines for CFS. I
have listed a four of the most commonly used ones. The reason I listed them is not so that you can choose one for yourself but instead to give you a feel as to the nature of these beautiful medicines.
Gelsemium: Indicated by weakness with drowsiness, dizziness, dullness and trembling. Muscle aches with heaviness and weakness. Tremors and twitching of the muscles. The sufferer might have a dull heaviness in the head and have blurred vision, feel worse in damp, cold weather and mentally be dull with a lot of anxiety. A strange symptom with Gelsemium is that symptoms are better for profuse urination.
Kali phosphoricum: Used for CFS, especially if the illness follows a bout of influenza. The mental symptoms are anxiety with depression, insomnia and nightmares. The anxiety may present as a fear of crowds and agoraphobia. Loss of memory might be a problem. There is muscle weakness and aches and pains, all worse with exercise, the cold and mental effort. The symptoms are better from sleep, eating and gentle movement.
Mercurius solubilis: The patient may have a persistent sore throat with enlarged cervical lymph nodes and have a lot of salivation. They may also be sensitive to both heat and cold. Insomnia with great restlessness at night and nightmares may also be a feature. The muscle pains will be deep with tender bones. There may be loss of memory and poor recall of names.
Zincum metallicum: The Zincum picture is one of weakness with restlessness and depression. The memory is poor and the patient is lethargic, irritable and hypersensitive especially to noise; restless legs accompanied by muscular twitching are also common features. Numbness and coldness and strange sensations in arms and legs are also common. All symptoms are worse from alcohol.