HOMOEOPATHIC REMEDIES FOR DYSMENORRHEA
Dr. KS. Gopi
Former Professor, Govt. Homeopathic medical college, Kozhikode, Kerala, India
Menstrual cramps (dysmenorrhea) are throbbing or cramping pains in the lower abdomen. Many women experience menstrual cramps just before and during their menstrual periods.
For some women, the discomfort is merely annoying. For others, menstrual cramps can be severe enough to interfere with everyday activities for a few days every month.
Menstrual cramps may be caused by identifiable problems, such as endometriosis or uterine fibroids. Treating any underlying cause is key to reducing the pain. Menstrual cramps that aren't caused by an underlying condition tend to lessen with age and often improve once a woman has given birth.
During your menstrual period, your uterus contracts to help expel its lining. Hormone-like substances (prostaglandins) involved in pain and inflammation trigger the uterine muscle contractions. Higher levels of prostaglandins are associated with more-severe menstrual cramps.
Severe contractions may constrict the blood vessels feeding the uterus. The resulting pain can be compared to the chest pain that occurs when blocked blood vessels starve portions of the heart of food and oxygen.
Causes --Menstrual cramps may also be caused by:
Endometriosis. In this painful condition, the tissue that lines your uterus becomes implanted outside your uterus, most commonly on your fallopian tubes, ovaries or the tissue lining your pelvis.
Uterine fibroids. These noncancerous growths in the wall of the uterus may be the cause of pain.
Adenomyosis. In this condition, the tissue that lines your uterus begins to grow into the muscular walls of the uterus.
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). This infection of the female reproductive organs is usually caused by sexually transmitted bacteria.
Cervical stenosis. In some women, the opening of the cervix may be so small that it impedes menstrual flow, causing a painful increase of pressure within the uterus
Symptoms-- Symptoms of menstrual cramps include:Throbbing or cramping pain in your lower abdomen that may be intense, Dull, constant ache, Pain that radiates to your lower back and thighs
Some women also experience:--Nausea, Loose stools, Headache, Dizziness
HOMOEOPATHIC REMEDIES
ABROMA RADIX Q- A specific remedy. Give 10 drops in water from the first day of menses for 7 days continuously for cure. If not cured repeat it 2 days before the next period.
PULSATILLA NIG. 30-Pulsatilla is one of the top remedies for dysmenorrhoea. -Menses painful, too late, scanty, changeable in character. Irregular, intermittent flow, with chilliness. Pains rapidly shifting, appear suddenly, leaves gradually. Flows more during the day. Never well since puberty. Delayed first menses. Menses suppressed from getting the feet wet. Leucorrhea thick, acrid, excoriating.
Women fair, good looking, slow, indecisive, mild, gentle, easily weeping., consolation >. Dryness of mouth without thirst. Gastric derangements from eating rich food, fat, pastry.< warm room, evening, on beginning to move. > open air, cold application, lying on painful side.
ACTEA RACEMOSA 30-During menses, sharp lancinating, electric like pains in uterine region and various parts, dart from side to side., with chorea, hysteria or mania, increase of mental symptoms during menses. The more profuse the flow, the greater the suffering. Menses irregular, exhausting, delayed or suppressed by mental emotions. Severe left sided inframamary pains. Rheumatic dysmenorrhoea. Excessive muscular soreness, rheumatic pains in bellies of muscles. Sensation as if a heavy black cloud had settled over her so that all is in darkness.
CAULOPHYLLUM 30-Pains intermittent, paroxysmal, spasmodic, across lower abdomen extending to groins; erratic pains changing place every few minutes. Chorea, hysteria or epilepsy at puberty, during establishment of menstrual function. Leucorrhea acrid, exhausting, in little girls, preventing pregnancy. Habitual abortion from uterine debility. Rheumatism of small joints, fingers, toes, wrists.
SEPIA 30- Another excellent remedy for dysmenorrhoea.Dysmenorrhoea with violent stitches upward in the vagina, lancinating pains from uterus to umbilicus. Pain extends from other parts to back. Menstrual irregularities- early or late, scanty or profuse, menorrhagia or metrorrhagia. Bearing down sensation as if every thing would protrude through the vagina, must sit with crossed legs. Sensation of a ball in inner parts during menses. Great sadness & weeping, dread of men, of being alone. Indifferent to those whom she loved best. Headache at menstrual nisus with scanty flow. Tongue foul, clears at each menstrual nisus. <cold weather, laundry work, at rest. > warmth, violent exercise.
DAMIANA Q- A specific remedy
NUX VOMICA 30-Menses : too early, profuse, lasts too long; or keeping on several days longer, with complaints at onset and remaining after. Menses every two weeks, irregular never at right time, stopping & starting again. Violent spasmodic pains in sacrum. Labour like pains, causing urging to stool or to urinate. Backache, lumbago, must sit up or turn over in bed. Hypochondriac, literary, studious women. Irritable, quarrelsome, impatient, oversensitive to all external impressions. Bad effects of highly spiced food, alcohol, coffee, tobacco, overeating, sedentary habits, mental overexertion. >while at rest, lying down, damp weather.
CALCAREA CARB 30-Menses too early, too profuse, long lasting. Dysmenorrhoea with headache, chilliness, toothache & vertigo. Feet habitually cold & damp, as if they had cold stockings on. Breasts swollen & tender during menses. The least mental excitement causes profuse return of menstrual flow. Profuse perspiration. Leucophlegmatic, blond, fair, tendency to obesity in youth. Takes cold easily. Great longing for eggs, aversion to milk & meat. Feels better in every way when constipated. >lying on painful side, dry weather.
SABINA 30-Menses too early, profuse, protracted, partly fluid, partly clotted, in persons who menstruated very early in life; with colic & labour like pains. Drawing pains in small of back, extending from sacrum to pubes. Discharge of blood between periods, with sexual excitement. Chronic ailments of women; arthritic pains, tendency to miscarriages, especially at third month. Menorrhagia at climacteric. Music is unbearable. < from least motion, warm room. > walking, cool open air.
NATRUM MUR 30-Headache, nausea & vomiting before, during & after menses. Menses irregular, profuse or scanty. Left sided clavus. Anaemic & cachectic women, great emaciation, losing flesh while eating well. Weeping disposition, consolation <. Bad effects of grief, vexation, anger, excessive use of salt. Aversion to bread. Tongue mapped with red insular patches. <at 10 or 11 am, at sea shore, heat of sun. > open air, lying on right side, cold bathing, perspiration.
KALI CARB 30-Feels badly week before menses. Backache before & during menses. Wants the back to be pressed. Back gives way, with great debility & sweating. While walking feels as if she must give up & lie down. Pains stitching < during rest, lying on affected side. Cannot bear to be touched. Persons inclined to obesity, takes cold easily. Aversion to being alone.
CYCLAMEN 30-Membranous & congestive dysmenorrhoea. Menses too early, too profuse, black & clotted, accompanied by vertigo, headache, dim vision. Pains pressive, drawing or tearing of parts where bones lie near the surface. Better during flow. <sitting & lying at night. > by walking. Leucophlegmatic persons with anaemic or chlorotic conditions, easily fatigued. Ailments from suppressed grief & terrors of conscience. Great sadness & peevishness, irritable, morose, inclined to weep, desire for solitude, aversion to open air.
AMMONIUM CARB 30-Menses preceded by gripping colic, too early, profuse, acrid makes the thighs sore, copious at night & while sitting. With toothache, sadness, fatigue, yawning & chilliness. Cholera like symptoms at the commencement of menses. Stout fleshy women leading a sedentary life. Readily catch cold in winter, dislikes washing. Haemorrhagic diathesis. < during menses. > lying on abdomen, on painful side.
LACHESIS 200-Congestive dysmenorrhoea. Pains all relieved by the flow. Always better during menses. Menses at regular time, too short, scanty. Complaints at climacteric. Thin emaciated persons, hot flushes, hot perspiration. Pains go from left to right, worse after sleep. Great sensitiveness to touch, intolerance of tight clothings. Great loquacity, suspicious, jealous. <warmth, heat of sun, hot drinks.
BORAX 30-Membranous dysmenorrhoea. Menses too soon, profuse, with gripping colic, nausea & pain in stomach extending to small of back. Leucorrrhoea albuminous, starchy, sensation as if warm water were flowing. Dread of downward motion, excessively nervous, easily frightened by the slightest noise.
BOVISTA 30-Menses flow only at night, not in day time. Diarrhoea before & during menses; occasional show every few days between periods, every two weeks, dark & clotted with painful bearing down. Great weakness of joints & weariness of hands & feet. Awkwardness. Sweat in axilla smells like onions.
KREOSOTE 30-Menses too early, profuse, protracted, pain during but < after it. Flow < on lying down, ceases on sitting. Flow intermits, cold drinks > menstrual pains. Severe headache before & during menses. Leucorrhoea acrid, offensive, odour of green corn. Women who are over grown, very tall for her age, old looking, wrinkled., post climacteric ailments.
CACTUS GRANDIFLORUS 30-Pulsating pains in uterus & ovaries. Menstrual flow ceases when lying down. Whole body feels as if caged, each wire being twisted tighter & tighter. Constriction of chest, uterus, vagina, as if clasped by an iron band. Congestive, periodic, right sided, neuralgic, throbbing pains.
MAG CARB 30-Menses with labour like pains, cutting colic, backache, weakness, chilliness, flows only at night or when lying down, acrid, dark pitch like, difficult to wash out. Menses preceded by sorethroat. Sour smell of the whole body. Craves meat.
MAG MUR 30-Menses with great excitement at every period, flow black, clotted, spasms & pains in back when walking, extends to thighs. < at night in bed. Leucorrhoea after exercise, two weeks after menses. Pain in liver region < lying on right side. Constipation stool hard dry crumbling at the verge of anus.
MAG PHOS 200-Menstrual colic, membranous dysmenorrhoea. Flow dark, stringy, pains < before, > when flow begins. Congestive dysmenorrhoea. Pains shooting, lightning like, coming & going suddenly, rapidly changing place < right side. > heat, bending double, pressure. Thin emaciated persons. Great dread of cold air, of uncovering, of touching.
COLOCYNTH 30-Dysmenorrhoea, agonizing pain in abdomen, compelling the patient to bend double, with restlessness. Twists & turns to obtain relief. > by hard pressure. Menses suppressed by anger, indignation, chagrin. Pains like lightning shocks, crampy pain in hips. Extremely irritable, impatient throws things out of hands.
DIOSCOREA 30-Menstrual colic, pains < by bending forwards & while lying down. > by standing erect or bending backwards. Violent twisting colic, occurring in regular paroxysms, as if intestines were grasped & twisted by a powerful hand. Pains suddenly shift to different parts, appear in remote localities as fingers & toes.
LAC CANINUM 200-Menses too early, profuse, flow in gushes, bright red viscid & stringy. Breasts swollen, painful before & during menses. Erratic pains flying from one part to another, side to side. Sorethroat & cough begin & end with menses. Pains begin on left & goes to right. Very forgetful, absent minded, thinks her disease uncurable.
VERATRUM ALBUM 30-Dysmenorrhoea with vomiting & purging, is so weak can scarcely stand for two days at each menstrual nisus. Cholera like symptoms at the commencement of menses. Rapid sinking of vital forces, complete prostration, collapse. Cold perspiration on forehead. Face, pale, Hippocratic, sunken. Thirst for large quantities of cold water, craves acids. Mania with desire to cut & tear, laschivious talks.
ACONITUM NAPELUS 30-Pains are intolerable, drives her crazy, becomes very restless, must change position often. Great fear & anxiety of mind with great nervous excitability. Afraid to go out, to go in to a crowd, fear of death. Young girls of a full plethoric habit who lead a sedentary life. Amenorrhoea after fright, exposure to cold. Music is unbearable. <warm room, evening & night, lying on affected side, dry cold air. > open air.
BELLADONNA 30-Pains usually in short attacks, comes suddenly & ceases suddenly. Menses too early, profuse, bright red & hot, with bearing down sensation. Breasts feel heavy & painful. Women with light hair & blue eyes, plethoric, lymphatic constitutions. Congested red face with throbbing of brain & carotids. Head hot & painful, pulse full & bounding like buck shots. Violent delirium. <touch, noise, sun, least jar.> rest, standing & sitting erect, pressure.
CHAMOMILLA 30-Profuse discharge of dark clotted blood with labour like pains. Pains seems unendurable, drives to despair, with heat, thirst, fainting with numbness, eructations <. Pains drive her out of bed at night, compels to walk about. Peevish, irritable, oversensitive to pain & touch. Complaints from anger. Milk runs out in nursing women, nipples inflamed, tender. Toothache during menses if anything warm is taken. Cannot endure anyone near her, cross, averse to talking.
COFFEA 30-Pains felt intensely, almost insupportable, driving to despair, tossing about in anguish. Large clots of black blood, hypersensitive vagina. Tall lean stooping persons, dark complexion. Bad effects of sudden emotions, pleasurable surprises. Unusual activity of mind & body, full of ideas. Sleepless, wide awake at night. Oversensitiveness.
CALCAREA PHOS 30-Menses too early, excessive, bright red, if late, it is dark. Sometimes first bright then dark with violent backache. Girls at puberty, tall growing rapidly, anaemic, dark complexioned, emaciated. Ailments from grief, disappointed love. Complaints < when thinking about them. At puberty, acne & headache in school girls.
COCCULUC IN.30-During the effort to menstruate, she is so weak, scarcely able to stand from weakness of lower limbs. Leucorrhoea in place of menses, like washings of meat. Women & children who suffer severely during menses. Sensitive romantic girls, unmarried childless women. Bad effects of loss of sleep, night watching. Time passes too quickly.
CROCCUS SAT. 30-Dysmenorrhoea, blood black, viscid, clotted forming in to long black strings. Nervous or menstrual headaches, before, during & after flow. Chorea, hysteria, spasms of single set of muscles. Sensation as if something alive in abdomen. Frequent & extreme changes in emotions, sudden from the greatest hilarity to the deepest despondency.
IGNATIA 30-Women of a sensitive, nervous temperament, mentally & physically exhausted by long continued grief. Mental conditions rapidly change from joy to sorrow. Involuntary sighing, desires to be alone. Bad effects of anger, grief, disappointed love. Oversensitive to pain, pain in small spots. Hysterical pains.
ZINCUM MET. 30-Congestive dysmenorrhoea, pains better by appearance of menses. Menses too late, suppressed, flow more at night. Breasts painful. Violent fidgety feeling in feet. Burning whole length of spine, backache < sitting. Defective vitality, nervous exhaustion, too weak to menstruate.
SECALE COR 30-Menses irregular, copious, dark fluid with labour like pains in abdomen. Continuous discharge of watery blood until next period. Habitual abortion. Skin feels cold to touch, yet patient cannot tolerate coverings. Women of thin, cachectic, scrawny appearance. Face, pale, ashy, sunken, Hippocratic. Craves acids, lemonades. Burning in all parts.
MEDORRHINUM 200-Intense menstrual colic with drawing up of knees, labour like pains, must press feet against support. Menses profuse, dark, clotted, stains difficult to wash off. Breasts & nipples sore & sensitive to touch. Breasts icy cold, rest of body warm. Chronic ovaritis, salpingitis, fibroids, cysts, carcinomas. Maltreated & suppressed gonorrhea. Craves liquor, acids, salt, sweets, ice. Burning of hands & feet. Weakness of memory. < thinking of complaints, sunset to sunrise, warmth. > at seashore, lying on abdomen.
TUBERCULINUM 200-Frightful dysmenorrhoea in women with a tubercular history. Menses early, profuse, long lasting, tardy in starting. Tall slim, blonde, narrow chested, takes cold easily. Emaciation, losing flesh while eating well. Symptoms ever changing.
VIBRUNUM OPULUS 30-Menses too late, scanty, lasting a few hours with crampy pains, cramps extend down the anterior muscles of thighs. Spasmodic & membranous dysmenorrhoea. Aching in sacrum & pubes. Pain from back to loins & womb. Frequent miscarriage. Severe bearing down pains before menses. < lying down > movements.
XANTHOXYLUM 30-Neuralgic dysmenorrhoea with pain in back & down the legs. Menses too early, thick, almost black, in strings. Pain in loins & lower abdomen, worse left side extending down the thigh, along the genito crural nerves. Desire to take deep breath during pain. Wants to sit or lie down. Ovarian neuralgia. Thin emaciated chlorotic women with oedema of face & legs.
ERIGERON 30-Dysmenorrhoea with violent irritation of bladder & rectum. Bright red blood. Nose bleed instead of menses. Pain in left ovary & hip. Persistent haemorrhages.
TRILLIUM PENDULUM Q-Dysmenorrhoea with sensation as if hips & back were falling to pieces, better by tight bandaging. < least movement. Flooding with fainting, menorrhagia. Uterine fibroids. Gushing of bright red blood.
THLASPI BURSA Q-Menses too early, profuse, protracted, tardy in starting, first day merely a show, second day colic & vomiting. Profuse, dark, clotted blood with violent cramps, scarcely recovers from one period before another begins.
USTILAGO 30-Menses too scanty with ovarian irritation or too profuse & too early. Extreme pain during the period, flow profuse & do not cease until next period, most of the time confined to bed. Between periods, constant suffering under left breast at margin of ribs. Oozing of dark, highly coagulated blood, long black strings.
SENECIO AUREUS 30-Anaemic dysmenorrhoea. Before menses, inflammation of throat, chest & bladder which improve after menses. Functional amenorrhoea in young girls with backache. Great heat & constant urge for urination. Scanty bloody urine with much mucus & tenesmus.
EUPION 30-Congestive dysmenorrhoea. Pains > by appearance of menses. Nose bleed when flow intermits. Abdominal pain > by bending backwards. During menses irritable & disinclined to talk. Menses too early, copious. Uterine displacements.
PISCIDA 30-Neuralgic & spasmodic dysmenorrhoea. Irregular menses. Insomnia due to worry, nervous excitement. A nerve sedative.
FRAXINUS AMERICANA Q-Dysmenorrhoea from uterine tumours, fibroids, uterine enlargements. Cramps in feet with bearing down sensation.
ALETRIS FARINOSA Q--Dysmenorrhoea with labour like pains. Menses scanty, retarded. Prolapse of uterus. Anaemic, chlorotic girls with great debility. Tired all the time. Sensation of weight in uterus. China of uterine system.
JONOSIA ASOKA Q-Delayed or irregular menses. Headache due to suppressed menses. Menses scanty, pale, foul smelling, blackish, with, pain, palpitation, hysteria & loss of appetite.
MERCURIALIS PERENNIS 30-Dysmenorrhoea with scanty menses, pain & swelling of breasts. Amenorrhoea. Great dryness of mouth & throat. Burning of tongue & lips.
ZINCUM VALERIANICUM 30--Neuralgic dysmenorrhoea, ovaralgia, pains shoot down the limbs, even to the foot. Becomes almost insane with pain, sleeplessness from pain. Hysterical women.
ROSMARINUS 30-Violent pains followed by uterine haemorrhage, menses too early. Head heavy, drowsy. Chilly with icy coldness of lower extremities without thirst, followed by heat