HOMOEOPATHY FOR MOOD SWINGS
Dr. KS. Gopi
Former Professor, Govt. Homeopathic medical college, Kozhikode, Kerala, India
Mood swings refer to rapid changes in mood. The term may refer to minor daily mood changes or to significant mood changes as seen with mood disorders such as major depression, or bipolar depression.
Causes
Mental health conditions: Many mental health conditions can cause severe shifts in mood. They include the following:
· Schizophrenia
· Bipolar disorder
· Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
· Dysthymia
· Cyclothymic disorder
· Dementia
· Personality disorders
· Disruptive dysregulation disorder
Hormones: Hormones can cause shift in mood, especially in women
· Premenstrual syndrome
· Menopause
· Men with low testosterone
Other conditions:
· Thyroid conditions
· Excessive use of drugs or alcohol
Common triggers
Regardless of whether mood changes occur due to an underlying medical condition or another factor, certain things trigger them. This includes:
· Stress
· A significant change in life
· Diet
· Sleep habits
· Medications
HOMOEOPATHIC REMEDIES
Homoeopathy today is a rapidly growing system and is being practiced all over the world. It strength lies in its evident effectiveness as it takes a holistic approach towards the sick individual through promotion of inner balance at mental, emotional, spiritual and physical levels. When mood swings is concerned there are many effective medicines available in Homoeopathy , but the selection depends upon the individuality of the patient , considering mental and physical symptoms.
AURUM METALLICUM: Extreme depression.Aurummetallicum patients are very serious people, strongly focussed on work and achievement, who become depressed if they feel they have failed in some way. Nervous breakdown. Thinks of committing suicide but fears death greatly. Disgusted of life and thoughts. Profound despondency. Peevish.Rapid and constant questioning without waiting for answers. Oversensitive to noise. Discouragement, self – reproach, humiliation and anger can lead to feelings of emptiness and worthlessness. The person may feel worse at night with nightmares or insomnia.
BELLADONNA: Violent behavior of the patient, violent occurs in fits that come and go suddenly. Biting, striking , tearing mania. He bites and strikes the person near him. Spits on faces of other persons. Face becomes red, hot or bluish red. Quarrelsome.
CANNABIS INDICA: High energy level. Sudden loss of memory and exaltation of spirits is characteristic to cannabis indica. Forgetful, cannot finish a sentence. Sudden loss of speech, cannot finish a sentence. Depression and constant thought of becoming insane. Emotional excitement, rapid changes of moods. Misperception of time and space. Time seems too long , seconds seem ages. A few miles an immense distance. Full of fun and mischief and laughs, uncontrollable laughter.
HYOSCYAMUS NIGER: Mania, erotic, expose genitals, sings amorous songs. Laughs, sings, talks, babbles, quarrels. Talkative, obscene, lascivious mania, uncovers body, jealous. Does foolish things and behaves like mad. Inclind to laugh at everything. Fears being alone, being pursued of water, being poisoned etc. Fear of being bitten by beasts. Very suspicious. The patient’s perception that he will be poisoned thus refusing to take anything offered, even medicine too. Restless, picking bed clothes, jumps out of bed, wants to escape. Rage with desire to strike, bite, fight insult, scold and to kill.
IGNATIA MARA 200- Depression. Depression in teenages. Depression due to grief and worry. Sensitive people who suffer grief and disappointment and try to keep the hurt inside may benefit from this remedy. Wanting not to cry or appear too vulnerable to others , they may seem guarded, defensive and moody. They may also burst out laughing or in to tears, for no apparent reason. A feeling of a lump in the throat and heaviness in the chest with frequent sighing or yawning are leading indications of this remedy. Insomnia or excessive sleeping , headaches and cramping pains in the abdomen and back are also often seen.Ignatia is also effective for seasonal affective depression.
LILIUM TIGRINUM: Profound depression. Constant inclination to weep. Consolation will aggravate the complaints. Dread of insanity with wild crazy feeling. Sometimes heart or uterine symptoms associated with mental symptoms.
NATRUM MURIATICUM: Depression. Natrum mur persons are reserved, responsible, and private- yet have stronger inner feelings like grief, romantic attachment, anger or fear of misfortunes, but that they rarely show. Natrum mur covers the effects of grief, disappointed love , fright and anger.Consolation makes her complaints aggravates. She wants to be alone to cry. Natrum mur persons cannot cry in front of others. Anxiety , brooding about past grievances, migraines, headaches, back pain and insomnia can be experienced when the person is depressed
PULSATILLA NIGRICANS: Pulsatilla is one of the best remedies for mood swings from depression in teenagers due to hormonal changes. Pulsatilla persons are mild, timid, emotional and tearful. They have a changeable mood and weeps easily. When depressed they are sad and tearful , wanting a lot of attention and comforting. They depressed from fear of opposite sex and marriage.Crying , fresh air and gentle exercise usually improve their mood. They are too much depressed in a warm room or being in a stuffy room. Pulsatilla is also effective for premenstrual syndrome.
SEPIA: Sepia is best for mood swings during the menopause period. They are nervous , so that she wants to hold on to something or she should scream. She says and does strange things . Wants to commit suicide. Nobody knows what she will do next. Anxious and fear accompanies with depression. She has an aversion to family to those loved best to sympathy to company, yet dreads to be alone. Depression from loss of sex drive and sexual disorders. She has a feeling of dragging or bearing down sensation as if everything would escape through the vagina.