​Copyright @2020 - All rights reserved by santaclaritahomeopath

Classical Homeopath - Santa Clarita and the Greater Los Angeles Area

Materia Medica Notes

micrograph of the virus that causes tobacco mosaic disease in tobacco [3]

https://kristineskitchenblog.com/

When all is said and done, you can’t really cure a viral attack. You can only wait for the virus to die out inside of your system or flush them out.  You can only keep yourself as strong physically as possible and help alleviate some of the symptoms they cause. 

Speaking with a Homeopathic or Holistic doctor may help find solutions that could be safer and, in some case, preventive as well.

Always remember, seek medical help when you see that the symptoms are too much to handle on your own or feels like it is becoming life threatening.

This virus will run its course and eventually “go away”.   Your body will also learn how to protect itself from this virus, but this may take time so be more vigilant about your health and of your loved ones.  Be aware of your surroundings at all times. Do things to keep healthy. Build your immune system with good food and exercise and stay positive.

Tuberculinum bovinum, Tub; hard dry hacking coughs; intense head pains; heavy heart; fatigue, wandering; suffocation and shortness of breath; asthma, influenza, pneumonia; remittent fever with sweats; chills; hoarseness; poor and restless sleep; loss of appetite; worse periodically; better open air.

Camphora officinalis, camph; influenza; stopped nose with sneezing; suffocating dyspnea; suffocating asthma; suspended respiration; weak pulse; fever with chills and sweats; better sweating.

Viruses All Around

Aconitum napellis,Acon; oppressed breathing; suffocating; dry croup cough; stopped nose with little discharge; pain in larynx; icy coldness; suddenness and anxiety in every symptom; better in open air.

Apis mellifica,Apis; suffocating, cannot draw another breath; short dry cough; external heat with quick drying perspiration; worse for heat or pressure; constricted swollen red throat; edema of skin and mucous membranes like after a bee sting; better cold air or bathing.

Bryonia alba,Bry; despair of recovery; anxious laborious breathing; chronic constipation; food is tasteless; bitter; dryness; scraped and constricted throat; dry hacking cough, as if chest would fly to pieces; weakness; heaviness; fevers;  worse with heat and motion; better cold.

Influenzinum, influen; influenza; aching eyes; raw larynx; inflammation in nose, coryza, sinusitis; sensitivity in eyes; aches and pains of body; dry cough; bronchial asthma; bronchitis and pneumonia; (This nosode takes place of baptisia for epidemics)

In addition to the physical symptoms we experience, it’s also important to keep in mind, our emotional health. Emotional health is an important factor in one’s health regiment.  Situations like this can cause stress and fear which then leads to high blood pressure, headaches and other, more dangerous, symptoms.

Stay in tune with your emotional needs by thinking positive thoughts; possibly look into using oil diffusers to provide soothing and healthy scents in your environment. You can talk to your naturopath practitioners about alternative mood relaxing remedies such as using eucalyptus, lemon, thieves (YL) for health benefits as well as emotional benefits.   Eating healthy and energizing foods and drinks can also lift your spirit.  Take time out of your busy schedule and life to meditate or talk to a loved one. Take a moment to breathe in life, doing activities to clear the mind of the stress and fears, just to name a few, to make you happier. 

Don’t get bogged down with fears and concerns about death or be angry that you are infected because you need all the strength you can get to fight off any illness.   Mind over matter can work.

In all this, don’t forget your furry little family members.  They need our support since they can’t really help themselves. Keep them hydrated and make sure they get good nutrients with vitamins and supplements. See that they look healthy and active. Check their eyes for clarity, wet sloppy but clear noses for health, and check their movement for fatigue or any other tell-tale signs for illness. 

https://www.naturepl.com/

China officinalis, china; influenza with debility; labored respiration; dyspnea; suffocating; asthma worse from damp weather; hacking cough; intermittent and reoccurring fever; debilitating perspiration; wheezing whistling; chilly fever; worse from loss of fluids; better open air or warmth.

Arsenicum album, Ars; Anguish, restless, fear of dying or that medicines may not help; exhaustion even at the slightest exertion; degenerative changes in the body and mind; cancer; OCD, germs; malarial type of symptoms; irregular pulse; suffocation, dyspnea, pneumonia; sore throat; Styrian mountaineers say that taking it every 2 days seems to impart “a sense of invigoration and enables them to carry enormous loads up steep mountains”. [13]

Ignis alcoholis, Ignis; prepared by burning pure alcohol; symbolism of regeneration, transmutation, purification, lies, illusion of death, burning emotions, danger, anger , speed, spreading like wildfire, destruction and desire to bring all things to their end;  looking down on a cesspool of ignorance and vulgarity; felt possessed; feel real need to clean up my act; avoid contamination at all costs; avoid people who will contaminate me; cannot find any place to land without feeling dirty; poisoned and fear of being poisoned;  enjoying cleaning; got a load of bleach; claustrophobic in crowds, feel being smothered; selfishness; aggressive; instigating disruption; impurity, evil; dirty and contaminated; mania for cleanliness; closed places or being surrounded by people aggravate; great heat around face, locally; weakness and exhaustion; energy goes up and down; faint feeling; respiration difficult after eating; dry sensation in eyes and nose; fear of suffocation; head pain; dreams of dying; great heat making them feel weak; energy going up and down; copious nasal discharge; burning in throat; sweating; better eating. [13]

Viruses are one of the smallest known microbes that exist on earth. They are basically DNA/RNA (single or double stranded with a protein sheath and/or lipid membrane) like organisms that hang around looking for a “home” to live in. [1, 2] Unlike bacteria, they can’t really live on their own and need a host to get into and grow in. They are tiny parasites that find a healthy host cell to burrow into or they can trick the host cell into thinking they are nutrients and so the host cell lets them in, unwittingly, and infects itself. [5] Once the virus is inside the host cell, it starts making lots of copies of itself until either the cell bursts and the host cell is destroyed or the virus just “pinches” out of the cell if it has a lipid envelope on it. [2] Then the new virus strands move on to other healthy cells until they destroy whatever is nearest to them.  If left alone long enough, they can cause severe damage to internal organs, causing illness and disease. Type your paragraph here.


Viruses don’t just pick on humans. They can pick on animals and plants too. They can find their host and start growing right away or they can put themselves to sleep until they find the right environment to grow and flourish in.  This dormant state is a tricky thing for the most part since virologists haven’t figured out what could trigger the virus to wake up again.  The worst part of this sleep is that, it can still be spread to others while it’s still sleeping. It could stay asleep for years before it is woken by some event or suitable environment for it to wake up in. [3]​

Some helpful notes for what to keep at home to get you through the day to day and to help alleviate some of the symptoms:

  • Keep a form of cleanser to clean up surfaces, as needed, such as Clorox wipes or plain bleach or just soap and water
  • Keep masks and gloves ready for daily use and when going out
  • Keep Dettol or witch hazel to clean cuts or wounds immediately if other solutions are not available
  • Keep a bottle of 99% alcohol around for cleaning surfaces or cuts and wounds
  • Use cream to keep skin that is constantly wiped, soft and prevent it from cutting from all the wiping, such as nose, eyes, hands
  • Elderberry syrup (sambucus) is a more natural medicine to help with coughs but it should be avoided if it seems like you could have Covid19. This syrup could exacerbate a cytokine storm in the body (an increased reaction by the body to fight the virus and causing a hyper inflammatory response that could be harmful if it is too high).  Use Osha or Lomatium instead.
  • For those who have asthma, keep extra inhalers on hand and get a nebulizer for emergencies; it will help alleviate some of the breathing difficulties
  • Keep nasal decongestants available to help clear nasal passages and the sinuses less stuffed, such as Sudafed
  • Keep nasal sprays to wash the nose when symptoms worsen; You want to keep the nose clear, the sinuses clear and the throat and lungs clear; cough as much phlegm out as you can
  • If you can stay with a mild fever, don’t take acetaminophen; let the fever prevent the virus from reproducing; High fevers need attention
  • Aloe vera gel is more soothing and more natural
  • Local honey from your local bee farm works great to soothe sore throats; don’t forget the propolis which can help with sugar levels
  • Black seed oil is used all over the world for all kinds of ailments. Keep some seed and oil available to make tonics and for steam sessions.
  • Take your vitamins, zinc, A,  E, C, B’s, D, K  to fight common cold symptoms
  • Make sure you have all your medicines and ask your doctor for a 3 month supply, if possible.
  • Use nappies for wiping noses and faces and wash them often to keep used and infected tissue paper from piling up; baby wipes and other wipes can be helpful as well.
  • Drink water often to flush the system and give the body more fluids to work with
  • Drinking drinks with electrolytes can help give the body more energy; avoid sodas and alcohol
  • Eat more greens and colored vegetables and fruits;  avoid processed foods as much as possible
  • Drink more soups and broths;  seaweed broth, chicken soup
  • Meat alternatives such as lentils and beans can help avoid meat products that could contain more hormones or antibiotics in them
  • Avoid sugar highs
  • Use chopped clove of garlic on back of tongue and eventually swallow it; this acts like an anti-bacterial.

Rhus toxicodendron, Rhus-t; influenza with aching in bones; oppression of chest; sticking pains in chest; cannot get breath; bronchial coughs; dry ticklish coughs; rheumatic pains; low grade fever; better warmth and motion.

https://thewittygrittylife.com/sew-washable-face-masks/

Image:What a virus looks like. [5]

Belladonna,Bell; dry burning high fever; little perspiration; shooting pains; dry nose and larynx; oppressed respiration; angry looking throat; red; throbbing; aversion to water; worse for everything.

https://homeopathyplus.com/

electron micrograph of a cluster of influenza viruses; both membrane and protein coat are visible.[3]

A Homeopathic Perspective

Homeopathy can also offer some help from the flu and flu-like symptoms and it has no side effects. [7, 8, 11] If taken in low doses and more frequently, it can help the immediate and acute physical symptoms, as needed. [10]

Part of the thought process I used in how to look for a COVID-19 remedy comes from seeing the miasmatic picture of the virus and its symptoms. I also looked at the symbiotic relationship between the virus and its host, the patient, and see how that can create a picture of the host’s symptoms in combination with the virus’ characteristics. This symbiotic relationship between the virus and the host leads one to think that we could consider treating both and not just the patient.

Characteristics of the COVID-19 virus

  • Virus is a Latin word meaning “Poison”
  • Parasitic
  • Not judgmental who it attacks;  will attack any animate object; will live in any animate object
  • Intelligent, will mutate as necessary
  • Can be tricky and sly; imitate a “good cell” to trick the host cell to let it in
  • Exaggerated growth/cancerous
  • Aggressive
  • Survives in squalid conditions and in dirty areas; must constantly clean areas that they can land on
  • Affinity to respiratory system, lungs, nose and throat
  • Virus Shape: Rods,  spheres, small many sided spheres, “spaceship”-shaped, “lunar”-lander, spider like


Characteristic symptoms of the host [15, 16, 17]

  • Fearful; fear of death
  • Common symptoms – [Acute Rx: Oscillococcinum at the onset]
    • Dry cough,
    • Sneezing,
    • Sever Sore throat,
    • Headache – [Acute Rx: Phosphorus]
    • Sudden high fever, Severe heat, Chills, Periodic Fevers – [Acute Rx: Belladonna, Ferrum phosphoricum, Aconitum napellus, Apis mellifica]
    • Fatigue – [Acute Rx: Gelsemium, Arsenicum album]
    • Breathing problems –[ Acute Rx: Apis melificca]
    • Restlessness, Joint aches, fatigue – [Acute Rx: Rhus toxicodendron, Arsenicum album]
  • Severe symptoms:
    • Oppression, Dyspnea, Asthma, Suffocating, Inspiration, difficult,
    • Bronchitis, Pneumonia, Influenza, Chronic Asthma – [Acute Rx: Arsenicum album]
    • Severe breathing problems; severe shortness of breath; Suffocation
    • Persistent pains in chest
    • Pains in muscles of the body – [Acute Rx: Bryonia, Eupatorium perfoliatum]
    • Mental confusion or sluggishness out of the norm – [Acute Rx: Baptisia]
    • Bluish lips or face; lack of oxygen in lungs
    • Death
  • Gastric symptoms:
    • Vomiting – [Acute Rx: Nux vomica]
    • Diarrhea – [Acute Rx: Arsenicum album]
  • Peculiar Symptoms 
    • Loss of taste and smell; Loss of appetite
    • Vivid dreams
    • Lining of mouth shedding [15]
    • Sleep “in chapters” [15]; Restless sleep​

Gelsemium, Gels; fullness at root of nose; dry nasal cavity; acute coryza; difficulty swallowing, rough and burning in throat; dry cough; breathing slowed; bronchitis; heaviness all over; loss of muscular control, fatigue; sleeplessness; heat and sweat stages; worse damp weather; better with motion.

Chininum arsenicosum, Chin-ar; suffocative breathing; asthma; cough with little expectoration; profuse coryza; headache; cardiac dyspnea; restless sleep; continuous fever with chills; weakness; raw and sore throat; appetite gone; prostration; anxious

boiron.ca

Viruses can hang out on inanimate objects or live in the bowels of humans or animals or anywhere they can find. They can hang out on surfaces and infect living things that touch them.  Someone can sneeze or cough and the fluids can contain the virus and thereby, fly through the air in little water droplets to get to another person or land on the surface of a desk or doorknob, ready to infect someone who touches it and then touches their eyes or some orifice that can lead the virus inside the body. They can grow in an animal and come out in droppings or in the animals fluids and infect other things that come in contact with it, moving from one thing to the next, until it can find a live host cell to grow and proliferate in. They can also live in animals such as mosquitoes, fleas and ticks and then spread when they bite into another animal or human or through their feces or bodily fluids. [1]

Viruses vary in what types of damage they can cause to the host. In humans and animals, they can attack the immune system (HIV), the bowels, the brain (rabies), the circulatory system (Ebola), the muscles (causing pain), the respiratory system (flu) and other systems where cells can be infected.  [1] The host will try to create antibodies to fight the virus but viruses are pretty smart and can mutate into a different genome so that the body can’t recognize it the next time it comes around. This is why when we want to use vaccines to defend ourselves from a virus and make ourselves immune to that virus, it can get tricky because it’s not always, that all viruses will stay the same.  They can change season to season, animal to person, in the same person, and so on. Antibiotics don’t work on viruses like they do on bacteria so the best way to prevent contamination and infection is to be more vigilant with hygiene and avoid areas that have reported viral infections.  Viruses typically infect one type of species or a group of related species at a time and more often than not, the virus can be transmitted even before symptoms appear. [3]

If infected, the only thing one can really do is to alleviate some of the more dangerous symptoms with medicines, drink lots of sugar-free fluids to flush the body faster, keep the nasal airways free of congestion, cough out as much phlegm as possible, allow a low-grade fever to carry on without medicine so as to inhibit some of the virus from reproducing and get plenty of rest so that the body can fight off the virus better. 

Concerning fevers, when the body feels it is being attacked by a virus or bacteria, it produces antibodies to fight the virus or bacteria and it produces pyrogens that cause the body temperature to rise. This rise in temperature causes the virus to slow down production rates.  The body works best at 98.7 degrees Fahrenheit and anything higher will tell the body that it needs to slow down. [2]

COVID-19
COVID-19 is a virus that affects the respiratory system mainly.  It first came into the public eye when many were affected by it in Wuhan, China in December 2019.  From there, it has spanned into other countries via travelers and close contact.  It was deemed a pandemic by March 2020. [4]

The virus has a lipid envelope that makes it easy for it to silently pass into healthy cells. When a human or animal inhales it in, it can get into the nasal air passages and infect the lining of the nose or throat, depending on where it entered.  When the sinuses are infected, the cells burst, causing nasal fluid.  This viral fluid then goes down the throat and affects the lining of the throat causing sore throats and then ultimately gets into the lungs and stomach to cause more dangerous symptoms.   From the sinuses, the virus can travel up the nasal passage, cell by cell, and eventually affect parts of the brain cells. This can lead to severe head pains and further disease of the brain. It can get into the blood stream because of the lipid envelope and from there it can get into muscle cells, causing muscular pain and fatigue. [2]

From recent cases, it seems that the COVID-19 is mainly affecting the elderly and people who suffer from heart disease, diabetes and/or lung disease. The mortality rate seems to affect those who are too weak to fight the symptoms the viral attack causes. Research indicates that the incubation period is approximately 5 days and symptoms can develop between 10-14 days. There was a small percentile that showed symptoms between day 15 and day 28. [6]

This particular strain seems to be able to stay “alive” in a dormant or woken state in the air, long after the infected person has sneezed or coughed and left the area.  This can then land on objects to sit and wait for its next victim. [6]

Baptisia tinctoria,Bap; difficulty breathing, sense of suffocation; constricted throat; fever with chills;

Andricus quercuscalicis, Knopper Oak Galls, Querc-cyn;  Mind, delusions, imaginations, parasite, she is a; This is from a gall wasp species inducing knopper galls, a result of a parasitic wasp; anger; anxiety; aversion to company; difficult concentration; thoughts of death; delusions of contaminating everything they touch; delusions of being a parasite; delusions of being ostracized; delusions of suffocation; fear of infection; chest oppression, constriction; trachea, burning; cough;  weakness; difficult respiration; construction and scratching in trachea; appetite wanting; flushes of heat; coldness; muscle pain; chest pressure. [13]

Going through the materia medica there are many remedies that come up, some commonly used with day to day patients and others worth looking at for this particular illness. Remedies chosen should be chosen to fit the case but in the case of a epidemic or a pandemic, it is worth treating each symptom acutely and helping the patient get through the rough times during the illness. [12, 13, 14]

Blatta orientalis, Blatta; threatened suffocation; coughs with dyspnea; wheezing; pneumonia; slight expectoration; worse in rain and winter. 

References

  1. http://microbemagic.ucc.ie/about_microbes/viruses_work.html
  2. https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/cellular-microscopic/virus-human1.htm
  3. https://ucmp.berkeley.edu/alllife/virus.html
  4. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
  5. https://askabiologist.asu.edu/virus
  6. https://annals.org/aim/fullarticle/2762808/incubation-period-coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-from-publicly-reported
  7. https://www.peacehealth.org/medical-topics/id/hn-2236006
  8. https://www.britishhomeopathic.org/charity/how-we-can-help/articles/conditions/i/influenza/
  9. https://www.integrativepractitioner.com/practice-management/news/colds-flu-a-homeopathic-perspective
  10. https://www.naturalmedicinejournal.com/journal/2016-09/does-homeopathy-prevent-flu
  11. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3576893/
  12. Mac Repertory
  13. Reference Works
  14. Complete Dynamics
  15. Patient Symptoms, A.Elias, April 2020, Facebook page
  16. Patient Symptoms, C.Cuomo, April 2020, thepuristonline.com page
  17. CDC website for COVID 19