Stress Concerns &
Homeopathy

As a topic in patient interviews, life’s stresses and stress responses bring many important insights to the surface, yet the term itself leads to a quagmire of options when trying to repertorize the case for a homeopathic remedy. The term “stress” has become an umbrella for a collection of mental, emotional and even physical issues. While ‘Stress’ will not be found in the classic repertories, practically all its side effects will be. Selecting a few of these most pertinent to stressful lifestyles and emotional pressures provides sufficient fodder for endless discussions and useful lists of applicable remedies.

Hahnemann Speaks First –
when speaking of Homeopathy.

The following,
greatly abbreviated
list, reveals the basic
stock of remedies commonly
listed for anxiety, depression and
fatigue in contemporary books on
homeopathic applications. Granted, it does not

In his Organon of Homeopathic Medicine, homeopathy’s founder, Samuel Hahnemann, states in no uncertain terms the interdependencies of homeopathy and emotional symptomology. Homeopathic selection requires inclusion of the emotional symptoms and emotional healing can find no better resource than homeopathy. In Lesson 210 he states: In all cases of disease to be cured, the patient’s emotional state should be noted as one of the most preeminent symptoms, along with the symptom complex, if one wants to record a true image of the disease in order to be able to successfully cure it homeopathically. Quite a correlation considering he was writing nearly 100 years before Freud. As to the remedies applicable, he offers Lesson 212: Every efficacious medicinal substance in the world very noticeably alters the mental and emotional state of the healthy individual who proves it and, to be sure, each medicine does so in a different way.
In Lesson 210 he states: In all cases of disease to be cured, the patient’s emotional state should be noted as one of the most preeminent symptoms, along with the symptom complex, if one wants to record a true image of the disease in order to be able to successfully cure it homeopathically.
Quite a correlation considering he was writing long before Freud. As to the remedies applicable, he offers Lesson 212: Every efficacious medicinal substance in the world very noticeably alters the mental and emotional state of the healthy individual who proves it and, to be sure, each medicine does so in a different way.

Devil in the Details

As with most discussions involving homeopathy, the devil is in the details. Any effort to address the effects of stress must begin by sorting through its many side effects. For mental stress, the symptoms Anxiety, Depression and Fatigue provide a sufficient platform.

incorporate a large portion of the remedies referred to under these topics in major repertories or in various other discussions of mental health.  The following descriptions begin with the quick reference details from Miranda Castro’s book A Homeopathic Guide to Stress, because it specifically highlights the stress-related aspects of these and many more remedies.

Aconitum Nap

Emotional stresses: Fear; shock; worry. Emotional state: Anxious with fear; before an exam/interview, etc. Excitable. Fearful: claustrophobic; in a crowd; of death. Panic. Restless. Screaming with the pain. Sensitive to pain. - M. Castro

Arsenicum Album

Emotional stresses: fear; guilt; resentment; transition; uncertainty; worry. Emotional states: Anxious: when alone; with fear ... Blames others. Busy. Complaining. Critical. Depressed. Desires: company,... Despair. ... Fearful: generally ... Fussy. Insecure. Irritable. Restless. Selfish. Tidy. – M. Castro

- Asa Hershoff adds: Nervous, very restless. Dependent, yet mistrusting; selfish and miserly. Paranoid; feels lonely and threatened. Obsessed with order, cleanliness.

Aurum Met

Emotional stresses: betrayal; depression; failure; guilt; loneliness; loss; shame. Emotional states: Angry: with difficulty expressing anger. Blames self… gloomy. Lacks self-confidence. Lonely. Despairing Depression. Feels worthless.
- Asa Hershoff adds: Responsible, ambitious, workaholic. Loss of money, respect, love, power… Fits of anger. Sense of failure, worthlessness… guilt. Suicidal… Silent, brooding.
- Trevor Smith: This is the most useful remedy when there is depression and a suicidal tendency. They cannot be coaxed out of their depression.

- More Singles for Winter Stress

- Depression in Winter: Overcoming SAD