Homeopathy is a system of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) that has as its very basis a holistic viewpoint¹. Though many of its basic principles directly conflict with conventional understanding of chemistry, physics, biology, and medicine, homeopathy remains widely popular.

     Homeopathy aims to identify symptoms and individual features of the patient and use the body’s healing processes in treatment. Conventional medicine uses symptoms to diagnose underlying conditions and does not consider personal characteristics to be of primary concern when choosing a treatment path. Conventional treatments improve the disease process, but may not alter the body’s natural healing processes. Because of the emphasis that homeopathy puts on the individual, many homeopaths spend more time with their patients than do physicians. This allows for a stronger relationship between practitioner and patient, possibly augmenting any placebo effect.

     Homeopathy takes into account the personal characteristics of the patient, translating to true ‘constitutional prescriptions’ being based on more than just pathology, which can only be made after very detailed enquiry into the minutiae of a person’s life: their likes and dislikes, their reactions to weather, their fears, etc.¹.

The following are key features of homeopathy¹: 

• Homeopathic remedies are produced from a wide range of mostly natural substances.

• “Law of similars,” or “like cures like” – The belief that if large amounts of a certain substance create specific symptoms, then small amounts of the substance will cure that symptom

• Very low doses – Substances are diluted by alcohol or water at a ratio of 1:10 (X) or 1:100 (C), a process repeated several times. If a solution is referred to as 7X, this means that a 1:10 dilution has been performed seven times, and a 7C solution means a 1:100 dilution has been performed seven times. The final solution is often so diluted that it doesn’t contain even one full molecule of the substance of interest.

• “Molecular memory” – The belief that water has a “memory” for the substance it once contained, translating to increased potency with increased dilution

     Many clinical studies have been conducted concerning the efficacy of homeopathic therapy for a variety of conditions, but results remain largely inconclusive. As many homeopathic remedies do not contain active substances, some have suggested this field is largely based on the placebo effect, which is generally considered to account for 30-40% of reported efficacy. In situations where conventional medical options have been used with little beneficial effect, homeopathy may provide at least a means by which to induce a placebo response. A systematic review o homeopathic clinical trials found homeopathy to produce a significant benefit, without significant side effects ².

     For MS-specific homeopathic treatment, no formal, large-scale, well-documented studies have yet been conducted. Isolated case reports and anecdotal evidence of people with MS benefiting from specific homeopathic remedies have been reported. Based largely on these experiences, several homeopathic treatments have been recommended for people with MS, depending on the individual and their symptoms. Beyond the individuality of homeopathic recipes, there are some that are most consistently recommended in MS¹).

• Plumbum metallicum

     Plumbum metallicum is prepared from lead, a heavy, bluish-gray, soft malleable metal. While crude lead is a neurotoxin that can cause neurological disorders, homeopathic potencies are considered safe^3,4.

     Potential benefits attributed to plumbum metallicum include general management of sclerotic and nervous system conditions^5-7, including MS ⁸.

• Aurum muriaticum

Aurum muriaticum is prepared from the combination of gold (a bright, slightly orange-yellow, dense, soft, malleable, and ductile metal) and the mineral molecule chloride (most commonly found in table salt) ⁹.

Potential benefits attributed to aurum muriaticum include improvement of depressed mood and support of circulation¹⁰, as well as management of MS ^8,11.

• Argentum nitricum

     Argentum nitricum is prepared from a combination of silver (a soft, white, lustrous metal) and the nitrogen-containing molecule nitrate. 

     Potential benefits attributed to argentum nitricum include management of mental and nervous symptoms¹² and improvement in the type of lower limb weakness, woodiness, and trembling associated with MS ^467,13.

     Additional homeopathic compounds have been suggested for MS-related complaints, including the following ^1,13-16.

• Physostigma (calabar bean plant) + gelsemium (yellow jessamine plant) – eye symptoms

• Oxalic acid (common in leafy green vegetables) + picric acid (used historically as a burn salve) – numbness, tingling, pin/needle-like sensations

• Conium maculatum (hemlock plant), particularly in combination with argentum nitricum – lower limb weakness

• Gelsemium (yellow jessamine) + alumina (aluminum oxide) – balance and coordination difficulties (e.g., ataxia)

• Lathyrus sativus (Indian pea plant) – spasticity

• Causticum (potassium hydrate mineral) – paralysis, incontinence

• Phosphorus (mineral found in bones) – sensory and motor paralysis, weakness, and trembling, eye symptoms

• Natrum muriaticum (sea salt) – painful muscle contractions (spasms/cramps)

• Zincum metallicum (zinc metal) – leg cramps

• Cuprum metallicum (copper metal) – muscle cramps

• Syphilinum (Treponema pallidum bacteria) – trembling

• Cicuta virosa (cowbane or northern water hemlock plant) – muscle spasms

• Staphysagria macrosperma (delphinium plant) – difficulty urinating

• Secale cornutum (rye plant fungus) – incomplete bladder emptying

• Cuprum arsenicosum (copper metal + the natural element arsenic) – spasms

• Opium (from the poppy plant) – 

• Silica (from the natural element silicon) – 

• Ignatia (Strychnos ignatii tree) – 

• Nux vomica (strychnine tree) – 

• Sulfur (natural element) – 

• Strychninum (strychnine, a natural component of some plants) – 

Homeopathy has been found to be particularly helpful if treatment is provided at or near the onset of initial symptoms, or of symptoms accompanying a relapse that is linked in some way to a precipitating event in the person’s life or mind, e.g., acute viral infection or emotional stress ¹.

Homeopathy is generally well-tolerated, but homeopaths do advise patients of several precautions that need to be taken, as follows:

• Treatment should be stopped as soon as symptoms resolve, otherwise the therapy may lead to a recurrence. 

• Suggestions of interference by coffee, x-rays, acupuncture, or dental drilling, may be worth considering.

• It is important for a homeopath to be aware of all conventional treatments a patient is using, as they may affect homeopathic interpretation of symptoms.

References

1. Whitmarsh TE. Homeopathy in multiple sclerosis. Complement Ther Nurs Midwifery. Feb 2003;9(1):5-9. doi:10.1016/S1353-6117(02)00105-1

2. Mathie RT, Van Wassenhoven M, Rutten ALB, et al. Model validity of randomised placebo-controlled trials of non-individualised homeopathic treatment. Homeopathy. Nov 2017;106(4):194-202. doi:10.1016/j.homp.2017.07.003

3. Padilha RQ, Riera R, Atallah AN. Homeopathic Plumbum metallicum for lead poisoning: a randomized clinical trial. Homeopathy. Jul 2011;100(3):116-21. doi:10.1016/j.homp.2010.11.007

4. Know Your Remedies: Plumbum Metallicum (Plb.). Homeopathy Plus. https://homeopathyplus.com/know-your-remedies-plumbum-metallicum-plb/

5. Hering C. The Guiding Symptoms of Our Materia Medica. 

6. Boericke W. Plumbum Metallicum (Lead). Médi-T; 1999. Accessed July 7, 2023. http://www.homeoint.org/books/boericmm/p/plb.htm

7. Vijnovsky B. Plumbum metallicum. Tratado de materia medica homeopatica. Mukunda; 1980.

8. The Definitive Guide for the Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis. Tamaria Clinic, Pvt Ltd. Accessed August 23, 2024, https://tamariaclinic.com/disease/81/THE-DEFINITIVE-GUIDE-FOR-THE-TREATMENT-OF-MULTIPLE-SCLEROSIS

9. Aurum muriaticum 30X United States Food and Drug Administration. Accessed August 23, 2024, https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/fda/fdaDrugXsl.cfm?setid=3c44ba7b-b9e7-4dda-b24f-b642fe7c3505&type=display#:~:text=Use%3A,as%20directed%20by%20your%20physician

10. Sevar R. Aurum muriaticum natronatum–four case reports. Homeopathy. Oct 2007;96(4):258-69. doi:10.1016/j.homp.2007.08.013

11. Scholten J. Aurum muriaticum. Qjure Homeopathy Wiki https://qjure.com/remedy/aurum-muriaticum-2/

12. Butler WM. Argentum-Nitricum-Mental and Nervous Symptoms. Homoeopath Physician. Jan 1890;10(1):36-39. 

13. Sharma V. Homeopathic Treatment for Multiple Sclerosis. Drhomeo.com. Accessed September 27, 2024, https://www.drhomeo.com/homeopathic-treatment/homeopathic-treatment-for-multiple-sclerosis/#:~:text=Conium%20%26%20Argentum%20Nitricum%20%E2%80%93%20For%20Weakness,gait%20and%20stiffness%20in%20legs

14. Singhal V. Homeopathy Treatment for Multiple Sclerosis. Homeodoctor. Accessed September 27, 2024, https://homeodoctor.co.in/multiple-sclerosis-%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9F%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%B2-%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B8-%E0%A8%AE/

15. Kumar R. Homeopathy Treatment for Multiple Sclerosis. Abhi Homeo Hall. Accessed September 27, 2024, https://www.rajeevclinic.com/disease/nervous-system-7/multiple-sclerosis–609.html

16. Bhatia M. Homeopathy for Multiple Sclerosis. Accessed September 27, 2024. https://hpathy.com/cause-symptoms-treatment/homeopathic-medicine-multiple-sclerosis/