Complementary Alternative Cardiovascular Medicine

Chapter 14 / Homeopathy and CVD 231
struating women will be aggravated in all their symptoms the week
before the menses and will be ameliorated when the flow begins. This
will be true regarding heart symptoms and other physical complaints, as
well as the mental and emotional sphere.
Those benefiting from Lachesis are worse in the heat. Many of their
complaints are accompanied by bluish, purplish discoloration, whether
in the face, skin lesion, or varicose veins. Lachesis patients are quite
intense on physical, mental, and emotional levels. One can see a tendency
for jealousy and even suspiciousness or paranoia. They can hold
on interminably to past angers and insults and be difficult to reason with.
These people are generally quite loquacious and full of ideas and thoughts
and feelings, which must be shared with whomever is at hand. The doctor
may feel overwhelmed by such patients.
For patients with peripheral vascular illness, homeopathy has much
to offer. The remedy Sepia is used in the treatment of painful varicose
veins, where there is a sensation of heaviness and drawing downward.
This can be seen in men or women, although the remedy is used more
frequently for women, especially after childbirth, where there remains
an uncomfortable bearing down sensation in the pelvic area and the
woman suffers from painful varicosities. These patients also tend to
develop Raynaud’s disease and phenomenon. In general, their circulation
is poor, and they complain from cold weather. One finds constipation
and an unusually sallow complexion. For these Sepia patients,
chloasma is not uncommon and often persists long after parturition.
Someone who would respond well to Sepia presents with flat affect,
feeling a degree of indifference to their loved ones and seeks solitude
from children and family affairs. It is after the birth of several children
that some women fall into this state, and taking the remedy can do much
to restore health to the circulatory system, as well as to the spirit of the
patient.
There are many many other homeopathic remedies employed when
treating those with cardiovascular disorders. There are several philosophical
approaches to case analysis. However, most agree that it is the
individualizing nature of the physical symptoms, as well as the mental
and emotional characteristics of the patient, that lead to finding the best
homeopathic remedy for each patient.
Homeopaths study their medical art by focusing on several subjects.
There is the ongoing study of materia medica: learning each remedy and
how patients who need it would present regarding all physical symptoms
(i.e., in a review of systems fashion). Homeopaths learn how each constitutional
remedy type would present regarding the mental and emotional
characteristics as well. The study of materia medica is a lifelong