Homeopathic Approaches for PTSD & Complex PTSD Symptoms

(Professional)

.............

The statements in this article have not been reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration.

AACH and NEWTON Homeopathics would like to take a moment to share this information regarding Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Across the country PTSD is a growing concern... and not just among military veterans and first responders. PTSD happens to other groups, such as victims of abuse or crime, survivors of accidents and disasters, as well as those who have had serious illness, surgeries or other traumatic medical procedures.

PTSD Facts and Statistics

Nearly eight percent of Americans will develop PTSD at some point in their lifetime, at a disproportionate rate of ten percent of women and five percent of men. It is not clear if the higher rate of incidence among women is due to greater exposure to trauma or if there is a biological sensitivity at work.

source: http://www.ptsdunited.org/ptsd-statistics-2

The health effects of trauma and stress are cumulative and can be progressive. There is an emerging understanding of the progression of symptoms from Acute Stress Reaction, to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, to Complex PTSD that can develop with recurrent trauma and chronic, extreme stress.

Repetitive activation of fight-or-flight responses lead to symptoms that become increasingly difficult to manage -- often accompanied by additional stress -- individuals find it difficult to cope.

Deeper Wounds

The Dramatic Effects of Traumatic Stress

For those who have experienced a traumatic event or period of prolonged traumatic stress, the first stage is often an acute stress reaction. Acute Stress Reaction as a term covers a range of symptoms which can be experienced by a person immediately following trauma or extreme stress. Acute stress reaction is defined as a psychological condition arising in response to a terrifying or traumatic event, or witnessing a traumatic event.

Typical symptoms that people with acute stress disorder experience are similar to those seen in PTSD, but the duration and severity of the symptoms are more pronounced in PTSD. These symptoms include:

numbing
emotional detachment
derealization
de-personalization
psychogenic amnesia
re-experiencing the event (thoughts, dreams, flashbacks)
avoidance of anything that triggers memories of the event

Under the right conditions, acute stress reactions may resolve without complications. However, some individuals may go on to develop PTSD. With the onset of PTSD, these symptoms are experienced along with anxiety, depression, cognitive difficulties, insomnia, intrusive thoughts and dissociation.

There are many forms, variations and scales of PTSD syndromes, but all have common hallmarks of core symptoms. Each case is unique to the individual, their experiences, health and level of ongoing mental and physical stress.

PTSD and Stress

Chronic stress can have a devastating effect on health, exacerbating the symptoms of PTSD and causing the condition to progress. Read more about stress and its link to the symptoms of PTSD in this article in Healthline.

PTSD and Anxiety

There is a deep connection between PTSD and anxiety. Those with PTSD can often go on to develop more pronounced anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and specific phobias. Read more about these disorders and their relationship to PTSD in VeryWell.

PTSD and Depression

Depression is another hallmark of PTSD. Research shows that depression can increase after a traumatic experience. Rates of depression are highest among those with PTSD, especially Complex PTSD. Read more about PTSD and depression in Psychology Today.

PTSD with Psychosis

Another classic symptom of PTSD is intrusive thoughts, with nearly 52% of PTSD patients reporting some type of hallucinatory experience such as hearing voices or seeing things that are not real. Read more about psychotic symptoms and PTSD in VeryWell.

Complex PTSD

The current definition of PTSD does not fully address the type of severe psychological harm that occurs with recurrent, long-term trauma and extreme stress, as seen in cases of domestic abuse, for example. People who experience this type of trauma report additional symptoms along with typical PTSD symptoms. They are more likely to experience personality disorders, self-harm disorders, eating disorders, and obsessive-compulsive behaviors. Read more about Complex PTSD at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD.

PTSD and Suicidality

Sadly, one of the most devastating symptoms of PTSD is suicidality, accompanied by suicidal thoughts and profound despondency. Seek help for yourself or a loved one who is having thoughts of death or suicide. To understand more about the link between PTSD and suicide risk, read more in Everyday Health.

Making the Connection

Between Physical and Mental Health

PTSD is a disorder that involves major symptoms that make life difficult, including anxiety, depression, insomnia, cognitive difficulties and other mental and physical complications. Symptoms can be mild at times and can flare with triggered episodes. The effects on the body can largely be linked back to specific biological systems within the body, such as the brain, the nervous system, the endocrine system and the digestive system.

PTSD has systemic effects on the body.

Insomnia

Insomnia is a common symptom that occurs in combination with other PTSD symptoms, yet sleep is one of the most fundamental aspects of PTSD management. The National Center for PTSD offers a short course on this topic in the VA/DoD PTSD Clinical Practice Guideline Series.

Addiction

PTSD and addiction are commonly encountered together, especially in cases of Complex PTSD where symptoms and the conditions that contribute to them have persisted for many years. Addiction.com looks at this issue, along with treatment approaches in their article,

The Brain

PTSD has been proven to have a direct impact on the brain, especially the hippocampus, indicating a sensitivity to stress and trauma in certain individuals. In addition, the right temporal lobe of the brain has also shown changes as a result of sustained traumatic stress symptoms. Confusion, cognitive difficulties, and personality and behavior changes are complications of PTSD. For some, brain changes also result in hallucinations, vertigo and altered brain states. In more extreme cases, psychosis may occur. VeryWell explores the impact on PTSD in the following article.

The Nervous System

Chronic activation of the fight-or-flight response can have cumulative negative effects on the nervous system, particularly the autonomous nervous system, including the sympathetic and parasympathetic functions of the ANS. Often patients with protracted PTSD or Complex PTSD will present with neurological complaints, neuropathy and other systemic complaints. Jonathan Sherin et al. of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Miami have presented a paper on the neurobiological impact of psychological trauma.

Endocrine system

Changes in the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis are common in those suffering from PTSD. Long-term cases, as in Complex PTSD, often combine with various endocrine system complaints. These complaints can, in turn, lead to additional problems with endocrine system function. Primary Psychiatry offers an outline of endocrine system involvement in PTSD.

Nurturing Naturally

In the words of Luc Chaltin, NEWTON Homeopathics’ founder:

Homeopathy is a complete system of healing discovered almost 200 years ago by a German physician, Dr. Samuel Hahnemann. It has its own way of diagnosing illnesses and its own kind of remedies. Homeopathic remedies are natural and prepared in a particular way by dilution and dynamizing. They have no harmful side effects and they are not addictive.
The diagnostician considers subjective and objective symptoms relative to the patient’s troubles and the homeopathic approach takes into account every available indication related to the possible troubles in the whole person. It is a total approach to illness.
There has been a growing interest in homeopathy recently because of the toxic physical and mental side effects of allopathic drugs used by classical medicine. This interest is visible all over the world, but is particularly strong in Europe, India and South America. In Europe, where homeopathy has been the object of much scientific research for decades, new ways of diagnosing and prescribing as well as manufacturing have been developed successfully and more and more people are treated by homeopathic doctors. It is this approach that will be put forth in this course as contemporary homeopathy, meaning the system currently used primarily in Europe.
The Materia Medica contains the description of the pathological symptoms covered by the different remedies. Such remedy descriptions are called “Pathogeneses”. The Materia Medica may contain up to several hundreds of Pathogeneses. Following here are only a few pertaining to some of the remedies mentioned in this First Aid part, designed to give the reader an insight into how homeopathy is practiced.
A Pathogeneses of a given remedy contains a list of symptoms that can be treated by using the remedy in specific potencies. In order to determine if a remedy may be helpful for a patient, the symptoms presented by the patient are compared with the symptoms described in the pathogeneses. If the symptoms for a given disease coincide with the symptoms of the pathogeneses, the remedy should be prescribed. It is not necessary that the patient presents all the symptoms related in the pathogeneses.

There are a number of homeopathics that can be administered for the symptoms associated to PTSD. However, PTSD is a complicated condition, with symptoms that vary in degree and duration, and often involve more than one body system simultaneously.

Within Clinical Homeopathy, the approach typically involves a combination of remedies which are selected based on the totality of symptoms.

The Materia Medica provides indications for single remedies and their associated symptoms. We have selected several which have correlation to the symptoms associated with PTSD.

Absinthum

Generalities: A perfect picture of epileptiform seizure is produced-by this drug. Nervous tremors precede attack. Sudden and severe giddiness, delirium with hallucinations and loss of consciousness. Nervous excitement and sleeplessness. Cerebral irritation, hysterical and infantile spasms come within range of this remedy. Poisoning by mushrooms. Chorea. Tremor. Nervousness, excitement, and sleeplessness in children.

Mind: Hallucinations. Frightful visions. Kleptomania. Loss of memory. Forgets what has recently happened. Wants nothing to do with anybody. Brutal.

Aconitum Napellus

Generalities: The patient is restless mentally and physically and shows anxiety. The onset of the disease is sudden and violent with high fever (acute disease). The pulse is full and bouncing. The patient complains about tension and shows a hypersensitivity to all impressions.

Aconitum helps the defense system to react. It is therefore indicated in the case of a faltering defense as well as when shivering rather than fever announces an illness because the body is unable to produce a temperature. When Aconitum is given, the fever will appear.

It is the remedy of a generally healthy person that suddenly becomes ill, generally after being exposed to a cold and dry wind or a strong heat (sun stroke). There is no transpiration at the onset and the patient is better when transpiration starts. There is considerable pain.

Mind: Fear, anxiety, fears death. Restlessness. Intolerable pain.

Anacardium Orientale

Generalities: The patient is found mostly among the neurasthenics; such have a type of nervous dyspepsia, relieved by food. Impaired memory, depression, and irritability; diminution of senses (smell, sight, hearing). Intermittency of symptoms. Aversion to work; lacks self-confidence; irresistible desire to swear and curse. Empty feeling in stomach; eating temporarily relieves all discomfort. This is a sure indication, often verified.

Mind: Fixed ideas. Hallucinations; Thinks he is possessed with two persons or wills. Anxiety when walking, as if pursued. Profound melancholy and hypochondriasis, with tendency to use violent language.

Brain fog. Impaired memory. Absent-mindedness. Very easily offended. Malicious; seems bent on wickedness. Lack of confidence in himself or others. Suspicious. Clairaudient, hears voices far away or of the dead. Senile dementia. Absence of all moral restraint.

Arnica Montana

Generalities: Sore, bruised feelings in the whole body. Anxiety and restlessness. Oversensitive to pain and touch. The bed is too hard; tosses around. Congestion of the arteries and capillaries. Hot head and cold extremities. Putrid excretions. Gas. Foul eructations. Septic conditions. Injuries, strains. Worse with movement and alcohol. General weakness, with insomnia.

Mind: Very sensitive. Indifference. Anxiety. Hopelessness. Doesn’t want to speak. Absence of mind. Forgetful. Confusion.

Belladonna

Generalities: Strong, plethoric but healthy individuals, especially children, with high colored skin. Acute diseases, violent infections, in limited locations. High but mild fever, with transpiration on covered parts. Excitation, restlessness, delirium. Children awaken suddenly, are anxious and start crying. Pain comes and stops suddenly. Congestion of the head. Hot, red face, with cold feet. Pulse is fast and full. Eyes are bright, pupils dilated. Throat is dry, red and burning. Symptoms caused by cold wind. Worse when moving and in the afternoon.

Mind: Anger, even convulsive rage. Biting everything, also humans. Delirium. Tears everything in pieces. Insanity. Loud laughing, grinding of teeth. Incoherent speech. Great anxiety, trembling, restlessness, day and night. Extreme irritability. Abundance of ideas, fantastic and incoherent. Or the contrary: comatose condition, with rattling throat, convulsion in the upper extremities, hot skin and feverish pulse.

Crocus Sativus

Generalities: Is a remedy often useful in hemorrhages that are black and stringy. Tingling in various parts. Chorea and hysterical affections. Frequent and extreme changes in sensations and mental conditions. Anger with violence followed by repentance. Laughing mania. Drowsiness and lassitude; better by literary labor.

Mind: Vacillating; pleasant mania; sings and laughs. Happy and affectionate; then angry. Sudden changes from hilarity to melancholy. Vivid recollection from music heard.

Gelsemium

Generalities: Centers its action upon the nervous system, causing various degrees of motor paralysis. General prostration. Dizziness, drowsiness, dullness, and trembling. Slow pulse, tired feeling, mental apathy. Paralysis of various groups of muscles about the eyes, throat, chest, larynx, sphincter, extremities, etc. Post-diphtheritic paralysis. Muscular weakness. Complete relaxation and prostration. Lack of muscular co-ordination.

General depression from heat of sun. Sensitive to a falling barometer; cold and dampness brings on many complaints. Children fear falling, grab nurse or crib. Sluggish circulation. Nervous affections of cigar makers. Influenza. Measles. Pellagra.

Mind: Desire to be quiet, to be left alone. Dullness, languor, listless. “Discernings are lethargied.” Apathy regarding his illness. Absolute lack of fear.

Delirious on falling to sleep. Emotional excitement, fear, etc., lead to bodily ailments. Bad effects from fright, fear, exciting news. Stage fright. Child starts and grasps the nurse, and screams as if afraid of falling.

Ignatia Amara

Generalities: Produces a marked hyperesthesia of all the senses, and a tendency to clonic spasms. Mentally, the emotional element is uppermost, and coordination of function is interfered with. Hence, it is one of the chief remedies for hysteria. It is especially adapted to the nervous temperament-women of sensitive, easily excited nature, dark, mild disposition, quick to perceive, rapid in execution.

Rapid change of mental and physical condition, opposite to each other. Great contradictions. Alert, nervous, apprehensive, rigid, trembling patients who suffer acutely in mind or body, at the same time made worse by drinking coffee.

The superficial and erratic character of its symptoms is most characteristic. Effects of grief and worry. Cannot bear tobacco. Pain is small, circumscribed spots. Hiccough and hysterical vomiting.

Mind: Changeable mood; introspective; silently brooding. Melancholic, sad, tearful. Not communicative. Sighing and sobbing. After shocks, grief, disappointment.

Other Single Remedies

When you consider the hundreds of single remedies available, it can be very confusing knowing where to begin. When it comes to PTSD, the list of potential remedies to utilize goes on...

Aurum Metallicum
Latrodectus Mactans
Natrum Muriatricum
Phosphor
Pulsatilla Pratensis
Saccharum Album
Sepia
Stamonium
Zincum
Arsenicum Album
Calcarea Phosphoricum
Lycopodium Clavatum
Nux Vomica
Phosphoricum Acidum
Naturm Sulphur
Kali Bromatum
and many others

Professional Formulas

NEWTON Homeopathics has simplified the process by combining the most appropriate remedies for specific conditions. Complexes are named in such a manner that choosing the correct complex is easy. We believe complexes are the quickest, easiest way for comprehensive homeopathic care.

The not-so-secret ingredient that places NEWTON above all others lies in the history and formulation of its complexes by world-renowned authority, Dr. Luc Chaltin. His 40+ years of clinical experience and research made him unparalleled in his ability to develop effective complex remedies. Choosing the most effective blend of remedies among the thousands of potential combinations is an art that comes only with a passion and gift for healing and many years of study and experience. His legacy and expertise continue today at NEWTON Homeopathics.

NEWTON PRO consists of more than 80 homeopathic combination formulas designed for acute conditions as well as more complex chronic issues. In addition to an outstanding line of professional products, NEWTON’s Education Department provides ongoing training to assist the health professional with this fast-growing method of healing.

NEWTON PRO is dispensed by health professionals only and is not for over-the-counter sale. Please speak with your health care professional if you are interested in using NEWTON PRO remedies.