I trained as a Classical Homeopath, which is working using the principals that Hahnemann set out, including a single remedy, at the lowest appropriate potency for the minimum length of time.
Great in theory, much harder in practice. For the many home users of homeopathy it can be hard to find the right remedy for an acute, and then it can be a problem if you don’t have that one right remedy.
Any parent of a young child will also know that in the middle of the night when your child is crying in pain, or coughing and keeping the entire household awake, it is hard (if not impossible) to be focused enough to decide which remedy to give. When you are sick yourself it can also be much harder to figure out which remedy you need.
Been there, done that. I am not a night person, and I don’t deal well with a lack of sleep. (I deal much better after taking Cocculus in the morning after a night without enough sleep!) Recently my middle child had a cough, by the sound of it I narrowed it down to a couple of different remedies. Bearing in mind it was the middle of the night I now don’t even remember what the remedies were. I’m not patient at 1am and I like my sleep, so I gave her both remedies at once. One of them worked- not sure which one but we both went back to sleep.
Was this classical Homeopathy? Not really, I used two remedies at the same time. However I wasn’t willing to give one, repeat a couple of times, then try the other one if it hadn’t worked.
That is why we have combination aka complex remedies. Using two, three, four or more remedies together that all are indicated for a particular condition.
It is sometimes dismissed as being an allopathic way of using homeopthy – after all we are not treating the individual, instead we are giving the same complex to everyone with that condition. Sure, they’re right. But does it work? Yes. Does it open up homeopathy to people who otherwise would not use it? Also yes. Is there a place for this? 100% yes.
There are some really well established complex remedies, and some amazing combinations that get fantastic results worldwide. Let’s have a look at a few of them.
In New Zealand we have Naturopharm, which has a wide range of combination remedies that are available in health shops and pharmacies. I have picked out just a few of my favourites.
ABC – The classic baby complex, this is Aconite, Belladonna and Chamomilla. Indicated for fevers, teething, ear aches or early stages of conditions that come on quickly, it is a remedy that has been useful to so many parents.
AGE – a complex remedy for the flu, this contains Arsenicum Iodatum, Gelsemium and Eupatorium perfoliatum. Slower onset, fever and chills, muscle or bone aches, fatigue, cough, nausea. If you could only have one remedy for influenza, this would be the combination to have on hand.
StresMed – a combination of remedies for acutely stressful situations. It contains Avena Sativa, Humulus Lupulus, Ignatia, Nux Vomica, Phosphoric Acid and Zinc Valeriana. This combination will help with both hysterical overwrought stress reactions, as well as dull, lethargic and worn out reactions.
Narayani remedies are combinations that were developed by Swami Narayani in India, and are amazing combinations of remedies, flower essences and sarcodes (healthy human tissue) as well as imponderables. There are over two hundred remedies but here are a few of my favourites-
WAR – this is a combination for infections and has Penicillin, Belladonna, Gun powder, Cortisone, Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, Pyrogen and Kali Phos.
I also like Skin-D for skin infections and had Arsenicum Album, Berberis, Gun powder, Penicillin, Rhus Tox, Strep and Staph, and Sulphur.
Calming is a complex that helps calm mental and physical processes. For some it helps sleep also. It has Avena Sativa, Coffea, Humulus Lupulus, Ignatia, Kali Phos, Passiflora, Sumbul and Valeriana.
Anaemia Balance contains the homeopathic remedies China, China Sulph, Cuprum met, Ferrum met, Ferrum Ohos, Nat Mur, Phos and Phos Ac. In addition it contains the organo remedies Blood, Eosin, Haemoglobin, Pancreatin, Platelets, Red Bone Marrow, Spleen and Spleen Meridien. Anecdotally I have been told that this works where other homeopathic remedies for low iron have not helped.
There are other amazing and mind blowing Narayani remedies- including Divine Protection, remedies for the Brain, Lungs, Kidneys, Liver, as well as chakra remedies, gem remedies, cranial nerve remedies and the Five Chinese Elements as remedies.
The principles are the same for combination remedies as for single remedies- if a single dose doesn’t help then repeat the remedy, but if no success after 3-4 doses stop. If symptoms change and it stops helping, stop using the remedy, and if need be seek help from a qualified Homeopath.
There are a couple of other companies that have well known complexes available in New Zealand- Weleda and Heel. These both work on homotoxicology principles, and generally have very low potencies in their combinations. This is a discussion for another day 😊