Sign In Book Demo Get Started Free

Homeopathic Medicines — Uses & Symptom Guide

Clear, plain-language guides to commonly used homeopathic medicines — what each remedy is associated with and its characteristic symptom picture.

Quick answer

What are homeopathic medicines?

Homeopathic medicines are highly diluted remedies prepared from plant, mineral or animal sources, each matched to a person's individual symptom picture. They are selected by a qualified homeopath, not self-prescribed. Browse common homeopathic medicines below to understand what each is used for - and always consult a homeopath before taking any remedy.

These guides are informational, not prescriptions. The correct remedy and potency are chosen for your individual symptom picture by a qualified homeopath — please don’t self-medicate. Read the homeopathy FAQ →

Rhus Toxicodendron

Rhus toxicodendron (poison ivy)

Joint pain and stiffness (arthritis) worse on first motion.

Belladonna

Atropa belladonna (deadly nightshade)

Sudden high fever with a hot, red face.

Nux Vomica

Strychnos nux-vomica (poison nut)

Acidity, heartburn and indigestion from rich/spicy food.

Arsenicum Album

Arsenicum album (arsenic trioxide)

Anxiety with restlessness and need for reassurance.

Pulsatilla

Pulsatilla nigricans (wind flower)

Menstrual and hormonal complaints (delayed, scanty, irregular periods).

Sepia

Sepia officinalis (cuttlefish ink)

Hormonal complaints — PCOS, irregular periods, menopause.

Gelsemium

Gelsemium sempervirens (yellow jasmine)

Flu with heaviness, aching and drowsiness.

Thuja Occidentalis

Thuja occidentalis (white cedar)

Warts, skin tags and other skin growths.

Arnica Montana

Arnica montana (leopard’s bane)

Bruises, falls and blunt injuries.

Lycopodium Clavatum

Lycopodium clavatum (club moss)

Gas, bloating and indigestion, worse 4–8 p.m..

Sulphur

Sulphur (sublimated sulphur)

Itchy, burning skin (eczema, recurring eruptions).

Natrum Muriaticum

Natrum muriaticum (sodium chloride)

Effects of silent grief, disappointment or held-in emotion.

Bryonia Alba

Bryonia alba (white bryony)

Dry, painful cough worse from movement.

Hepar Sulphuris

Hepar sulphuris calcareum (calcium sulphide)

Abscesses and boils that are very painful and sensitive.

Calcarea Carbonica

Calcarea carbonica (calcium carbonate)

Sluggish metabolism and a tendency to weight gain.

Silicea

Silicea terra (pure flint)

Recurrent infections and slow-healing wounds.

Ignatia Amara

Ignatia amara (St. Ignatius bean)

Acute grief, loss and emotional shock.

China Officinalis

China officinalis (Cinchona / Peruvian bark)

Weakness and debility after fluid loss (diarrhoea, bleeding).

Mercurius Solubilis

Mercurius solubilis (Hahnemann)

Sore throat and tonsillitis with salivation.

Calendula Officinalis

Calendula officinalis (marigold)

Cuts, grazes and open wounds.

Chamomilla

Matricaria chamomilla (German chamomile)

Teething troubles in irritable infants.

Ledum Palustre

Ledum palustre (marsh tea / wild rosemary)

Puncture wounds (nails, splinters, needles).

Apis Mellifica

Apis mellifica (honey bee)

Hives (urticaria) with burning, stinging welts.

Agnus Castus

Agnus castus (chaste tree)

Low libido and sexual weakness, especially in men.

Phosphoricum Acidum

Phosphoricum acidum (phosphoric acid)

Mental and physical exhaustion after grief or overwork.

Urtica Urens

Urtica urens (stinging nettle)

Urticaria (hives) with burning and stinging.

Sabal Serrulata

Sabal serrulata (saw palmetto)

Enlarged prostate (BPH) with urinary difficulty.

Carbo Vegetabilis

Carbo vegetabilis (vegetable charcoal)

Bloating and belching, especially upper-abdomen fullness.

Syzygium Jambolanum

Syzygium jambolanum (jambul / black plum)

Raised blood sugar (as a complementary support).

Colocynthis

Colocynthis (bitter cucumber / bitter apple)

Cramping abdominal colic, better bending double.

Conium Maculatum

Conium maculatum (poison hemlock)

Vertigo on turning the head or lying down.

Physostigma Venenosum

Physostigma venenosum (Calabar bean)

Eye strain and tired, aching eyes.

Antimonium Tartaricum

Antimonium tartaricum (tartar emetic)

Bronchitis with rattling mucus in the chest.

Ipecacuanha

Ipecacuanha (ipecac root)

Persistent nausea not relieved by vomiting.

Causticum

Causticum (Hahnemann’s tinctura acris sine kali)

Warts, especially old, large ones on the face or fingertips.

Argentum Nitricum

Argentum nitricum (silver nitrate)

Anticipatory anxiety before events, exams or travel.

Ruta Graveolens

Ruta graveolens (rue)

Strained or torn tendons and ligaments.

Staphysagria

Staphysagria (stavesacre)

Effects of suppressed anger, indignation or humiliation.

Lachesis Muta

Lachesis muta (bushmaster snake venom)

Menopausal hot flushes and related complaints.

Phosphorus

Phosphorus (the element)

Respiratory complaints — cough, bronchitis, tight chest.

Aconitum Napellus

Aconitum napellus (monkshood)

First stage of sudden fever or inflammation.

Graphites

Graphites (black lead / carbon)

Eczema and dermatitis oozing a sticky, honey-like fluid.

Hypericum Perforatum

Hypericum perforatum (St John’s wort)

Injuries to nerve-rich parts (fingertips, toes, nails).

Cantharis

Cantharis vesicatoria (Spanish fly)

Urinary tract infection / cystitis with violent burning.

Berberis Vulgaris

Berberis vulgaris (barberry)

Kidney and ureter pain, often radiating outward.

Ferrum Phosphoricum

Ferrum phosphoricum (iron phosphate)

Early stage of fever and inflammation (gradual onset).

Kali Phosphoricum

Kali phosphoricum (potassium phosphate)

Nervous exhaustion and burnout.

Kali Sulphuricum

Kali sulphuricum (potassium sulphate)

Later stage of colds with thick yellow discharge.

Drosera Rotundifolia

Drosera rotundifolia (sundew)

Violent, spasmodic, barking cough.

Clematis Erecta

Clematis erecta (upright virgin’s bower)

Urinary complaints with an interrupted, dribbling stream.

Calcarea Phosphorica

Calcium phosphate

Slow teething and growth concerns in children.

Magnesia Phosphorica

Magnesium phosphate

Menstrual cramps relieved by warmth and bending double.

Kali Bichromicum

Potassium bichromate

Sinusitis with thick, stringy, ropy mucus.

Euphrasia Officinalis

Euphrasia officinalis (eyebright)

Conjunctivitis with burning, watery eyes.

Spigelia

Spigelia anthelmia (pinkroot)

Sharp, shooting facial and eye neuralgia, often left-sided.

Iodium

Iodine

Thyroid-related complaints (used only alongside medical care).

Baryta Carbonica

Barium carbonate

Recurrent tonsillitis and enlarged glands.

Antimonium Crudum

Antimony trisulphide

Indigestion from over-eating, with a white-coated tongue.

Zincum Metallicum

Zinc

Restless, fidgety legs, worse in the evening.

Eupatorium Perfoliatum

Eupatorium perfoliatum (boneset)

Fever with deep bone and joint aching.

Calcarea Fluorica

Calcium fluoride

Hardened lumps, bony growths and heel spurs.

Tellurium

Tellurium metallicum

Ringworm with well-marked, intersecting rings.

Viburnum Opulus

Viburnum opulus (cramp bark)

Cramping period pain that begins before the flow.

Sanguinaria Canadensis

Sanguinaria canadensis (bloodroot)

Right-sided migraines, worse from light and noise.

Hamamelis Virginiana

Hamamelis virginiana (witch hazel)

Varicose veins with soreness and a bruised feeling.

Aurum Metallicum

Gold

Deep low mood and heaviness of spirit.

Fucus Vesiculosus

Bladderwrack (seaweed)

Thyroid enlargement (used only alongside medical care).

Spongia Tosta

Roasted sponge

Dry, barking, croupy cough.

Alumina

Aluminium oxide

Stubborn constipation with no urge.

Kreosotum

Beechwood creosote

Bleeding gums with rapidly decaying teeth.

Selenium

Selenium

Hair fall, including of the eyebrows and body.

Petroleum

Rock oil

Deep skin cracks, worse in winter.

Aesculus Hippocastanum

Horse chestnut

Piles with a dry, full, aching feeling.

Chelidonium Majus

Greater celandine

Sluggish liver and gallbladder complaints.

Phytolacca Decandra

Poke root

Sore throat with dark red, swollen tonsils.

Glonoinum

Nitroglycerine

Sudden, bursting, throbbing headache.

Colchicum Autumnale

Autumn crocus

Gout with red, hot, exquisitely tender joints.

Kali Carbonicum

Kali carbonicum (potassium carbonate)

Lower back pain and weakness, often felt as if the back would give way.

Natrum Sulphuricum

Natrum sulphuricum (sodium sulphate)

Breathing complaints that worsen in damp weather.

Nitricum Acidum

Nitricum acidum (nitric acid)

Anal fissures and cracks with sharp, splinter-like pain.

Dulcamara

Solanum dulcamara (woody nightshade)

Colds and coryza after getting cold and wet.

Allium Cepa

Allium cepa (red onion)

Colds with a streaming, watery nasal discharge.

Cina

Cina maritima (wormseed)

Irritability and cross, hard-to-please behaviour in children.

Cuprum Metallicum

Cuprum metallicum (copper)

Violent muscle cramps, often in the calves and feet.

Cocculus Indicus

Cocculus indicus (Indian cockle)

Travel and motion sickness with nausea and giddiness.

Ferrum Metallicum

Ferrum metallicum (iron)

Weakness and fatigue in a pale, easily flushing person.

Cimicifuga

Cimicifuga racemosa (black cohosh)

Painful periods with cramping that shoots across the pelvis.

Blatta Orientalis

Blatta orientalis (Indian cockroach)

Asthmatic breathlessness within a homeopathic picture.

Carduus Marianus

Carduus marianus (milk thistle)

Fullness and pain in the right upper abdomen over the liver.

Opium

Papaver somniferum (opium poppy)

Obstinate, painless constipation with no urge.

Veratrum Album

Veratrum album (white hellebore)

Simultaneous vomiting and watery diarrhoea.

Podophyllum

Podophyllum peltatum (May apple)

Profuse, gushing, watery diarrhoea.

Aloe Socotrina

Aloe socotrina (socotrine aloes)

Urgency with a feeling of insecurity of the rectum.

Sabina

Juniperus sabina (savine)

Heavy menstrual bleeding with clots.

Trillium Pendulum

Trillium pendulum (birthroot)

Bright-red flooding menstrual bleeding.

Ranunculus Bulbosus

Ranunculus bulbosus (buttercup)

Shingles with clustered, bluish blisters.

Mezereum

Daphne mezereum (spurge olive)

Thick, crusty skin eruptions with pus beneath.

Tuberculinum

Tuberculinum (nosode)

A tendency to recurrent respiratory infections.

Psorinum

Psorinum (nosode)

Extreme chilliness, needing to wrap up even in warmth.

Sabadilla

Schoenocaulon officinale (cevadilla)

Hay fever with violent, spasmodic sneezing.

Coffea Cruda

Coffea cruda (unroasted coffee)

Sleeplessness from an overactive, racing mind.

Kali Muriaticum

Kali muriaticum (potassium chloride)

Catarrh with thick, white, sticky mucus.

Natrum Phosphoricum

Natrum phosphoricum (sodium phosphate)

Acidity with sour belching or risings.

Calcarea Sulphurica

Calcarea sulphurica (calcium sulphate)

Pimples and acne that come to a yellow head.

Lac Caninum

Lac caninum (dog's milk)

Sore throats that alternate from side to side.

Secale Cornutum

Secale cornutum (ergot of rye)

Poor circulation to the fingers and toes.

Helonias Dioica

Helonias dioica (false unicorn root)

Great weariness and weakness, often in women.

Caulophyllum

Caulophyllum thalictroides (blue cohosh)

Rheumatic pains in the small joints of the hands.

Symphytum Officinale

Symphytum officinale (comfrey, knitbone)

Supporting the healing of fractured bone.

Bellis Perennis

Bellis perennis (daisy)

Deep bruising of the soft tissues and muscles.

Tabacum

Nicotiana tabacum (tobacco)

Motion, travel, and sea sickness.

Rhododendron

Rhododendron chrysanthum (snow-rose)

Rheumatic pains that worsen before a storm.

Chionanthus Virginica

Chionanthus virginica (fringe tree)

Jaundice with yellow skin and eyes.

Teucrium Marum Verum

Teucrium marum verum (cat thyme)

Anal itching, worse in the evening, linked with threadworms.

Cyclamen Europaeum

Cyclamen europaeum (sowbread)

Sick headaches with flickering or dimmed vision.

Cicuta Virosa

Cicuta virosa (water hemlock)

Violent spasms with the body bending backwards.

Borax

Borax veneta (sodium borate)

Mouth ulcers, especially in infants, that hurt on feeding.

Stramonium

Datura stramonium (thorn apple)

Night terrors with fear of the dark.

Plantago Major

Plantago major (plantain)

Toothache with very sensitive teeth.

Digitalis Purpurea

Digitalis purpurea (foxglove)

A slow, weak, or irregular pulse.

Lycopus Virginicus

Lycopus virginicus (bugleweed)

A rapid, forcible, tumultuous heartbeat.

Kalmia Latifolia

Kalmia latifolia (mountain laurel)

Rheumatic pains that shift and travel downward.

Crataegus Oxyacantha

Crataegus oxyacantha (hawthorn)

A feeble, easily tired heart action.

Cactus Grandiflorus

Cactus grandiflorus (night-blooming cereus)

A sensation as if the heart were gripped by an iron band.

Lemna Minor

Lemna minor (duckweed)

Nasal polyps with a blocked, obstructed nose.