Bryonia Alba

Bryonia Alba

In 1843 Hahnemann proved the homeopathic remedy, which is used mostly for slow-starting ailments accompanied by pain on the slightest movement.

Key symptoms for Bryonia Alba are pain upon the slightest movement, dry mucous membranes, great thirst, anxiety about financial security and irritability.

REMEDY PROFILE

Bryonia is mainly used for people who are highly irritable when ill. Often clean-living, meticulous individuals. They can be contrary and capricious if ill, wanting things, that when given, are promptly rejected. They may feel tired, taciturn, languid, and angry if disturbed. Anxiety is common, especially about financial security.

The chief physical symptom treated by Bryonia is pain felt on the slightest movement. It is often accompanied by infrequent spells of great thirst, and dry lips, mouth and eyes.Illness sets in slowly, typically after overexposure to heat or cold.

Bryonia is useful for chest inflammation, pneumonia, bad headaches, and rheumatic pains. It may also be taken for some forms of constipation and breast pain.

Dry Coughs

Symptoms: Great dryness in the mouth, throat, chest, and mucous membranes, with a tickly cough and sharp chest pains. Pressing the chest during a coughing fit may alleviate pain in the head, chest, or rib cage, as may lying still and breathing gently. Coughs may be linked to colds, pleurisy, or bronchitis.

Symptoms better: for rest, for lying still, for pressure on the chest.

Symptoms worse: for warm rooms, in the morning, for deep breathing, for movement, for eating and drinking.

Colds & Influenza

Symptoms: Red, sore, swollen nose, a hoarse, constricted throat, and a dry cough. The lips are often cracked and itchy, and the mouth is dry, with a white-coated tongue. Sharp shooting ear pains may develop, as may sore eyes with sensitivity to movement and heavy eyelids. There may be an intense, aching headache, raging thirst, and copious perspiration.

Symptoms better: for rest.

Symptoms worse: for bending forward, for movement.

Headaches

Symptoms: Bursting, splitting headache over the forehead or left eye, so that even moving the eyeball hurts. Pain extends to the back of the head, then the whole head, often lasting all day. The mouth may be dry, and there may be great thirst.

Symptoms better: for cold compresses, for pressure on the head, for closing the eyes.

Symptoms worse: for eye or body movement, for drinking while hot, for overeating.

Joint Pain

Symptoms: Joints and muscles are hot, swollen, stiff, and prone to stabbing pain, usually due to gout, tenosynovitis, or arthritis, or after an injury.

Symptoms better: for heat, for pressure on the affected area.

Symptoms worse: for cold compresses, for the slightest movement, for jarring.

Constipation

Symptoms: Large, hard stools that look black or burned. The rectum may be particularly dry, with burning pain after passing a stool. Rumbly, colicky pains in the abdomen are common.

Symptoms better: for rest.

Symptoms worse: for hot weather, in the morning, for movement, for cold drinks.

Breast Problems

Symptoms: Breasts are pale, hard, and hot, with sharp pains, particularly in women who are pregnant or breast-feeding. Milk supply may be excessive.

Symptoms better: for heat, for rest.

Symptoms worse: for movement.

Origin

Grows mainly in the hedges and woodlands of southern England, and in central and southern Europe.

Background

Used traditionally for shortness of breath, coughing, and the clearing of phlegm form the chest.

Preparation

The fresh root is unearthed before the plant flowers, chopped, pulped, macerated in alcohol for ten days, diluted, and succussed.

Common Names

Bryony, white bryony, wild hops.

Reference: Encyclopedia of Homeopathy, Andrew Lockie, MD