22
Muscle cramps & homeopathy
Dr. Rachna Srivastava
M.D. Part-II,
Dr S.A. Dhole
Principal & HOD Deptt, of
Organon & Guide
PJN Memorial Instt. of
Homeopathic Medical Sciences
AMRAVATI (M.S.)
INTRODUCTION:
Muscle cramps are painful
and involuntary contractions of
the muscles. They most
commonly occur in the calves of
the legs and the soles of the feet,
usually caused by the sudden
overuse of a muscle. They may
sometimes also appear in the
skeletal muscles or in the hollow
organs containing smooth
muscles.
CAUSES:
They are generally caused by
an electrolyte imbalance or they
are concomitant symptoms of
internal or neurological
diseases. Psycho-social stress
is another aggravating or at
times triggering factor in many
people along with overexertion.
Salt loss is a probable
precipitating factor in people
who sweat easily and profusely.
THERAPEUTICS:
The immediate treatment is to
massage the muscle involved
and to stretch it. The following
remedies may be helpful if
chosen on the basis of
presenting symptoms.
1. Agaricus muscarius:
Individuals requiring it will
probably feel stiff all over and
have painful contractions in their
calves or soles of feet. Along
with crampy pains, there may
also be trembling and shaking
with an unsteady walk. Their
toes and feet may have an itchy
feeling, as if frozen.
2. Angustura vera: Cramp like
muscular pains.
3. Arnica: For cramps in
muscles that have been
overexerted. They are
associated with a state of
fatigue. Body feels sore, lame
and bruised and muscles
become very sensitive to the
touch and to anything wet and
cold.
4. Bell: Cramps in muscles
during stool.
5. Calcarea carb: These people
are very particular regarding
their duty. This conscientious
completion of their work often
leads to overexertion and
exhaustion. Cramps of calf
muscles may appear when the
legs are stretched out at night in
bed. The lower legs feel damp
and cold during cramps, as if
one were wearing damp socks.
VITAL INFORMER
Chronic cramping in overweight
people.
6. Camphora: Cramps in
calves. Feet are icy cold.
Associated with this will be icy
cold feet that ache as if they
were sprained. Cramps with
numbness and tingling.
7. Carbo veg: Cramps in the
soles of the feet in the evening
when lying down. Profuse
sweating of the feet. Also an
excellent remedy for cramps in
the front of the leg that occur
while walking. Patient will have
to rest and rub the affected part.
8. Causticum: They are
compassionate, sensitive
people with a strong sense of
justice. They suffer from chronic
tension of the muscles or
cramps which are often located
in the lower leg or the Achilles
tendon. Wandering cramps.
They may also have tearing
rheumatic pains in their limbs,
which are improved by warmth
of bed.
9. Chamomilla: Cramps in legs
and thighs. Cramps will be
worse when the patient is
asleep in bed at night. Cramps
will awaken the patient and drive
him out of bed. Anxious and
irritable patient who must move
about to soothe the pain. Also
foot cramp and paralysis.
10. China sulph: Cramps often
only in left side. (Right-sided -
Elaps)
11. Colocynth: Cramps can
follow mortification or rage.
They can also experience
cramps in muscles during
sexual intercourse. For general
cramps in any part of the body
(hip area or in right shoulder)
that are better from firm
pressure or bending the
affected muscles.
12. Convallaria majalis:
Sensation of numbness and
cramps in the right calf with
ankle pain.
13. Cuprum met: The
suppression of anger or other
impulsive reactions leads to an
emotional congestion which
may be discharged at the
physical level in the form of
cramps. In Cuprum, these
mainly set in when the person is
relaxed, e.g. during rest or
sleep. Cramps begin as
twitching muscles. Cramps
begin in the toes or in the fingers
and palms and then travel
throughout the body. They can
have a tendency to grip their
thumbs in the palms of their
hands. They may be associated
with convulsions. The cramps
are often so painful that the
patients have to cry out loud.
14. Dioscorea: Cramps in the
flexor muscles of the fingers and
toes. They may also complain of
a weak back, sciatica and brittle
nails.
15. Drosera: Cramps symptom
violent with asthma and
cyanosis and retching.
16. Hyoscyamus: Cramps in
women and children. Cramps in
the toes and calf muscles that
occur when the person is
walking upstairs.
17. Ignatia: Cramps and tics;
ailments from grief - mainly a
disappointment in love
(ailments from fear - Lachesis).
Increased excitability,
contradictory symptoms and
hysterical behaviour.
18. Mag carb: Disordered liver
and metabolism along with
over-acidity are the key features
often with a tendency to
cramping. Patients are
constantly tired; they suffer from
a multitude of pains and often
even emit a sour smell. Cramps
may set in at any time of the day
but mainly when the patient is
lying down.
19. Mag phos: Cramps in the
fingers when playing an
instrument. Writer’s cramp;
Cramps appear mostly on the
right side and radiating in
nature. Pain will travel to the
whole of the body from the
specific site of the pain. Cramp
complaints in the stomach area.
Cramps from overexertion of the
hands and arms. Pressure,
rubbing, heat and warm
applications ameliorate.
20. Natrum mur: Cramps of the
hamstrings as if they are too
short. They have numbness and
a sensation of tingling in their
fingers and lower extremities.
Their joints have a tendency to
crack on motion.
21. Nux vomica: Muscle
contractions, cramps and
twitches with headache.
Cramps in the calves. Painful
cramps in the soles when
bending the legs. It is a remedy
for chronic cramping. Their arms
commonly “go to sleep”. They
are better by warmth and rest.
They are usually impatient,
irritable and angry patients who
want to be alone.
22. Platina: It covers cramps of
the calves muscles associated
with a sensation of tightness
around the thighs as if they are
wrapped too tightly by a
bandage.
23. Secale cor: This remedy
has violent cramps in the hands,
legs and feet with all the limbs
being icy cold. They walk
unsteadily, their feet appearing
Jan 2018
to be dragged along.
24. Sepia: Violent cramps in the
calves at night when in bed,
especially during pregnancy.
The patient’s legs will feel heavy
and too short. They will twitch
and jerk at night when the
patient is in bed. Patient is chilly
when in pain.
25. Sulphuric acid: Tendency
towards muscular cramps.
26. Sulphur: Cramps in the
morning and in the afternoon.
They mainly have cramp only in
the left calf.
27. Stannum met: Writer’s
cramp. They can have cramps in
the hands so severe so that the
person is unable to let go of a
broom handle. They have
extreme weakness and often in
the context of respiratory
disorders.
28. Veratrum album: Cramps
due to loss of vital fluids and
associated with great stiffness.
Cramps commence in hands
and feet, spread all over with
rise water discharges. Cramps
in the calves, better from
massage, worse from walking.
Cold skin, cold sweat on the
forehead, and cold breath.
29. Zinc met: Cramps involving
foot and lower extremities,
especially and occurring at night
in bed. Patient will have to keep
his feet moving to soothe the
pain. The patient will cry out in
his sleep from the pain. Cramps
may be associated with PMS
and accompanied by night
sweats, shivers down the spine.
Pressure aggravates.
REFERENCES:
1. Davidsons Principles and
Practice of Medicine.
2. Dr. J. T. Kent, Repertory of the
Homoeopathic Materia Medica.
3. Practical Homeopathy, A
comprehensive guide to
Homeopathic remedies and
their acute uses - Dr. Vinton
McCabe. St. Martin’s Griffin,
New York.
4. Homeopathic Clinical
Pictures, Illustrating the Suitable
Remedy Part-1 by Alexander
Gothe/Julia Drinnenberg;
Homeolinks Publishers, the
Netherlands.
5. A First Materia Medica for
Homoeopathy by Dr. Margaret
Roy; published by Churchill
Livingstone, London.
6. The Family Homeopath by
Robin Hayfield; published by
Healing Art Press Rochester,
Vermont, USA.
7. The Family Encyclopedia of
Homeopathic Remedies by Dr
Peter Webb; Robinson
Publishing Ltd, London, UK.