Exploring Homoeopathic plant remedies in musculoskeletal disorders

Dr Akshata Shanbhag

Abstract
Musculoskeletal disorders ((MSD) are one of the commonest sufferings in day-to-day life. It includes all diseases of muscles, bones, joints, cartilages & tendons. Homoeopathy is very effective in these disorders. It controls as well as cures the disease over a period of time with the restoration of improved quality of life. Many remedies from plant family have action on musculoskeletal system like Arnica, Rhus tox, Ruta, Bryonia, Led pal, etc. But differentiating the remedies based on symptoms, its drug affinity and pathological condition is very essential. Plant remedies are observed to be more beneficial in all acute and chronic MSDs.

Keywords : Musculoskeletal disorders, Plant remedies, Drug affinity, Pathological condition, Acute and Chronic MSDs.

Introduction : Musculoskeletal disorders are an increasing healthcare issue globally being the second leading cause of disability. The factors like poor ergonomics at work, repetitive motions, and heavy lifting contribute significantly to this issue. ^[1]

Some common MSDs in India include: OA of Knees and hips, Low back pain, Cervical spondylosis, Carpal tunnel syndrome, Rotator cuff inuries, etc. ^[1] The common symptoms of any of these MSDs due to various reasons would be –

• Stiffness or inability to move
• Painful movement,
• Swelling
• Reduced range of motion.

And we see in our daily practice that there are many cases of MSDs. Most of them will often give you the above mentioned symptoms which are common. So when it comes to prescribing a drug, we have to select the drug based on its characteristic, classification of disease and its prevalent pathology.

Here my focus is only on efficiency of plant remedies in musculoskeletal disorders because of following reasons:

1. Less side effect
2. Many of the remedies are Polychrest.
3. Same Plant mother tincture can be used as per Hahnemann’s instructions in Aphorism 267-268 in 6^th Eg : Thuja potency and Q; Calendula potency and Q; Echinacea potency and Q.
4. Can be easily antidoted. Eg: Camphor is Universal antidote for vegetable kingdom and specific antidotes and follow well medicines.
5. Can be used in all miasms where as Mineral kingdom, Animal kingdom, Sarcodes, Nosodes, Imponderabilia are more used in Sycotic and Syphilitic miasm.

Now let us understand some of the characteristic symptoms of Plant remedies in MSD  –

Location	Sensation	Modality	Concomitant
Side affinity Shifting locality	Most often drawing, burning, aching, bruised, heaviness.	It can be a causative modality also. –         From lifting heavy weights, cold weather, washing, exertion, etc <  rest, any specific time, etc Ø  From any physical work, or any cold application, etc	Associated with any mental symptoms.   Any changes in physical  generals.   Any symptoms from other system like gastric, etc.
Therapeutics [2,3]
Right = Sang, Cimic, Cycl, Phyt, etc Left = Kalm, Rhus tox, etc. Rt to Lt = Lyc, Bell, Sang,etc. Lt to Rt =Colch, Rhus tox, etc. Shifting = Puls, Caul,	Aching = Ipecac, Nux v, Rhus tox Burning = Bell, Asaf, Staph, Drawing = Rhus tox, Bry, Caul, Nux vom Heaviness = Bry, Chel, Con, Gels, Hell, Nux vom, Puls	Overlifting = Rhus tox, Cimic, Bellis per, etc Weather changes = Rhod, Puls, etc On slight motion = Bry, Colch, Led pal, etc Better by continued motion = Rhus tox, Cham, etc On touch = Chel, Chin, etc	–        Gastric complaints with anxiousness, restlessness, loathing or despair, etc. –        Associated with excessive thirst, profuse sweating, etc –        Before menses, constipation, diarrhea, vertigo, etc.

 

DRUG AFFINITY
ARNICA	LED PAL	RUTA	SYMPHYTUM	RHUS TOX
Mainly on blood vessels[4,5,6,7]	Mainly on joints [4,5,6,7]	Mainly on tendons and periosteum. [4,5,6,7]	Mainly on bone [4,5,6,7]	Mainly on fibrous, muscular and cellular tissues,  tendons, cartilages and joints. [4,5,6,7]
Blunt injury	Punctured wound	Wear & tear type of injury	Bone fractures	Wear and tear type of injury

 

AILMENTS FROM TRAUMA
ARNICA	RHUS TOX	RUTA	STAPHYSAGRIA	CHINA
Sore bruised feeling and everything on which he lies seems too hard. [4,5,6,7]	Soreness in every muscle, which passes off during exercise, but feels stiff and sore on first beginning to move. [4,5,6,7]	All parts of the body on which he lies are painful as if bruised. [4,5,6,7]	All the limbs are sore as if bruised and as if there were no strength in them. [4,5,6,7]	Soreness all over in the joints, bones and the periosteum as if they had been sprained, like a drawing, tearing, especially in the spine, sacrum, knees and thighs. [4,5,6,7]

 

MUSCULAR PAIN
RHUS TOX	GNAPHYLLUM	CIMICIFUGA	GELSEMIUM	STAPHYSAGRIA
Muscular soreness mainly from strains, overlifting, getting wet, etc. [4,5,6,7]	Chronic muscular rheumatism of back and neck. Pain with numbness in marked. [4,5,6,7]	Muscular rheumatism of back and neck. –        Rheumatism affecting belly of muscles, esp large muscles with stiffness and crampy muscular pains. [4,5,6,7]	Complete relaxation of the whole muscular system. –        Pain in muscles of back, hips and lower extremities, mostly deep-seated. –        Fatigue from slight exercise. [4,5,6,7]	Muscles of calves and nates. –        Muscles feel bruised, beaten and painful. [4,5,6,7]

 

ANKLE SPRAIN
ARNICA	RHUS TOX	RUTA
Ankle sprain with swelling & black and blue discoloration. [4,5,6,7]	Injury followed by weakness of tendons. [4,5,6,7]	Soreness & weakness of tendons. [4,5,6,7]
Immediately after sprain	Immediately after sprain	After sprain, when nodules occurs in tendons by straining.

 

OSTEOARTHRITIS
CAULOPHYLLUM	RHUS TOX	BRYONIA
Acts mainly on smaller joints.	Acts mainly on fibrous tissue of joints, tendons, aponeurosis, etc.	Acts on fibrous tissue and serous membrane like synovium.
Severe drawing, erratic pains with stiffness of joints. [4,5,6,7]	Joints are tender with tearing pains, better by motion. [4,5,6,7]	Joints are red, swollen, hot, with stitches and tearing pain, worse by motion. [4,5,6,7]

 

NECROSIS OF BONE
ASAFOETIDA	ANGUSTURA	Most of the drugs are from MINERAL KINGDOM IN BONE NECROSIS like Aur met, Fluor acid, Cup met, Caust, etc.
Caries in bones.	Caries of long bones.
Darting pains [4,5,6,7]	Crackling in all joints. [4,5,6,7]

CASE NO. 1
A male patient of 25 yrs, student, had come with the complaint of severe pain in the right ankle since 6 months. He had history of fracture 1 yr back. Now since 6 months, there is difficulty in walking due to pain and stiffness, sometimes swelling. Pain is worse from rest and better by gradual movement and heat. Nothing specific in physical generals.

On examination, there is tenderness in the right ankle, no warmth, mild swelling, no redness.

With this history, it is diagnosed as Chronic fracture pain. The probable drugs thought are Symphytum, Ruta, Bryonia, Arnica, etc. The remedy prescribed was Ruta.

DISCUSSION : Here we need to understand the cause of pain, whether it is because of non-healing fracture, infection, weakened muscles or periosteal pain.  Ruta acts mainly on tendons & periosteum while Symphytum acts mainly for non-union of fractured bones.

CASE NO. 2
A female patient of 35 yrs, housewife, came with the complaints of pain in both knee joints since 3 yrs. She had a history of Chikungunya 3 yrs back. Since then the complaints have started. The knee joints pain was pricking type with stiffness. It was worse at night, by working, bending the knees and better by rest. Her appetite is good, thirsty, hard stools and perspiration is profuse especially on face. She is thermally hot.

On examination, there is crepitus felt in both the knees with warmth, swelling and tenderness. There is restriction of movements also present.

So with the above history, we understand that the case is of Post-viral arthralgia with Osteoarthritis of Knee. The probable drugs can be thought in this case would be Cocculus ind, Bryonia, Rhus tox. The remedy given was Bryonia.

DISCUSSION : The very close remedies Bryonia and Rhus tox. Both have action on muscles and joints. But both have different modalities and Bryonia has more action on serous membrane like synovium in joints. So joints are swollen which is less marked in Rhus tox.

CONCLUSION : Thus a conclusion is derived that plant remedies is very effective in Musculoskeletal disorders and further exploration is required with many more cases.

REFERENCES  :

1. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
2.   J.T, Repertory of the Homoeopathic Materia Medica, 6^th edition
3. Robin Murphy, Homoeopathic Medical Repertory, 3^rd revised edition.
4. Boericke William, New Manual of Homoeopathic Materia Medica with Repertory, 9^th edition
5. J.H., A Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica, Vol II
6. Kent, J.T., Lectures on Homoeopathic Materia Medica,
7. E.B., Leaders in Homoeopathic Therapeutics.

Dr.Akshata Shanbhag _MD(HOM)
Associate Professor, Dept. of Homoeopathic Materia medica
AGM Homoeoapthic Medical College & Hospital, Varur
Email : drakshatam@gmail.com