Disease Index

Homeopathy for Pleurodynia

Written by Dr. Manish Bhatia

Epidemic Pleurodynia is an acute infection that affects skeletal muscles. It is most often cause by coxsackie B viruses and rarely by coxasackie A or echoviruses. The slightest movement of the rib cage causes a sharp increase of pain, which makes it very difficult to breathe.

Chest pain in the intercostals muscles is called Pleurodynia. Epidemic Pleurodynia is an acute infection that affects skeletal muscles and is most often cause by coxsackie B viruses and rarely by coxasackie A or echoviruses. It is characterized by intense paroxysmal chest pain that is most commonly localized to the lower chest or the upper abdomen.

The pain is often unilateral and is often accompanied by fever. pleural friction rubs are found in many cases, indicating associated pleural inflammation. The disease is self limited, usually lasting several days, but it may occasionally be characterized by relapse that occurs over a period of several weeks. The incidence of epidemic Pleurodynia is in the summer and fall.

How it Spreads?

As is typical with this virus family, it is shed in large amounts in the feces of infected persons. The disease can be spread by sharing drink containers, and has been contracted by laboratory personnel working with the virus.

Symptoms of Pueurodynia

Symptoms may include fever and headache, but the distinguishing characteristic of this disease is attacks of severe pain in the lower chest, often on one side. The slightest movement of the rib cage causes a sharp increase of pain, which makes it very difficult to breathe, and an attack is therefore quite a frightening experience, although it generally passes off before any actual harm occurs. The attacks are unpredictable and strike “out of the blue” with a feeling like an iron grip around the rib cage. The colloquial names for the disease, such as ‘The Devil’s grip’ (see also “other names” below) reflect this symptom

Homeopathic treatment for Pleurodynia

homeopathic medicine for Pleurodynia

Homeopathy is one of the most popular holistic systems of medicine. The selection of remedy is based upon the theory of individualization and symptoms similarity by using holistic approach. This is the only way through which a state of complete health can be regained by removing all the sign and symptoms from which the patient is suffering. The aim of homeopathy is not only to treat Pleurodynia but to address its underlying cause and individual susceptibility. As far as therapeutic medication is concerned, several remedies are available to treat Pleurodynia that can be selected on the basis of cause, sensations and modalities of the complaints.  For individualized remedy selection and treatment, the patient should consult a qualified homeopathic doctor in person. There are following remedies which are helpful in the treatment of Pleurodynia:

Aconite [Acon]

Pleurodynia from exposure to cold after being over heated; sometimes high fever.

Arnica [Arn]

Myalgic pleurodynia, resembling genuine pleurisy; must continually change position, bed feels too hard.Hoarseness from overuse of voice. Raw, sore feeling in morning. Cough produced by weeping and lamenting. Dry, from tickling low down in trachea. Bloody expectoration. Dyspnœa with hæmoptysis. All bones and cartilages of chest painful. Violent spasmodic cough, with facial herpes. Whooping cough, child cries before coughing. Pleurodynia

Borax [Bor]

Pleuritic-like stitches in right pectoral region, so that he cannot move or breathe without a stitching pain; stitches in chest in region of nipple, with every paroxysm of cough; shortness of breath after ascending stairs, so that he cannot speak a word; later when he speaks stitches on right side of chest.

Cactus [Cact]

Feeling of constriction in chest, impeding breathing; prickling pains in chest; sharp wanderingcactus homeopathic medicine for pleruodynia pains in chest (Homeopathy Treatment for Pains in Chest) and scapular region; bloody sputa. Oppressed breathing as from a weight on chest. Constriction in chest, as if bound, hindering respiration. Inflammation of diaphragm. Heart-constriction, as from an iron band. Angina pectoris. Palpitation; pain shooting down left arm. Hćmoptysis, with convulsive, spasmodic cough. Diaphragmitis, with great difficulty of breathing. Acts on circular muscular fibers, hence constrictions. It is the heart and arteries especially that at once respond to the influence of Cactus, producing very characteristic constrictions as of an iron band. This sensation is found in various places, śsophagus, bladder, etc.

Chenopodium [Chen-a]

Dull pain a little lower than inferior angle of right scapula but nearer the spine. Intense pain Chenopodium-Anthelminticum homeopathic medicine for pleurodyniabetween angle of right shoulder-blade near spine, and through the chest. Characteristic pain in scapula very marked. Symptoms of apoplexy, right hemiplegia, and aphasia.

Chininum-ars [Chin-ar]

Violent neuralgic pains in left mammary region, as if the parts were torn with red hot tongs; aching in intercostal muscles; paralysis of respiratory muscles.

Cimicifuga [Cimic]

Pain in right side of chest, must lie quietly on back and press with the hand; breath short, slight cough; sinking at stomach; rheumatic pains in joints with swelling and heat; pleurodynia brought on by exposure with dry and teasing cough, little or no sputum, (<) at night.

Colchicum [Colch]

Pleurodynia from catching cold or from living in damp dwellings, stinging and tearing in muscles of chest. Affects markedly the muscular tissues, periosteum, and synovial membranes of joints. Has specific power of relieving the gouty paroxysms. It seems to be more beneficial in chronic affections of these parts. The parts are red, hot, swollen. Tearing pains; worse, in the evening and at night and from touch; stubbing the toes hurts exceedingly. There is always great prostration, internal coldness, and tendency to collapse

Gaultheria [Gaul]

Pleurodynia with pain in anterior mediastinum. Inflammatory rheumatism, pleurodynia, sciatica, and other neuralgias, come within, the sphere of this remedy. Cystic and prostatic irritation, undue sexual excitement, and renal inflammation. Acute gastritis, severe pain in epigastrium; prolonged vomiting. Uncontrollable appetite, notwithstanding irritable stomach. Gastralgia from nervous depression

Guaiacum [Guai]

Pseudo-pleuritic pains, frequently attending tuberculosis pulmonum in stage of softening and suppuration; intense pain in upper part of chest, from motion of head; expectoration of foetid pus.

Kalmia [Kalm]

Oppressed, short breathing, has to lie on his back; every motion of body attended with violent pains in thorax, back and axillary joint; shooting through chest above heart into shoulder-blades, with pain in left arm.

Magnesia-phos [Mag-p]

Constrictive intercostal neuralgic, affecting breathing cannot lie down, has to sit upright; pains acute, boring, darting, shifting and remittent.

Mercurius [Merc]

Soreness on percussion or pressure, probably in the bone of one of several ribs; stitches about middle of chest, chiefly when coughing or sneezing.

Phytolacca [Phyt]

Muscular pains in chest from exposure to cold and dampness; the pains are flying like electric Phytolacca-Decandra homeopathic medicine for pleurodyniashocks, shooting, lancinating. Aching, soreness, restlessness, prostration, are general symptoms guiding to Phytolacca. Shooting pain in right shoulder, with stiffness and inability to raise arm (see Heart). Rheumatism pains; worse in morning. Pains fly like electric shocks, shooting, lancinating, shifting rapidly.

Ranunculus-bulb [Ran-b]

INTERCOSTAL RHEUMATISM; stabbing, stitching, burning pains in chest and abdomen, (<) from motion, even breathing, and by change of weather; sensation as if everything were sore and bruised, and expressly sensitive to touch; frequent pains in chest extending towards the liver, or from the liver into the chest; pain extending along the inner edge of the left scapula down to its inferior angle; pain extends sometimes through lower left chest; spasmodic hiccough; itching of body, especially of palms of the hands.

Rhododendron [Rhod]

Dyspnoea from constriction of chest; shooting through left chest to back, when bending back and to the right; breath and speech fail from the violence of pleuritic stitches running downward into anterior left chest, after standing on cold ground and getting chilled.

Rhus-rad [Rhus-r]

Pains shoot into shoulder.

Rumex [Rumx]

Sharp, stitching or stinging pains through left lung, which feels sore when he turns to left side.

Stibium-ars [Ant-ar]

(Arsenite of Antimony). Serous or sero-fibrinous exudation, on either side but on right side it takes a longer time for absorption.

About the author

Dr. Manish Bhatia

- BHMS, BCA, M.Sc Homeopathy (UK), CICH (Greece), MD (Hom)
- Associate Professor, Organon & Homeopathic Philosophy, SKH Medical College, Jaipur
- Founder Director of Hpathy.com
- Editor, Homeopathy for Everyone
- Co-author - Homeopathy and Mental Health Care: Integrative Practice, Principles and Research
- Author - Lectures on Organon of Medicine vol 1, 2, 3. CCH Approved. (English, German, Bulgarian)
- Awardee - Raja Pajwan Dev Award for Excellence in the Field of Medicine; APJ Abdul Kalam Award for Excellence in Homeopathy Education
- Visit Dr. Bhatia's website

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